William Digby Smith, 14th C.V.I., July 9, 1863

William Digby Smith, 14th C.V.I., July 9, 1863

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865

Gettysburg, Battle of (Pennsylvania : 1863)

United States. Army. Connecticut Infantry Regiment, 14th (1862-1865)

William Digby Smith writes to his wife of the aftermath of the Battle of Gettysburg and his separation from his regiment

1863-07-09

ALS

Penselvenie july 9th 1863

My Dear wife I think it tis hard for me not
writing to you before this time but I have told gorge
to let his folks let you know whare I was he left
me the 7th he is gone to Boltimore I think to the
hospital I am dituled as cook where the
Regement is know I donth know but I think
the are in Frederick Citey Mereyland all
of the boys that was wounded is hear yet
I mean in our regtment the our Division hospital
is hire a little wayes from the battle field
that is whare I am I am allong with the same
steward that joseph Mccluskey youst to
cook under and I will stick to it as long
as I can for I have seen a nuff of soldgering
I shall look out for my life for I have seen
a nuff of deaths this last week to harden
the hart of a stone I pass men by dead laying
in tears farley Black in the face not buiried
the smell is awful and then again there
is some again whare the ---
to put in a hole not covered the hole is

[page 2]
full of water and the bodeyes floating in
it we had a rain storm yesterday all the poor
fellows had to be moved as mutch as 1/2 mile in
the rain or the would be drownded it tis the
awfulest sight I ever have seen dead rebs
and horses was mashed down the stream evrey
thing you could think of I let drop for this
time but I shall try and look our for myself
as well as I can there has some of our company
never has been in a fight inse the came
out the have been detailed for other dutey
so I shall try and play my points to for I
have seen anuff of butchering I want to get
home to you and my children once more
as safe as I can It donth make know difference
how I have to work I shall do it with the
help of god I have know one in the regt
that I case about know sinse gorge
left me so you knee not worey so mutch
about me but there is one thing I cannot
get my letters untill we get hour hospital
moved the will go to the regtment but
you kneend not rite to me untill I
rite to you again and then I can

[page 3]
tell you whare you can direct it it twill
have to come to the division hospital
it twill not have to go to the regtment
so I want you to cheer up know I shall
try and look out for my self and you must
keep up good courage untill I tell
I tell you whare to rite I have seen a nuff
of the war I shall try and do the best I can
for the futur god has spared in 3 battles
but I hope I shall never get into enother
one Il try any way you kneed not worey so mutch
as you have done nor you must not tell
any bodey what I have said in this
letter keep it to your self I have not got
a letter from you sinse you rote me from
terefvill but I shall get them when I
get settled the boyes they are getting allong
pretty well with there wounds I mean our
regement aney of them can walk the try
and walk about six miles then the
take the cars and the get to boltimore
hospital of some other hospital there is
plenty of citicens hear helping the boys

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the fetch them wine and wine buiskits
help first rate there is a pile of wounded
rebs hear to has Margret herd from John yet
Sam hoxims [i.e. Huxham] wife must feell Bad he was not
out more than ten minutes when he was shot
dead the fetch his bodey out of a wheat field
and laid him on the road so as we could burey
him so he had to be left their allong with the
rest of them when the shells burst it twas the
heveyest canoneding I ever hear hour company was
sent out in the as skirmishers so we was 3
----
----
the shell burst from our battery
whare we was laying --- fence rails and
----
----
----
before the ---
kneed not --- the fight ---
told him and ---
when the come out skirmishing I must
draw to a close for the meat is boiling
know I live pretty well know but you
must be of good cheer I am all rite
From your loving husband
give father my love and family
Mr. hubard and family
And kiss the children for me.
William D Smith