Norwich, August 16th, 1862.
My own dear Son:
After having received intimations from various sources of
the almost certainty of your appointment to the Lt. Colonelcy of the
Eighteenth, you may imagine the crushing disappointment produced by the order
from the War Department forbidding the removal of all officers from their
present positions. Col. Ely is very anxious to have you with him. Ned Tyler
told me that Ely said to the Gov.: “If you will appoint the officers I wish, I
will be responsible for the reputation of the Regiment. If however you put in
mere politicians I cannot.” I feel the sickness of “hope deferred” this
morning, and my heart is very heavy. Well, I cannot resist all influences, and
though I have brave hours, I have times of bitter struggling. Well, this is
useless as well as discouraging to you. Pardon me, my son. I shall soon recover
from this unworthy despondency. I am much gratified by the interest shown by
your friends here. Mr. Johnson (Charlie's father) told Lillie the pressure upon
the Gov. from Norwich people on your behalf had been very great, the matter was
now decided, and you would probably be with us next week, still he said, we
must not be too sure, for “there's many a slip ’twixt the cup and the lip.” For
Gen. Tyler's affectionate interest, I must always be very grateful. He has
returned to Connecticut to take charge of the Regiments now preparing in the
State. He has taken great interest in you always. Perhaps I am unreasonable in
my disappointment at not seeing you, but I do feel you might have been
appointed earlier, before these orders were issued.
We are all well, and anxiously watching for news from
Burnside. I have sent to New-York for a flag to wave from our old home, the
home of your childhood. I intended it to greet your return. I shall place it
over the front entrance so that all who pass in or out, must walk under its
folds. Hunt just passing the door called out, “give my love to Will.” All are
interested and excited about the new Regiments. The Twenty-second goes into
camp in Norwich, on the Fair Grounds. Eating, drinking, or sleeping, our
thoughts are on the war and the precious lives at stake, as well as the great
issue involved. Bromley is Captain of a Company, and young Merwin his first
Lieutenant. Morton Hale is a Lieutenant in one of the companies; he is to be
married next Tuesday to Emily Huntington. Her sister Hannah was engaged to
Charlie Breed.
Good-bye my own dear, dear son. My whole trust is placed in
the mercy of God to whom I earnestly pray for your deliverance from all evil. God bless you
wherever you may be is the cry of my anxious, loving heart.
Always lovingly,
Mother.
New London has furnished one private and an Adjutant — wants
a field officer besides. They have sent four hundred men to the Fourteenth. I
have just heard that perhaps the staff officers are not included in this order
from the Department. Gen. Tyler will be at home this evening when I shall
learn.
SOURCE: William Chittenden Lusk, Editor, War Letters
of William Thompson Lusk, p. 174-6
