William Digby Smith, 14th C.V.I., March 1, 1863

William Digby Smith, 14th C.V.I., March 1, 1863

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

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

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

Draft -- United States -- History

William Smith writes to his wife of their current camp, the money he is sending home, how the draft is affecting people at home, and argues with her over the frequency of their letters

1863-03-01

N3 Falmouth March 1st
Dear wife I received your 2nd letter and
was glad to hear you was all well as this laves
me at present thank god I received fathers
paper also I have know particular news to
rite to you onley we are at they same old place
still we find a nuff to do 1 day on picket
and gard me and Eddward Stroud hes been
on gard for they last week 7 days and 7 nights
for coming in from picket 3 quarters of an
hour before they rest of they Ridgement did
they are getting awfull strict know we have
got a knew magor and brigedere general he
makes us tough they mark how dow they feel
athome abought been drafted I guess it twill
not work verey well but I hope some of them
Abolishionest will be drafted every one of
them it twould suit me first rate I sent
you a letter last week with 10 dolors in it
it twas N2 you mentioned in your letter
about me not riting to you oftener I send you
letter for letter you had aught to send me
[page 2]
2 for my one but I will try and keep up with
you they reson I do not rite to you is because you
rite your letters on Sunday and then I dow not
get your letter untill Thursday or friday so I
generley answer your letter Friday or Saturday
then I have to wait untill thursday or friday
again before I get answer from you but
sometimes I am on picket or gard and then
I canot rite to you for if I do rite I cannot
put it they mail bag untill I get back to
camp about joseph McCluskey I let him
read your letter he donth think there is any
thing outh of they way with sera but he is going
to find out but he is not going to fetch your
name or fathers in it I would find outh if
I was him but let him you mind your own
bisey any how if you donth you mind what
you will get about them pigs be you going
to keep them all summer donth you wish
I was home to feed them I should like to be
but you donth suppose I would feed pigs know
I would rather you would send me some
of they straw that they have ^for a bed I should
like to have one as good as they have
[page 3]
I will send they children a little paper they
Christen Baner they may like to read it I have red
it I may send some more if you get this one
we have not got hour boxes yet they are some
time on they way I should like to have them
boots and so would gorge for this is an awfull
muddy place one day it rains they next it snows
So you may judge how we have to paddle
through they sacred mud of virginie gorge
he has gone on picket to day to Fredericksburg
he is well tell Seth I will rite to him pretty soon
tell him he had ought to come out hear
with some hens he will get 65 cents a dozen
for Eggs hear you may travel all day and you
will not find a hen I have no more news to
Send but give my love to father and William
David and all they family and allso to
Mr Hubbards family Thomis Fling and family
and Mrs Smith and berins rite soon tell
willie and sister that I want them to rite
to me and let me see how they are getting
allong in school if they are not sick No more
at present but remain your Affectionate husband William D Smith

ALS