The following letters were written by William Francis Smith (1840-1864) and his younger brother, Thomas D. “Grover” Smith (1843-1915), the oldest sons of John W. Smith (1817-1878) and Sallie Turner (1817-1903) of Dover, Kent county, Delaware.
William enrolled as 2nd Lieutenant of Co. D, 1st Delaware Infantry on 10 August 1861 at Milford, Delaware. He was promoted to First Lieutenant on 21 December 1861 and wounded in action at Antietam on 17 September 1862 of which he wrote afterward: “We were halted and ordered to fix bayonets. We began to think something was to do … We marched in line some mile and a half, when the Rebels made their appearance on our left … We still continue to advance, the shells coming over our heads, till we got through a cornfield that Rebels had to hide in, we drove them out of there. They fell back to a ditch [the Sunken Road] at the foot of the hill … as soon as we got through the corn field, the Rebels poured a volley into us. We got over the fence and up to the top of the hill, and there laid down and fired at the Rebels after firing some ten minutes, we received orders to charge. All the color guard was either killed or wounded. The state flag was almost shot to pieces, the staff cut in two by a ball. The fire was so hot we had to fall back with a great loss. It was here that Capt. Watson & Leonard was killed. Capt. Yardley, Woodall, & Shortledge was wounded. The regiment fell back to form, but got mixed up with the different regiments. Major Smith and about 150 men went up a lane and got on the Rebels right where we poured a directed fire upon them. Capt. Rickards was killed up here and Lt. Col. Hopkinson was wounded in the knee at the same place. We fought here sometime till we got relieved, then tried to reform the regiment, which we found very difficult for they were in all the regiments around fighting. We however got about 150 together and encamped for the night …“
William was promoted to Captain of Co. C on 24 September 1862 to replace Captain James L. Rickards. William was wounded by a gunshot to the chest at Fredericksburg, VA in December and in the leg at Gettysburg in July 1863, and was promoted to Major on 6 November 1863. He was on recruiting duty in Delaware early in 1864 but returned on 23 April and was mortally wounded in the leg on the Boydton Plank Road near Petersburg, VA on 27 October 1864 and his leg was amputated, but that didn’t save him. He died on 6 November 1864.
Grover served the entire war without injury but was occasionally sidelined by disease. He mustered out of the regiment as 1st Lieutenant of his company in 1865. Later in life he became an electrician and died in 1915. It should be noted that Grover’s handwriting was atrocious and transcribed with some difficulty. As an officer, I can’t imagine how he managed to fill out any of his reports without the aid of a clerk. Only 6 of the 21 letters were written wholly or partially by William; the remainder by Grover.
Letter 1
Camp Hamilton, Fortress Monroe
December 16th 1861
Dear Parents,
I have not received any answer to the last two letters I have sent. I do not know what is the matter—whether the letters have not gone or you have neglected to answer them. I received the box on Saturday 7th. Everything was very nice. The boots were too small. They would not fit Grover. He could not get them on. They were too small in the instep. I wrote the same day that I got the box and in the letter I sent my measure. Grover wants his pants—the one that he had in the Home Guards.
Colch Brown has been discharged for disability. J. B. Mahan has been discharged for the same cause. They both left here yesterday for home. They will be home before this letter reaches you. Grover sent a letter by C. Brown. I have been sick with the diarrhea but have got better and ready for duty.
There is nothing new about here. The health of the regiment is very good. Weather is rather cold. There was ice in the tent his morning. From your affectionate son, — William F. Smith
Camp Hamilton
December [1861]
Dear Mother,
I take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well and hope that you are the same. We were on picket on Tuesday and there was a scouting party went out by us of about 600 men. They went out to [ ] bridge on the Back River but the rebels had gone about an hour before they got there.
We think that we will get new guns next week of the best and they say that they are in the fort now. The small pox is broke out here in a cavalry regiment and the typhoid fever is broke out here.
I wish that you would send my pants as soon as you can and send my scarf to me. Tell Sam Lathebury that I would like to hear from him. That box that you sent to us was nice for we can’t get any here now—there is so many of them sick that he has stopped them from coming into camp. — Grover
Letter 2
Camp Hamilton
March 28, [1862]
Dear Mother,
I have just come off picket and find a box for me. I have opened it and it contains all the articles that you name in the letter. I received a letter from you yesterday, date 23rd. I had no chance to write yesterday or I should have done it. The shirts are very nice. Grove has not had them on and I do not know how they will fit. he mail will close very soon and I will have to close. Give our love to all. I remain your affectionate son, — W. F. Smith
Letter 3
In camp near Warrington
November 1, 1862
Dear Mother,
I sit down to inform you that I am well and hope that these few lines will find you the same. We have been a resting here for a few days so that we are a little rested but we don’t know how long we will stay here. We will leave very soon, I think. You wanted to know what hospital I was in. I am in none. You need not send the box for we don’t know when we will go into winter quarters. Some says that we will go to Washington but that is all you can hear. But we never go where they say so that is [ ].
You asked if I got the money that you sent to me. I have got $1.80 cents. I got 1 dollar and ten cents one time and 50 cents another time and 20 the last time. That was in the last letter so that I guess that it has come all right. You say that Frank has got the ague. If she has it like I had it and the same, it will hurt her for it took 14 lb. of flesh off of me. I was weak when we marched but I kept up and by the use of the money that you sent me, I am a getting a great deal stronger. Was there a corporal with captain when you was up there by the name of Wolf?
It is a getting dark and I cannot see so that I will stop. We leave tomorrow. That is all at present. — Thomas D. G. Smith
Letter 4
Camp near Falmouth, Virginia
June 9, 1863
Dear Mother,
I take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well and hope that thew few lines will find you enjoying the same. We have a very nice time here. We are encamped in a woods so that we have not to walk far to get in the shade. We think that we will have some more fun here very soon. They say that the Rebels a leaving so that if they do, we will get some hard marching this summer. But I would as soon be a marching as a laying here for the drill and picket is very nice but we do not get any fruit here and on the march we get plenty.
You asked what I would like you to send me by Ben [ ] Caboon. You can send whatever you think that you can get for it will be very nice down here. I wish that I was here to get some strawberries for they are very scarce here. You say that you had a plenty of them home. I wish that you would send me a paper of tacks and a tooth brush for I cannot get them here. And a lead pencil—a good one.
I would like to see Lew’s boat, but as Pa used to say, we have something else to think of besides sailing. But I will get a sail in here this summer. That is all at present but remain your affectionate son, Thomas D. G. Smith
Letter 5
Headquarters
Camp near Rapidan
October 3, 1863
Dear Mother,
I take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well and hope that these few lines will find you enjoying the same health. My hand is somewhat better but I cannot use the three fingers yet. They feel weak and I think that they are a coming to. If they don’t. Bub was a talking to me this morning about being worker. I think that I shall take it if I can get it. We was paid off this morning and I gave Bob 170 dollars to send home so that [you could] keep it until] we get home to vote. Send me some postage stamps and send me one of the smallest files that you can get—a three-cornered one. Send it in a newspaper. That is all at present. — Thomas D. G. Smith
Letter 6
Camp near the Blue Ridge
November 3, 1863
Dear mother,
I sit down to inform you that I am well and hope that these few lines will find you the same. I got yours of the 25th the first of November and was glad to get the dollar for it is very handy to have money on a march for you can get something to eat. You talk about me a coming home. There is no more sign now than there was three months ago so that you need not fret about me a coming home without being wounded. I would like to come home very well but there is no chance for me. They are a going to beat [the drums] to fall in so that I will have to close. — Thomas D. G. Smith
Letter 7
Camp near the Rappahannock
Headquarters, 1st Regt. Delaware Vols.
November 15, 1863
Dear Father,
I take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well and hope that these few lines will find you enjoying the same. We have been at rest here all week but there has an order come o us to be ready for to move at a minute’s notice. But we don’t know where to for the railroad is not up here yet as it has set in to rain. We don’t know where we are a going but we are not a going far for the Rebels are not far off from here. But they will not make a stand before they get to Richmond for they are afraid to pick a battle. They are afraid to pick a battle with the Army of the Potomac for they have whipped them so often here of late that they are played out and the people want all of the officers burned out that was engaged in the last [paper torn]. The papers say that they have hauled down the flag more than any other Nation ever did in their years so that they are very near played out so they will not make a stand—only in their forts and they will have to fall back from here.
Bub has gone to Washington on some errand of business. He don’t come back before the 21st of this month. He will be home before he comes back, I suppose. We are all under the impression that he has gone for transports for us to come home. That is all of the talk here now. I wish that you would send me some postage stamps for Bub went away with all of them that you sent for he got the letter and got the stamps.
I send you a [ ] that I got off of the battlefield of Bristoe Station. It is from Rebeldom as you can see. The Rebels say that they don’t know where the rest of the army was for to let the two brigades get up so bad. A prisoner that I captured told me that all of A. P. Hill’s Corps was engaged there.
That is all at present but remain your affectionate son, — Thomas D. G. Smith
Letter 8
Camp near Stevenburg, Va.
December 6th 1863
Dear Mother,
I arrived in camp this morning after a long and tiresome ride and march. I expected to get down last Thursday but I heard that communication with the army was opened. I thought my best chance was to get down as quick as possible.
I regard to the farm, I am still in the notion of taking it and I think it will suit you better for you cannot get a house in Philadelphia for less than one hundred & forty dollars and Wilmington is not much better. Frank has been looking around and she says that she would not live in a house that rents for less. The horse I think you had better keep this winter—[even] if you have to get someone to winter her. The colts I do not know what to do with. You can do as you please with them. I think Mr. Woodall can winter Yan or he can direct you where to go. You will have to keep a horse for it will cost you more to hire a horse to make a crop than to keep a horse all the year. I would like to keep the youngest colt, if possible. One cow, I think, would be as much as you could attend to as L___ ought to go to school this winter. Please let me know how much fodder you have on hand—if enough to last all winter, and if Father will let you keep it.
Let me know how the strawberries and clover patches are—whether they will pay to cultivate or to be put in grain. Tom is well and sends his love to all. He thought the cake & pie very good. No more but I remain your affectionate son, — William F. Smith
P. S. Enclosed you will find my photograph.
Letter 9
Camp near Stevensburg, Virginia
December 22, 1863
Dear Mother,
I received your letter last night containing the receipts. I think Father is acting very strangely toward both of us. I know he has cheated me in the building but have said nothing about it.
We expect to be home this week as our regiment has reenlisted for Veteran Volunteers for three years or the war. I am mustering officer of the regiment and am kept very busy. Last Friday I mustered two hundred in. It only required one hundred and ninety-four to take the regiment home so we expect the order every day to report home.
I will take the articles at the price you named. We are both well and send our love to all. I received a letter from Frank but she said nothing about Father. From your affectionate son, — Wm. F. Smith
Letter 10
Alexandria, Virginia
February 11th 1864
Dear Mother,
We left Wilmington Tuesday afternoon at three o’clock and arrived in Baltimore at nine o’clock at night. Left there at ten the next day. Arrived in Washington at three in the afternoon of the 10th. Saw Mr. Smithers and Fisher. They are both well. We leave here tomorrow.
When I left Philadelphia, Grandmother was very sick. Aunt Caroline said she intended to write but had not had time. We are both well and send our love to all. I remain your son, — W. F. Smith
My horse arrived safe. Also one bottle of wine. — W. F. Smith
Letter 11
Camp Stoney Mountain, Virginia
February 19, 1864
Dear Mother,
I take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well and hope that these few lines will find you enjoying the same health.
We have been busy at building winter quarters and I have not had time to write before and Bub going home, I thought that it would do so that I was not very anxious about it, so then I thought that I would get up my tent before I wrote. We have got our camp fire up a little and are waiting for spring to open and then we will have to go with active operations. Then we will see what rebellions are good for. They say that they are a going to take Richmond from the Peninsula and that we will only make a feint over the river.
There is not much news around here for we are hard at work. I have been at putting up a chimney for one of the officers. I wish that you would send me some postage stamps for I forgot to get some before I came away. Send it along with that needle case of that Frank was a going to make for me and send me, and some pins and a [ ] I cannot get them down here. That is all at present but remain your affectionate son, — Thomas D. G. Smith
Letter 12
Headquarters 1st Delaware Detachment
Camp near Stoney Mountain, Virginia
Dear Mother,
I take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well and hope that these few lines will find you enjoying the same blessing. I received a letter from you last night and am very sorry that Lew went away. If I thought that he would a went, I should have served out my time and have enlisted again but it is done and there is no help for it. I wish that he would get in our company for then I could take care of him. We have a very nice church down here that we put up. We have church every night so that it makes the night go away very nice. There is a great many a getting religion for there is a couple goes off to Mister [Thomas G.] Murphey every night.
There is nothing new down here so that there is not much to write about. I sent $60 by Adams Express for that is the safest way and I have not heard from it yet. The house that I meant was the one that Hotster lived in.
That is all at present but give my love to little Johnny and tell him that I will get him his horse when I come home again. I sent the money in Frank’s name. That is all at present but remain your son, — Grover
3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Corps, Detachment at Stoney Mountain
Letter 13
Camp near Stoney Mountain, Va.
March 27 [1864]
Dear Brother,
I take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well and hope that these few lines will find you enjoying the same health. We had a very deep snow down here last week. It was the deepest that I have seen in Virginia. Your horses look very bad and if you don’t get someone to look after them, you will lose them for the man that is attending to them is good for nothing for he does not care about your horses but he takes good care of the Colonel’s. Mr. [Thomas G.] Murphey called me up to look at them and told me that I ought to look after them. I told him that I would but if I did that they would say that I was a trying to put on airs, but that I would write home to you and let you know how they were a making out. You had better send an order on. Let Bill McCoy take care of them. You had better send some horse [ ] down here for them. They say that Col. [Thomas Alfred] Smyth is a going to command the Irish Brigade. Their brigade headquarters is a going to be broken up and the men ordered back to their regiments. There is nothing new down here. That is all at present but remain your brother, — Thomas D. G. Smith
Letter 14
Camp near Stoney Mountain, Va.
March 30, 1864
Dear Mother,
I take my pen in hand to inform you that I am in the land of the living and hope that you are but I don’t know for I have not heard from you since the 9th of this month. You say that I never write but I think that the table has taken a turn for I have wrote four or five letters and have not received an answer from them yet. Johnny Smith got a letter from home and his father says Lew had gone to Wilmington to enlist. He had better stay home for he cannot stand it for he is not strong enough. I would get Bub to go and take him away and fetch him over the coals for two hours.
A [ ] in the army wrote to Bub on the 20th and have not received an answer from him. They have made a great change here. Col. [Thomas Alfred] Smyth commands the Irish Brigade and Col. [Edward Brush] Fowler commands one. We are the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, and 2nd Corps so that we are only a detachment here.
They say that a great many are enlisting around Dover. I wish that all of them would but they think too much of themselves for they are afraid of getting a button hole work through them.
There was a big snow down here today but it is all washed away or it is a raining fast enough. There is [ ] down here so that I shall have to come to a close. I wish that you would send me some postage stamps for they are very scarce. Your son, — Thomas D. G. Smith. Direct your letters to the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Corps, Detachment at Stoney Mountain, Va.
Thomas D. G. Smith, Comp. D, 1st Regt. Del. Vet. Vol.
Letter 15
Camp near Stoney Mountain, Va.
April 3rd [1864]
Dear Brother,
I take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well and hope that these few lines will find you enjoying the same blessing. We have very bad weather down here for it is a snowing down here so that it is a very disagreeable. We got some recruits. Some of them were from Dover. They were Ezekiel Butler and Charles Rork and a young fellow by the name of Still. You did not say what regiment Lew has enlisted in or if he has enlisted in the cavalry. He had better get Sam McCalister to swear him in our regiment for then we can be together.
You say that you will get Johnny’s broken horse. Very well, you can get it for I guess it will be a good while before I get home again. I have got an easy job here. They have made a colored guard and I have been picked out for one. We have no duty to do so that we have a very easy time of it. I forgot to tell you before. It was made as soon as we came down so that I have not done much duty. There is so much a going on down here so that I shall have to come to a close by giving my love to all. Tell Lew that he had better come down here. When you write again, let me know what regiment [ ]. –Thomas D. G. Smith
Letter 16
Headquarters 1st Regt. Delaware Vet. Vol.
[Spring 1864]
Dear Mother,
I have received two letters this week—one today which had ten dollars in it and some stamps. I was very glad that it came for I was very much in need of it. And with it came the paymaster which makes the boys feel lively.
The shirts I want to be flannel or something like them we got last summer a year. I wish that you would let Johnny Smith bring that valise, that of N that came here last—that is, if I don’t get there before he comes away. and my blue coat—that is, if Lew has not taken it with him. And then black pants that I bought when I was at home. But you need not send the sash for I do not want it. Johnny Smith will bring this down and I am in a hurry [so] I shall come to a close by sending my love to all.
I remain your affectionate son, — Thomas D. G. Smith
Letter 17
Headquarters 1st Regt. Delaware Vet. Vol.
Camp near Petersburg, Virginia
July 6, 1864
Dear Mother,
I seat myself to inform you that I am well and hope that these few lines will find you enjoying the same blessing. We have very dry weather down here and water is a getting very scarce. The Sanitary Commission is a doing a great thing for the soldiers. They have given us a great many things such as lemons, pickles, cabbage and other things too numerous to mention.
We have been a laying here in the breastworks for a week or two. There is rebels in our front now. There is some in front of the 5th Corps. There is a rumor that Harpers Ferry, Va., was captured and seven thousand prisoners with it but there is so many rumors afloat that we cannot believe one half of them.
I seen John the other day and he was well as ever. He says that their [4th Delaware] Regiment was very cut up in the battle of the 18th [June]. They have lost more [ ] proportion than wounded. Sam[uel Morris] Letherbury was killed and L. Stevenson was wounded in the thigh. [ ] John if he was that lucky. I don’t think that he was for he was for he will not be able to walk for a good while and maybe he will [ ] for it is in the thick part of the thigh.
I have not received a letter from home since the 24th of last month and I have not heard from Lew since about the 1st of last month and then John seen him. He says that he was a making out very well. There is not much to talk about so that I shall have to come to a close by giving my love to all. I remain your affectionate son, — T. D. G. Smith
Dear Mother,
I wish you would send me a tooth brush. You can send it in a newspaper. Yardley came to the regiment last week. John K. is well. I saw him on Saturday last. — Wednesday. F. Smith
Letter 18
Camp near the Parkersburg [Petersburg] Railroad
July 17, 1864
Dear Mother,
I now take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well and hope that these few lines will find you enjoying the same blessing. We have had a very nice time of it for a good while and have forgot how powder smells like. There is now rebels in our front and we have our pickets out about a mile from us so that if they does come, we will have time to get in line before they can get up to us. They say that they fell back 9 miles in front of us. The 4th Delaware [regiment] lays about one mile from here. I was over to see John and all of the Boys from Dover. They are few and far between. They are a [ ] them over like they did in our regiment. I have not heard from Lew since he left here. I wish that you would send my furlough as soon as you can. There is not much to write about from here. That is all at present but I remain your affectionate son, — T. D. G. Smith
P. S. I wish that you would send me some money for things are a getting very thick around here and no money to buy them with.
Letter 19
Headquarters 1st Delaware Vet. Volunteers
Camp before Petersburg
[September? 1864]
Dear Mother,
I received your letter last night. I think Father has not treated any of us as he should. I wrote to him today and told him about the sale. I expect he will think me very saucy. But I could not help telling him what I thought.
Our Corps had a very hard time at Reams Station last Thursday afternoon but our loss is very small in comparison with the force engaged against us.
Enclosed you will find a list of articles if I have left anything off, you can add it on to the list. We are all well and send our love to all. From your loving son, — William
Letter 20
Headquarters Ambulance Train
December 23, 1864
Dear Mother,
Yours of the 13th came to hand this morning and I was very glad to hear from home. I began to think that you had forgotten us down here. We don’t hear very often from Dover. John Smith says that he never gets a letter from home—only every now and then. I wrote for Lew to send me a box and for him to put in [ ] paper, He need not for I have some. Will had some in his valise. Send a bog box for I am mighty hungry. Put in plenty of eating things. I would like to have it done by New Year’s Day for you can’t get anything down here. We have run all of our money out. I wish that you would send me some money. I had to get some things in the train that we did not think of before. Tell Lew that he had better stay at home and go to school this winter and then be a farmer for he will have it harder than he had before. Tell him that I can’t send his overcoat yet but I will bring it—that is, if I come home this winter and I think that I will. You can go to Sam Herrington and get him to get in [ ]. I can get one on account of me being the oldest child, that is by sending the money as soon as you get this. No more at present. Give my love to all of the family. I remain your affectionate son, — T. D. G. Smith
Direct your letters to Ambulance train, 2nd Division, 2nd Corps. Send some thick envelopes.
Letter 21
Headquarters 1st Regt. Delaware Veteran Vols.
March 18 [1865]
Dear Mother,
Having a few leisure moments I thought that I would drop a few lines to inform you that I was enjoying good health. It was quite a lively time down here yesterday. They had horse raising and a great many other kinds of sport. I suppose that you have seen Charles Cooper by this time. If Jerry Smith did not bring my valise down, send it by Charley.
Is Lew home yet? If he is, ask him what he is a going to do. For my part I think that he had better stay at home and go to school. If will be better for him, I suppose, that the news from Sherman has been received down there. The sutlers has been ordered away from here and I suppose that we shall soon have the pleasure of sharing the honors of the Army of the Potomac. The rebels will not stand in our way this summer here. We intend to put this war of the campaign. The army is in the best of spirits now.
I do not feel like writing this afternoon so that I shall come to a close by sending my love to all of the family. I remain your affectionate son, –Thomas D. G. Smith
Spared & Shared 23 