Augusta County: Thomas M. Smiley to His Aunt, August 7, 1862
Summary:
Thomas M. Smiley writes that Union forces are near Orange County Court House and his
regiment, part of 50,000 soldiers, have been ordered to move. He also discusses illness in camp
and prisoner exchange.
Aunt
August 7th 1862
Camp Magruder
Dear Aunt
I seize the present opportunity by writing you a few lines to
let you know that I am well & hope you may be enjoying the same blessing. Henry Wright
is not very well he has been complaining for near two weeks but he says he feels a little
better today. We are camped on Magruders farm five miles from
Gordonsville he is a brother of General Magruders. There is nothing of importance to write
every day we hear reports of the advance of the enemy but they generally turn out to be false the enemy are at Orange Court House 10 mile from
Gordonsville with a very large force it is supposed. we have a considerable force ourselves
some five or six divisions in all which with Artillery & Cavalry will not fall far
short of fifty thousand men. We have just had orders to cook two days rations with
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eight days hard bread and be ready to march at a moments warning.
it is so warm now that it is very laborious marching. but I hope that the weather will soon get
cooler and we will get along much better. We have had very good living for a few days we draw
flour beef sugar salt rice and sometimes molasses apples are plenty and we make a great many
pies and dumplings which though not quite so good as home manufacture are a very good substitute We have heard that four thousand of the Fort Delaware Prisoners
arrived in Richmond yesterday to be exchanged and some of the company expect Sam Beard
& Lieutenant Wright to be in the number if they are still
alive as that is the place where all the troops that were taken prisoner in the valley were sent. But I must close by Asking you to excuse all mistakes Bad
writing etc.
Give my love to Aunt Ann Uncle James,s family and receive a large share yourself
Thomas M. Smiley
