William Digby Smith, 14th C.V.I., May 7, 1863

William Digby Smith, 14th C.V.I., May 7, 1863

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

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

Chancellorsville, Battle of, Chancellorsville, Va., 1863

United States. Army--Pay, allowances, etc.

William Smith writes to his wife about the Battle of Chancellorsville and its aftermath, asks whether she has received the money he has sent her, tells about the things that he has lost, but that he has managed to keep the photographs of the children.

1863-05-07

3-1-17

Falmouth May 7th 1836^63
My Dear wife I have got back to camp
Safe aggain after 5 days fight thank god
we have had anawful fight but we did
not get whiped we was on they right
and we stood our ground it twas they
fault of the 12th armey core that was
been on the left they run away so that
broke hour lines we stood our ground
they rebs came down on us then so
we gave them plentey of grape and
canester so we stoped them onley for that
they rebles would have drived us over
they river but there is not mutch use
in the riting abbout it know when
I get settled again I shall let you
know more about it father he will
let you have a paper and you can
tell more about the killed and wonded
you can find more out of the paper
than I can tell you but for the

[page 2]
Company there was 5 wounded prist
Brooks Stroud judd capper so I cannot
tell how maney there was in they regem^ent
but it twas the hardest sight I ever
seen there was men laid in all 
Directions some with heads blown 
off arms legs and I I never got a
scratch thank god shell burst in
all directions balls of every discrip^tion
all around me and gorge so we are
all right god be thanked there is
one thing I should like we could
have held us our ground we never
can whip them for we have got to
maney trators in the armey I do not
know how long we will star hear from 
the time we left camp it twas 8 days
so we lay on the battle field under
fire but thank god ^for 5 days I am all right it tiss
a hard sight but they sent us a cross the
river after all let father send me a list
of the 14th regement he can get the paper
I sent you 20 dolors before I got over

[page 3]
the river let me know if you got your
check what I asked you about your bounty
money I wanted to know if you got your
second bounty money I never wanted to know
what you dow with your money but I wanted
to know if you got it it tis hard erened
money hope on it tis hard but god has
been good to me about my knabsack
I lost my wolen blanket over coat ruber
blanket shelter tent shirts and nabsack
we was ordered to take it ^them off and
lave a gard over them we had to 
go double quick to the front when 
the 12th Armey core broke so the rebs
has got them know so I have got
nothing know but shirt pants stockings
and a dress coat I do not know
whether the will allow us aney thing
for them or not my Dear wife I feel 
tired so you must excuse my Short
letter I am glad that you can hear
from me once more again it 
tiss hard for you but I hope
both of ^us will be spared to embrace
Each other again that is the erenest
wish from your loving husband
William D Smith give father and family
my love Mr hubard and family tom
fling tell david to send me a
paper or so he it will be
some of the boys was going home on a furlow
but I donth know whether the can or
not but gorge he is [unclear] so Mr hubard
will tell you about the battle
Kiss the children for me I have
had there likeness but I swet them
a little [unclear] so they
heint verey bad since you had
got them taken in a frame good
boy
your loving

ALS