(On front of granite base):
William Smith.
Virginia.
Born Sep 6th 1797. Died May 18th 1887.
1836-40. 1841-42.
Member of Virginia Senate.
1846-49.
Governor of Virginia.
1841-43. 1853-61.
Member of United States Congress.
1861-62.
Member of Confederate States Congress.
1861-62.
Colonel 49th Virginia Volunteers.
1862-63.
Brig. General Confederate States Army.
1863-64.
Major General Confederate States Army.
1864-65.
Governor of Virginia.
(On back of granite base): Through past three score he entered the military service as Colonel of Virginia Infantry and rose by sheer merit to the rank of Major General. At first Manassas, Seven Pines, the Seven Days Battle, Cedar Mountain, Second Manassas, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg his fiery yet cheerful courage was everywhere conspicuous and the only faulth imputed to him by his superiors was a too reckless exposure of his person. Thrice wounded at Sharpsburg, he refused to leave the field, and remained in command of his regiment until the end of that sanguinary engagement.
(On southeast side of granite base): A man of strong convictions, bred in the strict states rights school. He yielded paramount allegiance to his mother state, and maintained with fearless and impassioned eloquence, in the Congress of the United States the sovereignty of Virginia. When the storm of war burst, "His voice was his sword."
(On northwest side of granite base): Called from the army to guide again the destinies of the Commonwealth during 1864-1865. He displayed such energy, resource, and unshaken resolution, as drew to him the heart of the whole southern people. Tried by both extremes of fortune he proved equal to the trial, and died as he had live, a Virginian of Virginians.
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