William A. Smith Letter
William A. Smith of the 116th Pennsylvania Infantry (also called the Irish Brigade) wrote this letter to his family in Chester County, Pennsylvania on August 30, 1863. In it, he reports that three men from the 2nd Division (one from the 71st Pennsylvania Infantry and another from the 20th Massachusetts Infantry) were executed for desertion and speculates that some from his own regiment might suffer the same fate.
Dates
- 1863 August 30
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Conditions Governing Use
The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
0.1 Linear Feet
Abstract
William A. Smith of the 116th Pennsylvania Infantry (also called the Irish Brigade) wrote this letter to his family in Chester County, Pennsylvania on August 30, 1863. In it, he reports that three men from the 2nd Division (one from the 71st Pennsylvania Infantry and another from the 20th Massachusetts Infantry) were executed for desertion and speculates that some from his own regiment might suffer the same fate.
Biographical/Historical Note
The 116th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry (USA) recruited its soldiers from the Irish Americans of Pennsylvania, primarily Philadelphia. Dennis Heenan served as the regiment's first colonel. The unit was assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, II Corps, Army of the Potomac, known as the Irish Brigade. The regiment fought in the Battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg.
William A. Smith enlisted in the Union Army on August 21, 1862 as a Private and joined Company D of the 116th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.
Arrangement
This collection consists of a single folder.
Acquisition Note
Special Collections purchased this letter in April of 2011.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository