Smith Family Letters
Four Carroll County, Virginia Soldiers in the American Civil War, 1861-1865
William A. Smith to Stephen M. Smith, 3 March 1863.
PREFACE CHRONOLOGY PERSONS PLACES REGIMENTS REGULARIZED TRANSCRIPT
Stephen has successfully avoided conscription but the fate of brother Barton is not so sure; William Alexander suspects that some in the county seat of Hillsville might be unfriendly to the interests of the Smith clan. Meanwhile, maneuvering for the Spring campaign has begun; contrary to William Alexander’s expectations the 50th Regiment would be returning to Dublin two weeks later—only to be reassigned to Lee’s Army of Virginia, in which they would shortly be thrown into the thick of things.
William A. Smith to Alexander Smith, 16 July 1861.
William A. Smith to Stephen M. Smith, 19 August 1861.
William A. Smith to Stephen M. Smith, 7 September 1861.
William A. Smith to Stephen M. Smith, 18 September 1861.
William A. Smith to Stephen M. Smith, 6 October 1861.
William A. Smith to Stephen M. Smith, 21 October 1861.
William A. Smith to Stephen M. Smith, 24 May 1862.
William A. Smith to Stephen M. Smith, 16 June 1862.
William A. Smith to Stephen M. Smith, 22 July 1862.
William A. Smith to Stephen M. Smith, 4 August 1862.
James R. Smith to Stephen M. Smith and Polly G. Smith, 29 August 1862.
William A. Smith to Alexander Smith, 4 September 1862.
William A. Smith to Stephen M. Smith, 23 October 1862.
John N. Ridgeway to R. P. Wright, 6 November 1862.
William A. Smith to Stephen M. Smith, 23 December 1862.
James R. Smith to Stephen M. Smith, 30 December 1862.
William A. Smith to Stephen M. Smith, 3 February 1863.
William A. Smith to Polly G. Mitchell and Sallie E. Smith, 9 February 1863.
William A. Smith to Stephen M. Smith, 9 February 1863.
‣ William A. Smith to Stephen M. Smith, 3 March 1863.
Barton Smith to Alexander Smith, 3 March 1863.
James R. Smith to Stephen M. Smith, 7 March 1863.
Barton Smith to Stephen M. Smith, 20 March 1863.
James R. Smith to Stephen M. Smith, 18 April 1863.
Barton Smith to Stephen M. Smith, 27 April 1863.
William A. Smith to Stephen M. Smith, 28 April 1863.
William A. Smith to Alexander Smith, 4 May 1863.
Barton Smith to Stephen M. Smith, 7 May 1863.
James R. Smith to Stephen M. Smith, 25 May 1863.
James R. Smith to Stephen M. Smith and Mary G. Smith, 26 May 1863.
William A. Smith to Stephen M. Smith, 2 June 1863.
Barton Smith to Stephen M. Smith, 17 May 1863.
James R. Smith to Stephen M. Smith, 21 July 1863.
William A. Smith to Stephen M. Smith, 30 July 1863.
William A. Smith to Alexander Smith, 14 August 1863.
William A. Smith to Stephen M. Smith, 17 August 1863.
William A. Smith to Stephen M. Smith, 22 September 1863.
James R. Smith to Stephen M. Smith and Mary G. Smith, 26 September 1863.
James R. Smith to Stephen M. Smith, 21 October 1863.
William A. Smith to James R. Smith, 26 November 1863.
William A. Smith to Stephen M. Smith, 3 January 1864.
William A. Smith to Stephen M. Smith, 23 March 1864.
William A. Smith to Stephen M. Smith, 29 April 1864.
Stephen M. Smith to Mary G. Smith, 4 December 1864.
Stephen M. Smith to Mary G. Smith, 18 December 1864.
Stephen M. Smith to Mary G. Smith, 22 December 1864.
Stephen M. Smith to Mary G. Smith, 25 December 1864.
Stephen M. Smith to Mary G. Smith, 8 January 1865.
Stephen M. Smith to Mary G. Smith, 12 January 1865.
Stephen M. Smith to Mary G. Smith, 19 January 1865.
Stephen M. Smith to Mary G. Smith, 3 February 1865.
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Camp near Franklin, Virginia, March 3rd, 1863.
Dear Brother,

A few days ago we received letters from you and Father, bringing the intelligence that you had again been discharged from army service. This was indeed gratifying news to us, but we are yet ignorant as to Doc’s fate, having heard that he was summoned a second time to appear before the board. This I am of opinion was the doings of some of those rascals in Hillsville or perhaps in the country. I presume you will get to stay at home anyhow. I know you will have a good deal to attend to, but I want you to try to get the corn land plowed at Jimmy’s house. Perhaps you can get Boyd to plough a day or two and then somebody else. If they had the land ploughed they could make a good crop. I don’t see any chance for myself or Jimmy to get to go home to make any arrangements for getting work done. We will send some money soon as we draw to pay with. We are now making off payrolls.

I feel pretty sure now that we will not go back to Western Virginia. Our wagons came in yesterday evening, which I think is a good indication that we will stay in the eastern part of the state. When we left Dublin they were sent to Grayson County for the [trains?] to winter. We are now anticipating a great battle We anticipate a battle here sometime during the Spring. It is thought the Federals will attempt Richm[ink blot]ond by this route. They are moving their forces from Fredericksburg to Norfolk and Suffolk. Gen. Longstreet’s [Cho?] Corps is now near Petersburg, and divisions of Lee’s army are perhaps moving in this direction. This looks a good deal like the next great battle will be somewhere in this region, though it may turn out like it did at Goldsboro, N. C., be no fight.

The Federal Government has passed a law, placing at the disposal of the President all men between the ages of 20 and 45. I guess they are going to stick to us. Men talk of peace; I don’t see one ray of hope for a speedy peace, but sometimes fear the war is just begun. We are all tolerably well. Write soon and often. Direct your letters to Franklin Depot, Southampton Co., Va. Be sure to write 50th Va. Reg’t. plainly. Tell Sis I will answer her letter in a few days. Good Bye.

Your brother affectionately,
Wm A. Smith.
S. M. Smith.
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