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