He was known as "Labe" (which rhymes with babe) Smith by family and friends.
b ca 1843 Haywood CO, NC d 3 Nov 1863 Monroe CO, TN KIA Civil War
son of William T. & Rosamond "Rosie" Susannah (Wright) Smith of Cherokee CO, NC

m never

This soldier was listed on the Payne-Boyd Roll of Capt Goldman Bryson's CO with the following remarks: "Killed in action Nov. 3, 1863." Lt. Clapp reported that Laben Smith "belonged to the Company, was captured at Beaver Dam Nov. 3, 1863, and was never heard from since." Labe Smith was a brother of Calvin L. Smith who was killed 19 Sep 1863, in Cherokee CO, NC. A pension claim was filed 23 June 1870, by their dependent mother of Persimmon Creek, Cherokee CO, NC based on Labe's military service. Her application was executed before Joseph C. Axley, Clerk of Superior Court, Cherokee CO, NC; her attorney was listed as Thomas G. Boyd of Sweetwater, TN. The father of soldier had died on 2 June 1865, leaving her as a dependent widow.

No action was taken on this claim for ten years probably because positive evidence of his death could not be ascertained. Nothing was known publicly regarding the fate of Labe Smith and sixteen other prisoners captured by Confederate Brig. Gen. John Crawford Vaughn on 27 Oct 1863, at Evan's Mill, Beaver Dam, Cherokee CO, NC. These soldiers were said to have been marched from Beaver Dam near the Cherokee CO, NC line to the shoals of the Tellico River in TN where they were executed; however, their bodies were never located. A number of these soldiers, like William Marion McDonald and William Marcus McDonald, were merely teen-aged boys. None ever returned home from this march.

Rosamond Smith filed another claim 18 Jul 1871, listing Felix P. Axley as witness. Her attorney was Charles E. Tucker of Washington, DC. Finally in 1881, the following people signed affidavits in support of her claim: James Voyles, her son-in-law, W. L. Voyles, John Voyles, Samuel Voyles, Enoch Voyles, John L. "Black Fox" Stiles, her grandson, and Richmond Carroll. These affidavits verified her claims as a needy dependent as well as Labe's military service. She said she lived on part of Colonel William H. Thomas' land but that he collected no rent because the land was too poor. This land may have been part of the Henson Donation. She also said that Col Thomas was unable to make an affidavit in her behalf because he was a lunatic confined in the Insane Asylum at Raleigh, NC.

Finally, on 27 June 1882, she was granted a pension of $8 monthly from 4 Nov 1863, to her death on 29 Oct 1888. This was one of only five cases where pensions were granted based solely on service in Capt Bryson's CO. No tombstone has been found in Cherokee CO, NC for either Rosamond or her husband.