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Richmond May 26th
1862
Dear Sister
I take my pen in hand
to write you a few lines before the
yankees get me. We expect a terrible
battle every day close to the city.
as they are not more than a few
miles off. There has been some
skirmishing already and the
booming of cannon is distinctly
heard here indicating the storm
approaching that is about to burst
upon us at any moment. I expect
to take part in the performance.
Jeff Davis say's he is deter
mined to defend Richmond to
the last extremity. You know that
the Merrimack has been blown
up. What do you think of it.
I tell you what I think. It
was from what I can under
stand since that it was un
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necessary if not criminal as
I see no good reason for so doing
She could have laid at the mouth
of the James River and protected
it from the [ingress?] of the enemy
gunboats. There is something
rotten in Denmark. A dispatch
came in today stating that
Jackson had gained a victory
at Winchester. I hope it is so
if the Yanks whip us here I
shall despair of our success.
I wish we had old Beaure
gard here. I would have ten
times more confidence than
I have in the others all put
together except Price and
Jackson. Johnston in my
opinion is too fond of retreat
ing and not fighting. That
is the reason I believe that
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the enemy is so close to us now
at the very gates of the Capital
It is a wonder that they didn't
evacuate Virginia altogether.
When they have chances to attack
the enemy they won't do it. But
wait and look on gaping un
til McClellan is revisits
them and then they have to
retreat and destroy their
[stones?]. We ought to have a general
like old Bonapart he never
waited for the enemy to attack
him but always attacked them
whenever an opportunity came.
Beauregard and Jackson
approaches nearer to him in
that respect than the others
he would went right into
Washington at Manassas
if old Davis had let him.
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well let things be as they may.
Look out for a small row
over here before many days
in which I wouldn't be sur
prised if somebody should
get hurt. I understand you
don't receive my letters regular
although I answer you every
time you write. It is the
carelessness of the Post Office
Clerk I reckon. Give my
love to all and accept the
same for yourself. Good
bye until I write again.
From your affectionate
brother Henry W. Smart
