Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 34.djvu/171

 Yankee Gunboat "Smith Briggs." 1(53

ing as white as this Paper i am writing upon Now Thought i would be among you in December Last and Could ask the Ques- tions for myself on my Return from the Dedication of a Monu- ment at Andersonville, Ga. to all who Died Down there in 1864 and 1865 But on account of a Bad Spell of Rheumatism i could not go to Georgia to the Dedication So i am Now Confined to the House with the Same Trouble So i Thought i would write to See if i Could get Some Information to Gladden the Heart of the only one besides myself who is living out of no who was taken at Smithfield the Information i would Like to get is what the Name of the Battery opposed us and the Name of the Caval- rymen and the Regiment of Infantry. Perhaps Some one may be in your Town to Day who was in the fight who Could tell you all about it i am only 63 years old and Surely Some one is a Living at this Day who Saw That Little fight:

What Become of the Remnents of the Gun Boat and how far was it to That Peice of Woods where the fight opened on Satur- day how far is it to Ivor Station where one of our Wounded was Burried if it isn't to tiresome Give me *a Good Long Let- ter how things went on in Smithfield until after the Close of one of the Most Unjust Wars That History Ever Recorded and my Prayers are That Such a War will never Take Place again in this Great Country of ours to mar the peace and Hap- piness of the Greatest Country on the Face of God's Earth.

We were Taken to Belle Isle Near Richmond and on the 10 Day of March we were Taken to Andersonville Georgia marched in the Stockade Down there on St. Patrick's -Night March I7th Released October i8th 1864 and 5 came home and only two now left if you can't find time to answer give this to Some Good and Kind Hearted Lady to answer. Enclosed Please find Stamps for answer, my Name and address W T illiam W. Rodgers, 2553 North Colorado Street, Philadelphia, Pa.

Fraternally yours,

WILLIAM W. RODGERS.

Mayor Joyner, of Smithfield, referred the above letter to Mr. R. S. Thomas, who, in making the following full reply, added to the store of very interesting Confederate history.