79th Regiment, Oct. 28th, 1862.
Camp Near Southville, Va.
My dear Mother:
We are once more on the march and have recrossed into
Virginia. Let us pray for success — and hope. I am in first rate health and
spirits. It seems as though exposure was a good thing for a soldier. All the
time I lay in camp I did not feel well. The day we marched it rained hard, and
the air was excessively cold at night. I was appointed Division Field Officer
for the day, and had to spend hours in a cold dark rainy night wandering
through marshes and wet fields examining picket posts. Well, instead of killing
me, as my good mother would have supposed, I lost all my ill-feelings, and,
after a night's sleep, am in better condition than I have been in for weeks. I
regret only one thing — that we can no longer receive our mails regularly. In
our last camp things were so arranged that we received the mail daily, which
was very pleasant.
I had a letter from Coz. Lou a day or two ago, and enjoyed
it greatly. It seems to me that Lilly has forgotten her offer to become my
correspondent, that is to say, to do all the corresponding herself. I am sure I
grasped her offer most warmly. I received a kind and friendly letter from Col.
Farnsworth some days since, which I forwarded to Walter. The Colonel promised
me all the influence he possessed for my advancement. A call has been lately
made for men of the Volunteer Army to enlist in the Regulars. It speaks well
for the discipline of the Highlanders, that, while from other Regiments from 75
to 100 men eagerly sought the opportunity to enter a new service, hardly a
dozen of our men have been found ready to change their present condition. In my
own company not one has volunteered.
Affec'y.,
Will.
If I get disabled, I think I shall keep a candy store — with
so many nephews I would be so popular. Tell Mrs. Dodge that, for the benefit of
her little girl, I shall keep an assortment of the biggest goggle-eyed wax
dolls.
W. T. L.
SOURCE: William Chittenden Lusk, Editor, War Letters
of William Thompson Lusk, p. 222-3
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