Evening journal., 1908-05-30

BY the time the Battle of Antietam
was fought the First Delaware was as
fine an infantry regiment as the Army
Of the Potomac could boast. In that
battle Il heroically faced almost in
credible punishment and never finch
ed, although about one-third Of its
number was killed or wounded. The
cOndcct of Major Smyth. undec that
r.urIcrous nre at Antietam establish
ell him in the pe' feet confidence o. the
men Of the First Delaware.
on December Stst, 1862 he became
lieutenant-colonel and on February
7th, 1868 he rose to the rank OF colonel.
lie was in command Of the First Della
ware at the bloody and unfortunate
battle Of Fredericksburg. At the great
and decisive battle Of Gettysburg, al
though still only a colonel in rank, he
was in fact in command of a brigade.
On the last day at Gettysburg he was
wounded In the head by pieces OF an
exploding she'll In April 1854 he was
put in command OF the Irish Brigade
and he led that valiant and heroic
legion in the wilderness and at Spot
sylvania. His commission as Briga-
der General was somewhat delayed
for his promotion in the army depend
ed solely on personal merit as a soldier.
He was not the favorite Of men in
political place and power. He. how
ever, became a brigadier- general on
October 21st. 1864. Delaware is proud
70 claim General Thomas A. Smyth
as one Of her military heroes. She has
a right to make that claim. He was
living i'm Delaware when the war be-
gan. He entered the army with a
company Of young Deiawareans at mis-
back He fought his way up to a gem
erals commission In Dclaware's FAM
Gus lighting regiment Delaware's
soil holds his dust. so that heie no
sleeps his last long sleep. But after
all there was little distinctly peia-
warean in him. To tell the truth
Thomas A. Smyth seems to me to have
been a splendid type Of the IRISH sol
dier. The valor and the genius OF the
Irish race for war has helped to ada
lUster and glory To the flags of many
countries. Here at out feet lies the
srave Of one Of those Irish soldiers
wlnsc might AMI valorous deeds add
q E.ory 10 the Il ost glorious ilag that
ever floated in any war
"He gave, I'm his service under our
stars and stripes the last full measure
Of devotion. Just az the war was clos
ing (after Lees line had been broken
at Petersburg and Richmond had been
evacuated by the Confederate Govern
.menD on April 18th. 1865. at the battle
of Farmsville, while riding in advance
with his stan on the slxirmish Lille,
General Thomas A. Smyth was shot
ty a Confederate sharp-shooter. the
wound was mortal and two days later
he died, surrendering his undauuted
sI irit into the Divine keeping on the
same day on which Lee surrendered
his sword 10 Grant. General Smyth
was doubtless the last general officer
whose life was sacrificed in the war
between the States. After his death
commission as brevet Major General OF
volunteers was issued In his name for
gallant and meritorious services be-
fore Farmsville. Va
HE was still In the first flush of
young manhood when he died, his life
ending when he was but 80 years OF
age. Was It not pitiful that one so
handsome. so brave, so knightly and
so beloved should fall so young? But
as time mellows all grief. pidful as
was his untimely end. we cannot sornd
a note of mourning by this grave for
Il was a splendid, glorious and stren-
uous life he led. II was a gay as well
as a gallant spirit which Is showed
through his deeds The splend1r Of
courage. the tJ'nance Of victory and
the halo OF GLOW lungs over his grave.
| Therefore. not in mourning, but in
view of this soldiers triumphant life
and service you gather today at this
spot TO present to his gracious lady
this banner in token Of mutual re-
membrance Of the noble. brave true
l'fe he led and Of the happy and
glorious death he died"