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--- 118th_new_york_infantry_primary_sources [2019/06/14 15:11]
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+++ 118th_new_york_infantry_primary_sources [2019/07/23 13:56]
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+----
+Letter from Oakley Smith to his brother
+Camp Wool Sept. 24/62
+Dear Brother
+Your joint
+and several letters came to hand
+day before yesterday & in order
+to secure another equally long
+and acceptable epistle, I hasten to
+answer it.  I thank you very
+much Henry for your promptness
+and also for stirring up the rest
+to write.  I will try to answer
+each in turn & think perhaps
+make out nearly as long as a document
+as yours.  In the first place we
+are just where we were a week ago
+and situated in every respect very
+much the same.  The boys are all
+having very good health, and
+are in fine spirits.  I assure
+you that - however much you
+at home may [...] your own
+safety & be troubled concerning
+our absence, that we do not get
+the amount of anxiety
+for ourselves.  A great many
+things in camp are calculated
+to keep up ones spirits.  In fact
+almost every day something or other
+amusing takes place.  The camp
+is perhaps a place of as much jollying as
+any, though too often there is
+too much wickedness and profanity
+mixed with it.  Our regiment
+is better in this respect than most
+of them are yet it is far from
+the standard of pure morality
+There is not as much swearing
+as there was a month ago & not near
+as much drunkenness for this
+there is severe punishment.
+In our tent we have very harmonious
+times. Perhaps with the exception
+of one we have as good a set of
+fellows in our tent as in
+any on the ground. It is now
+Wednesday evening if you should
+chance to make us a call & stick
+your head into our tent you would
+find us about as follows, beginning
+at the top.  Suspended on two sticks
+attached by ropes to the ridge pole
+of our tent hang our guns, at the
+rear end of our tent we have
+upright pole with tree limbs
+[...]  a few inches long on
+which are hung, coats, caps, and
+accoutrements,  at the height of three
+feet across this we have a board
+fixed for similar purposes.  The
+tent fronts to the south.  At the
+North end there we have our
+knapsacks &c. for pillows.  Our
+overcoats for a bed & blankets
+for covering rigs us
+for a sound sleep. At present
+Oscar is writing Brunnelle, Albert &
+Johnny Coleley are reading testaments
+& newspapers. Jo Fisk is down to
+the bridge & has been for several
+days.  Our furniture consists mainly
+of a plain board box two feet in length
+& 15 inches high and answer for
+table, bureau and writing desk besides
+having our corner for an ammunition
+box. For candlesticks we have bayonets
+for tumblers canteens & other thing in
+a style equally luxuriant.
+You wrote about David, if you
+will send me his address I will write
+to him.  I was afraid that in the late
+battles the boys might have been hurt.
+Write about all the boys you hear any
+thing from when you write again.  Thomas
+Turnbull, Martin Nichols, Ham Higby and
+others.  If you were here a month from
+now then you would have a good
+time gathering black walnuts and chestnuts.
+I have just been cracking a few.
+write often Henry whether you have
+much to write about or not.  I sent you my
+tuning fork which i did not want & [...]
+sends have you recd them. Good Bye Oakley
+The boys are all all very well
+Oakley M. Smith, 118th New York Infantry\\
+U. S. Army Heritage and Education Center
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 {{ :118th_ny:plattsburgh_republican._september_27_1862.png?linkonly|}}
+----
+Partial Letter from Oakley Smith to his brother
+Camp Wool, Oct. 9th. Thursdy
+Dear Brother,
+Your letter written Sunday reached me Wednesday night making the quickest passage of any I have recd. I rejoice with you at your increasing prosperity & success, & hope it will not be marred by any adverse fortune wither through the chances of war or through the natural & unavoidable accidents of human affairs.
+I would like to see little Nelly of whose advent you speak with so much paternal pride.
+May the little stranger who has already twined the cords of love and affection so closely around both your hearts, escape the dangers of infancy & childhood to become the ornament of her home & joy of her friends.
+I am also glad to hear of the general good health & prosperity of you all, & were this unhappy war at an end there would seem to be nothing to hinder our enjoyment & happiness. But there is no just reason for our being disheartened even by this. God revealed Himself to his chosen people in a cloud by day but in the dark tempestuous night - He shone forth in a flaming fire. In our national night The Same Being reveals Himself in the blaze of contending armies. His just anger at our national sins may consume & destroy, but if we follow the path marked out [...] if needs be longer than we would desire we shall reach the promised land. This war with every [...] in its progress seems [...] nation of the course of slavery.
+Unless the rebellion is ended in three months, the merry singing of bells which usher in the new year will toll the death knell forever of slavery on the American continent.
+Step by step it has been reached, led by ambition, urged on by a [...] determination. The rebels will hardly have reason enough left to [...] till the final step is taken.
+Then with slavery gone, the Union restored, peace secured, our country will be great & happy.
+Sorrow will fill many hours many tears will fall over the [...] of loved ones, many halting & crippled will live out lives of unwilling inaction, will fight over again their old battles, by many a fireside many will survive to live lives of usefullness & maintain the institution [...] their courage
+will pass tears for those who fell for the Union will cease to fall; sorrow for the fallen heroes will no longer moisten the cheek of sympathizing grief. Our hundreds of battle fields will be visited & dug up in search for relics of the great Rebellion.
+There is one other even to complete the picture.
+The trumpet shall sound & from the old battle fields shall arise brave forms over whose dust stood no monuments, no white glove of remembrance, forms clad no longer in martial array, but arrayed in white robes, bearing not as when they fell the flashing sword, or gleaming bayonet, but with harps in their hands, joining not now in the battle shout of victory but singing with heavenly melody "Halleluiah, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Glory & Heaven be to him that sitteth on the throne & unto the Lamb forever"
+Oakley M. Smith, 118th New York Infantry\\
+U. S. Army Heritage and Education Center
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Howard County, MD in the Civil War

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