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Civil War Letter written April 6, 1893
This letter written by Thomas Smith to his mother is owned by the Lancaster Veterans Memorial Library in Lancaster, TX.
Thomas Smith's parents were William J. Smith, Sr. and Elizabeth Jenkins. William Smith died in Tallahatchie Co., MS on July 8, 1857 before this letter was written. Thomas had 12 brothers and sisters. The Nancy mentioned in the letter is one of his sisters. Her first husband's name was G.W. Berry and her 2nd husband was Clark Smith, father of the Sanford Smith who wishes to be remembered to Thomas' Mother. I do not know the Toby mentioned with her. Perhaps I interpreted the handwriting wrong. The Martha and Dan Haden mentioned in the letter is Thomas' sister and her husband. The Rachel that he wants to write soon is not one of his sisters.
Thomas J. Smith enlisted in the 29th Regiment at Grenada, MS in April 8, 1862. He was 20 years old at that time. He served as a Private, then a Corporal in Company B with Sanford Smith. Thomas Smith went to the hospital in Atlanta on August 23, 1863.
I have tried to translate the letter as close as possible to the actual writing. Anything that is missing or was unclear, I put into brackets. If you have an idea of the words I couldn't decipher, please let me know at Lela's address below. It takes awhile for the letters to download so read the translation while you wait.
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Camp Autry Near Shelbyvill April the 6th, 1863 Dear Mother, I set my self down to write you a few lines to let you [k]now that I am well at this time. Hoping these few lines will find you, Bud & Sis well & doing well. Well, Dear Mother, I haven't nothing new nor strang to write to you at [this] time. We are still at C[amp] Autry near S[helby]vill. & [I] can't apprehen[d] [w]hat time we'll leave he[re]. All the boys is well in Camp. We are having very fine wether now though we [ha]ve had some despert wether. |
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I want you to rite [write] to me as soon as this comes to hand shore [sure] for I hant [aint] got a letter from you in a mity long time. I want to see you all mity bad but the time seems long to me. I hope this war will soon be over. So that we all can come home & see our dear frends. I hope god will spair [spare] me till I g[et] home again. the [cav]alry is picketing [ ] the out post. Gene[ral]
Vandorn taken over the 31st inst 1200 prisoners, besides 30 comisioned
offirsers [commissioned officers], & 30 wagons & teams. He is
taken & [roughting] them daily. I don't think we [fit] her[e]. |
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It is reported that the yankys is faling back to Nashvill, thoug such rumors can't ever time be relied upon. This war is the awfulest time that ever I had to encounter [which in ] in all my life we see [terrible] times. up her[e] thoug we get tolerable plenty to eat her[e] such as meal, bacon & rice & molasses. Some times but very [ ] Mother, I want to [tell] Nancy & [Toby] that [if they] ever thought any thi[ng] of me now is the time to show it. as for Martha & Dan Haden I never have received one word from them & sence [since] I have been out in the service. |
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I want you to rite [write] ever opportunity you can obtain. For letters is all the satisfaction that we have out her[e]. Tell Rachel to rit [write] soon & often & give my best love & respect to all inquiring frends & Shear [share] a portion your self. Well Mother, I have exhausted my riten [ ] [&] I will close for th[is] time. So nothing [ ] at present only I [remain] your eff[ection]ate [son] until death. For the present fairwell, forget me not to rite [write]. T. J. Smith to Elizabeth Smith Stanford Smith wishes to be remembered to you. |
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