Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-03-13
a1iseellansous gaeding.
AS GOOD AS The VICTORIA CROSS.

As GOOD As The VICTORIA CROSS.
The Gallantry Of Captain j. @. b. Smith at
Petersburg E1cites the Admiration Of
General Robert e. Lee-General Sam
McGowan's Letter to His Old Comrade.
News and Courier.
COLUMBIA, March Especial: There
are some Confederate soldiers who
do not like to exploit their acts of
courage and fidelity during the late
war. Such is the case with Captain
J. G. B. Smith. It was only by the
request of the Camp of Confederate
Veterans that the following cores
pondence has been given The Sunday
News:
JULY 6, 1895.
General Samuel MCGOWAN, Able
Vile, s. c.: MY DEAR GENERAL
As the white heads and tottering
footsteps of most of the soldiers Of
the late war indicate very, clearly
that they, too, must soon cross over
the "river" to join those who fell 35
years ago, I write you to confirm by
letter an incident in my career as q
Confederate soldier, of which only
yourself and Colonel Charles Venable,
of General Lees staff, are cognizant.
As I have never mentioned it to my
family it is only my desire to file your
letter away that, when am gone,
my children may see that performed
my whole duty as q Confederate
soldier, in a cause, though lost to US,
ever dear. With a view of refreshing
your memory I will 60 little into
the events of the day of General Lees
last effort to hold the works around
Petersburg. You were in command of
Wilcox's division, your brigade holding
the right of main line, and the
Twelfth South Carolina regiment on
right of brigade. In the morning of
the day when you ordered the column
to advance, which soon struck the
enemy in an old field pine thicket,
driving them rapidly for some distance
behind their strongholds. At this point
the Confederate line halted, holding
the ground gained until the turn of
day, when it was ordered to fall back,
caused, as I afterwards learned, by
General Grant massing his troops and
breaking the Confederate line to the
left of your division.
When your line had fallen back to
the point at which it commenced the
attack in the morning, it was halted,
and line of battle formed to meet the
enemy. Just at this point you order
ed me with three small companies to
proceed to an elevated ridge between
300 or 400 yards to the right and rear
of your main line, instructing me to
hold it at all hazards.
Before had proceeded half way to
the point designated, I discovered the
enemy's line of battle advancing
through the growth of small pines,
overlapping the right ofyour main line.
at once deployed my little band and
gave the order to "give it to them
boys, and fall back slowly"
As we neared the little farm house
saw a mounted soldier, whom I did
not know, in the country road that
ran along the top Of the ridge.
My men fought like good fellows,
passing around the farm house, and
through the garden, where they soon
reached the ridge, and I proceeded
down the slope through forest of
heavy timber to regain my regiment
which was done after some tramping.
On the way one of my men said to
me that that was an officer on the
horse and had asked him who was in
command of the detachment of troops,
and that he told him Captain Smith, of
the Twelfth regiment, South Carolina.
Late that afternoon, when you re-
turned from General Lees head
quarters, you came in search of he,
finding me sitting on a pine log, and,
as you approached me you said;
my dear fellow, you have
covered yourself with glory; l have
Just returned from General Lees
quarters, to whom Colonel Venable, of
his staff, had reported your conduct
and gallantry in the evenings engage
ment." You said that General Lee
paid me the high compliment of being
one of the best men in the army and
requested you to bring me up, and
introduce me to him. Of course, so
high a compliment, coming from so
good and great man as General Lee,
was very gratifying to me, and l must