Civil War Diary of Alfred Jefferson Smith

Forward by Judy Smith

I do not know who has the original diary today. My father (E. L. Smith) photo copied the copy I have. It is not a very good copy and some of it is illegible. I have corrected some of the spelling of towns and names, and divided it by months; however, I have not tried to correct the spelling of all the words or tried to make other changes.

About Alfred Jeff Smith

Alfred Jefferson Smith was the son of Robert Burnett Smith and Sarah Yates Smith. He moved to Arkansas before the Civil War. 

Alfred served in the Civil War-Pvt., Co. K, 20th Regiment Arkansas Infantry, Confederate States Army, enlisted March 6, 1862 in Lafayette County, Arkansas at age 24.

Company muster roll for Jan. 1 to Feb. 28, 1863, last on file, show him present. When he was sick they sent him home to Rico to his parents’ home to recuperate.

Union Records show that he was captured May 16, 1863 at Big Black, imprisoned at Fort Delaware and Point Lookout, Maryland and at the latter place he was paroled, until exchanged 12/24/1863 and received at City Point, Va. 12/28/1863 by the Confederate agent of Exchange.

Excerpt from the Civil War Diary of Alfred Jefferson Smith

*October 1862

The first line of the enemy’s works were taken on the 3rd. On the night of the 3rd, we lay on our arms in the Yankee encampment – in fearful suspense the mighty siege guns of the Feds rested on the strong earthworks in our fronts. The cars lew(?) around Corinth and the enemy was reinforced at 3 o’clock in the morning on this of the 4th. The artillery opened and at the dawn of day. The cannon rattled very fast and as soon as light the small arms commenced their work.

Our brigade was led step by step toward the conflict. Gen. Cabell was at our head. We lay down behind a small hill with grape shot of the enemy battery. The grape and shell rattled over our heads. Our skirmishers were in our advance. They finally fell back, and our brigade was moved by the left flank and the skirmishers were put in our left. We moved till we came just across the Mobile and Ohio RR north of Corinth and charged some forts and line of breast works just to the east of the RR. Our brigade was in a complete crossfire of two of the best mounted forts one could imagine, besides several battery’s in our front, the forts and siege guns being on our right and left.

After our lines had been broken and shivered to pieces, some had advanced to near the breast works. I lay down behind a log. The bullets were very thick men were shot all around me. Men were torn to pieces heads shot off limbs dislodged from bodies. I came out without the mark of a bullet though there was considerable particles of brain on my hat which had been shot out of some poor soldiers head.
Immediately after the charge a retreat was commenced and we went some five miles back and camped for the night. In the severe fight, our captain was killed and 1st Lt. shot in the thigh and it is not known where he is or where was carried. Z. F. Slay was killed on the 3rd and Lewis Collins was killed on the 4th, the same day the Captain was killed.

On the morning of the 5th we continued our march toward Pocahontas. We had got some distance. We was put on double quick for the Hatchie bridge. Gen. Morse’s Brigade ran before us and were rushed across the bridge and were compelled to fall back swimming the river and drowning several. Our Brigade (Gen. Cabells) came up after Moore’s had fallen back and taken position behind a little ridge and held the feds in check until we were flanked on the right. I’ve fired from twenty to thirty rounds telling greatly of our accurate shooting according to reports after we were ordered back. The Brigade fell into a thick wood and withstood a dreadful cannonading. After this I could not stand the fatigue any more. I was over heated and without water and was compelled to go in search for water. Our army being repulsed at the bridge our course was directed to a crossing higher up on the River. The wagon train and army all camped at the same place on the night of the 5th. The army retreated by way of Riley and came to the vicinity of Holly Springs. Camped at Lumkins Mill. The name of the camp was Rodgers. There fell a snow while at that camp on the 25th of October.