Introduction

William A. Smith was a native resident of Marion County, Illinois up to the time of the Civil War.  His letters to his wife Mary contain a wealth of information about the people from Marion County and the people who fought in the war, on both sides, and gives names and places where events took place.  William saw slavery for the first time in his life and gives a brief account of what he witnessed.  The collection of William’s letters comes together like a novel, filled with suspense, emotion, human frailty, and tragedy.

Genealogists and Civil War historians will find these letters to be a treasure of mundane information including prices for clothing and food, a soldier’s inventory, the types of plants grown on family farms, and the attitudes of our ancestors more than 150 years ago.  It is interesting to see how William’s view of slavery dramatically evolves within one year, during 1862.

These letters were given to me by Marion Brimberry of Alma, IL with the request to type them up and make them available on the Internet.  Marion Brimberry received copies of the letters from Carol Wood of Sandoval, IL.   I don’t know where the originals are or who first transcribed them.

There were obvious typographical errors in the letters I typed from, plus there were obvious grammatical errors from the originals.  When appropriate, the typographical errors were corrected and generally the grammatical errors were left unchanged.  There is also the likelihood of additional errors input by me.  In particular, the misspelled word “waggon” was left as it appears in the letters I received.

The genealogical information that follows was provided by Melvin and Carol Wood and is available online at Rootsweb WorldConnet as simcox-wood.

I hope you will enjoy these letters as much as I did.  If you’re like me, you’ll want to go back and investigate some of the letters in greater detail.

www.thomson-genealogy.com

David Thomson
518 Illinois St.
Alma, IL  62807

Civil War Letters of William A. Smith and Genealogy, David W. Thomson III, 2003

Camp near New Madrid, Missouri

Monday eve. March 17^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

I fear you are anxiously looking for letters from me and receiving none.  Not that I do not write, for I have wrote to you three letters since I have been here, but it is reported here that our letters are detained at Commerce, Cape Girardeau and Cairo, and if that is the case, I am sure you are very uneasy about me.

I think one of our men by the name of Sidwall will be discharged tomorrow.  If so I will send this letter by him and you will be sure to get it, as he will either take it to Patoka or mail it somewhere along the line.  I have received one letter from John Foster since I have been here and sent him an answer, but if you do not get your letters, he will not get that.  I have wrote several notes to the neighbors so that you might possibly by that means hear from me.  I am now looking for a big letter from you by every mail, for I wrote you from Cape Girardeau by Mrs. R.F. Young and then again from Commerce, with the word not to write to me till you heard me telling you where to direct to.  So I will expect an answer to all three at once and I suppose it will make quite a large letter which I hope to get soon.

I see by the latest papers that we have, that our forces have gained a splendid victory in Arkansas, also that Manassas has been evacuated and burned, that our forces have been doing well upon the coast of Florida.  Surely the war cannot last very much longer.  The enemy may possibly collect at some inaccessible spot and give us a great deal of trouble.  They will certainly make a grand stand at the much boasted stronghold of Memphis, which place I now think will be our next place of attack.  There is yet some room for a flight in this neighborhood for when the rebels evacuated Columbus, the second Manassas as they proudly termed Columbus, they dropped down to Island No. 10 where they are making a stand and there is no telling how long they will be there before we can overcome them, as there can be nothing done except with heavy cannon and we can only come at them from the upper river.  So they can make all their defence at that point.  I do hope however to yet be able to announce in this letter the arrival of our gunboats at New Madrid.

I have never yet been down in town.  Jack Foster and Clay and John Hamilton have been there with General Stanley, they being part of his bodyguard.  There was not any person at all left in the place, neither citizen or soldier.  They destroyed an immense amount of their property before they left and they threw a great many of their cannon in the river, which our men are busy getting out.  They have succeeded in raising enough to make the whole number now in our possession from capture, 64.

Major Applington yesterday evening joined our Regiment with the Third Battalion of our Regiment.  They have been at Birds Point till now.  There is still one company of our Regiment at Cape Girardeau.  If they was here now our whole Regiment would be together once more.

Captain Ghalegar lost two of his men killed at Charleston, Missouri while they was scouting as they came here.  There is accidents happening here every day.  There has been one man killed and several wounded by the explosion of the bomb shells that have been picked up after they was thrown at us.  Then there is occasionally one gets shot by the accidental discharge of guns and pistols and it is a matter of wonder to me that there is not more shot than there is, there being so many that are careless in the handling of their arms.

It is now night and there has been a heavy cannonading going on for some time up at Island no. 10 and still continues.  The firing is certainly the heaviest that I have ever heard.  It is about twelve miles from here and the shocks are quite heavy.  I do hope that the morning the Rebels may be completely whipped out and give it up there.

As it was your request some time ago, for me to be vaccinated, I will have it done in a day or two.  I applied to the Surgeon at the hospital a few days ago to get it done and he had no vaccine but said he would have some in a few days and would do it for me.  I should have had it done during the winter, but it would have been troublesome for me to bundle myself up on our scouts.

There is none of our Company now in the hospital and but few of the Regiment.  I rather think that gunpowder and exercise makes healthy soldiers.  Foster Moon is improving in health.  The rest of the boys are all well.  F.W. Arnold is still driving a team.  The rest of the boys are lamming around at their regular duties.  We are again drilling every day, two or three hours, then we have Dress Parade almost every day.

I wrote to you and to John Foster to have the Salem Advocate stopped unless they would direct it to the Regiment as well as the Company, so that I can get it, which I hope you will get him to see to at once.

I think we will be paid off again in a few days, but I do not know how we will manage about sending our money home.  If I can do no better I think I will risk sending you a few dollars in a letter, if we should be paid off soon.

I would be very glad to be at home but do not now expect to very soon, unless there should be a great change in the military affairs of this world very soon.  I hope however that you will make the best of your situation and try to be of a good cheer as you possibly can in the hope that Peace may soon be restored to our once happy country, and that we may soon all be able to return to our families to enjoy the Peace that will be the better enjoyed in consequence of having assisted in a very small degree to establish it.

Oh! My God, with what shame ought the faces of our quasi Union neighbors to burn, but shame is no part of their natures, or they would have died of shame years ago.

My sentiments towards such is well known to all the neighborhood, so that there is a very little use for me to withhold my opinion of them, even if I desire to do so.  My prayer is that all traitors at home and abroad may soon see the error of their ways and repent, lest the proper judgment overtake them before they are aware that they are spotted by the authorities of this, the United States.  Such are to be pitied.  How is it now there with these that thought that the Northern men would not fight.  Are they still of the same opinion, and can one Southern man still whip five Northern men.  They are certainly bound to acknowledge in all truth and candor that they was mistaken for once.  What do they think of the Southern men that abandon their forts without even the show of a fight.

I hope you will send the children to school all the time that you can and try to encourage them to obey you.  There is a great deal depends upon their minding you.  Tell Diora that I want her to try to see how soon she can learn to write me a letter.  Tell Byron that he must learn to read so that I can get him a paper with pictures in it, and while I think of it I want you to have the Circuit Preacher continue Diora’s paper and I will send you the money to pay him.  Tell M. Hester that when “Pa” comes home he will bring her a nice little book.  Tell W. Scott and Rollin what you think best.  Tell Delila that she must come to see me this summer.  And tell Mrs. Mary Smith for me that I will come to see her as soon as circumstances will permit and this one, without omitting anything, and the next and all the rest and if there is anything that I neglect to write about, if she will just tell me what it is, I will try to do better.  Tell her to direct till further ordered, to New Madrid, Missouri.  And tell her further, that the bugles are now sounding tattoo, which is a hint to go to bed and further tell her that this sheet of paper is ruined and that I know she is sleepy, so I had better not bother her any more tonight.

Wishing you all a good nights sleep and pleasant dreams, I bid you good bye.

William A. Smith

Tuesday morning, 18^th March 1862

The firing continued at intervals during the night and this morning about sunrise the whole atmosphere seemed to vibrate with the regular shocks of each gun which was fired very fast for considerable time, but it has nearly ceased now, there being only about one gun in five minutes.  But it is a little like you was when you first heard a drum, it is like making thunder.

I have just learned there is a regular mail established to this place that will bring our mail three times each week.  I think you can now hear from me regular again until we are ordered to march.

I have again this morning been over to the 22^nd Regiment and saw those boys there that I am acquainted with.  We are encamped about a mile and a half apart and the whole distance is a solid encampment in two rows about half a mile apart.  I see this morning that five Regiments have been removed and I hear that they are going to Point Pleasant.  Yesterday there came a Rebel boat down the river bearing a flag of truce and having on board 450 (or 50 ???) sick and wounded soldiers asking General Pope to allow them to pass down to be taken care of, but the General told them that we had some sick and wounded, but that he had no disposition to send them up the river home.  That if they would land their sick here, he would have them provided for, as ours are provided for, but that the boat would not be allowed to proceed farther into Dixie.  At this the boat returned up the river to take the chance of being captured or whip us out.  The fire at the Island is increasing very fast.  They are certainly having a tolerably hot time up there.  I suppose that your Thursday’s paper will tell you all about it as well as the run from New Madrid.  It may seem strange to you but you are all better posted upon how the war progresses than we are, who are actually engaged in it.

I wish you would send me the Commercial, occasionally.  Direct them just as you direct the letters.  Lest you get tire of my scribbling, I thin I had better stop this time, but will soon write to you again.  Hoping that you are well and enjoying yourselves.  I bid you for the present, good bye.

William A. Smith

5 o’clock P.M.

We have just had orders to march to Point Pleasant tonight.  We will be off at dark which will be in about two hours.  The firing continues at Island No. 10.  You will direct to New Madrid.

W.A.S.

Camp near Point Pleasant, Missouri

Monday morning March 24^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

I have been anxiously expecting a letter from you for four or five days, but am still disappointed.  I mailed my last one to you on last Wednesday.  We was then ordered to strike our tents and march for this place at 7 o’clock P.M.  We accordingly packed everything, took down our tents and just as we got everything loaded, the order was for our Company to stop till morning to guard the train of waggons.   We soon had our horses unsaddled and went to roost without tents and slept very well till about two o’clock when there came a shower and rather made us bustle to get up our tents before everything got wet.  We then got a good nap before morning.  At about nine in the morning we started and about three in the evening we got to our camp ground about one and half miles back from the village.

On Friday morning Sergeant R.L. Guy and me got into one of the waggons that was going for forage and rode down to town to get to see the place.  There is a few good houses here but they have been nearly destroyed by the cannon balls passing through them.  We have about half dozen small cannon along the bank of the river and our men have rifle pits dug along the bank for about half a mile.  A rifle pit is a narrow hole dug in the ground about five or six feet long and as deep as a mans breast.  Two men get in each of these pits with good Sharps rifles and when a boat attempts to land, the pick off those that try to run out the planks.  When a cannon is fired, they just haul in their heads like terrapins and load their guns all ready for the next man that shows himself.

The Rebels have two guns on the other bank in Tennessee.  They fire at our men about three or four times each day.  The distance is one and three quarters miles.  While we was in one large store house looking how the balls had knocked things around, Bang went the gun across the river and whew, whiz came the ball.  I was in the back room and stood listening, expecting the ball to strike the building we was in, for it is the one nearest the flag pole and it is cut up the worst.  But the ball came whistling on and Crash.  It went through the next house to us in which there was several men, but it did not hurt anyone.  Our men picked up the ball.  It was around a twelve pound ball and was fired at a team that was passing, but it was a little too high and rather ahead of the team.  The gunners there said it was a good shot for the distance.

Our flag is up on the pole that the secesh flag was on when our men took possession of the town.

I did intend to write to you yesterday but at half past three yesterday morning our officers had notice to march at 7 o’clock with two days rations.  Accordingly we was ordered and your humble servant packed his haversack with the dainties of a soldiers life, namely six crackers and a hunk of beef, and at 7 o’clock we was in the saddle.  Just exactly six months from the time, even to the hour, if you recollect.  We started southwest towards where the report says Thompson, Kitchens, and Bowles are said to be encamped with eight hundred men and four pieces of artillery.  We went about twelve mile and came to a kind of a running lake called Little river, over which there is a bridge and one of the stringers was nearly chopped in two.  While some of our men was examining the bridge to see whether we could cross, there was four men jumped out of a house on the opposite side and run for the woods like the old boy was after them.  We crossed over and soon captured them.

Here begins what is called a plank road, it crosses a swamp and goes on toward Bloomfield.  It is twelve miles from this and to where there is a ridge of high ground and on this ridge is where the Rebels are encamped.  We started on the Plank road.  It is only eight or ten feet wide and the grade is no wider than the planks are.  There is about every half mile a place made with dirt for a waggon to switch off on while another passes.  At first the swamp is only wet land but gradually getting wetter, till it is all water.  Then the water gets deeper till it is a lake and the whole country as far as the eye can see is one vast lake.  The only ground visible is the road which is about three feet high and nearly the whole country is covered with cypress saplings about the size of telegraph poles and where the water is not too deep, the small bushes are covered with a kind of small vine that mats all over them like hop vines.  Along the road there is bridges to let the water pass and in some places it runs with considerable force.

We had left one company to guard the bridge and prisoners and gone about seven miles when firing commenced at the front.  The order was given for the first part to dismount and pass forward.  I gave my horse to Haley and went to the front with the rest and found that our advance guard had come upon the rebel pickets and exchanged shots with them.  The pickets had torn up a bridge and when they fired they started towards camp.  We put more planks on the bridge and passed to where they had stood.  There was here a Toll gate and house, the front end standing on the edge of the road and the back end on blocks.  There was here some canoes and great many steel traps, two bed steads and beds, a few cocking tools and a small wagon without any bed, but nary body.  The picket guard as they retreated, shoved the planks off of the bridges which we replaced with planks off of the road.  After awhile we came to a place where they had left the bridges whole.  We then let down to the work of overtaking them, but when they heard us coming they again commenced to destroy bridges, but we was there before they could finish their work and they scattered into the swamp, leaving three of their horses, blankets, overcoats, etc and one gun.  They fired at us from their cover of brush and the fire was returned by us.  They wounded four of our men, two of whom died, one died last night on the road, the other this morning just after he was brought in, after the firing was over.  Our wounded men was placed on blankets and carried by hand back to the Toll gate where they took down a door and placed it on the hind wheels of the waggon that we found there and put the worst wounded prisoners on it and pulled it by hand till we met the doctor and the ambulance.  Then the wounded men was taken into a house and their wounds dressed, but one of them died during the night and this morning the other one died in a few minutes after they was brought here.  The doctor saw that he was dying and told them to not move him till he died, so he died in the ambulance.  They was both shot in the body, the others, one was shot through the arm and the other slightly wounded in the feet.  The one that was shot in the arm was a brother to one that died.  They stood close together when they was shot.  Their names were Cockerell of Company “K”.  We got into camp exactly at midnight.

I cannot tell what will be done about them out there in the swamp.  Perhaps we will give them a fight in a few days, but I will if permitted, give you an account of them at some future time.  There was one man of this Regiment wounded in the foot while on picket duty by the accidental discharge of his carbine.  I have known several such cases and the wonder with me is that there is so few wounded or killed so.

It is two o’clock P.M. and there is a squad of soldiers starting to take those prisoners that we captured yesterday to General Popes Headquarters at New Madrid.

I am notified that I am on guard tonight so I will have to wind up this letter rather soon as I want it to go in the morning mail and I will not be in till after it is gone.

We have no news from Island No. 10.  I hope that you will be able to tell me of its capture in your next letter.  Say, what must I do if I do not get any more letters from you, or do you get any from me.

The boys are taking their turn at the mumps, Will Knight and some of the rest have already had them and William A. Arnold has them now.  I suppose it will be my turn after they are all well, if there is any left after going the rounds.

My health is as good as you could ask for me.  I hope that you are all well.  For the present you will have to excuse me.

Yours truly,

William A. Smith

Point Pleasant, Missouri

Sunday night, March 30^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

Yours of the 7^th and 8^th inst. was handed to me this evening.  I was glad to receive a letter for it had been a month since I even heard from you.  I am sorry that you are afflicted with the sun pain again this spring.  Why don’t you try the garlic on your big toe.  I did intend to write a note to you yesterday but was detailed to take a squad of nine men and go with thirty others under the charge of Capt. Nelson, down into the swamp to hunt beef cattle and we did not get back till late this evening and when I got into camp your letter was here.  The 26^th had quite a little battle last night with a flat boat that dropped in close to the shore, with the evident intention of either attacking our picket on the bank or capturing some of our small cannons, but the firing from our boys was rather too warm to suit them and they steered into the current and floated by, no damage done to any one so far as is known.

Island no. 10 is still in the seceshers hands and may possibly be so for some time to come.  We are now enjoying real soldiers life, plenty of hard and dangerous word and some days, pretty hard fare, something like some of our friends are no doubt enjoying at home.  Corn bread, mush and corn coffee for breakfast, corn coffee mush and corn bread for dinner, and then for the sake of variety we take the same for supper.  Then maybe the next day we get plenty of crackers and meat, sugar coffee, etc.  Sergeant Breeze says for me to tell you that he has gone to bed and is well.  Sergeant Bebe has been sick a few days but is better.  Corporal Young was rather under the weather a few days but is now well.  John M. Hamilton has a severe cough for a few days.  Foster Moon is better.  He was out with me yesterday and today.  I think he will soon be stout.  I have lately received a letter from Lucy and Nancy and have answered Lucy’s and will answer Nancy’s in a few days.  Tell her that she will have to pay the postage on it for I am almost out of stamps and there is none to be bought here.  However I think she will be glad to pay the postage on a letter from me.  I have quite a lot of stamped envelopes, etc papers, in my trunk at Commerce, but I don’t know when I will get it.  Lieut. Charlie Lee is still there and I don’t know when he will rejoin us.  I wish he was here now.

Nancy says she heard that our Regiment was to be disbanded.  Such a thing seems quite probable but I am not expecting such a thing.  You will excuse me for not writing more, for the camp is in a perfect uproar.  Bob Guy is just like Eli. W. Boring, he will argue anything he pleases and he is bothering me so that I can hardly write.

I hope to get another letter from you in a day or two.  We are about to have a Grand Review tomorrow.  In my next I may tell something about it.  For the present,

Good bye,

William A. Smith

New Madrid, Missouri

Saturday night, April 12^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

I again have the privilege of addressing you.  My health is good.  I have been a little unwell for a few days in consequence of my vaccination, but have kept going all the time and am now about well.  We moved up to this place yesterday evening and the rain wet all of our things, the rain lasted all night and till about ten o’clock today and even now there is an occasional shower and we are under marching orders with four days cooked rations.  We go down the river I think our destination is Fort Pillow, but we can only conjecture.  I think we will have something to do about Fort Pillow or Memphis.  You remember that Memphis was the first place talked about as being so strong that it could never be taken by the Union forces.  I think there will now be a chance to test that matter.  I hope however that it may be taken without much bloodshed.  Oh!! Was not that a dreadful battle at Corinth.  Colonel Hall that was our first Major was killed there and Colonel Hainie.  You will see the particulars in the papers by the time you get this note (for I can’t write a letter).  Our sick will go to St. Louis by the first boat, among them are Eldridge Jones and John M. Hamilton and our Q.M. Sergeant Treibel who was wounded by the tree.  I am now acting for him.  He will go home from there.  If we don’t go tomorrow, I will see John and Eldridge and write Lucy and tell how they are.

I received two papers from here enclosing a letter and postage stamp and I will answer it the first opportunity.  I this evening received yours dated April 6^th to 9^th.  I wrote you one last Sunday which you ought to have got Thursday, but you don’t get letters from the office as soon as if I was at home.  I think I will send my overcoat home tomorrow if we do not move.  We will send a box of them directed to Dave.  He will get them and you can get mine from there if they ever get through.  If I send them I will send a letter in the box with them.  I am acquainted with Sam Williams and I thought you were.  I am sorry t hear of the worms on the apples and glad that you are trying to keep them off.  I hope you will get George to tend them good and also those grafts.

Colonel Kellogg has not resigned out I heard today that he has been promoted to Brigadier General.  Can’t say as to the truth of that but I believe it is so.  You have seen the accounts of the evacuation of Island No. 10 and the large number of prisoners that we took.  There has been today about twenty-five gun boats and transports gone down from here.  There is not now enough transports here to take off all the troops that are here, but will no doubt be here before morning.  If I am not mistaken, on year ago today, this war was begun by the bombing of Fort Sumpter and what a legacy has it entailed on the whole people, both north and south.  I will close by subscribing myself.

Your Husband

William A. Smith

On Board the Choctaw between Hickman and Columbus, Kentucky Mississippi River

Friday night, April 18^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

I expected a letter from you today but we have been on the move all day and al letter could hardly find us.  My last to you was last Saturday night.  Sunday morning we was ordered to saddle up and march to the boat landing to be ready to go down the river.  Sunday and Monday there was a great many troops went down the river.  We laid on the bank till yesterday morning, when we was ordered on board the boat to go down the river.  We went down as far as Riddles Point below Point Pleasant and was ordered back.  The whole country clear down to Fort Pillow is covered with water so that there is not much chance for military operations above there.  Opposite Hickman, I saw at two different houses, women waving neat little flags.  I wish every woman in the United States had one and would make use of it.  I don’t feel like writing tonight, you will therefore excuse me.  I send you ten dollars for your own use.  You can use some of it to buy Rollin a willow wagon if you like to.  There is $25. due to Pap on the horse he let Jack Foster have. I told John Foster to give him twenty five or thirty dollars.  I hope that you have received the box of overcoats that we sent.  You will send Mrs. Clow word and let her have both Allen and John Clow’s.  They will pay me the expenses.  One that is marked R.F.Y. in the sleeve belongs to Corporal Young.  You will keep it till they send for it or I will tell you where to send it some other time.  We left him and Corporal Hamilton lying side by side in the hospital at New Madrid, as well as Eldridge Jones and two others of our Company.

Saturday morning

We landed at Cairo a little after daylight.  Birds Point is entirely under water.  Just after the gun at the fort fired to hail us, a snag struck one of the barges that was towed by the Woodford, which was loaded with horses, and it would have soon sank but they run it aground at the fort.  I was standing on the upper deck and saw it.  It was an ugly sight to see a log run right up through the front end and a barge even.  It would seem worse for a steamboat.  I don’t know how long we will stop here but I suppose only long enough to take on coal.

You will direct your letters here, as we will go up the river.  The weather is rather wet and disagreeable.  I send you the Southern account of our first visit to New Madrid, of which I have already wrote to you.  I wrote to you two weeks ago tomorrow and enclosed some of your letters, but have got no answer.  Did you get it.  I received a letter from Dr. Beach a few days ago and he told me that one of our children had the mumps.  He did not say which it was.  I am anxious to hear from you.  I hope it is well by this time.  I have not had it yet.  I suppose there was not enough to go around or I would have had it.  I hope you may escape as well as I have.  The mumps have been quite hard on Eldridge Jones.  You have never told me whether you received those crackers that I sent by Dave and how you would like to live on them.

Some of the boys are now eating breakfast to the tune of fifty cents a meal, others are taking their mornings dram at ten cents a drink, and a great many are cursing the guards because they will not let them go ashore.  Some are still in the land of dreams.  I think the water is twenty feet higher in the river than the streets of Cairo, but it is nearly all covered with water.  It looks like two feet more of water would go clear over the tracks of the Illinois Central Railroad, then the whole place would be destroyed.

We are lying about a mile above the St. Charles hotel, but when we get coal we will drop down to town.  I will then go to the express office and send this to my wife.

William A. Smith

Hamburg, Tennessee

Sunday morning, April 27^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

I am again permitted to address you.  I hope you are all enjoying good health.  My health is rather bad for a few days, but nothing serious as I am able to do my duty and yesterday to ride out to the battle ground.

I am very anxious to hear from you.  I have had no letter from you for two weeks last night, which I answered the same night.  I sent you some money from Cairo, then I sent you a paper from Metropolis, Illinois and a letter to Nancy from Paduka Kentucky and I sent mother a letter two or three days ago.  I ought ere this to have received an answer from you to a large letter that I sent you on the 6^th inst.

I hope you have before now received the money I sent you.  I have now sent home all the money for the horses but ten dollars to esquire S.S. Jones that comes from William Knight.  I am very anxious to know how you are getting long with our things, and about wood etc.  I want to know how you are doing with the orchard.  I hope you will take particular care of that, and have it well tended.  I wrote to you once before to hire George by the day to put in such things as you wanted in it and I would send you the money to pay him.  I hope you will do it and if you need more money than I have sent you, I will send you some in a letter.  I hope when you write again you will tell me about such things.

I know that George is willing to do anything for you that you will ask him, but I hope that you will, if you have the money, pay him for all the chores he does for you and if he has any time to spare from his other work, I wish you would get pap to hire him to get up a lot of wood for you, enough to at least do you through the summer and you can let me know how much it costs and I will send you the money.

I want to know how the children are getting along at school and whether they are supplied with books, and if you have sent the subscription to Diora’s paper.  I hope you will still take that or some other one for her.  I received the paper sent by Miss Colburn, thank her for me.  If I can get hold of a late secesh paper, I will return the compliment.  I suppose you would both be glad to read a rebel paper.  I am writing about one thing and you want to hear of another, well here it is.

After I wrote to you from Cairo we started up the Ohio river and passed Mound City late in the evening, and during the night we landed at Metropolis, Illinois.  In the morning (last Sunday) I went ashore and went to the post office and then went to a store to buy some cheese, but the keeper had no cheese.  I called for breakfast and his wife gave me a good breakfast and the weekly Commercial of the 17^th, but would not have any pay for it.  I made her little girl a present and went to the boat, thinking of the comforts of home and the pleasure of female society.  A barge belonging to our boat, loaded with 90 horses was smashed and began to fill with water.  The horses were then all crowded on our boat, and again we steamed up the river.  At Paduka we stopped for coal.  It is a very nice place but I was a little disappointed with it.  It does not look as well from the river as I expected.  Leaving there we turned up the Tennessee river.  By reference to the map you will see that we are then going towards Dixie.  About eleven o’clock we passed Fort Henry.  It being night, we could not see much of it.  In the morning we passed a railroad bridge that was all destroyed but the piers.  During the day the scenery was the nicest that I ever saw.  The land is rocky and covered with cedars.  The river is very narrow.  Sometimes the river would be square across it and it would appear that the boat could go no farther.  Then the river would curve gracefully around it an away we go again, to have the same thing repeated again with a slight change.  Where there is no bluffs the timber is good oak and hickory.

The weather was rainy or cloudy both Monday and Tuesday.  Tuesday morning we tied up on the opposite (east) side from Pittsburg landing and about noon proceeded up the river about two miles to Hamburg, and landed on the west side of the river where we pitched our tents and stayed two nights and was ordered to move about half mile.  Before we got fixed up, we was again ordered to rove but the order was soon countermanded and only one battalion of our Regiment moved out.  The next day we was again ordered to march without our tents, with two days cooked rations in our haversacks, but that order was soon reversed and we are now expecting to march at short notice, but may possibly be here several days.

The Rev R.H. Massy heard that our Regiment was here and came over to see me.  He is not as fleshy as he was when I last saw him.  I went over to the battle ground yesterday.  You have read so many accounts of it that it is useless for me to try to give a description of the place.  If I should write till I am gray headed, I could not convey a true picture of the place.  I say hundreds of acres that it would seem from the shots in the trees and bushes, that a man could not possibly be on during the battle, without being killed.

The battle ground is about such a place as it is from the Bill Blurton place to Uncle Brits, black oak ridges and post oak flats with an occasional old field.  The bushes of the size of your wrist and smaller are all cut down by the bullets.  The large saplings and trees are literally felled by the bullets.  In trees not larger than a persons body, can be counted twenty to thirty balls.  The cannonading was not as heavy as we had a New Madrid, except near the river, where the heavy metal from our gun boats took effect.  There was however a perfect storm of six pound shot and shell all over the field of battle.  Some trees are notched in three or four places by small cannon balls.  There is a terrible stench that permeates the whole battle field, caused by the dead horses which was not buried deep enough.  I visited the 40^th Illinois and saw Sam Reed.  He is sick.  He tells me that your father and Tom writes to him.  I saw a great many and some that I did not know had joined the army, amongst by acquaintances, I saw Bruce Hatten.  I took dinner with him, John Hickerson, Rilan Walsh, little Dow Ald.(?) Parris Manning, Robt. Nance, young Mike Gee, and one of Susan Gibbs brothers, both of the Wolfes, Calvin Garner and both the Arnold boys.  I went to the Eleventh and saw Jacob Pool.  He had a ball pass through the leg of his pants but was not hurt.  He is in good health.  Burket was out on picket guard and Will Ballard was gone fishing.  I saw neither of them.  I saw W. Elbert Purcell and Uncle Jacks pete at the 48^th.  I did not go into the 41^st, as I suppose John Boring has not returned from home.  I heard from Jeff Boring who came up with us, that John had been to see you.  I am glad that he went.  I will tomorrow send a letter to his Regiment and when he comes back, I will go and see him.  He can tell me of a great many things I have not heard.  You are aware that we expect a battle soon in this neighborhood.  When it does come off you will not think it strange if some of us are killed, but I do hope you will content yourself with as little uneasiness as possible till you hear the result, which I do hope will be in our favor.

Lieut. Shoup has got his discharge and Asa W. McDonald is now our second Lieut.  Charlie Lee went home from Cairo and Sergeant Breeze also went, by whom I sent my money.

I think Robert Young has gone home.  If he has gone home, I think he will pay you a visit before he returns to his Company.  You will keep his overcoat till you hear from him or me about it.  I think John M. Hamilton has gone to Evansville Indiana, also Eldridge Jones.  I was in hopes they would be sent home on sick furlough.  It is possible that they may yet go home, but I rather have some fears in Johns case.  He was a little worse when I saw him last and his complaint is a deceiving one, the pneumonia.

I believe that Walter Scott was three year old yesterday.  I send you a dollar to buy him a present and tell him that Pa sent it to him.  You will buy the rest of the children some little present if you can find them something suitable.

I hope you will give my respects to your mother.  I would like to hear from her.  Then Elizabeth has not wrote to me for some time.  Why don’t she write.  Tell me how Billy Marohl is getting along.  I have not saw Eli. W. Jones since he got on the boat at New Madrid, but his regiment is encamped about half a mile from here.  John Gaut does not stand the rub quite as well as some others.  William Arnold is also sick.

I suppose you have not seen any young plums and mulberries.  We have them here half grown.  By reference to the map you will see that we are very near the south line of Tennessee.  I believe it is only about 10 miles to the line of Mississippi.  It may be that my next letter will be dated from that state.

I have not seen a newspaper for several days.  It is almost impossible to get a paper here.  There is thousands of them comes here but there is not much chance to get one.  It is a kind of a grab game.

Good bye to Mrs. Mary Smith from William A. Smith.

Camp near Hamburg, Tennessee

April 30^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

I know that you are very anxious about me.  I will therefore take every opportunity of dropping you a few lines.  My health is better than when I wrote to you two days ago.  Since then we have moved about four miles farther south and are now that distance from the river.  It takes great deal of hauling to supply such an army as we have here and the roads are almost impassible, but they are being made good very fast.   It is hard work to get cannon over such roads as we have here.  The weather keeps wet and cool, making it very wet and disagreeable moving around and camping out.  This is the first encampment that we have made since we landed here.  Our duties are about the same that they are for common, except at Point Pleasant where we had the heaviest duties to do that we have done in the service.  We are well supplied with provisions now, and good provisions, except the crackers.  We have been troubled with mouldy bread (crackers).  I return all that is mouldy but when one side of a box or barrel is mouldy the rest tasted of it.  We get some as good smoked hams as you ever saw.  We again today heard cannonading towards Corinth but have not heard the cause or effect.  Guess they was shooting at each other.  I hope they wont kill any body but take a lot of secesh prisoners.  Our lines extend for several miles across the country and as fast as they move there is telegraph lines put up.  There is two lines extending south and southwest from the river, one from Pittsburg landing and one from Hamburg.  The land here is very poor, being rather hilly.  The hills are almost as red as I paint Brown (???).  In the Hollows there is some rocks of a gravelly nature, which seem to be full of iron.  There is also good springs. The timber is very poor.  Post oak and Black jack with an occasional chestnut and scrubby Beech along the hollow.  There is no farms here that any one lives on.  I see an occasional place that reminds me of the Lassater place and these places up in there.  What few acres that I do see, have been cultivated in cotton last.  There is a cabin close to here with several hundred pounds in it.  Our men use it to sleep on.  The house is used as a guard house for our Regiment.  Our Colonels tent is close to it.  We was mustered for pay today, but we may not see the money for some time.

Good bye

William A. Smith

Camp ten miles south of Hamburg, Tennessee

Sunday evening, May 4^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

You can hardly conceive how anxious I am to have a letter from you. I have not had a letter from you since three weeks last night, but have wrote at least four and I feel confident that you got the one with the money in it, for I sent it by Sergeant Breeze and he gave it to Eldridge Jones at Patoka.  You certainly had time to answer it.  Why is it that you have not answered it as well as the rest.  You cannot tell how it makes me feel to see hundreds of letters each day and none for me.  I wrote you a week ago, I hope you have received it before this time, but it may be that you do not get my letters any better than I get yours.

We have moved again our encampment about five miles, and now we are within one mile of the line of the State of Mississippi. We are under orders to march again tomorrow morning at 7 o’clock.  In fact we had our horses saddled and out waggons loaded this morning, but the order was countermanded and we lie over till morning.  I would wait till after we move before I write but that would be too long, as I have always wrote to you regularly each week and some times two letters in one week.  The weather is wet and rainy today, but I hope we may have good weather tomorrow.  We are having skirmishes with the enemy almost every day, which comes off to our good.

Yesterday there was a very brisk cannonading for some little time.  I have not heard the exact result but hear that our guns drove the enemy in at a little town called Farmington.  It is about seven miles from here.  I do hope that before next Sunday I will be able to give you an account of the taking of Corinth.  You are no doubt looking this way with an anxious mind and hoping that it may come off to the glory of the Federal arms.  I hope it may, and I think it will be almost the death struggle of Rebellion in this part of the Southern Confederacy.  Our scouts are capturing and bringing in prisoners almost every day.

The country around our camp is rather hilly and very poor.  The last years crop along here was nearly all cotton.  I have seen yesterday something that you will not be likely to see for some time to come.  It was a field of wheat headed out and in bloom.  But there is not much wheat or rye growing in this part of the country.  In fact there seems to be nothing going on but the war.  This war will blast the fortunes of hundreds and thousands of people, both north and south.  What a pity that this war every commenced; how soon will it end?

I was left back at our camp a couple of days and one night to take care of some things that we could not haul.  If I ever saw a lonely place, it is a deserted military camp.  I have thought that the Sandy Branch camp ground just after Camp meeting was a lonely place, but only think of a camp of ten or fifteen thousand mean all leaving within an hour or two, except two or three men to each company.  At night all is still except an occasional laugh or the neigh of a horse.  You must be aware that such a time any one is bound to feel the stillness of the place, which could not be felt only on account of the great company that was saw on the ground but a few hours before.

Foster Moon and William Arnold are both still in the hospital at Hamburg.  Foster is better.  Sergeant Beebe is there also.  I have had a diarrhea for some time but keep up and do my duty.  I hope I may be able to do my duty as long as I stay in the service.

Charlie Lee is with us now.  He went home from Cairo as we came up past there.

I now hear that John Hamilton has gone to Evansville Indiana. I hope he may soon be able to go home.  You will excuse me for the present as I sent you a note in a letter to Dave a day or two ago.

Good Bye,

William A. Smith

Camp ten miles south of Hamburg, Tennessee

Monday night, May 5^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

I today at noon received your letter of the 22^nd. ultimo and hasten to drop you a line to acknowledge its receipt.  I wrote to you last night but this may possibly reach you before that does, at least they will be close together.

Our battalion was ordered to move yesterday morning and the order was countermanded after we was saddled up.  We then expected to move this morning, but it rained very heavy during the night and part of the morning.  The Third battalion (ours) was ordered out with two days cooked rations.

I did not go for as I have before told you I am acting Quartermaster and my duties does not call me away from the camp.  In fact my duties rather detain me behind the company when we move.  If the battle begins and our Regiment is called into action, I intend to participate in it with my Company.  You seem to rather dread the consequences of a battle here.  It is perfectly natural that you should be very uneasy about it.  I hope however you will try to compose yourself as well as you can and wait the developments of time.  I feel like it will be my good fortune to pass through all that will be required of me and return home to be blessed by my wife and children.  Some persons seem always to think that it will be their lot to be numbered with those that pass off the stage of action at every battle.  I have always felt differently, yet it may be that I will be one of the victims of war.  In fact I may now, even now addressing you for the last time, but I hope not.  I believe not.

Our scouting parties are daily bringing in prisoners, their skirmishes all prove to be to our advantage.  I had hoped to address you from Mississippi, but I write this at the same camp from which I wrote you last night.  I am now receiving the Salem Advocate.  I have read the new Constitution with care.  You are aware that we will be allowed to vote upon it even if we are in Dixie.  There is one part of it that I think is worth the whole cost of the convention; it is in regard to the 7 per cent of the net proceeds of the Illinois Central Railroad.  You have often heard me speak of it, it is therefore useless for me to write to you my views concerning it.  There is no document of its size ever got up, but that is objectionable in some of its features, then why should this one be an exception to the general rule.  It would be strange indeed if it had no defects.  Tell me now you like it and what is the opinion of the neighbors about it.

I wrote to mother on my birthday and hope she has got it before this time.  I would be glad to have a letter from her.  I hear that Mr. Jones has gone for his wife and intends again to be our neighbor. Speaking of him reminds me of Henderson.  I am really sorry that he has suffered so for something to eat.  I hope he may never fare so hard again, but there is no doubt that thousands do suffer daily, either by the carelessness of the officers or on account of the trouble to transport supplies.  I do not know how things are going on in the world, as I have not had a paper for several days.  The papers dated 1^st. inst are in camp but I have been busy today and not read any.  I have another letter to write tonight.  You will therefore excuse me.  I must answer Diora, before I close yours.

My Dear Little Girl:-

I received your letter dated the 22^nd of April, and was glad to know that you had got to writing so that I could read it.  I was sorry to hear that Scott was not well.  I think that Hannah B. Colburn is a very fine girl or she would not sent you the present that you tell about; but you did not tell me what it was.  I am sorry that Marthas father got so badly hurt.  I hope he will soon be better.  Tell Ellen Nichols that I would be glad to see her.  I hope you will be a good girl and mind mother and Miss Colburn.  If you will mind her and try hard to learn, you can soon write me a very nice letter.  Foster Moon is sick in the hospital about ten miles from here.  Do you wish you was there so that you could give him a good drink of water.  He is better now than he was.  William Arnold is there with him, but he is very sick.  I don’t know when I will see him.  You are getting tired of reading my letter, so I will quit and write another.

Good night.

Your Father

To Diora Smith

Camp in Mississippi 5 miles from Corinth

Saturday evening  May 10^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

I today received yours of the 16^th and 17^th ultimo. I had been looking for it for three or four days, since I received the one dated April 22^nd which spoke of this one.  I answered it immediately.  I also received one today from John Foster dated 18^th ultimo, containing 50 cents worth of postage stamps.  You will thank him for me and if you have the money to spare you will pay him for them.  I will write to him in a few days.  I hope to get another from him in a day or two in answer to the package I sent him that contained the money.  I hope he did not find any person that would not take their part of it for fear that Uncle Sam’s bank would break.  We are on the left wing of the army here and our Regiment is called on every day for either skirmishers or picket and are engaged almost every day more or less with the enemy.  They have driven them to within one mile of the town of Corinth.  Both sides are losing some men every day.  The day before yesterday our Company and some other companies of our Regiment was out under the command of our second Major Applington with some of the Michigan Cavalry.  In a charge made by our battalion, Major Applington was shot through the head and never spoke.  He was carried off of the field by Liuet. C.F. Lee, G.W. Haley and the adjutant of our Regiment, Charles Wills.  Major Applington was one of our best officers.  Company “M” had one man wounded at the same time.  Jesse Tilley had his horse shot from under him, a cannon ball passing through his neck.  James M. Padon had a large hole made through his hat, just above the top of his head.  John Wall had his sabre at a carry (it being a sabre charge) when a ball struck his sabre and knocked it against his head and nearly knocked him off his horse.  Sergeant Breeze had his mare wounded by a shell that burst near him.  I could go on in detail several instances of some little interest to you at home, but will lonely say that the boys all came back with credit to themselves.  Yesterday the Rebels rather gained on our left and the report was that they were trying to outflank us on the left.  The Regiments in this vicinity saddled up and stood ready to mount at the signal from Headquarters, but after a time they were ordered to unsaddle.  The accounts of yesterdays work are so conflicting that I will not now try to give you the result, further than that our advance force fell back with some loss.  The 10^th, 22^nd, and 26^th Regiments were among them, but I have not saw any in either of them that can tell me who is killed or wounded in any of them.  This morning three companies of our Regiment were called out to scout with others, on the extreme left, to find whether they were really trying to outflank our division or not.  During the day they came in sight of some pickets of the 3^rd Michigan Cavalry.  They fired and fell back and the artillery fired at them, killing one many of Company “A” of our Regiment.  Our men had to charge upon them to save their own lives.  They charged close upon the guns before the gunners knew that they were our own men.  Had the guns been fired this time, there would certainly have been a great many killed, for the guns this time were charged with canister shot, which is the most destructive of all cannon shots.  It seems very hard to be shot by our own soldiers, but wherever there is such heavy bodies of soldiers as this is here, it is almost impossible to avoid such collisions.  There is no telling how soon the battle will begin.  I hope it will be over before this reaches you. It is possible that the rebels may repulse us.  I think not however.  I believe that we will drive them from Corinth.  I expect that it will be a heavy battle, but I do not believe that the loss of life will be as great as it was at Pittsburg Landing on account of the vast amount of Artillery that we have here.  Of the number of men here, you are as well posted or better than I am.  It is almost impossible for a person to comprehend the number even after being told unless they are well used to thinking about the size of numbers.  I have not heard from William Arnold for three days.  I am afraid he will die.  Foster Moon has again joined the Company.  He looks tolerably well, but he is not stout.  Our Lieut. McDonald is sick.  The Captain is also sick.  I have been quite unwell since my last to you, but I am quite well now.  The health of the Company is better than it was a few days ago.  The weather is quite hot through the day and cool at night.  It is getting late and you are tired of this.  I will therefore close by subscribing myself.

Your husband,

William A. Smith

Camp near Corinth, Mississippi

May 18^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

I am again permitted to see the light of Sunday morning and to have the privilege of addressing you.  Yet I have doubts of my letters reaching you for some time.  I believe that the letters from here are detained in Cairo.  I hope however that such is not the case, but I will at least do my part in the matter.  I will keep writing regular to you and you will get them after the battle, if not before.  I am not receiving your letters as regular as I ought.  The last one that I received was dated April 16^th.  I had received one, two or three days before, dated April 22^nd, both of which I answered as soon as received.  I received one from John Foster dated 17^th and one from Uncle M.T. Ballance, dated 25^th.  I wrote to Uncle, but have been waiting about Johns expecting to receive another from him in answer to the package I sent him and I intended to answer both at once.  But the next mail does not bring me a letter from him.  I will wait no longer but will write to him at once.

I know that you do not neglect to write to me, but your letters are very slow to reach me.  The press at the post office at Cairo must certainly be very great.  Just think of the 150,000 men here with those down the river and those at Forts Henry, Donaldson, Paduceh, and a great many other places, all of whom average more than one letter each week and the greater part of those letters passing through the Cairo post office. There is no wonder that letters are delayed.  You have no doubt ere this seen the account of the death of our Major Applington in the papers, if you have not already saw it in my letter.

Captain Kochler has been appointed to fill his vacan’t place.  I do not know who will be our Captain.  I think it will be Charles Lee, but it may be Lieut. McDonald.  They are both good officers.  Our operations here seem to be at a stand on this wing, but on the right wing they are knocking away at the enemy almost every day.

Last Wednesday I rode over to the 22^nd Regiment (about 4 miles from here) and saw S. Wiley Cunningham, Capt. James Jackson, Jeff Boring, Frank Wilton and all the boys that I am acquainted with in that Regiment, except Rev. T.F. Houts and Dr. Elliot.  They are all quite well.  I also met there John Cunningham.  Over at the 26^th, I met the Rev. J.B. Woodard and heard some news that I was expecting to hear from you, but was not aware that I expected such a thing.  I mean the wedding of Bettie Purlsey and Jas. Gray.  Hope they may life a happy life.  I learned there that John Gaut had gone home.  At 11 o’clock that night our Regiment was ordered to prepare for a march with two days cooked rations.  From the way the ambulances were being got ready and the little strips of yellow clothe were being distributed to the buglers and musicians to show that they belonged to the hospital department and to protect them from the fire of the enemy, I naturally concluded that they expected bloody work.  If you have received my letters you are aware that there was a fight expected.  I accordingly saddled up and at the early break of day we were at General Popes Headquarters, where we found his little army ready for anything that should turn up.  We was formed in line just across the front of the 25^th, and about half a mile from Popes Headquarters.  The 11^th of Missouri (all Illinois troops) was on the left of the 26^th.  On our right was some Michigan cavalry.  Then some batteries of guns.  Then the 10^th, 22^nd, 60^th etc of Illinois troops.  Then another battery of guns, then still to the right was the Ohio and Indiana troops.  Back on the left of the 11^th Missouri was the 8^th Wisconsin and Iowa troops.  After waiting all day we laid down on the field and slept, to renew our position at daylight the next morning.  Again we remained on the field all day, expecting to hear the signal to move, but we could only hear the discharge of an occasional gun far on the right, indeed so far that we could scarcely hear it.  Late in the evening we all returned to our quarters.  Yesterday morning the order was given to saddle up.  Accordingly the horses were saddled but after a while the crier was to unsaddle.  But this morning six companies were ordered out on a scout, and now our company is out with one days rations.  They may possibly have a skirmish with the rebels for there is almost continual skirmishing going on along some part of the lines.  Even now I hear an occasional gun to the right.  We understand that the attack will be made (if by our forces) on the right, and that as soon as the battle begins, Pope will march his division direct to Corinth or the right wing of the enemy.  The center will be supported by some 64 powder guns.  In our division there is some 32’s but on the right, I do not know the weight of their balls.  There has none of those heavy guns fired here yet and I would be glad if they were not needed.  Yet where those heavy guns are used there is less loss of life than where the battle is fought with muskets.  It is almost impossible to tell whether we will have a battle here or not.  Should there really be a battle, the carnage will be very great, there is such a heavy force here on both sides.  It is possible that the enemy may not withdraw their forces to another place and make a stand.  Our officers will move with the greatest caution, to prevent the useless sacrifice of life.  It may yet be some time before the matter is decided, but we cannot doubt that it will be decided in our favor.  You are hearing of the victories of our armies almost every day from both East and the South.  The word is victory, victory.  I hope it may be kept up till there is not a place left in the United States where the rebel monster dare show his head.  I know that you are looking forward to the time when war in the United States will be of the past, and I be at home.  The prospect of a speedy termination of the war is certainly very good, yet it may hold out for a considerable time.  I hope that before this reaches you, the news of the opening of the Mississippi river will reach you, together with a Union victory at Corinth.  But if Memphis holds out half as well as the rebel sympathizers in our neighborhood would tell that it could, it will be months before there will be any passing from St. Louis to New Orleans.

My health is good but I have fell off in flesh considerable.  I weigh 148 pounds, that is half a pound heavier than I was when I left home nine months ago.  How quick nine months has passed to me, but I suppose it is not so with you.  You are no doubt very uneasy about me, but your uneasiness can not help you and is injurious to you.  Hoping that you are all enjoying good health, I bid you good bye.

William A. Smith

Fosterburg, Marion County, Illinois

May 19^th, 1862

My Dear Companion

Your father came from Patoka this evening and brought your letter dated 10^th inst., which I was most thankful to receive and to know that your health is improving.  I am glad that you had received that letter of mine with those ? for I was afraid that you would never get it.  I feel rather disheartened to hear that you are so close to the enemy and to hear of you losing your Major.  I am glad to hear the Foster Moon is with his Company again and hope that William Arnold will be with you by the time this reaches you.

Just 9 months today since you started for the army.  Oh what a stay has this been and but little prospect of a return.  If you had only volunteered for one year, then that time would soon be here, but my heart sickens at the thought 3 long years and you, far away in enemy country, with them shooting at you, my dearest by far than all else on this earth.  Your letter rather disheartened me tonight and I am wondering if you are lying on a bloody battle field tonight.  I pray not, but I feel in distress.  It is bed time, good night.

Tuesday morning 20^th

We have very cool and cloudy weather for several days.  This morning it is raining.  We need rain very bad.  I intended to finish this letter and go to the Burgh today if it does not rain too bad.  Miss Colburn sends you some papers to read and requests that you should distribute them as you think best.  I dipped over one hundred buckets of water out of the cellar yesterday and lowered it about one inch.  I have set my task to that each day till it is all out.  Georges babe has been sick for several days but it is getting better.  I went to meeting Sunday and saw Mr. Jones wife.  She has a daughter with her.  Her husband is in the army and was in the battle in Pea Ridge.  I like her appearance very well.

I believe I never gave you any answer to the question about the State Constitution.  I never read it.  I never heard it mentioned by any of the neighbors.  I saw it in the Salem paper.  You must be aware that nothing interests me but the war news.  I had wrote to Mr. and Mrs. Young to pay me a visit as soon as he was able.

Everybody is teasing me for corn.  I refused to sell, then they want to borrow.  Will Lambert came here yesterday and said if I would lend him 6 bushels he would pay me a bushel and a half for one bushel in the fall, or pay the money.  I thought of the time we had seen and could not refuse him.  John Bell wants 15 bushels.  George thinks I have about four hundred bushels yet.  Tell me what you think I had better do about it.  Corn is worth 25 cents per bushel.  I will have plenty of wheat for bread.

I am sorry to tell that Noah was at Fathers Sunday night and stayed for breakfast Monday morning.  I have a good talking laid up for Elizabeth.  It will do no good, but she may remember it some day.  I had hoped that we might have one brother-in-law that we could see some comfort with, but it wont be him.  I tell her to ask him if he loves honey and if he loves to ride in a sleigh.  George says the last time he saw Noahs sleigh, it was riding down the East fork.

I have been in the orchard and found 12 apples on the tree at the end of the hen house and thirty on the one that had some last year.

You urge me again for that promise.  I gave you the same answer to it in my last letter to you.  I can tell you that I have had my satisfaction on that subject.  When you come home there will be time enough for such things to be talked of.  I could promise you that, but it would be bitterly against my own will.  I hope you will cease for the present.

I believe that you could manage to come home as well as some there do.  Snider of Patoka is home now.  I have something to tell you that I don’t think proper to put on paper.  I have never heard him say any more about his wife.  I don’t see him now.  I guess he has business at home now as his wife is .…. I don’t know why them ------- was so short.  I guess they need oiling.  I sent some more in my last to you. ?

Oh dear me.  My mother has been here and told me that the wedding is to be in two or three weeks.  It hurts me worse than anything that has happened since you left home.  He may make here a good companion.  I hope he will.  If I had ever mistrusted such a thing I would have tried to kept off.  John W. White from Washington county has been writing her every since she was there and I had read some of the letters and thought that would break it off with Noah.  She told me once that Noah said that his father married Elizabeth and his brother William married Elizabeth, and he was going to see two Elizabeths.  So I must swallow all and say nothing.

The library door key is broke.  I have never tried there nor at the shop, yet maybe some day I will, then I will tell you.

Tell me if a Quartermaster does have to go into battle.  If they do not have to go, I hope and trust for the sake of me and your dear children, that you may be behind with the provision train.  I had rather hear of you being left behind than to hear of you being on picket or in battle.  If not, I hope you will not go.

John Wilson, Eliza’s John, was wounded at Shiloh and died last week.  He was brought home and buried.  We are all well and hope this will find you in the best of health.  We have had some rain but not enough to wet the clods.

Diora went to Daves today and brought me Youngs coat.  Miss Colburn says that Ellen Nichols tells her that you wrote a long letter to Dave and said Amos Moon was in the guard house for robbing an old woman.  I don’t know why he did not send me his letter when he sent mine.  He never takes any trouble for me to see his letters.  Sometimes I send for them.  It is time for supper, so come to supper William.

Your loving wife,

Mary Smith

Camp near Corinth, Mississippi

Tuesday morning, May 20^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

I again take up my pen to address you.  I wrote you a letter the day before yesterday, but I think there will be no mail allowed to pass Cairo from here till after the battle of Corinth and there is no telling when that will be fought.  If you have not got any of my letters from here, you will get quite a bunch after the battle, for I write to you every few days, but I hope you have at least got part of my letters.  For in yours of the 6^th inst. you tell of reading mine of the 24^th ultimo to mother.  You tell about opening it before mother saw it.  Such conduct in you can not be forgiven.  I hope you will never do such a thing again.  It is very improper in you to open a letter to her.  Had I wished you to open it I should have addressed it to you instead of her.  I wrote one I believe on the 26^th of April and sent Scott a gold dollar as a birthday present.  I think that you have received it, for mothers letter was only wrote two days before.  Yours up to the 6^th of May have all been received but it took twelve days for the last one to get here.  I hope you have not quit writing because my letters do not reach you.  You may be sure that I will write to you at least once a week, and I want to hear from you as often as you can conveniently write. I know that John Foster could have wrote to me before now, since I sent him the package of money, but it is time for Eldridge Jones to have been here several days and I think John has wrote by him.  I have the Salem Advocate up to the 13^th.  I don’t see why my letters can’t go as fast as newspapers.  In my letters to you I have gave you none of the rumors of the camp.  I could write pages of rumors that would interest you, but camp rumors cannot be relied on.  You are no doubt already aware of that.  Since my last to you there has nothing transpired worthy of note.  There is some firing every day, and the battle seems to be almost commenced. The firing today is quite regular.  For several days there has been some irregular firing in the vicinity of Corinth, but it has got to be steady, today.  I rather think that the firing comes from the rebels.  We have some 64 pound guns that will support our center and I think the rebels are trying to keep them from being mounted.  It may be that the guns are our small guns, protecting the sappers and miners in mounting them.  You at home are better posted as to the general news of the move here than we are that are here.  With the promise to write soon, I bid you good bye.

William A. Smith

Camp near Corinth, Mississippi

Sunday evening, May 25^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

Yours of the 13^th and 15^th inst was received yesterday evening.  You may be sure that I was glad to hear that you had received mine of the 27^th, ult. and those of the 4^th and 5^th inst.  I was afraid that they had been stopped at Cairo, but afterall, it may be false about the mail being stopped there; if it be so, I know you will be very uneasy about me before you get my letters that I have been sending since then.

I wrote to John Foster two or three days ago and enclosed a note to you, and hired a man that was going up the Central Railroad to take it all and drop it at some of the offices along the line.  I did intend to send it by one of our men that had been discharged, but failed to send by him.  I hope however that you will soon get it, then you will not be expecting my letters if they do not come.

I am sorry that you and the children had the mumps at the same time, but I am glad that you are all getting along tolerably well with them.  I am sorry to hear that Sam Reed has his money stolen, for the soldiers money is hard earned.

Just this minute a man brought me a letter from your uncle Montgomery, dated 24^th, on board the steamer Sunshine, between Fort Henry and Hamburg.  He is now down at the river.  I may see him tomorrow.  He speaks of his visit to you and about seeing my letters to you.  He saw Henderson Jones at Batesville, Arkansas on the 27^th inst., he was well.

I hope that John M. Hamilton and Eldridge Jones will not try to join us till they get entirely well.

I am glad to hear that Lee’s brother escaped being pressed by the rebel army.  I am glad to know that at least a part of the Southern people are too independent to join in the work of destroying the Government.  I have not received the letter that you speak about Billy Marohl writing.  I shall look for it with considerable anxiety.  You wonder why Jacob Pool does not write to his father and say that they think he is killed.  I wonder if they have ever wrote to his company to enquire after him.  I have only saw him once since I have been here, but heard from him a few days ago.  He was well then.  I think I will take a tramp in a few days to see all my acquaintances.  Sergeant Breeze stayed all night with the 41^st night before last, but he did not know that John Boring was in that Regiment.  It is about twelve miles from here.

You enquire about the amount of clothes I have got and the way I wash them.  I have bought one hat, $1.87, one cap and cover, 63cts.  One uniform jacket, $5.84.  Two pair of pants at $4.00 each.  One blouse coat, $2.15.  Two shirts, $1.76. Two pairs of drawers, $1.00.  Two pair of socks, 52cts. One pair of boots, $3.33.  One overcoat, $9.75.  One blanket, $2.95.  The whole amounting to thirty seven dollars and eighty cents, so you see that I have overdrawn my allowance five dollars and thirty cents.  My overcoat you have.  My uniform jacket is entirely new.  I have only had it on two or three times, once when I had my picture taken at Cape Girardeau.  My boots are tolerably good yet.  They will last me to the end of the year.  My first pants are tolerably good yet, but I took a new pair a few days ago, so that I could have them if I needed them, when there is none to be had.  My blouse is about worn out, my drawers are both good.  My shirts are tolerable good, then I still have the white shirt I brought with me.  I have only worn it once or twice, I like the flannel shirts better.  One pair of the socks I have, I have never had on.  The suspenders that you sent me I have never used.  My blanket I sent home with my overcoat and a good bedtick.  You said nothing about receiving them.  I also sent the white blanket that I brought from home, did you get it?

You want to know how I wash my clothes.  I do it with soap, water and a little elbow grease.  How would you like to see me over the washtub?  I forgot to send my mittens and a few little things that I had intended to send to you.  You say that Barthollett Lee thinks the war cannot last long.  I am of the same opinion.  I do not see how they are to protract the war much longer, yet they may possibly hold out a great while yet.

I am sorry to hear of the mule being killed, it was such a nice gentle little thing, but there is no use grieving after it.

There has nothing transpired worthy of note since my letter to John Foster.  There was some very sharp skirmishing about that time.  Such skirmishes would be called heavy battles where there was less numbers present.  In fact it almost takes an army to stand picket guard here, then it takes about a Regt. ot two to make a scouting party.

I cannot tell anything about how long it will be till the battle of Corinth will be fought.  It may be only a few days, then again it may be weeks.  Let it come when it may, it will be a dreadful thing, there will be so many men on both sides. It seems to be the policy of our commands to work gradually around them and try to take the place without a useless sacrifice of human life.  It seems to be the intention of Beauregard to wait an attack from our forces.  The fight may commence at any time, there is no knowing when.  Should there be a fight and our Regt. be called into action, I will be with them.

My health keeps good, my weight today is 150 pounds.  Tilley is again in the hospital.  He seems to get along very poorly.  Foster Moon is tolerable well. The rest of the boys are all well.

Our morning report today shows, for duty, one Captain, one first Lieut., four sergeants, four corporals, one bugler, one furrier, and blacksmith, one saddler, 48 privates, six privates detailed on extra duty for which they get extra pay.  Sick one second Lieut., two noncommissioned officers, eight privates.  In arrest, one private, absent, twelve.  But since I have been writing the last three lines, Robert F. Young and Henry F. Stahl has returned, making for duty five corporals and two buglers, total enlisted men, eighty eight, three commissioned officers, making ninety one.

Our horses look tolerably well. Some of them are quite poor, others are tolerably fat.  Mine is about as fat as you ever saw him.  Robert Young tells me of his wife receiving a letter from you dated the 3^rd inst.  Hoping you are all well, I bid you good bye.

William A. Smith

Monday night—26^th May

Our company was called out on a scout quite early this morning and I went with them.  We went close to the Alabama line and our friends our there reported that there was quite a large force within a mile of us and we backed off, making  pretty good time for a few miles.  Some leaving their dinners like Jeff Thompson left his in Missouri.  There is now ten companies of our Regiment gone out there.  Should they find any rebels out there, there will be a fight.  If it proves to have been a false alarm, then it will be a good joke on the dinners.

Charlie Lee went to Hamburg today and saw your uncle Montgomery.  They will pass this way in a day or two.  The 21^st passed here this morning, but I was out and did not see them.  I would like to have seen them.  I would like very much to see Major Warren E. McMachen, Robert Easley and George F. Trynor and all the rest of the boys that I am acquainted with.  I may not see them at all even if we are in the same neighborhood.  I will try to see some of them in a few days, but I have a very poor chance to leave camp for more than a few hours at a time.  I think that Isaac Jones and Thomas and Montgomery will call on us as they pass, as we are only a hundred or two yards from the road.

My health is still good.  G.W. Haley is sick tonight.  I hope that you are all entirely well of the mumps by this time.

Good night,

William A. Smith

(note) the above letter was written with red ink in between the lines of the letter written on Sunday evening.  L.V.F.

Camp near Corinth, Mississippi

Tuesday evening, May 27^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

Having the chance to send you a note I hasten to address you a few lines.  I wrote to you yesterday and have nothing new to write to you except that I today saw your uncle Montgomery and Thos. And Isaac Jones, James Han, Dudly Mayberry, Albert Jackson and several others that I am acquainted with.  They are all well but have had a very severe march across from Batesville, Arkansas to Cape Girardeau, Missouri.  Isaac Jones is driving a team.  He has had good health all the time he has been out.  They have suffered a great deal for provisions.  I hope they may see a better time hereafter and I do hope they may never see as hard a fight as the one they had at Pem Ridge.  You will tell your grandmother about my seeing them.  They will go entirely on the left I think.  They are in Jeff C. Davis’ division.  It seems to me that Corinth will soon be entirely surrounded.  O when will this batter be over.

The weather is quite hot now.  I hope that this matter will be settled before the sun gets much further north.  Those three papers received today.  Thanks.

Hoping to hear from you quite often, I bid good bye.

William A. Smith

Camp near Corinth, Mississippi

Friday morning, May 30^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

Having the chance to send you a note, I improve the opportunity, knowing that you will be glad to hear from me at every chance I have to write.

My health is very good, but the weather is so warm that I am very lazy.  I hope that you are now enjoying good health.

I wrote to Miss E.A. Hamilton two or three days ago and enclosed a note to you.  I had received the three papers sent by Miss Colburn.  You will thank her for me.  The same mail had brought me your letter of the 20^th, but it got into the package of another Company and I did not get it till after I had mailed the letter to Lib.  Since then we have moved close to General Popes Headquarters.  Yesterday we went on a scout a few miles south of here and visited Glendale on the railroad, five miles east of Corinth.  We found no rebels there.  They had taken their pickets away from there just two days before.  There is some fighting going on nearly all the time at some place along the lines.  There is no telling when the battle will begin.  Sometimes the firing is quite heavy and fast for a considerable time.  I do hope that before this reaches you, Corinth may be in our possession.  There is now a smoke over there that looks like the town is being bunt.  Then there is another smoke away south of the town.  The talk in camp is that it is a bridge on the railroad south of Corinth.  If they have not evacuated the town and that bridge is burned, they will either have to fight or surrender.  The 21^st Regt. is camped close here.  I have saw Major W.E. McMacken, Lieut. R.D. Easly and George F. Tryner and others of that Regiment.  They occupy the trenches on the extreme left.  The 35^th Illinois is also close here.  As we moved out here I saw A.H. Watkins.  He is in the 25^th I believe.

The health of our Company is tolerable good.  48 privates present for duty.  I hope Eldridge Jones may soon be able to return.  I will write you again in a day or two in answer to yours of the 20^th.

Corinth is ours.

William A. Smith

Camp near Booneville, Mississippi

Wednesday evening, June 4^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

I closed my note to you last Friday morning rather abruptly with the announcement that Corinth was ours.  The reason of so sudden a close was that I heard the bugle call the Orderly Call (I have changed my place) and I stepped over to Headquarters to get our morning report book and the Major said that Corinth had evacuated.  The enemy had gone and our Regiment should follow immediately with two days cooked rations.  I then closed my letter to you and Nancy and in a very few minutes we were in the saddle and our faces set to the south.  We did not pass though Corinth but left it a little to the right.  We however passed through some very heavy earthworks.  There is a mile after mile of trenches and embankments.  They had no doubt been evacuating several days for they took nearly everything with them, considering the very great number of soldiers that had been here.  They did leave thousands of dollars worth of commissary stores, small arms, ammunition, clothing etc. late in the evening we were brought to a halt by the discharge of musketry close to the head of the columns.  The enemy had erected a small breastwork on the bank of the Tuscumbia river and mounted four guns to protect their rear .  After some skirmishing with small arms, the enemy fired shells into our ranks, killing one man of Co. “L” and wounding another and killing one horse and wounding another so that he died the next morning.

It got so dark that we turned back up to the top of the hill where we staid till Sunday morning.  During Saturday our guns came up and shelled the woods so completely that the enemy withdrew, taking their guns and burning the river bridge.  Sunday morning we again marched and during the day we passed a little town called Danville and one called Old Town.

Along the road the ravages of war is painfully visible.  At about ten o’clock at night we silently formed a line of battle across a wheat field close to the place, for we expected that the enemy was in Booneville and supposed that their pickets would be out about this far.  We held our horses the balance of the night.  Early Monday morning we started and came to Booneville and found that the enemy had withdrawn from there during the night.  Booneville is quite a new village on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad.  At this place our forces captured and burnt a long train of cars loaded with muskets, clothing, ammunition and other military stores, also the station house filled with provisions.  This was while they were evacuating Corinth.  There was an immense lot of shot and shell on the train with powder and fuse and the explosion of the powder and shells scattered things all over the woods on both sides of the road.  We found one store deserted and quite a good lot of goods on hand.  This was confiscated and a guard place over it.  The tobacco and such things were distributed to the soldiers.  I got 5 plugs of tobacco.  There is another store but the owner was there and a guard placed at the door to protect his goods and he goes on selling at very good prices.  He gave me those two bills that I send you.  He has a brother that we have as a prisoner at Chicago.  He was taken at Fort Donaldson.

Tuesday morning we was ordered forward on picket guard.  In the evening we was ordered forward to reconnoiter.  We proceeded about five miles and met their pickets.  Our advance guard fired upon them and they fled.  We then formed a line and several of us deployed as skirmishers, it was about two hundred yards to the timber.  We proceeded to the edge of the woods and soon discovered their skirmishers coming cautiously through the brush.  I took aim and my gun missed fire.  The foremost man then fired at me and Sergeant Breeze fired at him.  We then fell back to the Company, having drawn their fire.  I think that Amos Moon and another of our skirmishers got a fire before they fell back.  We mounted our horses and fell in line with the rest of the Company.  The rebels then fired quite brisk from the edge of the woods, but they did not hit anyone.  We then fell back to our post and stood picket through the night.  The enemy came up after us and encamped about a mile from us.  Their pickets fired several times during the night, at some imaginary Yankee I suppose.  In the morning we again took up the line of march and in about half a mile came to their pickets.  They fired and retreated.  Then we came to their main force.  They retreated taking two different directions.  We followed those that had gone the road we had traveled the day before.  They dropped several good shot guns and three or four revolvers, which our advance guard picked up.  After passing some fields, the enemy made a stand in the edge of the woods fronting the lane that we were coming down.  We charged down and they fired upon us and made a show for a fight but before we could wheel into line and fire, they fled.  Some of the head of the column fired, but killed on one.  The enemy killed one horse and wounded one Lieut. of the 3^rd Michigan Regt.  We moved forward into the woods but they did not return the attack.  As we came back to this place we met several regiments of cavalry and some small Barrott guns going out, but we have not heard from them this morning (June 5^th).  This is rather the hardest spell we have ever had.  We have been in the saddle almost day and night for the last ten days, scouring the country in every direction.  If I had know that it would been so long before I could write to you, I would have tried to answer your letter at the time I answered Nancy’s, but will try to answer it in a day or two, if I get my trunk.  It is in the old camp near Corinth.  I have not saw a paper for some time, and do not know what is going on any where, except in our own division of the army.  I do not know what the right wing of this command is doing or where they are.  You can of course tell more about we are doing here than I can, but I can tell you of the scouts etc which we take, which I know will interest you almost as much as the movements of any other part of the army.  In my next I will try to answer your last and I hope another from you.  I will then try to give you some little description of this part of the country.  I last night received a letter from Billy Marohl which I will answer as soon as we settle again or my trunk comes up.  As it is the bugle may sound “Saddle up” before I can even finish this and you know in that case there will be some quick saddling.  The letter enclosed, I picked up at one of the rebel encampments.  You can read it, then burn it.

As ever yours,

William A. Smith

Camp near Booneville, Mississippi

June 9^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

The mail has just come and it almost made me sick to find that there was no letter for me.  It has been almost two weeks since I received a letter from you and it (?) that I have not heard from you for a month or two.  I hope that tomorrow’s mail will bring me several letters and I think that two of them will be from you.  I have received two Commercials of last month, thank you.  I hope you will send me some more when it is convenient.  We are now encamped about one mile from where we were when I last wrote to you.  The 35^th Illinois is on the ground that we then occupied.  Your uncle was there last Sunday and yesterday evening.  Sergt. Breeze and me went over there and to some other regiments.  Hartsock is 2^nd Lieut. of Company “C” of the 38^th.  Thomas McConnell is rather unwell.  Isaac Jones is back at Hamburg in the hospital.  It is about fifty miles from here back to Hamburg.  It takes one team five days to go there and back here.

I suppose that Eldridge Jones started from home yesterday morning.  If so, he is now at Cairo or coming up the river and will be here in three or four days.  I hope that John M. Hamilton may soon be able to rejoin us.  John is missed very much from the Company.  I learn that William Arnold is still in the hospital at St. Louis.  Sergeant Beebe is there with the small pox.  Treibel, our Quartermaster at home is not much better and there is no telling when he will be here. I hope he may be soon able to be here for he is a first rate fellow.  Corporal John Goodbrake is now acting in his place.  Captain Koehler today received his commission as Major of our Regiment.  We now have no Captain.  We will have to elect one in a few days.  In my next I may be able to tell you who is our Captain.  The matter lies between our two Lieutenants, C.F. Lee and Asa W. McDonald.  I think so well of both of them that I could hardly decide which to vote for.

I have not saw any of the boys of the 40^th or 41^st Regiments since the time that I wrote to you.  I do not know where they are now.  I had intended to go to see the 41^st in company with Hamilton Jordan or Co. “E” of our Regiment.  He has a brother in the same company with John Boring.  But poor fellow he was killed at the Tuscumbia river.  You will remember that I spoke in a former letter of two men of Co. “I” being killed and two wounded.  Jordan was one of them.  I do not think that you knew him.  He was one that lived on the Mrs. Black old farm.  He was a Corporal and a very sociable and nice fellow.  He rests in a soldiers grave.

You must certainly excuse me for this short note, for my mind is everywhere but with my pen.  I may possibly write to you again tomorrow, especially if tomorrows mail brings me anything from you.  Yours last received is still behind in my trunk but I expect to get my trunk tomorrow.  I will then write to you in answer to it.  I will write to Billy as soon as I have the chance.  Hoping that this may find you and the children well, I bid you good bye.

William A. Smith

Camp in the field near Booneville

Wednesday night, June 11^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

We will march tomorrow morning at 6 o’clock and I may not have the chance to write you for several days.  I hasten to drop you this note to apprise you of our move as I always do when it is possible.  I wrote you yesterday and have nothing new to write unless I had more time to write.  Our mail today did not reach us on account of General Pope moving early this morning.

W.A.S.

Jacinto, Mississippi

Monday morning, June 23^rd, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

I hardly know how to being to write to you, for I have wrote several letters and notes to you since I received one from you.  I think your last was dated 22^nd of last month.  I wrote to father two or three days ago and enclosed a note to you.

I send you an order received from Lt. Colonel Prince who now has command of the Regiment.  Colonel Kellogg having gone home.  You will take it and go to Mr. Hamiltons and show it to John, then go to aunt Lucy Jones’.  If Eldridge is still at home and read or have it read to him and if William Arnold has got home, you will also see him and read the order to him.  If he is still at St. Louis you will get some of his friends to write to him without delay.  By doing this you will save me the trouble of writing a notice to each of them.

I believe that Eldridge has done wrong in staying so long.  Should he get here in a few days it may be all right.  I have been looking for him some time.

I have been expecting a letter from Miss Hamilton for some time.  I wrote to her about a month ago and sent John five dollars.  I think she has certainly wrote before this time.  I also enclosed a note to you containing a dollar bill.  You have certainly acknowledged the receipt of it before this time.

Last Saturday and Sunday we went on a scout about thirty miles south of here down the Fulton Road.  We learned that there is a large force at Fulton.  Turning west we crossed the Tombigbee river.  It is here about as large as the Okaw at Vandalia.  The bottom is rich, matted with cane, and some pines through the Gum and other timber.  This pine is the best timber that I have yet seen in Dixie.

I wrote to Billy last night.  I would like to see him.  I received a letter from John Foster and one from Dave Nichols and one from Mr. Moon.  They seemed to be drop letters, I think they was sent by hand.

On the Tombigbee river we found where the enemy had been encamped quite strong and learned in the neighborhood that they left there on last Thursday.  They had some cannons there.  Passing on to Marietta we found that the rebel soldiers had left there a few days before and burnt a lot of cotton there.  I was detailed to take notes and distances and sketch the roads, and I would if had time, write you something about what I saw and heard, but I am now busy almost day and night.  We got into a neighborhood where the citizens was not looking for us and I had some fun hearing them curse the Yankees, then tell them that ours was the Yankee troops and you ought to see them open their eyes.  I was at a spinning factory at Bay Spring and talked to the proprietor and his wife.  She is a nice smart woman.  I swapped the Salem Advocate for the Mobile Register, which I send you.  He wrote the address on it himself.  I do not know why I do not get your letters.  It must be on account of our army being on the move first one way then the other way.  I hope that todays mail will bring me a letter or two from you.

For the present I hope you will excuse me.

William A. Smith

P.S.

I send you some of the seeds of the Hackelberry.  It is a small fruit about the size of currants, but some of the bushes grow as high as your head.  I think if you can get them to grow, you will be well pleased with them.  You will as soon as they are received, prepare a little flat bed about six feet long and one foot wide and plant them in about four or five places, then take some bushes with the leaves on and stick them along the sides of the bed so that it will be partly shaded to keep the sun from entirely killing the seeds.  I think they will come up next spring.

Tell me in your next about those seeds I sent you from Camp Butler.  How are they getting along.

Dave Nichols letter tells me of the marriage of Elizabeth to Noah Cruse.  I hope he may be as good a husband as she deserves.  I think she will certainly write to me now.  It has been some time since I received a letter from her.

William A. Smith.

Jacinto, Mississippi

Monday evening June 30^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

Another month is passed.  Another muster day is over.  There is now four months wages due us.  There is a Paymaster in the neighborhood paying off other Regiments.  We think he will soon pay us for two months.  He may possibly not pay us for some time.  There is not much trouble about money however, for if we all had plenty there is not much chance to spend any of it.  In fact there has been nothing here to sell till yesterday when a load of pies, butter, buttermilk, eggs, etc except a very few blackberries brought in by the Negro women and children.  Butter is fifty cents per pound, buttermilk is 10 cents per pint, sweetmilk is sixty cents per gallon, eggs are 25 cents per dozen.  A common round blackberry or green apple pie is 20 cents. You cannot imagine the great quantity of blackberries there is in this country.  There is a great many old worn out fields, and the only production of these is a kind of Sedge grass, young pines and blackberry briars.

The weather is very hot, but the health of the Company is about as good as common.  My health is as good as you could wish me to enjoy.  So you may know how well I am.  I keep my weight very well for so hot weather.  It is today 149 pounds.  What is your weight now?

I wrote to Dave Nichols three or four days ago and enclosed a note to you which has told you of my receiving yours by the hands of Eldridge Jones.  I have not yet received the one you sent by the hands of Charles F. Wilton.  I received the package of papers, thank you.  He also brought two papers that pap gave him the money to buy for me.  Thank him also.  Papers or letters are always welcome visitors to me.

I sent a note in John Fosters letter directed to Nancy, in answer to hers and Johns letters.  They will have to excuse me for not writing more, for of all the busy times in a Company, the last of the month is the most busy, particularly muster months.  I will try to write more to them the next time.

I will now try to answer yours of the 12^th to 15^th.  You use the name of Mrs. Smart.  That reminds me of the man that Henderson B. Jones introduced me to at Camp Butler.  I well remember him.  He appeared to me like a gentleman.  I hope your acquaintance with his wife may prove pleasant.

When I framed the Tobacco Union, I did not think that Diora would ever rehearse it at a school exhibition.  How did she get along with it.

I am sorry that John Hamilton remains so weak.  I sent you a notice for him to either return to the Regiment or send a certificate from an army surgeon.  I hope you took it to him as soon as received.

Your understanding of my views of the new Constitution are correct.  I would not if I had had the chance, voted for the new Constitution as a whole, but parts of it is excellent.  Part of it that is so good is only a reprint of the old one.  Then the section in regard to the 7 per centum of the net proceeds of the Illinois Central Railroad is worth a great deal.  While on this subject I will just say that Congress has just passed some bills that I know you will be pleased with; one is the Poligamy bill, the others are the Pacific Railroad bill then there is the bill giving pensions to widows and orphans of the soldiers of the Union army, which I think will soon pass.  I think a good confiscation bill now would do for this session of Congress.

Four days from now and you will help celebrate the Anniversary of the Independence of the United States.  I cannot be with you.  May the smile of friendship be upon every face.  Love be in every action and Truth be in every word.  May lessons be learned there that will guide our children in the way they should go through life.

You think strange that I do not know the movements of my own division.  It is a little like you knowing the actions every day of all the people in Marion County.  Thirty or forty thousand is a great many men.  If is five times more soldiers than the southern sympathizers in our neighborhood said could be raised in the whole state of Illinois.

I am glad that you intend to buy a willow wagon for the babe.  I think he must be tolerably heavy by this time.  I am very glad to learn that there is some apples and walnuts on some of the trees.  Tell me about those grafts in the garden, how are they doing.  Have you any peaches this season.  How are the currants doing, then your cherry trees, how do they look?

I have nothing new to write you, only that Lieut. McDonald was yesterday elected Captain and Sergeant Breeze was elected second Lieutenant.

You have no doubt heard of the opening of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad from Columbus, Kentucky to Corinth, Mississippi.  This saves our supplies and mail from coming up the Tennessee river to Hamburg and it saves our teams from a trip of twenty or thirty miles every load.

I think that before this reaches you the cars will be running on the Memphis to Corinth.  My bedfellow, R.F. Young is rather puny.  I fear he will not be fit for duty for some time.  It seems like he will never get stout again.

Hoping to hear from you soon, I bid you good bye.

William A. Smith

Jacinto, Mississippi

Monday morning, July 7^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

Fathers letter an your note came to hand yesterday evening and I hasten to answer them.  You had wrote to me about Pap selling the hay.

There is but two and half dollars due now to the Seminary.  I hope though that you will pay off the whole five, it will then be settled.  I think John Foster has some money yet and he will see Corrington and pay off my subscription.  I will not send much money by mail unless you need it very bad, but I could send you one hundred dollars, if there was an express close here.  But there is none nearer than Cairo that can be depended on.  If I get the chance to send to Cairo I think I will send to John Foster seventy five or eighty dollars.  You can if I send, take part of it to use yourself and Pap had better take fifty dollars of it.  He has I believe a note against me for fifty dollars, if he has not, he can apply it on some other note.  I will only keep a few dollars if I have the chance to send any home by express.

I wrote to Lucy for you to tell John M. Hamilton to bring me a lot of stamped envelopes and half ream of this size letter paper.  If he calls on you I wish you would give him the money to buy them with, if you have it.  If you have not the money, borrow it and I will send you the amount.  I had not thought of Albert paying for the mule but I suppose there would be nothing wrong for him to pay a reasonable price for it.  You will let him use his pleasure in the matter and it will be all right with me.  If he decides to pay for it, he will have it valued at once, or let him and Pap or lee or any body else say how much he will pay, then he can pay for it whenever it suits his convenience.  Tell me how they decide the matter.  I am glad to hear that Isaac Jones is at home.  It is better for any one to be at home that is sick.

I am glad that there was no abolition votes in the North Fork precinct.  What to you say now Pap?  Is there any Abolitionists in the North Fork Precinct?  Or are they all gone to the war?  I have the election returns in the Salem Advocate.  George F. Tryner and Dick Smith was here Saturday morning and told me about Doctor Green and J.S. Martin fighting.

Tell mother that I know that she is anxious to see me, but that it is very uncertain when I will be at home.  I am not afraid of being forgotten by her, even if I do stay three years.  As to you looking for me home, you need not look till I write that I am coming.  If I find that I can come home, I will write to you if I have time before I start.  If not, I will come without writing and get home when you are not expecting me.  You need build no hopes upon that however.

I do think that every well man that is in the army ought to stay along to his Regiment and try to help bring the war to a close so that all may return home in peace.

I know that there is hundreds every day going home.  Some on sick furlough, some on leave of absence, and others without either.  If it was necessary for me to be at home and I could not get a leave of absence or furlough, then I would do as others do, risk being disgraced by Courtmartial for leaving my Regiment without the sanction of my officers.  My mother would prefer not seeing me at all rather than see me with such a blot on my name.

I sent you a note in a letter that I sent to Lucy Chance.  You have no doubt received it before now.

On the 4^th we was paid off for four months.  We have never paid for our clothes yet, so that gave all the boys quite a pile of money, $100.80 each.  The Paymaster paid this Company over ten thousand dollars and paid this Regiment more than one hundred and twenty thousand dollars.  Don’t you wish that this Regiment belonged to you four months, you would be almost rich.

We was last Saturday sent out on two days scout and went south on a road that I have never been on before.  We stopped in the woods about ten miles east of Marietta and found that about one hundred rebel cavalry had just left there the evening before and gone down the Fulton Road.  You will remember that we was at Marietta just two weeks ago.  We returned to camp last night at dark.

The 3^rd. Michigan which is in our Division has been having a fight with the secesh sought of Booneville, at the very place that I told you of us having two skirmishes with the some time ago.  They had to bury about thirty rebels and had some of their own men wounded.  I think we will have a fight with them down about Marietta one of these days.  We cross and recross over the same ground that they are continually scouting on and we will certainly meet before long.  During our scouts I see many amusing mistakes made by some of the citizens, but I am now too lazy to write them.  When I see you I will tell you some of them.

Good bye,

William A. Smith

Jacinto, Mississippi

Monday morning July 14^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

My health is very good.  The weather is very hot and I am very lazy.  It seems that Saturday and Sunday is to be the days for our scouting.  Last Saturday the report came that seven thousand rebels were within a few miles of our camp, intending to attack us.  At 4 o’clock P.M. the Regiment marched out.  We went about ten miles and hitched our horses to our arms and waited till morning.  At daylight we moved on about six miles where the rebels were said to be.  Here the companies separated and went in different directions for a few miles, then again we met and ate breakfast.  After breakfast we (there the bugle sounds and I must go to headquarters to get orders, well they only want three men for guard tomorrow) started back to Jacinto, traveled a few miles and stopped to graze our horses.  Forward was sounded and on we came to camp.  Received a note from C.F. Wilton which I send you.  Polly Lee says that Barthollett Lee wishes all the Republicans killed, that would include me, would it not?  I expect a letter from you this evening.  I have received none from you since Pap’s letter.  I answered it a week ago today, I believe.  Good bye.

William A. Smith

Jacinto, Mississippi

Tuesday, July 15^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

I yesterday received yours of the 4^th, 7^th and 10^th inst., and will now try to write you a reply.  I am glad to hear that the celebration at the Burgh went off in good style.  I hope that you may live to see many such.

I am sorry to hear of the sudden death of John Fosters babe.  I see by the paper that esquire Wills big house is burned down.

On last Wednesday evening I found that the Regimental Quartermaster was going to Corinth and I stopped from writing a letter to Mrs. Lee and went with him to Corinth to send some money to John Foster.  I sent him $100.00 which I hope he has received by this time (the mail is in and brings me a letter from Miss E.A. Hamilton which I will answer in a day or two.)  I took twenty nine hundred and seventy five dollars to Corinth to send to Illinois.  I stayed all night.  This is the first time that I have ever saw Corinth.  It is very poorly situated but has some very nice houses in it, but it has a sad, forsaken appearance.  Piles of ashes and rubbish mark the places where have stood stores, warehouses and depots, Oh! Such a waste of property.  Returning I passed by where there is hundreds of waggons collected together and nearly all partly burned up.  I had supposed that we had only a few troops now in this neighborhood, as our scouts are always off in a southern direction and we never see but a few Regiments, but it is sixteen miles from here to Corinth and it is literally a camp all the way, though I noticed the names of three Generals whose headquarters are on the road.  General Rosencranz, General Stanley and General Granger.  Then there is General Jeff. C. Davis, his headquarters are here in town.  Our headquarters is with Colonel Mysner at Rianza, eight miles west from here.  Then there is an endless lot of field artillery all though the country.  If the rebels should attack us we could yet give them something of a fight.

When I was about half way to camp I passed through a place where there was some Indians standing guard. These are the first that I have seen since I have been in the service, they are from Minnesota.  They would say “halt, got pass”.  I was halted by three different squads of them in Tuscumbia river bottom.  It soon bean to rain and I think the hardest rain that I ever saw fall, fell on me from there to camp.  The next night after that, Jack Foster waked up and Felix W. Arnold was trying to get his pants from under his head.  Jack spoke out and Felix laid down and laid still for a few minutes.  Then he got up and the boys watched him and he went over into Company “L” and commenced talking to a man there.  Clay missed his money, $111.15 but they did not have Felix arrested.  The next morning Clay went to Lieut. Lee and told him of it.  About the same time I went down the line to make out the sick report for the day and fell in with Jack and he commenced telling me of it.  Felix came up and heard Jack telling me and asked Jack what he said.  Jack told him that somebody had stole Clays money and the he caught Felix trying to steal his and that Felix was the one that stole Clays money.  At this Felix began to tremble all over, then he began to try to make light of the matter, but Jack told him that it would not win, for he had stole Clays money.  Felix then went across the road to the Commissary store, then down the side of the hill to a big stump, but Charlie Lee was watching him and ran towards him and called to Felix and asked him what he was doing.  Felix told him a lie and Charlie caught him in it by going to him, for he was grubbing behind the stump.  He jumped up and Charlie accused him of stealing the money and told him to give it up and Felix put his hand in his pocket and drew out Clays pocket book with all the money in it except the fifteen cents.  He then said that he took Clays money for a joke.  Charlie asked him why he buried it and he said that he was afraid some one would steal it from him (he was on guard himself).  They took him to the guard house and he is still there awaiting his trial. I have no idea when he will be tried.  His trial will be at Rianza.  What do you think of his case.  One man in our Regiment was caught asleep on guard post a few nights ago and had his trial last Friday and was sentenced to imprisonment three years or during the war.  I pity him but it will not do to allow sentinels to sleep on the posts.

Your uncle Montgomery is now a Lieut. in his company.  Success to him.  He stayed with us last night.

I wrote to Polly Lee and sent you a note enclosed.  I will expect a letter from Nancy in a few days.  I sent you Harpers Weekly from Corinth.  I think you have received it ere this.

The health of the Company is first rate, only five absent and five present sick.  None is in the hospital here of our Company.  My health could not be better except my nerves are as unsteady as a man eight years old.  I lay it to the powder, the surgeon lays it to the strong coffee.  I have never taken a dose of medicine for it.

Captain Ludwig of Company “M” resigned and went home to Randolph County.  One of the men of his company that had been discharged, got into a quarrel with him and killed him on the 3^rd inst.  The fellow escaped.

Our Company has been organized eleven months tomorrow.  Then two years and one month and I will come home if I keep well.

If you are tired of trying to read this, I will stop, promising to write again in a few days.

William A. Smith

P.S. Felix’s trial will be tomorrow.

Jacinto, Mississippi

Thursday evening, July 17, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

Having wrote quite a lengthy letter to you yesterday, I have nothing of interest to write to you now, but only wish to drop you a line to let you know that I am quite well today.  I will still continue to send you a note every chance that I have, besides writing to you at least once a week.

The old letters I hope you will take care of for me, as well as any others that I may send you from time to time; as nobody but yourself will want to read them, you will put them in the drawer with my others and not put them with those I write to you, then if you ever want to see any of them you will know where to find them without trouble.

Felix W. Arnold had his trial yesterday but I do not know the finding of the court.  We will know in about a week, then I will write to you.  I sent you a pamphlet of the findings of Courts Martial, did you ever get it?

Two men of Company “L” was discharged and started home at noon today.  Two Lieutenants and four con-commissioned officers of this Regiment started home when I was in Corinth, to recruit for the Regiment.  If you hear of any one that wants plenty of work and good pay, besides the chance to help Uncle Sam a little, tell them to write to me and I will tell them all they may want to know about the matter.

I sent John Foster my certificate of appointment as corporal.  You will get it and take good care of it.  It may possibly be of use to you some time; you can remember the cases where proof of identity was hard to get, when such a paper as the one I sent you would be all that would be necessary, then the necessity of taking good care of it is apparent enough.

I think I will certainly get a letter from Lucy or Nancy in todays mail, which will soon be in and I will expect one from John Foster in a day or two.

It has been some time since I wrote to uncle M.T. Ballance.   I think he will soon write to me.

You need not be surprised if you get a letter from some of my friends in Tennessee that you have never saw.  You may perhaps remember a letter that I wrote there some time last summer.  I have lately heard of it, and expect you will receive an answer to it.  Tell me whether you are going to have any school in our District this summer or not.  Tell me how Diora and Byron got along reading and spelling at the last school.  Tell me about those grafts.  Why did so few of them live.

Expecting to get a big letter from you in a few days, and hoping that you and the children are all in good health.  I bid you good bye.

William A. Smith

Tuscumbia, Alabama

Friday night, July 25^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

Yours of the 7^th and 16^th inst was duly received, but I did not then answer it.  I sent you two illustrated newspapers with a note enclosed informing you that we was then under marching orders, but we did not then know where we was going.  I then wrote to John Bell that we was coming here.  We started Tuesday morning and have been o the road four days, but have not moved very steady.  I think we have averaged about fifteen miles a day.  We will start tomorrow morning to Decatur.  You will see by examining the map that I sent you, that Decatur is on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad about the middle of the state from east to west.  We will be likely to stay there some time for I think it will be out duty to guard the railroad, but we may have some work to do for the rebels attacked our men between here and there this morning.  There will be three Companies of our Regiment go there and the other companies will be stationed at other places along the road.  I am glad that Billy and John Bell have concluded to join the army.  I wish that John was here now, he could work all night if he wanted to, shoeing horses at a big price.  This country is rocky and a great many horses are barefooted.  I have not received the letter you sent to Salem by your uncle Daniel.  I hope it may come in the next mail.  We have had no mail since last Sunday, but will get one tomorrow and I think I will get some letters and papers.  Tomorrows mail ought to bring me word from John Foster concerning the $100.00 that I sent him.  We have heard from _____ that we sent to Vandalia, the letters came by hand.  John did certainly write as soon as he received it.  There was $2.50 due on the Salem College the 4^th of this month and there will be $2.50 due on it the 4^th of next July, making $5.00 but I thought you might as well settle the whole account at once, then it would be done and save trouble at some other time.

I had intended to write Barthollett Lee a letter but since he has gone to Kentucky, I do not know where to write to.  Then if I should write to him he might move before a letter would get there.  Taps is sounded.  Lights must be put out for it is nine o’clock P.M.  Hoping that you are well and asleep, enjoying pleasant dreams, I bid you good night and retire to my virtuous blankets.

William A. Smith

Decatur, Alabama

July 29, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

I will only say that I am quite well but very tired, with a prospect of hard work tomorrow.  We have been on the road eight days but marched quite slow.  I will not now give you any of the particulars of the march, but may do so in my next letter to you.  I wrote to you from Tuscumbia and hope to hear from you in a day or two.  I will expect to hear from John Foster by next mail.  If I had word from him now, I had the chance today of buying a horse and rig for $40.00.  I hope to hear from him soon.  I could still buy that horse.  It is a horse that belonged to a man that died at Hamburg, Tennessee.  We have one recruit that we will swear in tomorrow of the next day.  When I make out this months reports, I will send you one so that you may see how our Company stands, or is such a thing interesting to you?

William A. Smith

Decatur, Alabama

Thursday night July 31^st

My Dear Wife:-

Yours of the 22^nd has just been received.  We have had no mail since about the 20^th till this evening, but today’s mail brought me no papers.  I wrote to uncle Mordica T. Ballance yesterday and enclosed a note to you but you will receive this about as soon as you get that.  I have no news to write to you tonight.

I went on a scout yesterday about twelve miles south, which took us up into the mountains a little.  We found no secesh soldiers but bound some women that were very bitter to us.  We took dinner with one that has two sons and one son-in-law in the Southern army.  She was very bitter towards us but we ordered dinner and horse feed for about thirty and the Negroes turned in and fixed it up quite soon.  Here the rebels had burned quite a lot of cotton a few days ago.  Another part of our Company, about thirty, took dinner with her daughter whose husband is in the Southern army.  This country has plenty of corn and cattle and there is no danger of our suffering for something to eat as long as that lasts, besides there is plenty of green corn, apples, peaches, watermelons, etc., all ripe and good.  We have been toasting ears, and ripe peaches for some time but I always forget to tell you about it.  You ask why I did not send Jacks and Clays money?  I did not know that I could go to Corinth till about half an hour before I started, then they all went to fixing up their money and Charlie Lee took the packages for me and fixed out the amounts on a list for me till I got ready to start.  Then I never looked to see who had sent and did not know but that they had sent till Clay’s money was stolen.  I think they have sent their money by someone else.  I hope it is home now.

Our Regiment is divided.  Company “L” at a creek about 10 miles west of Tuscumbia, half of Company “M” at a creek about six miles east of Tuscumbia, the other half of it about twelve miles west of here at a trestle work.  Company “B” at a little town on the road, I have forgotten its name.  Six companies at Courtland and three companies here.  There is some infantry all along the road at each place.

I think you are sleepy, so good night.

William A. Smith

Decatur, Alabama

Saturday evening, August 2, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

Having wrote to you night before last I will only drop you a line now as I do every chance I have.  I know you would like to get a note from me every day if possible.  I will go back towards Tuscumbia to Town Creek tomorrow.  It is about forty or fifty miles.  I did intend to go today but the cars did not go.  The Company has gone down that way twelve miles to patrol the road.

We had an alarm yesterday evening.  The second we have had since we have been in the service.  Company “H” went out on a scout toward the mountains and was attacked by the guerillas in a strong force.  Captain Webster sent us word and skirmished with them and retreated till within two and a half miles from town, the rebels stopped.  We was soon out and after them, but they retreated and we did not get to fire on them.  We followed them about five miles and returned at sundown.  We will certainly have a fight or a foot race soon.  We know that there is both citizens and soldiers close here that will pour it into us at every chance.

The bridges they have burned will be repaired today so that the cars will run clear through to Corinth.  I will expect a letter from John Bell by next mail.  I will in a few days write to you again, for I think the next mail will bring me a letter from you.

I have not heard from your uncle Montgomery since we left Jacinto.  I went to see Albert Jackson just the evening before we started.  He told me he thought if I had been with him when he got off the cars, you would have gone into fits.  I wish you would tell me how you felt when you saw him get off the cars.  With the promise to write again soon, I bid you good bye.

William A. Smith

Decatur, Alabama

Saturday, August 9^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

I wrote a note to you last Saturday and did intend to write to you about the middle of the week, but circumstances have prevented me until now.

On last Sunday I went to our headquarters at Courtland but the bridge was not quite finished that the cars had to return here late in the evening.  I saw Felix W. Arnold still in the guard house.  They have not yet heard his sentence.  The workmen finished the bridge and came down here with us.  While at headquarters the mail came in bringing me two Commercials, thank you.  I also received the Salem Advocate dated 24^th.   Monday morning I again took the cars for Town Creek and landed there at noon.  There is three companies of the 10^th Michigan infantry there and Company “B” and half of Company “M” of our Regiment.  They are guarding a bridge that is about 300 feet long and having rather a warm time of it.  I stayed there till Wednesday morning when I started back but about ten miles from here we found two small bridges burned and the cars had to turn back.

There was about two hundred convalescent soldiers on the cars who had been on sick furloughs and in hospitals.  They all got off and camped close there to get teams from the farmers to bring them here so that they could go on to Huntsville.

Your humble servant brought six dozen newspapers from the agent on the cars and footed it through, selling some papers to the soldiers at the two camps on the road.  Got to camp about 9 at night.  Six others was sent along late in the evening to repair the telegraph and had not gone far till passing through a deep cut, they was fired upon from both banks by about forty rebels, two was wounded and two others taken prisoners by the rebels.  The next morning we heard firing and soon the report came that the convalescents had been attacked.  We soon started for the scene of action, but before we could get there they had gone, taking about 75 prisoners.  We had two men killed and two wounded.  The rebels had one killed but we don’t know whether there was any of them wounded or not.  Our men had but twenty guns and there was about three hundred of the rebels.  We followed them about seven miles but they got into the mountains and we gave up the pursuit.  I think they will be paroled pretty soon as the Ohio troops that was captured at Courtland a couple of weeks ago was paroled in two or three days.  If I had waited till morning for company instead of coming through alone, I would now perhaps be deprived of the privilege of addressing you.  I had my carbine and cartridge box and I expect I should have shot at some of them and of course they would have returned the compliment and now I might have been wounded or a prisoner or worse.  There now, I have blotted my letter and I am too lazy to rewrite it.

Since writing the above the prisoners have returned.  There was 125 of them.  They say that there was about eight hundred of the rebels.  They took them to the mountains and paroled them.  They will be set to work in hospitals, etc till they are exchanged.

Yesterday I received the Salem Advocate of July 31^st.  I think that todays mail will bring me a letter from John Bell and one or two from you.  From Town Creek I sent you Harpers Weekly newspaper.  Yesterday we patrolled the road from here to Fox Creek, twelve miles.  We saw none of the rebels.  At that place we have one Company of the 51^st, Illinois and half of Company “M”.  From there we took wagons and went to the house of a Mr. Mosley and took several loads of corn, some hay, two barrels of molasses, two or three barrels of salt, a lot of planks, one keg of nails and a lot of other property.  Mosely is a Union man but the secesh took away a lot of mules and some Negroes the day before and Mosely requested our troops to go and take everything that they could make use of.  He is rich and will lose a great deal, but what is taken by our troops, he will get pay for; he has a great many slaves, some of them nearly entirely white, one woman in particular was white with nearly smooth hair.  I expect that the secesh will burn his house.  They burned his cotton gin about the time we came here.  He will stay here in town till there is some chance of staying at home in peace.

The boys think that John M. Hamilton will be here in one or two days.  If he is coming I think he will bring me a big letter from you and a lot of postage stamps.

I wish there would be enough of the boys from our neighborhood turnout to fill up our Company full.  It lacks but six of being entirely full.  If any on them comes, they can get horses here as cheap as they will want them.  We captured two yesterday.  They had their riders shot off them.

Asa W. McDonald yesterday received his commission as Captain of our Company.  Sergeant Breeze received a commission as second Lieutenant in place of Lieut. Shoup, resigned.

The health of the Company is very good.  My health is good, but my feet are blistered from my walk on the railroad and my legs are very sore.  The soreness will soon go out of them however.  I hope that you are enjoying good health and that you may all continue to enjoy good health as long as I remain in the army.

I will write to you as soon as I can, giving you a description of the country through here, but I am really getting as nervous that I can hardly write so that it can be read by any one.  I will now bid you good bye.

William A. Smith

Decatur, Alabama

Tuesday morn. August 12, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

What was your expectations and hopes of the future, eleven years ago today?  Do you remember that today is the anniversary of our wedding?  Eleven year ago today at 5 o’clock P.M. we was married.  What a life of happiness we had pictured in our imaginations then, how little did we then expect that there would now be war in our then happy country?  Then how little did we expect that I would be engaged in the war?  How little did you think that you would be left with a family of five children or one, two or three years while I was alive?  You did not then think that you would be virtually a widow while I was alive; yet such is really the case.  It is true I can assist you with my advice and counsel, but as to seeing me, it is almost impossible unless you come to see me.

I now believe however that when the troops now called for, gets into the field, the war will be brought to a speedy close.  Yet it may possibly be prolonged for one, two, three or more years.

I was surprised the day before yesterday when John Bell came to the door of my tent, and I was more surprised when I saw that Albert was with him.  They was examined yesterday morning by the post surgeon and in the evening they was sworn into the service of Captain McDonald.

Quartermaster Fredrick told me he would pay you a visit within five or six weeks.

I sent the carpet sack to you with a cartridge box of some of the different kinds of cartridges, some weaving quills, my old mittens, 1 pair of bullet molds picked up close to Corinth.  They are of no particular value but you will take care of them as mementoes.

I did not expect to see John M. Hamilton looking so well.  I wish William Arnold was well and with us, but I fear it will be some time before he gets here.

I am glad that you sent me the two dollars worth of paper and postpaid envelopes.

I received your letter of the 24^th to 29^th and the one of the 4^th by John Bell.  Also the four papers, thank you.                        Good bye.

William A. Smith

Decatur, Alabama

Thursday morning, Aug. 14^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

I will now try to tell you something of our trip from Jacinto, Mississippi to this place.  We started on Tuesday morning, 22^nd of July and marched about fifteen miles, then turned to the left about ten miles and camped for the night.  There was eleven of our companies, two battalions (8 companies) of the 3^rd Michigan cavalry and six pieces of artillery, together.

The country from Jacinto east is rather hilly, but the timber changes from pine to oak.  There seems to be no change in the soil.  During the night it rained, causing us the loss of some sleep, as we had not our tents up, but was sleeping in the open air.

Wednesday morning we returned to the main road and continued our journey eastward and about noon we entered the State of Alabama.  We could almost tell exactly where the line was by the character of the buildings, farms etc.  We would see churches, schoolhouses etc every few miles.  While in Mississippi we would not meet with them half as often, besides the buildings in Alabama are better.  In the evening we came to Big Bear creek.  Here the rebels have burned a good bridge and we had to go about half mile below to find a crossing.  In crossing, one of the waggons containing Company’s “A” things was upset in the stream and all their provisions lost and considerable damage done to other things.

This stream is about as big as the Okaw river but the water is nice and clear.  The bottom is rich with good corn growing in it.  We camped for the night at the hills.  Our company was sent on in advance to stand picket.  We passed on about three miles, then fell back about one mile and chose our position for the night.  We stood on the top of a high ridge just at the edge of the valley.  From a place close to where we stood picket, is as nice a view as I ever saw.  The valley is all in cultivation which causes it to look almost as large as one of our prairies.  Then us being so high above it makes it a most grand scene.  The road in many places was very rocky, then some places it is almost a bed of gravel.  Thursday morning about ten o’clock the column came up and we fell in for rear guard and after going about two miles, we was down in the valley and soon we came to Dixon, on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad.

The valley is from three to six miles wide.  It is tolerable level.  The soil is red and produces tolerable good corn but they raise but one stalk in the hill, the rows wide apart and a row of peas between every row of corn.

The surface has been covered with small rocks from the size of half bushel down to the common gravel.  In some fields they have gathered them into piles, which are almost as thick as hay cocks in a poor meadow.  At other farms they have been hauled off and the fence for miles is built of them.  They make a good fence and it looks very nice.

Company “L” was left at Buzzard creek to guard the Railroad bridge.  We camped for the night at a creek four miles from Tuscumbia and here Company “B” reported for duty; they had been for some time, Bodyguard to General Rosencrans.  At noon Friday we marched again and about two, passed through Tuscumbia and camped in a clover field about one mile east of Tuscumbia.  Here I wrote to you, which letter you already answered.  I have already told you about the large spring at this place.  This town is a tolerable nice place with some good buildings in it.  One building that was on the street we passed down, the Masonic Hall, is a splendid house and would do credit to bigger towns.  It is a heavy brick building.  The different churches are good buildings.

Here we heard that the secesh was at work on ahead of us and after night we received orders to march very early next morning; At this place there is a great many troops and we left the 3^rd Michigan and the artillery, and at daylight Saturday morning we took up the line of march.  At Leighton we left Company “B” and then we went on the Town Creek and camped about two o’clock.  This is a very nice little stream of excellent water.  The railroad bridge is of considerable length and has been lately rebuilt, having been burned about the time of the evacuation of Corinth.  Here we left half of Company “M” and Sunday morning we marched to Courtland where we arrived about one o’clock P.M. and found the railroad bridges on fire.

I think I gave you the particulars of the fight and capture of some of the Ohio troop at this place in a former letter.  The prisoners were all taken to Moulten about twenty miles from Courtland and paroled.  Here we left six companies of our Regiment.  Our headquarters of our Regiment is there.  Major Nelson is there commanding the Regiment.

Monday morning we marched from Courtland and at noon we left the other half of Company “M” at a small bridge and at night we camped at Trinity where the rebels had only left a few hours before.  They had set fire to all the buildings, and they had just fell in when we arrived there.  Here there is a watertank that is supplied with water through pipes from the mountains, only about a mile distant.  It is a wonder to me that the rebels don’t dig down to the pipe and destroy it, thereby cutting off the supply of water.  There is one Company of the 51^st Illinois at this place.

Tuesday morning we marched from Tuscumbia and at about noon we arrived at Decatur, Alabama, where we found part of the 31^st Ohio infantry and one Company of the 1^st Ohio cavalry.

Saturday morning – Aug. 16^th

The troops that was here when we came, was sent on to Huntsville twenty-two miles east of here.  This valley reminds me of the prairie that Tamaroa and DuQuoin is in.  It is long and narrow with a creek crossing it every few miles, the mountains to the right and the river to the left.  The road runs along about the middle of the valley.  The timber is generally oak, mixed with cedar.  In the mountains the timber is mostly cedar and from the road, the rocks along the hills look like houses stuck among the scattering trees, high above the level land.

The main crop here is generally cotton but there is now thousands of acres lying idle.  Still in some places there is a hundred or two acres of cotton together; from that down to ten to fifteen acres.  There is a great deal of those prickley pears growing about over the fields and in the fence corners.  On almost every farm there is a cotton gin and press and generally a horse mill attached.  The dwelling houses are generally very fine, and set back from the road from one hundred yards to a quarter of a mile and sometimes even farther, with nicely shaded roads leading down to the gate opening on the road.  I think that in fifty or seventy five miles along this valley where I have been there is ten Negroes (some of them white) to every white person.

In the mountains where I have been, there is hardly any Negroes and more white people.  The farms only contain a few acres and the houses are closer together.  The farmers are poor and it is here that the rich men of the valley get the soldiers to do the fighting for them.  To protect their yellow children from the Yankees.  In the small bottoms and on the hillsides live the poor farmer, that is considered by the rich men of the valley, but little better than the slaves that go and come at their bidding.

Great God! . When will men learn the difference between serfdom and freedom?  When will men cease to be ground by riches?  Is it possible that there is no remedy for this evil?  Will men continue to give their birthright to their rich neighbor, who really thinks less of them than he does of his meanest slave?

The Tennessee river at this place is very nice.  The railroad bridge rested on twelve good limestone pillars, but the bridge was burned by Mitchel about the time of the evacuation of Corinth.  There is a small steam ferry boat here.  This is quite a nice village with some good houses in it.

We have a lot of Negroes at work throwing up breastworks and we are having the cotton hauled in from the country and placed along the top of our breastwork.  If the rebels try us at this place, I think we can give them a warm reception.

The day before yesterday our foraging party captured a waggon loaded with bacon, butter, cider, etc. that was for the secesh.  We have to patrol the road from here to Company “M”., twelve miles, every third day.  Tomorrow is our day to go.  We have had no mail for several days.  Something is the matter with the cars toward Corinth.  John Bell is busy shoeing horses at fifteen cents per shoe.  I got their enlistment dated the first of the month.

Today our Company has been organized twelve months, but we was not mustered into service till the 3^rd of September, so that we lack till then of having our time one third served out, if we have to work for Uncle Sam three years.

Today my horse has earned me one hundred and forty four dollars, and I have earned one hundred and sixty eight, making for me and my horse since I have been in the services, three hundred and twelve dollars.

My allowance for clothing today is                            $42.00

My clothing bill is about                                              37.00

Due me                                                   5.00

My saddle and bridle cost me                                       35.00

I let John Bell have my carbine and I got a revolver.  We left all our surplus arms at Jacinto, Mississippi, so that there is none for Albert, but a sabre and horse pistol, but we have enough to supply all that go on scouts, as we never all go at once.

Telegraph says the train will be in today.  I will therefore stop and see if it brings me any letters.

Sunday morning   3-1/2 o’clock

Train did not come.  Run off the track and smashed the engine.  Our Company will patrol today.  We are up for an early start.  The rebels cross the road between here and Company “M” early every night and return early in the morning.  So if we get there soon, we may be able to get a fight out of them.

Captain McDonald is quite sick this morning.  He has not been entirely well for some time.

As I will expect a letter from you by the next mail, which I will have to answer, I will add nothing more now.  It is one week today since we received any mail.  We are nearly out off from the balance of Creation and the rest of Mankind.

William A. Smith

Decatur, Alabama

Monday night, August 18^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

Having the chance to drop you a line I enclose this note in Nancy’s letter.  I received the letter you sent by John M. Hamilton which I answered at once.  I will expect another letter from you tomorrow.  We are having trouble with the railroad.  The secesh tears up the track or burns a bridge or cuts the telegraph wire almost every night, making it very uncertain about mail getting to us.  We can send letters every day but they are slow in reaching you.

Yesterday we had two trains, one of them was fired into by the rebels and three men was wounded.  There is no telling when a stop will be put to their raids upon the road here, but I believe it is certain that there are not as many rebel soldiers in this neighborhood now as there was a few days ago, at least they do not show themselves in as great numbers nor as often as they did a little time back.  There is no telling anything about how long we will remain here, but I expect we will be here considerable time.  Could I persuade you to pay us a visit this fall or do you think this is too far from home for you.  How would you like to come and be a soldier for a few months.

Some of the boys says that your father talks of coming down to see your uncle.  If he comes and does not want to come to our Regiment, if he will let me know when he is there, I will go and see him, but I hope if he visits the army, he will come and see me.  I think he will not come within a hundred miles of me and not visit me, but tell him if he does come to see Gum and can’t come to see me, I will meet him wherever Montgomery is.  I do think he could not spend a few dollars more to his own satisfaction than by visiting the army.  I am anxious to hear from Richmond.

As I expect a letter from you tomorrow, I will not write more now, but will answer yours as soon as received.  Good night.

William A. Smith

Decatur, Alabama

Wednesday morning, August 21^st, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

Yours of the 14 inst just came to hand yesterday morning.  I had wrote you a note and enclosed it in a letter to Nancy, the night before.  I will now try to answer yours.

It seems to me that you have not warmed up on the war question.  I expect that if you was a man you would be for joining the army yourself.  If you had no children to take care of I would have you come for a nurse in the hospital, but you can fill your station at home, and others can fill theirs in the field and in the hospitals.

I am sorry you did not receive my letter of the 31^st ultimo sooner, for I would like for our Company to be entirely full.  We have had the largest Company in the Regiment ever since we have been in the service and I want us to keep it so.

We will soon send a man from our Company to recruit.  He will visit you.  If there is then any one that still wishes to join sooner, they can come along to Cairo and be sworn in and there receive a pass and all the papers to bring them here.  Tell them to come along, or get ready to come with our recruiting officer.

I am surprised to hear that Noah and Tom has joined the army.  What does Elizabeth think now of those that goes to war.  Are they all fools now that got to the war.  Then where is the threat of Tom that they could not compel him to go.  I am glad that they have changed their minds.

I am glad to hear of so many turning out of our neighborhood.  I only regret that they held back so long.  I have no doubts but they all regret it even worse than I do.

I certainly think that when this vast new army is brought into the field, the war will be pushed forward to an immediate terminus.

We have had no papers for some time and as a consequence, know nothing of what is going on, except of the action of the guerillas in this neighborhood.  The guerillas keep picking away at us every time they can catch two, three or four alone, then they tear down the wires, shoot at the cars etc.

I am very sorry to hear that Rollin is afflicted with the summer complaint.  I hope he is well before now.  I hope you will get him well if he is not already so.  If you want any money to let your father have, I will send you some or you can get it from pap, if he has it.  If your father wants any, tell me in your next letter and I will send you a few dollars by mail.

If we are paid off about payday, I will send you some by express.  It will be but a few days now till we will make out our payrolls, but I don’t much believe we will be paid for some time, it may possibly be some months before we are paid.  One company of our Regiment has not been paid for six months, till a few days ago.  They had been detached from the Regiment.  We are no scattered along this road in such a manner that it will be a wonder if we are paid for some time.

The 51^st Regt. is along here and they have not been paid for 4 months.  The health of our Company is very good.  The only thing I dread is the ague.  The boys are in the river almost every day and some of them two or three times a day.  William Arnold looks pretty slim, but I think he will stand the work.  John Bell and Albert are both on picket today, the rest on patrol.                                                          William A. Smith

Decatur, Alabama

Monday morning, August 25^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

I am again permitted to address you.  You will no doubt hear of a fight that we was engaged in before this reaches you, as I think John Bell and Albert have both wrote home since.  I will however, try to give you some of the particulars.  On last Friday morning our Company was ordered to go towards the mountains to look for forage.  We went down the Moulten road five miles, then turned towards Trinity.  When we was about one mile and half from Trinity, we found that we was almost completely surrounded by guerrillas, but they did not know we was near them.  They had been to the railroad and town up the track and fell back to wait for the train. They then divided and three companies of them went towards Decatur and six companies fell back to the mountains.  It was where they divided that we first found that they was in that neighborhood.  We was then so close to them that we could hear the six companies talking.  We fell back about two hundred yards and got into the road they was in and moved up cautiously till we came to the hills.  We then formed in the woods and Lieutenant Lee went of the hill to look around.  At the nearest house he discovered three horses hitched.  Him and Sergeant Vaughn went to the house and captured two men and the three horses and saw the pickets of the six companies.  We then hurried off to Trinity where one Company of the 51^st infantry was quartered.  There we learned that the train was off of the track about half mile from there in a curve.  We went there and found that the rebels had torn up the inside rail in short curve in a deep cut and the locomotive, tender and one car was off of the track.  Two cars still on the track loaded with Suttlers goods and a few army supplies.  Lieut. Breeze and John Wall was on the train.  They had been to Courtland.  The prisoners was the surgeons of the rebel army.  They told us about the number of the rebels and that they intended to attack the train.  We sent to Fox creek for reinforcements, hoping that they would get there in time to assist us, but it was not long before we saw the clouds of dust begin to rise above the tree tops, they was then about a mile off.  Then pretty soon we could begin to see the dust from those three companies that had gone towards Decatur.  There is a large field between where we was and the mountains.  Those that came from the hills came down on the west side of this field.  On a high piece of ground in the field is a house and a man was in one of the upper windows with a turkey wing, giving the rebels signals which way to go.  We dismounted behind the bank thrown out of the cut, and prepared to give them the best we had.  It was not long till those on the west came up and opened fire upon us at about sixty yards from the edge of the woods.  We kept up our fire till those on the left had crossed the railroad to surround us.  Up to this time none of us was hurt, but Lieut. Breeze was slightly wounded in the left hand.  We then fell back across the field.  In crossing the field, Sergeant Guy was wounded in the head and Allen Clow was wounded in the right leg.  As soon as I got into the timber I turned square to the left and went to Trinity.  My horse was shot through the girth just through the edge of the left saddle skirt.  I managed to get him to Trinity, but he soon died.

Four Companies of the 27^th Illinois soon came up and started in pursuit of the rebels.  They came up with them and fired upon them and dispersed them.  The enemy burned the cars and took eleven of our men prisoners, killed four of our horses, wounded another one and took seven more of our horses.  We killed six and wounded two and took two prisoners in the last fight.  Amoar Moon had a ball into his leg, but his boot stopped the ball.

Part of Company “M” was on patrol and was passing near at the time of the fight and started to our assistance, but they was met by the enemy flankers and had one man mortally wounded.  John M. Hamiltons mare was shot.  William Knight and John Knights horses was taken by the enemy.

Lieut. Breeze had bought his uniform at Courtland for $45.00 and the enemy got that.  They also got eight hundred dollars in silver belonging to one of the Suttlers.  The paymaster was on the cars but had got off back at Fox creek, two miles from Trinity.

About the time I got to Trinity there was some Negroes came along and I sent one of them into his masters farm to get me a mare that I knew ran in the pasture, but the horses had all gone out at a gap at the back side, so I took the mule that he had caught to ride after the mare, and now I ride a mule.  I was very sorry to lose my horse, he was such a good conditioned horse and suited me well.  He was in excellent order.  I never expect to get another that will suit me as well as he did.  I was in hopes that I could keep him through the service and bring him home, but you will not see him again.  I will try to get another one as soon as I can.

While we was on patrol yesterday, Company “E” was ordered to move and are now gone back to Courtland.  The whole of the 51^st, Illinois and two pieces of artillery is here now.

There is no telling how long we will stay here now.  If we stay here without cavalry, it will go quite hard with us.  It will keep us in our saddles every day; before Co. “E” went away we could rest every third day, but now will have to go on patrol one day and forage the next.

Mrs. Upton has just came into my tent to see Allen Clow.  She keeps quite hearty, sends her respects to you, invites me to go and take dinner with her.  Think I will go in a day or two and see how womans cooking tastes.  I think the mail will be in today and I hope to get a letter from you.  Our mail was on the cars at the time of the fight but Sergt, Charlie Hall of Co. “E” put the letters in his boots and run off with them and got safe into camp.  Hurrah for Charlie Hall.  He had been to Tuscumbia on the train and was entirely unarmed.

William A. Smith

To Mrs. Mary Smith

P.S. Tuesday morning.  We are off on a patrol.  My health is good, 17 men came from the mountains yesterday to join the Alabama Regiment.

Decatur, Alabama

Friday evening, August 29^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

The patrols brought me a letter dated Aug. 17^th.  I was expecting it in yesterdays mail, but was disappointed.  Our muster rolls came yesterday, so I could not go on patrol today, but have been busy at work on them all day.  I will have to work on them tomorrow for we will be mustered for pay on Sunday morning.  I hardly have time to write any at all, but Sergeant Major Noller came to order a detail to kill beef and had an armful of paper and envelopes for headquarters, so he have me this sheet of fine paper and said for me to wrote you a big letter, but I hardly know how to begin, for I have lately wrote you some large letters.

You have seen before this time that Baton Rouge was not taken by the rebels, but that they was driven back by our forces, yet the cloud hangs heavily over us.  Fort Donaldson is abandoned.  Frankfort surrendered, Nashville threatened and Pope actually retreating before Richmond.  You remark that the darkest hour is just before day.  If that is the case in respect to the present war, the break of day is certainly close at hand.

In this part of the country the cloud certainly hangs with more than Egyptian darkness.  It seems that the whole country will have to be laid waste before the rebels will stop destroying the railroads and cutting the telegraph lines.

There is almost every day some skirmishing going on in this neighborhood, and they generally terminate against us.  I hope however that the scale will soon turn and give us a chance to vindicate the right.  There is a report here that a fight is going on near Chattanooga, Tennessee.  Again Buell has whipped Beauregard and taken a lot of prisoners.  I hardly know how the matter stands but before you receive this you will know the truth of the whole matter.  One thing I do know, that our forces in this vicinity that can be spared, are on the double quick for Nashville, Tennessee.

Two of our men was yesterday sent to Huntsville with despatches for General Buell.  They returned today and say that nearly all the troops are gone from there towards Battle Creek, where the Chattanooga battle is said to have been fought.  Lieut. Lee and me went with them across the river about seven miles to Brownsville station, where we found a few men of the10th Ohio Regiment guarding a bridge and water tank.  They are inside of a good stockade or block house.  There is nothing short of artillery or starvation that can get them out of there.

The country over there is something like the valley on this side of the river, except not so rocky.  There is not much corn growing over there as there is here on this side of the river.  There is not much cotton growing there either, but thousands of acres of weeds.  The whole country has a desolate deserted appearance.  It seems to be a vast farm belonging to a poor widow.  What cotton is cultivated this season looks tolerably well.  It is about as high as your waist and beginning to open nicely.  There is no wheat raised in this country that is worth anything.  There is some good cattle and if you could see the number of cow skins on the fences, you would think that soldiers love beef, then the sheep fare no better.

You ask me my opinion in regard to the supplies of the South and the prospect of their being starved out?  Now I can hardly form any idea of the matter.  In Mississippi where we was, there is not corn enough raised for the use of the citizens, but here in northern Alabama there is a great deal of corn raised, but it is not a very wide scope of country to the hilly country, then there is not much corn raised there.  My own opinion is that there is even now a great scarcity of provision in the south and before another season there must be a great deal of suffering for breadstuff.

I can form no better idea than you about the number of men that the Confederacy can yet raise.  In the rich parts of the country, there is very few white people lives in times of peace.  They are nearly all avowed secessionists and have ran off south to keep from being arrested.  Then in the mountains the poorer class lives and they are nearly all in the army to avoid the Conscript Act.  I rather think that the rebels have pushed the matter harder along the border than they have in the interior, on account of the number that come out and join our army, of which I have already told you.  The bugle sounds, so good night.

Saturday morning, August 30^th, 1862

You ask me to tell you “how slavery looks with the naked eye.”  Now it would take more time than I can spare today, to tell you how it looks.  A soldier has a very poor chance to learn much of the good or evil of any such a thing, only so far as such things fall under his immediate observation.  You remember that I once wrote to a friend in a slave state, to know his views upon the practical working of slavery.  You well remember his answer.  I will not give you such an answer.  I have no fear of committing my thoughts to paper.

Now the question, “how does slavery look to the naked eye”?  The shortest answer that I can give and express myself upon the subject is that it looks many times worse than I ever imagined!  It is true that I have never saw the lash across the backs of old men and grey headed women, but I have seen men plow, hoe, chop and maul rails, with not enough clothing on them to hide their bodies.  I have saw pregnant women (as I have commenced I will tell part of it at least) at the hardest work, with only an excuse for a skirt and short petticoat on, both ragged and torn in all possible ways, when it would seem that they was on the very eve of confinement.  I have seen dozens of men and women and children at the different kinds of work under a white man that was almost as ignorant as the slaves he drove.  I have seen one woman that has tended eighteen acres of corn and suckled an infant that was born after she commenced to break the ground.

I have seen a young wife, modest and nice, walking along the street, a slave woman walking close behind her carrying the first born of her modest mistress.  Look at their figures, it is very nearly the same, see their backs, O says one, they are both alike.  Look at their gait, it is nearly the same, examine their features, look close, they certainly resemble.  Ask the young mistress where she got her slave, she tells you that she was a wedding gift from her father.  The secret is out, they are half sisters.  Look at them again, they favor in every feature and action.  The only difference is in the color.  Great God!  Who is responsible for this sin.  Is it the Abolitionists of Illinois, or is it the Amalgamtionists in Mississippi or Alabama?  Such cases are not rare.  I have saw it in Mississippi, Tennessee, Missouri, and Alabama (and you have seen a specimen of it from Virginia, you know what case I refer to).

Such is slavery as seen by me with the naked eye, and yet even the slave owners themselves tell us that the slaves along our lines are allowed to do as they please, since our army came here, and that they are treated much worse farther south.  I had intended not to write anything about slavery in any of my letters and would not have do so now, if you had not asked me do it.  Should I ever be permitted to return home, I can show you some facts that I have collected in regard to slavery, which I have not time to write to you now.

Your question “what do you think of the citizens, etc”.  I do talk with the citizens every chance that I have.  There is some very intelligent men and women in the southern states.  One man that I talk with here is a noted politician of the Alabama Legislature.  He is a states Rights man and can quote Richardson (of Illinois), Vallandigham and Olds of Ohio, as well as uncle Ross can the Bible.  By the way, you will see that Olds is arrested and is in military limbo.  This man here draws more consolation from Richardson and company of the North than he does from all the sayings of the leaders of the Southern Confederacy.  He says the whole people, both north and south, are to blame for the present rebellion.  He denies however that it is a rebellion.  He says it is Nullification by the north and blames the President Buchannan for not enforcing the Fugitive Slave Law.  He says that this war will end in a Military Despotism.  He says Douglas turned Abolitionist before he died.  He says that Richardson said in a speech that the Democracy of the north would not help subjugate the south, not fight for an Abolitionist President.  That Richardson said that the war was commenced by the President to free the slaves in the southern states.

I see no change in the morals of the men since we have been in the service, except one of two that went from Marion County, have begun playing cards to be like other men.

The last time I heard preaching was when I went to Headquarters about the first of the month.  Our Chaplain stays there.

I am glad that hose apples prove to be a good variety, they are the early Strawberry instead of the early Harvest.

If John has time when he is at home, he had better bring all the tools home and you can put them in the tool chest and other places and try to take care of them.  If I live till two years from next Wednesday, I expect to come home, then I will try to tend to them myself.

I think you had better get George to take down the door and you go with him to Mr. Goldsboro shop and get him to fix it good.  He can make it as strong as ever, if it is the front tile (or upright side piece) that is off.  Tell Mr. Goldsboro to fix it good and charge it to me.

You have ere this received my letter containing the account of the skirmish that we was in.  Allen Clow’s wound is doing tolerable well as is Sergeant Guy’s and Lieut. Breezes.  John M. Hamiltons mare was not killed as we thought, but wounded in three places.  She came in last Thursday with the whole rigging on her, even to the sabre.

Tell me about the Circuit Court, for the Salem Advocate does not come now.  They certainly don’t send it now.

Robert F. Young is not enjoying very good health, in fact we was sick in the hospital at Jacinto, but got better and was tolerably well till the time of our fight.  His horse got away and he had to lay down in a field of weeds to hide from the rebels.  He was wet with sweat and there came up a heavy shower of rain while he was lying there and he has been nearly sick ever since.  The rebels rode close to him while he was there.  There is now eleven of our boys gone, among them is old Mr. Goodbrake that I told you was coming home to recruit for our Company.

I expect you will need another bedstead this winter.  If you do, you can get pap to buy one for you at Salem.  He can get you a very good bedstead  for about seven dollars and if you need the bedstead, tell him about it an he will buy it the first time he goes to town to mill.  If Henry Fraka is not gone to the war, I hope you will get him to finish the smoke house.

If there is school this fall, I want the children to go every day that their health and weather permit.

Hoping that you and the children are well, I close.

William A. Smith.

P.S. Charlie says for you to burn this without reading it.

Town Creek, Alabama

Friday evening, Sept 5^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

I did intend to write to you day before yesterday, but it was our day to patrol the road and then I expected to write to you in the evening, but we got marching orders, so I did not have time on account of getting ready for the march.  I had wrote to you about last Friday, but I wanted to write to you again Wednesday, because it was the first day of my second year in the service of the United States.

I hope that before the end of this, my second year peace may be made and I be allowed to return home, yet the cloud hangs heavy and dark over us, and there is no telling when there will be an end to this matter.

In our neighborhood, things look rather gloomy.  We have been guarding the Memphis and Charleston railroad, but it appears that it costs more than it come to, for we were ordered to burn the ferry boat and turn the back end of our wagons towards Decatur.  We took up the line of march about seven o’clock yesterday morning and moved about twenty miles to Courtland and stopped about two o’clock and went into camp for the night.  In the evening the cars came to Courtland after the sick.  They brought us a mail, but nothing for me.  Allen Clow came on one of the wagons to there and then got on the cars.  His wound is getting along very well.  Sergeant Guy is about well and so is Lieut. Breeze.  This morning we started at sunrise and got here (8 miles) about ten o’clock.  The troops that are here had no orders to move, so we are now waiting to hear from Tuscumbia before we proceed on there.  There is only two companies stationed here, besides half of Company “M” of our Regiment and Major Koehler thinks it unsafe to leave the two companies of infantry here without any cavalry.  So he ordered us to stop here until further orders.  He has gone on to Tuscumbia and I think we will go on there in the morning.

I cannot tell where our Regiment is to go to.  We will report to Col. Misner at Tuscumbia, then there is no telling which way he will send us.  It is rather thought that we will go towards Russellville, Alabama.  Others think we will be set into Tennessee or Mississippi.  I had rather gone east from Decatur, but if I have to stay three years in the service, I may have the chance of going as far east as I want.  I think I would like to go into Carolina and Virginia, but there is to be some heavy battles fought there yet.  Bull Run and Manassas is to be fought over or remain in the hands of the enemy.  I have not received the Salem Advocate for some time.  I wish you would get pap to ask Ed Merritt if he still sends it.  I would be glad to get it every week.  We get the daily papers almost every day now.  If I get a letter from you tomorrow, I will try to answer it in a day or two.  I send you some seeds of the Muscadine.  They are a kind of grape that grows all over the bottoms.  They are about the size of our common plums, but grow only one in a place.  You can plant part of the seeds now and save a few and plant them next winter.  Plant them rather shallow and stick bushes along them to keep the sun from killing them.  I do not know whether the seeds will grow or not, but I know you will be willing to try them.  I find a great many things here that does not grow in Illinois, among them figs and pomegranates.  The figs are now ripe.  The pomegranates have ripe fruit and bloom on the tree at the same time.  The seeds are now getting ripe and you may expect some in my letters every now and then.  You will be careful in opening them and not spill them.  My health is very good.

Your husband,

William A. Smith

Camp on Buzzards Creek, Alabama

Friday evening, Sept 12^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

I again have the privilege of addressing you.  I wrote to you from Town Creek dated 5^th, just one month from the time I was there and sent you a paper.  We stayed at Town Creek till Sunday morning when we started on the march for Tuscumbia.  I bought me a mare seven years old, with a saddle and sabre on her.  The 8^th Wisconsin had captured her from the rebel cavalry.  I got her for eight dollars and sold the saddle for five.  Now I have the mare and sabre for three dollars.  I think she will suit me very well.  I still ride the mule that I took from Mr. Lile.  I will ride him till we get to Iuka, when I will have to turn it over to the Quartermaster.  When we got to Tuscumbia, I received yours of the 27^th ultimo.  I was glad to hear from you.  We camped about one mile south of Tuscumbia and remained till Monday morning when we got up rather unceremoniously and marched up through town and remained saddled all day.  Late in the evening the train of cars came and then our teams and the infantry was set in motion for Iuka.  Our Regiment was formed in lines across the principle streets at the outskirts of the town, where we remained while the cars was being loaded with commissary stores and cotton, and about midnight the cars left and we formed in column and rode out of Tuscumbia, one of the best towns of northern Alabama.

While the cars was being loaded, some one set fire to a carriage shed and the officers set the men to keep the fire from spreading.  There was no other building caught from it.  We marched till about 4 o’clock in the morning, when we came to Cane creek and turned in for the night!

Tuesday morning we marched to Dixon, ten miles, and stayed till Wednesday morning, when we was ordered back to Cherokee Station.  We stayed her till Thursday morning, when four of our companies went on a scout back to Cane Creek by a circuitous route.  We got back to camp about two o’clock and found marching orders.  At sundown we was out on the road and on the move.  We moved a few miles and camped for the night.  This morning we again took up the line of march and came about two miles and was ordered to stop here; there is three companies of us here.  Companies “L”, “T”, and “M”.  I cannot tell you anything about how long we will stay here.  We may possibly stay several days, then again we may march in the morning.  I can give you no satisfaction in regard to our movements.  I know that we will go to Iuka in a very few days and perhaps to Corinth.  IT is plain to you that we have gained nothing in this part of the field, since the evacuation of Corinth and even Corinth was not worth the cost of taking.  It was an empty haul, unless we could keep possession of the Memphis and Charleston railroad.  It is now raining here.  I saw Eli W. Jones and John Gaut at Tuscumbia.  They are both well.  Their Regiment has gone towards Corinth.

There is a lot of Alabamians joined the 26^th Illinois.  William Arnold found one that he was raised with.  He says that one of the Gauts brothers is in the southern army, but that none of William Arnolds are.  You sent me plenty of paper and envelopes, but I need more envelopes than paper for now I draw paper, but not stamps.  I draw paper and plain envelopes from headquarters.  I will need some stamps after awhile, then you can send them in a letter.

Corinth Mississippi

September 22^nd, 1862

Sure enough at dark the evening of the 12^th, we was ordered to march and about 9 o’clock we started and marched to Iuka, where we turned in about 1 o’clock in the morning.  Saturday morning about 9 o’clock, the enemy made an attack on the place and our Regiment was called out.  I had gone to water, so that I did not get out with the Company and helped load up the waggons.  Our Cavalry attacked the enemy and was repulsed with a loss of eight men and two Lieutenants of Company “H” taken prisoner and Captain Janeson of Company “M” wounded in the head and Sergt. Bucannon mortally and John B. Chandler slightly wounded.  During the night our teams and the 8^th Wisconsin Regiment moved out towards Corinth, leaving us as a rear guard.  Sunday morning the enemy commenced firing upon us about sunrise.  We kept them back and retreated to the west side of the town, where we formed in line and awaited to give them one farewell round, but they did not come, so we moved off, but they soon commenced firing upon our rear, which they continued to do for about six miles, our rear guard firing at them now and then.  At about five o’clock in the evening we got to Corinth and Monday morning we again started for Iuka.  At Burnsville we found the rebels and chased them out and camped there till Tuesday morning.  Here the rebels fired on our pickets occasionally.  Tuesday morning we moved forwards towards Iuka and just outside of the pickets, the enemy fired upon us.  We returned the fire and followed up the rebels with almost continual firing till within about two miles of Iuka, when they began to get too strong for us to proceed without coming to a general engagement.  We was then formed in some low ground and the artillery was placed in position in our rear, and threw shells over our heads and among the timber where the enemy was.  They soon fled and we was ordered to charge.  We charged forward some distance and halted in line.  Soon we moved forward to within three fourths of a mile of Iuka, when skirmishing commenced.  Our lines got to a favorable position and stood for some time, firing some little, till the enemy began to advance in force, when we again fell back to the artillery, when they again shelled then back and we again charged after them.  Then dark came on and we fell back to Burnsville about eleven o’clock at night.  During the night it rained considerable.  Wednesday it rained all day and our Company went out on a scout to where the rebels had burned a train of cars the day before.  Thursday morning we went on a scout for some saw mills, but saw no rebels.  Troops are pouring into Burnsville by the thousand.  In the evening we started to Iuka about five o’clock.  Soon found the enemy pickets, skirmished with them till after dark.  We then formed in line of battle and had some firing through the night.  Friday morning Captain McDonald was sent with a flag of truce to the enemy, demanding surrender.  They refused.  In the evening we moved forward about one mile and camped for the night.  Late in the evening the right wing of our army under Rosencrans engaged the enemy under price and Little, on the Bay Spring road, about two and half miles from Iuka.  The fight was a most desperate one and darkness only put a stop to the carnage.  The dead are nearly equal on both sides as far as I can learn, but the wounded of the enemy greatly exceeds our wounded, owing to the situation of the ground, our men being on rather high ground, while the enemy was in low ground among thick woods.  I went to the battle field while the lead was yet on the field and the sight was most sickening.  During the night Price withdrew his forces, leaving his dead and wounded on the field.  Rosencrans immediately followed and is now dogging after Price, capturing large numbers of his men.  Among the killed of the enemy is General Little, one of the best Generals.

In the evening we returned to Burnsville.  There our Regiment was divided and now two companies are at Iuka, two at Burnsville and the rest at Jacinto, 9 miles west of Burnsville.

Today I ran down here on the cars to get to write to you and get a clean shirt and see John Bell.  He is doing very well.  He will be able for duty in a little while, but will carry a piece of lead as long as he lives.

We think we will have another fight with the rebels in this vicinity.  They would like to again have possession of Corinth.

I have wrote you two little letters lately and yesterday I wrote to mother and sent you a note.  Allen Clow is doing well.

Hoping to hear from you soon, I bid you

Good bye,

William A. Smith

To Mrs. Mary Smith

Burnsville, Mississippi

Wednesday night, Sept. 17^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

You will have to excuse me for my seeming neglect, for it has been impossible for me to address you since the 5^th inst.  I commenced to write to you about the 12^th and wrote considerable intended to finish it and send it to you the next morning, but we was called to march and now my letter is in my box with the books, but I don’t know when I shall see it and it will be longer before you see it.

We are really into war now.  We have been fighting, retreating, advancing and fighting for several days.  Last Saturday we was attacked at Iuka and repulsed the enemy.  John Bell was slightly wounded in the shoulder, William Arnold touched in the foot, Sergt. Bucannon mortally wounded and died yesterday.  Yesterday we fought the enemy about six miles, till dark, then again fell back here after night.  I expect we will have a battle tomorrow or the next day between here and Iuka, how it will end, God only knows.  If I have the privilege of getting through it, I will then give you some of the details of our march and countermarch for the last few days and nights.  As John Bell is with the wagons I hope he has had a letter wrote home before now.  We lost but few men yesterday, none in our Company.  We went to a house today and found a dead rebel killed yesterday.  We are being heavily reinforced here from Corinth, Jackson and Bolivar.  I think we will have rather a warm time of it and possibly this is my last letter to you.  I hope not however.

Those men that were discharged were W.M.Sergt. Frederick Triebel, G.W. Haley and Thomas C. Hadley.  I expect Triebel has visited you before now, if not you may expect him soon, as he told me he would see you, and he wrote a line telling me he left the carpet sack and that he would go and see you soon.  I have received quite a lot of letters lately which I have not answered, but will as soon as I get time to sit down a moment.  In the meantime I hope they will all continue to write to me.

The note from mother I was glad to receive.  If I am permitted to get through this matter now pending, I will write to her.  I now bid you Good night.

William A. Smith

Corinth Mississippi

Saturday morning, Oct 18^th, 1862

I wrote a note in Nancy’s letter telling you that I would write to you that night, but I had to write away at the books till late, so that I could not write to you.  I will try to write to you tomorrow in answer to yours of the 9^th.

Our Company moved yesterday to Rienzi.  My mare had got loose and I stayed here to look for her.  I can’t find her.  I will start to the Company as soon as the mail gets in (at 10 o’clock) so that I can take it down.  It may bring me another letter from you, I hope it will.

I received this letter from Mrs. Ballard yesterday morning and have answered it.  You will perhaps get my letter that I will wrote tomorrow before you get this note, as it will be Saturday before hers gets to the office and if nothing happens, you will get mine Thursday or Friday evening.

My health is good.  Weight 154 pounds.  How much do you weigh.

William A. Smith

Burnsville, Mississippi

Sunday evening, Sept. 21^st, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

One year ago this morning at seven o’clock you saw me at home.  What have we both saw since?  How has the year passed with us.  With you it has no doubt drug along.  It has gone quickly with me.  The battle of Iuka is over and I am safe.  Only the right wing of our army was engaged.  Had the left wing been brought up, Price’s whole army would have been cut to pieces.  The fight was severe for a while.  When I wrote to you I will try to give you some of the particulars.  I will try to write to you in a few days.  My paper etc. is at Corinth.  I will try to go there tonight if the cars come.  If I do I have about a dozen letters to write.  I herein send you some seeds of a kind of tree that looks a little like the locust.  It is the Marra mosa or some such name.  It has as nice a flower you ever saw.  You may plant part of the seeds now and the rest in the winter.

I think William Arnold will soon be discharged.  He has not applied for a discharge but as soon as we get settled, we will make out his papers and try and get them signed.  He can’t stand the service.  Amos Moon is unwell for two or three days.

William A. Smith

Burnsville, Mississippi

Saturday, Sept. 27^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

I am well today and hope you still continue to enjoy good health, but I rather fear that you will have a sick spell this fall.  I would be glad if you could be permitted to have good health all the time that I am away from you.  I have heard that John Bell now has the jaundice at Corinth.  I was there a few days ago and wrote to you from there.  John was tolerably well then.  Eldridge Jones is stealing the milk from somebodys white cow.  Cows teats suffer when soldiers are about.  Robt. Young and Albert and three others are on a courier post three miles this side of Jacinto.  Four others are three miles this side of them under Sergt. Guy.  I yesterday sent you Harpers Monthly magazine, which I hope you will receive in due time.  I was writing to Lucinda and Diora, so I thought I would drop you a line.

Our Regiment is in an uproar about having our horses branded.  They have already branded the horses of seven companies that are at Rienzi.  We intend to resist the order to brand ours but I don’t know how well we will come out in the matter.  Company “A” resisted and the General called out a regiment of infantry and a company of sharpshooters and Company “A” caved in.  There is two companies of us here, two at Iuka and one at Cumberland Gap.  If we resist the brand you may expect to hear of a rather interesting time.  Our commissioned officers rather stand aloof in the matter.    Captain McDonald is now sick in the hospital at this place.  I think he will go home as soon as he is able to travel.  We have just started a man to Rienzi for our mail.  I hope I may get a letter from you.  I think I will go to Corinth tonight to get a supply of clothing.  Good bye.

William A. Smith.

Burnsville, Mississippi

Monday morning, Sept. 29^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

I again have the privilege of addressing you in answer to yours of the 17^th to 22^nd inst.  I have wrote several notes to you lately which I hope you will get in due time.  I sent you a note in Lucinda’s letter yesterday.  I hope you will not defer writing on account of not getting letters from me, for you may be sure that I will write at least once each week, when I possibly can and if anything should happen and I can’t write, there is others that would write to you without delay.

I was not aware where the 35^th Regiment was till you tell me that it is at Nashville, Tennessee.  I had heard that Thomas McConnel was better.  He looked very bad when I saw him at Jacinto on the 21^st of July.

Mrs. Hendrickson landed here last night from Vandalia.  She started from home last Thursday morning.  She and her husband have gone to Corinth today.

You seem to dread for me to go east.  There is no place that I had rather got than to the east.

When we was at Decatur, I was in hopes that they would take us on to Huntsville, then through the north part of Georgia and up into Virginia, about Cumberland Gap or farther up towards Wheeling (see map).

I do not know how the matter will terminate but you may expect to hear some wonderful stories about the matter.  I think most of the commissioned officers will resign and go home.  I can not blame them if they do, yet that will not make the matter any better.

I think we will move to Rienzi in a day or two, then the matter will come in to focus.

Captain McDonalds health is improving a little.  I think he will try to get home as soon as he is able to go.

I reel rather unwell today.  I have been troubled with tooth ache for some time and yesterday I had a tooth extracted, which as thrown me into a slight fever.  I hope to be better in a day or two.  I hope you are enjoying good health.  I will expect another letter from you in a day or two in answer to mine that I wrote to you from this place about ten days ago.

For the present you will excuse me.

William A. Smith

Wednesday Oct. 1^st, 1862

Joseph Pikaraky, one of our men that was took prisoner on the 22^nd of August, came here last night.  He was paroled at Huntsville, Alabama and left the rest of our boys (10) there.  They refuse to parole them.  I must now write to uncle Brit, he says grand mother is sick.

Good bye.                                                                               W. A. Smith

Early October, 1862

(The first part of this letter appears to be missing)

As to my feelings in regard to getting home, I have never thought but that I would be allowed to get home perfectly safe.  Yet I am as likely to be killed or die of disease as any one of the list and I vow to do my duty, regardless of the consequences.

I have heard the sing of plenty of bullets, yet it would take but one small bullet to stretch me lifeless on the ground.  We should always bear in mind that the messenger will come when we least expect him.

I am really sorry to hear that Rollin is so weak.  I hope he will soon be better.

Robert F. Young received a letter from Mrs. Young telling him of the death of their little boy about two years old.

Those Salem papers was received this morning, thank you.  I hope they will send them to me from the office now, as I received one from there.  I hope you will send Merrit a dollar or if you go to town, go and pay him yourself.

Albert was here yesterday.  He is well.  I hear that John Bell has the jaundice.  His wound is about well.  W.D. Wall has the jaundice.

I have no news to write.  The excitement in regard to branding our horses continues about the same.  I have got up a remonstrance and all the men that are here have signed it.

Corinth Mississippi

Tuesday night, Oct 7^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

Yours of the 27^th ultimo was received yesterday, but I could not write to you then because we was on duty.  My last letter to you was from Burnsville October 1^st.  Since then what has been done here? Oh! My God.

Before this reaches you, you will hear of a dreadful battle being fought here.  I shall not attempt to give you much of the particulars of the battle.  You are more interested in the movements of our Company than more important matters.  I will begin at Burnsville.  Friday morning at two o’clock we was ordered to prepare for an immediate march and by daylight all we laced of being ready was the order to fall in.  Between daylight and sunrise, we heard cannonading in the direction of Corinth.  About 7 o’clock we fell in and marched to the depot.  The 12^th Illinois started for Corinth.  We remained in line till noon, the cannonading continuing almost all the time.  At noon the telegraph operator said all was ready for us to move and took up his instrument and we marched to Glendale, five miles east of Corinth.  Here we stopped and he set his battery at work and told us that dreadful fighting had kept on till night.  The cars came here and Albert got on them and went to Corinth.  About midnight we was again ordered to march and came to a water tan within a mile and half of town where we put up for the night!  Just before daylight I was suddenly brought to a sense of my existence by hearing the discharge of volleys of musketry soon followed by the deafening roar of artillery.  We was on some high ground where we could see the flash of the guns and follow the course of the shell by its fiery path, it being yet dark; the cannonading kept quite steady till about nine o’clock, when the musketry began and such a continuous roar of fire arms I have never heard.  Then the artillery redoubled its fury and we could hardly distinguish one gun from the whole roar of artillery.  It continued till about noon, when the cheer of Victory went up from many thousand troops, fighting for the Stars and Stripes.  The firing now became slow and only from our side.  Price was again retreating.  His men fought with desperation.  Some of them being killed even inside of our breast works.  Our army followed him and continued to drive Prices army before them.

There is no use for me to try to give you an estimate of the killed and wounded.  I rode over part of the battlefield and saw hundreds, both friend and foe, stretched cold on the ground.  The loss will reach thousands on both sides.  I will refrain from any comment in regard to the looks of the dead or the sufferings of the wounded.  It would be a sorrowful tale to tell.

We have a great many prisoners.  They will be paroled.  Among the Regiments engaged was the 26^th Illinois.  I was on the ground where it fought and made a bayonet charge.  It suffered severely, but I heard or saw nothing of Eli W. Jones.  John Gaut was taken to our hospital, having fell from sun stroke.  He is now well and has joined his Regiment.  Albert is quite sick with jaundice.  John Bell has returned to duty.  My health is tolerably good.  I am better than I was a few days ago.

Now as to the new Proclamation of the President, I see nothing wrong in it.  If the people of the Southern states continue in rebellion, there is no one would pretend to say but that they ought to be shot.  Is their property better than their own lives.  The President only says he will liberate only the slaves in the states then in rebellion.  Not all the slaves of the United States.  Any state that sends representatives to the next Congress will not be included in the disloyal list, even if there is some fighting going on in her borders, and even if she has thousands of such quasi Union men as the one you spoke of, that has called out this paragraph.  It is perhaps as well that his repentance is slow.  It can the better be depended on.  You can tell all such that I do not consider myself a savior.  If I should die, it will not save the life of a single Negroe.  Neither will my living be the cause of the death of even one.  That is not what the war is for.  Have you any neighbors that thin that if they join the army, it will be to kill Negroes.  Do they think if they came, it would be to get killed that the Negroe might live.  If so, God pity them for their ignorance.  I do believe that if any of that justice is meted out in this world, a curse will be upon them.

I will now close with a promise to continue to write often.  I have a book that I will send you soon.  It is an argument for slavery, published by the Methodist Episcopal church, south.  When you receive it you will read it carefully and then send me your opinion of it.  I could send you a good blanket or two by express.  Do you want them or not.

Here they are, The Chicago Times of yesterday with all accounts of the Corinth fight.  You never buy a paper at 10 o’clock at night and quit writing a letter to read the news, do you.  Well I will say,

Good bye.

W. A. Smith

Corinth Mississippi

Sunday morning, Oct 12^th 1862

My Dear Wife:-

I again have the privilege of addressing you to let you know that I am yet on the land and among the living and enjoying good health.  My health has been rather poor but I am now well, hoping that this scrawl may find you and the children well.

You are today no doubt reading the details of the fight here, either from my letter or from the commercial.  Then you will go to meeting and see all the neighbors and spend the day pleasantly.

Our Chaplain is going to preach for us today.  He is now giving out the hymn, “Bring forth the royal Diadem, etc” about forty feet from my tent.  I have not heard him preach since I was at Courtland on the 3^rd or 4^th of August.  You remember the time I wrote that I went to Town creek to collect some money for Sage.  Poor fellow, he is a prisoner of war at Huntsville, taken August 22^nd.  I do not know when they will be released.  Albert is able to be up.  He has left the hospital and came to the Company.  John Bell and about 25 others have been gone several days.  I do not know where they are, but think they are down towards Ripley, escorting waggon trains from Rienzi to General Rosencrans army.  Company “L” is now saddled up to go out as body guard to General Stanley.  Companies “A” and “E” came in last night from the “seat of war”; bringing in 142 prisoners.  I believe that the matter is about over now, with regard to this battle.  The dead are all buried and the wounded have about all been removed.  The wounded rebels was taken to Iuka and our own wounded taken north.

While they remained here, they died off by the score; Oh! the sickening sight.  May I never be permitted to see such another one.  All the description possible can only give a faint idea of the reality.  Some of the artists here took photographs of some of the scenes.  I think I will buy one or two and send you, if I can’t see it in Harpers of Frank Leslie to send you.

I did not get my last weeks Salem Advocate.  I think they do not send it regular.  I received a letter from John Smith and one from G.O. Sheppard.  John seems disposed to pitch into politics and wade into the swindles practiced upon the Government.  I have something else to do now besides dabbling in politics, especially with one that I know will not attempt to bring any proof whatever to back his assertions.  Yet if it is his desire to pitch assertions at me, copied from the Salem Advocate, I will give him a rap that he will not forget till he forgets me.  I hope you will be quite particular to save all the letters I send you.  I do not expect them read by any one but yourself.  I may need some of them if I ever get home.

I received a note from Lucy and wrote to her yesterday.  She says that Lee has gave out joining the army.  I do not believe he ever had any notion of going.  I don’t think he could face cold lead and I think the bare mention of a bomb shell makes him “turn cold under the haversack”.  I would not however accuse him of cowardice for I know he has the brave blood of the south coursing through his veins, yet I am proud to say he has not a sucker brother-in-law to keep him company.

There, Jack Foster and John Bell have come in.  Elder Minor is through his sermon and I am trying to tell you about some one stealing the pistol out of my holster last night.  They had better took my revolver for it is worth thirty dollars and the one they took is only worth six or seven.  I hope they will make good use of it.

I will expect a letter from you tomorrow night or Tuesday morning.  The weather is quite cool and makes me think of your wood pile.  Tell me if you have had any hauled yet.  Then the sheep, are they sold.  Have you got the mule colt from Alberts or have you sold it.  If you can, you had better sell it.  If pap will take it, let him have it on my notes.

John never wrote tome about my business.  I wish you would write to me all about it in your next letter.  I have just received a note from Nancy dated last Sunday.  She says mother was up to you the day before and tells about Rollin being so poorly.  I hope he may soon be better and get entirely well.

The matter about our horses is yet unsettled.  I can’t tell how it will terminate.  Should they muster us out of the service, I am undecided what I should do.  I do not believe that we will be mustered out, yet such a thing is possible.  I believe I would prefer the Artillery to infantry service.  Artillery service is as grand a thing in an action as you ever saw and next to independent Dragoons (cavalry) it is the best place I know of.  It is not as hard work as cavalry or infantry and as nice as anything you can think of.

I received those socks you sent by John Bell, thank you.  They are first rate ones, but I have never had them on yet.  You and Lucy and Nancy could knit us a few pairs and send them by express to Corinth if you get out of work.    They would be better than any we could buy.  I am not needing any clothing, but if it gets cold, I will have to have our overcoats sent to us.

Mrs. W.H. Hendrickson is cooking for Mess no. 1.  I don’t know how long she will stay with us.

I wish your father would come down to Corinth soon, if he really intends to come down at all.

Hoping to hear from you soon, I bid you good bye,

William A. Smith

To Mrs. Mary Smith

Danville, Mississippi

Sunday morning, Oct. 19^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

I again have the privilege of writing you a few lines in answer to yours of the 6^th and 7^th, which I received three or four days ago.  I have sent you two notes since then, one in a letter I wrote to Nancy and one in a letter that I wrote to Mrs. Henry Ballard.  You will no doubt receive this before you do the note in Mrs. Ballards letter, on account of the way the mail goes to Fosters Post Office.

My last letter to you was dated at Corinth last Sunday.  Since then we have been at Glendale a couple of days, then we came back close to Corinth, between Corinth and Farmington.  The word was there that we would remain there 30 days and reorganize and drill etc., but soldiers life is about as uncertain as the wind, for we stayed there but two days and received marching orders for Rienzi, but the order was changed and Company “F” was stopped at this place 9 miles from Corinth, near the Mobile and Ohio Ry.   There is no telling how long we will remain here, but I do not expect we will be here very long.  We have some forces at Rienzi five miles south of here.  I expect that the Rebels have Boonville, a few miles below Rienzi.  Boonville is where we went last spring after the evacuation of Corinth.  We are now brigaded with the 7^th Kansas, under Brigadier General Lee, second brigade of cavalry.  Lieut. Col. Prince is now in command of the Regiment and seems disposed to try to instill new life into the Regiment. Quartermaster Stratton too seems to have turned a new leaf and is now having supplies of clothing, blankets, rubber blankets etc. opened, that pleases the soldier.

I am glad that school has again started in our school house.  I hope you will send the children every day that you can.  I wrote to you from Town creek, Alabama and sent you some seeds of the Muscadine grape, did you ever get them or not.

It was none of our Company that John Boring saw at Memphis, for Miller of our Company was paroled at Huntsville and got here last Thursday.  The others had gone to Macon, Georgia.

I expect you had better get George to get a few new fence posts and set in by the side of the old ones and nail the fence to, so that it will stand up through the winter.  If you need any money, I could send you some to pay for any chores you need done.

I do not blame Davis for shooting Nelson.  Davis done right in killing him.  Had Davis done as Nelson done, Nelson would have shot Davis.  I sent you a paper a day or two ago with a paragraph or two marked, which I hope you will read, as you seem to be under a wrong impression in regard to the Presidents Emancipation Proclamation.  I was glad to receive the poetry enclosed in your letter.  O! such poetry.  A woman that can endorse such an article, ought to have her husband spared a thousand years.  I have pasted it in my Roll book out for any purpose.

Yesterday evening we held an election to fill the place of 2^nd Sergt. in the place of Sergt. John Bucannon, who was mortally wounded at Iuka, and John M. Hamilton was elected, then William L. McCord was elected to fill his place of 8^th corporal.  I have no particular news to write to you that would interest you.  You have seen the news of the fighting in Kentucky and know more about it than I do.  I expect that your uncle was in some of the fighting there.  There is yet a possibility of another fight at Corinth.  Should there be another attempt on Corinth, the result would be dreadful.  Hoping you are well, I bid you good bye.

William A. Smith

Danville, Mississippi

Sunday evening, Oct. 26^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

I again have been permitted to take the pen to address you.  In a note that I wrote to you the day before yesterday, I told you that I expected a letter from you that night.  The mail came minus a letter for me, but I consoled myself with the thought that you was waiting one more day to give me more of the news, and that I would get one yesterday.  After looking over the paper, I went to bed (blanket) to dream of home and all its endearments.  It seemed as if I had been asleep but a minute, when I was brought to a sense of my existence on earth by a voice enquiring if this was the Captains tent.  It was midnight, a mounted orderly from General Misner, ordering us to Rienzi, to have our horses appraised and branded.  We went and remained there till 4 o’clock P.M. (Sunday night).  Then we returned because the commissioners had not come to appraise our horses.  As we came back it began to snow and before we got into camp, there was a blinding snow driving into our faces, which continued till after dark, reminding us of our homes and families in Illinois.  This morning we sent Allen Clow to Rienzi to see when the Commissioners came and about noon he came back with the word for us to go to Rienzi.  We went there and had the U.S. put on them, after presenting our written protest.  And now we will not get quite as much of Uncle Sams green backs by twelve dollars per month, as we got before.  Our folks at home now need not look for as large remittances as they used to receive.

When we returned this evening I received your letter dated 20^th and 21^st, which I was glad to receive, but sorry to hear that Rollin keeps sick so long.  I do hope he may soon get well.  I am now receiving the Salem Advocate.  I guess that dollar you paid them will induce them to send it till the next battle, when they will stop and think if I am not killed, I ought to be.

I do not think I will send for my overcoat at all.  You may ask Pap if he will wear it and if he will wear it I will be glad to make him a present of it and if I need one I will get me another one.  We have just received a lot of overcoats, boots, pants etc this evening and I worked away issuing them till dark, when we quit till morning, then we will go on “selling off at cost”.

I knew before where Sergt. Beebe was, as you will see by the monthly returns which I sent you day before yesterday.  I hope you will take good care of them for if I ever get home, they will be useful to me, and if not they will be good for you to refer to.

We this evening received our blank muster and pay rolls, and I will have to get to work on them tomorrow or the next day.  It is considerable trouble to make them out and requires some time.

I am glad that Mrs. Young is coming to visit us, for she is good company and I will be glad to see her.  I expect that Pap will remember seeing her at Camp Butler when he was there about a year ago now.

Would it appear like Sunday to you to get up and do what I have done and see what I have saw today.  I think not.  Get up and start two teams to Corinth for clothes and rations, then start two teams to gather corn, then the rest go to have their horses appraised, hear guns firing all day.  Then return and sell about two hundred dollars worth of clothing and have two men arrested and send them under guard to Corinth!  Does that look like Sunday?  Such is the soldiers Sunday.  Now would you like to be a solider, eh?

Mrs. Hendrickson is cooking for us.  Mrs. Upton is as well as usual and a perfect soldier.  My health is very good.  The health of the Company is good.  John M. Hamilton will soon apply for a discharge.

William A. Smith

P.S. Diora tells me that Hester is reading and that I promised her a reading book.  I hope you will buy it for her and tell her that it is from me.

Bolivar Tennessee

Sunday night, November 2^nd, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

Last Tuesday night just as I had entered dreamland there came marching orders and Wednesday morning we marched to Corinth, where we joined the Regiment and thought that now we was in for a stay at Corinth and went to work to fix up; but alas! For soldiers calculations!!  As usual after being waked up twice to receive orders for the morrow, the third time was marching orders at daylight, with three days rations, and at an early hour, we was in the saddle and our faces set Corinth ward.  At Corinth we waited for the waggons to get off, till evening, when we started and marched about eight miles and bivouacked for the night.  It had been a little over a week since I had seen Corinth and I never saw such a change in any place in the same length of time in my life.  Corinth will soon exist only in name, for the town is being rapidly torn away and instead of frame and brick houses, there is only heavy forts to be seen in all the outskirts.  Then they are tearing away the houses in the interior and erecting barracks, sheds, depots, etc. then the timber all around the town is being cut, making ari abbattis that is almost impassible.  If you should see Corinth with its ugly looking forts and grim guns and the wide deep ditches around them, you would think that Corinth could never be taken.

Friday morning we started and marched through Furdy, an old town, but some good buildings, then through Bethel, a small village on the Railroad, where we passed the 48^th and 49^th Illinois Volunteers, but did not stop and I only saw a few of the men that I was acquainted with.  I saw W.E. Purcell and George Hainie and Brokaw and one or two others that I was acquainted with.

We again laid out about 20 miles from here and yesterday morning we marched to Bolivar, getting here about tow o’clock P.M.  As is common, it took till after dark to know where we would camp, then after we did go into camp, we moved out tents twice to get them right.  That took up the best part of the day (Sunday).  Troops were pouring in here all night and today and even now the cars are coming with more.  We expect the 111^th here tonight.  I today saw Billy Hepner, he came to our tent, he is in the 30^th Ills.  Since dark tonight we have orders to march at daylight tomorrow, with one waggon to two companies.  One tent to each company, five days rations and two hundred pounds of ammunition to each man, leaving all the extra horses and all baggage behind and no doubt that before you read these lines, we will again engage the enemy.  And if we do, we do not expect that all of us will be permitted to write to our families next Sunday, but we expect that some of us will have fought our last battle.  We all hope that we may be spared, but there is no telling who is to be sacrificed to the God of Battles.

Yours of the 12^th ultimo was received yesterday.  I ought to have received another today but we have had no mail today, and I don’t know whether we will have one tomorrow while on the march, but expect we will.  I think we will go towards Holly Springs (there comes another train), but the newspapers will tell you what we do before you can get a letter from me.

I wish you would write to me all about how John got my business arranged.  He has never wrote to me about it.  In my letter last Sunday I sent a dollar to buy some books for the children, which I hope you have received before this time.  I hope you will try to keep them supplied with books so that they may advance as fast as possible.

My love to you and the children.

William A. Smith

Lagrange, Tennessee

Friday evening, November 7^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

I wrote you last from Bolivar on Sunday night and Monday morning we started to this place.  We was placed as rear guard for the 4^th Division and got fairly started about 10 o’clock A.M.  We had marched about eight miles and camped in the woods.  Tuesday morning we got started as soon as the long Division could get straightened out and about 10 o’clock we passed through a little old town called Van Buren.  The country along there is as nice as any I have saw since I left Illinois.  About two o’clock we passed close to Grand Junction, a place of two or three houses.  Here we could see the column passing, that came from Corinth.  I do not know the number that came from there, but think there is 30 or 40,000 and I think that there is some 20,000 in this command.

At Grand Junction we turned to the right and three miles brought us to Lagrange, a very nice town.  That is, it has good buildings, but they are very much scattered.  Among the public buildings I see one good brick college, four or five good churches.  One Masonic Hall, one Oddfellows Hall and schoolhouse, several schoolhouses and some excellent dwellings.  There is some good livery stables, machine shops, store houses, waggon shops, etc.

Our Division was followed by John A. Logans Brigade, and I saw the General for the first time since I have been out.  It is a new brigade composed of some old and some new Regiments.  The 111^th is in it but have not yet joined him unless they came today.

I saw Billy Hepner on the march.  He is Lieutenant in the 30^th Illinois.  He is in Logans brigade.  He was anxious to see the 111^th.  Captain John Nichols of the 30^th is brother to Captain Alfred Nichols of the 111^th.  I have met with more acquaintance on this tramp than I have met in any other since I have been in the service.  Among them is Captain Smith Townsend, the Lewis boys from Patoka, Tom Waterhouse, Dave Eissner, young Brookaw that used to work for Walker, two of Murry Doolens boys, and Bill Ogles from Patoka.

Wednesday I went out with Clay Foster and John Davis to draw a hog and I captured the mail of the 7th Kentucky Regt.  They are at Cold Water, six miles this side of Holly Springs.  I will send you some of the letters in a few weeks if nothing happens to me.

Yesterday we was ordered out with one Company of our Regiment, two companies of the 2^nd Illinois cavalry, one brigade of infantry under Colonel Pugh and two pieces of artillery, to make a reconnaissance in force on the Holly Springs road.  We had gone about four miles when we chased their pickets.  We moved on a couple of miles, when they appeared to make a stand at the edge of a woods across the field, about half mile ahead of us.  The infantry formed in line, the artillery was brought forward and shelled the woods, while we moved to the right to some low ground and passed under the fire of guns and as they ceased firing, we moved forward, and soon the firing of small arms commenced.  We continued forward, our advance guard firing at short intervals, till the enemy formed and seemed to make a stand.  Here the firing was pretty brisk, till the command was given to charge, when away we went, the dust so thick we could hardly see the man in advance of us.  We continued to run for about 2-1/2 miles, our advance firing every minute.  Then the order was given to halt and form on the right, and give them a parting salute.  We done so, and then the other cavalry turned for camp.  The infantry and artillery had been left far in the rear.  Our Company was left for rear guard.  We got into camp about 8 o’clock P.M., having killed one man, taken two prisoners and one horse of the 1st Mississippi Cavalry.

When we got to camp I found your letter of the 22^nd and 26^th ultimo, and one from William Arnold asking for descriptive roll so he could get a discharge.  Then tonight I received one from John Guat asking the same, but I can’t send them for all our books but morning report is back at Bolivar.  We only have one tent to the Company.  I also received a letter from the 3^rd Auditor at Washington City in regard to our horses that have been killed.  I will soon try to get pay for my horse.

Our Colonel is at home.  We hear that he was resigned.  Lieut. Col. Prince is in command of the Regiment now.  I can form no idea when pay day will come again.  We have been so busy that we have not made out our pay rolls yet.  I had got one done at Danville and receive marching orders that night and then there is three to make out yet (here is the Chaplain distributing the Christian Banner).

I am sorry that Rollin keeps unwell.  I hope however that with the cold weather he will get well.

We now have marching orders with 3 days cooked rations.  I do not know which way we will go, but expect towards Holly Springs, which is 20 miles from here.  I expect your maps will show you where we are and where Holly Springs are.  If they don’t, I will send you a war map that will.  Mrs. Young and Robert was left at Bolivar with the sick and our camp equipage.

My health is quite good.

Good night.

William A. Smith

Lagrange, Tennessee

Tuesday, November 11^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

I told you last Friday night that we would march the next morning.  We marched towards Holly Springs and near where we quit following the enemy.  We found them again and had some skirmishing, when there was a Negroe said he could show our force how to get around them.  General Lee (we had joined the Corinth force) followed the Negroe and he took them around the enemy, so that our attack was a complete surprise, and we killed two, wounded several and took about 160 prisoners, late in the evening.

Sunday morning we moved forward and captured a few prisoners, and had some skirmishing, and late in the evening we turned for the camp and got in about midnight.  I found a letter from you dated 3^rd and 4^th inst. and was glad to hear from you and especially to hear that our little Rollin was getting better.  I do hope that by this time he is entirely well.

The Captains brother is here and Mrs. Young will go home with him in a few days.  John M. Hamilton went to the Medical Director this morning.  He signed John’s papers and sent them to General Grant and I expect he will sign them today.  We lack some papers for Amos and Thomas Smith.  I went to General Grants headquarters yesterday for them, but they did not have them, but was expecting them and I will go there again this evening and I think they will both soon be discharged.

I got a very nice little Maynard rifle Saturday evening.  I have some notion of buying it of the Quartermaster and sending it to Pap to keep for Byron, till he is old enough to use it of till I come home.  I don’t know what the gun will be valued at, it is worth $25.00  I hope you will excuse me for this short note, as my table is full of blank papers to fill out and there is no telling what moment we will be called out.  You will give my respects to Miss Colburn.

William A. Smith

P.S.

You will make a present of my overcoat to father and Robert F. Youngs to your father.  Tell them I hope they will accept them from me.

William A. Smith

Lagrange, Tennessee

November 15^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

Yours of the 11^th is at hand and fins me in as good health as any person could ask to enjoy.  You no doubt think it strange of me enjoying such good health, being so much exposed to all the changes of the weather and a great deal of the time, lying out without tents and all the time lying on the ground.  It seem strange to me and the only reason that I know is that we have plenty of exercise, which I consider the very best of physicians.

I wrote to you a few days ago, but knowing how anxious you are to hear often from me, I hasten to write to you again.  I today received a letter from Captain John Foster.  His Company is at Moscow, Kentucky.  He says they are in tolerable good health.  I have wrote to him today.  I also received a letter from Noah Cruse a few days ago.  I sent you his letter which I think you are reading tonight.

Mr. McDonald, the Captains brother, will go home to Ramsey and Mrs. Young will I think, go with him.  I think I will send a package of old letters, papers etc. and will also send a book to you that I bought at Cape Girardeau, Missouri.  I paid $2.25 for it and when Mrs. Young was there, she covered it for me.  I have some other books which I will send by John M. Hamilton if he is discharged.

Lieut. Colonel Prince has received an order from the Secretary of War, telling him that he shall muster us for pay with our horses as common and now we go on as usual.  I have been without about 12 days, that takes $3.00 off my wages.  Today I got into a trade and bought two.  Now I suppose I should be like the Woman with the new pot, neither borrow or lend.

One of our Sergeants has been promoted Commissary and I expect that tomorrow there will be an election for 5^th Sergeant of Company “F”.

Amos Moon has had trouble getting his papers through.  I can’t tell when they will get discharged, but we expect that they will soon get their discharges, then you will have some soldiers in your own neighborhood.

I sent papers to William M. Arnold at Corinth a few days ago and I expect he too will soon be discharged.

You will excuse me for this note and I will try to do better the next time.

Your husband,

William A. Smith

Mrs. Mary Smith

Lagrange, Tennessee

Sunday, November 16^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

I write this note to you to tell you that I send this book and package by Arthur McDonald, esq. of Bowlingreen, Illinois.  He is the Captains brother and has been with us a week and Mrs. Young and him will start home tomorrow morning and pass Patoka Tuesday and then you will have employment for some time, reading the old letters etc. that I send you.  You will read them first, then let others read such of them as you like, but the letters that have been sent to me, you know that I don’t expect you will allow others to read.  I expect you to preserve these addressed to me; the others you can destroy when you like, they are of no account to me nor you, only as a matter of curiosity.  You will of course always handle the papers and letters that I send you, before you allow any one else to read them, then act your own pleasure in the matter.

I mailed a letter to you this morning and of course you know that I have no news to write today except that Elder Minor preaches for us at 11 o’clock today.  The weather is very nice and pleasant.  No news from Holly Springs.

I went with a squad, three or four days ago and we captured three hogsheads of sugar hid in a straw stack.  It is worth two hundred and fifty dollars.  There was also about 2500 pounds.  I will write a little to Diora and close.

Your husband,

William A. Smith

Mrs. Mary Smith

Diora Smith

Byron Smith

Marg. Hester Smith

Walter Scott Smith

Rollin Smith

Moscow, Tennessee

Sunday, November 23^rd, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

I again address you from a new place.  Last Monday at noon, we received marching orders for this place, ten miles west of Lagrange on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad.  There was but four companies of us came at the start, to do all the cavalry work for ten or twelve thousand infantry and artillery, which you may know made it pretty hard on us.  Day before yesterday was extra hard on us, getting into the saddle at two o’clock fore breakfast.  Then before noon, the forage train of the infantry was attacked, and off we went and run the enemy through Mount Pleasant, Miss., 11 miles from here, only getting a few shots at them and retaking a few of the miles that they had captured from the waggons, making more than 40 miles rode in the day and eleven of them on the run.  We was that night joined by the balance of the Regiment.

I yesterday receive your letter dated 8^th of Sept. (August you have it). I can’t tell where it has been all the time.  It was mailed at Salem, Sept 11^th and received at Cairo Sept. 12^th, then again stamped at Cairo Nov. 19^th, with no other marks on it.

John B. Sim returned today from the hospital at Mt. Vernon, Indiana.  He is like most others that go to the hospital, returned as fat as a buck.

Corporal Goodbrake, our recruiting officer that was taken prisoner 22^nd of August, turns up in Washington City, others at Providence, Rhode Island.

My health is quite good now but I feel a little sore from our late hard scouts.

John M. Hamilton and Amos Moon are still expecting their discharges.  Felix W. Arnold has not got out of limbo yet.

You will give my respects to Miss Colburn, tell her I wish her success in her vocation.  Give my love to our mothers.

William A. Smith

Moscow, Tennessee

Friday, November 26^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

Last Tuesday morning we received orders to march at 2 o’clock P.M. with two days cooked rations in our haversacks.  At two we started with seven or eight companies under command of Lieut. Col. Prince.  We took the road to Macon, passed through Macon late and bivouacked in the woods about a mile beyond.

Macon is a small village with some very good brick houses, some churches etc., surrounded by a tolerable good farming country.  Wednesday morning we moved at an early hour in a northwestern direction and passed through Oakland, a village that would suit for a kitchen for Fosterburg.  Here we captured a very good flag about 12 feet long, with ten stars and Southern Rights on its Red and White Bars.  We also captured in this neighborhood, about a dozen double barreled shotguns.  About noon we captured three or four straggling secesh.

Lagrange, Nov 29^th

We went on in a northwest direction a few miles and got into a fight with the rebels and had two of our Company severely wounded and the Captain of Company “K” slightly wounded in the left arm.  Our wounded was Clark Coldren, severely in the left side and Aaron B. Melton, left leg shattered below the knee.  The enemy, two wounded and 28 prisoners.  We returned to camp the next day and yesterday all the troops left Moscow for Holly Springs, and now our Regiment is gone and as soon as I close this, I will be off with two days rations in my haversack.  I remained behind to get Amos Moon and Thomas Smith off home.  Smith will deliver this to you and stop with you a few days.  I hope you will send an answer to this as soon as received.  I have not time to write now, but Mr. Smith will tell you all the particulars of our late moves.  We will no doubt have a heavy fight below Holly Springs.

I send you two pictures, one for yourself and one for mother.  They are in cases taken on the battlefield of Corinth.

I am sorry that I am so hurried now as I would write more.  I send a book to Miss Colburn and some to you, one that I have wrote to you about.

I received a letter from your uncle Lieut. McConnell last night.  You will send Mrs. Ballard word (for the lords sake) that Henry is yet on the land and among the living.  Their Regiment has had some hard marching.  You will read to your mother such of this letter as you think proper.  I have some other letters that I would like to send you but they are in my box in the waggon and it has been gone 6 or 8 hours.

Good bye.

William A. Smith

Obituary

Messrs Editors:-

Thinking your readers might feel interested in knowing of the circumstances attendant on the death of William A. Smith, Orderly Sergeant of Company “F”, 7^th Illinois Cavalry, and formerly a resident of our County, I herewith send you a copy of the letter I received from his brother-in-law.

Camp on the Coffeeville Road,

Mississippi, Dec. 12^th, 1862

Dear Sister:-

With a heavy heart do I take my pen in hand to communicate something very sorrowful to you and the friends.  I must inform you that we have had some very  severe fighting with the rebels between here and Coffeeville, in which we have suffered some loss in killed and wounded.

Among the killed, I am sorry to tell you, is your husband Wm. A. Smith…. He fell like a soldier on the evening of the 5^th inst., in the skirmish at Coffeeville.  We were at the time, compelled to fall back, but in a few days, myself and Chance went back with Captain Webster under a flag of truce, and we found that he had been buried after the fashion of all soldiers on the field, without any coffin and wrapped in a blanket.  We took him up, had a good coffin made for him and buried him right.  He had new clothes on and we left them on him and put one blanket under his body and one under his head.

He looked as natural as if he was asleep, I think he must have died an easy death.  He was shot in the back while in the act of turning his horse to retreat.  Four shots hit him and I think one passed through his heart.  His horse was shot under him.  He had seven dollars in his pocket.  The man that buried him got it and gave it to a wounded soldier and he gave it to me.  We buried him on the farm of a man by the name of King.

Now sister, bear the shock as calmly as you possibly can and put your trust in HIM who has promised to be a husband to the widow and a father to the orphans.  You have the sympathy of many warm friends in this Company, who have vowed to avenge William’s death.

I as ever remain your brother until death.

John B. Chandler

We were married eleven years ago the 12^th day of last August.  I am left with five little emblems of Love.  He was an affectionate companion and a kind father.  He has been in the service fifteen months and sixteen days.  In that time he has written me many interesting letters, some of which I would like to have printed in your paper, if it is thought desirable.

It was hard to give him up, but I feel resigned to the will of God, and my heart says, “Sweetly sleep companion, at the appointed time I will come to thee”.

Mary Smith

Fosterburg, December 21^st, 1862

Eulogy

The Loss of a Soldier Lamented

Orderly Sergeant William A. Smith, of Marion County, Illinois, belonging to Company “F” 7^th Illinois Cavalry Regiment, fell in battle on the 5^th of December, 1862, near Coffeeville, Mississippi.  And who with a loyal heart and from honest motives, enlisted at the call of his country in August, 1861, to assist in putting down the Rebellion and enforcing the laws of the Government and the Constitution as it was; has also fell a victim to the enemy after constant service of over sixteen months of hardships and privations of a soldier’s life that proved that he was a brave gallant man of high moral character and was possessed with a noble daring mind.

He insisted on the necessity of enforcing all military laws to the letter, yet he was possessed with a generous heart and was ever ready to render assistance to all his associates and fellow soldiers.  He scorned not the lowly and ignorant, but sympathized with them in their unfortunate condition, and was ever a friend to those in distress; being studious in his habits and tenderly and delicately reared, his society was courted by all his associates… he was dearly loved by all.

He was the idol of his family, the pride and comfort of his parents of declining years.  But he is gone and has left an aching void in the hearts of all his friends, that can never be filled on this earth.  Society has lost one of its brightest ornaments.  No companionship, or his brilliant conversation, but his memory will ever be in our minds when long years have passed away.  His friends will often think of the happy days and years that he has passed with them and no doubt would think it a great blessing and comfort to visit his last resting place.  May God in His mercy deal gently with his bereaved and broken hearted family, comfort his parents in their declining years and grant that when we all shall have passed the Jordon of death, we may meet where sin and sorrow and death will come no more forever.

R.F.Y. (Robt. F. Young)

The departed, the departed

They visit us in dreams,

And they above our memories,

Like shadows over streams,

But when the cheerful lights of home,

In constant luster burns,

The departed, the departed

Can never more return.

Rivers and Rails

Men, Munitions and Supplies

By Mike Harris

William A. Smith’s Civil War Maneuvers

7^th Illinois Cavalry, Company F

It’s been said that an army travels on its stomach. William A. Smith would have learned that lesson well while acting as his company’s Quartermaster. At the time of the American Civil War, trains and riverboats were used for the major movement of troops, guns, munitions, and supplies. In early 1862, William’s Illinois Company was ordered southward to join the U. S. Army of the Mississippi in the northern part of that state and in southwestern Tennessee. His unit’s role was to help the Union Army capture and hold the major transportation routes into the Deep South. During the time that William was in that area, thousands of men on both sides gave their lives for what they so fervently believed. The following are accounts of battles and/or engagements that correspond to the dates/locations of the letters written by William to his wife, Mary (see circled letters on attached map for locations):

A. New Madrid Missouri

February 28-April 8, 1862

B. Corinth Mississippi

April 29-June 10, 1862

Good map of area:   http://memory.loc.gov/gmd/gmd396/g3962/g3962s/cw0439000.sid

C. Iuka Mississippi

September 19, 1862

D. Corinth Mississippi

October 3-4, 1862

E.  General Grant preparing for attack on Vicksburg

October 31 FRI -- Federal operations on the Mississippi Central Railroad from Bolivar, TN, to Coffeeville (Yalobusha Co.) begin and continue through Jan. 10, 1863. A Federal force advances from Corinth to Grand Junction, TN (a couple of miles east of Lagrange, TN).

November 13 THURS -- A Union force skirmishes at Holly Springs (Marshall Co.) and captures the railroad depot there.

December 1862

Action is concentrated in the northernmost counties. Gen. Grant loses his supply line as a result of Confederate cavalry raids and thus abandons his campaign against Vicksburg.

1 MON -- Skirmish at Hudsonville (Marshall Co.). Skirmishes in Lafayette County at the Yocknapatalfa River near Mitchell's Cross Roads and about Oxford (continuing through Dec. 3).

3 WED -- Skirmishes with Gen. Grant's forces on the Yocknapatalfa River at Prophet, Spring Dale, and Free bridges. Skirmish at Oakland (Yalobusha Co.).

4 THURS -- Affair near Oxford, and skirmish at Water Valley (Yalobusha Co.).

5 FRI -- Engagement at Coffeeville (Yalobusha Co.) in which Gen. Grant's cavalry is repulsed. William A. Smith was killed during this battle and buried near where he fell on King’s farm.

Note: This page may be zoomed to see more detail.

William A. Smith and his wife, Mary Foster Smith

Smith Genealogy

Used with permission from Melvin and Carol Wood, Sandoval, IL.

Ancestors of William A. Smith and Mary Foster

William A Smith, b. 22 April 1832 in Foster Twp. Marion Co., Illinois, d. 5 Dec 1862 Civil Wa in Coffeeville, Mississippi.  He married Mary "Polly" Foster, married 12 August 1851 in Marion Co. Illinois.

Mary "Polly" Foster, b. 14 March 1837 in Illinois, d. 24 Feb 1907 in Patoka, Marion Co. ,Illinois, buried: in Patoka City Cemetery, Marion Co., Illinois.  She married (1) William A Smith, married 12 August 1851 in Marion Co. Illinois, b. 22 April 1832 in Foster Twp. Marion Co., Illinois, d. 5 Dec 1862 Civil Wa in Coffeeville, Mississippi.  She married (2) Squire Farmer, married 10 Nov. 1864, b. 24 March 1832, d. 6 July 1916.

Parents

Mordecai Smith, b. 1 April 1804 in Elizabeth City, N.C., d. 10 Sept.1884 in Foster Twp. Marion Co. Il.  He married Sarah Pursley, married 23 June 1831 in Marion Co. Illinois.

Sarah Pursley, b. 12 Sept. 1815 in Bond Co. Illinois, d. 5 Oct. 1873 in Foster Twp. Marion Co. Illinois.

Andrew Hillard Foster, b. 24 March 1810 in Georgia, d. 4 April 1874 in Foster Twp. Marion Co. Illinois.  He married (1) Elizabeth(Betsy) McConnell, married 8 Nov. 1832 in Fayette Co. Illinois, b. 1813 in Tennessee, d. 1863 in Section 21, Marion Co. Illinois.  He married (2) Mary C. Dickens, b. in Tennessee, d. 1895.

Elizabeth(Betsy) McConnell, b. 1813 in Tennessee, d. 1863 in Section 21, Marion Co. Illinois.

Grand Parents

Abraham Smith, b. 18 August 1775 in N. Carolina, d. 5 Feb. 1856 in Marion Co. Il.  He married Lucy Sexton.

Lucy Sexton, b. 1775 in N. Carolina, d. after 1860.

William Pursley, b. 1778 in York Co. S. Carolina, d. March 1828 in Marion Co. Illinois.  He married Lydia Little.

Lydia Little, b. 1775 in S. Carolina, d. 1850-1860 in Texas.

Andrew Foster.  He married Sarah(Sallie) Nichols.

Sarah(Sallie) Nichols.

Daniel McConnell, b. 20 May 1767, d. 1 August 1832 in Fayette Co. Illinois.  He married Milly Millie Blankenship.

Milly Millie Blankenship, b. 1791 in Virginia, d. 28 Nov. 1869 in Fayette Co. Illinois.

Great Grand Parents

Abram Smith.

John Pursley, b. 1744 in Antrim County, Ireland, d. May 1803 in York Co. S. Carolina.  He married Mary Black, married Feb 1777 in York Co. S. Carolina.

Mary Black, b. 1751, d. 21 April 1845 in York Co. , Carolina.

William or John Little.

Hezekiah Blankenship.  He married Rhoda Meador.

Rhoda Meador.

Great Great Grand Parents

James Pursley, b. ca 1705 in Antrim Co. Ireland, d. 1788 in York Co. S.C.  He married Jane McMackin or McMahon, married ca 1740.

Jane McMackin or McMahon.

Gavin - Guion Black.

The Descendents of William A. Smith

1.  William A Smith, b. 22 April 1832 in Foster Twp. Marion Co., Illinois, (son of Mordecai Smith and Sarah Pursley). He married Mary "Polly" Foster, married 12 August 1851 in Marion Co. Illinois, b. 14 March 1837 in Illinois, (daughter of Andrew Hillard Foster and Elizabeth (Betsy) McConnell) d. 24 Feb 1907 in Patoka, Marion Co. ,Illinois, buried: in Patoka City Cemetery, Marion Co., Illinois.  William died 5 Dec 1862 Civil Wa in Coffeeville, Mississippi.

Children:

2.       i      Mary Hester Smith b. 19 January 1857.

3.       ii     Diora Smith b. 14 Sept. 1852.

iii    Byron Smith, b. 20 August 1854.  He married Harriet "Hattie" Gray, married 7 October 1875, b. July 1860 in Illinois, (daughter of John H. Gray and Nancy UNKNOWN).

iv    Walter Scott Smith, b. 20 April 1859 in Foster Twp. Marion Co. Illinois.  He married Edna Thiell, married 1 Oct. 1895 in Marion Co. Illinois, b. 1875.

v     William Rollin Smith, b. 18 Feb. 1861 in Foster Twp. Marion Co. Illinois.

Second Generation

2.  Mary Hester Smith, b. 19 January 1857 in Foster Twp., Marion Co., Illinois.  She married Robert Alexander Simcox, married 1 May 1878 in Marion Co. Illinois, b. 18 September 1854 in Maysville, Kentucky, (son of William Kennedy Simcox and Agnes Rebecca Bullock) d. 18 December 1917 in Patoka, Marion Co. ,Illinois, buried: in Patoka City Cemetery , Marion Co. Illinois.  Mary died 3 July 1923 in Patoka, Marion Co. Illinois, buried: in Patoka City Cemetery, Marion Co., Illinois.

Children:

4.       i      George Walter Simcox b. 4 July 1883.

ii     Howard Simcox, b. 9 May 1881.  He married Mae Arnold, married 24 Sept. 1902 in Marion Co. Illinois, b. 27 Jan. 1880, (daughter of William B. Arnold and Almeda Catherine Conant) d. 13 Sept. 1949.  Howard died 1915.

5.       iii    Anna Maude "Bobby" Simcox b. 8 Jan. 1879.

6.       iv    Helen Burnett Simcox b. 30 November 1886.

v     Martha Simcox, d. in infancy.

vi    Jessie Simcox, d. in infancy.

3.  Diora Smith, b. 14 Sept. 1852 in Foster Twp. Marion Co. Il.  She married John Wesley Oglesby, married 31 Oct. 1870, b. 28 Jan. 1848, (son of John McGee Oglesby and Arena Tully) d. 17 Nov. 1904.  Diora died 1933 in Marion Co. Il.

Children:

i      Henry Oglesby, b. 1873.  He married Ella Faye Tolle, b. 1875, d. 1933.  Henry died 1965.

ii     Hester Oglesby, b. 1884, d. 1938.

Third Generation

4.  George Walter Simcox, b. 4 July 1883 in Patoka, Marion Co. ,Illinois.  He married Minnie May Wasem, married 24 June 1906 in Salem, Marion Co. Illinois, b. 14 Sept. 1883 in Patoka, Marion Co., Illinois, (daughter of Jacob E Wasem and Wilhelma or Wilhelmina "Anna" Eaglin) d. 20 May 1953 in Patoka, Marion Co., Illinois, buried: in Patoka City Cemetery, Marion Co., Illinois.  George died 18 April 1955 in Patoka, Marion Co. ,Illinois, buried: in Patoka City Cemetery, Marion Co. Illinois.

Children:

7.       i      Dale Lawrence Simcox b. 27 June 1910.

8.       ii     Harold James "Johnny" Simcox b. 11 January 1907.

9.       iii    Betty Fern Simcox (details excluded).

5.  Anna Maude "Bobby" Simcox, b. 8 Jan. 1879 in Patoka, Illinois.  She married Fred Bowe Miller, married 8 Feb. 1898 in Vandalia, Illinois, b. 29 Sept. 1878 in Ancona Illinois, (son of Mary E. UNKNOWN) d. 24 July 1964 in Miami, Florida.  Anna died 26 October 1975 in Eureka, Illinois.

Children:

10.     i      Myrtle Mae Miller b. 29 April 1899.

ii     Mary H. Miller, b. 1905, d. 1909.

6.  Helen Burnett Simcox, b. 30 November 1886 in Patoka, Illinois.  She married James Lewis Davidson, married 15 April 1906 in Marion Co. Illinois, b. 10 July 1881 in east of Patoka, Illinois, (son of John William Davidson and Louisa Lottie Lewis) d. 10 May 1966 in Florida.  Helen died 4 March 1986 in Cresent City, Florida.

Children:

i      Anna Mae Davidson, (details excluded).

ii     James Robert Davidson, b. 26 Feb. 1909 in Mercedes, Texas, d. 18 Sept. 1967 in Belleglade.

iii    Charles Howard Davidson, b. 25 March1911 in Patoka, Illinois, d. 11 Nov. 1971 in Pittsburg, PA.

iv    Esther Helen Davidson, (details excluded).

v     Carl William Davidson, b. 19 April 1922 in Pomona Park, Florida, d. 20 March 1997 in Florida.

vi    Stella Gertrude Davidson, (details excluded).

Fourth Generation

7.  Dale Lawrence Simcox, b. 27 June 1910 in Patoka, Marion Co., Illinois.  He married Lola Pauline Cole, (details excluded).  Dale died 21 February 1991.

Children:

i      Living Simcox.  She married Billie Joe Mayfield, b. 8 July 1930 in Centralia, Illinois, (son of Lyle Franklin Mayfield and Reba Lucille Hafeli) d. 14 October 1982 in Centralia, Illinois, buried: in Hillcrest Memorial Park, N. of Centralia, Illinois.

ii     Living Simcox.

8.  Harold James "Johnny" Simcox, b. 11 January 1907 in Patoka, Marion Co. Illinois.  He married (1) Thelma Mindora Hopkins, married 25 May 1929 in Aurora, Illinois, b. 27 March 1908 in Fayette Co., Illinois, (daughter of Henry Martin Hopkins and Lola Belcher) d. 17 Feb. 1958 in Centralia, Marion Co.,Illinois, buried: in Patoka Cemetery, Patoka, Illinois.  He married (2) Burnell Apple-Hafeli, d. 1972.  He married (3) Julia Esther"Julie" Lampia-Carlson, (details excluded).  Harold died 9 January 1994.

Children by Thelma Mindora Hopkins:

11.     i      Living Simcox.

ii     Martha Sue Simcox, b. 31 July 1939 in Centralia, Illinois, d. 2 December 1981 in Illinois.

9.  Betty Fern Simcox, (details excluded).  She married Alphonse Paluski, b. 24 Dec. 1915, d. 18 June 1992 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Children:

i      Living Paluski.

ii     Living Paluski.

iii    Living Paluski.

iv    Living Paluski.

v     Living Paluski.

10.  Myrtle Mae Miller, b. 29 April 1899 in Centralia, Illinois.  She married Dr. Frank M. Phifer, b. 30 October 1886 in Illinois, (son of Dr. John N. Phifer and Sarah UNKNOWN) d. 26 March 1976 in Eureka, Illinois.  Myrtle died 19 July 1959 in Eureka, Illinois.

Children:

i      Frances Marion Phifer, b. 24  Oct. 1922 in Chicago, Illinois.  She married Dr. Ralph B. Johanson, (details excluded).  Frances died !9 Feb. 1985.

ii     John Newton Phifer, (details excluded).

iii    Joseph Carl Phifer, b. 13 July 1927 in Chicago, Illinois, d. 1 Sept. 1989 in Eureka, Illinois.

Fifth Generation

11.  Living Simcox.  He married Marilyn Rose "Susie" Woolbright, (details excluded).

Children:

i      Living Simcox.  He married Living Blackburn.

12.     ii     Living Simcox.

iii    Living Simcox.  He married Living Dennis.

iv    Living Simcox.  She married Living Abell III.

Sixth Generation

12.  Living Simcox.  She married Living Teschner.

Children:

13.     i      Living Teschner.

ii     Living Teschner.

iii    Living Teschner.  She married Living Malone.

Seventh Generation

13.  Living Teschner.  She married Living Kauzlarich.

Children:

i      Living Kauzlarich.

Information on William A. Smith

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Here is what I see on the transcribed 1860 census of Marion Co. IL.

Twp. 4N, R 2 E, Fosterburg P. O.

# 1240/1287

SMITH, William A. 28, IL, farmer

Mary 23, IL

Derva 8 IL   (female)

Byron 6, IL

Mary H. 4, IL

Walter S. 2, IL

WILTON, Absolom 11, IL

If I recall didn't William A. Smith mention in one of his letters that his wife should buy a wagon or something for Walter for his birthday?

Also nearby---2 dwellings away is a T. J. Foster, 21, IL.  Also next three dwellings are folks with surname Moon.  Seems like that surname was mentioned in at least one of the letters.

The age and state of birth of the Mary Smith fits the Mary Foster I have that married William Smith and then Squire Farmer.

1870 transcribed census (with some notes) shows in Twp 4 N, R 2 E,

# 91/91

Farmer, Squire 37, IL, farmer

Mary (Foster-Smith) 33, IL, keeping house   (Note in parentheses are in this census book.)

Smith, Smith 17, male, IL    (Smith as the first name is underlined to

indicate it is an error on the census.)

Bryan 16, IL-----could he be Byron on the 1860 census?

Hester 13, IL----could she be Mary H. on 1860 census?

Scott 11, IL------could he be Walter S. on 1860 census?

Rollin 9, IL

Not far away is:

# 87/87

Smith, Mordaci 66, TN, farmer

Sarah 54, IL, keeping house

Lydia 28, IL

Delia 12, IL

Chance, Sarah 8, IL

Edward 5, IL

Possibly related to William A. Smith??

By the 1900 census, Mary Foster Smith Farmer says has given birth to 8

children, 7 living.  That would be 5 with William Smith and I have 3 listed as children with Squire Farmer.  In 1871 Squire Farmer was appointed guardian of James F. and Sarah E. ALEXANDER, who were the children of Eliza Jane Farmer and James H. ALEXANDER.  Way back at the beginning-----it is the ALEXANDER name that got me on the trail of Mary Foster Smith Farmer.

Dot

Marion Brimberry writes:

Mary Foster Smith Farmer is buried in the Patoka Cemetery.

> -----Original Message-----

> From: Sid Fisher [mailto: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ]

> Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2003 2:09 PM

> To: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

> Subject: [ILMARION] Chance, Lucy and Boring Bros. re Smith Civil War

> Letters

>

>

> The Lucy Chance to which reference is made in the Civil War

> Letters of William A. Smith as generously transcribed by David

> Thomson is probably the Lucy N. Chance, b. 10 Jun 1842, d/o

> James Wiley Chance, Sr,. and Mary Margaret "Millie" Nichols.

> Lucy m.  28 Mar 1868 in Marion County George W. Kretzer.

>

> The Jeff Boring and John Boring to which reference is made in

> those letters are probably the brothers (or half-brothers) Thomas

> Jefferson Boring and John Boring, sons of Thomas J. Boring, Sr.,

> and his second wife, Margaret Ann Irwin, although John Boring may

> have been the son of Thomas J. Boring, Sr and his first wife,

> Elizabeth Pursley.  Thomas Jefferson Boring <jr> m. (1) 27 Jul

> 1867 in Bibb County, Georgia Samantha Rush (2) 5 Aug 1883 in

> Marion County Josia Eagan.

Further Discussions of the William A. Smith Letters are archived at the Rootsweb ILMARION list.