Augusta County: Thomas M. Smiley to Mary A. Smiley, May 9,
[1863]
Summary:
Describes battle of Chancellorsville in which he participated in and was slightly wounded.
Mentions Stonewall Jackson's loss of arm.
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Miss Mary A. Smiley
Moffetts Creek
Augusta County
Virginia
Mary A. Smiley
May 9th
Camp near Hamiltons Crossing
Dear Sister
You have no doubt heard of the battle of Chancellorsville before this and you may feel uneasy
about me I will now try to quiet that uneasiness by writing a few lines to you for the purpose
of letting you know that I am safe with no broken bones. but I made a very narrow escape
indeed. There was a shell exploded a few yards from me one of the pieces of which struck in the
ground by my side throwing the dirt and gravels over me my eyes were blackened and bruised up
and my right hand was struck bruising and swelling it so that I could not do duty for a couple
of days but I am thankful that I was permitted to escape from any worse wound. I am now in the
company but my hand is still right sore. The last letter I wrote I stated that everything was quiet so far as I was able to judge but the next
morning the cannon began to roar near Fredericksburg we were
ordered out and got to the old battleground that evening. we
lay
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at the same place on Thursday and on Friday we started and marched
to within a couple of mile of Chancellorsville. There was a
pretty heavy skirmish that evening but we were not engaged. on
Saturday our division and General A P Hills division started around
the enemys right and came out above them at the junction of the Culpeper & Orange
& Fredericksburg turnpike roads. Hills division and the third brigade of our division
were sent on in front and attacked the enemy driving them out of their position and
entrenchments which were well chosen & strengthened considerably Saturday night was
spent in maneuvering and occasional skirmishing in one of these skirmishes General Jackson lost
his arm which we all feel to be a sore bereavement to us Sunday morning found us fronting the
enemy they being sheltered by breastworks which they had thrown
up during the night nothing daunted however we charged them they breaking and running like
frightened sheep we charged them thus out of two different works
the last one being a very strong work it was here that we lost the most men as our
reinforcements did not come up in time they planted a battery and graped us driving us back
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a short distance but our support coming up at this time we drove
them from every part of the field and all that kept their defeat from becoming an utter rout was the difficulty of getting through the thick growth of bushes
between that and the river. On Sunday night both armies formed another line of battle and
commenced fortifying. Monday & Tuesday was spent in working on breastworks. & Wednesday we received the joyful news that the enemy had
crossed the river. We then started for camp with light hearts, yet, still grieving for the loss of many brave & good men Among them I will mention the
name of our General. Paxton from Lexington. in our brigade the loss was over six hundred about
fifty of these were killed dead others will die of their wounds. In our company Sergeant J B. McCutchan was wounded in the head Lieutenant Carson in wrist Corporal Cochran in ankle severely
James T Beard in foot Robert Wiseman in hand M Smith in hand J Runkle
in leg Joseph Black and Sam Hite and several others slightly the list will be in the newspapers
of Staunton soon as it was sent this morning Cyrus Strong was wounded severely it is
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thought doubtful by some whether he will get over it or not Hugh
Beard was wounded and Jim Reece is wounded again. Lieutenant Charles
Calhoun had his leg taken off, and many others are wounded but I will not name them We captured
about ten thousand prisoners took a good many pieces of cannon
fifteen thousand stand of small arms and many other things such as knapsacks
[unclear: Gum] cloths, etc.. they also left five
hospitals in our possession containing near a thousand patients the most of them very badly
wounded. but I will close for this time by asking you to write soon. Excuse all mistakes as
this was hastily written. Give my love and best respects to all enquiring friends and relations and receive a due share yourself
from your affectionate Brother
Thomas M Smiley
P.S When you write let me know whether you have got the blanket I left
in staunton or not and anything else of interest. I suppose that the same directions will
answer for letters sent to us now, we are nearer hamiltons crossing than Guinea but I do not
know that there is a post office at Hamiltons
Write Soon
Thomas M Smiley
