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Civil War Letter Archive of James A. Smith, 9th New York Cavalry, Co. B....
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Description
Civil War Letter Archive of James A. Smith, 9th New York Cavalry, Co. B. A collection of twenty-nine letters of James Smith dated January 14, 1860 to January 2, 1865; 5 x 8 inches lined and 8 x 10 ½ inches; in pen for the most part with two in pencil. The letters are addressed to sister "Jane" and friend "Cal." Smith's grammar and diction not corrected.The 9th New York Cavalry, also known as the Stoneman Cavalry, was raised in Westfield, New York on November 19, 1861 and mustered out on July 17, 1865, and initially served in defending Washington D.C. before moving on to participate in numerous major engagements throughout the war. These theatres included First Bull Run, Brandy Station, Gettysburg, Manassas, the Wilderness, Cold Harbor and Petersburg. It was also present to witness Lee's surrender at Appomattox.
Smith was a Lieutenant in the Regiment under John Buford and is mentioned as playing a key role at the Battle of Gettysburg in the volume History of the Ninth Regiment (Jamestown: Martin Mere & Son, 1901). He was wounded in action sometime between Rappahannock and Culpeper. Smith writes principally from Camp Fenton, Washington, Centerville, Potomac, Rappahannock and Culpeper.
Writing from Washington on January 24, 1861, Smith lets his sister know that he has got his "...harness all right..." and is ready to go. Ironically, Smith is almost immediate injured in the testicle, in the battle of Rappahannock: writing from the N. E. Hospital on July 30, [1862], he tells Jane "...I am getting along...I shall go to the regiment next week I think it is a town blow Warrenton..."
To his sister on September 10, [1862], Smith writes from Chain Bridge after Second Bull Run (Manassas) his observation that "...We have seen some very hard times fore the last month we have been [in] two fights we won at bulls run we did not lose many men...we will be fighting in Pa. before long...I don't tell you anything about the feelings that I have the first thing we went into the field...I have saddle up I think we have a fight before night..."
In a letter on patriotic letterhead to his friend "Cal" written from Centreville, Virginia on October 3, 1862, Smith's enthusiasm has dampened "...I suppose you will be in the army before long and then you see how it goes...I hope we will be able to fight this thing out before long fore [sic] we will see hard times...We have not have had much Duty to do we have killed a good many men here there is not more than half of as 60 got here...You wanted me to tell you about the fights that I had been in we won at Bulls Runn and...and Fairfax..."
From Pleasanton Landing on March 13, 1863, Smith informs his sister that he will have a photograph taken and that ironically, that he knows less of the unfolding of the war than she does. Writing two months later from "Camp Near Potomac Station", May 23, 1863, he informs here "...We was not in the fight..." From Aldie on June 23, he writes that "...We had a small fight yesterday and lost three men...Our company and one other fought about two hundred of the Rebles we will have a big battle this week I suppose you think the Rebles are being up thrice [?] but I think they will have a good time of it if they do..." Indeed, two months later Smith writes to Cal on July 17, 1863 about the Battle of Gettysburg and that "...we have been in MD...we have had some of the hardest fighting in MD and PA that we have ever done we fought five days most all of the time for my part I have see all the fighting I care about...We was in Pa I suppose you heard all about it the 151 Pa they had a hard time I see Norm [?] today he was heare they will be home soon I don't think they will see...the Battle...I suppose you have seen accounts of Genl. Buford Cavalry Div...in his Command 2nd Brigade Col Devon Conally and Col Martin in William Sackett..."
Smith takes pen up again on January 9, 1864, writing from Culpeper, Virginia after the Battle of Rappahannock to his friend that "...I left Rappah on the 26th I was...order to Washington and then to my Company most all of the Regt is coming home...my Company is not going..." On April 23, 1864, Smith predicts that "...we will move soon there is some talk about the Cavalry moving on the Rebles Monday but I don't know if there is any truth in it but we are getting ready as fast as we possible for a march you will heare of some fighting when we do move... [January 13, 1864]...I am now with my company in the field most of the regiment has gone home your probably know about this..."
Smith then goes on to Berryville, VA, writing on August 18, 1864: "...I have just had a cavalry fight...our loss was very light..." and continuing in a bitter vein "...I suppose they will draft some of the dumb lazy...I suppose the people think this war is about over but we think it it has just begun we think the north is about as much against us as the south they stay at home...why in hell don't they come out and...fight...if they stay home let them keep still..."
It appears that Smith leaves the army for a spell and returns, on January 2, 1865 for he writes "...I think I shall go into the army..." Continuing on March 25, 1865, that "...I am in the army again...I could not stay out any longer than I did for it was so lonesome at home I could not think of staying there...I thought it was the best thing..."
Condition: Varies, with some letters exhibiting chipping at margins and weakened and toned folds, still very good overall.
Auction Info
2024 April 5 Historical Manuscripts Signature® Auction #6285 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
April, 2024
5th
Friday
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