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

1863/4/21

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 come and mentions that it may be delayed because the transport boats have been moving out of the area. He describes rebel deserters who complain of a lack of food, clothing and pay.

GLC04189.37

1863/4/24

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

1863/4/30

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

1863/5/4

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

1863/05/07

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 five days and nights and "2 nights & 1 day under fire of artillery & Small arms...I can get along with small arms very well for we cannot hear the Ball until it strikes. But the shells Grape & canister you can hear from the time they start (or are in the air) and every one thinks it may hit him (So the feeling at such times is…

GLC04189.41

1863/5/18

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

1863/5/22

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

1863/9/26

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

He is very ill. Written from Stanton General Hospital.

GLC04189.56

1862/9/13

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

He has been sick since he joined the Army and now believes that his illness is due to bad food which "the devil can not eat." He describes how the regiment left New Jersey and traveled via railroad to Maryland. His regiment captured three of Stonewall Jackson's men, whom several Union cavalry men tried to kill while they were under guard.

GLC04189.01

1862/9/24

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

The Confederates camped twenty miles away in Frederick, Maryland. He has "Inflamatory Rheumatism" in his legs. The regiment's officers think that they will all be discharged by Christmas. Smith begs his wife to write him more frequently and adds "I hopes if there is a spark of love left for a sick souldier [sic] in a strange land that you will send it to me in a letter..."

GLC04189.02

1862/9/26

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith

His legs feel much better. He asks his wife to write him several times a week and he hopes to do the same. Written from Camp Johnson.

GLC04189.03