Head Quarters 20th Reg,t CV
Stevenson Ala Nov th 23 1863
Dear Wife & Children
I received your letter of the 12th this morning should got it last night if the cars had not run off the track was glad to get a line from all of you and to hear that you ware all well. I am as well as usual. The weather is mild it looks like rain to night but if it rains I have a good place to stay in that is something that I could not always say but am thankful that I can now and hope it will remain so all winter, I am setting in my shanty this evening befor a good fire have got a decent kind of a table so I have rather of a better place to write than I have had sometimes there is four of us live together in one hut two of them are out somewhare at this time and the other one is laying on a bench before the fire his name is Asahel S. Rockwell he is my bedfellow You wanted to know if Sidney or Elbert are here now they are not I have not seen either of them since we ware on the march to Gettysburg, You want to know if I dont want you to send me a box of things I do not, Not but what I should like to receive a box from you filled with choice things as it probably would be but the cost to get a box from there here would be double what the things would be worth after I had got them therefore I think it best for you to keep the box and what it would cost to get it here and I will live on what the government furnishes then I I ever live to com home and you have any extries to spare I will help eat them if I should not then you and the children will have what a box would cost it might do you more good than it would me now I have enough to eat and that is all a soldier wants, Wal Frank I received your manuscript was very much pleased with it but I dont think I could spare a [V] just now for you to lay out for Boots and a sled you must remember that it is hard times now and I guess that a good pair of shoes will answer your turn this winter I have to ware shoes and have ever since I left home You must be a good boy & go to school every day and see how much you can learn this winter learn to read spell & write so that you can write me a good long letter if you will do all that I have wrote here perhaps Mother may buy you a sled but remember what you have got to do if you have one, Now Edgar I have a few words to write to you I received a line from you and was well pleased with it I didnt know but you had forgot that you had got a father as I had not heard from you for so long a time I see that you are quite a writer and I hope you will improve every opportunity and all of your time in trying to get a good education, You said you wished that you was down here with me so as to shoote Pigeons, I am afraid when it come night you would cry wors to go home then you did when you went peddling fish with me up to Hebron. You must write oftener then you have improve all of your leisure moments in study and writing you never will be sorry if you take a Fathers advice, If you do not try whilst you are young to learn when you get older you will be sorry, Georgia what shall I say to you. I received a good long letter from you this time I am glad that I have got such a nice girl to write to me I got a very good idea of what the folks are about round home from what you wrote I was glad to see that you think somthing of yourself and I hope you may never do anything that will degrade you or bring disgrace on your parents You must be a good girl and see how fast you can learn this winter for you are growing older every year and by & by you will be to old to go to school and I want you should get learning so that you can teach school for someday you may have to earn your own living we cant tell what will happen, I think you have got a very pretty dress rather of better than a poor girl like A.C. Smiths can aford in times of war, but seeing you have got it I gess you will have to ware it I should like to be at home to see it on you to see which looks the best you or the dress, The old saying is fine fethers makes fine birds I hope that will be the case with you, Remember my advice Georgia to carry yourself straight My love to and a kiss for all of you From Your Affectionate Husband & Father
A.C. Smith
Copyright © 2009 Bruce E. Leandro. All rights reserved.