Litchfield enquirer., 1868-06-25
Col Jo. L. Smith.

There arc many yet living who have very vivid | remembrance of Jo. l.. Smith, as he was then | called, and who, though young man, was prom inent citizen of Litchfeld more than sixty years ago. After the death of his father-in-law Col Kir- by, he was the Democratic leader in the great De- mocratic fight which ragged on hitehaeld Hill fsfon 1904 to 1912. resided in the family of tho 1ste Parson Marsh during the summer of 1907, and ! v----------~-e 1I UInIHenT Indl- viduals engaged in the conflict, and of the bitter | acrimony which pervaded all minds from the old est to the youngest. Every election, military as we'll civil was contested to the last degree of l zeal and labor. There was vacancy in the office of sergeant in the military company located in the first Society, and when the Company met to mako tho election many of the leading men of the town, of both parties took active part in the canvass, and after severe struggle, Corporal Henry F. Tallmadge was elected Sergeant, and private Frederick Deming, Corporal-and great was the exultation of the Federasts at this their triumph Mir. Smith prosecuted for libel and fined sixty dollars and costs. The case was not tried to the jury, and was submitted to the Court on the question of the sufficiency of the information. I was present during part of the trial and we'll remember hearing him argue his own case. AL though could not then appreciate the merits of the argument, it was we'll spoken of at the time. It was at tho August Term 1907, and Judge Reeve was the presiding Judge.
 Mir. Smith entered the army Major ill the war of 1872, and was soon promoted to Colonelcy His Regiment was stationed at Litchfield for & while, and much complaint was made of his Sun- day drills and other noisy demonstrations, which J;atr, xloJr the war, he was appointed U. S. District Judge for Florida, and spent the remainder of his life there He-was the father of the rebel General Kirby Smith.
 The following letter, addressed to the late Judge Swan, who had written to him to enquire about & young brother in the army, speaks we'll for the good feeling of Col. Smith, notwithstanding the pleasant allusion to Mir. Swans politics at the close :- c.F.s
 CAMP NEAR FoRT GEORGE, 21st Aug, 1913.
 SIR Your letter concerning your brother came to hand this morning. He is a modest, well-be- formance of his duties as soldier attracted my attention soon after he joined the Regiment He has sometimes acted in the capacity of corporal. His merits and my consideration for you, will en- sure mm, so far as my influence can effect it. Re- glmental preferment He is in good health, and for ought that has been communicated to me. contented and pleased with the science. A sober. faithful, prudent is we'll situated in the army and fares much better, both as to food and cloth. ing, than laboring citizen. A drunken, thiev- ing, worthless fellow will concentrate wretched- ness upon himself Tn any station.
 hear no news, no army operations having of late taken place, or would communicate it. and suppose such news would be interesting even to you who belong to those who belong to Great Britain. Respectfully, Sir,
 Your Obedient Servant,
 Jos. l.. SMITH,
 CYRUS SWAN, Esq.