William Walter Phelps to Elizabeth Adams Lusk, October 8, 1862

New-York, Oct. 8th, 1862.

My dear Mrs. Lusk:

I inclose Willie's letter, in hopes that it has not yet been too long at hand to be the latest from his Headquarters.

I have pleasure in announcing the result of an application at Albany, which Mr. Phelps wrote you about.

I saw the Gov.

“If the position were vacant I should give it to you now. All I can say under the circumstances is this, if the vacancy occurs, and the facts are as stated about your friend, he shall have it. I will bear it in mind.”

I wrote Will immediately that what he had to do was to get Elliott to resign, and proof that he was the Senior Captain, when he could mount his gold leaf as Major.

You can imagine how difficult it is to obtain a Commission out of regular order, from the fact that the Gov. has been trying for a month to get a simple Lieutenancy for a ward of his.

Very truly,

W. W. Phelps.

SOURCE: William Chittenden Lusk, Editor, War Letters of William Thompson Lusk, p. 219-20