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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...

GLC04189.19

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

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

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...

GLC04189.23

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

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...

GLC04189.25

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...

GLC04189.26

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...

GLC04189.27

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

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...

GLC04189.29

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

to Elizabeth Smith

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

GLC04189.31

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...

GLC04189.32

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

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...

GLC04189.34

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

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

to Elizabeth Smith and family

He is feeling better, although "the medicine I have taken has settled in my bones So it is hard for me to walk. Some has [sic] lost the use of their limbs altogether & others have lost all the toes off their feet." He still expects his package to...

GLC04189.37

to Charles

He describes cooking in camp and speculates that Hooker is moving the army out to keep the Confederates from sending reinforcements to Vicksburg.

GLC04189.38

to Elizabeth Smith and family

He received his box. Last night, troops crossed below Fredericksburg found the city well fortified. His regiment has also moved from their old camp and may see action soon.

GLC04189.39

to Elizabeth Smith

Describes the move from Falmouth to his current position on the battlefield. He writes of his units performance in the battle and notes "the old troops say it was the hardest Battle so far they was ever in..."

GLC04189.40

to Elizabeth Smith and family

The army has retreated back to their old camp. Describes Stonewall Jackson's maneuver which forced them to retreat. He discusses losses to the regiment and lists the names of friends who were killed or wounded. He writes that he had been in battle...

GLC04189.41

to Elizabeth Smith and family

The regiment has moved near General French's headquarters. They earned the nickname the "bloody 12th." General French sent orders to retreat three times before the regiment finally obeyed. Discusses comrades wounded in the battle.

GLC04189.43

to Elizabeth Smith

He believes the unit may be ordered back to Ellicotts Mills to guard the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. Most of the men in the regiment have nine month enlistments that will be ending soon. Nine month men are called "Lincoln's pets."

GLC04189.44

to Charles

Page 1 addressed to Charles. The regiment is under marching orders. Rumor has it that the Rebels have crossed the Rappahannock near Culpeper Court House and intend to invade Maryland. [Page 2: "Well my Old Duck" [Elizabeth] signed "Dave Smith the...

GLC04189.45