Capt. W. T. Lusk, A. A. A. Gen.
1st. Brig. 1st. Div.
9th. A. C.
Washington, D. C.
(To be forwarded)
Sept. 18th, 1862.
My dearest Mother:
After the battle of South Mountain, as we were being pushed
on to this point (near Sharpsburg), unable to write myself, the Chaplain of the
79th kindly promised to inform you of my safety. Yesterday there was another
fierce battle in which I took an active part, but he who lends a pitying ear to
the prayers of the widow and the fatherless, vouchsafed to spare me in the time
of danger. To-morrow I suppose there will be another battle, so to-night,
though it is late, I write you hurriedly. Our successes in Maryland have been
signal. We have been cheered for the bloodshed of the past few days by the
sight of a retreating foe. God grant us such victories as may speedily end the
war. All wish for peace, and so are willing to fight with desperation. Our division
has done splendidly so far.
I long to hear from home. Your letter of the 25th of August,
telling me that I was an unsuccessful candidate for position in the 18th Conn.,
is the last news I have received from home. Well, my fate is the fate of
thousands. Those of us who have borne all the dangers and privations of the
past, have no pretensions in comparison with such as can control a few votes in
a country parish. I have taken part now in seven grand battles, and over a half
dozen smaller engagements, have been constantly in service for fifteen months,
have received the most gratifying expression of the esteem of my superior
officers, but promotion is not the result of service according to our present
system. In my old position as Acting Asst. Adjt.-General to the Division, with
a change of Generals, I was superseded by a private of the 7th Regiment of
New-York, who received a Commission from the President. This is perfectly
right, as each General must choose his own Adjutant and form his own staff. Of
the fifteen months I have held a Commission, fourteen months I have held acting
appointments, that is, have had the labor and responsibility of various
positions without the emolument. I am now Acting A. A. General to the first
Brigade of this division, the regular pay of which position is between $160 and
$170 per month. Holding only an acting appointment I receive $120.00. There is
not much encouragement in this, but still I am content to be of any assistance,
or to do my duty in any position which may be allotted me. I fear my old
friends who hoped for much, feel more distressed than I do. I saw Charley Farnsworth
in Washington. He feels that he has done much, and has received only neglect in
return. His wound troubles him still, and I think he is not sorry to make it a
pretext for quitting a service where there is no glory, no recognition of
service to promote and foster a soldier's pride. Charley is a fine fellow, and
his parents may feel proud of him.
I have had those two bad teeth of mine extracted. Tried a
Regimental Surgeon first. Surgeon breaks one of them off, and I decline to have
the experiment repeated — suffer all sorts of agony for about a month. At
Frederick find a regular dentist who feels confident that he can draw any
tooth. I let him try first the one not already partially operated upon. Dentist
puts on the forceps and crushes in one side, then cuts the gum, tries again —
pleasantly assures me he can do it, and crunch goes the old tooth again.
Dentist grows radiant and tells how he extracted twelve from one lady the day
before, and is more confident than ever that he can do it; puts on his forceps
and by a succession of wrenches breaks the crown of the tooth, lays it
complacently on a sheet of paper, and says that is just what he most ardently
desired; makes another effort, smashes the root, and with the face of an angel,
tells me it's all right — that now he can do it. Here human endurance failed. I
objected to any further torture, took chloroform, sank into a state of
insensibility, recovered minus two teeth, and all right.
Good-bye, dear, darling mother, keep up good heart. God is
merciful as well as just. Love to all the dear ones.
Affec'y.,
Will.
SOURCE: William Chittenden Lusk, Editor, War Letters
of William Thompson Lusk, p. 199-202
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