William Digby Smith, 14th C.V.I., May 30, 1863
Title
William Digby Smith, 14th C.V.I., May 30, 1863
Subject
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
United States. Army. Connecticut Infantry Regiment, 14th (1862-1865)
Description
William Smith writes to his wife about the situation in his camp, skirmishes with Confederates, his inability to get a furlough, drunken officers, and his suspicion that the war is being prolonged by corrupt and treasonous politicians in Washington.
Date
1863-05-30
Identifier
3-1-21
Text
Falmouth May 30th 1861 [i.e.1863]
My Dear wife I received your letter on friday
night I received fathers paper on thursday night
you had better belive I felt bad enough
when I did not receive a letter from you
when you rite I goner allways I get my
letters on thursday if I have to wait over,
my time I feel bad enough for I have nothing
else to keep up my spirits onley what letters
I receive from you I am well as usual thank
god we have had orders to pack up and be
redey in 15 minutes thursday but we are hire
yet the Rebs the have got reinforcements across
the river so the talk of something of making a
Raid across for the are short of rations I
was on picket thursday there was 3 rebs swim
across on our side the wanted to for the last
3 weeks the told us ther was plenty of troops
on the other side two of the fellows was Brothers
the looked pretty good one of the had on
our sig I think we will have to fall Back
from whare we are for we have not got
men anough hear to whip them know for
there has gone from the armey of the potomack
over 40 thousand for the last 2 months
I mean 9 months and 2 years men that there
time was up and again the first of july there
will be over 60 thousend men so that will
have us prety small so goes the soldgering
I wish it was over and done with
[page 2]
for I dread the marching hear in summer
we had evrey thing fixed hear in good shape
We have got the nicest street in the Regment
but we will have to lave it I guess pretty
Soon so goes soldgering your last letter
I could not make it out verey well for
It was stuck to the envelope and I had to
tare it some but you can tell Sissy that
I red her letter first rate She improves a
little tell her that I am glad the pigs well
and growing fast ask her donth she want
me to come home and see them I should like
first rate to but I can if I live to be spaired
to live my 3 years in the armey of Robers to the
goverment onley for our head men this war should
be brought to a close long ago but there is to
maney traitors in and around Washington
and the potomack we have got to hope
on for my part I am sick of it but hope on
it tis hard we have got a set of drunken officers
that has been promoted from privates to
lietenants and we have lost all we started
would we have got a good captain but not
a f captain like gibsons when we lost him we
lost a father and a friend if he was alive
know what to rite to you for it tis the one
thing over and over again tell david that
I should like to be with him Burning them
worms tell him that I thought
[page 3]
I should have been home on a furlou but
furlows is plaid out for the present Murdock
got home in good time for the stoped them
the next day the have not stoped them all
together the give 5 days instead of ten
but the may comince again you mentioned
in your letter that you was ^tired riting on paper but
you are no tirder than I am but it tis all
that keeps me in good spirits if I did
not get aney letters from you I would soon
give up Murdock told you that I was not
well but I was not well for a few weeks
but I feel first rate know gorge he has
had a bile on his face it twas swelled
pretty big but it is getting smaller know
tell father to give the children two cisses
for me Dear wife I do not know what
to rite you tell Sisey She is a good girl
tell her that I should like to be home
with her and all the rest of them all
but I may some time mor another before
long hope on give my love to father and
family Mr Hubard and family thomas fling
g and family Excuse my short letter
gustis guiles he is well good boy
rite soon as you can from your loving
Husband William D Smith
My Dear wife I received your letter on friday
night I received fathers paper on thursday night
you had better belive I felt bad enough
when I did not receive a letter from you
when you rite I goner allways I get my
letters on thursday if I have to wait over,
my time I feel bad enough for I have nothing
else to keep up my spirits onley what letters
I receive from you I am well as usual thank
god we have had orders to pack up and be
redey in 15 minutes thursday but we are hire
yet the Rebs the have got reinforcements across
the river so the talk of something of making a
Raid across for the are short of rations I
was on picket thursday there was 3 rebs swim
across on our side the wanted to for the last
3 weeks the told us ther was plenty of troops
on the other side two of the fellows was Brothers
the looked pretty good one of the had on
our sig I think we will have to fall Back
from whare we are for we have not got
men anough hear to whip them know for
there has gone from the armey of the potomack
over 40 thousand for the last 2 months
I mean 9 months and 2 years men that there
time was up and again the first of july there
will be over 60 thousend men so that will
have us prety small so goes the soldgering
I wish it was over and done with
[page 2]
for I dread the marching hear in summer
we had evrey thing fixed hear in good shape
We have got the nicest street in the Regment
but we will have to lave it I guess pretty
Soon so goes soldgering your last letter
I could not make it out verey well for
It was stuck to the envelope and I had to
tare it some but you can tell Sissy that
I red her letter first rate She improves a
little tell her that I am glad the pigs well
and growing fast ask her donth she want
me to come home and see them I should like
first rate to but I can if I live to be spaired
to live my 3 years in the armey of Robers to the
goverment onley for our head men this war should
be brought to a close long ago but there is to
maney traitors in and around Washington
and the potomack we have got to hope
on for my part I am sick of it but hope on
it tis hard we have got a set of drunken officers
that has been promoted from privates to
lietenants and we have lost all we started
would we have got a good captain but not
a f captain like gibsons when we lost him we
lost a father and a friend if he was alive
know what to rite to you for it tis the one
thing over and over again tell david that
I should like to be with him Burning them
worms tell him that I thought
[page 3]
I should have been home on a furlou but
furlows is plaid out for the present Murdock
got home in good time for the stoped them
the next day the have not stoped them all
together the give 5 days instead of ten
but the may comince again you mentioned
in your letter that you was ^tired riting on paper but
you are no tirder than I am but it tis all
that keeps me in good spirits if I did
not get aney letters from you I would soon
give up Murdock told you that I was not
well but I was not well for a few weeks
but I feel first rate know gorge he has
had a bile on his face it twas swelled
pretty big but it is getting smaller know
tell father to give the children two cisses
for me Dear wife I do not know what
to rite you tell Sisey She is a good girl
tell her that I should like to be home
with her and all the rest of them all
but I may some time mor another before
long hope on give my love to father and
family Mr Hubard and family thomas fling
g and family Excuse my short letter
gustis guiles he is well good boy
rite soon as you can from your loving
Husband William D Smith
Original Format
ALS
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Citation
“William Digby Smith, 14th C.V.I., May 30, 1863,” Linda Lear Center Digital Collections and Exhibitions, accessed November 21, 2024, https://lc-digital.conncoll.edu/items/show/1704.