Civil War Union Army Soldier. He was mustered in as a Private in Company C, 20th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry on September 8, 1862. Promoted to Corporal on December 25, 1863, he was wounded in the leg during the March 19, 1865 Battle of Bentonville. He had his leg amputated, but died of infection on the 28th.
He was eventually interred in what became Raleigh National Cemetery, where he rests today in Section 7, Site 279.
His family erected cenotaph to him in their family plot in Ashley Falls Cemetery, Sheffield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts.
On September 16, 1865 his wife, Lucinda Smith, filed for a US Army Widow's Pension (Application #109410, Certificate #76056).
Kerry L. Bryan adds:
Abner dictated a letter to his family on March 23, 1865, in which he tried to strike an optimistic note:
Hospital Near Goldsborough March 23rd 65 [different handwriting- a nurse or other soldier?]
My Dear wife it is under rather peculiar circumstances I cause this letter to be wrote but while some has been cut down I am still living minus one leg feeling thankfull that I am so well- I am of it was on the 19th inst when the accident hapened and we have had to be brought here on an ambulance thus far but I dont expect to be long here and you nead not write to me till you hear from me again The right leg is cut off above the knee and the wound is doing first rate you need not worry about me. I will write you again soon I think with some care I may be permited to come home before long for I no dont bad?best? we shall be sent to our respective states when we are able to stand it we have every thing in our favor the weather is fine and plesent and we have no flys to bother us now what there is in summer we have lost some sixty in our regiment since the 12th inst 6 killed the rest wounded Dear children I would say a word to you I am thankfull to god that I am so well as I am I would have you be good children till I see you again of which I hope wont be long may god in his mercy spare us all to meet again once more in the flesh from your ever afectionate husband and father Abner C Smith
But Abner did not survive. Evidently his wound became infected, he sank rapidly and died on the morning of March 28th, 1865. The final letter in the Smith family collection is a letter of condolence from the 20th CT chaplain, Charles Lyman of Canton, CT.
Abner was initially buried on the ground of the Goldsboro[ugh] , NC women's college that served as Union field hospital in late March, 1865. Sometime in 1866, he was removed to the new Union National Cemetery in Raleigh, NC. That is where Abner is at rest and where I privileged to find his grave in May, 2010.
He was eventually interred in what became Raleigh National Cemetery, where he rests today in Section 7, Site 279.
His family erected cenotaph to him in their family plot in Ashley Falls Cemetery, Sheffield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts.
On September 16, 1865 his wife, Lucinda Smith, filed for a US Army Widow's Pension (Application #109410, Certificate #76056).
Kerry L. Bryan adds:
Abner dictated a letter to his family on March 23, 1865, in which he tried to strike an optimistic note:
Hospital Near Goldsborough March 23rd 65 [different handwriting- a nurse or other soldier?]
My Dear wife it is under rather peculiar circumstances I cause this letter to be wrote but while some has been cut down I am still living minus one leg feeling thankfull that I am so well- I am of it was on the 19th inst when the accident hapened and we have had to be brought here on an ambulance thus far but I dont expect to be long here and you nead not write to me till you hear from me again The right leg is cut off above the knee and the wound is doing first rate you need not worry about me. I will write you again soon I think with some care I may be permited to come home before long for I no dont bad?best? we shall be sent to our respective states when we are able to stand it we have every thing in our favor the weather is fine and plesent and we have no flys to bother us now what there is in summer we have lost some sixty in our regiment since the 12th inst 6 killed the rest wounded Dear children I would say a word to you I am thankfull to god that I am so well as I am I would have you be good children till I see you again of which I hope wont be long may god in his mercy spare us all to meet again once more in the flesh from your ever afectionate husband and father Abner C Smith
But Abner did not survive. Evidently his wound became infected, he sank rapidly and died on the morning of March 28th, 1865. The final letter in the Smith family collection is a letter of condolence from the 20th CT chaplain, Charles Lyman of Canton, CT.
Abner was initially buried on the ground of the Goldsboro[ugh] , NC women's college that served as Union field hospital in late March, 1865. Sometime in 1866, he was removed to the new Union National Cemetery in Raleigh, NC. That is where Abner is at rest and where I privileged to find his grave in May, 2010.
Civil War Union Army Soldier. He was mustered in as a Private in Company C, 20th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry on September 8, 1862. Promoted to Corporal on December 25, 1863, he was wounded in the leg during the March 19, 1865 Battle of Bentonville. He had his leg amputated, but died of infection on the 28th.
He was eventually interred in what became Raleigh National Cemetery, where he rests today in Section 7, Site 279.
His family erected cenotaph to him in their family plot in Ashley Falls Cemetery, Sheffield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts.
On September 16, 1865 his wife, Lucinda Smith, filed for a US Army Widow's Pension (Application #109410, Certificate #76056).
Kerry L. Bryan adds:
Abner dictated a letter to his family on March 23, 1865, in which he tried to strike an optimistic note:
Hospital Near Goldsborough March 23rd 65 [different handwriting- a nurse or other soldier?]
My Dear wife it is under rather peculiar circumstances I cause this letter to be wrote but while some has been cut down I am still living minus one leg feeling thankfull that I am so well- I am of it was on the 19th inst when the accident hapened and we have had to be brought here on an ambulance thus far but I dont expect to be long here and you nead not write to me till you hear from me again The right leg is cut off above the knee and the wound is doing first rate you need not worry about me. I will write you again soon I think with some care I may be permited to come home before long for I no dont bad?best? we shall be sent to our respective states when we are able to stand it we have every thing in our favor the weather is fine and plesent and we have no flys to bother us now what there is in summer we have lost some sixty in our regiment since the 12th inst 6 killed the rest wounded Dear children I would say a word to you I am thankfull to god that I am so well as I am I would have you be good children till I see you again of which I hope wont be long may god in his mercy spare us all to meet again once more in the flesh from your ever afectionate husband and father Abner C Smith
But Abner did not survive. Evidently his wound became infected, he sank rapidly and died on the morning of March 28th, 1865. The final letter in the Smith family collection is a letter of condolence from the 20th CT chaplain, Charles Lyman of Canton, CT.
Abner was initially buried on the ground of the Goldsboro[ugh] , NC women's college that served as Union field hospital in late March, 1865. Sometime in 1866, he was removed to the new Union National Cemetery in Raleigh, NC. That is where Abner is at rest and where I privileged to find his grave in May, 2010.
He was eventually interred in what became Raleigh National Cemetery, where he rests today in Section 7, Site 279.
His family erected cenotaph to him in their family plot in Ashley Falls Cemetery, Sheffield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts.
On September 16, 1865 his wife, Lucinda Smith, filed for a US Army Widow's Pension (Application #109410, Certificate #76056).
Kerry L. Bryan adds:
Abner dictated a letter to his family on March 23, 1865, in which he tried to strike an optimistic note:
Hospital Near Goldsborough March 23rd 65 [different handwriting- a nurse or other soldier?]
My Dear wife it is under rather peculiar circumstances I cause this letter to be wrote but while some has been cut down I am still living minus one leg feeling thankfull that I am so well- I am of it was on the 19th inst when the accident hapened and we have had to be brought here on an ambulance thus far but I dont expect to be long here and you nead not write to me till you hear from me again The right leg is cut off above the knee and the wound is doing first rate you need not worry about me. I will write you again soon I think with some care I may be permited to come home before long for I no dont bad?best? we shall be sent to our respective states when we are able to stand it we have every thing in our favor the weather is fine and plesent and we have no flys to bother us now what there is in summer we have lost some sixty in our regiment since the 12th inst 6 killed the rest wounded Dear children I would say a word to you I am thankfull to god that I am so well as I am I would have you be good children till I see you again of which I hope wont be long may god in his mercy spare us all to meet again once more in the flesh from your ever afectionate husband and father Abner C Smith
But Abner did not survive. Evidently his wound became infected, he sank rapidly and died on the morning of March 28th, 1865. The final letter in the Smith family collection is a letter of condolence from the 20th CT chaplain, Charles Lyman of Canton, CT.
Abner was initially buried on the ground of the Goldsboro[ugh] , NC women's college that served as Union field hospital in late March, 1865. Sometime in 1866, he was removed to the new Union National Cemetery in Raleigh, NC. That is where Abner is at rest and where I privileged to find his grave in May, 2010.
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