William Digby Smith, 14th C.V.I., December 4, 1862

William Digby Smith, 14th C.V.I., December 4, 1862

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

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

Fredericksburg, Battle of (Virginia : 1862)

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

William Smith writes to his father about preparations for the Battle of Fredericksburg, sickness in the regiment, and complains about officers.

1862-12-04

Bell Plain December 4^th 1862
Dear Father I rite you these few lines to let you
know how I am getting along hear It tiss about
time for me to rite to you but I have told jane
to let you know how I was getting allong I have
seen some hard timis sinse I have left home but
I neaver was so well in my life as I am at present
thank god soldgering is a hard life but it may
be they best thing that has happened to me if
I ever life through it and get home again I sall be
glad for it twill be a different home to me than what
it twas before Dear father we are going to have a great
battle at fredericksburg pretty soon they are bound to make
a stand theer they have got evrey thing fixed in good shape
their we should have a battle before this time onley for
general Burnside wanting for rations or supplies they
say that they Rebble force is 130,000 ^strong and they will
undoubtedly make a stand if we whip them hear
I think they are about played out but there will
be awfull slauther they have got a sight of
Earthworks around fredericksburg we can see them Quite plain
I donth mean our Regtment for we are within 6 miles 

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Of Fredericksburg working onloading provisions we
have been hear for they last ^2 weeks they men has to
go to work evrey morning of 5 oclock and some
times they have to work untill 8 at night but
but I have not for I have been sent about 2
miles ½ from they camp to gard a widdow
womans property from letting they soldgers hook
them there is 2 of us thear we have they best of eating
and we have not mutch to do know but we did
at they first they Cornell told us to shoot they
first man that came around they house at
night so they do not trouble us know I have
had one letter from david Since he left for 
Eatton Allen I feel lonesome Joseph McCluskey
told me when he came from they hospital that
David would be along in about six weeks
so they next I herd from him he was worse I have
not herd from him know in 6 weeks only they
Captain told me he was going to get his discharge
Father if you was to see some of they boys know and
so and see how they lock you would pitty them
There is more than half of them sick I think 

[page 3]
that there is not over 400 men fit for duty know
they have had a hard time of it sinse we left home
you folks at home doese not think what we poor
fellows has to suffer sleeping out doors in frost
and rain no bed to sleep on no change cloes
like plentey of them I am sick of it when
you lock at them officers Riding around on their
fast horses and there n*****s ridding to you ^it would
make you feel Bad they want this war to last
for ever if they can if they got they same pay
as a private and had to march all day this
war would son be settled it never will be settled
By fighting I do think for there is to maney makeing
money on it Dear father I have know particular
news to rite to you but I am well hoping this
will find you all the same you can hear
more news home about they war than we can
hear for sometimes there is papers comes allong
they charge 10 cents for them so I take none
of them Dear father I wish you would send
me they 4^th-3^th paper I should like them I want
to see what congress is going to do how 

[page 4]
I wish you would let me no hou david is getting
allong and william maitland give my love to
mother and they children I rote two letters to Jane
last week excuse me for this time I shall let
you know how I am getting allong a little
oftener give my love to all enquiring frends
Rite soon as you can good night
your Son William D Smith
Co. B 14^th Regt CV
Washington DC

 

ALS