August 20 — On reserve. The second section was relieved this evening by a section of Magreggor’s battery.
August 2013
The following was found scribbled on a sheet of paper in the handwriting of William T. Lusk, evidently a copy of a letter written by Gen. Daniel Tyler:
“I ask the acceptance of this resignation. Capt. Lusk has been in most of the battles including the First Bull Run, from Beaufort to the death of Major-Gen. Stevens, whose Staff he was on from the date of Gen. Stevens’s promotion to his death. Capt. Lusk, so soon as he heard of the occupation of Maryland Heights, left New-York City, came to Point of Rocks, and walked to Harper’s Ferry, and volunteered for duty at a moment when I was much in need of his services, and to make him available I recommended him for the appointment of Asst. Adjt. Genl. and he was appointed accordingly, with the expectation that when the prospect of fighting at that point was over, his resignation would be accepted. Under the circumstances, as Capt. Lusk is on the point of commencing a professional life in the City of New-York, I ask the acceptance of his resignation, knowing that there never will be an emergency like that at Gettysburg and Maryland Heights, that Capt. Lusk will not be found at the front.”
21st. Soon after breakfast mail came. Letter for me from home. In the afternoon wrote home. Studied some in “Clerk and Tactics,” then read in “Barnaby Rudge.” In the afternoon marched, our regt. in the advance. Went 12 miles and camped, no grass or forage. Bunked with Spencer.
Thursday, 20th. After breakfast, went out for forage with the company. Found some hay out three miles over a rough stony hill. Got some corn for roasting. During the day read some in “Barnaby Rudge.” Had a quiet visit with Henry Drake. In the evening went down to the brook and had a good bath. Hired a first rate boy last night—George. (Colored servant.)
Camp Parks, Ky., August 20th, 1863.
I received a letter from a friend in Michigan last evening, saying: “If you were in Michigan, or could see the situation from the standpoint of the North, you would be less hopeful of the speedy termination of the war.” If by “speedy” is meant a single campaign, as was promised us one year ago, I do not now believe in it, but nothing but the most signal failure can change my faith in the ultimate success of our cause. We have steadily gained ground from the first. The series of reverses that attended our arms the first year of the war has forced our government to accept the inevitable, seemingly against its will. I do not forget the violent opposition to the Emancipation and Confiscation Acts, passed by Congress in December, 1861, by Northern men of undoubted loyalty, nor the President’s timid recommendations in his inaugural address to that Congress. I remember well that reverses and disasters attended all our efforts until the government was compelled, as by an overruling Providence, to free the slaves of rebels, which includes them all; and that from the moment these measures became the fixed policy of the government, reverses ceased. It is not the issue of a battle or campaign that gives me hope, but the successes that have attended our arms all through the month of July were attended by such peculiar circumstances as to force upon me the conviction, “There IS a destiny that shapes our ends, rough hew them as we will.”
Thursday, 20th—It has rained most of the day. On dress parade this evening orders were read for the brigade to prepare to march in the morning with ten days’ rations and one hundred rounds of ammunition. The sick are to be left in camp.
Vicksburg, Thursday, Aug. 20. Medical Director examining patients—granted sick furloughs to all the applicants, twenty-nine in number; some of them were in much need of them, others “played off” so as to go home. The time of the last furloughs has run out, but not any of them seen yet. 1 P. M. a terrible explosion has occurred on the levee. The “City of Madison” loading up with ammunition for below was blown to fragments. Nearly 200 lives were lost, and much damage done to the “Ed. Walsh” lying alongside her. It was a sickening scene, human bodies torn and burned into shreds thrown high in air. Many bodies not found. Colonel Powell, chief of artillery on McPherson’s staff, and Lieutenant MacMurray, Battery M, reported to be on board the fated boat.
The supply of three days’ rations was kept up until the 20th, when orders were received to prepare to march at once. Tents were struck, wagons loaded, and all made ready; towards afternoon heard some firing in the distance on our left, but got no particulars.
Aug. 20.—Sitting in my easy chair to-day, looking out upon a grassy slope of the hill in the rear of this house, I have looked over this journal as if in a dream; for since the last date sickness and sorrow have been with me. I feel as if an angry wave had passed over me bearing away strength and treasure. For on one day there came to me from New Orleans the news of Mrs. B.’s death, a friend whom no tie of blood could have made nearer. The next day my beautiful boy ended his brief life of ten days and died in my arms. My own illness caused him to perish; the fatal cold in the cave was the last straw that broke down strength. The colonel’s sweet wife has come, and I do not lack now for womanly companionship. She says that with such a pre-natal experience perhaps death was the best for him. I try to think so, and to be glad that H. has not been ill, though I see the effects. This book is exhausted, and I wonder whether there will be more adventures by flood and field to cause me to begin another.
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Note: To protect Mrs. Miller’s job as a teacher in New Orleans, the diary was published anonymously, edited by G. W. Cable, names were changed and initials were often used instead of full names — and even the initials differed from the real person’s initials.
Unidentified soldier in Union uniform next to draped table in front of painted backdrop showing fort scene.
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Sixth-plate ambrotype, hand-colored ; 11.6 x 10.4 cm (frame)
Gift by Tom Liljenquist; 2010
Liljenquist Family Collection of Civil War Photographs; Ambrotype/Tintype photograph filing series; Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
Record page for image is here.
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Note – This image has been digitally adjusted for one or more of the following:
- fade correction,
- color, contrast, and/or saturation enhancement
- selected spot and/or scratch removal
- cropped for composition and/or to accentuate subject matter
- straighten image
Civil War Portrait 064
