The following letter was written by Samuel S. Smith who registered for the draft in June 1863 by identifying himself as a single, 21 year-old carpenter in Hartleton, Union county, Pennsylvania. In doing so, he indicated that he had served 9-months earlier in the war though he did not provide the name of the regiment. Most likely it was the 131st Pennsylvania Volunteers who served from August 1862 to May 1863 and took part in the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. There was a corporal in Co. A of that regiment with that name and most of the company’s members were recruited from Union county.

From his letter, we learn that Smith landed a carpenter’s job in the Quartermaster Repair Shops located at City Point. Captain Edward J. Strang was in charge of the shops that employed more than 1,600 civilians were employed as blacksmiths, wheelwrights, carpenters, saddlers, teamsters, laborers, and clerks. The shops were located below what is now the intersection of Pecan Avenue and Water Street on the James river.

Transcription

City Point [Virginia]
November 15, 1864

Friend Will,

I just finished my supper and I thought I would drop you a few lines so that you know where I am and what I am doing. We left Lewisburg last Wednesday at 10 o’clock and arrived in Washington that evening at 10 o’clock. The next day we were in Washington looking out for employment. We were over a good part of the town but did not succeed in getting employment. They boys were determined to go home but I swore that I would not go. So we stayed that night and the next morning I went down to Capt. [Edward J.] Strang’s office and tried again, and it happened that a call was made for 40 carpenters (se we were all hunk).

On last Friday at 3 o’clock we went on board of the Dictator and run down the Potomac to Fortress Monroe. There we run up the James River to City Point. We seen the ruins of Jamestown and the place where Pocahontas saved Capt. Smith. We seen the rebel Florida; we seen four river monitors and a great many other ironsides. City Point is formed by the Appomattox river emptying into the James. We have heard cannonading every day but not so heavy until today. It was pretty heavy I think you will hear of a heavy battle before long. There was a train of artillery passed out by our place about half mile long.

We all like it well. I never had it easier than I have it now. We get $70 a month. All that—I am sorry that I did not start for this place one year ago. We have plenty to eat. You may think how we work when 10 of us work with three and a half axes and that is all the tools we have got so far. We are about a quarter mile from Grant’s Headquarters. Ten of us have commenced winter quarters. The distance from Washington to this place is 350 miles so we are about 500 miles from home.

I must now come to a close. Give my best wishes to my friends. Answer soon and tell us all the particulars. From your friend, S. S. S.

Direct [to] Samuel S. Smith in care of Capt. E. J. Strang, Quartermaster, City Point, Va., Carpenter’s Department