Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-26
THE POSITIVE PROOF.
THE ORDER OFFERING A REWARD FOR
GOVERNOR WILLIAM SMITH FOUND.
The D,a.reucs Between Gcnsrals Haiieck
and Patrick-other Interesting
Papers-The Geld Gases.

IN various occasions 10 has been strenu-
ousIv denied that the United States Gov
eminent offered after the evacuation Of
Richmond reward for the arrest Of the
late Hon. William Smith, who was Gov
ernor of Virginia when tho war closed.
Recently Major Robert Stiles has been
looking up evidence in this and another
matter associated with the immediate ante
bel,um history OF that "old game-cock,
Fvtra- R,u Smith" az Mr.. Lincoln called
a. Governor. and has secured q
cow Of the advertisement of Halleck
Offering tho reward. That advertisement
n NO, In the nature OF q presidential!
nroclamation. but bears the impress OF the
deyiltry of Edwin NJ. Stanton, and reads
as follows:
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE
JAMES.
RICHMOND May 4, 1865.
$4,000 REwAED.-By order OF the Secretary
ot Wa reward Of s2j, 900 IL hereby offered for
the arrest and delivery for trialof William Smith,
'eOe' 'O' 10 '-'' II. W. HALLEcK,
Ma,or-General Commanding.
This settles the question beyond dis
mite hut is not the only interesting paper
m the case found by Major Stiles.
TIE COLD CASES.
Tn March. 1877. the United States Gov
eminent entered suit against Governor
Smith and other officials 20 recover certain
cold taken bv them out OF the city wnen II
was evacuated. The suits were brought on
the ground that what belonged TO the
State at that time was the United States
Governments By right OF conquest; uOV-
ii hat
a fugitive when he left Richmond
he was still do JGr'o Governor o,
VIRGINIA in that debatable ground
over which the United States Gov
ernment had not reestablished authority,
and a, such was charged with preserving
order The money ne was being sued tor
was e,pended for salaries of State othcers
and in the exercise of his preroeatlVe as
Governor. Judge Hughes decided that
this plea was valid one, and as conse-
uuence all the cases fell through
LITER TO GENERAL PATRICK.
Among the papers in the case was TINS
letter TO General Patrick:
RICHMOND, VA, Juno L, 1860.
cororaI-Not having yet received any reply
% Gnvcrnor Smiths communication 10 ueherai
Ualleck have concluded 70 ask Tor q sale con-
duct 10 enable the Governor 10 report W yOu
without arrest II he should 80 decide, 'no az
Governor should not be found -...,,. .-,,,-
have the honor 70 be most respectfully your
obedient servant, o. 80. IT. 60,
General ". u. Patrick, fTorosf ha'shu'- Oo''S' W.
Upon this letter General Patrick made
the following endorsement. which pretty
well illustrates the differences between the
material of which Halleck and Patrick
wero made. 1t will be noticed thht Hal
leck speaks of the Governor az William
Smith, rebel Governor, while Patrick re-
fers to him as Governor William Smith:
OFFICE PROyosT-M ARsHAL-G ESBRAL,)
RICHMOND, June /, 1868.
The within application is granted and the per
son of the within named Governor, william
Smith, will be free from arrest en- TouH 70 I'M:
CITY. and neither military nor civil authorize.
will interfere with him; this protection to bt
valid TO and including the 10th instant, on o.
before which day he is 10 report IN person AZ TINS
Office. VI. ~ Ik ~ ,,
EVIDENCE OF RECOGNITION.
The presumption is that this paper was
filed TO show that General Patrick had re
cogniZed Governor Smith as de fdctt
Governor of Virginia ct the time HallecB
aud Stanton offered reward for him. In
this connection it may be stated that du
ring tho trial of the gold suit Governor
Thomas narrated a conversation that took
place between himself and Mr.. Lincoln
which showed that the latter also held the
same view as did General Patrick regard
ing Governor Smiths position, and that h'
was not responsible for Halleck's order.
THE CONVERSATION.
Judge Thomas stated to the Court tha
ne did not know whether it was competent
for him to relate the conversation, as Il
might not be considered evidence.
The Court, all attention, leaned over tn
bench and told the Judge to proceed, add
ing that the Court would instruct the Jurl
as to what was evidence.
Tho Judge then said in substance thai
after the formal surrender of RichmonC
he and Mr.. Lincoln were sitting opposite
each other at table Judge Thomas wa
as rotund of feature as the President wa
lantern jawed. and both were very home
lyl when he (Judge Thomas) said: Mr.
President, you know that people canno
live by the sword. l wish you would senc
Governor Pierpont down here and re
establish civil government"
Mr. Lincoln put on very qulZZlcal eI
preston and remarked. Judge Thomas,
did not take you for q handsome man, bu
| did take you for an honest ONE
"What DO you mean, Mr. President?
queried Judge Thomas.
why" said Mr.. Lincoln. " do not wan
old Pierpont down here; what good coulC
he do? And you do not want him either
want the men who carried Virginia out
of the Union to bring her back" Their
bringing his hand down upon the tablt
with great emphasis, he continued,
want that Old Game-Cock Extra-Bill.
Smith to re-establish civil government"
GOVERNOR SMITHS wANDERISGs.
- Il ~.
ernor Smith went to Danyllle, and theme
cut across the country to Lexington. IL
was in Lexington when he heard of tn
peace movement inaugurated at Staunton
| history of which is given in the late Hon
| A. II. II. Stuart's Narrative of the Com
mittee of Nine,n and in company with tw
prominent LeXingtOnians rode to Staun
| ton to protest against the action of tn
| people of that city.
\ FELT LIKE FIGHTING.
| En- route the party frequently heard tina
J the Federal cavalry were on the pike jus
| the other side of Stanton. and fnall
when they reached the railroad arch wher
| the Lexington road passes under the Chesa
peake and Ohio track the old Governo
raised himself in the stirrups, drew hi
pistols from the holsters, and exclaimed
"Gentlemen. / feel most bly, like fight
| ing" His friends, neither of whom hat
been paroled, persuaded him, however
| that il was no time for fighting.
From Stanton Governor Smith came I
the neighborhood OF Richmond and fnall
rode into the city and surrendered.
Although it was generally known that
reward had been offered for his capture, n
one seems ever TO have thought of be
traylng him-a fact that the old hero coul
never speak of without tears coming int
his ewes. Governor Smith and a humble
of others were indicted in the Unite
States Court for treason" but these in
dictments vanished into the realm of bal
rem ideality.
The OYSTER:OUeSTloN.