Headquarters Del. Dept.
Wilmington, Del., July 20th, 1863.
My dear Mother:
You have heard before now, I suppose, that I was in New-York
a few days last week. I saw Horace then, but the excitement of the riots
excluded all other topics of conversation.
Lilly was kind enough to write me a letter which I shall
gladly answer, as I have time enough now to remember all correspondents that
remember me. If nothing else, I have abundant opportunities to read and write.
After the draft has been enforced in this State, the necessity for Martial Law
will probably have passed away. Then I hope either to have more active service,
or to get relieved altogether. My summer experience will lead me to enjoy with
the greater zest, the coming winter.
Gen. Tyler has behaved most handsomely I think, for when he
was ordered to Maryland Heights, it was with the understanding that he was to
have an important command, if not that of the Middle Department itself. But the
loss of Milroy's Army, the advance of Hooker, and consequent assignment of
French to the Heights, the troubles in Baltimore, one and all operated to break
up all plans, and to leave him in his present position. I have not heard him
utter, for all, a single word of complaint, though necessarily his position
must be very irksome to him.
Aunt Maria, Uncle Phelps and Nellie were in NewYork for a few
hours while I was there, but I did not know it until it was too late. Mr. ——,
who lives opposite my Uncle's, sent for me to come and see him. He proposed
that I should take charge of a patrol to protect their part of the town. I
turned to young —— and suggested that he would make one of the patrol.
"No," says the young man, "but I'll furnish a porter from
father's store as a substitute." Indeed thought I, with such heroic
youths, there is no need of doing anything here. I can let this part of the city
take care of itself.
Your affec. Son,
Will.
SOURCE: William Chittenden Lusk, Editor, War Letters
of William Thompson Lusk, p. 290-1
No comments:
Post a Comment