Letter from William B. Cushing

[TullyMcCrea]

Thoughts about this letter? And rarity

[CONTENT LETTER by naval hero-- With Lincoln, McClellan & His Brother (last Civil War MOH winner) during review, etc. ]. 4 pg. ALS, Aug. 3, 1862, USS Minnesota, C.S.C. U.S.N. Lthd. by Navy Hero William B. Cushing (1842-74) who sank the Confederate Ironclad Ram Albemarle in a daring attack. One biography book titles him "Lincoln's Commando." His brother, Lt. Alonzo Cushing, KIA during Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg, is (to date) the last Civil War Veteran to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor (awarded by President Obama in November 2014). In this letter to his cousin Mary, Cushing mentions visiting his brother, being at a review with Lincoln and McClellan, the new CS ironclad "Merrimac", etc. He writes, in part: "If the mountain won't come to Mahomet, Mahomet must come to the mountain. If you won't write, I must. I don't know whether the interesting Turk ever inquired why the said mountain neglected to join him. I intend to be more inquisitive. You are asked in plain terms why don't you write?... I send off my "un-fectionate" ink scrawls, and lean back in my chair feeling as serene as if I had captured the Southern Confederacy, in view of the letters that I expect in answer. But when I find that none come I begin to get ugly… I must trust that you are not ill… I have been threatened with the Typhoid fever. I succeeded in losing eight pounds of flesh in one week; and then concluded to get well. Everybody on shore seems sure that the rebels will be at swords points with us before long. With "The New Merrimac" and twenty five thousand soldiers. J. Davis & Co. expect to capture the city of Norfolk. They will never do it. All the ladies in the city are making secession flags to wave over our dead bodies. I received a letter from my brother "Lon" [Alonzo] some three days ago. He is now in command of a battery. His name has been sent in to the President for two brevets. One for Gallant Conduct at "Williamsburg" and "Fair Oaks", and the other for the last series of battles. At "Malvern Hill" his horse was shot dead, but, with the good fortune that clings to us all, he escaped death. I went up James River on the 5th​ of July, and remained for several days with Lon in Gen. McClellan's camp. While there President Lincoln reviewed the troops. I had the honor of riding on his staff. I was introduced to the most noted generals and saw every regiment in the Army. I had a fine time in every way. The rebel riflemen are rather troublesome on the banks. While I was standing in the pilot house of the mail steamer, five bullets went through, one of them taking off three fingers of the Pilot's left hand. I only intended this for a note. If you mean to write, a reminder is all that is required. If you do not wish to correspond—why, the shorter the better. Good Bye. Your affectionate cousin, Will" [Lincoln met with General McClellan and other officers during a visit to the Army of the Potomac at Harrison's Landing, Virginia on July 9, 1862. As this letter reveals, William was also there at the time of this memorable visit. William was writing this letter on board the USS Minnesota, which had played a key role at the Battle of Hampton Roads five months earlier. During that battle the Minnesota had grounded and the CS Virginia (i.e., monitor Merrimac) was on its way to finish her off when it encountered the ironclad Monitor, which had arrived the previous night to protect the Minnesota. Thus began the famous ironclad battle between the Monitor and Merrimac. Cushing apparently was visiting the Minnesota at the time he wrote this letter.]