Smith Family Letters
Four Carroll County, Virginia Soldiers in the American Civil War, 1861-1865
William A. Smith to Stephen M. Smith, 23 December 1862.
PREFACE CHRONOLOGY PERSONS PLACES REGIMENTS REGULARIZED TRANSCRIPT
This letter marks a new phase in the operations of the 50th Regiment, which on 16 December had departed from Dublin Depot on a journey east. William Alexander writes from Petersburg, believing that he is en route to Wilmington, NC. After several weeks camped south of Richmond the regiment would depart on 11 January for Southampton Virginia on the North Carolina border. He believes his men are anxious for a fight and even if he is not, he says that he is ready. He describes the fortifications of Drewry’s Bluff overlooking the James River before wishing everyone a “happy Christmas.”
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 Ellsworth near Richmond, Va., Tuesday, Dec. 23rd, 1862.
S. M. Smith:—

Dear Brother, I sometime ago received a letter from you, and have not answered yet. As I may not have another opportunity soon, I will make use of the present flying moment. We are now busily engaged cooking three days rations, [and] will embark early to morrow morning for another point. We go first to Petersburg and I think will go from there to Wilmington, N. Carolina. We like this running around but I expect will eventually land in a hot place. Well, I believe our boys are getting anxious for another fight. As for myself, I’m not anxious but think I can face the music again. Do not think by this that we are going right into a fight, for I don’t know that there is any prospect for a battle where we are going.

I visited Drewry’s Bluff this morning and viewed the fortifications there. I don’t think that that place can ever be taken. Several guns are there which take balls 10 and 12 inches in diameter. These guns are placed in forts cwhich cannot be penetrated by balls, and some of the forts are bomb prooff. The river is effectually blockaded. Richmond is strongly fortified on all sides; I don’t think it can ever fall. The country here is level and poor, covered with a thick piny forest. I don’t like it so well as the mountains of western Virginia.

I wish you all a happy Christmas. I guess we will spend ours on the road.

As I have nothing interesting to write, I will close soon. You must write soon and direct to Petersburg,Va., Co. (I) 50th Va. Regt., Gen. Colston’s Brigade. We were under command of Col. Moore. Tell all who write to us to direct as above. Also say to Father I will write to him when we stop again. I hope you all will not be disturbed by those cavalry companies in our counties. I wish their horses were all sold and they organized into a battalin and sent on after us. I think they would do the Confederacy more service. Well, I will close. We alare all well.

Good Bye.
Your brother,
Wm A. Smith.
S. M. Smith Esq.
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