Norwich, Sept 16th, 1862.
My own dear Son:
I have very little reason to believe in the probability of
your receiving my many letters, yet I continue to write with the bare
possibility that they may some of them reach you. Last night came the news of a
glorious victory for us, but alas! also came the sad and sickening news that
another of our good and able Generals was killed. In the general rejoicing my
heart is heavy, for my dear son was in Reno's command when I last heard, and I
am looking with fear and dread for the terrible list to come from that
battlefield. How my God is trying me, and how merciful he has been to preserve
my precious son through so many appalling dangers! My heart was so full of
sympathy for Mrs. Stevens. I wrote her a letter a few days ago. I saw that her
husband was buried at Newport, and an extract from an address delivered on the
occasion impressed me wonderfully. We are all occupied by the same train of
thought, deepened in intensity of course with some of us, by the danger our
loved ones are in. I received a very kind letter from Horace a few days since,
wherein he dwells upon the birth of your reputation; he says at twenty-four you
have won honors enough to suffice for a life time. You are not forgotten my own
son, my heroic boy. Many hearts are watching, eager for every word from you.
The extract from your letter in the N. Y. Post has attracted the
attention of many who know you personally, or have heard of you. They say the
account is interesting, and written too, by one who observes. . . .
SOURCE: William Chittenden Lusk, Editor, War Letters
of William Thompson Lusk, p. 197-8
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