1862/10/13

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Letter

Title: to unknown [fragment]

The rebels have torn up the road between camp and Frederick, Maryland and are now within 5 miles of the federal camp.

GLC04189.11

1862/10/21

Sutton, George S., fl. 1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David Sithen or Thomas Sharp

Gives permission for D. V. M. Smith's wife to have a cord of wood.

GLC04189.12

1862/10/28

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

The blacksmith shop has been rented out. Mentions rumor that the army will move soon and General Wool has stopped issuing furloughs. Smith begs his wife not to mention his liquor consumption. He assures her that he is now a sober man and it hurts him to have her constantly mention his past drinking. Smith believes his wife does not want him to come home and hopefully suggests that they forget the past and work on their future.

GLC04189.13

1862/11/4

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith & children

Describes an offer in which ten men from each company would have the "privilege" of being allowed to join the regular army for five years. They have captured quite a few rebels and spies including: "A big nigger that has been watching us and telling the Rebel part of the Community what we was doing . . . ." He expects to be paid soon and will send her most of his money. He will need to keep some cash to purchase boots and winter clothes.

GLC04189.14

1862/11/4

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles

He describes non-stop guard duty to his son Charles. Smith also tells the story of a young drummer boy his son's age, who snuck out of camp in a flour barrel in order to visit town. He advises his son not to become a soldier.

GLC04189.15

1862/11/11

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

He is still on guard duty. Discloses accounts that he would like his wife to collect. He also wants her to find out whether soldiers have to pay tax and, if so, how much. Briefly mentions the removal of McClellan and his renewed hope for a furlough.

GLC04189.16

1862/11/25

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith & children

The army is building a General Hospital in town and his regiment has been assigned to guard it. He again asks his wife not to mention the "Rum question," claiming it makes him "feel a little dry until I forget it again." Continues on 11/26 to mention twenty-five hour period of guard duty in the rain.

GLC04189.17

1862/11/18

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

Discusses guard duty, the value of the equipment in his blacksmith shop, and an increase in desertions from some regiments who have not received furloughs.

GLC04189.18

1862/11/31

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith and Charles C. Smith

The regiment was excused from guard duty on Thanksgiving to attend church and a dress parade. Smith urges Charles to learn to write and to study geography. "I now see the need of understanding the geography and the map and then I could tell when I Read the papers where the different branches of our army is and how far they are from one another." He also describes the whipping of a black man. "I saw a Negro whiped the other day they tied him to the flag pole and foot and gave him 20 lashes each lash made him cry (O Lord) it looked hard but I believe it was Right for he had been stealing…

GLC04189.19

1862/12/25

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles Carroll Smith

Discusses visiting friends in another regiment. He received his pay but his money and overcoat were stolen. He discusses thievery in camp and loading the wounded on to boats at Acquia Creek.

GLC04189.21

1863/1/3

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

He has an opportunity to join the regular army for the balance of his three years of service. He will get a $2500 bounty, double the pay and will be able to work in a blacksmith's shop. He is ill.

GLC04189.22

1863/1/10

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith and children

The army is still in the same location and is in a state of suspense concerning what will happen next. General Burnside announced a Grand Review which was canceled due to rain. One man in the regiment contracted small pox. The doctors isolated him in the woods where he died and was buried.

GLC04189.23

1863/1/18

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith and children

The regiment has orders to cross the Rappahannock and attack Fredericksburg. Smith describes details of the attack plan. He also mentions a review of the Second Corps by General Ambrose Burnside and provides a description of the general.

GLC04189.24

1863/1/30

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith and children

Rain and mud foiled the attack on Fredericksburg. The pontoons and artillery became stuck in the mud. Confederate soldiers taunted the stranded union soldiers by offering to help build the pontoon bridge, if the federals could get the pontoons to the river. A snow storm has left fifteen inches of snow on top of the already deep mud. Generals Burnside, Franklin, and Sumner have resigned and General Hooker is now in command of the army. There is much sickness in the regiment.

GLC04189.25

1863/2/4

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to C. Carroll Smith

The snow has melted but the weather remains bitterly cold. He reiterates the changes in command discussed in the previous letter. Also mentions losses to his unit and the 72 PA. The latter has only 300 men on active service out of the 1,880 who enlisted nineteen months ago.

GLC04189.26

1863/2/8

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

The army has begun to issue furloughs. The mud is still extremely deep. He discusses the children's health and whether or not they should attend school. He speculates on Hooker's plans for the army. "Joe Hooker will do One of 3 things he will eather [sic] take us out of Virginia or else we shall advance toward Richmond & if we advance we shall give the Rebels the damdest licking they ever had or they will us & I am afraid it will be us that will get it."

GLC04189.27

1863/2/12

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

The army has begun to move out via the railroad to Acquia Creek. His regiment is still on picket duty and must keep the Rebels from noticing the movement of the rest of the army. General Hooker feeds the army better than Burnside did.

GLC04189.28

1863/2/13

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charley

General Hooker has given orders that all Union troops and sutlers must be out of Falmouth by 10 AM the following day. He advises his son not to go to school as it may interfere with his health. He tells his younger son, Rufus, to begin chewing tobacco.

GLC04189.29

1863/2/26

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

Contains a lengthy description of the weather including rain, snow, and more mud. Discusses picketed duty and his mess mates. He has not shaved "except with a pair of scissors" since he left Salem.

GLC04189.30

1863/3/5

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

His wife has rented out part of the Barn. He is very ill.

GLC04189.31

1863/3/6

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

Discusses picket duty in a ravine and guard duty near the Lacy House. He agonizes over keeping warm and adds "the way we kept warm at the Lacy House was by Running around it[.] The main house was about 100 ft long." He also discusses fraternization with the Confederates: "The Rebels are very sociable across the River and are very anxious to trade anything they have got for Coffee & the way they get it across the River is to fastening it to a board & hoist sail in it & set it afloat & the wind will carry it across."

GLC04189.32

1863/3/17

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

Discusses skirmishing along his picket line and mentions the funeral of a member of their regiment. His regiment got into a fight with a New York regiment over wood. Only twenty-five men from his company are fit for duty.

GLC04189.33

1863/3/25

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

He is ill again. Sickness has decimated the regiment: "a good many get sick that never get well again[.] [W]e have a funeral in the Regiment nearly every day on an average[.] [L]ast night we had 3 . . . ." Describes a skirmish on the 17th between Cavalry units.

GLC04189.34

1863/4/13

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith and children

He is ill with dysentery. He requests a box [i.e. care package] containing Wrights pills, medicine for diarrhea, and food. The regiment has not been paid in a long time. Thirty-six men in the regiment are now fit for duty.

GLC04189.35

1863/4/15

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

The regiment's orders to move out have been delayed by rain. He asks his wife not to send the box [see #35] since boxes become lost when they are forwarded. He believes the regiment may go to Charleston, Vicksburg, or Richmond.

GLC04189.36