Smith, Asa [Collection of Asa Smith, K company, 16th regiment, Massachusetts, infantry] [decimalized]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03696 Author/Creator: Smith, Asa Place Written: [various places] Type: Header Record Date: 1861 Pagination: 15 letters Order a Copy
The Asa D. Smith collection of Civil War correspondence includes letters written to his family in Massachusetts. Smith writes most of his letters from Camp Hamilton in Hampton, Virginia, with a few from Suffolk, Virginia as the regiment moves into battle in June of 1862. His letters describe camp life and second-hand stories of fighting around the Newport News, Virginia area. Smith himself does not enter battle until June 18, 1862, ten days after the last letter in the collection. His letters do not describe particular battles, but he does include details of smaller guerrilla skirmishes (#2, 4, 6, 7, 12) in the local area. His descriptions of camp life may be of particular interest, especially when he describes the relationships between different regiments (#4, 9) and his relationship with his men (# 5, 6, 9, 10, 11.) He has a dry sense of humor, and his letters often reflect this (#1, 4, 7, 9, 13.) Smith tells interesting stories about fooling Confederates with fake money (#13), the murder of a southern Unionist (#14), and a traitorous preacher (#12).
Before the war, Smith was a shoemaker in Natick, Massachusetts. He enlisted on July 2, 1861 at the age of twenty-six. He served at the battles of Williamsburg Road (June 18, 1862) and Oak Grove (June 25, 1862) before being wounded at Glendale (June 30, 1862). In that battle, the Massachusetts 16th lost their commander, Col. Wyman, and Smith's injuries were so severe he was discharged on July 2, 1862, exactly one year from his enlistment date.
Asa Smith has a brother, William Wallace Smith, whom he calls Wallace in his letters. He refers to his other siblings in his letters as well: sisters Mary, Maria, Caroline, and Susan, and brother Homer. These siblings live with an Ebineser and Ann Smith in Needham, Massachusetts, a town seven miles from Natick. Presumably, Ebineser and Ann are Asa Smith's parents, and the main recipients of his letters; often, the letters simply begin with a "Dear Mother."
Wallace enlisted in the 22nd Massachusetts Infantry on September 17th, 1861 and the two brothers exchanged letters about the soldier's life. Some of Wallace's letters to Asa, as well as a few from the family at home to Asa, are available in the Gilder Lehrman Collection 13742.
15 letters from Union Soldier to his family in Natick, Massachusetts.
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