CSA Officer Peter B. Smith, 39th VA and 13th Battalion VA Light Artillery, Archive Featuring Discussions of Stonewall Jackson

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• Lot Description

  Lot of 17 letters containing much military and Stonewall Jackson troop movement.

  Peter B. Smith was born in 1831 in Virginia (possibly Northampton Co., as that was where he was living in the 1870s). He enlisted 9//30/61 at Camp Huger as a Captain in Co. K, 39th VA Infantry. He seems to have then moved to the Commissary Corps (per his letter of 16 Dec. 1862), and does not seem to appear on the rolls. In the letter he tells his wife that he and a few others have been ordered to purchase a large number of cattle, have them slaughtered and processed for packaging, and the fat and other remains made into soap and candles.

  The earliest letter is from Camp Oak Hall, Nov. 15, 1861. He had just arrived and his father was leaving. His first observation is that it took a long time to find a scrap of paper for a letter (add this to the list of things he needs his wife to send him). Add to the list - a blanket, undershirt, bundle of smoking tobacco and short stemmed pipe. He also asks her to find grey flannel to make him an outer shirt (or "buy one ready made").

  Like all involved at the beginning, they are sure the war will be short. "...[M]y darling be of good cheer for I feel sure this war will end in six months – and the South, too will have gained her independence – Her Gallant sons are more deeply in earnest than ever – they feel that they are fighting for their homes & firesides – and they are determined to gain this independence or die in the bloody fight. We just heard of the glorious victory of Shiloh- We have not heard all the particulars,…" [Camp McDonald, Ga. June 13th 1862] The rest is mostly family concerns, but one of those is that communication between North and South was nearly completely cut off. Southerners had to find ships or merchants, anyone traveling to the vicinity of loved ones to carry letters with them. From the comments in many of his letters, it would appear that maybe half or fewer of the letters actually arrived at their intended destinations. The next letter in the group, dated June 13th, begins by saying that he thinks there is a chance of communicating by "Flag of Truce" headed to Norfolk. Most of the rest is personal.

  By his letter of June 24th, 1862 (Camp McDonald), he is itching for a fight. He talks about getting involved if Richmond is attacked or returning to Virginia and finding another company to join. He also reports that he has cut off his beard, leaving only a moustache, albeit a large one. Everyone tells him how different he looks.

  By autumn he is in Richmond. In his letter of Sept. 12, 1862: "I have been trying to get a situation in the Army or else a place in some of the Departments, but begin to think there is very little chance – Judge Perkins is using his influence for me, and he told me to day I would not hear positively for perhaps 2 or 3 weeks…I believe I will go up in the mountains and be with the  boys a short time. It won’t cost me as much as staying here in Richmond. The Hotels charge 3 ½ & $4 per day …."

  He goes on: "Have not time to write you much of the news. We know a portion of our army has crossed the Potomac and was at Frederick last Monday – but we have had nothing official since then. Of course there are a thousand & one rumors & reports afloat every day, but I credit nothing except what we get officially.
  
  "Now is the time for Maryland to throw off her shackles if she ever intends – and she ought to reinforce our army by at least 25,000 good men. I think we have the Yankees in a bad way both in the East & West & if they don’t hurry up with their 60000 men we will clean out the army we have now in field. – I do wish the infernal war was over…"

  In another letter dated Sept. 16, he notes that they left camp on August 26 and arrived in Richmond on the 30th. Much of the letter repeats the previous one because he is not sure which one (if any) will make it. “Charlie is Asst Surgeon in Bragg’s Army – when I last heard from him (3 days ago) he was still at Hospital Camp near Chattanooga, but was in hopes he would soon be ordered to his Division (Genl. Polk’s) & take the field. He is anxious to get transferred to the Army in Va., but I don’t think there is much chance for him. ...I should think the Yankees ought to be tired of being whipped by this time, and am in hopes our many victories will cause them to open their eyes, and acknowledge our independence.”

  In the letter of Sept. 19th, he again makes note of his moustache. The ends are long enough to meet under his chin, and "when I twist them up they give me a pretty fierce look."

  By the end of September, he has applied to sit before the Board of Examiners for a position in the Ordnance Corps, but is not very hopeful since there are a large number of applicants. "I have no one to use their influence in my behalf. I am afraid you all will think we got badly whipped in Maryland. I am greatly amused at the Yankee accounts, for they by their reports have completely routed us, and broken the back bone of Rebeldom – on the contrary, pet, we gave them a severe drubbing, which you will find will leak out from them before long. We Captured Harpers Ferry with 11,000 prisoners, 1800 Horses & quantity of arms & ammunition &c.”

  It is in Nov. and December that he is in Lacey Springs, and setting up the cattle processing operation. In addition, “I have plenty of money, but so many things that can’t be had at any price, while every thing you can buy costs a pile; However I can make out pretty well with the small stock I have on hand. I have not worn a white shirt since I left home – I wear dark shirts – made of worsted or (light) casimere [sic] - I don’t suppose you can buy the latter here now for less than $40 … And so everybody thought that Ned & I looked very much like rowdies did they? If they could see our whole rebel army I think they would have pretty much the same opinion if they regarded dress alone – every man is uniformed pretty much after his own style & with whatever he can get to put on…” At the end of the letter he notes: “I wish I had a safe way of sending you some money…. Of course you could not use our Confederate money, but let me know if you could use Virginia money & what it is worth there, and I will try and see if I can’t find a safe chance to send you $50 or more.”
  
  “We have just received news of a great battle going on near Fredericksburg. There was heavy skirmishing on Thursday & Friday last and on Saturday (13th) both armies were engaged in a severe fight – The fight still progressing when we last heard, but Genl. Lee’s dispatches to War Dept. were very favorable to us. We have repulsed the enemy at every point of attack, with heavy loss on both sides; the loss of the enemy however is estimated at four times greater than ours…. We have no fears for the result. They will have to annihilate our army before they can ever reach Richmond. The Yankees have an immense force against us now, but by the time Spring opens we will probably have 200,000 more men in the field. I can see but little to justify any hopes of Foreign intervention. France seems desirous of doing something to bring this terrible war to an end, but Russia prefers to stand aloof and England favors herself our worst enemy. “

  By the beginning of 1863, he has followed through and joined a combat unit. His letter from Staunton, Va. is a long one - six pages on legal-sized paper. “Leonard & I have made up our minds to go into active service, and intend joining a Cavalry Company. There is a Company now forming in Richmond called the 'Malloy Troop' which I think will suit us; …If the company should not suit us we are determined to go in some other Cavalry Company!  …I don’t want to get killed or wounded, or even scratched, but am willing to take all the chances; I know that in filling the positions we heretofore have had, we have been doing the Country as much service as tho’ we had been in the field….I should have been in the field long ago, had it not been for Ned." It seems he is still trying to get an officer’s commission, maybe it will be possible in a new unit.

  "If we … succeed in repelling the invaders I think the mass of the people of the North will see the utter folly of attempting to subjugate us, & be willing to sue for peace. I see there is a great reaction in the North already & sooner or later it will speak with trumpet tones, and demand their rights, and insist upon stopping this despotic war, which for so long a time has been waged by the fanatical abolitionists. The truth is, the Soldiers of the North have been basely deceived – they enlisted to fight for the Union & Constitution of the U.S. and now they find they are only fighting for the Negro – no Sane man of any sense believes now that the old Union can ever be restored. The thing is one of the impossibilities of nature – The South can never degrade herself, by forming a reunion with the black hearted wretches who have laid waste our homes, desolated our hearths & robbed us & plundered us like the vilest thieves.” And the rant continues for another page.
  
  In March he is back in Richmond. He is ill for apparently the first time. The weather is bad, and he is waiting until it clears to move to the next post. “I have seen a few of the members of the 'Otey Battery' & found them very clever & genteel fellows; From all I can learn I judge the Company is composed almost entirely of gentlemen. This is a great consideration, and the only reason that decided us to join the Company instead of Cavalry, as we first intended.”
  
  “I wish I could see some prospect of this War coming to a close . The end seems as far off now as it did a year ago. The North was no doubt make gigantic efforts to crush us this summer, but it will all be of no use. They can never conquer the South; tho’ of course they will sometimes (seldom) get the better of us. We can whip them in any open fight where they don’t bring more than 2 to one or even three to one against us; I am sick & tired enough of it, but Heaven knows I never want it to end, till it ends right.”
  
  Sunday morning 15th [back of the same letter] - “[Capital] square is full every evening of the Southern beauties, & officers in gay uniforms – an excellent band playing for an hour or more. I am sick and tired of looking at soldiers – after the war is over I never want to see another soldier as long as I live.”

  July finds him back in Staunton. He describes the move from Shady Springs to Staunton, then leaving shortly for Winchester. “I will not speak of the movements of Lee’s Army for fear this may fall into other hands. The fall of Vicksburg & Port Hudson was a great blow to us, and will no doubt greatly prolong the war; but this is all the effect it will have. They can’t conquer us & I believe they are fully convinced of the fact long ago; Oh how I do wish this cruel war would end, tho’ I never want to see it end till an independence is fully established. I have made up my mind it will last 2 years longer, because I can see nothing to hope for in the mean time…”

  From a camp near Orange C.House, August 15, 1863: “I last wrote you from Staunton & told you we were on our way to Lee’s Army. We marched from Staunton to Strasburg, a distance of 72 miles, & after remaining there a few days & finding the enemy not disposed to advance, we were ordered over here, a distance of 96 miles from Strasburg….We have not had tents since we left Shady Springs more than a month ago, but in very bad weather we sleep under the guns or caisson covers, though they afford very little protection...”

  "The Yankees seem to have you mad over the fall of Vicksburg & Port Hudson & the retreat of Lee from Pennsylvania, and they talk as if the Rebellion was now on its last legs. They will find out shortly that we are stronger than ever, and still as determined to gain our independence. …How little they know of Southern patriotism & honor. Yes, and how little they know of our strength & determination, especially when backed by men that prefer death to Northern despotism.” Most of the rest is personal, but he notes that he has not heard from Tom since Gettysburg, but presumes he is all right.

  In Camp near Wytheville, Va., Sept 14th, 1863: “I last wrote you from Staunton (about 28th August) being then on our way to meet the enemy near Warm Springs; our Brigade was just 24 hours too late for the fight. Genl. Jones had repulsed the Yankees & whipped them badly, and if our Brigade could have been up in time we would have cut them off near Warm Springs & have captured 3,000 of them. Our horses were completely broken down when we got to Warm Springs & had to stop there four days to recruit them,. I’ll venture to say our Battery has done more hard marching this summer than any in service, the circumstances have been such, we have never been in any fight! Just trace our line of march on a map – we first marched from Dublin to Raleigh C.H. and from there back again to Dublin. Thence to Staunton thence down the Valley to Strasburg – from there back to New Market & across the mountains to Orange C.H. here we remained 3 weeks & then marched to Staunton via Charlottesville! From Staunton back to Dublin via Millboro, Warm Springs, Hot Springs, Callaghan’s, Sweet Springs, Salt Sulphur & Giles C.H. as soon as we got to Dublin we were ordered to Saltville in Washington County by Railroad! When we got to this place the citizens were greatly excited about the Yankees who were reported advancing on this place about 1000 strong! When we got here Capt. Walter (our Captain) recd a dispatch from Genl. Jones to stop here & prepare to meet the enemy. The Infantry of our Brigade was ahead of us, & no forces here except about 200 Home Guards. The Capt. divided our Company into Artillery, Infantry & Cavalry. Sent out 2 guns with 30 men & about 50 (our men) as Infantry having previously sent about 40 of our men off as Cavalry to scour the country & find out the whereabouts of the enemy. Len & I were taken with the Cavalry & scouted the whole country for 2 days & nights but could see nothing of the enemy."

  “In your last letter you wanted me to tell you all about our company. I did so when I first joined it but presume you did not get my letter. The Company numbers about 137 men – 100 horses and 5 guns (4 Napoleons, 12 pounder & 1 Rifle 6 pounder) and is called the “Otey Battery” – It is composed mostly of young men from Richmond. It is commanded by Capt. D.N. Walker – Capt Otey who was the first Capt was wounded last fall & died shortly after. Our Battery is now attached to Wharton’s Brigade of Gen. Sam Jones’ Division, the latter being in command of the Department of Western Va.”

  The last two letters are from April 1874 and mostly personal.

  This unit seems to have been peripherally attached to Stonewall Jackson's Western Virginia army, although Smith never mentions Jackson, only General Jones. This was classic Jackson tactics, however, moving swiftly throughout the Shenandoah, with quick skirmishes then gone, outmaneuvering larger Union forces time and again. Jackson's forces moved so quickly that they called themselves "foot cavalry."

  A graphic group of letters by a literate captain. Although a few of the letters are a bit light, at least one does not have to fight through the spelling of so many Civil War participants. Peter Smith is articulate and clear in his writing.

  Condition

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