The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-10-05
CAPT. PRATT APPROVES.
The Noble Act Of a Rich SIaveowner-
His Kindly Act for the Poor With.
out a Precedent.
(Contributed.)


! In an interview with Capt. Pratt he said
that, as far as he know, our report as pub
lished was substantially correct. He gave
the following additional notes:
Lieut.. James Pratt was promoted to
Captain about two years before the sur
render. Co. &, Orr's Rifles, left Due West,
100 strong. The Company was 1913 strong
when the Company left Sullivan's Island
for Virginia in May, 1862. Because OF
deaths and sickness the Company had
been reduced to 50 for duty at the battle
of Gains Mill. In that battle 10 members
of the Company were killed on the field.
OF the remaining members of that Com
pany only ~ were able for duty after the
battle. And all but two Of that twelve
were wounded, namely: Lieut.. James
Pratt and William A. Fisher.
Through the kindness Of Probate Judge
Jones H. Miller we were put in possession
of the fact that Aug. M. Smith made pro-
vision in his will "for the benefit Of the
poor, especially in regard to the education
of the virtuour poor" This, we believe, is
the only instance of its kind, where any
slave owner has provided for the educa-
tion Of the virtuous poor, and because of
this fact it is a pleasure to note the kind
ness of a great heart which was exception
ally good to the poor in this County. Here
is a clause Of the will:
rOf the cash raised from the various
above mentioned, l give Fifty Thousand
dollars that may be first in hand, after
payment of my debts, to be equally
divided between my wife and son; and OF
the remaining cash I desire that my eX-
ecutors shall at the times and in the way
they find most convenient, set apart One
Tenth part, and the remaining nine-tenths
shall be equally divided between my wife
and son. The one-tenth part set apart as
above, my executors shall, when it may be
most convenient for my estate, pay to
the Senator and members of the House of
Representatives from Abbeville District
in the General Assembly Of South Car
DINA, in trust; And I direct and urgently
desire that these Senator and Representa-
tiveS, and their successors in Office. shail,
as trustees, receive. vest and diSourse
this money. for the benefit Of the poor OF
the said district. especially in regard to
the education Of the virtuous Door, to
these trustees according to their sound
discretion, from time to time. leave the
selection Of q plan, its execution and
change at their pleasure. by which the
purpose I have indicated may: be best
promoted, according to the amount that
may be received. A majority OF the
Senator and Representatives shall have
all the powers of Trustees under this
clause. and the greater number OF this
majority shall decide any question that
may divide them"
The will was dated january 7, 1861. The
executors named were: James NJ. Perren
W. Joel Smith, and D. l.. Wardlaw. The
witnesses were: W. II. Parker, John A.
Mcdonald, and J. T. Moore.
At the time the will was written MI.
Smith was regarded as a very rich a
He had in Arkansas 'about 1856 negro
slaves" on his lands consisting OF 1900
acres. In Abbeville County he had about
lis negroes" on his farming lands
consisting of 1850 acres.
James NJ. Perrin, the first named ex-
ecutor never qualified. He was in the
military service of the C~onfederacy, and
was in command of Orr's regiment at the
battle of Charlottesville, which was one
of the most important battles Of the war.
100, 1000 Federals under Hooker and 10000
C%onfederates under Lee. Federal loss
II, 800. Confederate loss 12,465. The fight
ing included May IA, 1868. 1t was
in this battle that Col. Perrin was shot
through the body. He died in the camp
hospital in the forenoon Of the next day.
Stonewall Jackson while in advance of
the army was mistaken for a Federal
officer when he was killed by his W men
on the same day that Col. Perrin was
killed.
On June q, 1862 Aug. NJ. Smith, Colonel
of Gregg's regiment, was killed at Gaines
Mill, where 81 many OF the Due West
volunteers we're killed. On January s,
1868, appraisers Of his estate made report
to the Probate Judge Of their actings and
doings as to the appraisement Of the per-
sonal property in Abbeville County, and,
exclusive of special devises Of the home
and other property in the town of Able
vile, it amounted to more than S100, 600.
The appraisers were: George Allen, j. s..
Cothran, w. H. Parker, j. Clark Wardlaw.
Commissioners to look after Colonel
Smiths property In Arkansas. AS we
understand, they found that the slaves
were free; that the ~Confederates had been
ordered to burn his cotton, $40 bales, and
that the overseer or manager Of the
estate had been run Off.
After the destruction OF personal pro-
perty and after settlement Of outstanding
claims, and taking out the special devises
there remained nothing for the education
OF the poor, though the record Of his
magnaminity toward unfortunate neigh
bors and virtuous citizens, makes a
record which stands out in bold relief
against the vulgarity of the insolent purse
proud citizens who either twitted them
with being poor white trash" or who
taught their negroes to do the vulgar act.
Col. Aug. NJ. Smith wa not only a valor-
Gus soldier and as knightly an officer as
ever met a foe, but he had a great heart
and a fellowfeeling for the oppressed in
civil life.