Hello Lora, I hope that you can find your Abner H. Smith. I would follow Bryan Howerton's advice to the letter.
Here is another reference that is on the Gerdes site that you may find interesting.
http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/peacelst.htm
There is an Abner H. Smith listed here and some of this group were from Van Buren County.
Happy Hunting!