Showing posts with label Volunteering. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Volunteering. Show all posts

Sunday, July 24, 2016

Captain William Thompson Lusk to Elizabeth Adams Lusk, December 20, 1861

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

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Attention Volunteers!

The undersigned desires to fill up his Regiment to the maximum number, and he earnestly calls upon all persons, especially in the Counties of Henry and Stark, who feel disposed to volunteer, to come forward and enroll their names at once.

The President has called for 300,000 additional troops to aid in putting down the rebellion. They are needed in the field at once, and must be furnished either by volunteers or by draft. With that number to swell their ranks, the hearts of our brave soldiers already in the field will be encouraged and strengthened. With that number the power of this wicked rebellion – already so much weakened – will soon be crushed out and destroyed. Every consideration of honor and patriotism demands that you respond promptly and cheerfully to the call of the President. The bounty now offered is liberal - $302 for new recruits and $402 for veteran volunteers. I would urge, therefore, all who can, not to hesitate, nor wait for the draft, but to enroll their names without delay.

The 112th Illinois has been in the service more than a year, and as a Regiment has a good reputation. The people of Henry and Stark Counties have a deep interest in its welfare and in its success. It is composed of their own sons, brethren, friends and neighbors – men who are worthy of the confidence of their friends at home. Will not every patriotic [man] help to fill up their ranks and give to them renewed hope and strength? I sincerely trust they will and that the Regiment may be filled up with the maximum number.

Volunteers can choose the Company they may wish to join; and can enroll their names at the office of James S. Henderson, Esq. Toulon, Illinois.

Thomas J. Henderson
Col. 112th Illinois
Toulon, Nov. 6, 1863

– Published in the Stark County News, Toulon, Illinois, Thursday, November 6, 1863

Monday, July 7, 2008

To The Citizens of Clark Co.

I am still recruiting for the old regiments, and shall be till the first of March, 1864. The large bounty heretofore offered by the government will be still given to the first of March. There is another call for 200,000 over and above the 300,000 called for in Oct. last. Those townships that have already furnished their quotas, will have to furnish two-thirds as many more in order to clear themselves of the draft, of the 10th of March; for instance, a township that has furnished six under the Oct. call, will have to furnished now four men under this call. – It is hoped all the good loyal people of Clark Co. will get to work. We have done well so far in raising volunteers, and let us keep on with the good begun work. Volunteering is still going on finely. I am sending off from one to two loads per week. I will be in Oceola every Saturday, to receive volunteers. All that have any notion of going into the service can not find any better time to enlist than now.

A. Lyons
Recruiting Agent for Clark County Iowa

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, February 6, 1864

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Recruiting

To the people of Clark County,

In as much as we have only about four weeks in which to raise our quota of men by volunteering, it is hoped that every citizen will see the importance of at once making a united effort to raise the quotas of the several townships of this county.

Let meetings be called and organized in each township, and while these meetings are being held for raising volunteers let arrangements be made for taking care of the families of those who now volunteer for the full period of three years, they will receive the whole amount of bounty remaining unpaid, the same as if the full term has been served – Veterans $402, and new recruits $302.

Shall we not have it to say that Clark is the first county in the distinct to raise the full quota? what township will first fill her quoto? Oceola has been first to respond.

I would say that I will be in Oceola every Saturday to receive recruits, and the balance of my time I will be traveling through the county; but don’t wait for me to come to you – but come up and volunteer. Have it to say, when this rebellion is wiped out “I fought for my country,” or let your children say ‘,my father fought for this government, (and be careful that you don’t have it to say I was drafted to fight for my country) for the 5th day of Jan., 1864, is the day set for the draft to commence, and every township that don’t [sic] furnish her full quoto by volunteering will be drafted, undoubtly [sic]. I hope that loyal Clark county will fill her quoto and escape this draft.

Oceola Cec–1st 1863.

A. Lyons.
Recruiting agent
For Clark County, Iowa

- Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, December 19, 1863 & December 26, 1863

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Recruiting

To the people of Clark County,

In as much as we have only about four weeks in which to raise our quota of men by volunteering, it is hoped that every citizen will see the importance of at once making a united effort to raise the quotas of the several townships of this county.

Let meetings be called and organized in each township, and while these meetings are bing held for raising volunteers, let arrangements be made for taking care of the families of those who may vounteer.

Should the government not require the service of those who now volunteer for the full period of three years, they will receive the whole amount of bounty remaining unpaid, the same as if the full term had been served. – Verterans $402 and new recruits $302

Shall we not have it to say that Clark is the first county in the district to raise the full quota? what township will first fill her quoto? Oceola has been first to respond.

I would say that I will be in Oceola every Saturday to receive recruits, and the balance of my time will be traveling through the country; but don’t wait for me to come to you – but come up and volunteer. Have it to say, when this rebellion is wiped out, “I fought for my country,” or let your children say “my father fought for this government, (and be carful that you don’t have it to say I was drafted to fight for my coutry) for the 5th day of Jan., 1864, is the day set for the draft to comence, and every township that don’t furnish her full quota by volunteering will be drafted, undoubtly. I hope that loyal Clark county will fill her qunto and escape the draft.

A. LYONS,
Recruiting agent
for Clark County, Iowa.
Oceola Dec–1st 1863.

- The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, 5 DEC 1863