Smith Family Letters
Four Carroll County, Virginia Soldiers in the American Civil War, 1861-1865
William A. Smith to Stephen M. Smith, 28 April 1863.
PREFACE CHRONOLOGY PERSONS PLACES REGIMENTS REGULARIZED TRANSCRIPT
All is quiet along the Rappahannock, and William Alexander fondly imagines his regiment will be ordered back to western Virginia. He has not heard from Barton, and comments about the high number of deserters among the Carroll soldiers. More ominously, he asks for confirmation of a rumor about cavalry deserters committing acts of violence back in Carroll.
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 Morse’s Neck, Va., Tuesday, April 28th, 1863.
Dear Brother,

I hope you have not felt yourself slighted because I have not written to you sooner. I wrote to Father and Sis sometime ago, which letters I knew you could see. And now I have but little news to tell you. We have done no duty here yet but drilling and sword duty. The weather has been quite wet and windy, though it is now fair.

All is quiet here except occasional cannonading. I heard cannon this morning, while we were on the field drilling. I also saw a Yankee balloon up over the Yankee camps. I presume they were looking over to see what was going on, on our side of the river. I don’t think these armies are more than five or six miles apart, but the river is between them. The pickets stand on each side of the river, but never shoot at each other. I hope no fight will come up soon.

I feel pretty sure that we will go back to Western Virginia if all keeps quiet here. I learned this evening that our regt. is assigned to Col. Wharton’s Brigade, which is now at the Salt-Works, and that Col. Wharton said himself that we would go back soon. I prefer Col. Wharton for a commander to any body we have ever served under yet, and if we get into his brigade again, I think we will get to stay with him. He thinks a great deal of this regt. and will endeavor to keep it.

Do you get any news from our boys on Black Water? I am very anxious to hear from them. I wrote to Doc. soon as I got here, but have received no answer, have not heard a word from them since I left home. I reckon they are all mad at me. I wish they could get away from there.

How are you all getting along in Carroll? I presume you are aware that several of our Carroll boys played the deserter when our regt. left Dublin. I am sorry, truly sorry, that they have done so. And was surprised to learn that Billy Gray and Ballard Quesenberry and Billy Smith were among the number. Do you hear anything of them? Let me know if you do. Write very soon. Address me at Guinney’s Station, Caroline Co.,Va., Co. (I) 50thVa. Regt., 2nd Brigade, Tremble’s Division— Jackson’s Corps.

I and Jimmy are well. By the way, Lish Bond got a letter yesterday stating that deserters of cavalry had been fighting in our part of the County, that a man and horse were killed, but he won’t let anybody see the letter. I doubt the truth of it. Tell us about it.

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