The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-09-03
"BALDY" SMITH.

One of the pleasant incidents of
an eventful day in Montpelier was
the surprise given at the State House
to Gen. Smith" Baldy" Smith-a
native of ST. Albans, but whose
home is now in Philadelphia Over
week ago bronze memorial tablet,
bearing a medallion of the general,
was sent from Philadelphia to this
city as a gift to the state from the SOL
diers of other States, who admired
Gen. Smith. Gov. Stickney and ex-
Gov. Pingree selected a space at the
right of the entrance to Representa-
tives' Hall OH which to place the
tablet and Sergeant at. Arms Brock had
it mounted there.
The newspaper men were let into
the secret some time ago, but were
pledged to keep the matter secret
until the tablet had been seen by Gen.
Smith as surprise for him was plan
ned. The surprise came very near be-
ing failure for the Free Press that
morning contained an announcement
regarding the tablet, 9.. lat for the
prompt action of DR.. Brigham, as the
general was about to purchase paper,
the whole affair would have been
spoiled
About eleven O'Clock on Saturday
General Smith, accompanied by Ad-
miral Clark, Mrs. Clark, and Mayor
Boutwell, drove to the State House.
Upon arriving in the corridor, the
general was watched by the party
with keen interest as he wandered
about inspecting mementoes of the
Rebellion among which were his regi-
mental colors. Mrs. Clark finally
guided the old officer TO position in
front of the tablet. That the general
was surprised was very apparent. AS
he comprehended what the tablet
really was he started and as his eyes
filled with tears he abruptly left the
party, and going to the other side of
the corridor struggled to recover from
his emotion. Finally, Mrs. Clark led
the general back to his former posi-
tiOn, but he was still too moved to
speak.
The affair was entirely informal and
resembled more family gathering
than state occasion. The general
spent some time i'll visiting the differ
ent rooms at the State House and in
specting the relics there
The memorial tablet is of simple but
pretty design. Beneath the profile of
Gen. Smith is the following inscription in
raised letters:
"This tablet is presented to Vermont
by soldiers from other States, who admire
so much her great soldier son, Brevet-
Majo General William Farrar Smith,
United States Army The extracts here
from the letter of the assistant secre-
tary of war, c. A. Dana, to Gen. Grant,
dated Dec. u, 1868, show that at crisis
in the nations life, hewas in the thoughts
of Lincoln, Stanton and Grant, as the
genera best fitted for the most imp rtant
command. The surest
means of getting the rebels altogether out
of East Tennessee is to be found in the
army of the Patomac. This
naturally led to your second proposition,
! namely, that either Sherman or w. F.
Smith should be put in command Of the
army Both the secretary
of war and Gen. Halleck said
Gen. w. F. Smith would be the best per-
son to try The secretary
of war and Gen. Halleck agree with you
in thinking that it would be, on the whole
much better to select him g.
"Series |, Vol XXXI, page 457, Off
cial records, Union and Confederate ar
mics Of the Rebellion"