Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434) 560 Drillfield Drive Newman Library, Virginia Tech Blacksburg, Virginia 24061 Business Number: 540-231-6308 specref@vt.edu URL: http://spec.lib.vt.edu
Repository
Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Identification
Ms.1996.018
Title
Smith Family Letters 1861-1865, 1912-1996, n.d. 1861-1865
Quantity
0.2 Cubic Feet, 1 box
Creator
Smith family (Carroll County, Va.)
Creator
Smith, Frederick R.
Creator
Ridgway, John Nichols
Creator
Smith, Barton Pierce, 1838-1863
Creator
Smith, James R., 1831-1863
Creator
Smith, Stephen Mitchell, 1832-1913
Creator
Smith, William Alexander, 1835-1868
Language
The materials in the collection are in English.
Abstract
The collection contains forty-nine Civil War-era letters written by four brothers of Carroll County, Virginia: James R., Stephen
Mitchell, William Alexander, and Barton Pierce Smith. All four served in Confederate units from Virginia. The collection also
includes a family history and notes by Frederick R. Smith.
The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University
Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials. Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal
or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction . Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition
form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication . Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with
forms or to submit a completed form.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder],
Smith Family Letters, Ms1996-018, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
Source of Acquisition
The Smith Family Letters were donated to Special Collections in October 1996.
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Smith Family Letters commenced in October 1996 and was completed in November
1996. Additional description was completed in April 2009.
Alexander (abt. 1807-1893) and Charity (Mitchell) Smith (1798-1858) married in 1828. They had seven children: James R. (1831-1863),
Stephen Mitchell (1832-1913), William Alexander (1835-1868), Kiturah (b. 1836), Barton Pierce (1838-1863), Polly G. (b. 1839)
and Sarah E. (Sallie) (b. 1840).
James R. enlisted with Co. I of the 50
th Regiment, Virginia Infantry around May of 1862. He was sick and on furlough at home in Carroll County when he died in November
1863.
Stephen Mitchell married Mary Gillespie Lindsey (1833-1898) in 1855. They had five children. After Mary's death, he married
Emily Lindsey. Since Stephen was the only blacksmith in the region, it seems he was exempt for military service during the
early part of the Civil War. When the need for soldiers became pressing, however, he was drafted in late 1864. He served in
Company G, 54
th Regiment, Virginia Infantry. He seems to have deserted and hidden out on family land until the end of the war. He died in
1913.
William Alexander ("Alex" in the family letters) was a teacher in Carroll County, Virginia. He enlisted with Company I, 50
th Regiment, Virginia Infantry, in June 1861, eventually rising to the rank of 2
nd Lieutenant in May 1862. While on leave in October of 1863, he married Ann Electra Utley (sister of Barton's wife, Mary).
They had two children. William was captured May 12, 1864 at Spottsylvania Court House. He was held prisoner at Point Lookout
from until June 23
rd , then held at Fort Delaware until June 16, 1865. He returned to Carroll County after the war and resumed teaching. He died
from injuries relating to an accident in December 1868.
Barton Pierce married Mary P. Utley in 1862. They had one daughter. He enlisted in Company D, 29
th Regiment, Virginia Infantry, in February of 1863. He is often referred to as "Doc(k)" in his brothers' letters. He may have
had medical training prior to the Civil War, as he was assigned as a steward to the regimental surgeon. He was shot and killed
by the Home Guard while on furlough, September 24, 1863.
John Nichols Ridgway (1836-1898) served in Company D, 58
th Regiment, Virginia Infantry. He married Mildred Ann Kennett after the Civil War. They had one daughter.
For additional information, see the following (Virginia Tech Special Collections Call Numbers included):
Alderman, John P. 28
th Virginia Infantry . The Virginia Regimental Histories Series. Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, 1989. Rare Book Collection: Spec Civil War E 581.5
29th .A64 1989 c.2
Chapla, John D. 50
th Virginia Infantry . The Virginia Regimental Histories Series. Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, 1997. Rare Book Collection: Spec Civil War E 581.5
50th .C51 1997 c.2
Weaver, Jeffrey C., and G. L. Sherwood. 54
th Virginia Infantry . The Virginia Regimental Histories Series. Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, 1993. Rare Book Collection: Spec Civil War E 581.5
54th .E44 1993. c.2
The collection consists of forty-nine letters written by the brothers of the Smith family of Carroll County, Virginia, mostly
while they served as soldiers for the Confederacy during the Civil War. A majority of the letters are written to one of the
brothers, Stephen Mitchell, from encampments in Virginia. Other correspondents include: their father Alexander; Stephen's
wife, Mary; and two sisters, Sarah (Sallie) and Polly.
Most of the letters are reports of recent events in camp and daily life, frustrations with the "soldier's life," and inquiries
for news and letters from home. The letters also share information on family and friends from Carroll County who are serving
with the brothers. William's letters include some description of the battles at Lewisburg and Chancellorsville. Letters to
Stephen often contain discussion of the Home Guard and warnings to be cautious and avoid being dragged into service.
The collection includes one letter by John Nichols Ridgway of Franklin County, written in 1862. The collection also contains
supplementary information about the Smith family compiled by Frederick R. Smith.
The letters in this collection is arranged into six series. Series I-V are arranged by correspondent, then chronologically.
Series VI is arranged chronologically.
Series I contains the Barton Pierce Smith Letters from March to June of 1863. With one exception (a letter to his father),
these letters are written to his brother, Stephen Mitchell Smith. Series II contains the James R. Smith Letters from August
1862 to October 1863. His letters are written to Stephen Mitchell (and in one case Stephen and Mary) Smith. Series III includes
the Stephen Mitchell Smith Letters from December 1864 to February 1865 written to his wife. This series also has a photograph
of Smith's exemption from earlier in the war, and a pension check he received in 1912. Series IV consists of the William Alexander
Smith Letters from July 1861 to April 1864. The letters are mostly to Stephen, but also include correspondence to his father,
sisters, and brother, James.
Series V consists of a single letter written by John Nichols Ridgway to R.P. Wright, on November 6, 1862. Series VI contains
Frederick R. Smith's "A Smith Family History" from 1975 as well as his later notes and letters about the history.