William D. Smith
Content of the Letter
William Smith was writing a letter to his brother, Bob. Smith was talking about how he gave Bob $20 and he doesn’t care what his brother does with it because he has plenty. He talks about how he will send the picture of the army home when the Captain gets it taken. William talks about how he needs to plow. He talks about how the corn where he was was about 4 to 5 inches high. He talks about other fruits that are growing and how they’ve had a beautiful Spring but it has been a bit rainy.
William gets to talking about how the shelters are full of mosquitos and buffalo gnats, which were getting better. They had to smoke them out because they were even killing the soldiers mules. Smith talks about seeing someone in Greenfield, Indiana. Smith talks about his dad and how he should not get his hopes about every little thing. Lastly, he talks about how his dad did not want to go fishing with someone named Molly. He says he would have gone fishing with his Pap and they would have caught a lot of fish. He said he would write soon and he wanted to give all of his love to the family.
William gets to talking about how the shelters are full of mosquitos and buffalo gnats, which were getting better. They had to smoke them out because they were even killing the soldiers mules. Smith talks about seeing someone in Greenfield, Indiana. Smith talks about his dad and how he should not get his hopes about every little thing. Lastly, he talks about how his dad did not want to go fishing with someone named Molly. He says he would have gone fishing with his Pap and they would have caught a lot of fish. He said he would write soon and he wanted to give all of his love to the family.
Content of the Second Letter
William D Smith was writing from Vicksburg, Louisiana. He was writing on May 15, 1863 to Indiana where his brother and the rest of his family were living at the time. William was a part of two regiments including the 53rd Regiment and the 21st regiment. Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived, though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded. The letter mainly revolves around what he has been doing in this war, where they have been moving to. He also says that they haven’t talked, frequently. Smith was talking life at home, but mainly just about the location of where he was. Smith was in Vicksburg three days before the Siege of Vicksburg. He would say where they were and how hard it was, but then he would also talk about how they hadn’t talked in awhile. Smith served 3 months in the 7th Indiana Infantry. It shows that life was hard for the soldiers and he was very distraught about not being with his brother, Bob. He didn’t seem afraid of dying, though. In his letter I thought of him being excited to go to new places. I think that he was more curious about what was to come. He was killed during the battle of Atlanta Georgia.
Family
William D. Smith was the ninth child, the youngest. We do not know the siblings of William Smith but we do know he has other siblings. His parents names were Hannah (Foster) and James Smith. William D. Smith stayed at home through his youth until his young manhood. Smith was born in Hendricks County, Indiana. To be specific he was born in Danville on December 15, 1839. Smith was never married and never had children to call his own. William D. Smith died on July 22, 1864.
William D. Smith's grave in Marietta National Military Cemetery located in Marietta, Georgia.
Military Career
Smith was originally in the 7th regiment of the Indiana Infantry. He was private in the 7th regiment, rank in and rank out. This infantry only lasted about 3 months. During the 7th Regiment they lost during service, 1 Enlisted man killed and 2 Enlisted men by disease. Most soldiers joined a new regiment, like our soldier. Smith then re-enlisted and became the Sergeant Co. A of the 53th Indiana Volunteer regiment. By the end of this regiment, he ranked out as the “First Lieutenant”. Smith was in three different battles, Mission Ridge, Kennesaw Mountain, and the Battle of Atlanta. The 7th regiment only last for 3 months and the 53rd Regiment lasted for three years, in which William D. Smith died in. During the 53rd Regiment they lost during service, 9 Officers and 98 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 4 Officers and 248 Enlisted men by disease and in total, 359. William D. Smith was killed in action at the Battle of Georgia on July 22, 1864. In the end, the Confederacy lost to the Union side.
In Kennesaw Mountain, there were 4000 estimated casualties (US 3000; CS 1000). It resulted in a Confederate victory. The date this battle started was June 27, 1864.
In Mission Ridge, following the Union victory in the Battle on November 24. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant assaulted Mission Ridge and defeated the Confederate Army of Tennessee.
The Battle of Atlanta was fought on July 22, 1864 in Georgia. Union forces wanted to neutralize the important rail and supply hub. They defeated Confederate forces defending the city. This is the battle that William D. Smith, our soldier, died in.
In Kennesaw Mountain, there were 4000 estimated casualties (US 3000; CS 1000). It resulted in a Confederate victory. The date this battle started was June 27, 1864.
In Mission Ridge, following the Union victory in the Battle on November 24. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant assaulted Mission Ridge and defeated the Confederate Army of Tennessee.
The Battle of Atlanta was fought on July 22, 1864 in Georgia. Union forces wanted to neutralize the important rail and supply hub. They defeated Confederate forces defending the city. This is the battle that William D. Smith, our soldier, died in.
Transcription of 1st Letter
Hd Qrs Co “A” 53rd Ind Vol
April 28, 1863
Brother Bob,
Yours of a late date is to hand, I had been looking with anxiety for some time for a letter or for you in person. I was rather looking for you . I reckon it was because I wanted to see you, I don’t see how Dr. Cox got the idea that you could not get down here. I know men are coming down every day and without passes. I don’t think you would have any trouble in getting down, and yours last letter you stated that you have received our record and also, $20, you wish to know what to do with the money you can use it as you see fit. I don’t care what you do with it. I have plenty to do me until next pay day. I think and then I will send it all home as for those photographs I will lend them before long Cap. has not gotten them taken yet. I would like to know what you had to pay on the record. (exchange) and also on the coat you spoke of not having done any plowing I think you must be a little backward with your work. The corn here is up four or five inches high. The peaches and apples are nearly half grown. We have had a beautiful Spring here, just enough rain to make all things right. The mosquitoes and buffalo gnats have been very bad but their day is about over. They were very bad for awhile, they would only bother us in the morning’s as we would soon smoke them out, they bothered our teams very much and in fact they killed some mules.
I received a letter from Betty today in which she stated that some of your neighbors had threatened fathers bee hives if Old Morgan would just come along she did not tell me who it was and I guess it was Nate or Merian if it was that is enough for them to say tell Father to try his rifle on the man no difference who it was: we shoot such men down here and I think such men ought to the dealt with you there.
The are getting Furloughs from here and if thy continue to give them I think I will get to come home often while and if I do I expect to come preparred and if any of them open their mouths thy may expect to suffer, he started there men from an Leo. Yesterday you can see one Sam Mearsh at Greenfield if you want to send anything out he will bring it for you. Tell Father he must not let little things excite him but must take everything cool and just go w/ shooting. I am shure he can shoot as well as any of them if he will only keep cool, but I know he is old and easy excited and can’t help it. I understood he was going to get a revolver, tell him he must not shoot the whole barrel on any of the rebels - as he shot the barrel of my revolver off. I sold my revolver if I had known he would I had it I would have sent mine home but I did not think he would have one mine was a good one but my musket was as much as I could keep in order and do execution with
You said Pap would not go fishing with Molly, I thought he liked fishing so well that he would have been glad to get the chance to go with as good a girl as mother, tell him it is good it was not me for I am shure I would have went and I am shure we would have caught all the fish in the creek.
Excuse all errors - write soon my love to all the family.
W D Smith
April 28, 1863
Brother Bob,
Yours of a late date is to hand, I had been looking with anxiety for some time for a letter or for you in person. I was rather looking for you . I reckon it was because I wanted to see you, I don’t see how Dr. Cox got the idea that you could not get down here. I know men are coming down every day and without passes. I don’t think you would have any trouble in getting down, and yours last letter you stated that you have received our record and also, $20, you wish to know what to do with the money you can use it as you see fit. I don’t care what you do with it. I have plenty to do me until next pay day. I think and then I will send it all home as for those photographs I will lend them before long Cap. has not gotten them taken yet. I would like to know what you had to pay on the record. (exchange) and also on the coat you spoke of not having done any plowing I think you must be a little backward with your work. The corn here is up four or five inches high. The peaches and apples are nearly half grown. We have had a beautiful Spring here, just enough rain to make all things right. The mosquitoes and buffalo gnats have been very bad but their day is about over. They were very bad for awhile, they would only bother us in the morning’s as we would soon smoke them out, they bothered our teams very much and in fact they killed some mules.
I received a letter from Betty today in which she stated that some of your neighbors had threatened fathers bee hives if Old Morgan would just come along she did not tell me who it was and I guess it was Nate or Merian if it was that is enough for them to say tell Father to try his rifle on the man no difference who it was: we shoot such men down here and I think such men ought to the dealt with you there.
The are getting Furloughs from here and if thy continue to give them I think I will get to come home often while and if I do I expect to come preparred and if any of them open their mouths thy may expect to suffer, he started there men from an Leo. Yesterday you can see one Sam Mearsh at Greenfield if you want to send anything out he will bring it for you. Tell Father he must not let little things excite him but must take everything cool and just go w/ shooting. I am shure he can shoot as well as any of them if he will only keep cool, but I know he is old and easy excited and can’t help it. I understood he was going to get a revolver, tell him he must not shoot the whole barrel on any of the rebels - as he shot the barrel of my revolver off. I sold my revolver if I had known he would I had it I would have sent mine home but I did not think he would have one mine was a good one but my musket was as much as I could keep in order and do execution with
You said Pap would not go fishing with Molly, I thought he liked fishing so well that he would have been glad to get the chance to go with as good a girl as mother, tell him it is good it was not me for I am shure I would have went and I am shure we would have caught all the fish in the creek.
Excuse all errors - write soon my love to all the family.
W D Smith
Transcript of the 2nd Letter
Camp below {Vicksburg} La ,
May 15th, 1863
Dear Brother,
Again I seat myself down to write you a few lines. I wrote you just as we were leaving Memphis. I did not state for certain that we were coming down here yet I was pretty confident that we was coming down - We left Memphis on the night of the 11th - everything went off very nice and smooth until the evening of the next day when we came up to several gun boats that were guarding a small town that was noted for {Gushillas} - and as boats had been fired (mile) along there are of those boats went down with us for several miles no [guard] us through - There were some rebels saw on the shore when the gun boat gave them a broadside which made them skedaddle in a hurry we went on unmolested until the morning of the 13th when we landed at Young's Point - about 4 miles along the city of Vicksburg - where we left nearly all our luggage and started across to another landing a distance of 12 miles - we are now within 2 miles of that landing and are nearly opposite a town on the opposite side of the R, called Warrington - I suppose the Rebels still occupy the town yet our forces burned the town a few days go and could hold it if they wanted to- we passed along in front of Vicksburg just on the levee and in sign of the town - tis very swampy and bad through here but all the army below here got their supplies through here except what run the blockade - We have sent back for our baggage and it is reported that we are going to fording some place on Black River I am well and stood the trip well I will write more next time as I have had only ten minutes to write this in the male is just about to leave write soon.
Your Brother W. D. Smith
Coding:
{ }: Close Guess
Original Scans of the Letter
Original Scans of the 2nd Letter
Sources
"Hendricks County, Indiana Genealogy - Main Page." Hendricks County, Indiana Genealogy - Main Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 May 2016. <http://www.hendcogen.org/ >
"History of the Smith Family." (n.d.): n. pag. Web. <chrome-extension://ecnphlgnajanjnkcmbpancdjoidceilk/http://www.hendcogen.org/famhistories/smith_james_hannah.pdf>
"Lieut William D Smith (1839 - 1864) - Find A Grave Memorial." Lieut William D Smith (1839 - 1864) - Find A Grave Memorial. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 May 2016. <http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=3956794 >
"Union Indiana Volunteers." National Park Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, n.d. Web. <http://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-battle-units-detail.htm?battleUnitCode=UIN0053RI>
"Soldier Details." National Park Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, n.d. Web. <http://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-soldiers-detail.htm?soldierId=260BF1D2-DC7A-DF11-BF3 >
"7th Regiment, Indiana Infantry." Genealogy. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 May 2016. <https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/7th_Regiment,_Indiana_Infantry >