Headquarters,
U. S. Forces En Route To F. Monroe,
July 12th, 1862.
My dear Mother:
When I wrote you a few hurried, peevish lines, by the last
steamer, I then had little thought we were so soon to be summoned to a
different sphere of action, and that, had my longing to see you at home been
really gratified, I would have returned only to be mortified by being absent
from duty at a time when every man should be standing steadily at his post. So
you see my lucky star is always dominant. Just when I thought my fate
intolerable, I was merely being providentially detained that nothing might
prevent me from the fulfilment of my duty. Ten Regiments from the Department of
the South, six under Stevens and four under Wright, are ordered to Fortress
Monroe, we know not yet whether to reinforce Pope or McClellan. Few of us
regret to leave this unholy soil and wretchedly mismanaged department, where we
have been sure only of mismanagement and disgrace. I am sorry Rockwell could
not go with us. He would have liked to have done so, but a demand was made for
infantry alone.
It is a good thing for me that I have escaped from the
Southern climate, having been long enough exposed to feel as though every fibre
of my body was involved in a malarious atmosphere. A change of climate and a
persistent employment of quinine, the Doctor says, are all I need, though were
times less stirring, he would probably prescribe in addition a few days at
home. I shall probably lose the letters you will write relative to Lilly's
wedding, but you must not forget to let me know all about it in whatever new
sphere I may be placed. I suppose you had better address the first letter to
the care of General Stevens near Fortress Monroe, and so soon as may be, I will
let you know a more definite address.
I enclose the $25.00 for Lilly's bridal gift. I could not
enclose it in my last, as it was then some time since I had seen the paymaster.
I hope I may have an opportunity to see you all this summer, but it looks
dubious. Next to Lilly's wedding, I was very anxious to be present at my class
meeting, which takes place the end of this month. Hall will be there and many
old friends. It will seem strange enough to get among civilized people once
more, and there will be so many changes too. Walter, an aged paterfamilias. Lilly
and Hall, both old domestic bodies. Hunt in a new house. Horace alone will be
left unchanged.
Are any of my friends desirous of making a profitable
speculation? A sure and magnificent fortune may be realized from the sale of
ginger-pop at Hilton Head. Blind Dennis is doing a flourishing business in the
lemonade line, and will certainly before long be putting up a superb house on
Washington Street, in Burdick's best style. The ginger-pop trade, I predict,
will be one of the most remunerative branches of business ever opened at Port
Royal. It even bids fair to prove as handsome a thing as negro-philanthropy,
which in shrewd hands has proved a most capital paying business, and then the
sale of ginger-pop is eminently more respectable. At any rate it is a pet idea
of mine, and I would like to see the experiment tried.
Well, good-bye. I hope to hear good news on arriving at
Fortress Monroe. Love to all.
SOURCE: William Chittenden Lusk, Editor, War Letters
of William Thompson Lusk, p. 163-5
