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WALKING STICK PRESENTED TO 4TH VIRGINIA CAVALRY OFFICER

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This wooden walking stick with silver engraved knob was presented by Colonel Thomas Smith of the 36^th Virginia Infantry to Captain Alexander D. Payne of Company H, 4^th Virginia Cavalry.

The walnut shaft of the cane meas. approx. 34.00 inches long. The surface of the wood is in good condition with a varnished finish. The tip at bottom is wrapped in a ring of iron. The very bottom third of the cane shows moderate wear to the finished surface. The top of the cane has a wonderful silver knob with eight side panels. Each of the panels has a very delicate “bird cage” type design done with an overlying geometric pattern. The rounded top of the knob has a delicate inscription that reads “CAPT. A. D. PAYNE FROM COL. THOS. SMITH, N. M. CACTUS.”

The recipient of the cane, Alexander Dixon Payne was born at “Clifton” in Fauquier County Virginia on September 30, 1837. He finished first in the class of 1856 at William and Mary and practiced law.

When the Civil War broke out Payne was commissioned 3^rd Lieutenant in Company H, 4^th Virginia Cavalry on April 25, 1861. At the time of his enlistment he is described as being 6’ 1” tall with a fair complexion, gray eyes and light hair. Payne participated in the 1^st Battle of Bull Run and the following September he was promoted to 2^nd Lieutenant. On April 25, 1862 after a winter in camp, Payne was again promoted, this time to 1^st Lieutenant. He was present throughout the spring and summer receiving praise from Stonewall Jackson for his service at 2^nd Bull Run and Antietam. Payne was captured on November 6, 1862 and was exchanged the following December. After returning to his regiment for the winter Payne was captured again at Orleans, Virginia on April 18, 1863. He was exchanged in May and sent to Fredericksburg as part of the Provost Guard where he remained until August 1863. September 1^st brought Payne’s promotion to Captain. He served with his regiment throughout the fall and winter and on into the Overland Campaign. He had a horse shot from under him at Waynesboro, Virginia on September 29, 1864 and is credited with saving the regimental colors in April of 1865. He was surrendered at the wars end and was paroled at Winchester, Virginia on April 24, 1865.

After the war Payne served as distinguished member of the Warrenton Bar and as a Delegate to the Virginia General Assembly and three time Mayor of Warrenton. He died at the family home “Clifton” on March 8, 1893.

The presenter of the cane was Thomas Smith the son of Virginia Governor and Confederate General William “Extra Billy” Smith. Thomas Smith was born in 1836. When the Civil War began he enlisted as a Private but was quickly raised to Major of the 36^th Virginia on July 16, 1861. Smith served throughout the war being promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on March 30, 1864. Smith was wounded at Cloyd’s Mountain on May 9, 1864 and nine days later he was promoted to Colonel. In March of 1865 he became ill and entered the hospital at Richmond. How and when he was discharged is not known.

After the war Smith served as a lawyer and then US Attorney for territory of New Mexico and Chief Justice of the New Mexico Territory Supreme Court. He died in 1918.

Under what circumstances the cane was presented is not known but from the “N.M. CACTUS” part of the inscription it would have had to have been done after Smith moved to New Mexico.

This is a great relic of two hard fought and loyal heroes of the Confederacy. [ad] [ph:L]

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