[61] General Smith got his name Extra Billy while in the stage business, long before he was either General or Governor Smith. It is reported to have happened in this way: At certain seasons of the year, before the days of railroads, travel was very heavy and far beyond the capacity of the regular stages on the road, which was the only means of travel over land at that time. When this occurred Billy Smith, as he was called, would put on an extra stage, and if the travel still increased he would put on another, and so on, until sometimes he would have on the road four or five stages, where one usually did the work. On this account, and because of his unsurpassed politeness, he became popular with travellers. On this occasion a traveller was anxious to get to Washington, and could get no seat in the stage. In hustling around he found two or three others who were anxious to go, but, like himself, could not get accommodations on any part of the stage, and the agent declared it impossible to provide for them. The impatient and anxious traveller cried out "Where is Extra Billy?" Extra Billy was sent for, an extra stage was provided and the travellers went on their way rejoicing, but "Extra Billy" remained with Mr. Smith, following him to his grave. [62] It is said on one occasion John Randolph, of Roanoke, stopped here. It was soon known, and the Democrats congregated to entertain him. They prepared a bowl of punch in an adjoining room, and when it was ready Mr. Randolph was invited to meet the gentlemen and join them in something to drink. In a gruff voice, he replied to the committee that waited on him, "I don't drink with strangers, and if I can't rest here one night without being disturbed by a mob, I will drive to the Sycamores." The Sycamores was a hotel twelve miles from town on the Bowling Green road. It was said he was not again disturbed. [63] At the corner of Commerce and Charles streets, in front of this hotel, is a stone block about two and a half feet high and some two feet in diameter. It was placed there many years before the Civil war, it is said, for the sale and annual hire of slaves. The slave to be sold was required to stand on this block in the presence of the gathered traders, when he or she was "cried out" by the auctioneer to the highest bidder. Those slaves who were publicly hired out for the year also took their stand on this block and were hired out at the highest price bid. There is probably no relic in Fredericksburg that calls back more vividly the days of slavery than does this stone block. [64] Yet living. [65] Yet living. [66] One of the Judges of the Court of Appeals of Virginia for fourteen years before the war, and president of said court for twelve years after the war. [67] Slaughter's Bristol Parish. Va., 2nd edition.