Anderson Booker Smith

Submitted by Katy Knight Avendano, deceased

Anderson Booker Smith enlisted Jan 22, 1862 in McCray's Battalion, Van Buren Co., AR.
On May 27, 1862, this company was reorganized as Co. "D," 31st Regiment, Arkansas Infantry, CSA.
Anderson Booker Smith, known as "A. B.," sent the following letter to his wife, Louisa Ann "Louisiana" (Ragsdale) Smith.
Mailed to "Mrs L Smith, Clinton, Van Buren County, Ark."
UNEDITED

"Dizarck Aprial the 15 1862
Deer wife. I tak my pen in hand this morning to let you now that I am well and stood the trip very well and sinserly hop thes few lines may find you and the children well. I can inform you that I hant with the Batallien. They hant never bin hear yet. I am now on a boat Bound for Memphis this day. Prise and Van Dorn's command are at Carinth and going. The fight cominst thare a gin a Sunday last. I can inform you that W. J. Venable got his thigh Broke in the first fight and has bin cut of. J. J. Stabaugh got his thigh Broke an wont hav hit cut off and they think he will die. So I must close for the presant. You need not rite un till I right again.
From A B Smith to L Smith and children."

After a lengthy silence from her husband, Louisa wrote several times to her husband's unit. She finally received a reply, dated Feb 28, 1863, telling her that A. B. "died in the latter part of last year."

According to Ron Bass, and I quote, "the battle referred to in the letter was at Shiloh, TN.
J. J. Stobaugh died in a hospital in Corinth, Mississippi."

This letter, as well as a description of the perilous and arduous journey of this Van Buren County military unit may be found at:
Civil War Genealogy Forum
Anderson Booker Smith ~McCray's Battalion
Posted by: Aubrey Smith on October 25, 2002,
quoting from an e-mail from Ron Bass

At the Edward Gerdes Civil War Pages on the internet there are listings of both the officers and men of many Van Buren County Civil War companies.
Subsequent to the death of Anderson Booker Smith, his widow Louisa Ann "Louisiana" married William Christopher. Both William and Louisiana died in Van Buren County.