Letter was penned by Thomas D. Smith from Fort Davies in front of Petersburg on October 6, 1864.

At top left of the paper is a dove in flight with a sealed letter around his neck. At top center is “U.S. CHRISTIAN COMMISSION / SENDS THIS AS THE SOLDIER’S MESSENGER TO HIS HOME, LET IT HASTEN TO THOSE WHO WAIT / FOR TIDINGS.” Below this is “BEHOLD! NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME; NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION.” At bottom of the heading is the location of the commission’s offices in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

The letter is headed “HEAD QUARTERS / SHARP SHOOTERS / 3 BRIG. 2 DIVISION / 2 CORPS.”

In the body of the letter Thomas talks of his father always being in debt and that he should save some money. He then goes on to say “WE HAVE A VERY FINE PLACE IN FORT DAVIES. THOSE JOHNNIES TROUBLE US VERY MUCH BUT THEM THAT IS IN THE FRONT LINES THEY KEEP A THROWING MORTER SHELLS INTO THEM.”

He next tells of the death of soldier from friendly fire. He says “… OUR BATTERIES OPENED AND THEY GOT SO EXCITED THAT THEY FIGHERED INTO COMPANY F AND KILLED EDWARD MALL. ED WAS ODERLY SERG. OF COMP. F AN ALL THE BOYS THOUGHT A GREAT DEAL OF HIM THEY SAY THAT HE WAS THE BEST SEG. IN THE REG.”

When Smith closes the letter he signs it “I REMAIN / YOUR AFFEDTIONAT / SON THOMAS D. SMITH / 3 BREG. SHARP / SHOOTERS / 2 DIVISION / 2 CORPS.” There is an ink smudge over the last name and there is also a second middle initial that looks like a “G.”

All ink is bold and very legible. Paper is in good shape with two horizontal fold lines.

With the letter is a typed transcription.

The writer of the letter having a common name forces one to look at the officer’s mentioned in the letter to narrow which regiment Thomas D. Smith was in. The writer refers to Col. Smyth (section not quoted above) and 1^st Sergeant Edward “Mull” (actually spelled MAULL) both of whom are found in the 1^st Delaware. A search of names in the 1^st Delaware finds a Lieutenant Thomas D. G. Smith in Company D. A search of the internet also shows Lt. Smith’s letters came up for sale not that long ago. This letter must be one from that group.

Thomas D. G. Smith was born in Philadelphia. The 18 year old enlisted as a Private in Company D, 1^st Delaware Infantry at Milford, Delaware on August 10, 1861. At the time he was described as being 5’ 8” tall with a light complexion, blue eyes and light hair.

The 1^st Delaware saw its first fighting at Antietam and later that month Smith was promoted to Corporal. Smith was present at Chancellorsville where he was wounded slightly and Gettysburg where he was wounded again. Through some confusion Smith was listed as a deserter while in the hospital but he was back with his Company in September 1863 and became a reenlisted veteran in December.

At the beginning of Grants Overland Campaign Smith was promoted to be 4^th Sergeant in his company. He was present for the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor and the siege of Petersburg. A commission to 2^nd Lieutenant came to him on February 15, 1865 and to 1^st Lieutenant the following May. He was mustered out on July 25, 1865.    [ad]

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