Sampson Smith
July the 22, 1861
Dear brother I take my pen in hand to let you (mistake) know that I am well at present & I hope when this few lines come to hand that they may find you enjoy the same blessing we got to summersvill (Summersville) this day weak (week) ago & I doant (don’t )know how long we will bee (be) thare (there)we may go away Soon & we may stay there some time it is notfor me to now (know) we took up double quick time for a bout (about) a half mile I went to jump across a mud hole & lost one of my shoes too I want you to write to me as soon as you can an (and) let me now whether Billy was left or not tell Richardson folks that I have seen Isek (Isaac) one time & tell them that Temple volunteer (volunteered) and went to Charleston I am in a bout (about) too miles of them now I had a fine time yesterday with the girls want you to let me know how the corn is gettin Along I want you to send me a little money if you can git (get) it Direct your leter (letter) to summers vill (Summersville) Nicholas County Va in the care of Capt _______.
Samuel Smith
Sampson Smith I want you to take this (mistake) (mistake) to batty (Betty) for me get the anser (answer) an (and) send it to me Camp Anderson White sulpher springs Wise Brigade VA
August 11, 1861
Dear Brother i take my pen in hand to let you know that I am vry (very) unwel (unwell) at presant but I hope when this few lines come to hand that they my find you all enjoy good health there are A (mistake) bout (about) twenty or thirty sick now and I want (want you all to send me too (two) check shirts (mistake) if you can now here is a pees (piece) that you mus treade (read) to Mr. Robinson for me I wante (want) him to write to me and tell me how the _____ is gettin (getting) along now for she is the darling of my harte (heart) the darling of the cabage line donte (don’t) you tell her this for pitz sake (Pete’s sake) I forgot to tell you to send them by Kensy _________.
Samuel Smith
Sampson Smith
Grenbrier County
August the 13 1861
Dear brother I forgt (forgot) to tell you that I wanted that money when you could get it(mistake) but this well doo (do) I (mistake)reckon when I am sick I want to get my self something good to eat and if I haint got money I cant (can’t) get (mistake) nothing
Our men was in _____of the enmy (enemy) yesterday and we thought that we harde (heard) the canons (cannons) this morning _____ on little _____ I suppse (suppose) they met we have not herde (heard) for surtain (certain) yet we are at the springs yet and will not leave for a good while I am not able to cary (carry) my (mistake) napsack (knapsack) yet I am still getting betterI hope that I will soon bee (be) able to go on after the rest of company I rote (wrote to you all to send me some food to eat I want some lite bread and some Pyes (Pies) and a chicken too tell (mistake) tell evry body (everybody) howdy doo for me as pesially (especially) the girls Just tell them that they must rite (write) to direct their letters in the care of Captain G.W. Hammond My best love to allof the family you must rite (write) to me evry (every) chance you have all most too months of my timeis gon (gone) and _____ was gon (gone)now I not bee (be) sory (sorry) nothing more at presant
Samuel Smith
Sampson Smith
April the 3 1862
Another after a few days absend (absent) I seat my self to inform you that I am well as I was when I left home except my feet is sor (sore) and my leg and hip still hurts me and I did not see any chanc (chance) to get off and I had to bee (be) mustered in to serves (service) yesterday at Lewisburg and today was march back a little this sid (side) of greenbrier bridge and ther (there) we struck up camp and we dont (don’t) now (know) how long we will be her (here) we hav (have) bin(been)sent back to half the other ment to fortify that is the monorw (monroe and greenbrier melitia(mallitia), thar (there) is about one thousand of us together and hav (have) about 100 tentson the ground I dont (don’t) now (know) when I can come home thar (there) is a talk of a draft to be maid (made) on us and I may bee (be) one of them for ought I now (know) if I am you nead (need) not look for me soon but I hop (hope) it will not be so when these few lines present themselves to your view I hop (hope) that they may find you all well Thare (There) is about from 25 to 50 sick one son this incampment at this time with the measels mumps and newmony (pneumonia) thar (there) is a nothern camp just coming in at this time I shant rit (write) any more at present but giv (give) my respects to your selves and to all inquren (inquring) friends you nead (need) not rit (write) to me tel (til) I rit (write) to you all again So Nothing more at presant (present) but remains
yours truly until death
Sampson Smith