The following letter was written by Isaac Smedley (1838-1867), the eldest son of Jeffrey Smedley (1810-1861) and Catherine W. Denny (1802-1877) of Willistown, Chester county, Pennsylvania. Isaac was 23 years-old when he was mustered into Co. C, 97th Pennsylvania Infantry on 11 September 1861. He was quickly appointed 1st Sergeant of his company and was commissioned at 2nd Lieutenant on 19 February 1862. He was discharged for disability on 9 March 1863, at Seabrook Island, South Carolina. Unmarried, he sadly died of consumption (tuberculosis) on 12 February 1867 at the young age of 28 and was buried in Willistown Friends Cemetery, Chester, Delaware Co.  

In his letter, Isaac describes the expedition led by Flag Officer Samuel Du Pont to take Fernandina, Florida—a railroad connected port city of some importance near the border with Georgia. With limited resources at hand in early 1862, the Confederates strengthened Savannah and Charleston and all but abandoned the lesser ports like Fernandina which was guarded by Fort Clinch. When an escaped slave informed DuPont that Fernandina was only lightly defended, he took the city with little or no resistance. The 97th Pennsylvania was part of that expedition and remained in Fernandina from March 5th until March 24th, when they moved to Jacksonville.  Isaac suggests that the few rebels that guarded Fernandina were duped into not firing on the Union fleet because they approached the city under French colors but I have not been able to verify this under any other account.

See Sibling Saturday–Five Smedley Brothers of Pennsylvania.

Transcription

Fernandina, [Florida]
March 14, 1862

Dear Ed, 

Your letter dated February 2nd did not reach me direct as it should or I would have answered ere this but you do not know how a letter is appreciated when received by friends so near home. It is the only way we can hear from that source and I am ever ready and on hand to answer promptly as possible. You no doubt think I am negligent but it is not the case. I have now several letters to go and a mail may not leave here for a week or perhaps two.

The 21st of January, we left Hilton Head for a few days only we thought. Near two months have elapsed since that time and we have seen many changes and some little hardships. We have lost four men since I last wrote to you, but am happy to say that I only had five men to report at the Doctor’s this morning, so you see the health of the company is good. As for me, I am in excellent health, having completely recovered of the measles sufficient to attend to my business which is no trifling task, but have a little of the work taken from me by taking the letters O. S. [Orderly Sergeant] from the rear of my name and affixing Lieut. to the front. I expect a commission from Gov. Curtin by the next mail. Your friend Harry and myself have a marque to ourselves, and I tell you we live like fighting cocks. He is at this present time mixing some cakes to cook for supper. He says that you are two or three letters in his debt and would like them to be forthcoming.

In your last letter you ask if there is anything between that young lady of West Chester and myself. I would just simply say and answer fairly that you are perfectly willing, if she is, welcome to give her your attention, but expect you to surrender on my return from the army.

I cannot say how long we are to stay at this place but think we will not move soon unless we are compelled to by the Rebels and they do not seem to fancy our warlike appearance or they would not have forsaken this town without shedding blood. I was told their force here was six thousand while ours was not more than one half the number. Had they have been armed as well as we are, they could have stopped twenty thousand from entering the town. One mile north of the town is the entrance from the ocean by a channel not more than two hundred yards wide. At the mouth of this channel is a fort of no little strength, built of brick, and mounts near fifty guns of the heaviest caliber, besides smaller ones. They had great advantages at this place, as our gun boats had to go so close before doing any execution, and besides the channel was so narrow that no two boats could get in at once. But the real fact is they will not stand fire. It would have done you good to have seen us coming down the stream.

When we got in sight of a few houses, the boys were all on deck watching and looking for something to do. We did not know at this time whether there would be any resistance or not. We kind of drawed the wool over their eyes at one time by showing false colors. It appears—from what the niggers say here—that the Rebels have been looking for a month back the arrival of a French vessel to ship some cotton to that country and by arrangements of Commodore DuPont, all vessels kept in the rear, except the one he was on, and that one ventured in under French colors. This the Rebels thought was bully for them, so they sent a Colonel and a few men in a small boat to meet the Commodore. He then stopped his boat, allowed them to get aboard, and after telling them they were prisoners, deposited them below for safe keeping and immediately hoisted the flag of our Union. This I consider was a pretty nice affair, but we had one great disadvantage to contend with, which was the low tide of waters, the channel being so narrow that the large vessels which carried the transports could not get in which gave the Rebels time enough to leave the town and take everything with them of any value. The only capture we made of any importance was a pleasure boat. It would have made its escape had it not have been for a shell fired after it, warning it of the danger of attempting to pass one of those Kill Devils, as the Rebels call them and dread so much.

I have just come in from drill and will attempt to finish this letter before dress parade. Lieut. Griffith has been unwell ever since we came here, which throws the company in my charge. I have had no time to go into town since I came here, only a few minutes at a time. I want to as soon as Lieut. Griffith is able to command the company, to take a good look over it and see a little over the country. It has been a splendid place and from the style of the houses, there must have been an aristocratic set of inhabitants therein. The town is about the size of West Chester. Our place of encampment is south of it about a hundred yards alongside of a park.

The papers you speak of we get a goodly number of them from you and peruse them with interest. Accept my sincere thanks for paper, pen, and ink which Harry shared with me and will try to remunerate you in some future time. Hoping to hear from you soon, and if this letter has not tired you, please answer.

I am truly your friend, — Isaac Smedley, O.S., Co. C, 97th Regt. P. V.

Address Port Royal