Golden Thread A Confederate officer a day for 10 Months

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General William "Extra Billy" Smith
 
Neuschwanstein. I've seen photos of it. Pretty awesome! I've toured Hearst castle. I was overwhelmed by the amount of "stuff" Hearst had. Ceilings from Europe, statues from Greece, doors from old cathedrals, etc., etc. The most expensive "this." The largest "that."
 
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Brig. Gen. Thomas Benton Smith - Tennessee Virtual Archive
This Smith is one of the tragedies of the war - he rose steadily in rank and command responsibilities, becoming the colonel of the 20th Tennessee before arriving at brigade command in late 1864. He was captured in the collapse of Hood's Army of Tennessee at Nashville and while being escorted to the rear, was set upon by the cowardly Union Colonel William Linn McMillen who beat him about his head with an unsheathed sword, cleaving Smith's skull and exposing his brain. (McMillen is probably only remembered today for this incident and being the second-in-command at the Union debacle at Brice's Crossroads at the hands of Forrest.) Smith recovered and lived to be one of the last surviving Confederate generals but was never completely "right in the head" again, although it was said that at veteran reunions of his old regiment he could recall the roster by memory!
 
This Smith is one of the tragedies of the war - he rose steadily in rank and command responsibilities, becoming the colonel of the 20th Tennessee before arriving at brigade command in late 1864. He was captured in the collapse of Hood's Army of Tennessee at Nashville and while being escorted to the rear, was set upon by the cowardly Union Colonel William Linn McMillen who beat him about his head with an unsheathed sword, cleaving Smith's skull and exposing his brain. (McMillen is probably only remembered today for this incident and being the second-in-command at the Union debacle at Brice's Crossroads at the hands of Forrest.) Smith recovered and lived to be one of the last surviving Confederate generals but was never completely "right in the head" again, although it was said that at veteran reunions of his old regiment he could recall the roster by memory!
This is disgusting. Thanks for posting these tidbits James N.
 
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General Gilbert Moxley Sorrel - HA
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General Leroy A. Stafford - HA
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General William "Extra Billy" Smith
Enthusiasts of Longstreet and Gettysburg should recognize Sorrel as one of Longstreet's principal staff officers - he was even featured in the movie Gettysburg! Stafford at one time commanded the brigade of so-called Louisiana Tigers in Jubal Early's Division. Another of Early's brigade commanders at Gettysburg was this Smith, 60-year-old former governor of Virginia, whose detachment to face what turned out to be a non-existent threat on July 1 *may* have played a role in Ewell's decision to not attempt to assault Cemetery or Culp's Hill at that time.
 
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General George Hume Steuart - DUL
Known as 'Maryland' Steuart for his home state, he commanded a brigade in Edward Johnson's Division attacking Culp's Hill at Gettysburg. He was captured along with Johnson the following year at Spotsylvania on May 12 when the Federals overran the Mule Shoe.
 
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