Smith, David V. M. (1823-1863) to Elizabeth Smith
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04189.48 Author/Creator: Smith, David V. M. (1823-1863) Place Written: Gainesville, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1863/6/22 Pagination: 3 p. : envelope. Order a Copy
A description of the old Bull Run battlefield. He describes trees cut in half and open graves. "We passed over an old Battle Field they say it was one of Bull Run Battles. I saw a number of Graves Some with legs out. Some with arms out & Some Scarcely Covered at all. Boots lay about with feet still in them & Some seen fingers laying on the ground & I seen several sculls & other Bones about the feild [sic] & woods." The regiment belongs to French's division, which is being held in reserve to guard supplies and ammunition.
Gainsville Va June 22nd 1863
Dear Wife I take my pencil in hand to inform you of my where abouts I Recd a letter from you on the evening of the 18th Dated the 14th I had wrote you a letter on that day, we Reached Centerville Va on the 19th about 10 oclock P.M. in the Rain [strikeout] & laid there until 12 oclock [At] the 20th it is all dug up for Rifle pits & fortifications for miles that we can see by going up on the Heights when we left Centerville we took a Stone turnpike through a nice Country the grass looking fine & ocasionaly a field of wheat & a Farm House that was occupied we passed over an old Battle Field they say it was one of Bull Run Battles & Saw a number of Graves Some with legs out, Some with arms out & Some Scarcely Covered at all & Boots lay about with the feet Still in them [2] & Some seen fingers laying on the ground & I Seen Several Sculls & other Bones about the field & woods the timber in woods was big timber & after the fight the army had Retreated through it & there was hundreds of trees Shot off by the Shells Some one foot in Diameter& this was to be Seen for about a mile from the field where the Battle was fought we went on until we Struck the Mannassas Gap Raid Road at a place Called Gainsville it Raining most of the way & encamped where we are yet Yesterday the 21st there was heavey firing most of the day north west from here at Thoroughfare gap some 5 or 6 miles from this place our part of the army has all gone on ahead Except our Division (French Division) & we are held in Reserve & as Guards for the ammunition & Supply trains at present we are in the midst pf the Enemy they attacked our Camp pickets yesterday & Killed one captain
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&5 or 6 of our men they got some of our Baggage & ____ & we took some of them prisoners it is Reported here that the (Rebel) General Lee is advancing oon us with 90,000 men in 3 directions, from appearances we have a great many men here but whether we have enough to Subdue them Remaing to be Seen we are going to have a hard Battle Very Soon that is certain the Mail Boy is here & I must close by bidding you good bye From you Affect Husband & Father
D__ Smith
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