Headquarters Stevens's Div.
Burnside's Expedition,
Newport News, Va.
July 20th, 1862.
My dear Mother:
I rode over yesterday to Fortress Monroe in my old clothes.
Maj. Elliott, now Act'g. Inspector-General of our Division, and others, were of
the party. On reaching the Fortress we found a man who for the sum of fifty
cents, gives you half a dollar's worth of likeness — a “Cheap John” style of
man — and him we concluded to patronize. I send you the result. If it has
defects, I have no doubt there is fifty cents worth of truth in it. The
moustache and imperial in the picture I consider an improvement of the
original, the most considerate of mirrors being unable to conceal the fact that
these articles of beauty are in reality a bright plinthic red. Next week the “Cheap
John” style of man says he will have an apparatus for taking carte-de-visite.
If so, I will put on my best clothes, get taken, and forward myself to you
in a more presentable manner.
I have received a couple of letters from you, one of the
5th, the other of the 9th, both of which took first a trip to Port Royal. I
hope my telegraphic despatch may prevent any more from traveling so far in
vain.
I am much obliged to my friends for their kind thoughts and
words regarding me. I'll tell you what, I think I ought to have a place in the
Field of one of the new Conn. Regiments, not that I feel myself peculiarly
competent for such a position, but because I think I'll do better than those
they are likely to select. I have been the longest in the service of any of my
friends. I have been oftener in battle and been subject to more vicissitudes,
yet they all outrank me. Matteson and Doster are Majors. Ely commands a
Regiment. Harland commands a Brigade. Charles Dodge has a Regiment. Rockwell
commands a battery, and so on all through the list. Somehow or other I've not
been so accustomed to bringing up at the tail end as to fancy it now. I am
delighted, to be sure, at the success of friends. I feel no envy, but would
like to be a little more upon an equality with them. To be sure, by crawling
along slowly, I have risen from the Junior Lieut, of my Regiment to rank as the
2d Captain — that is to say, from the 30th position in the line to the 2d.
Still I would like a Major's position in one of the new Regiments. However,
where I now am, I have responsibility enough, I suppose.
Benham being disposed of, my letter to Uncle John has proved
uncalled for, but I was very indignant at the time of writing it. . . . You may
have read something of his letter relative to Gen. Stevens. It is unnecessary
to characterize the whole as a malicious falsehood. I will only mention one
thing. Benham quotes a letter from Stevens to prove that he (Stevens) approved
the reconnoissance Benham projected. I happen to know personally the note
quoted was written by Stevens with regard to a reconnoissance proposed by
Stevens himself. This plan of a reconnoissance was agreed to by the Generals in
Council in opposition to the plan proposed by Benham. Benham at first consented
to this, but finally ordered the attack of the 16th to be made as he had
originally proposed. The letter then of Gen. Stevens written regarding the
Stevens plan of reconnoissance, is used by Benham to show that the Benham plan
met with Stevens' approbation.
Benham had an unaccountable aversion to Rockwell. When
Rockwell was sick, and stopping on board the steamer with the amiable General,
Benham growled so much about it, that Gen. Stevens was obliged to advise
(privately) Capt. Rockwell to return to his company, though he was still pale,
weak and unable to do duty. After the battle of the 16th, Benham wrote his
report complimenting Capt. Hamilton of the Regular Artillery, omitting all
mention of Rockwell, though Alfred's Battery had been the most exposed, and had
done nobly. This made Gen. Stevens very angry, so he informed Benham that he
must alter his report, that his Command should have justice, that Rockwell had
acquitted himself as well as Hamilton, and that he should have the credit he
was entitled to. (Somewhat mixed way of expression, but comprehensible I
believe). Gen. Stevens being an unpleasant man to deal with when angry, Benham
got frightened and altered his report.
Since commencing this letter I have received one from you
regarding dear Lilly's wedding. I could not be there, but you all know how I
feel. You speak of $100.00 having been spent on Lilly's wardrobe by you in my
behalf. I only mention it to have it fully understood that that money must
never be returned to me.
Tell Mrs. Tyler, information I afterward received at James
Island, renders the presence of Alfred there, to say the least, very doubtful.
I am tired, so I will close. Love to all.
Affec'y. your son,
W. T. Lusk.
SOURCE: William Chittenden Lusk, Editor, War Letters
of William Thompson Lusk, p. 166-8
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