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