Letters from Samuel O. Smith to his brother Gideon Wilson
Smith
Lansing, Allamakee, Iowa
Office of Halliday Brothers
Cairo, Ills. Nov. 12th 1862
Mr. G.W. Smith
Dear Brother:
I am well at present and the Reg’t are in
tolerable good health. It is 365 from Chicago to
Cairo. We were
31 hours running it being on a special train we had
to wait at the different stations to let the regular
trains
pass. Cairo is a very bleak looking town. The river
is full of boats. Among the rest are several iron
clad
Steamers that look like war. I cannot tell how long
we shall remain here but probably not very long. The
other four companies are here. We have pitched our
tents—a great many troops are leaving here for
Memphis where we will perhaps go.
Yours in haste,
Sam’l O. Smith
Aboard the Steamer Lebanon on White
river 1 mile from Duvalls Bluffs
Sept. 16th 1863
Dear Brother:
I left Memphis on the morning of the 7th arrived in
Helena same evening; waited there for a boat until
the
morning of the eleventh, got aboard the Lebanon bound
for Duvalls Bluffs on White river, arrived at the
mouth of White river same evening. As no boats dare
venture up the river without a convoy, we were
obliged to wait until Sunday 13th for a Gunboat to
escort us up the river, we have progressed slowly but
safely so far. We came about one hundred miles up the
river without seeing a sign of civilization except an
old deserted log cabin. We are now stuck on a sand
bar. The country all along this river is a dense
forest,
no sign of cultivation or civilization, except a few
old villages of log cabins. We saw but one white man
(citizen) on the river, but the women at these old
towns came down to the bank and begged for medicine
and newspapers. We are off the sand bar and going
ahead again. As it is time for the cooks to set the
table
for dinner, I will quit and close my letter after we
land. We get board on the boat for $1.00 per day.
5 o’clock p.m. Duvalls Bluff Ark. Little Rock is
in the hands of the Federals. They took it on the
10th Inst.
The 27th Reg’t is in the City, which is fifty
four miles from here.
I have had strong symptoms of the ague during the
last two days but I can get transportation in an
ambulance for Little Rock tomorrow morning.
Yours affectionately,
S.O. Smith
~*~*~*~
Miscellaneous information, dated 1863, from the papers of
Samuel O. Smith.
Headqrs Detachment 27 Iowa Vol. Inf.
Medon Tenn. May 8th 1863
To Saml O. Smith
2d Lt. Co B. 27 Iowa
Sir:
You are hereby detailed as a member of a Garrison
Court Martial to meet at the office of the Prov.
Marshall in Medon Tennessee May 8th 1863 or as soon
as practicable for the trial of Levi H. Eddy a
private of Co H. 27th regt. Iowa Vol. Inf and such
other prisoners as may be brought before it.
By Order of Maj. G.W. Howard. Comd. Post
M.G. Dorman. A.Adj.
Signal Party of Reconnaissance
Steamer Ella off Cairo Ill
December 26th 1863
General Orders No. 1 Extract III
First Lieut. Saml O. Smith Co. B 27th Iowa Vol. Infy.
Is assigned to duty as Quarter Master and
Commissary.
He will report during office hours any facts relating
to his duties and will receive his instructions.
By order of Col. W. J. Myer., Comd. Expedition, J.H.
Walker 1st Lt & Adjutant
Special Requisition For One Cooking
Stove
I certify that the above requisition is correct and
that the articles Specified are absolutely requisite
for the
public Service rendered so by the following
circumstances. Viz: for the use of Detachment onboard
Steamer Ella engaged in reconnaissance for the
purpose of establishing Signal Stations, under orders
from
Secty of War.
Samuel O. Smith
1st Lt. 27th Iowa & A.A. S. Detachment
Approved Albert J. Meyer Col. & Signal Officer
U.S.A. commanding expedition. United States Army will
issue the articles specified in the above
requisition.
Received at Cairo Ills the thirtieth day of Dec. 1863
~*~*~*~
Samuel O. Smith is wounded and captured at
Pleasant Hill
Notes extracted from the pension file of Lt. Samuel O.
Smith
On April 9, 1864 at Pleasant Hill,
Louisiana he was wounded and taken prisoner by the
rebels. The ball entered his neck on the left side of
the throat just above the breast bone, passed down
through his left chest, lodged in his back near the
back-bone above the “coupling,” and he was
supposed to be mortally wounded and was so reported.
He was lying on his belly facing the enemy when he
was shot. About six months after he was wounded the
ball passed down and out just alongside of the
fundament. He was treated in hospital at Pleasant
Hill, La, while a prisoner in the hands of the
Confederates until 16 June 1864 when he was paroled.
Headquarters Right Wing 16th Army
Corps, La Grange Tenn. July 24th 1864.
Special Orders, No. 72, Extract 5
Lt. S.O. Smith Co. “B” 27th Iowa Infty
Vols. Having been wounded & captured at Pleasant
Hill La.
April 9, 1864, and released on parole June 16th 1864,
is hereby permitted to go to his home in Iowa and
remain until exchanged. He will report weekly by
letter to these—and
Regimental—headquarters, and
upon receiving official notice of his exchange will
immediately rejoin his command for duty.
By order of Maj. Gen’l A.J. Smith.
J. Hough, Assistant Adjutant General
Headquarters Right Wing 16th Army
Corps. Holly Springs Miss. 13th Aug 1864.
Special Orders No. 101, Extract III
1st Lt. S.O. Smith, 27th Iowa Vols. Inf. Paroled
prisoner of war, will forthwith proceed to St. Louis
Missouri, and report to the Provost Marshal General,
at that place for orders.
By Order of Maj Genl A.J. Smith
(Signed) J Hough, Asst Adjt General
Headquarters, Department of the
Missouri, Office of Provost Marshal General
St. Louis, Mo., August 30th, 1864
Special Orders No. 225
Ist Lieut. S.O. Smith, 27th Iowa Vols. paroled
prisoner of war, having, in compliance with Par III
of
Special Orders No. 101, dated Headqtrs. Right Wing
16th Army Corps, Holly Springs Miss. Aug. 13th
1864, reported at this Office, is hereby directed to
report to the General Commanding for further Orders.
Joseph Darr Jr. 1st Asst. Provost, Marshal General
~*~*~*~
1865 memoranda found in Samuel O. Smith’s
papers
Hdqrs. 2nd Brig. 2nd Div. D.A.T.,
Eastport Miss. January 20th 1865
General Orders No. 4
2nd Lieut R.W. Wood 10th Kansas Vet Vol. Inf having
been relieved at his own request from duty as
Brigade Commissary. Samuel O. Smith 1st Lieut. Co. B.
27th Iowa Inf. is hereby announced upon the
Bridge Staff for that duty. He will be obeyed and
respected accordingly and will at once report at
these
Hdqrs for duty.
By order of James J. Gilbert. Col. Comdg Brigade.
(Signed) W.G. Dorman 1st Lt. A.A.A.G.
HeadQuarters 2nd Brig 2nd Div 16th
A.C. Fort Blakeley April 10th 1865
Inventory of Commissary Stores Captured from the
Enemy at Fort Blakeley April 9th 1865
9390 Lbs of Meat
78 Head of Sheep
58 “ Cattle
70 Sacks Flour
190 “ Meal
55 “ Shorts
24 “ Cattle Beans and Peas
17 “ Salt
41 Boxes Hard Bread
13 “ Soap
2 Fairbanks Scales
S.O. Smith
1st Lt. 27th Iowa V.A.A.C.
Hdqrs. 3d Brig. 2d Div. 13 A.C.
Blakeley Ala. April 12th 1865
Received of S.O. Smith Lieut and A.A.C.S. 2d Brig 2d
Div 16th A.C. the following list of Commissary
Stores. Captured at Fort Blakeley, Ala. April 9th
1865. Viz.
58 Head of Cattle
78 “ Sheep
70 Sacks of Flour
60 “ Shorts
24 “ Beans and Peas
17 “ Salt
40 ½ Boxes Hard Bread
13 “ Soap
2 Prs. Fairbanks Scales
One Lot of Meat said to weigh 9390 pounds.
John U. Coldren
1st Lieut. 20th Iowa Vols. And A.A.D.C. 3d Brig. 2d
Div. 13th A.C.
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