East Texas Family Records, Volume 6, Number 1, Spring 1982 Page: 3
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John7 and George7 - don't even know whether they are dead or alive, much less where
they are. There might be an earthquake and sink half of you and I never be any the
wiser of it unless I should hear it from some other source than the homefolks. I
have written home not less than a dozen times since I left there and got one letter
in return. Others hear from their homes in Smith at least semi-occasionally but I
suppose that the post masters are opposed to sending letters to me from the Smith
family. I can't account for their silence in any other way. It will be very good
for me individually if the enemy should get possession of the Mississippi as I then
would not be disappointed as I should expect nothing.
I suppose that we shall remain here for sometime - probably during the winter if
the enemy does not succeed in driving us beyond the Tennessee River which is not at
all improbable. Gen. Smiths8 corps has its headquarters here (Manchester) and constitutes
the right wing of the "army of Tennessee." General Polk's corps at Murfreesboro
is the center and General Hardee's the left wing. We have been here for
three days without tents, baggage or cooking utensils. Sunday night we slept without
any protection all night long in the rain. Our bedding and everything we had
on was completely saturated with water. We have lived here at Headquarters on a
little broiled beef ever since we came here but as our baggage train is expected
here today we hope for better accomodations. We are in a poor country - the worst
that I have ever seen except in McNairy_9 Such things as butter, eggs or chickens
are not to be had at any price. Beef and bread are our staple articles of food.
I am very anxious to see home but I have no hope of getting a leave of absence
during the winter. General Smith has issued an order within the last few days prohibiting
all furloughs to go west of the Mississippi. This is very unjust to the
Texas and Arkansas troops, but that is nothing unusual as they put every kind of
indignity on the western troops in this army.
Do you know anything of your brother Doc?10 Ed and I both have made inquiries
in his regiment but we have been unable to gain any information concerning him.
Most of his company have deserted since the retreat from Corinth.
I see from your letter to Ed that Buck Yarborough and Frank Moore were at home
at the time of your writing. I would like to know what has been done with my old
company and regiment. We have no information concerning them of definite importance.
I made application for permission to return to the old company but did not succeed
in doing so, My application has been returned and I have a notion of trying it again.
I have not been so homesick in a long time as for two or three weeks past. I
would give anything to get to pass a week in Old Smith, and have time enough to pay
you all a short visit. I would then be satisfied to stay another twelve months in
the service.
I want you to tell Mother to send me Papa's hair and my hair watch chain. I
want to have another one made and the gold to put on it. Tell her also if she has
a letter written to me from Shreveport about the time I left home I want that forwarded.
They can be forwarded by Lieut. Saunders or Lieut. Felton, if they don't
return before this reaches you.
I have not seen Ed for two weeks. He is along with the battery which came by
land across the mountains. They expect them here every minute, as they were only
a few miles from here this morning.
You will find this, I know, a very dull and uninteresting letter. I am stupid
and half sick from exposure and loss of sleep during the last few days.
Give my love to your mother, brothers and sisters. Tell Benll I think he might
have afforded to have come and seen us while he was in Alabama. If you don't
answer this immediately I will never forgive you,
As ever - Your affectionate cousin -
William He Smith
AST TEXA tAMILY RELOROS -3- SPRING, VOL. 6, NO. I
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East Texas Genealogical Society. East Texas Family Records, Volume 6, Number 1, Spring 1982, periodical, Spring 1982; Tyler, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth38050/m1/5/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting East Texas Genealogical Society.