American Historical Ephemera and Photography

7 3/4 pages, 5 x 8 in. Creased at folds, spotting. With envelope addressed to Mr. John M. Smith of Wester Chester, PA.

In this letter to his "Father & Mother and Sisters," a soldier, most likely William A. Smith of Company D, 116th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, writes of the goings on over several days from late September to early October 1863.

He writes that on 21 September, a conscript was shot through the hand: "...he was on the outside of the Pickets [sic] line going strait [sic] over to the Rebs lines and they told him to stop and he did not do it and they shot at him and shot him through the hand..."

On 22 September, there was a cavalry fight viewable to Smith and his pards. He writes: "...we can see it all off the Top of the Mountain through the Glass pain and can see our Calvery [sic] Drive the Rebs before them the Genl was up and seen [sic] it all..." He says that two Confederates came through their lines with word that there would be more of them. The following day, two more came with a fascinating story about a fight that took place in a cornfield between two Confederate soldiers and two Union soldiers.

He writes: "...they tell a pritty [sic] Storey [sic] about 2 of our men and 2 of their that happened to meat [sic] in a cornefiled [sic] as they ware [sic] getting some corne to eat they come up and our men tolde [sic] them to surrender but they found that our men had now [sic] armes [sic] with them so they would not do it so they turne [sic] the joke on them and tolde [sic] them to surrender and they would not do it so they went at it with their fists and took it ruf [sic] and tumble so one of our men whipped his man and fetch his man in side of the picket lines and the other go [sic] the Best of his man and carried him in side of their lines so fair exchanges is not[?] robbery the Genl had a great laught [sic] about it and said that they had a good bit of spunck [sic] in them for to go at it with their fists."

Most notably, Smith writes of a man from the 66th New York who was sentenced to be executed for desertion on 2 October. He describes the event in great detail after the fact. In part: "Well the sad afear [sic] is over he was shot about Half past Two Oclock he never flintch [sic] a tall [sic]...the Chaplen talke [sic] to him and pray with him a few minets [sic] then he took of his coat and folded it up and laid it dow [sic] a long side of him and then he was set down on his cofffen with his Hat and coat a side of him and then the Capten [sic] tide [sic] a white hankchife [sic] over his eyes then he stept one side and give the order to fire and their was 8 Bulets [sic] went in him their was 3 went in his head 5 in his Breast he did not make a stager [sic] at all he fell right Backwards with one leg on his coffen and his face down to the ground he said that he was ready to die he walked as ferme [sic] as a man going up to get his discharge..."

Smith writes that the executed man wrote his name on the inside of the shanty with a lead pencil. Smith reports the inscription: "Adam Small Co E 66th N. York Volls Dide of the Oct 2nd 1863."

HDS lists an Adam Schmalz, Company E, 66th New York Volunteer Infantry, who enlisted as a private on 23 October 1861, and was executed on 2 October 1863 after being arrested and court martialed for desertion.

Smith gives a last helpful clue as to his regiment and identity, by naming his captain, "Hobart." HDS lists a William M. Hobart of Pottstown, PA, who served as Captain of the 116th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment.

William A. Smith of Philadelphia, PA enlisted as a private on 21 August 1862. He mustered into Company D of the 116th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment the same day. No further information is recorded about his service. The 116th Pennsylvania served as part of the famed "Irish Brigade," part of the 1st Division, II Corps.