The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-12-20
Gobin's Visit to Angus
ia, Ga, Recalls Chivalry of
A FEDERAL OFFICEB.
Captain E. D. Smythe, Who Was Court
martialed Because He Resigned
Rather Than Prosecute De-
~fenceless Women and
Children.

Apropos the coming visit to the citJ
of General J. P. 8. Goblin, Of Pennsyl
vania, as announced In Wednesday
mornings issue Ut The Chronicle, ant
bis presence In the state last week, 6
reporter Wednesday CHANGED upon q
bit Of by.history of the civil war,
hitherto unpublished, that merits at
tention because of the interesting and
unusual story Of the refusal of an off.
Ger of a victorious army to participate
in q cruel oppression Of a conquered
people.
Peculiar LEGAL interest is given the
incident by reason Of the fact that
the federal officer who took this man
ly and courageous stand, in the face
of almost certain disgrace and punish.
ment has for q score or more years
been an honored resident Of Augusta
and is no less q parsonage that the
popular postmaster, Captain e. D.
Smythe. This q bit of Captain Smy.
th 8 record that isnot generally known
to bis many friends.
1t will be remembered that General
Goblin commanded the, Pennsylvania
regiment that was a member CT the
corps stationed here during the Span
ish-American war. While at Camp
Mckenzie Col. Goblin was elected to
an importa It state Office and is at
present acknowledgement Of Penn.
sylvania. He is a past commander OF
the G. A. B., and also had charge Of
the state troops during the great an
5hracite coal strike in Pennsylvania a
few years ago.
While here General Goblin had q
number Of fast friends among whom
was Captain Smythe. But they had
become acquainted long before that
period. Their friendship was formed
during the bloody strife that has been
80 APPLY termed 1.-THE time that tried
mems souls" And they CANA to know
each other is q peculiar capacity that
served to impress itself upon them
more than the ordinary intercou tse
between young officers fighting In the
same army would have done, as we
brought out by general Goblin him.
self, when Captain Smythe CHANGED
to meet him In Atlanta the other day,
while he was in Georgia as a member
of the Pennsylvania delegation to An
dersonvilJe.
Boys" said General Goblin, grip
ping both of Capt. Smythe's hands In
q grasp Of good fellowship, look at
old Smythe here To see us now you
would never think that We once occu.
pied the respective positions OF defen-
dant and prosecutor, tut it is true, as
be will himself affirm. he was once
cnurt.martialed and I acted as judge.
advocate. However, he got through
all right and ought to be proud Of the
experience which, I may say at this
distance from the trying times OF the
sixties, but seved to emphasize and
perpetuate a noble stand taken by bin
for the principles of humanity that
should merit for him the esteem OF all
Southern people and brave men every
where"
This trial referred to here by Gsn.
eral Goblin was one of the most mem
orable e1periencssin Captain Smythe's
career. While commander Of Company
G, Goth New York Volunteers, he was
stationed with his regiment at Key
West, Fla, during the winter and
spring OF 1863. 1t was there that the
whole affair occurred and Capt. Smythe
still preserves and cherishes all the
papers In G Innection with it, some o.
which are now sadly battered from
handling and yellow with age. HI
has q copy of the whole proceedings
as kept in the war Office at Washing
ton, the original copy Of the charge!
and specifications In the beautiful ant
legible handwriting Of the clerk
typewriters beipg then unknown
which was served upon him, aid OF {
handful, remarkable like those OF tn
present day containing the orde
which was the cause Of the who'll
trouble. In large type Ii is headet
Attention! and reads as follows:
"HeadQu !rters, Island Of K-yWest
Fla. !:
~. S. Barracks, Feb. 18th, 1863.
General Order No. 10:
I'm accordance with instruction
received from Headquarters, Dap't o
the South, the families Of al; person
(white) residing within the limits Q
this Command, who have husbands
brothers., or sons in Rs0el en- ployment
will hold themselves in readiness t
embark on board Of the first availabl
Transport, for Hilton Head, S. q.
with a view Of bsipg placed with
the rebel lines.
1.-THE heads Of such families will re
} port in person to the Headquarter
!, without delay. Due notice Will b
given as to the Transport and time {
sailirg.
"By command of
Jos S MORGAN,
"Col. Goth Reg't. N. Y. VJls.
Commanding Post"
Z w. T. Wooley,
l Lieut.. and Posy,Adjt."
? The harshneSs Of the inhuman ords
that the families Of Confederate sole