Camp Near Falmouth April 24 1863
Dear Father & Mother
I take this oppertunity
of let you that I am a live yet I am
Sick with the Direahia so bad that I
have not bin abel to write to you
but I am little better just now but I
have not done any duty fore over a
munth paste I expected to bin home
before this time with out writting to you
But I got stucke in the mude like Burnsside
I was in fore a Furlowe for 30 Days and had
it sinded and all except Genl Couch it
was sinded by all the rest of the Gennals
and the Medictels Drectors on the 17th March
(St Patricks Day) and Old Couch got Drunk
and the nex morning he stoped ale Forlous
so the same Old Fool had to put (Dis a) proved
in stead of A Proved of by the
order of Genl Couch and then I would bin
all write then and then the Armey of
the Potomac I would said Goodby to for
I would go to the Hospitel In Phila an
got my Discharge from their then.
I expect you heard that I was getting a
Furlow by Molleys letter but now I
am tryeing to get my Discharge If i can
or to get away from heair or For some Hospitel
or nother for Old Virgina dose not agree with
me It has pull me down to 145 lb from 180
that was what I whaight when I was
first taken sick and some of the Lutent
are trying to get my Discharge fore me
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But I donte now how they will make out
with it But I hope they will fore it is
killing me down hear for I am getting
tirde of it any how it is colde hear as it is
in West Chester for I have got my feet
frosted any how that is more than I had
wen I was runing on the Rail Road It
is snowing one day raining the nex and blowing
so harde that a body cante keep their
tent on the loges fore it tooke loges and all
with it fore I had it nailed on it and tide
together it was very near take me bunke and
all I would not minde it if it would
blowe me home out of this country for
I donte like it at all and sooner it takes
me out of it the better I will like it
well there is nothing new down hear as I
see we are in the same Old Place as we were
there is so mutch talke we are going to
this place and that place and it turnes out
all stuck in the mud so they are saying that
we are goint to Fortus Monrow [1] but I gess
it is playd out fore the Irish Brig ade has
to stay hear to keep the Jonney Rebes from
comming over hear from Fredricksburg for
we go on Picket down thier they now when
the Irish Brig ade comes on Picket fore as
soon as we get on poste they comence hollor
over to us they wante to now wether we
have got any thing to send over to them
they have got little ships they send ofer
some Tobacco to us and we send some sugar
and Coffee to them and they write on paper
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and send them over to us thay are always sorry
when we go off of Picket they are frade of the
9 mounths men feer they will shoote them
the Rebes call them Harde Tacks for they
will sell their cattriges for Harde Tac
they Relive us on Picket as soon as they com
on poste our boys comense hollowing
Hard Tacks and soon as the Rebes hears
that it is Hard Tacks they wount say
a worde to them for they are down on
them and they keep dosile. I must Quit writting fore it
getting darke and my love to you all and
I hope to be home soon if I can to see you
all once more and give my love to Mrs
Apple and all the Famley and Mrs Crishman
and Anty Joyce and Beckey and all my Friends
a round home So Good By and love to you al
Father and Mother and Sisters and Brother
From Your Sone
Wm A Smith
Co A 116th Regt
Penn Volls