Headquarters Stevens' Div.
9th Army Corps,
Steamer “elm City,” Aug. 5th, 1862.
My dear Mother:
Here we are at length at Acquia Creek. Our destination is
Fredericksburg. Please direct your letters to that place in future. We are
exchanging at every move disease for health. Our present position is one of the
healthiest in Virginia, so dear Mother, give yourself no alarm.
I received two letters from you previous to leaving Newport
News, one written after Lilly's marriage, which had travelled down to Hilton
Head, and the other a letter containing an account of the kindly manner all
speak of me at home. For the latter I am grateful indeed, though I feel a
little puzzled at its extent. The first day I landed at Newport News, as I was
riding toward our camping ground, a nice, handsome-looking young fellow stopped
me, saying, “How are you Will?” I stopped, examined his face, talked, and tried
to discover who my friend was. After running through the probabilities, I said,
“Why this is Charley Breed!” “Yes,” said he, “you are a good deal changed, but
I recognized you at once.” So we parted, promising soon to meet again. But duty
intervened, and the other day I read that he was dead.
I received likewise a letter from Edward Stedman, via Hilton
Head, with kind words of encouragement for me.
I have nothing more to write. Don't mind —— ——.
Instead of “Speed the Plow,” “Speed the Bayonet,” and all
will be right again. Vive la guerre and down with the rebellion. If the
South wishes to secede, they must wait until they ask it of the North, not with
threats, but in fear and trembling.
Good-bye, dear mother,
Truly your affec.
Will,
Capt. & A. A. A. G.
which means that the Assistant Adjutant-General is sick and
has gone home, and that I am acting in his place until his leave of absence
expires.
SOURCE: William Chittenden Lusk, Editor, War Letters
of William Thompson Lusk, p. 173-4
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