This letter was written by Sergt. Fenton W. Smith (1839-1864) of Co. G, 12th Michigan Infantry. Fenton, an English emigrant, enlisted at Augusta, Michigan on 19 December 1861 and died of disease at Little Rock, Arkansas, in 10 May 1864. Fenton’s parents were George and Eliza (Burgess) Smith of London, Monroe county, Michigan. He wrote the letter to James “Webster” Childs (1826-1882), a Washtenaw county civil leader and politician who served two terms in the Michigan Legislature and then in the Michigan Senate.

Smith’s letter formally petitions his well-connected acquaintance to intercede with the Governor on his behalf and secure a commission. The letter also reports on prisoners taken near Middleburg, Tennessee, where they were assigned to guard the railroads. It was written only one week before Confederate General Earl Van Dorn launched his attempt to seize the stockade and blockhouse near Middleburg, fortified and held by the 12th Michigan.

[Editor’s Note: The photocopy of this letter was sent to me for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by Janet Buchanan, a descendant relative of the Childs family.]

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

Middleburg, Tennessee

December 18th 1862

Webster,

I once more take my pen in hand to write you a few lines this pleasant morning in December. It has not been long since I wrote to you but I have been think[ing] of another plan to get a commission if it is not too late and your friend’s plan is this, if it will work and I think it will, my friend Webster, if it will not be too much trouble to you. If you will write to the Gov. Blair and see if he will give your friend a commission as Second Lieutenant or First Lieutenant in some of the new companies that are being raised or that are goin’ to be raised in the state now. If he will, I will try and get all the men I can for the company if the Gov. gives me a commission in some of the new companies that are being raised, it will clear me from my regiment that I am in now. The Gov. can give me a commission for a new company or regiment other a company that is goin’ to be raised without Col. Graves’ recommending at all.

My friend Webster, I am willing to fight till the last rebel or traitor is shot but i think I ought to have a small reward as a Second or First Lieutenant in some of the new companies. If there is a chance for me and if Col. [William H.] Graves would do the fair thing with me, he would recommend me for a 2nd Lieutenant in my own company for I always have been true and faithful to the Government & my country’s cause ever since this unholy war broke out and always done my duty and I have fought for my country’s cause in 3 bloody battles ¹ and I think that the Governor will give a commission in some new company or some that are goin’ to be raised—that is, if it will not be too much trouble to you, Webster, to try the Governor about it for me.

I am very thankful to you for what trouble you have been [through] for me before for me and if I get a commission, I will try & pay you for all your trouble, my friend Webster.

My health is very good at this time. I hope these few lines will find you enjoying the same good blessing to you all. I do not forget you all in my prayers that God will be with you all & I do not forget the prayer meeting and oh, may God be with you & prosper you all and the blessed Sabbath School too. How I do wish I could enjoy these blessed privileges with you once more with you all. I hope you will all remember your friend in your prayers that I may live a good Christian life in all the tumults of war. I think of you all often during the day and about all my friends.

We are at Middleburg yet but how long we will stay is more than I can tell. We are taking prisoners every day round Middleburg. We have very fine weather here now, some of the time. We have had about 3 inches of snow & the citizens tell me that it is the largest snow that they have had had for five years. The weather is very changeable now. Some of the time it will be very fine and sometimes it will rain two or three days to a stretch. Oh, then what mud.

We have not been paid yet. Well, I must close for this time. Excuse all mistakes and bad writing. Give my best respects to all and write soon. May God be with you all. It is now about day light so good morning to you all. I wish you all a Happy New Year & hope this war may soon be brought to a close. May God speed the time. From your friend, — Sergt. Fenton W. Smith

To my friend Webster Childs

¹ The three bloody battle would have been Shiloh, Iuka, and Metamora.