CVIII.
CVIII. WILLIAM SMITH.
CVIII. Governor.
CVIII. January 1, 1864, to May 9, 1865.
We now return to our review of William Smith's life, and
find him, on January 1, 1864, entering for the second time
upon the administration of civil affairs as Chief Executive of
Virginia. His experience of active life as a soldier up to
this time had made him familiar with many needs of the
military service of his country, and these his fertile genius
now rose to meet. Finding that local defense was indispensable
at Richmond, the place being often menaced by the
enemy, Governor Smith promptly organized two regiments
of men exempt from duty by reason of disability, age or nonage,
etc., attaching to each regiment a company of cavalry.
When the city was threatened afterwards, he assumed the
command of these troops, and on several occasions they rendered
highly important service. Again Governor Smith
realized fully, from personal observation, the great necessity
of supplies for the Southern Army, and by his independent
and sagacious plans in this behalf, he materially assisted the
Confederate commissariat. His measures were eminently
successful, and at the close of the war, the Confederacy was
indebted to Virginia in the sum of $300,000, for supplies
obtained through the agency of Governor Smith.
Upon the evacuation of Richmond, April 3, 1865, Governor
Smith determined to remove the seat of government to Lynchburg,
Virginia. Three days after his arrival there [3]
General
Lee surrendered to General Grant. Again attempting to
follow the fortunes of the Confederacy, he moved yet farther
south, to Danville, Virginia. Here his hopes were shattered,
and he returned to his home, surrendered himself to the Federal
authorities and received his parole. After the war he
resided in Warrenton, Virginia, and there, for a time,
enjoyed the serene pleasures of a green old age. He passed
from the arena of human life in this quiet home, having survived
his wife, who had been his companion since 1811; but
he left several children to perpetuate the memory of the
worthy deeds of their distinguished father.
With the close of Governor Smith's second term, drew
near, also, the end of the war between the States; a war that
did not cease until the battles had numbered 2,261, nor until,
for four long years, the South had been drenched in blood.
But, with the end came peace, and only such peace as could
be bought at such a price; the peace of calm after storm, of
consent after conflict; the peace of forgetfulness and forgiveness;
the peace which the fathers bought and which the
sons had only for a season chased from the Ark of their Covenant—the
hallowed American Union.
