Eight page letter written in black ink on white ruled stationary with embossed "Bath" in upper left corner. Written by James McDonald Smith to his wife in Pittsburgh, PA. An excellent long letter describing camp conditions, soldier's recreation and early battles and frustrations of the war. Pages measure 6 1/2" x 8", excellent condition. Accompanied by cover postmarked Washington, D.C., March 13, 1862 and addressed to "Mrs. J. McDonald Smith / Care of F. Wright Esqr / Box 438 / Pittsburgh Penna".

Smith, James McDonald, corporal, Co. A, 38th Pennsylvania Infantry, enlisted and mustered 5/1/61, killed 6/30/62. Charles City Cross Roads, VA.  The Battle of Glendale, also known as the Battle of Frayser's Farm, Frazier's Farm, Nelson's Farm, Charles City Crossroads, New Market Road, or Riddell's Shop, took place on June 30, 1862, in Henrico County, Virginia, on the sixth day of the Seven Days Battles (Peninsula Campaign).

The 38th, or the 9th reserve, was composed of eight companies from Allegheny County, one from Crawford and one from Beaver. It was organized at Camp Wright, near Pittsburg, and left there on July 22 for Washington, where it was mustered into the U. S. service for a three years' term on the 28th. On Aug. 5, it was sent to Tennallytown ; was assigned to picket duty at Great Falls for a week in September; went into winter quarters at Langley, and was attached to the 3d brigade of the reserve corps under Col. John S. McCalmont. This brigade, under Gen. Ord, won its first battle at Dranesville, where Ord recommended 71 officers and men of the 38th "For reward for their gallant conduct." On Mar. 15, 1862, the regiment left Langley, joined the army on the Peninsula, took part in the battles of Mechanicsville, Gaines' mill and Glendale, losing heavily. After a most fatiguing march the division joined Gen. Pope's army and participated in the second battle of Bull Run. It was then with Gen. McClellan at Antietam, where Samuel Johnson of Co. G captured the flag of the Texan Rangers, for which he was awarded a medal of honor. At Fredericksburg, Gen. Jackson, the first colonel of the regiment, commanding the brigade, was mortally wounded. Soon after this battle the reserves were ordered to Washington to rest and recruit and in June, 1863, the 1st and 3d brigades were assigned to the 5th corps. Gen. Sykes took command and the division fought vahantly at Gettysburg, many of the men near their own homes. The regiment joined in the pursuit of the enemy and the movements of the Army of the Potomac during the summer and the Mine Run campaign. At the beginning of the battle of the Wilderness, May 4, 1864, it was relieved and returned to Washington. It left at once for home and was mustered out at Pittsburg, May 13, 1864, when the veterans and recruits were transferred to the 190th Pa. infantry.

Text of letter reads:

Camp Pierpoint March 12th 1862

Mrs. J. McDonald Smith

Pittsburgh Penna.

My Dear Little Wife,

Here we are yet in the old place, wagons loaded with kitchen traps, hospital tent, + stores, colonels traps + commissary goods, horses hitched, Staff horses saddled + with their packs on + only waiting for ---- orders, + the ammunition train which we are to guard; we can move in five minutes. All of our Division left on Monday at noon, except our regiment which is the rear guard of the army, that is of this part of it. As I told you in my Monday's note I was relieved at about 121/2 P.M. + all the sick + cripples in the regt, put on as camp guards, "Ben Kerr" among the number. The number on guard is twenty eight including the officer, Ben K. is as well as I am, but is a dirty, bragging skulling coward, not fit for a "home guard" even. He can run around brag, swear + get drunk, but when it comes to doing what he came to do, to fight the coward is sick, cant stand a march, but all the time can eat his full share of rations, I wish he didnt belong to so good a family + to one that I care so much about. Most of the troops which crossed the Chain Bridge on Monday are lying on the ridge at + just beyond our pickets, waiting as we are for orders + ammunition. Yesterday + today are beautiful days, clear + warm and the roads are in beautiful condition for a move. I suppose you have heard that Manassas and Centerville have been evacuated, the works blown up + places burned. I have just been up to the upper street to see if I could get any news, but their is nothing new + I guess we will all stay here tonight. From Monday noon until yesterday evening the ambulance + wagon were all harnessed + stood so all the time waiting to move on. The horses are now in + as are all impatient to be off. We have three days rations in our haversacks. Our cooking apparatus was packed yesterday morning so we have no cooked meals + as we must keep our haversacks full, have been living on bread + crackers + coffee made in our tins. The coffee + Tea come into good play I can tell you. Ma sent me a paper of Coffee in the bundle, I have it in my haversack, I am now making a cup of Tea for dinner. All day yesterday our camp was full of visitors from other regiments So it is today. The fellows dont know what to do with themselves so are in all kinds of mischief, we have had several pitched battles on our street between the members of our company, our party at one end, the other at the other, throwing old shoes, lumps of earth, chips, tin cans + c at each other by the hour; then several games of ball have been played, + you can see the fellows sitting on stools in front of the their tents + in squads leaning against the cookhouse enjoying the warm March sun. Standing on the hill top at the battery the camps around all seem deserted, the clouds of light blue smoke, which used to hang over the whole face of the country, rising from the thousands of mud chimneys is gone + the eye can wander at will all around the horizon, seeing the fords on the other side of the Potomac, the white tents of the deserted camps + even the Flag + flagstaff at Ft. Pennsylvania nearly ten miles off. Only in one direction does the scene look familiar, in the direction of the picket line where the 25000 from the District are lying, in day time the smoke hangs thickly over them + at night the camp fires shine out by hundreds. What a grand thing it is that we have Manassas without the loss of a single man, I do wish that they would push in on now towards Richmond, I am only afraid that the troops are coming back here again. It is reported here today that the Rebels are pushing on to attack Burnside + the latter has dispatched to Washington for reinforcments. I hope that there is no danger of his being defeated there, but I am very much afraid that he will be if the enemy attack him. What an unfortunate affair that was at Ft. Monroe + what good news we have from Arkansas. We got a mail from town last night + I recd. a short letter from Tant the first I have recd from him. I will answer some day, if I live. I recd. a letter from you on Monday + hope to rec. one tonight. I hope also to hear from some of the folks at home, to night. I sent you a note by Mr. Bakewell also a small package of letters so as not to carry them into a fight with me. The last letter recd from you I have in my Bible in the left breast pocket of my shirt. This state of surprise is very unpleasant, we cant leave camp for fear the orders to move should come while absent. It is said that our division + that of Genl. Smith is lying at Hunters Mill on the Alex. + Leesbgh R.R. Penna Cavalry was the first to occupy Manassas + Penna troops also occupy Leesburgh + Centerville. Part of the force from Masassas, it is supposed sent to Winchester, which place has not yet been evacuated.

If I cant write to you on your birthday darling Pidgie I wish you a happy birthday + many, many, returns together + that the next one may spend together. Good night darling.

A quarter of 9 P.M. I have just come in from the upper street where I first went to get a candle from the Sutler then stopped to hear the Band play, + last to hear Tatoo, I tell you the 9 drums + 5 fifes did sound splendidly; there was quite a crowd around to hear them. Our old State drums were condemned + the regt supplied with U.S. artillery drums, very good ones. When I stopped writing this afternoon at about 41/2 o'clock it was to go with Murt out to the picket line to see the troops there; we went over the fields, Encamped in the lawn in front of Com Jones house we found the 6th Penns Cavalry Lancers, each man is armed with a long lance about 10 or 12 ft. long + a revolver, they are a fine body of men + have beautiful horses; next we came to the 10th Massachusetts, next the 7th Mass. 1st + 2nd R.I. 98th Penna, 13th Penna (Rowley's) 55th N.Y. 31st Penna + 61st Penna these ten regiments we passed through, + also some four or five batteries of Artillery + a squadron or two of Cavalry; besides these there are some 10 or 12 other regiments of Infantry + several batteries in all from 20000 to 25000 men. In cutting the pine woods just outside of our picket line they found a dead rebel, evidently dead for some time, shot by some of our pickets at night I suppose; they cut off his coat buttons + then buried him; this I know to be a fact. I have heard that two more have been found in the brush near the lines, these I suppose were some of the rascals who have been shooting at our pickets this winter. I went to the 61st regt. to see "Geb." Miller who is adjutant of that regt. he is a brother of George Miller, Mrs Chaplins son in Law, when you see Mrs C. tell her that I saw "Gip," + that he is well + give her my love. Five days rations have been ordered + our wagons have gone for them, all of the troops here have the same orders + some of the officers say that the intention is to send the whole of these 30000 to 40000 men to reinforce Genl. Burnsides. I hope it is not true, I would much rather stay here, I would like to see the fortifications at Manassas, which they say are tremendous. The purvailing feeling here is anxiety for Burnsides as it is feard that he will be attacked by the main body of the rebel army. When Murt + I got back we found that the mail had arrived + I recd. a good long + very interesting letter from you. I must try + answer both to night as I dont know when I shall be able to write a gain, not knowing what a day, or even a night, or hour may bring forth. I am not surprised that your letter sent on Wednesday required "two scholars" to carry it, for it was a very full interesting one. Collard + I have just come down from the battery hill, where we were looking at the campfires two miles off on the picket line. I tell you Pidgie they looked beautiful although somewhat obscured by the smoke which settles down in the valley. While looking, the notes of a Band some two miles off were borne to us on the still night air, softened by the distance but almost every note distinct + very sweet; we at once set it down as our Band althoug there are a dozen others over them. On coming down to camp we went up to the Band qrs. and found that it had gone over to Rowley's regt. to play for the officers. I am glad that you did'nt go out on Wednesday evng. do be careful if yourself dearest. I guess I didnt marry you just to be obedient dearest Pidgie but because I really "liked" you very much. Did Annie + Mr Lyon get over to see Sadie + did Pa scold about Mrs. S.

I am always wanting to see you dear Pidgie, + hope we will soon be together again; I like you, sometimes fell as though I must go home to you, but we must wait. My spirits are always good now. It seems to me that George keeps to late hours when he goes out to visit. To tell the truth Pidgie I am not disappointed at not getting a commission in the regular army, for the same reasons that you mention + besides I can do better at some other business. I would like to get a commission in the Volunteers + think it is to bad that Pa dont try to get me a position, but dont say any thing about it to him, or about the Regular service. I think if Howard leaves the company, Sowers will be 2d Lieut. I hope so. Ben's folks need not be at all anxious about him, he will always be sick when there is any chance of a fight. Mr Wade's cousin is a queer looking, but very nice pleasant looking old lady. Dick dont expect to get home. McClurg went to the City to ship Simm's body as his bro. did not come on. I hope we may be able to read those old letters over together. I tell you I prized those letters very much + read them over + over. I do like those short Epistles + like you dont understand the others. I like St. Pauls advice in them two verses very much. As you wished the rebles have had to leave the entrechments at Manassas. I suppose Mrs Gronan + Mrs Chas Schwartz will both have an addition to their families before I get home, but I hope I may get home before Mrs Schwartzs comes. I hope Mrs Page will get well + am glad that Mrs Miller has a daughter + is doing well. I hope Mother W. is well now. I must stop now it is late, I will answer the last letter as soon as I can Give my love to all. Please tell George to write to me as soon as he can. We have our fire in our tent to night + yet I am very comfortable. Just eleven oclock. Good night dearest, Dont worry about me, I was never so well prepared to stand + march or exposure. I am perfectly well. With very much love I am Your aff Husband J. McD.Smith.

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