GEN. JOHN HOLMES SMITH.
The subject of this sketch was born in Lynchburg, on August 12,
1838, son of William T. and Susan (Leftwich) Smith. William Todd,
the great grandfather of Gen. Smith, came to the colony in 1750, from
Scotland. In Richmond, Virginia, February 27, 1878, Gen. Smith
married Norvell, daughter of Dr. Joseph V. and Mary E. (Bullock)
Hobson, now of Richmond, formerly of Powhatan county, Virginia.
She was born in Powhatan county, August 26, 1856. From the opening
to the close of the late civil war, Gen. Smith was in active and
honorable service in the Confederate States Army. He entered service
on April 23, 1861, in the Home Guard company of Lynchburg, which
at once took the field as Company G, of the 11th Virginia regiment.
His rank then was third corporal, and he received rapid promotion
through all the non-commissioned grades until, in January, 1862, he
was promoted junior second lieutenant; one year from entering service,
on April 23, 1862, he was commissioned first lieutenant; in May, 1862,
promoted captain. For the greater portion of the last eighteen months
service he was in command of the 11th in the field. He was wounded
in the left arm at Seven Pines, from the effects of which he has never
recovered. Again wounded at Gettysburg, gunshot in right leg, received
during that brilliant fighting in the last day of the battle which has
rendered immortal the name of Pickett's Division; was captured with
the regiment at Sailors Creek, April 5, 1865; held three weeks in the
Old Capitol Prison, Washington; six weeks on Johnsons Island, Lake
Erie, then paroled. In 1867 he reorganized his old company, which
has ever since been a part of the State troops. He was made a general
of the State Militia soon after, and retains the rank. Gen. Smith is
engaged in business in Lynchburg as tobacco manufacturer.
