Camp Near Falmouth, Va.
Dec. 22nd, 1862.
My dear Mother:
Since the late disastrous affair at Fredericksburg, as
before, I look in vain for some tidings from you. These mails! As for me, it is
of less importance, for the letters you write me will eventually reach me, but
with you I hope that long ere this, you may have had the pleasant tidings of my
safety throughout the late battle. Of that fight I have not words to express my
indignation. It was so uncalled for. Not being a participant myself, only an
anxious witness, I can fully appreciate the terrible character of the massacre.
No one was more desirous than I for an onward movement, but not for such an
one. The idea of an attempt directly in the front was scouted at by those who
professed to know, as sheer madness, concerning which the result could not be
doubtful. Yet it was attempted, but at whose orders we cannot tell. Rumors
reach us of the resignation of Lincoln's Cabinet. God grant this be true. We
may fall into worse hands, but there is the hope of something better. I have
lost faith in Halleck, and for this reason. Last summer I wrote Walter I had
cheered the last time for McClellan. I did this on the authority of Gen.
Halleck. Halleck was an unsuccessful competitor of Stevens for the honors of
his class. At Newport News Halleck had an interview with Stevens, the result of
which I afterwards learned. In this interview Halleck represented McClellan as
solely responsible for the misfortunes of the Peninsula; represented that
McClellan had received everything from the administration he had requested;
that McClellan was responsible for the division in his command, resulting in
the creation of McDowell's Department. This and much else against McClellan,
which Halleck's subsequent report, and the revelations from the McDowell Court
of Inquiry, prove to have been base and malignant falsehoods. Since then it has
been my good fortune to have been twice in battle under McClellan. How
admirably those battles were planned and executed, I, who have seen so much
mismanagement, so many defeats, know best how to appreciate. Therefore I say,
as I heard a rebel officer once say “God bless old Stonewall Jackson,” ‘God
bless McClellan.” We have had enough of Halleck — and disgrace.
Mother, do not wonder that my loyalty is growing weak. I
love the Nation too well to willingly pardon the “unfortunate Abraham Lincoln”
as the London Times so aptly calls him. With resources enough to have
long since ended the controversy, with resources enough to end it before the
opening of Spring, sixty years will not end it if we are obliged to sustain the
paltry policy of the administration. I am sick and tired of disaster, and the
fools that bring disaster upon us. I believe Burnside to be brave and honest, a
good soldier and worthy of honor, but I know that no one in this country has a
heartier esteem for McClellan than he. No one bends more to McClellan than Gen.
Burnside. The President I doubt not is honest, but “let the shoemaker stick to
the last.” Let Lincoln turn his talents to splitting rails. I prefer George
McClellan to Abraham Lincoln, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Army. The same
energy, the same good-sense, the same foresight exhibited by us that the South
has shown, and the rebellion is a dead letter. The same fatal disregard of
common sense on our part, and the Southern independence is won. At least so I
feel, and so I write strongly, who so earnestly pray for the triumph of our
cause.
I have just received your letter, and feel truly thankful to
learn you had heard of my safety previous to the arrival of my own letter
written the day after we recrossed the Rappahannock. Day before yesterday I was
on picket, and saw several officers of the rebel service who came to our lines
under a flag of truce. One of them who came from near Atlanta, told me he knew
Alfred Tyler; that it was a mistake that Alfred was on Gen. Lawton's staff;
that, on the contrary, he still was employed on the Macon and Atlanta R. R.,
and was reputed to be one of the truest supporters of the Southern movement in
his district. The same officer, Capt. McBride, appeared to know enough of
Tyler's family and family affairs to make his statement worthy of credit. The
same officer further told me that among the brave officers of his army that
fell at Fredericksburg, was Henry Lord King, whom you will remember was an old
admirer of Sarah Phelps. King fell, pierced by nine minie balls, in the attack
made on our left (Franklin's Division). Morrison professes to be a strong
supporter of mine now. He says that there had been so much intriguing in the
Regiment, that he suspected me for some time, but my action with regard to More
has fully satisfied him, and he professes himself anxious to serve me in any
way. What the professions are worth I have yet to learn.
Give my best, my dearest love to my sisters. Tell Uncle
Phelps that I leave my proposition to be settled according to his judgment, and
with best love to him and all my friends, I remain,
Your affec. son,
W. T. Lusk.
SOURCE: William Chittenden Lusk, Editor, War Letters
of William Thompson Lusk, p. 254-7
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