Francis M. Smith was born Oct. 4, 1827  in Snow Creek, Stokes County N. C.  His parents were Joseph and Elizabeth Smith.
He settled in the Bloodworth District of Wilkinson County in August 1858, marrying Mary Ann Youngblood in 1859. His children were
Lathadeus Columbus (1859), Francis Marion. Jr.  (1862), Lizzie/Bettie (1865), Nancy E. (1867) William Lee (1870), Bettie, Clayborn (1874) Amanda (1879), He enlisted Mar 4 1862 at Camp Davis Savannah as a private in Co. A, 49th Georgia. Served throughut the war, was home on Furlough when the war ended.
 
 

Winder Hosp near Richmond Virgina
Feb. 1, 1863

Dear Brother

I take the opportunity to drop you a few lines to answer yours of 23 of January.  I was happy to hear from you and hear that you was all in good health.  I was sorry to hear that you was wounded but I hope that you will get well of your wound.  I am in common  health hoping this may come to hand with you all enjoying the best of health.  I have nothing of importance to write nor that I hear that the blockade of Charleston is raised and free trade through that port.

I have received two letters from home recently.  My family was not very well though they was up and about.  I received a letter on Friday from my wife.  Lime is only tolerable good in  my coutry corn is worth $1.30 pork 2.5.  Mr Collins is hear with his arm broken.  He is getting along very well.  He sends his respects to you and family.  I believe if I was in your place I would come on to Richmond and get a discharge.  If you can’t get one here you can go on to your regiment and get examined and resign your office and get a discharge.  I don’t think you will be able to resume your duties.

If you come to Richmond be sure and come to see me. You can fine me in Ward Ga 3 Div.  Winders Hospital. I am acting as a nurs(e). I want you to bring me 2 pair of socks yarn, I can git anything from home. I will satisfy you for them. I want you to write to my wife as she is very anxious to hear from you & family & mother. You will direct your letter to Mary Smith, McIntyre, Ga. It is the general opinion .that the war will not last much longer. I want you to give my love and especially to my old mother & recive a due portion to your self & family. Give my love and respect to William F. Smith & family. Give my best respect to A. Spencer & family & all  inquiring  friends. You must write on the reception.of this. There's is not as much sickness in the camps as there's been. There's a few cases of  small pox here but not as many as there has been. There is but few  cases of sickness here now.

 I send your family my best respects.  I will close by asking you to remember me. I remain your Brother until death.
F. M. Smith

(NOTE: 1st Lietuenant C. C. Smith, 22 Regiment, North Carolina, resigned due to disability May 29, 1863, He was wounded in the 2nd Battle of Manassas in August 1862)
 
 

Sep 30  1863
Camps near Orange Courthouse Va. Sept the 30th 1863

My Dear Brother
  It is with pleasure that I seat my self to drop you a few lines which leaves me will at the present hoping these few lines may read you all enjoying the same rich blessings. I haven't any news that is interesting to relate to offer this morning in our army. Seems to be lying quiet at present and I do pray that it may remain so until we can have some honorable terms of peace. I received your very kind letter a week or so back but we being in a stir I haven't had time to answer it till the present. Everything here are very high. We have meetings here constantly.  A great many join the church. I can say to you that I were baptised yesterday about 12 o'clock. I  expect to serve God the ballance of my days as is my desire if it could be so for you to do the same. So if we never meet on this earth again that we may meet at the right hand of God where parting is no more. Times is very hard here but so far as eating is concerned we got plenty to make out on. The weather are very cool some nights. we have had some 3 or 4 frosts  here but if we had nothing more to. contend with than the eating part. We would like very well but they got to shooting men so that the whole camps are confused. I saw two men shot last Saturday, but I hope that I may live and keep seeing but never want to see any more men shot for it is a dreadful sight to be seen.. There are 4 to be shot out of Scales Bridgade next Saturday at eleven o'clock so nothing more.  I remain your loving brother till death. F. M. Smith

Camps near Orange Court-house Va.
Sept the 30th 1863

My Dear Mother
        It is with pleasure that i seat my self to drop you a few lines which leaves me well at present and which I do truly hope may reach you enjoying the same rick blessings. I haven't any new that is any ways interesting to relate to you at this time and army seems to be lying quiet at this time. I hear from home a few days abck that is I got a letter from my wife and she and my children were well. I can say to you mother that I were baptised yesterday at 12 o'clock. I have had a hope in God for some time but fearing  I wasn't changed to this present. I expect to live inthe righteous ways as much so as I can and serve God the ballance of my days. I hope the end of this terrible war is not far off. I put my trust in God tha he preserves me from all harm and bring me safe through this war but I shall live in hopes if I die in dispair I want you to write to me as often as you can and I will do the same. I can also say to you that my wife has joined the church some few weeks back. We are both in the Missionary Baptist Church. I want you to give my love and best respects to Spencers family and all enquiring friends. I want you to write to me whether Spencer is gone to the war or not and how his family is getting a long. I haven't time to write much for the drum is beating for service now so nother more at present so I will close with the anticipation of hearing from you soon. I remain your loving son till death.
Francis M. Smith.

(NOTE: F. M. Smith was sick in hospital Jan 1, 1864. Home on furlough when war ended.)
 

Colesville, Stokes Co. N C
July the 1, 1864
  To the commandant of Co A 49 Regt Ga Vol.
Dear Sir
  I, the undersigned am brother of F. M. SMith a member of your Co. I've fail to get any communication from him of late. I fear that there was some of the mishaps or casulaties of war befell him of which all soldiers are subject to. Please sir give me information required & Oblige yours. Please rite soom  Direct to Colesville Stokes Co. NC

Wilkinson County, Ga
December 25, 1869

Dear Brother,
I drop you a few lines to inform you that my health is not very good. I have been sick but am better. The balance of the family is well. Brother, I wrote you a letter about two weeks ago but have never reecived a line from you. Brother I would be glad if you could lend me as much as fifty dollars and I will pay you a good present on it if you can let me have it till the first of November next. I want to start me a little crop and nothing to start on. I will pay you the money back the first coffot I sell in the fall. Dear brother I would be glad if you could acommadate me to the loan of a few dollars. I have got me a horse and could make a very nice crop if I had the means to start on. Write to me and let me hear from you soon  if you can or can not. I would be glad to hear from you soon. I will close. I remain your brother till death.

source: Orginal letters (copyright) from Mike Lari , descendant of C. C. Smith; Confederate Pension Applications. Census Records