The Battle of Smithfield, Virginia-- Part 1

From the Southern Historical Society Papers, Vol. 34 concerning the Yankee Gunboat Smith Briggs.

William Rodgers received a reply. The letter was addressed to Smithfield, Virginia, and was given to the Mayor Joyner in 1906,. He gave it to Mr. R.S. Thomas, who replied. His brother, J.O. Thomas, of Four Square, now 73, participated in the Feb. 1, 1864 engagement.

"Captain Sturdevant of Richmond, Va., with two pieces of artillery, with two small companies of North Carolina infantry, and with a few cavalrymen from that State, went down to Cherry Grove, about ten miles from Smithfield where he had a splendid and unobstructed view of the whole river from that point to Norfolk, so that he might see and report anything and everything that was going on."

--Old Secesh