William Digby Smith, 14th C.V.I., July 16, 1863

William Digby Smith, 14th C.V.I., July 16, 1863

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

Gettysburg, Battle of (Pennsylvania : 1863)

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

William Smith writes to his wife that he has been assigned to duty in the hospital and of the casualties among the Union forces from the Battle of Gettysburg.

1863-07-16

ALS

July 16th Penselvenie
My Dear wife I send you thies few lines
to let you know I am well thank god hoping
this will find you and the same Children the
same I am detailed as Hospital cook know
with 5 more we have to work pretty hard
but we live first rate it tis different
from marching and I shall try and
stick to it there is one fellow has not
been with his regement for 13 months he
is detailed in the same place I am i find
some difference I can go to bead every night
no drill no gard dutey to do nor no
ecquipments to put on nor no picket
duty to do I never lived so well in my
live for eatetebles we have all kinds
of jelley all kinds of teas chocolate
Beef tea eggs milk condensed milk
New potatetotes Beet turnips radish
Beans we have evreything we want
so you kneed not worey I wish
you had some of the things the are
so good it is not hardtack and salt
pork and hard marching I donth know

[page 2]
whare the redgement is know all the
Boys that was hear was sent to there
regements except those that was detailed
for cooks or nurses the head cook that
is hear he is from ohio Joseph Macluskey
youst to help him to cook he is a first
rate fellow I happened first rate to
get in with him it twas our old hospital
Cook got me in he is hear detailed to he
is from New haven he has Never done aney
duty but cook sinse he enlisted it tis
almost a year sinse I left home It tiss
not long to look back but to look ahead
for 2 years more it seems a lifetime but
if I have to serve 2 years longer and
cannot get a furlow I shall take
one there has been 5 more from Middletown
to see us douglas doctor white frisbey
2 more I cannot think of there names has
gorge Hubard got home or does his
folks know whare he is I want you
to rite to me and let me know
whare he is and how is is getting
allong has Margret herd from

[page 3]
John yet or has father herd from bill
Maitland sinse he left home how is
David getting allong tell father if he
gets the list of killed and wounded in
the 14th to send it to me I know the list
of wounded in nour company and killed
mayor douglas told me he was going to
take Sam Hoxoms body home there has
Been an old lady hear this morning for
her son he was dead when she got
hear she came from ohio to see him
she was a widdow woman she had
onley the one son he was wounded
and he died before she got hear it
twas a hard sight to see her she was
an irish woman two there is from 3 to 4
died evrey day the donth burey them
in know coffins there is some of them
has both legs cut of some has there
right leg and arim cut off it tis
awfull I donth go near them verey
oftin I donth like to see them I have
not mutch more knewse to rite to
you but I am well

[page 4]
Hoping this will find you and the
Children the same give my love to
father and familey Mr Hubbard
and family rite soon
Direct your letter William D Smith
2nd Corps 3rd Div Hospital
Near gettysburg care of
Doctore Dwinelle
let you get Mr Hubbard
Direct it for you or father
No more at present from
your loving Husband William
D Smith
rite as soon as you
can good boy
send me a few postag stamps
if you have got them I have
got paper plenty
good Boy