David Is your website open to the public so anyone can use your information or just this list? I have a friend who is researching For Mary Foster but I never give out anyone's information or site with out their permission so I am writing to you to get your permission to share this information with her as you have a lot more than I do. Sandy ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Thomson" <dave@volantis.org> To: <ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, June 29, 2003 8:27 PM Subject: RE: [ILMARION] Thiell Family > Hi Edna. > > You can download the letters directly from my website at > www.thomson-genealogy.com. You'll see the link at the top right of the > page. > > Dave > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: e.franklin [mailto:e.franklin@mchsi.com] > > Sent: Sunday, June 29, 2003 8:11 PM > > To: ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com > > Subject: Re: [ILMARION] Thiell Family > > > > > > Dave > > Where did you say you had all the letters? I accidentally deleted > > the email and then my delete folder > > Thanks > > Edna > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: David Thomson > > To: ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com > > Sent: Sunday, June 29, 2003 7:41 PM > > Subject: [ILMARION] Thiell Family > > > > > > Does anybody have information on the Thiell family in Marion > > County in the 1800s? William's son Scott married Edna Thiel and > > I would like to get a little history on Edna's family. > > > > Dave > > > > > > ==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== > > To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to > > ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in > > the digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com > > > > > > > > ==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== > > To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to > > ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in > > the digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com > > > ==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to > ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in the digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com > >

Thanks Dave! Edna ----- Original Message ----- From: David Thomson To: ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Sunday, June 29, 2003 8:27 PM Subject: RE: [ILMARION] Thiell Family Hi Edna. You can download the letters directly from my website at www.thomson-genealogy.com. You'll see the link at the top right of the page. Dave > -----Original Message----- > From: e.franklin [mailto:e.franklin@mchsi.com] > Sent: Sunday, June 29, 2003 8:11 PM > To: ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [ILMARION] Thiell Family > > > Dave > Where did you say you had all the letters? I accidentally deleted > the email and then my delete folder > Thanks > Edna > ----- Original Message ----- > From: David Thomson > To: ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com > Sent: Sunday, June 29, 2003 7:41 PM > Subject: [ILMARION] Thiell Family > > > Does anybody have information on the Thiell family in Marion > County in the 1800s? William's son Scott married Edna Thiel and > I would like to get a little history on Edna's family. > > Dave > > > ==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to > ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in > the digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com > > > > ==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to > ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in > the digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com ==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in the digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com

Hi Edna. You can download the letters directly from my website at www.thomson-genealogy.com. You'll see the link at the top right of the page. Dave > -----Original Message----- > From: e.franklin [mailto:e.franklin@mchsi.com] > Sent: Sunday, June 29, 2003 8:11 PM > To: ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [ILMARION] Thiell Family > > > Dave > Where did you say you had all the letters? I accidentally deleted > the email and then my delete folder > Thanks > Edna > ----- Original Message ----- > From: David Thomson > To: ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com > Sent: Sunday, June 29, 2003 7:41 PM > Subject: [ILMARION] Thiell Family > > > Does anybody have information on the Thiell family in Marion > County in the 1800s? William's son Scott married Edna Thiel and > I would like to get a little history on Edna's family. > > Dave > > > ==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to > ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in > the digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com > > > > ==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to > ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in > the digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com

Dave Where did you say you had all the letters? I accidentally deleted the email and then my delete folder Thanks Edna ----- Original Message ----- From: David Thomson To: ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Sunday, June 29, 2003 7:41 PM Subject: [ILMARION] Thiell Family Does anybody have information on the Thiell family in Marion County in the 1800s? William's son Scott married Edna Thiel and I would like to get a little history on Edna's family. Dave ==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in the digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com

Does anybody have information on the Thiell family in Marion County in the 1800s? William's son Scott married Edna Thiel and I would like to get a little history on Edna's family. Dave

You have to add the "c" on the second line, making it doc. Bob At 11:48 PM 6/28/2003 -0500, you wrote: >Instead of taking the time to post the last letters individually >to the list, I put together a Microsoft Word document that >includes all the letters of William A. Smith. The document has a >table of contents and a good index. > >http://home.earthlink.net/~volantis/files/WilliamASmithLetters.do >c > >I hope it is useful in its present form. > >Dave > > >==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== >To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to >ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in the >digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com

I can see the url is not wrapping correctly. Make sure you get the whole url in the address bar. If you still have trouble with this link you can access the file from my genealogy web site at www.thomson-genealogy.com. Just click on the link in the upper right corner of the page. Dave > -----Original Message----- > From: David Thomson [mailto:dave@volantis.org] > Sent: Saturday, June 28, 2003 11:49 PM > To: ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [ILMARION] Complete Letters of William A. Smith > > > Instead of taking the time to post the last letters individually > to the list, I put together a Microsoft Word document that > includes all the letters of William A. Smith. The document has a > table of contents and a good index. > > http://home.earthlink.net/~volantis/files/WilliamASmithLetters.do > c > > I hope it is useful in its present form. > > Dave > > > ==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to > ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in > the digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com

Instead of taking the time to post the last letters individually to the list, I put together a Microsoft Word document that includes all the letters of William A. Smith. The document has a table of contents and a good index. http://home.earthlink.net/~volantis/files/WilliamASmithLetters.do c I hope it is useful in its present form. Dave

Hi Sandy How is your husband doing.? OK I hope. I don't know about this Ann Alexander person she is a mystery to us all. If she didn't;t get a marker on her grave would you have to check the cemetery records on the year she died and find out who paid for the grave site ? I am at a loss for more information...., Thank you very much for helping. A lady by the name of Claudia Cols said she knew of this lady but I have been unable to get back to her . Do you know of her. She is the one that told me she is buried in Marion County. Shirley ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sandy Bollhorst" <sandy@usafast.us> To: <ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2003 8:39 PM Subject: Re: [ILMARION] Marion Co. Cemetery books > Shirley > I have been working on her for some time now and won't give up. I checked > at the county clerk's office and they have no record of her and so far > haven't ran across her in any of my cemeteries. but still have a lot that I > ahven't gotten off the recorder and onto paper. My hubby is having laser > surgery in the morning and then he is having a cornea transplant next > Wednesday on the same eye so the 2 days we are in St. Louis I plan on > transcribing as many as I can. Also I will make a run out to the Odin > cemetery tomorrow afternoon after his cardiac rehab and see if I can find > out anything. Don't give up, we will find her come H_ _ l or high water. > I have been looking for her for so long for you I feel like she is one of > mine and never fail to look for her when I am researching. If she doesn't > have a stone though it may be a bit more dificult but will see if I can find > out who has the records for there and ask them. > Sandy > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Shirley Brewer" <shirbrew@camasnet.com> > To: <ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2003 9:52 PM > Subject: Re: [ILMARION] Marion Co. Cemetery books > > > > Hi Sandy: > > I have looked for one of my relatives for 15 years and still unable to > find > > a grave I know that she died and is buried in and around Odin . Salem > Marion > > County . I have narrowed her death down to 1900-1910. Her name was Nancy > Ann > > Alexander and she was born 1822 . She was living with her daughter Nancy > > Ferguson in 1900 census. I have checked all the records but she died > before > > they required to record them. I was wondering could you check the > > cemeteries that you have . I think that she did not have a stone on her > > grave. . If only I could get where she is buried Maybe I could find a > family > > member that purchased the grave... I really hope that some one could help > > me... This lady is my only connection to the BREWERs family line. I don't > > know what happened to her first husband ? BREWER...... > > thank you very much for any help > > Shirley Brewer > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Sandy Bollhorst" <sandy@usafast.us> > > To: <ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com> > > Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2003 7:48 PM > > Subject: Re: [ILMARION] Marion Co. Cemetery books > > > > > > > Dot > > > I too have cemetery books 2 & 3 and would be happy to add my name to > your > > to > > > do look ups but have no idea how to get to the site to add myself. If > you > > > would loke help please tell me how to get there LOL. I also live in > > Marion > > > County and have walked and recorded most of the cemeteries there andI am > > in > > > the process of getting them off the recorder and onto paper then Ican do > > > research from them also > > > Sandy > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: "gengar" <gengar@centurytel.net> > > > To: <ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com> > > > Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2003 3:22 PM > > > Subject: Re: [ILMARION] Marion Co. Cemetery books > > > > > > > > > > I thought a few words about cemetery books for Marion Co. might be of > > > help. > > > > > > > > The Marion County Genealogical & Historical Society has published four > > > > cemetery books. None of them include Centralia. The cost of each > book > > is > > > > $35 plus shipping. Most of them are 300 pages or more and one is > > probably > > > > over 500 pages. > > > > > > > > Each book includes a few townships. > > > > > > > > Book # 1 > > > > Patoka > > > > Foster > > > > Carrigan > > > > Tonti > > > > > > > > Book # 2 > > > > Alma > > > > Kinmundy > > > > Meacham > > > > Omega > > > > Those two books above cover the upper half of Marion Co. > > > > > > > > Book # 3 > > > > Haines > > > > Iuka > > > > Romaine > > > > Stevenson > > > > This book covers the southeastern corner of Marion Co. > > > > > > > > Book # 4 > > > > Odin > > > > Raccoon > > > > Sandoval > > > > EXCLUDING Hillcrest Cemetery > > > > > > > > That leaves the two most populus townships-----Salem and Centralia > > > > unpublished. > > > > > > > > I understand that it takes a LOT of work to inventory cemeteries, type > > the > > > > data, cross reference for notes, proofread and then have books > printed. > > > The > > > > index of each book has a full name index----every person, alphabetical > > > > order, not just a surname. All of this is done by volunteers. Many > > > members > > > > of the genealogical society, live out of state so that leaves a few > > people > > > > who do a lot. > > > > > > > > I can say that as a volunteer to do lookups, it very rewarding to > help > > > > people find some long lost relative or conquer a "brick wall". But > when > > > > someone asks for ALL of a surname, and it is a common surname---at > least > > > in > > > > Marion Co., it can be a bit overwhelming. It is helpful if requests > are > > > > made for specific people. That way more people can be helped without > > > > spending hours for one lookup and maybe the names sent include only a > > few > > > > that they really know anything about at all. > > > > > > > > Thanks for letting me have my say. > > > > > > > > Dot > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== > > > > To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to > > > > ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in the > > > digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== > > > To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to > > > ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in the > > digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com > > > > > > ==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== > > To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to > > ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in the > digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com > > > > > > > ==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to > ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in the digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com

I never got a card in any of my issues, tho, and haven't gotten an issue in a very long time, so I kind of figured I'd gotten all I was going to get. :+) Hi, Michelle! Will email you soon, if I don't hear from you. Jenny >From: thomclark@juno.com >Reply-To: ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com >To: ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: [ILMARION] Re: Footprints and memberships >Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2003 09:00:55 -0500 > >More on memberships. >I just sent in my renewal. The society doesn't mail renewals. In one >issue of Footprints a year every member receives a colored card that you >send in with your yearly dues. Sometimes the issues do fall behind, but >I've always received every one of my copies. I do a Single Membership >and it is $15.00 per year. Well worth it. >Hey, Jenny, everything ok? We had another baby! More on that to you >another time privately. >Michelle Clark > > >On Tue, 24 Jun 2003 23:45:53 -0400 "Jenny Rice" <er_fan252@hotmail.com> >writes: > > My membership ran out over a year ago, and I never received a > > renewal, > > either. I THINK I got all the Footprints I was entitled to, but, I > > don't > > really know. > > > > JoAnn, someone has probably answered this by now as I'm SO LATE in > > reading > > my messages here, but, here is an address for them in case you don't > > have > > it, and you can write them about a renewal.... > > > > Marion County Genealogical and Historical Society > > Box 342 > > Salem, IL 62881 > > > > Jenny > > > > > > >From: "Jo Ann Gile" <jagile@casstel.net> > > >Reply-To: ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com > > >To: ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com > > >Subject: [ILMARION] Re: Footprints > > >Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2003 11:29:46 -0500 > > > > > >I have not received a copy of "Footprints" for sometime I just now > > realized > > >this fact. > > > > > >What has happened to the group who writes this wonderful genealogy > > report? > > > > > >I don't ever remember receiving a bill. > > > > > > > > >Jo Ann Fairbanks Gile > > >jagile@casstel.net > > >Genealogy Web-Site www.casstel.net/~jagile/ > > >God Bless America and Israel > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== > > >To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send > > to > > >ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in > > the > > >digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com > > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN 8. > > http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail > > > > > > ==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== > > To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send > > to > > ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in > > the digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com > > > > > > > > >==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== >To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to >ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in the >digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com > _________________________________________________________________ The new MSN 8: smart spam protection and 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail

I wish our genealogy department would do something like the 'lock-in' your library did! That sounds like a lot of fun!!!!!! Don't think anyone would be interested in doing that here, tho. Jenny >From: "Nancy Scott" <teddysrn@msn.com> >Reply-To: ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com >To: ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: Re: [ILMARION] Allison near Salem, Marion County 1865 >Date: Sun, 8 Jun 2003 00:16:48 -0500 > >Betty, >I don't know if the Dallas Library has it, but doubt it since I had to buy >it from the MCH&GS. Do you live in or near Dallas, too? Maybe we could >get >together and you could look through mine, see if you recognize any names. >There is a lot of Illinois genealogy info at the library, however. >Brinkerhoff's book is there, I know. We are having a library "lock-in" on >Sat night July 26th from 6P to 2AM. on the genealogy floor. We do it 2Xyr >and is great fun, fellowship and is amazing what you can accomplish. There >are always 2 librarians there to help and the society has a picnic dinner >for us. You can leave before 2 if you poop out! Am mailing my check >Monday. >Nancy > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "betty or gil allison" <bgall@chipshot.net> >To: <ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com> >Sent: Saturday, June 07, 2003 8:34 PM >Subject: Re: [ILMARION] Allison near Salem, Marion County 1865 > > > > Nancy, thanks for your reply. My problem is that I don't know if family > > was in Marion County. The ones I know the names of I can track in TN > > and GA and then to TX. If there is family in Marion it is people I > > don't know about and therefore don't know their names. The ones in > > Marion, if any, are going to be folks I don't know about. My research > > hunch is that my John Allison went there because their was family there > > and if that is true, I don't know who they are. This is part of a brick > > wall search. > > > > Is the book you have in the Dallas library by chance? > > > > Gil > > > > > > ==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== > > To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to > > ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in the >digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com > > > > > > >==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== >To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to >ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in the >digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com > _________________________________________________________________ The new MSN 8: smart spam protection and 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail

*** This is a continuing presentation of Civil War letters written by William A. Smith. The letters are made available through Marion Brimberry. I have attempted to type the letters as true to the grammar and spelling as presented to me. David Thomson *** Corinth Mississippi Saturday morning, Oct 18th, 1862 I wrote a note in Nancy’s letter telling you that I would write to you that night, but I had to write away at the books till late, so that I could not write to you. I will try to write to you tomorrow in answer to yours of the 9th. Our Company moved yesterday to Rienzi. My mare had got loose and I stayed here to look for her. I can’t find her. I will start to the Company as soon as the mail gets in (at 10 o’clock) so that I can take it down. It may bring me another letter from you, I hope it will. I received this letter from Mrs. Ballard yesterday morning and have answered it. You will perhaps get my letter that I will wrote tomorrow before you get this note, as it will be Saturday before hers gets to the office and if nothing happens, you will get mine Thursday or Friday evening. My health is good. Weight 154 pounds. How much do you weigh. William A. Smith

*** This is a continuing presentation of Civil War letters written by William A. Smith. The letters are made available through Marion Brimberry. I have attempted to type the letters as true to the grammar and spelling as presented to me. David Thomson *** Burnsville, Mississippi Wednesday night, Sept. 17th, 1862 My Dear Wife:- You will have to excuse me for my seeming neglect, for it has been impossible for me to address you since the 5th inst. I commenced to write to you about the 12th and wrote considerable intended to finish it and send it to you the next morning, but we was called to march and now my letter is in my box with the books, but I don’t know when I shall see it and it will be longer before you see it. We are really into war now. We have been fighting, retreating, advancing and fighting for several days. Last Saturday we was attacked at Iuka and repulsed the enemy. John Bell was slightly wounded in the shoulder, William Arnold touched in the foot, Sergt. Bucannon mortally wounded and died yesterday. Yesterday we fought the enemy about six miles, till dark, then again fell back here after night. I expect we will have a battle tomorrow or the next day between here and Iuka, how it will end, God only knows. If I have the privilege of getting through it, I will then give you some of the details of our march and countermarch for the last few days and nights. As John Bell is with the wagons I hope he has had a letter wrote home before now. We lost but few men yesterday, none in our Company. We went to a house today and found a dead rebel killed yesterday. We are being heavily reinforced here from Corinth, Jackson and Bolivar. I think we will have rather a warm time of it and possibly this is my last letter to you. I hope not however. Those men that were discharged were W.M.Sergt. Frederick Triebel, G.W. Haley and Thomas C. Hadley. I expect Triebel has visited you before now, if not you may expect him soon, as he told me he would see you, and he wrote a line telling me he left the carpet sack and that he would go and see you soon. I have received quite a lot of letters lately which I have not answered, but will as soon as I get time to sit down a moment. In the meantime I hope they will all continue to write to me. The note from mother I was glad to receive. If I am permitted to get through this matter now pending, I will write to her. I now bid you Good night. William A. Smith

*** This is a continuing presentation of Civil War letters written by William A. Smith. The letters are made available through Marion Brimberry. I have attempted to type the letters as true to the grammar and spelling as presented to me. David Thomson *** Camp on Buzzards Creek, Alabama Friday evening, Sept 12th, 1862 My Dear Wife:- I again have the privilege of addressing you. I wrote to you from Town Creek dated 5th, just one month from the time I was there and sent you a paper. We stayed at Town Creek till Sunday morning when we started on the march for Tuscumbia. I bought me a mare seven years old, with a saddle and sabre on her. The 8th Wisconsin had captured her from the rebel cavalry. I got her for eight dollars and sold the saddle for five. Now I have the mare and sabre for three dollars. I think she will suit me very well. I still ride the mule that I took from Mr. Lile. I will ride him till we get to Iuka, when I will have to turn it over to the Quartermaster. When we got to Tuscumbia, I received yours of the 27th ultimo. I was glad to hear from you. We camped about one mile south of Tuscumbia and remained till Monday morning when we got up rather unceremoniously and marched up through town and remained saddled all day. Late in the evening the train of cars came and then our teams and the infantry was set in motion for Iuka. Our Regiment was formed in lines across the principle streets at the outskirts of the town, where we remained while the cars was being loaded with commissary stores and cotton, and about midnight the cars left and we formed in column and rode out of Tuscumbia, one of the best towns of northern Alabama. While the cars was being loaded, some one set fire to a carriage shed and the officers set the men to keep the fire from spreading. There was no other building caught from it. We marched till about 4 o’clock in the morning, when we came to Cane creek and turned in for the night! Tuesday morning we marched to Dixon, ten miles, and stayed till Wednesday morning, when we was ordered back to Cherokee Station. We stayed her till Thursday morning, when four of our companies went on a scout back to Cane Creek by a circuitous route. We got back to camp about two o’clock and found marching orders. At sundown we was out on the road and on the move. We moved a few miles and camped for the night. This morning we again took up the line of march and came about two miles and was ordered to stop here; there is three companies of us here. Companies “L”, “T”, and “M”. I cannot tell you anything about how long we will stay here. We may possibly stay several days, then again we may march in the morning. I can give you no satisfaction in regard to our movements. I know that we will go to Iuka in a very few days and perhaps to Corinth. IT is plain to you that we have gained nothing in this part of the field, since the evacuation of Corinth and even Corinth was not worth the cost of taking. It was an empty haul, unless we could keep possession of the Memphis and Charleston railroad. It is now raining here. I saw Eli W. Jones and John Gaut at Tuscumbia. They are both well. Their Regiment has gone towards Corinth. There is a lot of Alabamians joined the 26th Illinois. William Arnold found one that he was raised with. He says that one of the Gauts brothers is in the southern army, but that none of William Arnolds are. You sent me plenty of paper and envelopes, but I need more envelopes than paper for now I draw paper, but not stamps. I draw paper and plain envelopes from headquarters. I will need some stamps after awhile, then you can send them in a letter. Corinth Mississippi September 22nd, 1862 Sure enough at dark the evening of the 12th, we was ordered to march and about 9 o’clock we started and marched to Iuka, where we turned in about 1 o ’clock in the morning. Saturday morning about 9 o’clock, the enemy made an attack on the place and our Regiment was called out. I had gone to water, so that I did not get out with the Company and helped load up the waggons. Our Cavalry attacked the enemy and was repulsed with a loss of eight men and two Lieutenants of Company “H” taken prisoner and Captain Janeson of Company “M” wounded in the head and Sergt. Bucannon mortally and John B. Chandler slightly wounded. During the night our teams and the 8th Wisconsin Regiment moved out towards Corinth, leaving us as a rear guard. Sunday morning the enemy commenced firing upon us about sunrise. We kept them back and retreated to the west side of the town, where we formed in line and awaited to give them one farewell round, but they did not come, so we moved off, but they soon commenced firing upon our rear, which they continued to do for about six miles, our rear guard firing at them now and then. At about five o’clock in the evening we got to Corinth and Monday morning we again started for Iuka. At Burnsville we found the rebels and chased them out and camped there till Tuesday morning. Here the rebels fired on our pickets occasionally. Tuesday morning we moved forwards towards Iuka and just outside of the pickets, the enemy fired upon us. We returned the fire and followed up the rebels with almost continual firing till within about two miles of Iuka, when they began to get too strong for us to proceed without coming to a general engagement. We was then formed in some low ground and the artillery was placed in position in our rear, and threw shells over our heads and among the timber where the enemy was. They soon fled and we was ordered to charge. We charged forward some distance and halted in line. Soon we moved forward to within three fourths of a mile of Iuka, when skirmishing commenced. Our lines got to a favorable position and stood for some time, firing some little, till the enemy began to advance in force, when we again fell back to the artillery, when they again shelled then back and we again charged after them. Then dark came on and we fell back to Burnsville about eleven o’clock at night. During the night it rained considerable. Wednesday it rained all day and our Company went out on a scout to where the rebels had burned a train of cars the day before. Thursday morning we went on a scout for some saw mills, but saw no rebels. Troops are pouring into Burnsville by the thousand. In the evening we started to Iuka about five o’clock. Soon found the enemy pickets, skirmished with them till after dark. We then formed in line of battle and had some firing through the night. Friday morning Captain McDonald was sent with a flag of truce to the enemy, demanding surrender. They refused. In the evening we moved forward about one mile and camped for the night. Late in the evening the right wing of our army under Rosencrans engaged the enemy under price and Little, on the Bay Spring road, about two and half miles from Iuka. The fight was a most desperate one and darkness only put a stop to the carnage. The dead are nearly equal on both sides as far as I can learn, but the wounded of the enemy greatly exceeds our wounded, owing to the situation of the ground, our men being on rather high ground, while the enemy was in low ground among thick woods. I went to the battle field while the lead was yet on the field and the sight was most sickening. During the night Price withdrew his forces, leaving his dead and wounded on the field. Rosencrans immediately followed and is now dogging after Price, capturing large numbers of his men. Among the killed of the enemy is General Little, one of the best Generals. In the evening we returned to Burnsville. There our Regiment was divided and now two companies are at Iuka, two at Burnsville and the rest at Jacinto, 9 miles west of Burnsville. Today I ran down here on the cars to get to write to you and get a clean shirt and see John Bell. He is doing very well. He will be able for duty in a little while, but will carry a piece of lead as long as he lives. We think we will have another fight with the rebels in this vicinity. They would like to again have possession of Corinth. I have wrote you two little letters lately and yesterday I wrote to mother and sent you a note. Allen Clow is doing well. Hoping to hear from you soon, I bid you Good bye, William A. Smith To Mrs. Mary Smith

*** This is a continuing presentation of Civil War letters written by William A. Smith. The letters are made available through Marion Brimberry. I have attempted to type the letters as true to the grammar and spelling as presented to me. David Thomson *** Town Creek, Alabama Friday evening, Sept 5th, 1862 My Dear Wife:- I did intend to write to you day before yesterday, but it was our day to patrol the road and then I expected to write to you in the evening, but we got marching orders, so I did not have time on account of getting ready for the march. I had wrote to you about last Friday, but I wanted to write to you again Wednesday, because it was the first day of my second year in the service of the United States. I hope that before the end of this, my second year peace may be made and I be allowed to return home, yet the cloud hangs heavy and dark over us, and there is no telling when there will be an end to this matter. In our neighborhood, things look rather gloomy. We have been guarding the Memphis and Charleston railroad, but it appears that it costs more than it come to, for we were ordered to burn the ferry boat and turn the back end of our wagons towards Decatur. We took up the line of march about seven o’ clock yesterday morning and moved about twenty miles to Courtland and stopped about two o’clock and went into camp for the night. In the evening the cars came to Courtland after the sick. They brought us a mail, but nothing for me. Allen Clow came on one of the wagons to there and then got on the cars. His wound is getting along very well. Sergeant Guy is about well and so is Lieut. Breeze. This morning we started at sunrise and got here (8 miles) about ten o’clock. The troops that are here had no orders to move, so we are now waiting to hear from Tuscumbia before we proceed on there. There is only two companies stationed here, besides half of Company “M” of our Regiment and Major Koehler thinks it unsafe to leave the two companies of infantry here without any cavalry. So he ordered us to stop here until further orders. He has gone on to Tuscumbia and I think we will go on there in the morning. I cannot tell where our Regiment is to go to. We will report to Col. Miener at Tuscumbia, then there is no telling which way he will send us. It is rather thought that we will go towards Russellville, Alabama. Others think we will be set into Tennessee or Mississippi. I had rather gone east from Decatur, but if I have to stay three years in the service, I may have the chance of going as far east as I want. I think I would like to go into Carolina and Virginia, but there is to be some heavy battles fought there yet. Bull Run and Masassas is to be fought over or remain in the hands of the enemy. I have not received the Salem Advocate for some time. I wish you would get pap to ask Ed Merritt if he still sends it. I would be glad to get it every week. We get the daily papers almost every day now. If I get a letter from you tomorrow, I will try to answer it in a day or two. I send you some seeds of the Muscadine. They are a kind of grape that grows all over the bottoms. They are about the size of our common plums, but grow only one in a place. You can plant part of the seeds now and save a few and plant them next winter. Plant them rather shallow and stick bushes along them to keep the sun from killing them. I do not know whether the seeds will grow or not, but I know you will be willing to try them. I find a great many things here that does not grow in Illinois, among them figs and pomegranates. The figs are now ripe. The pomegranates have ripe fruit and bloom on the tree at the same time. The seeds are now getting ripe and you may expect some in my letters every now and then. You will be careful in opening them and not spill them. My health is very good. Your husband, William A. Smith

*** This is a continuing presentation of Civil War letters written by William A. Smith. The letters are made available through Marion Brimberry. I have attempted to type the letters as true to the grammar and spelling as presented to me. David Thomson *** Decatur, Alabama Friday evening, August 29th, 1862 My Dear Wife:- The patrols brought me a letter dated Aug. 17th. I was expecting it in yesterdays mail, but was disappointed. Our muster rolls came yesterday, so I could not go on patrol today, but have been busy at work on them all day. I will have to work on them tomorrow for we will be mustered for pay on Sunday morning. I hardly have time to write any at all, but Sergeant Major Noller came to order a detail to kill beef and had an armful of paper and envelopes for headquarters, so he have me this sheet of fine paper and said for me to wrote you a big letter, but I hardly know how to begin, for I have lately wrote you some large letters. You have seen before this time that Baton Rouge was not taken by the rebels, but that they was driven back by our forces, yet the cloud hangs heavily over us. Fort Donaldson is abandoned. Frankfort surrendered, Nashville threatened and Pope actually retreating before Richmond. You remark that the darkest hour is just before day. If that is the case in respect to the present war, the break of day is certainly close at hand. In this part of the country the cloud certainly hangs with more than Egyptian darkness. It seems that the whole country will have to be laid waste before the rebels will stop destroying the railroads and cutting the telegraph lines. There is almost every day some skirmishing going on in this neighborhood, and they generally terminate against us. I hope however that the scale will soon turn and give us a chance to vindicate the right. There is a report here that a fight is going on near Chattanooga, Tennessee. Again Buell has whipped Beauregard and taken a lot of prisoners. I hardly know how the matter stands but before you receive this you will know the truth of the whole matter. One thing I do know, that our forces in this vicinity that can be spared, are on the double quick for Nashville, Tennessee. Two of our men was yesterday sent to Huntsville with despatches for General Buell. They returned today and say that nearly all the troops are gone from there towards Battle Creek, where the Chattanooga battle is said to have been fought. Liuet. Lee and me went with them across the river about seven miles to Brownsville station, where we found a few men of the10th Ohio Regiment guarding a bridge and water tank. They are inside of a good stockade or block house. There is nothing short of artillery or starvation that can get them out of there. The country over there is something like the valley on this side of the river, except not so rocky. There is not much corn growing over there as there is here on this side of the river. There is not much cotton growing there either, but thousands of acres of weeds. The whole country has a desolate deserted appearance. It seems to be a vast farm belonging to a poor widow. What cotton is cultivated this season looks tolerably well. It is about as high as your waist and beginning to open nicely. There is no wheat raised in this country that is worth anything. There is some good cattle and if you could see the number of cow skins on the fences, you would think that soldiers love beef, then the sheep fare no better. You ask me my opinion in regard to the supplies of the South and the prospect of their being starved out? Now I can hardly form any idea of the matter. In Mississippi where we was, there is not corn enough raised for the use of the citizens, but here in northern Alabama there is a great deal of corn raised, but it is not a very wide scope of country to the hilly country, then there is not much corn raised there. My own opinion is that there is even now a great scarcity of provision in the south and before another season there must be a great deal of suffering for breadstuff. I can form no better idea than you about the number of men that the Confederacy can yet raise. In the rich parts of the country, there is very few white people lives in times of peace. They are nearly all avowed secessionists and have ran off south to keep from being arrested. Then in the mountains the poorer class lives and they are nearly all in the army to avoid the Conscript Act. I rather think that the rebels have pushed the matter harder along the border than they have in the interior, on account of the number that come out and join our army, of which I have already told you. The bugle sounds, so good night. Saturday morning, August 30th, 1862 You ask me to tell you “how slavery looks with the naked eye.” Now it would take more time than I can spare today, to tell you how it looks. A soldier has a very poor chance to learn much of the good or evil of any such a thing, only so far as such things fall under his immediate observation. You remember that I once wrote to a friend in a slave state, to know his views upon the practical working of slavery. You well remember his answer. I will not give you such an answer. I have no fear of committing my thoughts to paper. Now the question, “how does slavery look to the naked eye”? The shortest answer that I can give and express myself upon the subject is that it looks many times worse than I ever imagined! It is true that I have never saw the lash across the backs of old men and grey headed women, but I have seen men plow, hoe, chop and maul rails, with not enough clothing on them to hide their bodies. I have saw pregnant women (as I have commenced I will tell part of it at least) at the hardest work, with only an excuse for a skirt and short petticoat on, both ragged and torn in all possible ways, when it would seem that they was on the very eve of confinement. I have seen dozens of men and women and children at the different kinds of work under a white man that was almost as ignorant as the slaves he drove. I have seen one woman that has tended eighteen acres of corn and suckled an infant that was born after she commenced to break the ground. I have seen a young wife, modest and nice, walking along the street, a slave woman walking close behind her carrying the first born of her modest mistress. Look at their figures, it is very nearly the same, see their backs, O says one, they are both alike. Look at their gait, it is nearly the same, examine their features, look close, they certainly resemble. Ask the young mistress where she got her slave, she tells you that she was a wedding gift from her father. The secret is out, they are half sisters. Look at them again, they favor in every feature and action. The only difference is in the color. Great God! Who is responsible for this sin. Is it the Abolitionists of Illinois, or is it the Amalgamtionists in Mississippi or Alabama? Such cases are not rare. I have saw it in Mississippi, Tennessee, Missouri, and Alabama (and you have seen a specimen of it from Virginia, you know what case I refer to). Such is slavery as seen by me with the naked eye, and yet even the slave owners themselves tell us that the slaves along our lines are allowed to do as they please, since our army came here, and that they are treated much worse farther south. I had intended not to write anything about slavery in any of my letters and would not have do so now, if you had not asked me do it. Should I ever be permitted to return home, I can show you some facts that I have collected in regard to slavery, which I have not time to write to you now. Your question “what do you think of the citizens, etc”. I do talk with the citizens every chance that I have. There is some very intelligent men and women in the southern states. One man that I talk with here is a noted politician of the Alabama Legislature. He is a states Rights man and can quote Richardson (of Illinois), Vallandigham and Olds of Ohio, as well as uncle Ross can the Bible. By the way, you will see that Olds is arrested and is in military limbo. This man here draws more consolation from Richardson and company of the North than he does from all the sayings of the leaders of the Southern Confederacy. He says the whole people, both north and south, are to blame for the present rebellion. He denies however that it is a rebellion. He says it is Nullification by the north and blames the President Buchannan for not enforcing the Fugitive Slave Law. He says that this war will end in a Military Despotism. He says Douglas turned Abolitionist before he died. He says that Richardson said in a speech that the Democracy of the north would not help subjugate the south, not fight for an Abolitionist President. That Richardson said that the war was commenced by the President to free the slaves in the southern states. I see no change in the morals of the men since we have been in the service, except one of two that went from Marion County, have begun playing cards to be like other men. The last time I heard preaching was when I went to Headquarters about the first of the month. Our Chaplain stays there. I am glad that hose apples prove to be a good variety, they are the early Strawberry instead of the early Harvest. If John has time when he is at home, he had better bring all the tools home and you can put them in the tool chest and other places and try to take care of them. If I live till two years from next Wednesday, I expect to come home, then I will try to tend to them myself. I think you had better get George to take down the door and you go with him to Mr. Goldsboro shop and get him to fix it good. He can make it as strong as ever, if it is the front tile (or upright side piece) that is off. Tell Mr. Goldsboro to fix it good and charge it to me. You have ere this received my letter containing the account of the skirmish that we was in. Allen Clow’s wound is doing tolerable well as is Sergeant Guy’s and Lieut. Breezes. John M. Hamiltons mare was not killed as we thought, but wounded in three places. She came in last Thursday with the whole rigging on her, even to the sabre. Tell me about the Circuit Court, for the Salem Advocate does not come now. They certainly don’t send it now. Robert F. Young is not enjoying very good health, in fact we was sick in the hospital at Jacinto, but got better and was tolerably well till the time of our fight. His horse got away and he had to lay down in a field of weeds to hide from the rebels. He was wet with sweat and there came up a heavy shower of rain while he was lying there and he has been nearly sick ever since. The rebels rode close to him while he was there. There is now eleven of our boys gone, among them is old Mr. Goodbrake that I told you was coming home to recruit for our Company. I expect you will need another bedstead this winter. If you do, you can get pap to buy one for you at Salem. He can get you a very good bedstead for about seven dollars and if you need the bedstead, tell him about it an he will buy it the first time he goes to town to mill. If Henry Fraka is not gone to the war, I hope you will get him to finish the smoke house. If there is school this fall, I want the children to go every day that their health and weather permit. Hoping that you and the children are well, I close. William A. Smith. P.S. Charlie says for you to burn this without reading it.

*** This is a continuing presentation of Civil War letters written by William A. Smith. The letters are made available through Marion Brimberry. I have attempted to type the letters as true to the grammar and spelling as presented to me. David Thomson *** Decatur, Alabama Monday morning, August 25th, 1862 My Dear Wife:- I am again permitted to address you. You will no doubt hear of a fight that we was engaged in before this reaches you, as I think John Bell and Albert have both wrote home since. I will however, try to give you some of the particulars. On last Friday morning our Company was ordered to go towards the mountains to look for forage. We went down the Moulten road five miles, then turned towards Trinity. When we was about one mile and half from Trinity, we found that we was almost completely surrounded by guerrillas, but they did not know we was near them. They had been to the railroad and town up the track and fell back to wait for the train. They then divided and three companies of them went towards Decatur and six companies fell back to the mountains. It was where they divided that we first found that they was in that neighborhood. We was then so close to them that we could hear the six companies talking. We fell back about two hundred yards and got into the road they was in and moved up cautiously till we came to the hills. We then formed in the woods and Lieutenant Lee went of the hill to look around. At the nearest house he discovered three horses hitched. Him and Sergeant Vaughn went to the house and captured two men and the three horses and saw the pickets of the six companies. We then hurried off to Trinity where one Company of the 51st infantry was quartered. There we learned that the train was off of the track about half mile from there in a curve. We went there and found that the rebels had torn up the inside rail in short curve in a deep cut and the locomotive, tender and one car was off of the track. Two cars still on the track loaded with Suttlers goods and a few army supplies. Lieut. Breeze and John Wall was on the train. They had been to Courtland. The prisoners was the surgeons of the rebel army. They told us about the number of the rebels and that they intended to attack the train. We sent to Fox creek for reinforcements, hoping that they would get there in time to assist us, but it was not long before we saw the clouds of dust begin to rise above the tree tops, they was then about a mile off. Then pretty soon we could begin to see the dust from those three companies that had gone towards Decatur. There is a large field between where we was and the mountains. Those that came from the hills came down on the west side of this field. On a high piece of ground in the field is a house and a man was in one of the upper windows with a turkey wing, giving the rebels signals which way to go. We dismounted behind the bank thrown out of the cut, and prepared to give them the best we had. It was not long till those on the west came up and opened fire upon us at about sixty yards from the edge of the woods. We kept up our fire till those on the left had crossed the railroad to surround us. Up to this time none of us was hurt, but Lieut. Breeze was slightly wounded in the left hand. We then fell back across the field. In crossing the field, Sergeant Guy was wounded in the head and Allen Clow was wounded in the right leg. As soon as I got into the timber I turned square to the left and went to Trinity. My horse was shot through the girth just through the edge of the left saddle skirt. I managed to get him to Trinity, but he soon died. Four Companies of the 27th Illinois soon came up and started in pursuit of the rebels. They came up with them and fired upon them and dispersed them. The enemy burned the cars and took eleven of our men prisoners, killed four of our horses, wounded another one and took seven more of our horses. We killed six and wounded two and took two prisoners in the last fight. Amoar Moon had a ball into his leg, but his boot stopped the ball. Part of Company “M” was on patrol and was passing near at the time of the fight and started to our assistance, but they was met by the enemy flankers and had one man mortally wounded. John M. Hamiltons mare was shot. William Knight and John Knights horses was taken by the enemy. Lieut. Breeze had bought his uniform at Courtland for $45.00 and the enemy got that. They also got eight hundred dollars in silver belonging to one of the Suttlers. The paymaster was on the cars but had got off back at Fox creek, two miles from Trinity. About the time I got to Trinity there was some Negroes came along and I sent one of them into his masters farm to get me a mare that I knew ran in the pasture, but the horses had all gone out at a gap at the back side, so I took the mule that he had caught to ride after the mare, and now I ride a mule. I was very sorry to lose my horse, he was such a good conditioned horse and suited me well. He was in excellent order. I never expect to get another that will suit me as well as he did. I was in hopes that I could keep him through the service and bring him home, but you will not see him again. I will try to get another one as soon as I can. While we was on patrol yesterday, Company “E” was ordered to move and are now gone back to Courtland. The whole of the 51st, Illinois and two pieces of artillery is here now. There is no telling how long we will stay here now. If we stay here without cavalry, it will go quite hard with us. It will keep us in our saddles every day; before Co. “E” went away we could rest every third day, but now will have to go on patrol one day and forage the next. Mrs. Upton has just came into my tent to see Allen Clow. She keeps quite hearty, sends her respects to you, invites me to go and take dinner with her. Think I will go in a day or two and see how womans cooking tastes. I think the mail will be in today and I hope to get a letter from you. Our mail was on the cars at the time of the fight but Sergt, Charlie Hall of Co. “E” put the letters in his boots and run off with them and got safe into camp. Hurrah for Charlie Hall. He had been to Tuscumbia on the train and was entirely unarmed. William A. Smith To Mrs. Mary Smith P.S. Tuesday morning. We are off on a patrol. My health is good, 17 men came from the mountains yesterday to join the Alabama Regiment.

*** This is a continuing presentation of Civil War letters written by William A. Smith. The letters are made available through Marion Brimberry. I have attempted to type the letters as true to the grammar and spelling as presented to me. David Thomson *** Decatur, Alabama Wednesday morning, August 21st, 1862 My Dear Wife:- Yours of the 14 inst just came to hand yesterday morning. I had wrote you a note and enclosed it in a letter to Nancy, the night before. I will now try to answer yours. It seems to me that you have not warmed up on the war question. I expect that if you was a man you would be for joining the army yourself. If you had no children to take care of I would have you come for a nurse in the hospital, but you can fill your station at home, and others can fill theirs in the field and in the hospitals. I am sorry you did not receive my letter of the 31st ultimo sooner, for I would like for our Company to be entirely full. We have had the largest Company in the Regiment ever since we have been in the service and I want us to keep it so. We will soon send a man from our Company to recruit. He will visit you. If there is then any one that still wishes to join sooner, they can come along to Cairo and be sworn in and there receive a pass and all the papers to bring them here. Tell them to come along, or get ready to come with our recruiting officer. I am surprised to hear that Noah and Tom has joined the army. What does Elizabeth think now of those that goes to war. Are they all fools now that got to the war. Then where is the threat of Tom that they could not compel him to go. I am glad that they have changed their minds. I am glad to hear of so many turning out of our neighborhood. I only regret that they held back so long. I have no doubts but they all regret it even worse than I do. I certainly think that when this vast new army is brought into the field, the war will be pushed forward to an immediate terminus. We have had no papers for some time and as a consequence, know nothing of what is going on, except of the action of the guerillas in this neighborhood. The guerillas keep picking away at us every time they can catch two, three or four alone, then they tear down the wires, shoot at the cars etc. I am very sorry to hear that Rollin is afflicted with the summer complaint. I hope he is well before now. I hope you will get him well if he is not already so. If you want any money to let your father have, I will send you some or you can get it from pap, if he has it. If your father wants any, tell me in your next letter and I will send you a few dollars by mail. If we are paid off about payday, I will send you some by express. It will be but a few days now till we will make out our payrolls, but I don’t much believe we will be paid for some time, it may possibly be some months before we are paid. One company of our Regiment has not been paid for six months, till a few days ago. They had been detatched from the Regiment. We are no scattered along this road in such a manner that it will be a wonder if we are paid for some time. The 51st Regt. is along here and they have not been paid for 4 months. The health of our Company is very good. The only thing I dread is the ague. The boys are in the river almost every day and some of them two or three times a day. William Arnold looks pretty slim, but I think he will stand the work. John Bell and Albert are both on picket today, the rest on patrol. William A. Smith

*** This is a continuing presentation of Civil War letters written by William A. Smith. The letters are made available through Marion Brimberry. I have attempted to type the letters as true to the grammar and spelling as presented to me. David Thomson *** Decatur, Alabama Monday night, August 18th, 1862 My Dear Wife:- Having the chance to drop you a line I enclose this note in Nancy’s letter. I received the letter you sent by John M. Hamilton which I answered at once. I will expect another letter from you tomorrow. We are having trouble with the railroad. The secesh tears up the track or burns a bridge or cuts the telegraph wire almost every night, making it very uncertain about mail getting to us. We can send letters every day but they are slow in reaching you. Yesterday we had two trains, one of them was fired into by the rebels and three men was wounded. There is no telling when a stop will be put to their raids upon the road here, but I believe it is certain that there are not as many rebel soldiers in this neighborhood now as there was a few days ago, at least they do not show themselves in as great numbers nor as often as they did a little time back. There is no telling anything about how long we will remain here, but I expect we will be here considerable time. Could I persuade you to pay us a visit this fall or do you think this is too far from home for you. How would you like to come and be a soldier for a few months. Some of the boys says that your father talks of coming down to see your uncle. If he comes and does not want to come to our Regiment, if he will let me know when he is there, I will go and see him, but I hope if he visits the army, he will come and see me. I think he will not come within a hundred miles of me and not visit me, but tell him if he does come to see Gum and cant come to see me, I will meet him wherever Montgomery is. I do think he could not spend a few dollars more to his own satisfaction than by visiting the army. I am anxious to hear from Richmond. As I expect a letter from you tomorrow, I will not write more now, but will answer yours as soon as received. Good night. William A. Smith

*** This is a continuing presentation of Civil War letters written by William A. Smith. The letters are made available through Marion Brimberry. I have attempted to type the letters as true to the grammar and spelling as presented to me. David Thomson *** Decatur, Alabama Thursday morning, Aug. 14th, 1862 My Dear Wife:- I will now try to tell you something of our trip from Jacinto, Mississippi to this place. We started on Tuesday morning, 22nd of July and marched about fifteen miles, then turned to the left about ten miles and camped for the night. There was eleven of our companies, two battalions (8 companies) of the 3rd Michigan cavalry and six pieces of artillery, together. The country from Jacinto east is rather hilly, but the timber changes from pine to oak. There seems to be no change in the soil. During the night it rained, causing us the loss of some sleep, as we had not our tents up, but was sleeping in the open air. Wednesday morning we returned to the main road and continued our journey eastward and about noon we entered the State of Alabama. We could almost tell exactly where the line was by the character of the buildings, farms etc. We would see churches, schoolhouses etc every few miles. While in Mississippi we would not meet with them half as often, besides the buildings in Alabama are better. In the evening we came to Big Bear creek. Here the rebels have burned a good bridge and we had to go about half mile below to find a crossing. In crossing, one of the waggons containing Company’s “A” things was upset in the stream and all their provisions lost and considerable damage done to other things. This stream is about as big as the Okaw river but the water is nice and clear. The bottom is rich with good corn growing in it. We camped for the night at the hills. Our company was sent on in advance to stand picket. We passed on about three miles, then fell back about one mile and chose our position for the night. We stood on the top of a high ridge just at the edge of the valley. From a place close to where we stood picket, is as nice a view as I ever saw. The valley is all in cultivation which causes it to look almost as large as one of our prairies. Then us being so high above it makes it a most grand scene. The road in many places was very rocky, then some places it is almost a bed of gravel. Thursday morning about ten o’ clock the column came up and we fell in for rear guard and after going about two miles, we was down in the valley and soon we came to Dixon, on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad. The valley is from three to six miles wide. It is tolerable level. The soil is red and produces tolerable good corn but they raise but one stalk in the hill, the rows wide apart and a row of peas between every row of corn. The surface has been covered with small rocks from the size of half bushel down to the common gravel. In some fields they have gathered them into piles, which are almost as thick as hay cocks in a poor meadow. At other farms they have been hauled off and the fence for miles is built of them. They make a good fence and it looks very nice. Company “L” was left at Buzzard creek to guard the Railroad bridge. We camped for the night at a creek four miles from Tuscumbia and here Company “B” reported for duty; they had been for some time, Bodyguard to General Rosencrans. At noon Friday we marched again and about two, passed through Tuscumbia and camped in a clover field about one mile east of Tuscumbia. Here I wrote to you, which letter you already answered. I have already told you about the large spring at this place. This town is a tolerable nice place with some good buildings in it. One building that was on the street we passed down, the Masonic Hall, is a splendid house and would do credit to bigger towns. It is a heavy brick building. The different churches are good buildings. Here we heard that the secesh was at work on ahead of us and after night we received orders to march very early next morning; At this place there is a great many troops and we left the 3rd Michigan and the artillery, and at daylight Saturday morning we took up the line of march. At Leighton we left Company “B” and then we went on the Town Creek and camped about two o’clock. This is a very nice little stream of excellent water. The railroad bridge is of considerable length and has been lately rebuilt, having been burned about the time of the evacuation of Corinth. Here we left half of Company “M” and Sunday morning we marched to Courtland where we arrived about one o’ clock P.M. and found the railroad bridges on fire. I think I gave you the particulars of the fight and capture of some of the Ohio troop at this place in a former letter. The prisoners were all taken to Moulten about twenty miles from Courtland and paroled. Here we left six companies of our Regiment. Our headquarters of our Regiment is there. Major Nelson is there commanding the Regiment. Monday morning we marched from Courtland and at noon we left the other half of Company “M” at a small bridge and at night we camped at Trinity where the rebels had only left a few hours before. They had set fire to all the buildings, and they had just fell in when we arrived there. Here there is a watertank that is supplied with water through pipes from the mountains, only about a mile distant. It is a wonder to me that the rebels don’t dig down to the pipe and destroy it, thereby cutting off the supply of water. There is one Company of the 51st Illinois at this place. Tuesday morning we marched from Tuscumbia and at about noon we arrived at Decatur, Alabama, where we found part of the 31st Ohio infantry and one Company of the 1st Ohio cavalry. Saturday morning – Aug. 16th The troops that was here when we came, was sent on to Huntsville twenty-two miles east of here. This valley reminds me of the prairie that Tamaroa and DuQuoin is in. It is long and narrow with a creek crossing it every few miles, the mountains to the right and the river to the left. The road runs along about the middle of the valley. The timber is generally oak, mixed with cedar. In the mountains the timber is mostly cedar and from the road, the rocks along the hills look like houses stuck among the scattering trees, high above the level land. The main crop here is generally cotton but there is now thousands of acres lying idle. Still in some places there is a hundred or two acres of cotton together; from that down to ten to fifteen acres. There is a great deal of those prickley pears growing about over the fields and in the fence corners. On almost every farm there is a cotton gin and press and generally a horse mill attached. The dwelling houses are generally very fine, and set back from the road from one hundred yards to a quarter of a mile and sometimes even farther, with nicely shaded roads leading down to the gate opening on the road. I think that in fifty or seventy five miles along this valley where I have been there is ten Negroes (some of them white) to every white person. In the mountains where I have been, there is hardly any Negroes and more white people. The farms only contain a few acres and the houses are closer together. The farmers are poor and it is here that the rich men of the valley get the soldiers to do the fighting for them. To protect their yellow children from the Yankees. In the small bottoms and on the hillsides live the poor farmer, that is considered by the rich men of the valley, but little better than the slaves that go and come at their bidding. Great God! . When will men learn the difference between serfdom and freedom? When will men cease to be ground by riches? Is it possible that there is no remedy for this evil? Will men continue to give their birthright to their rich neighbor, who really thinks less of them than he does of his meanest slave? The Tennessee river at this place is very nice. The railroad bridge rested on twelve good limestone pillars, but the bridge was burned by Mitchel about the time of the evacuation of Corinth. There is a small steam ferry boat here. This is quite a nice village with some good houses in it. We have a lot of Negroes at work throwing up breastworks and we are having the cotton hauled in from the country and placed along the top of our breastwork. If the rebels try us at this place, I think we can give them a warm reception. The day before yesterday our foraging party captured a waggon loaded with bacon, butter, cider, etc. the was for the secesh. We have to patrol the road from here to Company “M”., twelve miles, every third day. Tomorrow is our day to go. We have had no mail for several days. Something is the matter with the cars toward Corinth. John Bell is busy shoeing horses at fifteen cents per shoe. I got their enlistment dated the first of the month. Today our Company has been organized twelve months, but we was not mustered into service till the 3rd of September, so that we lack till then of having our time one third served out, if we have to work for Uncle Sam three years. Today my horse has earned me one hundred and forty four dollars, and I have earned one hundred and sixty eight, making for me and my horse since I have been in the services, three hundred and twelve dollars. My allowance for clothing today is $42.00 My clothing bill is about 37.00 Due me 5.00 My saddle and bridle cost me 35.00 I let John Bell have my carbine and I got a revolver. We left all our surplus arms at Jacinto, Mississippi, so that there is none for Albert, but a sabre and horse pistol, but we have enough to supply all that go on scouts, as we never all go at once. Telegraph says the train will be in today. I will therefore stop and see if it brings me any letters. Sunday morning 3-1/2 o’clock Train did not come. Run off the track and smashed the engine. Our Company will patrol today. We are up for an early start. The rebels cross the road between here and Company “M” early every night and return early in the morning. So if we get there soon, we may be able to get a fight out of them. Captain McDonald is quite sick this morning. He has not been entirely well for some time. As I will expect a letter from you by the next mail, which I will have to answer, I will add nothing more now. It is one week today since we received any mail. We are nearly out off from the balance of Creation and the rest of Mankind. William A. Smith