Samuel O. Smith
Submitted by Nancy Mosshammer Neuman

Lt. Samuel Oscar Smith enrolled in the 27th Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Company B on 11 August 1862 and was discharged on 8 August 1865 at Clinton, Iowa. He was a son of Thomas Armstrong Smith (1794-1874) and Beulah Templeton (1803-1882). About 1855 they moved from Clinton County, PA to Allamakee County with seven of their nine children. Samuel was their 6th child   He was born January 8, 1836 in Mill Hall, Clinton County, Pennsylvania. He died December 20, 1913 in Jamestown, Chautauqua, New York. He is buried in Lakeview Cemetery, Jamestown, New York in Monument Hill, a section for Civil and Spanish America War veterans. The other children who moved to Iowa were Maria Young, Thomas Clingan, William Boyd, Jane Ann Hale, Gideon Wilson, Matilda, Jackson D. Jefferson, and Joseph Henry. On 24 August 1869 Samuel married Sarah Elizabeth Hazeltine in Lansing where their two children were born: Emma Gertrude (1870) and Edith Alice (1876). They moved to the family home of Sarah Hazeltine in Chautauqua County, NY after Edith’s birth. Emma Gertrude Smith Mosshammer was my paternal grandmother. Nancy Mosshammer Neuman November 19, 2002

Letters from Samuel O. Smith to his brother Gideon Wilson Smith (1833-1913), Lansing, Allamakee, Iowa Office of Halliday Brothers Cairo, Ills. Nov. 12th 1862 Mr. G.W. Smith Dear Brother: I am well at present and the Reg’t are in tolerable good health. It is 365 from Chicago to Cairo. We were 31 hours running it being on a special train we had to wait at the different stations to let the regular trains pass. Cairo is a very bleak looking town. The river is full of boats. Among the rest are several iron clad Steamers that look like war. I cannot tell how long we shall remain here but probably not very long. The other four companies are here. We have pitched our tents—a great many troops are leaving here for Memphis where we will perhaps go. Yours in haste, Sam’l O. Smith

Aboard the Steamer Lebanon on White river 1 mile from Duvalls Bluffs Sept. 16th 1863 Dear Brother: I left Memphis on the morning of the 7th arrived in Helena same evening; waited there for a boat until the morning of the eleventh, got aboard the Lebanon bound for Duvalls Bluffs on White river, arrived at the mouth of White river same evening. As no boats dare venture up the river without a convoy, we were obliged to wait until Sunday 13th for a Gunboat to escort us up the river, we have progressed slowly but safely so far. We came about one hundred miles up the river without seeing a sign of civilization except an old deserted log cabin. We are now stuck on a sand bar. The country all along this river is a dense forest, no sign of cultivation or civilization, except a few old villages of log cabins. We saw but one white man (citizen) on the river, but the women at these old towns came down to the bank and begged for medicine and newspapers. We are off the sand bar and going ahead again. As it is time for the cooks to set the table for dinner, I will quit and close my letter after we land. We get board on the boat for $1.00 per day. 5 o’clock p.m. Duvalls Bluff Ark. Little Rock is in the hands of the Federals. They took it on the 10th Inst. The 27th Reg’t is in the City, which is fifty four miles from here. I have had strong symptoms of the ague during the last two days but I can get transportation in an ambulance for Little Rock tomorrow morning. Yours affectionately, S.O. Smith

Miscellaneous information dated 1863 from the papers of Samuel O. Smith. Headqrs Detachment 27 Iowa Vol. Inf. Medon Tenn. May 8th 1863 To Saml O. Smith 2d Lt. Co B. 27 Iowa Sir: You are hereby detailed as a member of a Garrison Court Martial to meet at the office of the Prov. Marshall in Medon Tennessee May 8th 1863 or as soon as practicable for the trial of Levi H. Eddy a private of Co H. 27th regt. Iowa Vol. Inf and such other prisoners as may be brought before it. By Order of Maj. G.W. Howard. Comd. Post M.G. Dorman. A.Adj.

Signal Party of Reconnaissance Steamer Ella off Cairo Ill December 26th 1863 General Orders No. 1 Extract III First Lieut. Saml O. Smith Co. B 27th Iowa Vol. Infy. Is assigned to duty as Quarter Master and Commissary. He will report during office hours any facts relating to his duties and will receive his instructions.   By order of Col. W. J. Myer., Comd. Expedition, J.H. Walker 1st Lt & Adjutant

Special Requisition For One Cooking Stove I certify that the above requisition is correct and that the articles Specified are absolutely requisite for the public Service rendered so by the following circumstances. Viz: for the use of Detachment onboard Steamer Ella engaged in reconnaissance for the purpose of establishing Signal Stations, under orders from Secty of War. Samuel O. Smith 1st Lt. 27th Iowa & A.A. S. Detachment Approved Albert J. Meyer Col. & Signal Officer U.S.A. commanding expedition. United States Army will issue the articles specified in the above requisition. Received at Cairo Ills the thirtieth day of Dec. 1863

Samuel O. Smith Pension Papers