The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1908-12-31
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OF the Late Captain ]. Burke
Smith Of This
City.

City
His NE was Scntle; and the eles
ments
So mixed in him. that Nature might
stand up 4
And say to nil the world. this was
q man.
shai,espearc
Esery man who knew James Burke
Smith will instinctly. recognize the
portrait as set forth By the lines Of
the great master poet quoted above.
/ When u was announced In Clarlss-
burg that the spirit of this gentle4
man had gone. there was universal
regret among his acquaintance and
friends, poignant frief among those
who knew him best and loved him.
most.
Mr.. Smith was born November 2s.I
is4l, and spent most Of his life in
his native county. Tyler. He was
naturally OF studious habits and was
blessed more than the average man
with q good share OF common sense
and business acumen. In the. days
OF his early Young manhood the STIR
ring scenes incident to the beginning
Q fthe Civil war were: being enacted
The patriotic soul OF young Smith
was deeply stirred and he resolved to
Offer himself az soldier for the de-
fcnse of his country. So he left his
home and went 10 Wheeling where
he enlisted as a private in Company
u Of the Second. regiment. Virginia
Volunteer Infantry. His service as
a soldier was marked FOR coolness,
vigilance and courage. At the Sec
Fond battle Of Bull Run when volun-
teers were needed to reconnolter in
front of the lines Private Smith was
first to respond from his company.
In November, 1852. he was made a
non-commissioned officer and on
March "a. 1853, he received his
commission as second lieutenatnt.
In March. 1864. Lieutenant Smith
was appointed acting assistant signal
officer in the department of West
Virginia, in which capacity he served
until May ~. when he was captur-
ed by Mosby's Rangers. He spent
the remaining months OF this year
in various Southern prisons, but
finally managed to escape and made
his way to Washington, d. c.. Find
inp hto old ragty,o,k haa4h-...
tered out. Lieutenant Smith was Of
fered and accepted q captancy In the
Sixth West Virginia Cavalry. His. old
commander Bvt. Mai. Gen. William
w. Averill. writing to Maj. Gen.
George Crook. says: II have the
honor to recommend Captain James
B. Smith, Sixth West Virginia Calal-
ry as a brave. skillfull and enterprise
ing officer who distinguished himself
at Droop Mountain and afterwards
at Martinsburg."
Having served his country for
nearly five years, 62-67, and having
seen service in different and remote
parts of the country. Captain Smitl,
sss..."' .t ns.s.ss
oun. ana ehsasea N .metchandis7
A's' ~ "h'ch' US ~. hh'il.arst me, ne
was most su ',assiui' snorsiy after
.e.ufl,'ns - nus nome. saptain smith
W., WIS palteo ~ n,arriaRe 20 MISS Mar y,
s.,A lji.Hsn,'. lnree cnliuren result
w son .ne UNION. sidney a., lda
ena oi:as ~,
Mpou. e,sh' years ago. owing 70
1'l,.in'' healtn. ar. smitn gave up the
ae'lse amusement o. ms large bust
ness interests ana moved TO Clarks-
ours ,w'ere ne ied peaeetul re-
vi .'sta o me uh'i' ms aeath' pecemner
80, i'oe
~. on.y was captain smith sol-
u ,.a,,,a .'s M Nus county, out ne was 2
s"''ant Snr's.'ah soiaier as well.
.a.1s ~ l1e &c gave gus aeart TO Sod
D al a ~