Smith – McNaught correspondence highlights
Part of the ‘Smith family history’ series
As I mentioned in the last post, the Atlanta History Center has in its collection correspondence between the Smith family and William McNaught. Finding this correspondence was a true stroke of luck, and I think highlights what an invaluable resource the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center is.
The collection includes letters written from L. Windsor Smith to McNaught while he was in Newport, Florida (usually addressed to McNaught and his business partner Ormond) dating from 1856 through 1858, presumably the year McNaught and Ormond moved to Atlanta. Larned’s letters are typically revolving around business dealings and preparations for their move. There are ~50 or so letters from Larned and his handwriting is somewhat difficult to read, and generally not too interesting, but I may revisit them at some point to see if there is anything revealing within.
However, more interesting are the letters written by the widowed Eveline and her son Robert to McNaught after Larned’s death in July, 1861. From what I can tell the family house was still being either constructed or repaired at the time Larned died, so there is discussion regarding payments to carpenters, plasterers, etc. Other letters are written by Robert Windsor Smith to his uncle, both asking for money as well as reports about his health. The letters also are a snapshot of what life was like for them leading up to the impending arrival of Sherman’s Union forces. Around this time the family was dealing with multiple bouts of sickness, financial troubles, and general uncertainty with the looming war. The focus of the highlights I will present will be either mentions of Robert by Eveline or letters from Robert himself.
I won’t bother sharing many images of the correspondence, with the exception of some of Robert’s letters. Robert’s penmanship is quite attractive and stands out in comparison to the other correspondence.
All of the following (and preceding) correspondence highlights from the Smith family to McNaught can be found at the Kenan Research Center in the collection of William McNaught’s papers: William McNaught Papers, MSS156, Box 8, Folder 3, Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center
7/28-29/1861 – Eveline to her sister Judith. This letter comes only 3 weeks after Larned’s passing and gives us the approximate date of Robert’s engagement to his future wife Mary.
Troubles never come alone. Bob came home from Atlanta engaged to be married to M. W. and now they are talking about drafting men here, and I am in constant terror for fear he will be drafted. I won’t let him go if I can possibly help myself. Could he be bought off or hire a substitute, or could I get him to Canada?
29 – Bob don’t want you to mention about Mary W. Last night someone tried to get in the house. We have nothing but a shotgun, what can I buy a Pistol or a pair of them for, the whole country is alarmed. I shall so much easier when we get some soldiers stationed here these Union men are dangerous.
12/6/1861 – Eveline to McNaught
Robert is walking about his room but is very feeble. I don’t think the climate agrees with him. He has a bad cough, is anxious to go down to Atlanta. If you would take him in your store for his board and washing. I would be lonely without him, but if his health would be better I am willing he should go. He is not strong enough to do much on the farm. I think it was trying to help plough that brought on his sickness
Robert has just come in the room. I told him what I had said to you about, say I must tear up the letter, that he won’t leave me. I suppose he had the blues when he told me.
12/7/1861 – Eveline to McNaught. The sickness that Eveline describes here sounds to me like it could be typhoid fever.
Robert is sick with intermittent fever. He has been complaining for about six weeks, but refused to see a doctor until Wednesday, when I became so uneasy that I sent for one. He is now in bed. Seems very well in the morning, but is sick all night.
12/12/1861 – Eveline to McNaught. The comments here are with regard to Larned’s will. The note regarding Judge Lyon is interesting as well.
I cannot agree with you that Robert has no advantage over Windsor, but I will trust to his conscience and honor to remedy it when he is of age. I have my fears however, for he never showed any affection for Windsor and he certainly is a very selfish boy, his father always called him so. He does not give me the least assistance, but spends his time sleeping, writing poetry, or copying music. He had a letter today from Atlanta, saying Judge Lyon had rented his house and gone to Albany. I think he ought to allow us the rent of the house, if he cannot pay the notes.
3/10/1862 – Eveline to Judith
I think as you do about Robert & Mary, but I am not a just woman, only a mother. When he had this last attack I begged him to release M_ from her engagement. It was unjust to her, and a crime for such people as they were to have children. He could better afford to travel about for his health without a wife than with one, and Dr. Thompson told him he was the last man that ought to think of marrying. I know it will shorten his life, and yet I told him that if he got well he might marry in (June / time?) and bring his wife here to live with me. I would do the best I could for them both. I can’t control him in anything. He says it would kill him if Mary should reject him and I fear it would. I have resolved to humor him in everything. Perhaps Mary may conclude herself to put off their marriage.
7/16/1862 – Eveline to McNaught. It is unclear where Robert is at this point, but it sounds as if he is not in Cleveland or Atlanta.
I had a letter from Bob yesterday. He says he getting stronger, intends to start home as soon as the Yankees land. I think he had much better stay where he is. He can get fish to eat there, and we are nearly starved out here. He asked me to send him 25 dollars. He says he has plenty of money now, but may be cut off from Atlanta, and may need more. Will you send it to him? Whatever may happen to me I have perfect confidence that you will do the best you can for my children, and once more let me assure you of the gratitude I feel for your kindness to me and them.
8/9/1862 – Eveline to McNaught
I fear Robert is getting no better. He has resolved to go to Atlanta to consult Logan or Willis Westmoreland, and to pick him out a place to be buried.
8/9/1862 – Robert to McNaught
Please send me forty dollars, if I have that much coming to me, if not you need not send it as I do not want to borrow of the Estate, unless so compelled. I am still very weak, gradually wearing away, by night sweats, and fevers. They try to cheer me, and as I am not of a desponding disposition I appear to be happy. Dr. Thomson told Mother that I would not live a year longer. She kept it from me, and I did not find it out till a few days since, and that is the reason why I wish to come to Atlanta, as it may be my last visit.
9/15/1862 – Eveline to McNaught. Here we see a really unattractive side of Robert. Eveline’s comments makes him sound like quite the entitled/spoiled/privileged southern white man. I’m sure financial struggles, his sickness, and immaturity (he was 21 at the time) all played a role, but it’s definitely a disturbing portrayal.
Robert is a great trial to me. I see no hope of his ever doing better. I told him he ought to allow me something for his board and washing since his father died. He says I made no bargain with him about board, that he will never pay me a cent unless I sue him.
I am getting almost afraid of Bob, he gets in such terrible passions. I am afraid to trust Windsor or Lilly alone with him for fear he may do them an injury. He seems to have the most bitter hatred towards us all. He told me today I had swindled him out of every thing I could, and he intended to get that Will from Dunning(?) and have his rights. He told Doonan when he was in Atlanta that we were ready to receive the money from Scofield, that everyone was receiving Confederate Bonds in Tennessee. He knows that Mr. Legg positively refuses to take it. I fear he will do some mischief yet. Whether he is behaving this way to frighten me I cannot tell, but sometimes he seems almost insane. I am willing to do anything, give him anything to satisfy him, provided I can do so without wronging my other children.
9/22/1862 – Robert to McNaught. Apparently tensions between Robert and his mother have become so untenable that a decision has been made for him to move. It is unclear if this move “down” is a reference to the lower part of the farm or back to Atlanta.
In a short time I am going down to my own house to live as Mother and I think it is best. I want to fix an addition so that I can have more room for myself. I can have all of the work done for $290.00. If you can let me have the money please let me know.
9/29/1862 – Robert to McNaught. While we do not know McNaught’s response to Robert, I think we can assume Robert’s request for $290 was denied. I’m assuming that Robert’s comment re: employment in some hospital is sarcastic and a reference to his poor health.
Yours of 27th is at hand, and in reply I will say that it makes but little difference now whether you can send me the money or not, as The Conscription Act has concluded to take care of me. I have been enrolled and will know my destination in a week or ten days. I do not think they will put me in the ranks, but probably find employment for me in some hospital.
10/31/1862 – Robert to McNaught. Apparently Robert has been able to avoid being drafted into the Confederate army by receiving a “certificate of ill health.”
We are all well, and I have received my certificate of ill health. I am getting fat, and only lack a pound and a half of weighing as much as I ever did.
2/26/1863 – Robert to McNaught. Despite the positive tone of the 10/31/1862 letter, four months later and things have clearly taken a turn for the worse. An enslaved person named Frank has died and Robert’s sister Mary is the latest to succumb to what seems to be their never-ending bouts with illness.
Mother requests me to write to you to send her a hundred dollars ($100.00). There has been so much sickness with us that she has had to pay out more than she otherwise could have done. Frank died a few days ago, having been sick ever since I came from Atlanta, and now Sis (Mary) is lying very low with the sore throat. It seems as if we came here only to die. We are having very disagreeable weather, raining almost unceasingly, making the roads nearly impassable.
8/26/1863 – Eveline to McNaught.
I suppose the Yankees will really be here in a day or two. I am some frightened, not much. They tell so many different stories about how the Yankees treat folks that I feel some anxiety to know what will be my fate. I wish Robert would come home, if he only stays a day. The Union people are already talking of him as a runaway. I fear the Yankees will confiscate his farm, could he not arrange it in some way – give it to Mary? I have paid my debts, and have 62 dollars left, but they are beginning to refuse Confederate money. What am I to do if we are cut off any length of time from Atlanta?
I think I shall be safer without Robert, than with him. But I must see him once before we are cut off.
Give my love to Sister, and my brothers. I don’t suppose either of them feel any anxiety about my fate, for they never take any notice of me, but for the sake of our relationship. I hope they will take care of Robert if he gets sick.
I hope we may all meet again when peace smiles on our unhappy country.
Following initial shelling in August and the Battle of Chickamauga, the Chattanooga Campaign would commence in late November 1863, and by November 25, 1863 Union forces took control of Cleveland, Tennessee. In the next post we will cover a little background about Robert’s fiancé Mary Cleveland Wright and learn the details of their wedding in Atlanta.
Birds of Kirkwood 