Our Kirby Smith : a paper read before the Ohio Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, March 2, 1887

"DUR KIRBY SMITH/'

/^ ^ Jfidljui/^

"OUR KIRBY SMITH."

A PAPER

READ BEFORE THE OHIO COMMANDERY

i)K THE

MILITARY ORDER

OF THE

Loyal Legion of the United States

MARCH 2, 188T,

BV

Companion lOHX W. FULLER.

Laic Brioadicr and Brcvcl Major-General, (J. ^S. V.

CINCINNATI:

H. C. SHERICK & CO.
1887.

61503
^05

OUR KIRBY SMITH.

There have been three Kirby Smiths — all of them
soldiers. The elder, Ephraim Kirby Smith, dropped
all but the initial of his tirst name, and was alv,^ays
known as E. Kirby Smith. During the War of the
Rebellion it was common to hear the older officers of
our army speak of him as a soldier of marked ability,
and as one who had been universally respected and
honored.

Major E. Kirby Smith fell in battle at the head of
his battalion at Molina-del-Rey ; a battle in which we
lost fifty-nine officers (one-third of all engaged), and
nearly eight hundred men. A battle so much more
fatal, proportionately, to us, than any other with the
same foe, that it seems evident "' somebody blun-
dered." Indeed, General Grant, in his memoirs, thinks
this battle ought never to have been fought at all, a^
the enemy's very strong position could have been
easily turned.

Major E. Kirb}^ Smith was the father of our Kirby
Smith, whose memory, still cherished in some hearts,
I desire to revive and freshen to-night — the memory
of y. L. Kirby Smith, the first Colonel of the Forty-
third Ohio.

It is not an easy task, I know, to interest a listener
in the story of one who fell so 3'oung, no matter how

— 4 —

highly esteemed, nor how beloved b}' his immediate
comrades; for, though he gave promise of a brilliant
career, he died too soon to verify the promise. His
service in the field covered merely eight brief months,
and he was but twenty-six years old when he fell in
battle. So 3^oung, that only a few could realize that
a born soldier had been lost; so soon, that onl}- his
kindred and a few who loved him would keep his
memory green.

Perhaps, when asking you to listen to the brief
story of this young soldier, it may be well, at the out-
set, to show that 1 am not alone in thinking his
memory worthy of preservation; and to this end will
quote a few lines from a letter written by a General
who once commanded the Twelfth, and afterwards
the Twentieth Corps. General A. S. Williams, who
knew Colonel Smith, perhaps, even better than I did,
speaks thus of him: "He was my beau-ideal of a
young man. Cheerful, religious, faithful, and sincere;
frank, brave, atiectionate, and dutiful, he combined all
the severer virtues of mature age without illiber-
ality, prejudice, bigotry, envy, or malevolence. There
was 'a daily beauty in his life' that won the hearts of
all who knew him." And again the same General
says: "His heart was so given to the cause of his
country, and he was so free from selfish considera-
tions; he was so capable, so brave, so self-reliant
without vanity, so patient and so perse\ering in the
line of duty, that T have looked confidently —though
not without apprehensions for his personal safet}' —
for splendid services and rapid and well-earned
advancement."

The father of our Colonel was born in New Eng-
land, and always gloried in that love of freedom and
that sturdy independence which he associated with his
childhood's home; and yet he was appointed to the
Military Academy from Florida, for his father,
Joseph Lee Smith, had been sent there by President
Monroe to serve as United States Judge, immediately
on the change of flags, when our government pur-
chased that territory from Spain.

There was another and younger son of Judge
Smith in the army, afterwards known as the Rebel
General E. Kirby Smith, who had been registered at
West Point as Edmund K. Smith, and who was
always known, up to the close of the Mexican War,
by his first name. The elder brother had made the
name of E. Kirby Smith both honored and beloved,
and when, soon after his death, his brother Edmund
assumed that name, and began to write himself
E. Kirby Smith, it gave sore otiense to the widow
and friends of the original Kirby, which was intensi-
fied by his joining the Rebels. It seemed to them
that Edmund had stolen his brother's honored name
and linked it with treason, and it is not strange that
the son — our Kirby Smith — grew up to feel that his
uncle was guilty of a grievous wrong. When, dur-
ing the rebellion, the name of this uncle was mentioned
in some Confederate dispatch, our Kirby would refer
to him bitterly, saying, " Years ago he stole my
father's good name, and now he has betrayed his
country's flag. If I could meet him in battle, with
force enough to thoroughly beat him, it would do my
soul good; and I would like to capture him, that I

— 6 —

misrht tell him how his kindred and his former com-
rades despise him."

But, to tJjke events in their proper order, I must go
back to say that our Kirby was born in Syracuse,
N. Y., on the 25th day of July, 1836, where his father
was then stationed on recruiting service. For some
years the boy grew up amid the scenes of the camp,
and when later he was sent to school, a little inci-
dent occurred which gives us a glimpse of character
not often seen in boys of his years. His reverend
teacher believed in the use of the rod. Some mis-
chief had been done, and, as Kirby refused to tell
who the guilty party was, the teacher believed it was
Kirby, and punished him accordingl}'. An aunt who
learned the facts, was very indignant at this injustice,
notwithstanding the teacher had subsequently apolo-
gized, and went with the story to the boy's mother.
When Kirby's mother talked it over with her son, and
dwelt upon the fact of his innocence, the boy replied:
" Mother, do you remember what Socrates said when
his friends lamented that he, an innocent man, should
be put to death .-' ' Would you then have me
guilty.?'"

Our Kirby entered the Academy at West Point in
1853. He had less than the usual trouble in conform-
ing to the discipline of the school, as he had long
been taught both the propriety and the necessity of
obedience. That other attribute, without which we
should have no true soldier, viz., loyalty, was born
in him.

At the Military Academy he had the usual experi-
ence which comes with the first or second year when

_7 —

cadets must settle some real or fancied insult in a
private set-to with the fist; arms, of course, being
prohibited. The Kansas troubles were at that time
exciting everybody, and Kirby made some remarks
about the aggressiveness of the slave power, which
gave offense to a stalwart Georgian He must with-
draw the remarks or take the consequences. Kirby
said he had a right to his opinions, and also the right
to express them. So a fight, on the classic ground
near the Kosciusko Monument, had to come. Kirby
seemed to look upon it as a joke, and went in a merry
mood to the rendezvous, alone. But when he saw the
tall Southerner with half a dozen of his friends await-
ing him, Kirby grew indignant, and began to wonder
whether he could jump high enough to hit the Georgian
between the eyes. He accomplished this so thor-
oughly that his antagonist soon lay sprawling on the
ground, bleeding profusely from the nose. When
the Southerner's companions could not bring him to
the scratch again, they proposed that our Kirby
should fight each one of them in turn. At this
moment Cadet Orlando Poe (well known to us as
General Poe), who had been looking on from behind
some bushes, stepped forward and announced that if
there was to be any more fighting he would take a hand
himself. As Poe was older, and a full head taller
than our Kirby, he presented a formidable appear-
ance, and the Georgian's seconds soon decided that
honor did not require them to fight, and they with-
drew. But long before graduation day our Kirby and
his antagonist were devoted friends.

Smith was graduated from the Academy in 1857 —

— 8 —

sixth in his class - and when the war broke out he
was a Lieutenant in the Corps of Topographical
Engineers, and stationed at Detroit under Captain
George G. Meade, who afterward became Com-
mander of the Army of the Potomac. They were
awaiting the opening of navigation to resume duty in
triangulating Lake Superior.

Both Meade and Smith were afraid the great Re-
bellion would be put down, while they were measur-
ing the shores and sounding the depths of that inland
sea. But it was not long before they learned that
every soldier would find enough to do.

Our Kirby's first war service was on the staff of
General Patterson; then on that of Banks. But he
was restive while doing merely topographical dut)%
and longed for a regiment he might lead to the field.
After some disappointments he was offered a cavalry
regiment, which he declined, as he once told me,
merely " because he could not shoe a horse." Then
the Forty-third Ohio was offered him by Governor
Dennison, which he promptly and gladly accepted.
On reaching Camp Chase, near Columbus, he found a
mere squad of men, all like Artemus Ward's com-
pany, willing to be brigadiers. He removed head-
quarters to Mount Vernon. Speedily the ranks were
filled, and so thoroughly were the men drilled, that
the Forty-third was soon known as one of the finest
regiments Ohio sent into the field — and this is saying
a good deal.

It was about the last of February, 1862, when I
first met Colonel Smith. He, with his regiment,
joined the Army of the Mississippi at Commerce

Missouri, where General Pope was organizing his
forces preparatory to the movement upon New
Madrid. Smith's regiment and mine both belonged
to the First Division of that army, commanded then
by General Schuyler Hamilton. I did not see Smith
during the first day's operations at New Madrid,
when the enemy's gunboats made so much noise, as
his regiment was held in reserve; but General Pope
soon after gave him an order to make a reconnoissance
with his regiment, to learn more of the enem3''s
strength and position. He discharged this duty very
satisfactorily to General Pope, and he did it in such a
fearless manner as to attract the enemy's attention;
for when we captured the Rebels, some weeks there-
after, some of them inquired particularly after the
officer who that day rode the white horse, and
were loud in their commendations of his gallantry.

When we were on transports down the Mississippi,
and near Fort Pillow, General Pope gave Smith
another opportunity to make an important reconnois-
sance. He was to explore the banks opposite Fort
Pillow, looking for some bayou or passage through
which steamboats might pass the fort and thus reach
Memphis. Before this was accomplished, however,
General Pope's army was ordered to immediately
join the forces of Grant and Buell, then approaching
Corinth.

About the time we reached Pittsburg Landing, the
four Ohio Regiments which originally formed the
First Division of the Army of the Mississippi, became
the First Brigade of that Division. General Daniel
Tyler was assigned to command the Brigade, and

lO

General D. S. Stanley commanded the Division. This
change brought me into more frequent contact with
Colonel Smith, and I had learned to like him well
before he came under my command in the following

July-

There was a good deal of humor in Smith. During
one of our marches the sutler of his regiment (whom
Smith told me he had scarcely ever seen) came to
the front with his wagons, and with — a sense of his
responsibility. One day, near the end of a w^eary
march, while the Colonel was riding in rear of his
regiment encouraging the foot-sore to keep their
places, the sutler galloped up from the rear to find a
good place in the new camp. "^ Give way there!" he
sang out, " I want to get to the head of the column;
please give way," "Who are you, sir.?" inquired
Smith, as the sutler grew importunate. " Why, I am
the sutler of the Forty-third Ohio " was the confident
reply. " Oh, you are the sutler, are you? then I'll
give way immediately," said Smith, reining out to
one side with considerable ado, "for I am nothing but
the durned Colonel!"

During the summer, our Kirby's health was seri-
ousl}' affected by a disease which threatened to become
chronic. After repeated warnings from his surgeon?
and at the earnest instance of some comrades who
were alarmed about 'him, he applied for a leave.
Rosecrans said he would find some duty for Colonel
Smith, temporarily, at the North, and would order
him there. But he forgot it, and so the next month?
when I also was ill, we each requested a leave of
absence. When these requests reached Rosecrans,

— II —

he said: "What! grant a leave to two Colonels at
once, and of the same Brigade! 1 can't think of it!"
"All right," said General Stanley, who happened ( ?j
to be at Rosecrans' headquarters at the time — " all
right. General; but if you don't give them a leave,
God Almighty will, prett}' soon.'' " Is it so bad as
that?" responded Rosecrans, "well, then, Mr. Adju-
tant, send these leaves at once." I remember that
little kindness of General Stanley with deep gratitude
to this day; and I know that Colonel Smith appre-
ciated it keenly. Stanley sometimes seemed almost
savage in battle, and would fight the devil himself if
he got in the way; and yet he was as gentle and con-
siderate as a woman when his sympathies were
touched.

It was a happy journey we made together. The
bracing air of the North was to bring back health
and strength. The society of those dearer than all
was again to be ours. At Columbus, Ohio, we sepa-
rated; Colonel Smith to see his mother and sister in
Philadelphia, and I to meet my young family at
Toledo.

When the time came for our return, we arranged
by telegraph to meet at Chicago that we might go
back together. Smith was a charming talker, and I
enjoyed very heartily his story of what he had seen
and heard. It would be difficult to repeat what was
said, for his voice and gesture were so much a part of
all, that his listener could recall the impression left
more easily than the story itself. But quaint sketches
of people, told in the kindliest manner; the joyous
meeting with his mother and sister; the tender refer-

to

— 12 —

ences to one who was to be closer than all, were all
pfiven with a charm I could nev^er describe. Ah!
little did he think that they of whom he talked so
long, so gaily, and withal so tenderly — little did he
think they would never hear his voice again.

It was early in September when we returned to the
army, and found the Ohio Brigade had marched east-
ward, near to luka. Smith's regiment was a short
distance still further east, guarding the crossing of
Bear Creek. We were just in time to take part in
the manceuvers which preceded the battle of luka,
and which culminated in the battle of Corinth,
Almost immediately we marched back to Corinth, as
it was thought Van Dorn was heading for that place.
We were only comfortably encamped when General
Price, with a large Rebel force, occupied luka, driv-
insr out the grarrison we had left there.

General Grant immediately resolved to try to
capture or destroy Price. Rosecrans was to approach
luka from the south, while another column under Ord
was to attack from the west. One of Rosecrans' Di-
visions had to make a round-about march, and on the
night preceding the battle was several miles behind
the place of rendezvous. This led Grant to fear that
Rosecrans could not reach luka in time to carry out
the original programme. So he instructed Ord, who
was not strong enough alone to fight Price, to await
the sound of Rosecrans' guns before attacking. The
wind blew from Ord toward Rosecrans, and the
former heard nothing of the fierce battle which
Rosecrans had all to himself, not more than four or
five miles away to the south of the town. The Ohio

— 13 —

Brigade, to which Smith belonged, formed the rear
guard that day, and was onl}- ordered to the front
just as the darkness suddenly grew so dense that
Rosecrans ordered us, after getting into position, to
await for aiminor Ho-ht.

The next morning when we moved forward Price
was gone; and when we had advanced into the town
and had come to a halt, with arms stacked, Ord's
forces were seen approaching from the west with
drums beating and banners flying. Rosecrans asked
Ord, as soon as that General rode forward, why he did
not come to time in accordance with the mutual under-
standing - wh}' he, Rosecrans, had been left in the
lurch, Ord answered by showing Grant's order to
postpone the attack. This miscarriage was the
beginning of a misunderstanding which grew into
positive dislike between Grant and Rosecrans — a
breach which was never healed.

The Division to which Smith's Regiment belonged
(Stanley's) followed Price for ten or a dozen miles to
the southward, then marched to the westward, keep-
ing between the army of Price and Corinth. After
resting at Rienzi for a day or two, we moved by the
round-about way of Kossuth to Corinth.

Rosecrans by this time knew that Price had
rejoined Van Dorn, and that their united forces were
moving in a northerly direction; but whether they
were aiming for Boliv.er and Jackson, or would first
strike Corinth, he was waiting to see.

On the 2d of October Colonel Smith was ordered
with his regiment and a section of artillery to Kos-
suth; but during the night, Rosecrans, now satisfied

— 14 —

that Corinth was Van Dorn's objective, ordered every-
thing: to concentrate there. So Smith had hardlv
bivouacked when he received orders to countermarch.
Though very weary with so much marching, Smith
was too good a soldier to delay, and the next morn-
ing at lo o'clock he rejoined his Brigade.

The firing was already rapid and heavy to the west
of the town, but Corinth itself was not threatened
until late in the afternoon. Then the Division of
General Davis, greatly outnumbered, fell back to the
line of woods not far from and in full sight of the
town itself.

The Ohio Brigade was ordered to the crest
crowned by Battery Robinet, to resist any further ad-
vance of the enemy. Van Dorn, however, postponed
his grand assault until morning, and during the even-
ing each army was formed in position for the
morrow's strife. The lines of the Ohio Brigade
were not over two hundred 3'ards from the spot where
the Rebels planted Tobin's Battery, and all night we
could plainly hear the preparations the enemy was
making. Moreover, the skirmishers were so close
that any slight movement on either side was
instantly followed by the sharp crack of the rifle.
Colonel Smith's regiment was formed on the left of
Battery Robinet, facing to the west; the other regi-
ments of the Brigade were to the right of the Battery
facing to the north.

During the night the Brigade Commander called
Colonel Smith to accompany him while making the
rounds, to suggest anything which might have been
overlooked, to guard against any surprise. The chat

— 15 —

we had together that night was the last I enjoyed
with him. He was cheery as ever, and joked in low
tones with as much unconcern as though the Rebels
were miles away. " Colonel," said he, " where did
you get forage for your horses to-night? I don't
know whether mine smells the battle afar off, but he
keeps singing out 'Ha(y)! Ha(y)!' and I think he
made a remark about oats."

Before the first glimpse of day on that memorable
morning, October 4, 1862, the enemy opened with
several batteries which he had planted during the
night. Smith lost a few men, but his position was
not at first much exposed, as the enemy's guns were
mostly aimed at the town. As soon as it was light
enough to see, our own batteries drove the Rebels
back. About 1 1 o'clock the enemy's columns were
seen moving to attack the troops stationed on our
right. As the Ohio Brigade occupied the crest of a
ridge near the center of Rosecrans' line of battle, we
had a magnificent view of the enemy as he came out
of the woods in fine style, and marched over and
through the obstructions with such noticeable gal-
lantry. Our guns were all turned in that direction,
and, though many gaps were made in their ranks,
they closed up without a moment's delay and moved
forward in splendid style. We saw the Rebels drive
back a portion of our line — saw them climbing over
the light intrenchments; saw them moving onward
to the town. Soon after we saw them going back
again, followed by our boys in blue. A struggle
occurred at some points on the line, but the Rebels
were giving way, and most of them were running

— i6 —

backwards to the woods, when our attention became
wholly occupied with the movement in our own
front.

Another Division of the enemy was coming
through the woods, directly toward us. Their ban-
ners waived gaily, and on reaching the edge of the
woods they halted a few seconds, as if to perfect their
formation, and then bore down upon us. The col-
umn in the road, meeting little or no obstruction, was
soon far in advance of the others. Captain Lathrop,
of my staff, was sent to order Colonel Smith to
" chancre front forward." This manceuver Smith
proceeded to execute, just as if his regiment was on
parade, aligning his right company on the markers
before giving the order for the other companies to
advance. This movement was not fully completed
when Smith was shot down. A column which ad-
vanced along the west side of the road got close to
the battery, and the men, sheltering themselves be-
hind stumps and logs, were firing sharply. " Those
fellows are firing at you, Colonel," said one of the
Forty-third's men. "Well, give it to them, "answered
the Colonel, and immediately thereafter fell from his
horse. When the column in the road had been
driven back by the point-blank fire of the Sixty-third
and Twenty-seventh Regiments, fearing another, and
perhaps stronger etfort, would be made to drive
us from the crest, 1 ran back to near the railroad to
bring forward the Eleventh Missouri to a position di-
rectly behind the Sixty-third Ohio. This Regiment
did not belong to my Brigade, but it was the nearest
at hand, and very promptly moved up to the position

-17 —

assigned. The Commander of the Brigade to which
the Eleventh Missouri belonged had mistaken the
Rebel skirmishers for ours, and had been taken pris-
oner by them some hours before; and General Stanley,
our Division Commander, had gone over to the right,
when it seemed all the fighting was to be done there,
and had not yet returned. While 1 was bringing up
the Eleventh Missouri, glancing over my left shoulder,
I saw some men picking up a wounded officer whose
face was stained with blood. 1 did not then know it
was Colonel Smith, but directly after I saw his Adju-
tant, Heyl, ride up to that group, and with a futile
effort to steady himself, by grasping his horse's mane,
fall also to the ground.

B}' this time the enemy's battalions were coming
along the Chewalla Road again, and my attention was
wholly absorbed by their gallant charge. Their
leader, Colonel Rogers, of Texas, was unhorsed soon
after leaving the cover of the woods, but he advanced
fearlesslv on foot at the head of his column. When
his color-bearer was shot down, Rogers picked up
the flag and deliberately carried it forward until he
fell, a few feet before reaching the ditch of the little
fort. The Rebel column pushed forward until it be-
gan to trample on the dead of the Sixty-third Ohio,
still lying where they fell, when it was charged by the
Eleventh Missouri, the Twenty-seventh Ohio, and a
remnant of the Sixty-third. This charge smashed the
head of that column, and drove its rear backwards to
the woods.

To go back a few minutes, when Colonel Smith,
his Adjutant, and others of the Forty-third were shot

— i8 —

down, that regiment seemed dazed, and liable to
confusion; but Lieutenant-Colonel Wager Swayne
immediately began to stead}' the ranks, and General
Stanley galloped up just in time to help. Stanley was
a host in battle, and always seemed to be where the
strife was fiercest. Just as our boys were moving for
the charge, which broke the Rebel column in the
road, I was astonished to see Stanley rushing in be-
tween the file closers and the line of battle of the
Eleventh Missouri, his arms outstretched, to touch as
many men as he could reach, pushing them forward
to strike the head of the Rebel column. I wondered
how he got there; for, only a minute or two before
he was with the Forty-third, making it hot for the
Rebels to the left of the Battery.

Very soon after the charge — when the exultant
shout of victory was so quickly followed by that re-
vulsion which came with the whispered names of the
dead — occurred the scene thus touchingly referred to
by General Stanley in his official report of the battle:
" I have not words to describe the qualities of this
model soldier, or to express the loss we have sus-
tained in his death. The best testimony I can give to
his memory, is the spectacle I witnessed myself, in the
very moment of battle, of stern, brave men weeping like
children, as the word passed, ' Kirby Smith is killed !' "

It was nearly an hour after he was shot when Smith
became conscious, and word came to us from the
hospital that his wound was not mortal, I jumped
upon a fallen tree in rear of the Forty-third and sang
out to them that Colonel Smith was not killed, but
would recover. This was repeated by Swayne and

— 19 —

others, and the cheer which followed, taken up by
the men of other regiments also, would have glad-
ened our Kirby's heart. From the moment that con-
sciousness returned. Colonel Smith never forgot he
was a soldier, never failed to receive us with the
customary salute, never allowed any complaint or
signal of pain to escape him.

It seemed a singular coincidence to us, and I think
also to Smith, that his wound was identical with that
which struck down his honored father, years before,
at the gates of Mexico. A shot entered just under
the right nostril, passing somewhat upward, until de-
flected by a bone, when it passed out at the left ear.

That evening I went with General Stanley to the
hospital. It will be readily understood that the
nature of Kirby's wound prevented speech; but as
soon as he saw us he indicated a desire to write. I
took out a memorandum book and pencil, when he
immediately wrote: "How did my regiment be-
have.^" General Stanley commenced to write are-
ply, when a quizzical look of the Colonel's reminded
us he could hear well enough, and Stanley answered
" Most gallantly." This seemed to please Smith
greatly, and he at once acknowledged it with one of
his graceful salutes.

When Stanley had passed on, to speak to others, I
sat down at Kirby's side and expressed a desire to do
anything for him that I could. Would he like to
have me write to his mother .f* A nod said "yes."
Was there any one else he wished me to write .^ He
made no sign in response, but seemed hesitating
about something he felt loth to drop, and kept looking

20

at me with a steady gaze. " Shall I write to Miss

?" naming the lady to whom he was betrothed.

A pleasant smile and nod together was his answer,
and I said I would do the best I could. The next
morning before we started in pursuit of the enemy I
rode back to see him again. I tound him so cheer-
ful, and apparently so much bettor, that I said : " My
dear fellow, you will be able to write your own let-
ters before we get back." I thought he felt so, too.

During the eight days we were absent, frequent
letters advised us that Colonel Smith was better, and
when we reached camp near Corinth we received
word that he was still improving — was walking about
the room a little, making people laugh at the quaint
things he wrote, and the comical gestures he made;
in short, seemed like himself again. So I did not go
into town that evening (we were five miles away),
but waited until morning, when the Brigade would
march in.

About noon 1 rode to the house where the Colonel
was lying, and saw, almost at a glance, that all hope
of his recover^' must be fast fading out. 1 was
greatly surprised, after so many accounts of improve-
ment, to find him so feeble, so cold, so drowsy. I
could hardly suppress my disappointment. Poor
Kirby, however, did not observe much. He put out
his hand before 1 could reach his cot, and grasping
mine, made a feeble effort to shake it. In response
to my question, '' How are you, my dear fellow.^" he
took a pencil, and in my memorandum book slowly
scrawled two words, " Utter exhaustion." Soon
thereafter he took my hand again, and held it until he

21

fell into a troubled sleep. The surgeon of his regi-
ment did not think the case so hopeless as it seemed
to me. He thought the Colonel would rally to mor-
row, and even if he did not recover, thought it prob-
able he would linger tor several days. " He was not
in this condition yesterday," said the surgeon, "and I
think it is only temporary."

Just after supper that evening, Colonel Swayne
came to my tent and said he had been sent for.
Colonel Smith was worse. We sent immediately for
Dr. Thrall to accompany us, and all rode over to-
gether to see if, in any way, we could contribute to
his comfort. We were too late. As we entered we
noticed that the room had been freshly swept, and we
saw a white sheet covering something on the cot,
now moved back against the wall, which told us that
he was gone.

There is one other word to say, which I could wish
were said by some one better fitted to say it. Colonel
Smith was more than a soldier; he was a Christian.
He never made a parade of his religious ideas. No
man ever saw in him the least particle of cant. Yet
in and through the soldier, there shone forth in the
life of our Kirby Smith, the evidence of that life
which is eternal.