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