Brigadier-General Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Budd Smith, April 29, 1864

Mississippi Squadron, Flag Ship “Cricket,”

Alexandria, April 29, 1864.

My Dear Wife:

I am safe after a most severe campaign. I had three fights, battles, on my own hook, inasmuch as I had the honor of bringing up the rear of the army to this point. These three fights were exclusively my own, and in every instance entirely victorious. I have only time to say that my opinion is, we (I mean A. J. Smith's command) will get through safely to the Mississippi; after that, there will be work enough for us. I will give you full details so soon as opportunity offers. Meanwhile, rest assured of my health and personal safety. Admiral Porter is safe and sitting by my side as I write. He is a noble fellow, game as a pheasant; so is old A. J. a perfect trump.

I hope you are all well. I am in first rate spirits, stiff upper lip, “never say die.” Do not be discouraged about me, in the slightest degree. We can whip these fellows whenever we get the chance.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 362-3

Brigadier-General Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Budd Smith, March 19, 1864

Friday, March 19th.

A messenger has just arrived with despatches from below, and a mail, but no letters for me. I have nothing of importance to add, hardly enough in what I have written to repay perusal; you must not permit yourself to suffer anxiety on my account; the good God whose arm till now has shielded me will care for me to the end. It may be permitted us to meet again and again I may enjoy the pleasure of home. If not, let us all pray that we meet in Paradise.

I see by some newspapers that are brought with this mail that the expedition into Mississippi is misrepresented and misunderstood. I assure you it was entirely successful and all was accomplished that was intended or desired.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 360-1

Brigadier-General Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Budd Smith, March 18, 1864

Thursday, 18th March, on board steamer Hastings, Red River.

I resume, having no opportunity as yet to forward despatches. Having destroyed fort and blown up magazines, am now en route for Alexandria. Weather most charming, river winding through fertile, productive country. I find it impossible to write, however, with any comfort, the machinery going; shall close at Alexandria.

Arrived at Alexandria at this 6 P.M., after a pleasant passage without incidents; discover upon our arrival that the enemy, some fifteen thousand strong, have evacuated, leaving three field-pieces and an immense amount of commissary stores, cotton, sugar and molasses. My fleet is moored on the east side of the river, opposite the town, and I have debarked my troops, throwing out heavy pickets, my scouts informing me that two thousand of the enemy's cavalry are in my front, and propose to make a dash this night, a threat I don't believe, but am ready for their reception. Have received a despatch within a few moments, stating that General Lee, of General Banks's command, was at Opelousas, on the 16th, with five thousand cavalry, and that General Banks, with fifteen thousand infantry, was on the march. We are ahead of Banks some five days. I am jotting down incidents as a sort of diary; hardly know whether it will ever reach your eye.

You must be careful to trace me properly on the map. The children will not be set back in their geography by following their father's footsteps in imagination. I wish I had you all here this night. I have just been ashore inspecting my troops, and rarely has the mellow moonlight fallen upon a more romantic scene. The plain is level, covered with grassy sod, and studded with clumps of underbrush, of a growth that at night I can not distinguish; there is ample room to move about and sufficient verge for line of battle. The bright arms glittering in the moonlight are stacked upon the color line, the soldiers lie, each covered with his blanket, behind their arms; there are no camp-fires; the videttes, far in advance, can be distinguished, dismounted, but each man at his horse's head and ready at the blast of the bugle to mount; the moon is clear and the stars all out, the atmosphere serene. The gunboats lie far above and below, the transports between. One can scarcely look without a yearning for the power of word-painting to convey a portion of his pleasure, as well as regret that all the world, at least his friends in it, cannot share his feelings. There is a peculiar fascination in this wild, dangerous life, a continued exaltation and exultation; mine have been the joys of victor, continuous and continued. I have never known defeat; onward and onward, victory after victory, casting behind me, as my horse throws dust, clouds of prisoners. Three hundred and thirty-four brave men I sent down under charge of one of my lieutenant-colonels yesterday. This must change, sometime, doubtless. I may be called to-morrow, to captivity in sackcloth and ashes. God give me strength to bear, if the evil day comes. I write wildly and hurriedly to-night. To-morrow, perhaps, I shall have leisure to give you something like a home letter. Did I say I wish you were here? God forbid, except that you might be translated straightway back.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 359-60

Brigadier-General Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Budd Smith, March 17, 1864

Headquarters Div. Seventeenth Army Corps,

Red River Expedition, Fort De Russey,

Avoyelles County, Louosiana, March 17, 1864.

My Dear Wife:

My last hurried letter to you was dated from on board ship at Vicksburg. The fleet of transports under my command sailed from that point at seven o'clock, Thursday, 10th inst., arrived at mouth of Red River and reported to Admiral Porter on Friday at noon. At 10 A.m., Saturday, sailed up Red River and Atchafalaya under orders and signals from flagship Black Hawk, to Simmesport. Morning of Sunday debarked my troops for inspection, review and drill by regiments. At seven o'clock P.M., received marching orders, and at 8 P.M. marched, bringing up the rear of the column, repaired bridges through the night, roads for greater part of the way bad and swampy; bivouacked at 4 A.M., Monday, eight miles from Simmesport. Meanwhile, Gen. A. J. Smith, with General Mower's command, had reconnoitred the front, driven four regiments of the enemy from a fortification, situate some five miles from Simmesport, and was making across country for Moreauville on Bayou L'Eglise. Gave my troops rest two hours; at six o'clock took up the line of march, moving forward rapidly till eleven o'clock, when I halted, ordered coffee for the men and fed the animals. Meanwhile pioneers were reconstructing bridge destroyed by the enemy. At noon resumed march which till this time had led us for the most part through a rich and highly-cultivated country past extensive canefields and sugar-houses, now crossing a bayou and penetrating a swamp spreading some few miles before us. Ascending a slight elevation, we suddenly emerged in one of the most beautiful prairies imaginable. High table land, gently undulating, watered by exquisite lakes occasional groves, the landscape dotted with tasteful houses, gardens and shrubberies. This prairie, called Avoyelles, is settled exclusively by French emigrés, many of whom, as our army passed, sought shelter under the tricolor of France. Pushing forward rapidly, we gained Marksville at 4.30 P.M. Deserters had warned us that the enemy were on our left flank and rear as early as three o'clock. My troops were well closed up. Two and a half miles beyond Marksville, I formed line of battle at 5.30, my right resting immediately on the left of the advanced forces. My transportation and ambulances parked far to the rear. As my command came to front, brisk musketry firing commenced at the fort. Some shells fell to the rear and right of my line. I was ordered by the general commanding to look well to my rear and left wing, that I might anticipate attack from General Walker with six thousand Texans. I stood to arms. At 6.30 news was brought me that the fort had surrendered. I threw out heavy pickets, stacked arms and went into bivouac, a piercing cold “Norther” sweeping over the plain. In summary, I remark that the command on the 14th inst, marched twenty-eight and a half miles, built a substantial bridge of sixty feet in length, repaired minor ones, and took a fort between sunrise and sunset. But one brigade, Colonel Ward, commanding, was actively engaged; their casualties nine killed, thirty-seven wounded. The substantial results I enclose in memorandum of ordnance and ordnance stores, to which may be added a large amount of commissary stores, flour, beef, sugar and molasses, and three hundred and thirty-four prisoners, thirty-four of whom were officers from lieutenant-colonel to third lieutenant.

Meanwhile, convoy and fleet had made slow and devious way through the tortuous windings of Red River, where navigation at present stage of water is difficult. Rapid current, frequent eddies, sharp bends and snags, are the natural obstacles; to these the enemy added rafts and spiles; nevertheless, as the fort surrendered, the Black Hawk rounded to land shortly afterwards the general commanding received the congratulations of the Admiral, whom he will compliment by present of the nine-inch Dahlgren, of the Indianola, and the two heavy guns of the Harriet Lane, recaptured. My command is in occupation of the fort, and will be engaged to-day and to-morrow in the demolition of the casemates, bridges, etc., etc., and finally the blowing-up of the magazines, in which we shall permit to be destroyed vast quantities of powder. The main body under command of General Mower, convoyed by Admiral Porter, sailed last night for Alexandria, where I expect to join them in three days. Gen. A. J. Smith remains with me, and gunboats Essex and Benton, Captains Grier and Townsend.

A glance at the map will give you my present locality without the aid of sketch; but I will enclose herewith draft and dimensions of fortifications that you may intelligently answer questions; to which end, indeed, I have written you a sort of condensed report. If you have not “Colton's” maps, you had better buy first volume, North and South America; meanwhile you can borrow and trace me down the Mississippi, up the Atchafalaya, pronounced “Chafalia,” to Simmesport, across country to Marksville, from thence to Fort De Russy, on the Red, thence up the river to Alexandria.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 356-9

Brigadier-General Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Budd Smith, March 5, 1864

Headquarters First Brigade,

Fourth Div., Seventeenth Army Corps,

Camp Hebron, Miss., March 5, 1864.

My Dear Wife:

I have only time to write a single line giving the assurance of my personal safety and the crossing of my command over Black River, with but few casualties, after one of the most extraordinary marches known to modern warfare. The particulars I will give you as leisure serves hereafter.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 355

Brigadier-General Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Budd Smith, February 27, 1864

Camp On Pearl River, Ten Miles S. W. Of

Canton, Mississippi, February 27, 1864.

My Dear Wife:

I have opportunity to send a single line to assure you that I am safe and well. A glance at the map of Mississippi will give you our line of march and present location. The railway is marked from Vicksburg due east through Warren, Hinds, Rankin, Scott, Newton, Lauderdale, and Clark Counties, to the extreme western border of the State. My command has been to Enterprise and Quitman. I am now on Pearl River in Madison County, near Madisonville, within about seventy (70) miles of Vicksburg. Fire, havoc, desolation, and ruin have marked our course. The blow has been terrible, crushing. The enemy have fled before us like frightened deer. The whole railway system of the State is broken up. The railway I have indicated shows our pathway through the State. We have not yet heard from our cavalry.

My health is excellent, my horses have stood the journey well and the troops of my command are all well and in fine spirits. To-day is the twenty-seventh of the march; we have covered some three hundred and fifty miles.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 354-5

Brigadier-General Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Budd Smith, February 2, 1863

Headquarters First Brigade,

Fourth Div., Seventeenth Army Corps,

Hebron, Miss., Feb. 2, 1863.

My Dear Wife:

We broke camp yesterday and are now on the march.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 354

Brigadier-General Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Walter Smith & Elizabeth Budd Smith, January 9, 1864

Headquarters First Brigade,

Fourth Div., Seventeenth Army Corps,

Department Of The Tennessee,

“Camp Kilby” In The Field, January 9, 1864.

My Dear Mother And Wife:

I have just finished packing a box of books, old, some of them well-worn, and all of them, with one or two exceptions, have given me solace. You will find stories to interest the children at least, mayhap some that in revision will interest you. I quite envy the pleasure you will, I think, have about the fireside in the perusal of the old stories. John Randolph, in one of his letters, says, “Indeed, I have sometimes blamed myself for not cultivating your imagination, when you were young. It is a dangerous quality, however, for the possessor. But if from my life were to be taken the pleasure derived from that faculty, very little would remain. Shakspeare, and Milton, and Chaucer, and Spencer, and Plutarch, and the Arabian Nights Entertainments, and Don Quixote, and Gil Bias, and Tom Jones, and Gulliver, and Robinson Crusoe, and the tale of Troy divine, have made up more than half my worldly enjoyments.” I sympathize and agree with what he says. Everyone of those books is dear to me now. I got the second volume of Tom Jones by accident the other day, and devoured the whole of it at a sitting. So I would Robinson Crusoe, and I have never ceased to regret the loss of my first copy of the Arabian Nights, which someone of the . . . family borrowed and forgot to return.

You remember Uncle Jones made me a Christmas present of it, the first copy I ever saw and I incontinently devoured it, lying on my belly in front of the chamber fire at the immortal “Saunders and Beaches,” while they took turns reading French to you downstairs. The sensations produced upon me then by that book are vivid with me now. Still imagination “is a dangerous quality for the possessor.” Certainly, there is no pleasure so lasting, none to which we can so frequently revert and with so little danger of satiety; but a fine mind may be given up entirely to the pleasures of fiction, and by too free indulgence be enervated for profitable labor. Upon retrospection, I am satisfied that this was the case with myself. I read hugely, enormously, for a boy; more before I had reached my teens than many tolerably educated men in their lives. My reading ruined me for everything else except belles lettres and the classics. “Belles lettres and the classics” will do for the amusement of the fortunate recipient of hereditary wealth, but will hardly answer to get a living out of. Therefore, be a little cautious with the novels and the tales; they are all alike. Is there any chance for the Latin? I hope reasonable effort will be made in this behalf. You will be surprised at the change it will effect, the facilities it will give the learners in whatever else they are striving to acquire.

In respect to my camp, I am in what may be called a howling wilderness, deserted by all save prowling guerillas and my own soldiers. My regiments are scattered along a chain of bluffs, desolate and cheerless — this winter unusually bleak and cold. They are in tents or rude log huts. Timber is scarce, and water that is fit to drink, hard to get. The roads are so cut up as to be almost impassable. I am companionless, solitary; so far as interchange of sentiment is concerned, entirely alone. ... I make raids to the front in search of guerillas, and for forage and cattle, riding far and returning fast to my stronghold, sometimes imagining myself a Scottish chief, and living very much as the Scottish chiefs are described to have lived. I wish I had a Scott beside me now and then, to sing my lay. Where, or when, this life will end, I cannot say; I have no prescience of orders. I think we wait the action of Congress. We can't soon move far on account of the roads. Still, my camp life does not, with me, contrast disagreeably with the life I led at Natchez. Sudden change, rapid transition, is familiar to the soldier, who must learn to accommodate himself to camp or court. So long as my health is spared, I can contrive to be happy after a fashion under almost any circumstances. “My mind to me a kingdom is.”

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 348-50

Brigadier-General Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Budd Smith, December 22, 1863

Headquarters First Brigade,

Fourth Div., Seventeenth Army Corps,

Department Of The Tennessee,

"Camp Kilby" in The Field, Dec. 22, 1863.

I am glad to learn that you are all living comfortably and contented. You none of you have the most remote idea of the horrors of war, or the desolation and despair that is left in the track of large armies. I have known women whose husbands and brothers, and sons, have been forcibly conscripted, torn away from them at midnight by the rebels, left without food, fire, or clothes, sometimes sick in bed. I have known others who, two years ago, were of the most opulent in the land, who counted their yearly incomes by the hundreds of thousands, begging for food from our commissary. I don't know how it may be at the North. I am told by those who have returned from visits home, that the people they have met are callous and careless, and ignorant of the state of affairs here. This war has had its origin in lawless and malignant passion, and is the severest calamity with which this land could be visited. Seas, rivers, and harbors are blocked up, cities are depopulated, fertile regions are condemned to eternal desolation. Mourning, tears, anguish, misery, in its worst form, is the lot of a vast number of our people. Those who have immunity are blessed, and should be grateful to God. I imagine, that, aside from the evanescent sensation that a vivid description of a battle-scene gives, few think of the soldier in the field, or of those who sorrow for him dead. Part of the country is dripping with the blood of heroes slain, part is given up to feasting and revelry, at Washington the glory of Babylon has come again.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 345-6

Brigadier-General Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Budd Smith, December 13, 1863

Headquarters First Br1gade,

Fourth Div., Seventeenth Army Corps,

Department Of The Tennessee,

“Camp Kilby,” Miss., Dec. 13, 1863.

My Dear Wife:

My command has been ordered from Natchez and thrown to the front. I am encamped farthest to the front and close to the enemy's lines near Black River. In a future letter I will send you map upon which you can locate my position. The country is very wild and broken, and has always been sparsely inhabited. It is now wild and desolate in the extreme. I am upon a chain of bluffs cut up by the most extraordinary fissures. The subsoil has no tenacity, not sooner does the upper crust give way than the substratum dissolves like sugar, making the most hideous chasms and rents. The soil is bare and apparently barren save where the forest is undisturbed; but this is only in appearance, for here the best cotton has been grown.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 345

Brigadier-General Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Budd Smith, November 19, 1862

Headquarters First Brigade,

Fifth Div., Seventeenth Army Corps,

Department Of Tennessee, Nov. 19, 1863.

Your wildest dreams never shadowed forth the life I lead. I retain my business headquarters at “Kenilworth,” a most sumptuous and elegant house; but for my private quarters I occupy “Auburn,” a seat nearly adjacent, and the property of Dr. . . . the largest cotton planter and, probably, the richest man in the South. You may imagine my ménage. He is in New York; but I am rarely permitted to dine at home. There are several families, at whose table a cover is always laid for me, and the stated entertainments are of almost daily occurrence. I have never seen in New York or elsewhere anything approaching the style of living of the wealthy here.  . . . I wish you could see my apartments this morning — perfect conservatories. My tables are covered with bouquets, camellias, and violets, and geraniums in lavish profusion. The air here now is soft and balmy, the weather like our Indian summer; not quite so cool. The mercury, as I write, stands in the shade at seventy-eight degrees.

I wrote you that the beautiful sword, sash, belt, etc., that had been presented to me, was sunk. It was recovered, but very much spoiled. The agent would not receive it from the express company at Vicksburg, and I have never seen it. The saddle and bridle came safe enough and are very fine.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 343-4

Brigadier-General Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Budd Smith, October 26, 1862

Headquarters First Brigade,

Fourth Div., Seventeenth Army Corps,

Natchez, Oct 26, 1863.

By former letters you will understand my heading and dates; lest, however, they should not have been received, I will recapitulate, by the remark that I have been relieved from the command of the Second Brigade, First Division, now employed at garrison duty in Vicksburg, and have been assigned to the command of the First Brigade, Fourth Division. My headquarters at present at Natchez and the same quarters I formerly occupied. This change is entirely agreeable to me, the command equally good.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 343

Brigadier-General Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Budd Smith, October 22, 1863

Headquarters Second Brigade,

First Div., Seventeenth Army Corps,

Vicksburg, Miss., Oct. 22, 1863.

My Dear Wife:

I propose sending to you to-day, per Adams’ Express Company, a box of pictures.

The group will be interesting to strangers, containing as it does, Generals Grant and Thomas; the other gentlemen are members of General Grant's staff — Captain Jane, Colonel Duff, Colonel Riggin, and Captain Carncross, the latter aid to General Thomas.

I congratulate you upon the results of the late election, partial news of which has this night reached me. The soldiers of Ohio will begin to feel that they may yet find a home outside their camp. I think Mr. Pugh and his tool, Mr. Vallandigham, have gone to their political grave, from which there will be no resurrection.

Major General U. S. Grant and Officers
New Orleans, 1863

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 342-3

Brigadier-General Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Budd Smith, October 14, 1863

Headquarters Second Brigade,

First Div., Seventeenth Army Corps,

Vicksburg, Miss., Oct. 14, 1863.

My Dear Wife:

My last advices to you have been from Natchez. Since then, I have hurriedly changed my base. How long I shall remain here will depend upon other moves and circumstances. You must not suffer yourself to be worried for me if many days at a time elapse without intelligence from me; of course, communication won't be continually interrupted. I left very pleasant and luxurious quarters at Natchez, and some good and kind friends, to come into the field and the bivouac, soldiers' fates, and we make the best of it.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 339-40

Brigadier-General Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Budd Smith, September 27, 1863

Headquarters Second Brigade,

Second Div., Seventeenth Army Corps,

Natchez, Miss., Sept. 27, 1863.

My Dear Wife:

My reception at Natchez has been very brilliant, splendid dinners, suppers — all that sort of thing, with speeches, and songs, mirth and hilarity. My command is magnificent. I have six regiments, and a battery, one regiment cavalry, one of mounted infantry. My quarters are literally a palace, one of the most elegant houses in or about Natchez, situated in the most lovely grounds you can imagine, within about a mile from the city.

My troops are all camped close around me on the grounds of neighboring villas, which, combined, have heretofore given the name of “Dignity Hill” to my own general encampment. One of my regiments is in town on duty as provost guard. The residue keep close guard and watch upon their chief, and no baron in feudal hall ever had more loyal subjects. The rides and walks about are all most charming, especially at this season of the year, and I am in a constant state of regret that you cannot be here to enjoy it with me. If there was any indication as to how long I am to remain, I would send for you; but I may be ordered away at a moment's notice. Indeed, I have no expectation of staying here more than eight or ten days at the furthest. I shall either be ordered back to Vicksburg or directed into the field. Meanwhile I shall take the good the gods provide me.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 338-9

Brigadier-General Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Budd Smith, September 20, 1863

Headquarters Dept. Of The Tenn.,

Vicksburg, Sept. 20, 1863.

Mail of this morning brings your congratulations. I have been so long a brigadier that the mere rank added makes but little difference in my feelings.

I wrote you yesterday, urging you to write to General Grant; a few minutes since he showed me your letter to him of even date with mine, eloquent and well expressed, but brief. You must write to him more at length. In my judgment he will be confined to his bed for a long time with his injury. Such letters as you could write would interest him more than you can well imagine. . . .

I must tell you an incident which occurred to me the other day, before I went to New Orleans. The city of Natchez had sent up a delegation to wait upon General Grant, who turned them over to me. I was to escort them around the fortifications, and the General gave the principal man, the mayor, his war-horse to ride — a splendid cream-colored stallion, a little vicious. I was riding Bell, a horse you have never seen, but confessed the finest horse in the army, East or West; all have said so who have seen him — a large powerful brown or mahogany bay, great in battle, one who will yield the right of way to none. Well, we were riding in a very narrow gorge, the mayor had dismounted to lead his horse over a bad place, being in advance of me, when all at once he turned and a terrific conflict took place between the two horses. I seized the bridle of the General's, endeavoring to manage both; at the same moment mine reared straight upon his hind legs. I dismounted in the expectation that he would fall upon me, and as I touched the ground fell. Then these two great stallions, full of fire and fury, fought over my prostrate body, their hoofs struck together and each trampled within an inch of my head all around and over me. I lay still as if I had been in bed; I knew my hour had not yet come. My own horse was the first to perceive my danger; he retired a little from regard to me. Those who were by were speechless and horror-stricken. I rose unharmed, mounted and rode forward. I have never been in greater peril of my fife. God watches me in calm and in storm.

My old regiment wanted to make me a present of a saddle and bridle, and I am told raised in a few moments $975 for that purpose, and the thing was to be extended to sword, sash, pistols, everything complete.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 337-8

Brigadier General Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Budd Smith, September 15, 1863

Headquarters Dept. Of The Tenn.,

Vicksburg, Sept. 15, 1863.

My visit to New Orleans and the forts some one hundred miles further south has been fraught with much interest. I do not remember in all my life to have had so much hilarity and joy crowded into so brief a space of time.

It has literally been a triumphal march. The only alloy being the unfortunate accident to General Grant, who, I am happy to say, is safely at these headquarters, though I fear his accident will confine him to his bed for a good while.

The New Orleans papers have been filled with allusions to us in various terms of compliment. General Banks has been most assiduous in attention.

Of all this I will write you more at length the moment I find leisure. I have been assigned to active duty in the field and to command the Second Brigade, Sixth Division, Army of the Tennessee, reporting for duty to Major-Gen. J. B. McPherson, who, I am happy to say, is my personal friend. Of this matter I will write more anon. Suffice it now to say that the command is a very fine one, an eminently fighting brigade, and one that distinguished itself on my left in the assault on Vicksburg.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 336

Brigadier General Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Budd Smith, September 7, 1863

New Orleans, Sept. 7, 1863.

I open my letter to enclose a couple of cartes, one of General Grant, the other you will probably recognize. I will send the cartes of the residue of the staff to-morrow. They were all taken hurriedly, the weather intensely hot and the time noon, when we were all pretty tired, having had no sleep for two or three nights.  . . . Some day, when I 'm in a better humor, and get all my toggery together, I 'll have one taken in full uniform for you. The Adjutant-General of the United States lent me his coat to be taken in, and his figure being smaller than mine, makes me look pinched in the breast; it was as much as I could do to button it over.

General Grant is much improved this morning, and I think will be out soon again. Meanwhile, we are all very quiet and comfortably provided for. My diet being soft shell crabs and pompinot and nice fish that is brought me from the Gulf. General Banks calls, and all the other generals, and we are at no loss for society.

P. S. — There is a group of the General and his staff finishing while I write. Send in a few days.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 335-6

Brigadier General Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Budd Smith, September 1, 1863

Headquarters Dept. Of The Tennessee,

Vicksburg, Sept. 1, 1863.

My Dear Wife:

I am about to accompany General Grant to New Orleans; shall start this evening and be gone some eight or ten days, so that if you do not hear from me as regularly as usual you must not be anxious.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 334

Colonel Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Budd Smith, August 20, 1863

Headquarters Dept. Of The Tennessee,

Vicksburg, Aug. 20,1863.

I wrote you from New Orleans and am now probably in advance of my letter. Circumstances rendered it necessary for me to return with despatch, and I am now on my way to Cairo, and probably Memphis. I have traversed the Mississippi, the lower Mississippi, so often that I am as familiar with its banks almost as a river pilot. I shall leave this afternoon. Write you again both from Memphis and Cairo.

General Grant has not gone to Mobile, he is now in Memphis or on his return to this point.

The health at New Orleans is remarkably good, and this may be ascribed in a great measure to extraordinary cleanliness of the city and the perfection of the quarantine. Natchez, too, is healthy, and I hear no complaint at Vicksburg. I do not believe there will be what is called a sickly season here, or in the Southern country generally, and regret to learn you anticipate one where you are. You speak of rest for our armies. There is, there will be, no rest for armed men while this rebellion lasts. We have sent one army corps to reinforce Banks. Our soldiers are not suffering; they are well fed and well clothed. They want support and reinforcement from home, they want to see the conscript law rigidly enforced.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 329-30