21st Massachusetts Infantry - OUTSTANDING Fredericksburg Battle Letter - NEW

Item LTR-12123

Description

Original Civil War letter. 4 pages written in period ink.


Camp near Falmouth, Virginia
 
December 20^th 1862
 
Dear Father,
 
It is with pleasure that I now sit down with pen in hand to write you a few lines to let you know where I am, and that I am well, and hope these few lines will find you enjoying the blessings. It has been some time since I have written to you or anyone else, for I have been marching and fighting, and it has been a long time since I have heard anything from you. I did not know, but the folks at home had forgotten that there was such a person as Charles A. Smith in the army.
 
But I am still alive and kicking, though I have seen some as hard times since I last wrote as I ever saw in my life. I have lived through them, and am all right as yet. Our men began to shell the city on the 11th of this month, and there was some as sharp cannonading as I ever heard in my life. Our troops began to cross the river into the city of Fredericksburg in the afternoon.
 
Our brigade crossed the 12th, and on a Saturday, the 13th, we were ordered into the fight. We charged across an open field for about 0.5 mi in front of the Rebel batteries. They were a-shelling us as fast as they could, but it did not drive us back.
 
Our colors were shot down three times, but I did not stay down. A short time later, we were under the fire of the Rebels for about five hours, and as hard fighting as I have ever seen. We were then relieved and fell back into the bank of the river.
 
We laid there until a Sunday night, 8:00, when we were ordered to the front on picket, just before light the next morning. We threw up a little earthwork in front of us, and at daylight, we laid down behind it. After that, we laid down at light that morning. I never got up again until after dark, for if a man showed his head in sight of the Rebel sharpshooters, they would fire at him.
 
About 4:00 in the afternoon, the Rebels threw three shells at us, but it did not scare us much, for it only wounded one man, and he was not hurt very bad. About 11:00 that night, we were relieved, and the whole army fell back across the river again. So here we are, just as we were before, only that there were many a poor fellow who found his grave on the other side. I hope the old hotheads at home will be satisfied now, for they are all the time wanting to know why the Union forces do not advance.
 
Tell them to come out here and try it, and they will find that it is easier to stay at home and talk than it is to come out here and fight. They think that we ought to go ahead and fight all the time, but when they are called upon to come and help, they want from one to $300 bounty. But I got nothing, and I have been in eight fights and have come out without a scratch as yet.
 
But I do not feel that it is by anything that I have done, but it is by the goodness of my God, who has watched over me and kept me from all harm. And I am very thankful to him for his kindness to me, unworthy sinner as I am. Pray for me, dear Father, and if it is not his good pleasure that we meet again on Earth, may we so believe that we may meet in heaven. Give my respects to all inquiring friends and tell them that I am as well as could be expected under the circumstances that I am placed in.
 
Tell Brother Davis to remember me at the Throne of Grace, and remember me at the prayer and class meetings.
 
Tell Ira and the rest of the children to seek their Savior early in youth, for they will enjoy themselves better, both now and in after years.
 
I do not know when I shall come home, but I want you to keep the letters that I sent home safe, so that if I should ever return, I can have them. Write as soon as you get this and let me know if you got a package of letters that I sent and was left with Jim Bemis. Tell Carla to write, and I will write as soon as I can.
 
I do not think of anything more to write this time, so I will close by bidding you farewell for the present. 
 
This from your absent son, 
 
Charles A. Smith
 
Write soon and direct it to:
Charles A. Smith
Company K, 21st Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers
via Washington DC
 
Yours in haste, 
 
Charles A. Smith