Headquarters 2d Brigade,
S. C.
Beaufort, S. C. Dec. 20th, 1861.
My dear Mother:
Here it is almost Christmas, but there is no hope of dining
with you all at home on that joyful day. Still I will try to make myself
cheerful here, as that alone is a comfortable philosophy. Duties are a bit
lighter to-day — the result, I suppose, of great exertion for a few days back.
I received last night three letters from you and one from Horace. Let me thank
you, dear mother, very much for the photograph you sent me. It gives me much
gratification, and now occupies a conspicuous place in my room. I shall look
impatiently for the photographs likewise of my sisters and the little boys. It
would do me much good to see Hunt's good-looking face, if he does feel too logy
to favor my whims. You write me for my photograph, as though I was living at
the seat of civilization, and the abode of elegance. Well, to be sure, I am;
but then everything is in Southern style, which does not admit of such vulgar
things as tradesmen, much less of itinerant shadow catchers. I have grown
immensely aristocratic since in South Carolina. There is something in the air
that's infectious. A few more weeks here, and I'll be able to stomach even a
Bostonian, which — Oh! I had almost forgotten how soon Hall's wedding comes
off; the 25th of December, Walter writes me. Do for Heaven's sake give the
bride something from me. I enclose $10.00 to make the purchase. There is
nothing one can possibly buy down here. Pay-day is not far off again, and I
hope to be able to remit something handsome to Uncle Phelps, which may make him
cry, “Oh, provident youth!” Until then Walter's baby must go without the coral
and bells destined him by his affectionate Uncle William. Tell Horace I took
into consideration the request he made with regard to writing a few lines to
Saml. Lord, assuring him of the welfare of Miss Mintzing, concluded to do it,
have done it, and think the communication will reach him.
We are quite active here at Beaufort, giving the good people
on the mainland all sorts of starts. The other night a young Lieutenant crossed
to the mainland with a small party, caught six of their pickets, and brought
them safely back as prisoners. A captain takes a boat, glides along the shore,
gets fired upon, returns the fire, and, it being his first fight, he has the
agreeable sensation of seeing the enemy run. The fact is, though the people of
respectability are many of them rampant, the poor whites think the war a hard
thing, which they do not like to bear. So much we gathered from the prisoners
taken the other night. They say that all who do not volunteer are drafted into
the army, and the difference made is, that volunteers receive $25.00 for
clothes, and are treated with respect, whereas drafted men get nothing but
abuse. Therefore it is not difficult to see how popular volunteering must be in
the South.
You will be pleased to hear that my friend William Elliott
has gained perhaps the most brilliant reputation for cool courage and daring,
of any man in the Army down here. He is a rare hero, and is bound to make his
mark.
Give my best love to all, dear mother.
Affec'y.,
Will.
SOURCE: William Chittenden Lusk, Editor, War Letters
of William Thompson Lusk, p. 109-11
