Augusta County: Thomas M. Smiley to Sister, April 12, 1863
Summary:
In this letter to his sister, Thomas M. Smiley discusses his illness, his inability to visit
at home, and the Army of Virginia's mobilization efforts and search for deserters.
Apr 12th 1863
Hospital Division Number 2 Staunton
Dear Sister
I will endeavor this evening to write you a few lines to let you know that I am still in
Staunton and will probably be here for a week or two yet as the Doctor told me this morning
that I might not get well enough for service until the weather got warmer
I would have
tried to get home again when I came here But the Ward Master told me that there was no use to
try as the Surgeon had Just received orders to grant no more leaves of absence. I have seen Dr
Baldwin since: he spoke very kindly to me and asked if my trip home had done me any good; I
told him it had, Well he says I am glad of it. but cant let you go back again. I have a very
good room to stay in the same one I was in when Pa was down I seen Davy Hanger since I came
back he has gone along with part of his detail and a couple of companys from Staunton to the
South mountain to gather up some deserters they have not all come back yet But some of them
have come back bringing with
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them five or six of the deserters I did not learn the names of any
of them but understood that one of them was a preachers son who I suppose was a Rankin. There
was two regiments came up yesterday on the cars the twenty fifth & thirty first
Virginia they are on their way to join Imbodens command I seen Captain Stuart he says everything is quiet at Fredericksburg our men are Still in the same [unclear: old] camp.
But it is getting dark and I will close by Remaining your Brother
TM. Smiley
If you write Direct to General Hospital Number two
Ward B
