Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-01-15
Ex-Governor Smith.

| Tha Washington Post says:
Extra Billy" Smith, Vireiuis's MOTEL War
| Governor and one Of the old time politicians,
| was captured by a Post reporter Saturday. The
were it not for his snow whito hair he could
pass for sixty. He enjoys good health and gets
| about IS actively as he did twenty years ago.
He is up by the reep of day every morning,
and by sunrise mas everything going on his
farm in Fauquer county, Va He was first elect.
ture, tie mode of election then prescribed by the
Constitution Of the State AID in 1863 he WAS
called from the camp 10 the Governors chair by
The vote Of tho people.
"Where wero you bora, Governor" asked
the reporter.
piled, with an air of proud satisfaction. II was
born in King George county, between thu Rap.
ahanrock and Fredericksburg"
When
Thereby hsngs p tale. We Old men a:e like
the lady who said shs was twenty teen because
she didn't want to get out Of her teens. l W as
eighty on the 9Th OF last September"
"Row was il Governor that you got the name
Of 'FItrs?' Several versions have been told "
well. I'll give you the correct ono. l was
educated lawyer, and waen young man WAS
pIactcing with success in Culpeper. We had
only ore mail week, and that came by horse.
back. l became impatient st this isolation, and
having good deal Of energy I bid for mail
contrac!
Well, got it, and hsd on that bid a two-horse
stage allowed. Thus we had a mail line in 3
two horse coach instead IF horseback. But l
sooD found thst:woudn't do, ard applied for an
extension from Culpeper to Orange Court House
where We intercepted the regular stage line
from Fredericksburg to Stanton. Well went
on charging and extending until got q msil
line daily from Washington City to Millodge'
vile. Ga, with numerous branches. Every ex.
rata compensation. 1hase extensions were de-
nominated in the Blue Book as extras and mark
ed with stsr. They wero very numerous in
tho rapid expansion Of the rnsl service on my
Borj amin Wstkins Lee, in commenting on these
things applied the term TO me, AID i. has stuck
ID me ever since"
When WAS your mail line in operation. Gov
ornor?'
THAT ranged from 1927 10 1893 Oh, I had a
magnificent line till it va; superseded by rail
roads. As railroads advanced l retired"
Did you make much money out Of il, Gov
ernor?
No; didn't mako airy. On routes with an
allowance for mail three times week l car
1isd it six times. l went in for opening UP the
country more than to make money"
You saw some active servics during the late
war. didn't You're
Il wont into the Con rederste Army when !
was sixty -four years of age, and (proudly) had
q brigade that never broke in battle.
And during the war you were elected Gov
ernor the second time? ~
Yes; ia 1863. never left camp 10 do any
canvs:sing. / was Governor when Lee surre1.
dcred."
Ibid yoG remain in Richm ond p
mo; weIt out with the others. I didn't
know how much iRh. was still left in the peo
PIE. I went over the Sts.e, many times right
among the Federal soldiers, and there was a re-.
ward CT S25. 600 offered for nv capture"
Wore you captured at LAST?
No sir; wss not When I saw the thing
Was sll over I wrote to Genl Patrick, telling
him would surrender, but that wanted ssfe
conduct to head quarter. He sent it and I gave
myself up"
How were you treated, GovernorT
"The7 treated me first rata l was not i'm
prisoned, but was paroled and went home.
But they had no cause to treat me severely.
Though I believed III vigorously prosecuting
the war, I always did What could to alleviate
The suffering it cau:ed. got many man out
of Libby Prison. Sam Cox, or Sunset Coz, as