1862 November 24 near Gordonsville

Near Gordonsville Nov 24th
Dear Nettie
                    In my letter to Mother
some two weeks ago I stated that I
was on the point of setting ot to
Winchester to join my regiment
I did get as far as Gordonsville but
got there too late to get transportation
on the cars for that day which was
very lucky as otherwise I should
have had a long and useless march
for that night I heard that the
army was moving back from Win-
chester and a day or few after that
one corps of the army under Longstreet
was in the neighborhood of Culpepper
Court House.  I could not find out
for some time whether my regiment
was with Longstreet of Jackson
and just as I got ready to start
I heard that my division had moved
towards Fredricksburg.  this dis-
turbed my calculations again and
I had to wait a day or two before I
could hear something about them

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I shall start out tomorrow to look
for them: They are somewhere on the
road between orange Court House
and Fredricksburg where I dont know
but most probably close to Fredricks
burg  we have been having some
pretty cold weather here lately, frost
and ice and one slight snow storm
The Yankees seem disposed to have
a winter campaign for which I am
truly sorry as marching and fighting
during the cold wet winter months
will be anything but pleasant
I thought that I had experienced a
pretty hard time last spring and
summer, but that was nothing in
comparison to what the troops have
endured this fall, and what is before
us this winter. I am in hopes that
this winter will see the end of the
war  There is it is true nothing very
definite upon which to found such
hopes but there some few symptoms
which by the sanguine may be favor-
ably interpreted. You all have heard

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I suppose the rumours of recognition
and foreign intervention which have
lately excited the public mind
Although nothing definite has been
heard I can't help thinking that
there may be something in them
That is the only way I think in which
the war can be stopped and it must
come sooner or later I saw Dr Holt
and Willie Sims in Gordonsville on
their way home I suppose they
have got there by this time
Doctor Holt told me that Beltz Pos-
tlethwaite had gone home. I suppose
the girls are delighted now that
they have both of their brothers with
them.  I wish very much that
I had gone home with Sam--If I
had entertained the slightest idea
of ow long it would be before
I was fit for service I would most
certainly have done so  Give much
love to Mother Nell and the
Also to the Postlethwaites when
you see them.  Give love also to

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the servants and remember me to
all my friends and acquaintances
in the neighborhood
            Your affectionate brother
               Horatio N. Smith

Horatio N. Smith, Co. D., 21st Mississippi

MSS 3772