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