William Digby Smith, 14th C.V.I., March 8, 1863
Title
William Digby Smith, 14th C.V.I., March 8, 1863
Subject
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Sources
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Health aspects
Military hygiene
Operations rations (Military supplies)
United States. Army. Connecticut Infantry Regiment, 14th (1862-1865)
Description
William Smith writes to his wife about life in the camp, what he is eating, the box he received from her, and the health of other soldiers in his regiment.
Date
1863-03-08
Identifier
3-1-12
Text
(written vertical first line) gorge he is well N4 March 8th 1863 Falmouth
My Dear wife I received your last letter and was
glad you and they children was getting allong
so well as this laves me at present thnk god
but I am a kind of lonsome it tiss tuff but
it tiss all they one thing it tiss drill picket gard
all they time we get anough to do and enough
to eat know we get fresh bread evrey day meat
Fresh 4 times a week potatetoes onions tea
Coffee Shuger Rice Beans Pork no hard tack molasses
viniger about they Box I was sorey to see it
in sutch a way after all your trouble they
cake was all smashed to pieces there was no
hart nor frosting on it they ginger snaps also bread
and pies I had to throw away Apples half of
them was rotton they tonge was good but I wish
I was whare I could give you some better tonge
onions potatoes little crackers was all good
boots and stockings was better tobaco tea peper
there is a good many other things to Numers
to mention I donth know how I got half of
them for they opened all they Boxes before
(Page 2)
we got them Some of they boxes was smashed
to pieces gorge has not got all his things yet
it tis a shame they way they used them last
Boxes they opned them to see if there was aney
licure or cloes thure was one of our Rigement
arested some of his folks sent him a pants
and vest so as he could Run away but he
cannot Run verey verey soon about Sera Dear wife
I wish you would not rite aney more about
her if she has a mind to make a fool of her
self let her Rip Rip Rip she is a chip of they
old Block it makes me feel Bad for joe but
I would rather they would not bring you into
any scrape albout her let some one else tell him
you can Rock in they green back for me when
you have time I may never see it if you was
to see they men hear fine strong able men that
I have seen let them go to they hospitle and
in a week or two it tiss they last of them there
is William Russell he was a tent mate of mine
he is gone to his long home he was taken home
to Middletown 2 weeks ago he was a stout able
fellow and a good fellow two he often used to
(Page 3)
talk about when him and me would get
home what a good time we would have
so he is gone to his home and to his long home
so goes they weak and they strong but in sutch a
place as this deth is anawfull sight heer faraway
from home and when you die in they hospital
you are put out dors and you may lay there
for 24 hours before you are buried it tis ten
chances to one whether you get a coffin or
not but it tis they best way to keep up good
courage and stand they storm as long as
we can it tis hard hope on some times I get
down harted thinking what a fool I have
been to myself and then again I know It
has been they best job I could have done for
I am fatter and ways more than ever I did
and if god spares me my life to meet once
more you will see anawfull diference in me
I hope we shall onley for hope they hart
would break my Dear wife I think a good
maney times about you and they wains keep
up good courage I want to send me they childrens
likeness as soon as you can you can send me two
(Page 4)
of they captains likeness for there is some
of they boys would buy them about lucas he will
not come back to they Regtment again broach he
is gone to they hospital in Washington he is neaver
coming back again and galpin he sent in his
papers 3 times so he could not get his discharge
so he wants to get a dishonerable discharge
So when he goes Company B has lost all her
Officers that left Hartford I ment Middletown
with us so goes they soldgering It tis Sunday
Evning sitting on my bed of green bous
a thinking of hills and hollow
and some other things it tiss all right
that so sayes could soldger boy so
I must draw to a close give my
respects to father and family
and to Mr Hubards family tell
tom I had a smoak out of his
pipe it tis getting dark so good
knight kiss they childrend for
me No more at present but
Rite soon
Remain your Husband
William D. Smith
My Dear wife I received your last letter and was
glad you and they children was getting allong
so well as this laves me at present thnk god
but I am a kind of lonsome it tiss tuff but
it tiss all they one thing it tiss drill picket gard
all they time we get anough to do and enough
to eat know we get fresh bread evrey day meat
Fresh 4 times a week potatetoes onions tea
Coffee Shuger Rice Beans Pork no hard tack molasses
viniger about they Box I was sorey to see it
in sutch a way after all your trouble they
cake was all smashed to pieces there was no
hart nor frosting on it they ginger snaps also bread
and pies I had to throw away Apples half of
them was rotton they tonge was good but I wish
I was whare I could give you some better tonge
onions potatoes little crackers was all good
boots and stockings was better tobaco tea peper
there is a good many other things to Numers
to mention I donth know how I got half of
them for they opened all they Boxes before
(Page 2)
we got them Some of they boxes was smashed
to pieces gorge has not got all his things yet
it tis a shame they way they used them last
Boxes they opned them to see if there was aney
licure or cloes thure was one of our Rigement
arested some of his folks sent him a pants
and vest so as he could Run away but he
cannot Run verey verey soon about Sera Dear wife
I wish you would not rite aney more about
her if she has a mind to make a fool of her
self let her Rip Rip Rip she is a chip of they
old Block it makes me feel Bad for joe but
I would rather they would not bring you into
any scrape albout her let some one else tell him
you can Rock in they green back for me when
you have time I may never see it if you was
to see they men hear fine strong able men that
I have seen let them go to they hospitle and
in a week or two it tiss they last of them there
is William Russell he was a tent mate of mine
he is gone to his long home he was taken home
to Middletown 2 weeks ago he was a stout able
fellow and a good fellow two he often used to
(Page 3)
talk about when him and me would get
home what a good time we would have
so he is gone to his home and to his long home
so goes they weak and they strong but in sutch a
place as this deth is anawfull sight heer faraway
from home and when you die in they hospital
you are put out dors and you may lay there
for 24 hours before you are buried it tis ten
chances to one whether you get a coffin or
not but it tis they best way to keep up good
courage and stand they storm as long as
we can it tis hard hope on some times I get
down harted thinking what a fool I have
been to myself and then again I know It
has been they best job I could have done for
I am fatter and ways more than ever I did
and if god spares me my life to meet once
more you will see anawfull diference in me
I hope we shall onley for hope they hart
would break my Dear wife I think a good
maney times about you and they wains keep
up good courage I want to send me they childrens
likeness as soon as you can you can send me two
(Page 4)
of they captains likeness for there is some
of they boys would buy them about lucas he will
not come back to they Regtment again broach he
is gone to they hospital in Washington he is neaver
coming back again and galpin he sent in his
papers 3 times so he could not get his discharge
so he wants to get a dishonerable discharge
So when he goes Company B has lost all her
Officers that left Hartford I ment Middletown
with us so goes they soldgering It tis Sunday
Evning sitting on my bed of green bous
a thinking of hills and hollow
and some other things it tiss all right
that so sayes could soldger boy so
I must draw to a close give my
respects to father and family
and to Mr Hubards family tell
tom I had a smoak out of his
pipe it tis getting dark so good
knight kiss they childrend for
me No more at present but
Rite soon
Remain your Husband
William D. Smith
Original Format
ALS
Files
Citation
“William Digby Smith, 14th C.V.I., March 8, 1863,” Linda Lear Center Digital Collections and Exhibitions, accessed November 21, 2024, https://lc-digital.conncoll.edu/items/show/1702.