Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-06
MADE RECORD AS SCOUT
FOR CONFEDERATE ARMY
Charming N. Smith Commended by
Gems. Lee and Stuart for
Intrepidity.

One OF the prominent Confederate
scouts attending the reunion Is Chan
ming NJ. Smith of Delaplane, Va. AL
though but a private. he came under the
Gen J. E. B. Stuart, the noted southern
cavalry leader. who commended him in
orders for his bravery and intrepidity.
One of Mr.. Smiths proudest possessions
IS the original Of a communication from
Maj. Gen. stuart dated Capital Head
quarters. Cavalry Corps. Army of North
ern Virginia, April 90, 1854"
1t is addressed to Lieut.. Col. w. H.
Taylor. assistant adjutant general on
the staff of Gen. r. E. Lee, and is as
follows:
Colonel: I have the honor to report
the following affair (petite guerre).
which occurred in the operations within
the enemies lines near Catlett station
on the 18th instant Privates Claiming
NJ. Smith, Richard Lewis and Lowe of
Company H. 4th Virginia Cavalry, act
ing as scouts in Fauquier county. met
and attacked party of five Of the
enemy. killing four. the other escaping.
Reflects Credit on Scouts.
This affair reflects great credit on
the valor and skill of the gallant scouts
who executed it, and too much praise
cannot be awarded them. Their opera
lions served to inspire confidence in
our cause and keep our enemies in q
state of constant and wholesome ter
ror. The attention of the commanding
general is called to these young men,
who are constantly giving evidence OF
their daring by similar exploits
On the reverse of this order is the fol-
lowing Endorsement in the familiar
handwriting of Gen. Lee:
Respectfully forwarded for the in
formation of the department. I have on
several previous occasions called the
attention of the Secretary of War to
the gallantry of Claiming NJ. Smith and
other young scouts of the army.
"R. E. LEE, General"
Letter From Gen. Lee.
Another Of Mr.. Smiths valued posses
sions is the following letter from Gen.
Robert f. Lee, dated Lexington, Va
November 6. 1865:
mfr. Smith was one of Gen. Jeb
Stuart's most trusted scouts. He was
frequently in charge of parties detailed
to watch the enemy, gain information
of their movements. and always acquit-
ted himself we'll He sometimes acted
under my special directions: and
telligent in the discharge Of his duties
and very reliable"
Chanting NJ Smith enlisted in the
noted BLACK Horse Cavalry" of Fau-
auier county. Va. in 1861. These were
the horsemen which had the desperate
the run at the battle of Bull Run. Later.
by his daring scout work. he attracted
the notice of Gen. Jeb Stuart, who on
May 10, 1863, by personal order detailed
Mr.. Smith as a special scout in the en-
emy's lines. AS such he had many
thrilling adventures and narrow es-
capes.
Thrilling Adventure.
In the fall of 1863, when Gen. Meade,
with his men in blue, crossed the Rapi-
dan river, hoping by the rapidity and.
as he believed, secrecy of his movement
to surprise Gen. Lee, get between his
army and Richmond-an effort which
proved a complete failure and ended in
the fiasco of Mine Run-Scout Smith
all through it, was at Gen. Warren's
headquarters and talked with his men,
rode through his reserved heavy artil-
lery and got all the information he
needed, captured a four-horse wagon
loaded with supplies, but had to aban-
don it later, and captured a flag of
Sedgwick's Corps and presented 1t to
Gen. Lee. He was accompanied on this
daring exploit by one man-Richard
H. Lewis of the BLACK Horse" troop.
who was said to be one of the bravest
soldiers in the Confederate army.
In the winter and spring of 1S63-64
Mr.. Smith had charge of attachments
of scouts operating on Gen. Grants
House, where Gen. Grant had his head
quarters. He discovered Gen. Grants
purpose to adva@se upon Gen. Lee three
days before it began, and notified the
Confederate command through couriers
sent to Gen. Stuart.