The following letter was written by George W. Smith (1839-1864) of Co. H, 93rd New York Volunteers. He enlisted on 20 November 1861 at Bolton, Warren county, New York, when he was 21 years old and was promoted to sergeant on 26 January 1862. Sometime later he was transferred to Co. F and reenlisted as a veteran in December 1863. He was transferred back to Co. H prior to the Overland Campaign in 1864 and was killed in the Wilderness during the opening action of that campaign on 6 May 1864.

George was the son of Nathaniel Smith (1803-1885) and Betsy Reynolds (1813-1892). He saw his first action at the Battle of Williamsburg on 5 May 1862 and would come under fire again during the Seven Days Battles that would begin just a week after this letter was penned.

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

Headquarters Gen. McClellan
Wednesday, June 18th 1862

Dear Mother.

I received your letter on Saturday last but have been unable to answer before because I have had so much duty to do and I don’t feel as if I could write much today. I cannot collect my thoughts or get my mind on one thing.

I received Dr. Howard’s letter a week ago last Saturday and while reading that I got the news of Sarah’s death. Capt. [George B.] Moshier got a letter from his wife and she told him to tell me of her death. I think she was up at Warrensburgh at the time. I have been sick ever since until the last two or three days but I am well at present. It is the first sickness I have had since I left home except the rheumatism. That troubles me very much at times. It has troubled me more since the Battle of Williamsburg than before. I caught a bad cold that night. It seemed to settle in my bones though it does not trouble me much—only in rainy weather.

The General has moved his headquarters across the Chickahominy Creek near Fair Oaks where the battle was fought a week ago last Saturday. It was a very hard battle. I suppose you have heard that Capt. [David] Burhans [of the 43rd NY Volunteers] was taken prisoner. I will not write much more this time.

Oh, the reason of my having so much to do for the last few days, all of our non-commissioned officers but me and another sergeant now for two weeks but were released last night so it won’t be so hard now. I have got a little money by me and want to keep some all the time in case I should be sick or anything, but I will enclose five dollars and send to you. If you want to use it, do so. If not, keep it for me and write soon and let me know if you get it all right.

About coming home, I can’t tell when I shall come but I think this fall sometime. I think that we will be successful at Richmond and if so, it will be a hard blow for the rebellion. Be sure and write soon or have Alf write. My love to Libby. Tell Pa I would like to be at home but shall never come until the war is done or I am honorably discharged unless I should get a pass to come for a little while.

Direct to Gen. McClellan Headquarters, Co. H, 93rd Regiment N. Y. S. V., Washington D. C.

From affectionately, your son, — George Smith