The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-18
YANKEE GuNBOAT
SMITH BRIGGS
Survivor, in Search Of Inforlna-
ton, Learns How It Was
Captured By Rebels.
REC EINT CORRESPONDENCE RES NJ :. v j:
1t Brings Up Some War History
That Will Prove Very
Interesting.
Survivor, in Search Of Informa-
RECENT CORRESPONDENCE

Tho correspondence below would be In
teresting merely as an exchange OF let
ters. 1t Is doubly interesting In that 1t
brings out some war history that other.
wise might be forever lost
This letter is given just as 1t was re-
ceived by tho head citizen OF the town
OF Smithfield:
Philadelphia, Pa. FEBRUARY END, 1906.
TO the Mayor or Head Citizen of tho.
Town OF Smithfleld. Isle OF Wight
County, Virginia:
Dear slr,-i am Seeking Information
on Something occurred Some AZ years
ago II you were not then a Resident OF
the Town Perhaps Some one to whom.
YOU Show this Letter Can help you out
with the information That l Desire on
the first Day OF FEBRUARY 1864 l was
taken Prisoner OF War In the town of
Smithfield along with IL New york
Cavalry and Detachment OF the 99th
New york Infantry and Some Of my
Battery A 3rd Pa Heavy artillery and
Some of Battery B Srd Pa. artillery max
n,g some ITO all told and one of our
Light Draught G;unboats Samed Smith
Briggs was Blown up BY the Soldiers
opposing us.
our Commander BY the Name OF Cap.
tain Lee n Newyork man was a Coward
and he Drew us up in Line on the first
road Next to the Little River which
think was Called Pagan Creek told tho
Boys all who were in favor OF Surrender
Hold UP their Right Hand the New york
crs Hands went up almost to man only
ono Pennsylvania Sent up his hand
the New workers. had the Strongest Side
So Captain Lee Signed the Surrender
Looking as white as this Paper am
writing upon Now Thought 1t would be
among you in December Last and Could
ask the Questions for myself on my Re-
turn from the Dedication of Monument
at Andersonville Ga TO all who Died
Down there In 1864 and 1855 But on ac-
count OF a Bad Spell of rheumatism !
could not go to Georgia to the Dedica-
ton So i am Now Confined to tho House 4
with the Same Trouble So Thought |
would write to See If Could get Some
Information to GLADDEN. the Heart of the
only one esides myself wno Is Living out
of no who was taken at Smithtield the
Information i,.weuld Like to get is what
the Name Of 'the Battery opposed us and
the Name5'of the. 4Cavarrymen and the
Regiment OF Infantry. Perhaps Some
one may be in your Town to Day who
was in the fight who Could tell you all
about 1t am only 63 years old and
Surely Some one is Living at this
Day who Saw That Little fight
What Become of the Remnents Of the
Gun Boat and how far was 1t to That
Peice OF Woods where the fight opened
on Saturday how far is 1t to 1vor Station
where one of our Wounded was Buried
II 1t isn't to tiresome Give me a Good
Long Letter how things went on In
Smithfield until after the Close OF one
Of the Most Unjust Wars That History
Ever Recorded and my Prayers are That
Such n War will never take Place again
In this Great Country Of ours to mar the
peace and Happiness OF the Greatest
Country on the Face of Gods Earth
we We're Taken to Belle Isle Near
Richmond and on the 10 Day OF March
we were Taken to Andersonvie Georgia
marched in the Stockade Down there on
St Patrlck's Night March 18th Released
p October 18th 1864 and came home and
only two now left II you can't find time
to answer give this to Some Good ana
Kind Hearted Lady to answer Enclosed
Z Please find Stamps for answer my Name
and address William W. Rodgers, 1853
North Colorado street. Philadelphia. Pa.
Fraternally yours.
WILLIAM W. RODGERS
Mayor JOINER, OF Snilnneld, referred
the above letter to Mr.. r. s. Thomas.
who in making the following full reply.
added to tho store of very interesting
Confederate history.
Mr.. Thomas's Reply.
smithheld, Va, Feb q, 1906
william ". Rogers, ESQ. No. o55a North
Colorado Street Philadelphia, Pa:
My Dear Sir,-Iours of February 2od
\ 10 the Mayor OF head citizen of, the town
Of smithfleld, relative 10 the destruction
of the Federal sunhoat Smith Briggs AMI
the capture of the Federal forces under
Captain Lee, on the LIST day of February
IS As6i, was received by v. G.. Joyner, Mayor
ssof the town, on the 2itho OF this month.
and he, on the same day. delivered ~.
letter 70 me for reply. viii give YOU the
information you desire. so far as l can.
VII great deal of pleasure.
Il My brother, ], @. Thomas, OF Four
Square, now In his seventy-third yenr
MI was an active participant in the engage,
q ment OF February ], 1864. have fre
4& quently heard him uarrate the circum-
stances with great circumstantlalty. and
on Saturday night last went i'm Ia his
house and got ,hill5to repeat tho story RI
DIS that Inlsht siNeait to you with fresh
M moss and accuracy. II"
captain stnrdiyant. of Richmond, va.
H VI ! NO pieces OF artillery, viii, two
small companies OF North Carolina IN.
d fantry. and with few. cavalrymen ne
that State. went down to Cherry Grove
IL lea from -