The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-12-20

A FEDERAL OFFICER.
Captain E. D. Smythe, Who Was Court
martialed Because He Resigned
Rather Than Persecute De.
fenceIess Women and

fenceIess Women and
Children.
Apropos the coming visit TO the city
of General J. P. S. Goblin, Of Pennsyl
yania, as announced In Wednesday
mornings issue Ut The Chronicle, and
his presence In the state last week, q
reporter Wednesday chanced upon a
DIT 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hitherto unpublished, that merits at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.
cer OF victorious army to participate
in a cruel oppression Of conquered
people.
Peculiar local interest is given the
incident by reason Of the fact that
the federal cf6;er who took tuis 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 a parsonage that the
popular postmaster, Captain E. D.
Snythe Tnis bit Of Captain Smy-
th s record that is not generally known
to bis many friends.
1t will be remembered that General
Goblin commanded the Pennsylvania
regiment that was q member Of the
corps stationed here during the Span
isb-Amerfcan war. While at Camp
Mckenzie Col. Goblin was elected to
an importa It state cfice and is at
present lieuaenant-goVsrnor OF Penn.
sylyania. he is a past commander OF
the G. A. g., and also had charge OF
the state troops during the great an
thracite coal Strike in Pennsylvania a
feW years ago.
While here General Goblin had
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
50 aptly termed ''the time that tried
mems souls" And they came to know
each other is a peculiar capacity that
served 10 impress itself upon them
more than the ordinary intercourse
between young officers fighting in the
same army would have done, as we
brought cut by general G)bia him
self, when Captsin Smythe CHANGED
to meet Linn in Atlanta tae other day:
while be was in GaSigia as manber
OF the Pennsylvania delegation to An
defsonvil'e.
Boys" said General Goblin, grip
ping botn of Capt. Snyuhe's hands N
grasp OF good fellowship, "lo1k at
cid Smythe here To see US low you
would never think that we once occa
pied the respective positions OF dcfen-
dant and prosecutor, tut it is true, as
ne will himself # m. BE was oCce
ccuet,mar5ialsd ald l 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
s;xsies, but seved to emphasize and
perpetuate rcoie stand taken by bim
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 Gan
eral Goblin was one OF the most mem
orable experiences in Captain Smythe's
career. While jmnander OF Company
G, Goth New York Volunteers, be was
stationed with his regiment at Key
West, Fla, during the winter and
spring OF 1868. 1t was there that the
whole affair occurred and Capt. Smythe
still preserves and caerishes all the
papers In ;nnection with it, some OF
which are no| sadly catered from
handling and yellow with age. He
has a copy OF the whole proceedings
as kept in the war cf6;e at Washing
ton, the original copy Of the charges
and specifications in the beG u5ifui and
legible handwriting Of the clerk,
type writer's beirg then unknown,
which was served upon him, and of q
nandbill, remarkable like these OF the
present day containing the order
which was the cause CT the whole
trouble. IN large type 1t is headed
Attention and reads as follows:
"Headuu .rters, Island OF KeyWesS,
Fla.
~. S. Barracks, Feb. 18th, 1858.
General Order No. 10:
In accordance with Instructors
received from Headquarters, Dept OF
the South, the families OF all persons
(ahite) residing within the limits OF
this Command, who haVe husbands,
brothers, or sons in Rscel employment,
will hold themselves in readiness tc
embark on board OF the first available
Transport, for Hilton Head, S. g..
with view OF being placed withir
she rebel lines.
The heads Of such families will re-
port in person to the Headquarters
without delay Due notice will be
given as to the Transport and time ol
sailing.
''By command OF
Jos S MORGAN,
'Col. Goth Reg't. n. Y. Vols.
&C JnmandinQ Post"
"W. 7. Wooley,
Lieut.. and Pos3 Adjt."
The harshusss Of the inhuman ord5l
that the families Of Confederate sold
iers be placed within the Confederate
, lines aroused the indignation OF all
sven the officers Of Col. Morgan's oWr
command, and they held meeting
three daVs later TO discuss the mat