Thursday

Dear Mary:

            Much enjoyment over your letter (which came this morning) as usual. I have been taking some notes from the Alfred Paine Smartt letters concerning Irving College attendance studies etc. and you must pardon delay in sending letter. I am wondering now where Mr George R. Smartt lived after he left Wood Lane. The letter from your mother (fastened or enclosed with Gen Hills [?] letter in the face page) alludes to some old home place with an old time garden. I wonder also when Gen Hill bought the old [?] house your home in M^cMinnville? He bought this—I am told—from Dr. A. Paine, and the latter—I am told—lived some time during the war at the Poindexter place which according to some old notes I have "was built by Dr Alfred Paine for his [?] Mama". Your mother alludes to his removal to this house in her letter of Nov. 17, 1856. The Poindexter / school became very flourishing before the war. The old road book of Warren Co. speaks as late as 1853 of George P. Smartt keeping the road in order from the "well in his lane" for a certain distance with W. B. Smartt as supervisor. Annie Paine has just returned from a visit to her uncle Victor and when I see her will ask her what he told her. It was all tradition with Annie but he knew the facts about it.

 

Colonel Hitts Reg. as I understand it went into service as the Fifth but was reorganized after Shiloh in June 1862—according to my record of C.S.A. Tenn regiments—and became the 35^th. Two other regiments were formed into the Fifth with J. A. Smith as Colonel and I wonder if he is the gentleman who wrote the appreciative and gallant letter to Miss Myra Smartt for her thoughtful kindness in presenting a lovely [?] with flowers as the regiment left for the war. According to John K. Roberts a former member of the company, young Smith was drillmaster of the regiment and later organized a company regiment / of his own. It may be the flag spoken of in the Confederate Vet. was that of the Fifth and Mrs Hill really had that of the 35^th. Old Mr Johnny Parrell—one of the 35^th, told me he understood their flag had been secreted in an attic in Chattanooga at close of hostilities to prevent surrendering it. I have heard nothing from Doctor Promie. He is very busy and it is impossible to tell when he will ever have time. He is so concerned over the publication of the Tenn. His So Mag. of which he is editor, as it seems to be having a struggle for its life.

 

I am glad there were no deaths among those sufferers in the accident. Isnt it hideous the way people are being killed

 

With best love to you and all belonging

 

to you,

            Your true friend

            Blanche S. Bentley.

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