Description:

ALABAMA SOLDIER'S LETTER GROUPING TO HIS WIFE DESCRIBES THE POOR STATE OF THE CONFEDERATE ‘OLD MEN'
Good group of six letters written by Confederate soldier W.D. Smith to his wife and children from several camps near Pollard, Alabama. The letters were written between August and November, 1864, and together present a vivid picture of the poor state of the Confederate soldiery in the latter part of the Civil War. Includes: manuscript letter, 2pp. oblong 8vo., ‘Camps Near Pollard', Aug. 30, 1864, in small part: ‘...I can say to you the we are ordered away from her But I don't no where we will go or whither we will go att all or not [all sic]…' WITH: manuscript letter, 2pp. 8vo., ‘Camp Dalles Near Pollard Ala', Oct. 3, 1864, in part: ‘...your letter my Dear found me in the best of health, but I don't know how longer I will continue so. For we have a great deal of Sickness in Camps. I believe there about thirty (30) of our Command now sick, we sent off to the hospital on last Saturday 4 of our men, and one of them died on his way to that place… on the same night we had 3 others that Deserted and went home, times are pretty hard here [all sic]…' WITH: manuscript letter, 2pp. 8vo. ‘Camps Lee near Pollard', Oct. 20, 1864, in part: ‘...I am a Doing as well her in camps as could be expected and there is a grate menney more Por old men that is her in the same fix that I am there is a grate meney old men her now in cmaps that could hardly walk a mild in the corse of a Day and sum of them so that they can not set up at all… I Dont think that the government or head offisers Ever intendes to let this old clase of old men Ever come home to stay Long any more for the wont give one a furlow if he is so sick that the think he will Die in a few Days [all sic]…' WITH: manuscript letter, 2pp. 8vo., ‘Camp Lee near Pollard', Oct. 22, 1864, in part: ‘...there is come in orders to camps this Evening for all to cook three Days Rasings [rations] but what is the cause we can not tell for the offisers Dont let the Prevets [privates] know what is going on at all I Don't think it will turn out to much as it has ben the case several times… there is half of the old men her on the sick List and is not fite for Duty and there is not much chance to get well here in the open camps [all sic]…' WITH: manuscript letter, 2pp. 8vo., Pollard, Oct. 28, 1864, in part: ‘...I was sent to the Hospital at Greenville on the 25th of this Month and returned to my command on the 27th my Desease was not the Cronic order Consequently the Doctors would have nothing to do with my case, their has been a greate deal of sickness in Camps but they are all getting better now [all sic]…' WITH: manuscript letter, 2pp. 8vo., ‘Camp Dallas Near Pollard Alabama', Nov. 5th, 1864, in part: ‘...I want you to take good care of every thing until I come home, I hope it will not be much longer, for I am tired of living from home so much, times are pretty hard here, and Rations not so good as it has been [all sic]…' Smith signs at the conclusion of each letter in black ink, but unfortunately never identifies his rank or regiment. All show folds, with some foxing, soiling, stains and fading to the ink, still in very good legible condition overall. Also present are the partial leather wallet and cloth pouch in which the letters were discovered. Eight pieces. Pollard, Alabama, would be overrun by Union troops in December of 1864, with many buildings burned and the railroad line destroyed, and would be permanently occupied in march, 1865.

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November 14, 2025 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

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