Georgetown Heights, July 1st, 1861.
Headquarters 79th Regiment.
Dear Mother:
At length I have an opportunity to inform you of my doings since we parted.
I will spring over details.however, to say that I am now with Elliott at the Barracks of the 79th Regt. – that I slept last night upon the floor – that I am not yet Lieutenant, though assured of an eventual appointment – so until I write that I am entitled to wear the epaulets, please direct my letters to the care of Lieut. S. R. Elliott, 10th Co., 79th Regt., N. Y. S. M., Washington, D. C. Up to the present I have enjoyed myself much and am delighted with the novelty of the situation. However, I have no catalogue of hardships to complain of, as I have been dining in the best of company at a very good Secessionist Hotel which lies handy to our quarters, so please, dear mother, don’t expose yourself to any privations, for the purpose of better sympathizing with me as regards camp experiences. . . . Elliott you know, and I need not sound his praises. . . . By-the-way, my expenses here to Washington were paid by a grateful country, and in this wise. Young Quartermaster Elliott, meeting me at the Steamboat Landing, introduced me to some officers of a Maine Regt. on its way hither. I was introduced as Lieut. Lu
Map of Military Operations in N.E. Virginia – Maryland and Pennsylvania (Click on map for larger version)
sk and in that capacity was invited to occupy the car appropriated for the staff. The officers manifested some curiosity regarding the Regt. I was supposed to represent, so it was with no little difficulty that I resorted to such evasions as would enable me to cover my ignorance. I pronounced the 79th Regt. to be the finest in the field, and was looked upon quite respectfully.
We are now delightfully quartered on Georgetown Heights in the Catholic College, but are going into Camp today. Yesterday a preacher from the Scottish Kirk discoursed to the soldiers in the yard. The Catholic priests must have shuddered at the terrible sacrilege, but even sectarianism must bend to meet the exigencies of war.
Elliott sends kind regards to you, and the sisters, and Hunt. Love to all.
Very affec’y-,
W. T. Lusk.