GUERRILLA PROBLEMS IN THE BIG SANDY REGION Wayne Co. WV During the last year of the war, the Federals, even though they strategically contolled the region, had guerrilla problems in the Big Sandy area, and Gov. Boreman addresses these problems in his June 2, 1864, letter to Major-General Hunter, Commander of the Department of WV: General: The counties between the Great Kanawha and Big Sandy Rivers, in the southern part of the State, have been infested with large bodies of guerrillas from the beginning of the rebellion, but the loyal people have had some little protection from U. S. soldiers stationed in those counties by order of the several commanders of the department. With what protection there has been it has been difficult to keep up county organization for the execution of civil law, even in counties immediately on the Ohio River, yet in these counties the courts have been held irregularly and some taxes collected. In the back counties toward the mountains there has been no civil organization for three years. There are gentleman here (Wheeling) now from Cabell County, who bid for protection, if it be possible, so that they can remain in their homes in safety. They inform me that the troops which have been stationed in their county, and who given some protection to the loyal people of the counties of Cabell and Wayne, have been withdrawn a few days past, and that they are now left to the mercy of the guerrillas. They further state that in these counties there are from 300 to 400 guerrillas, under the command of three rebel captains, who are robbing the people of their property, and capturing and carrying off some of the loyal citizens, and are imprisoning and otherwise mistreating them. On the 17th of May Mr. John Adams, whom I heretofore had employed enrolling the militia, was captured and carried off, and has either been killed or imprisoned, probably the latter. This was done because he had dared to hold an office under the State government. Under these circumstances, I request, if possible with the force under your command, that you give orders for the occupation of the region of the country spoken of, by such numbers of troops as may give the loyal people protection and safety for their persons and property. If Major Witcher (Union), of the Third Regiment Cavalry, could be placed in command it would give great satisfaction. Very respectfully, A. I. Boreman, Govenor Col. V. A. Witcher, in a Nov 15, 1864, letter about Confederate recruiting in western Virginia counties to Gen. John C. Breckinridge, writes that "thousands of recruits might be secured out of Morgan's old command and the thousands of guerrillas scattered all over the State." Just four months later, Major Edgar B. Blundon of the 7th WV CAV, assures his superior "There is but one organized band of guerrillas, consisting of Bill Smith and fifteen or twenty men, in Wayne and Logan Counties." The truth lies somewhere between the two extreme positions. More than likely, the Governor's estimation is closer to the truth in Cabell and Wayne counties, and, no doubt, Confederate guerrillas operated at will in the Big Sandy Region during the last year of the war. "REBEL BILL" SMITH? One of the guerrilla leaders was a man known as "Rebel Bill" Smith. Jack L. Dickinson, in his 8th Virginia Cavalry roster has this annotation about a William S. Smith: "Pvt. Co. K. Re-ent: 1/15/63 in WayneCo., WV. Det. with Gen. Floyd 7/62. Known as "Rebel Bill." d. 4/11/1903 at age 71. Bur. Spring Hill Cem., Huntington, WV. Was in Confederate Soldiers' Home at Pee Wee, KY. Supposedly caught pneunomia after taking a small boat and rowing up Big Sandy River in a drenching downpour late in the night of 4/11/1903." If, indeed, William S. Smith is "Rebel Bill", then this short annotation gives few clues to the guerrilla leader's identity. However, one important detail is his assignment in July of 1862 with General Floyd, Commander of the Virginia State Line, in which most later guerrillas once served. Indeed, it is said that many companies that made up the VSL were guerrillas in the first place and that the VSL merely gave legitimacy to them. During that assignment, William S. Smith had opportunity to become acquainted with leaders of the State-Line's companies in SW VA, Eastern KY, and, of course, Southern WV, to size up their weaknesses and strengths, and particularily to nurture connections for future operations. The annotation doesn't say how long Smith's assignment with VSL was, but he could have stayed in the area of operations past the VSL's disbandment date (March of 1863). This is especially true if he were there in the first place under the cover of the 8th VA CAV and perhaps under assignment by Maj. Gen. Samuel Jones, CSA Commander of Western VA, and/or by Brig. Gen. William Jones of Jones' Brigade, which included the 8th VA CAV. The first "Rebel Bill" reference I've found (supplied by Robert Baker, owner of 39th KY Website) comes from a Pvt. B. F. Morris' (39th KY INF) diary, in which he notes that on 9 May 1863 "Rebel Bill" Smith captured and burned a Big Sandy steamer, the Transfer. William S. Smith certainly had opportunity to be in the area at that time. In another entry, Morris reports a skirmish in which "Rebel Bill" escaped, and in yet another entry dated 4 Nov 1864, he notes that guerrillas under Smith and Witcher raided Peach Orchard. The action with Witcher is interesting because both the 8th VA CAV and Witcher's 34 Battalion VA CAV were under Brig. Gen. William Jones of Jones' Brigade. It was after the Peach Orchard, KY, raid that the Charleston Gazette ran an article commenting that Col. Bill Smith was the supreme commander of Cabell and Wayne counties. It is possible that the 8th VA CAV, as well as other Confederate military units, hid within their ranks specialized organizers to direct guerrilla activies to accommodate those units' objectives. If William S. Smith is "Rebel Bill", the 8th VA CAV never at any time reported him as deserted from the time of his enlistment until the end of the war. Guerrilla activities no doubt tied up federal troops that would have been used elsewhere had guerrillas not operated. Too, they not only disrupted Federal military operations within the areas that the Federals strategically held, but they also, by forcing the Federals into defensive stances within those areas, prevented establishment of Federal order and authority. If the Confederates strategically conceded the western Virginia counties when VSL disbanded, then they meant to use them to tie up Federal troops and to delay Federal designs on the remainingVirginian counties. Another important clue is the date of William S. Smith's death on April 11, 1903. One month later, on May 8, 1903, in the Big Sandy News, Ashland, Kentucky, there appeared an article, " 'Rebel Bill' Smith: Early Life and Adventures of Col. William S. Smith, a Noted Rebel," with the explanation that "a friend of the late Col. Smith has handed us the following autobiography with the privilege of publishing it." The death date of this Col. Smith, then, agrees with that of William S. Smith's in Dickison's annotation. The rank of colonel might have been assumed rather than commissioned, but it's possible that he might have been commissioned lieutenant colonel. If he were advising, co-ordinating, and directing State-Line captains, it seems the authority behind a superior rank would be needed. It's unlikely they would have listened to a private. The account continues. . . "I was born on White's Creek in Cabell County, Virginia, now Wayne County, West Virginia, February 6, 1830. My father, John N. Smith, was born and raised in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. My mother's maiden name was Sarah Ann Brown, a native of Big Sandy Valley. My father emigrated from Pennsylvania to the wilds of West Virginia in early manhood, where he was soon after married, and I was the fourth son born to them. . . "My father was a physician and had managed to supply himself fairly well--for men of those days and in that section--with the necessary means of living, and of which he contributed liberally to the education of my elder brothers, encouraging myself to remain on the farm with assurances that I too should receive a good education. "Early in the month of December, 1847, when I was 17 years of age, I became dissatisfied with affairs as they existed and resolved to abandon home[and] the advice and protection of friends and shift for myself. I accordingly purchased a skiff of Smith & Adkins at Trout's Hill. David Smith, the senior partner, being my eldest brother [and] now Judge of the District Court at Gunnison City, Colorado. My brother had become interested in my welfare and clandestinely assisted my departure. "After I had secured my clothes, a little money (fifteen dollars)--as I remember from my brother's firm--I, without intimating such a thing to my parents or anyone except my brother, launched my skiff on the turbid Twelve Pole, a seething murky current then overflowing its banks from hill to hill, and on whose surface was borne adrift every conceivable thing that could float. "My skiff shot down the wild mountain stream almost like an arrow. Had I not been adept at rowing, my perilous journey would doubtless have soon terminated. As I passed by my father's home one mile below, he and my mother stood in full view, watching with interest my fleet and dangerous windings on a trip that to ordinary minds would inevitably end in destruction, not knowing who I was from my having changed clothes at the store. . ." The last sentence of the quoted article could apply as well to a guerrilla fighter--hidden and yet at the same time in plain view of people who should know him as he undertakes "fleet and dangerous windings on a trip that to ordinary minds would inevitably end in destruction." William S. Smith and/or "Rebel Bill" had no ordinary mind(s). The article is a two-part one, and this first part relates his earning a river pilot's license and piloting on the Missouri River and his crossing the country to California in 1850. Both experiences would have prepared him for guerrilla warfare on the Big Sandy, especially his experience in piloting. It's possible that Confederate successes with various steamers on the Big Sandy--and maybe the Kanawha as well--might be related to Smith's piloting experience and/or advice he might have given. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WAYNE ROSTER, (According to Jeffrey Weaver), SMITH'S BATTALION HARVEY G. DYRE: 4th Sgt., Co. D, 2nd Battn. KY M. R., Enl. on 8/26/62 in Logan Co. ALIA M. SMITH: 3rd/1st Corp, Co. D. 2nd Battn., KY Mr. R. Enl. on 8/26/1862 in Logan Co., WV. Elected Corp. on 11/20/62. B. ca 1845 in Wayne Co., WV. BENJAMIN J. SMITH: Cap't., Smith's Co. Res. of Wayne Co., WV. Brother of William S., Samuel, Preston, and Alia Smith. B. ca 1828 in Wayne Co., WV. PRESTON SMITH: Co. D., 2nd Battn. KY M. R. Enl. on 8/26/62 in Logan Co., WV. B. ca. 1837 in Wayne Co., WV. SAMUEL SMITH: Co. D, 2nd Battn. KY M. R. Enl. on 8/26/1862 in Logan Co., WV. B. ca. 1832 in Wayne Co., WV. WILLIAM S. SMITH: Lt. Col., F& S. Previously served in Co. K, 8th A CAV and as Cap't., Co. D, 2nd Battn, KY Mounted Rifles. Enl. on 8/26/1862 in Logan Co., WV. Elected Capt. on 11/20/1862. B. 6 Feb 1830 in Cabell Co., now Wayne Co., WV. D. 11 Apr 1903 in Huntington, WV, at the home of Major C. E. Prichard, 8th Street. Buried in Spring Hill Cem., Huntington, WV. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- POTENTIAL WAYNE ROSTER, SMITH'S BATTALION, FOR A CORE GROUP FROM THE 8TH CAVALRY In 1864, especially by May and June, Confederate guerrilla warfare was rampant in Wayne and Cabell counties, as the Governor's letter indicates. In early May of 1864, a group of men who left the 8 VA CAV, the same outfit in which William S. Smith served, were reported as having deserted. During the Civil War, desertion often meant that a soldier left the outfit, not the war. In most cases, research reveals that many soldiers listed as deserted by one unit showed up on rosters in another unit. The following are 8 VA CAV men who, in my opinion, with the exception of William Farris, might have served with Smith in SMITH'S BATT'N. All have impeccable service records up until the spring of 1864, when they were reported as deserted; many have service histories dating back to 1861. This group, then, was battle-hardened and committed. I have found no record that any ever surrended or took the oath. Actual desertion, of course, took place before the reported date. It is especially unusual that multiple desertions occurred on the same date by men from the same company and the same county (Again, William S. Smith was never reported as deserted, which is one reason I feel he might have had, at the least, the 8th VA CAV's tacit approval, and at the most, the 8th's sponsorship). Each name is followed by the reported desertion date: PVT. LEWIS F. AKERS, 1 May 1864 PVT. FRANCIS BLAIR, 1 MAY 1864 PVT. WILLIAM FARRIS, 1 MAY 1864, record says he signed up with SWANN'S BATT'N. PVT. TILMAN FERGUSON, 1 MAY 1864 PVT. HARRISON MATHIS, 1 MAY 1864 PVT. CHARLES MORGAN, 1 MAY 1864 PVT. JOHN W. PERDUE, 1 MAY 1864 PVT. DAVID K. SMITH, 1 MAY 1864 PVT. ELDRIDGE SMITH, 1 MAY 1864 PVT. H. B. SMITH, 1 MAY 1864 PVT. ALONZO TONEY, 1 MAY 1864 PVT. NAPOLEON TONEY, 1 MAY 1864 PVT. MELCHISEDEK WARD, 1 MAY 1864 PVT, OBEDIAH WARD, 1 MAY 1864 1864 DESERTIONS OF 8TH VA CAV, CO. K, MEN NOT IN THE 1860 WAYNE CENSUS Pvt. Jepthea Meek, Co. K, Enlisted in Wayne 20 Aug 1862; Deserted 1 Jul 1864 Pvt. William Meek, Co. K, Enlisted in Wayne 20 Aug 1862; Deserted Jul 1864 Pvr. Alford Roberts, Co. K, Enlisted in Wayne 1 Sept 1863; Deserted 1 May 1864 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sources: Big Sandy News. Originally published May 8, 1903. Reprinted 1988. Dickinson, Jack L. 8th Virginia Cavalry, Published by H. E. Howard, Lynchburg, Virginia, 1986. War of the Rebellion Series, on-line, Cornell University Submitted by June White, juja@inetone.net