Letters of Geo. A. SMITH
I have just received today the packet from the National Archives
for Wiley B. SMITH (Also listed as Wiley A. SMITH) This is a rather
large packet and since it turns out to be 'not' my Wiley Smith,
I also wanted to make sure I shared the information for others
who could use it. According to the documents Wiley SMITH was the
son of George A. and Nancy SMITH of Overton Co, TN. According
to letters included in the packet from Geo. A. SMITH (Jr?) Wiley
died next to him on the field at Chickamauga, GA. There were apparently
5 brothers who died in this family during the war. It does not
state all their names. Geo. Sr died 9 August 1843.
I am going to transcribe the letters and send them since they
also contain alot of other genealogical information of other people.
I have transcribed this letter without changing spelling, punctuation
(or lack there of). Apparently this is one letter that is meant
to be read by all members of his family. It is sectioned off by
George by his running a line across the page between each section.
Camp Near Chattanooga Tenn
Sept the 27th 1863
Dear Wife and childerin
I take the presant offertunaty of Droping you A few lines to let
you know that I am Well at presant and hope this Will Reach you
in Due time and find you all Well. I can inform that We have been
in A fight lately it commenced on 18th and ended on the 20th ist.
on the 20th it Was the
hardest fighting that ever Was I think. they licked us like fury
We had to fall back on Chattanooga and get behind the fortification
We lost severl men and severl cannons but the Rebels lost as many
or more than We did for they had the most men by About 3 to 1.
We faught olas Braggs and old Longstreet Armyes besides A corps
from Charleston SC. We lost out of our Company 11 killed, Wounded
and missen. I am very sorry to Write that Brother Wiley Was killed
Dead on the field and also captan Taylor Was killed. hillery sells
and Allean smith Was Wounded and mahu (sp.?) Was missen and marten
Richardson are olso missen. the Rebels has
followed us here within about 2 miles of our Works our pickets
are fighting evry day and We are expecting A fight evry day but
if they attack us here they Will get licked like thunder. the
only danger here is they may cut of our supplies so that We cant
stay here if they Will stay on there oun side till We get some
Reinforcement We Will ve all
right. We had to leave Wiley on the field Without Burying him
and dont know What has become of his body. Maybe (?) the Rebels
Buryed him or not But i and Willis got time to straiten him out
and cover him With his Blanket left him right where he was - -
- - - -(unreadable) - - - - - i
got your letter - - - - - - - -(unreadable) - - - - - - - -yet
i can tell you all more than i can Write When i get home but that
Will not be before my time is out. i want you to do the Best you
can and take care of What you have got. Write to me What you have
lost. Write soon. Write to the 3d Ky infty 3d Brigade 1st Division
at Army corps in care of Col Dunlap (Co H). Pierson crouch is
Well and all the rest of the Boys only those that Ware Wounded
so no more at present only Remain.
Your obediant housband and father until Death -
George A. Smith to Nancy Smith & children
to ---(unreadable)-- Marian Smith
Dear Brother, i Want you to assist my family as much as you Si
hav the money in my Packet to pay you of just as soon as i can
get it to you and i shall get Wileys money that is
someing for his horse. i want to see mother sisters very bad.
Brother Willey had $140 in his packet Book that Willis took out
of his pocket and i Will send that the 1st chance i get. i Will
Write Agane as soon as the expected Battle comes off. Write to
me soon and give me all the news that you can. i and Willis gives
you our best Respects so no more
at presant.
yours until Death,
George A. Smith to Henry Smith
------------------------------------------------------------
Dear mother Brother and sisters,
i can inform you that all the Boys is Well. i am very sorry to
inform you that Brother Wiley Was killed in the
chichamauga River fight on the 20 of Sept last. he was killed
Dead on the field. he was shot by my side. I and Willis stratoned
him out and coverd him up With his Blankets and had to leav him
there and We dont know What has became of him. i truly thak god
for the Rest comeing ou as Well as We did. i Want you to Write
as soon as you get this and i Will Write as soon as this expected
fight comes off so no more at only your obediant sons untill Death.
George A Smith and Willis Smith to their Dear mother
-----------------------------------------------------------
A few lines to Henry Smith
Dear cousin,
after A long silance but not forgoten per mit me to say A
few Words on this lief. i am the fatest you ever saw me only Weigh
175 or 180 pounds and has not shaived for About 14 months and
dont intend to shave till i get home if ever. i tell mahews smiths
mother that on satureday of the fight that he had A rison on his
hand and the Captan told him to fall back to the rear and he has
not been heard of sence. he is other killed or captured one but
i am Afraid that he is killed. i got A letter from thomas levingston
A few months Ago and he said that Ambrose Smith Was Well at that
time and lives in Mosouri. thomas levingston has moved to ind.
to his father. thomas levingston and his father is Was Both Well
he Wrote that Jones ledbeter and his son tillman
and Abraham Paget and his son John are all Dead. Died in the union
Army and sam Winningham is A leutenant in the union Army. i hope
to God that i Will get home to eat honey With you one more
------------------------------------------------------------
Camp Near Chattanooga Tenn
Oct the 7th 1863
Dear uncle
i take the present opertunaty of Droping you a few lines to
let you that i and Brother Willis are Boath Will at presant helping
this may Reach you in Due time and find you in the full ----(unreadable)----
i can inform you that We hav been Neighbering some with the Rebels
lately -----(unreadable)-----18th and 19th and 20th of Sept they
got Brother ther Rest of us But to ---(unreadable)--- We lost
out of our Company 11 men killed wounded and missen. With much
regret I write to you that Brother Wiley was killed Dead on the
field.
Captan Taylor Was killed and hillery sells and Alen smith Was
Wounded but not fatal. hillery was shot in the thigh Alen Was
shot int he hip. all the Wounded has been sent to Louisville KY.
(New Page)
the fight Was About 10 miles from here in Georgia on A little
River Called Chickamauga. i hav offten heard tell of hells Brakeing
loose in Georgia and We found it to be the case. We had to fall
back here has fortified this place Well and the Rebels followed
us up and fortified to our pickets savah news papers nealy evry
day and there is some shell passed by Boath parties. i Would like
to see you and aunt loosey and the chilldern. the best in the
World i Want you to Write just as soon as youget this and tell
me all the news that you can if i scould see you i would tell
you A
grate deel more than i can Write so i shall close by being your
obediant friend till Death,
G. A. Smith to Hery B. Winnigham
Write to the 3d Ky infty 3d Brigade 1st Division 21st ArmyCorps
(co H)in care of Col H. C.Dunlap
Contributed by Helen L. Smith Hoke