Letter from Burnside Expedition - Dr. Wm. A. Smith - February 1862

Letter from the Burnside Expedition

Chenango American, February 6, 1862

The following letter from Dr. Wm. A. Smith of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], in the Dickinson Guard, has been received and we are permitted to make a few extracts.  It will be remembered that this regiment is connected with the Burnside Expedition.  the letter is dated Pamlico Sound, Jan. 21st:

We left Washington for Annapolis two weeks ago Sunday, being attached to Gen. Burnside's Expedition.  At Annapolis we were put on board the brig Arracon, but nine hundred men so crowded her that upon representation to the General in command, another ship, the H.E. Brown, was chartered and two hundred and twenty-five of the men with their proper officers were put on board of her, and I was detached to take care of them.

We left Annapolis two weeks ago tomorrow and Fortress Monroe four days after. We had a very stormy and dangerous passage--but are now safely at anchor within the Sound. The Arracon is still outside, but today two steamers have gone to her relief.  I pity the poor fellows who have been tossed by the angry waves for two whole weeks.  It is now reported here that the Expedition will be divided--one part going to Newburn, N.C.and the other to Roanoke Island.  Some of the vessels composing the Expedition have not yet arrived. Two are known to be lost. The steamer Pochahontas, and a sloop loaded with oats--upon the former were near two hundred horses belonging in part to a Rhode Island regiment, attached to the Expediton, but nineteen of the horses were saved. Including in the lost were two belonging to our Colonel. The crew and passengers escaped to the shore by means fo a hawser form the bowsprit to the beach.  One of the crew is now on board our ship and gives a thrilling account of the storm and wreck.  I have as yet heard of but three lives lost. The Colonel and surgeon of a New Jersey regiment, together with the mate of their ship endeavored to reach the harbor in a small boat but were capsized in the breakers, and all lost. The ship is now safely in and is at anchor not far from us. Two of the bodies washed ashore and a day or two since were buried in the sand.

A host from our ship has just been to the Fort and it is reported that the 89th (Dickinson Guard) is to take the place of Hawken's Zuoaves, and remain here.  There is some pretty tall talking among those who indulge in expletives--but we must obey orders however unpleasant.  I cannot answer for that portion of the 89th on board the Arrison, but out of the three companies on board this ship, I can report but three unfit for duty, and they are not seriously ill.  Bronchial irritaiton and rheumatism are the principal ailments.
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From Adjutant-General Reports
89th NY Infantry
SMITH, WILLIAM A.:  Age, 41 years, enrolled at Elmira, mustered in as assistant surgeon, December 4, 1861; promoted to surgeon in 103rd Infantry, December 8, 18682

103rd NY Infantry
SMITH, WILLIAM A.:  Mustered in as surgeon, November 29, 1862; wounded in action; discharged for disability, October 23, 1863

47th NY Infantry
SMITH, WILLIAM A.: Age, 43 years.  Enrolled, December 4, 1863, at New York city, mustered in as surgeon, January 10, 1864; mustered out with regiment August 30, 1865, at Raleigh, N.C.

Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, NY, June 10, 1863

The maniac who shot Dr William A. Smith some weeks since has since died from delirium tremens.  Dr. S. still continues to recover, and is expected home in the course of a few weeks.

Complimentary to Dr. W. A. Smith

Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, March 9, 1864

A correspondent of the Tribune, writing from Beaufort, S.C., on the 23d ult., speaks a good word for Dr. William A. Smith of this place [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], Surgeon of the 47th N.Y. Volunteers.  He says:

"Humanity and delicacy are indispensable characteristics of a hospital Surgeon in the estimation of Dr. Major.  These are not always combined with skill, nor even with zeal, among the medical officers of the U.S. army.  In Drs. W.A. Smith and Granville W. Weeks, in charge of the General hospital at Jacksonville, the Medical Chief has made a happy choice."

As the same writer gives an instance of the cruel heartlessness of other army Surgeons, on the arrival of the wounded from the Florida massacre at Beaufort, this compliment is by contrast all the more valuable.

Obituary, Dr. William A. Smith

Morning Sun, Norwich, NY, August 6, 1892

Dr. William A. Smith, a well known physician, died Thrusday, August 4, in Newark, N.J., at the age of 72.  He was a son of the late Samuel A. Smith, one of the pioneers of the town of Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], and was born in that town.  He studied medicine with the late Dr. John Clark, and graduated from the Geneva medical college. After completing his studies he located at Sidney [Delaware Co., NY] for the practice of his profesison.  About 28 years ago he moved to Norwich [Chenango Co., NY] and associated himself with Dr Bellows, remaining until the breaking out of the war, when he received a commission as assistant surgeon of the 89th regiment, N.Y. Vols.  Later he was appointed surgeon of the 103d regiment, and while detailed to hospital duty at Suffolk, received a severe wound, being shot by an insane officer, one of his patients. From the effects of this wound he never wholly recovered, and it was the indirect cause of his death.

After the war he located in Newark, N.J., where he built up a lucrative practice.  He was also politically prominent, and held many important positions, one being that of county clerk of Essex county, an office in which he was succeeded by his son who is now the incumbent.

Dr. Smith was well known in Chenango county, and has many relatives in this vicinity, among them being two sisters Mrs. L.A Clark of Guilford and Mrs. F.A. Bolles of Unadilla.  In Norwich his relatives are Mr.s E.S. Bradley, Mrs. R.N. Mills, Homer L. Smith and Mrs. G.H. Baldwin.  His wife was Miss Betsy Wade of Guilford.

Genial and social, the doctor had many warm friends among the poor, whose wants he was always willing to relieve.  He was their ever ready friend, not only professionally but charitably.  He leaves to his children the priceless inheritance of an unstained name.