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410……(Born
Pa.)
Charles F. Smith*
(Ap’d Pa.)…..19
Military
History. – Cadet at the Military Academy, July 1, 1820, to July 1, 1825,
when he was graduated and promoted in the Army to
Bvt. Second Lieut., 2d
Artillery, July 1, 1825.
Second Lieut., 2d
Artillery, July 1, 1825.
Served: in
garrison at Ft. Delaware, Del., 1825-27, -- and Augusta Arsenal, Ga.,
1827-29; at the Military Academy, 1829-42, as Asst. Instructor of Infantry
Tactics, June 25, 1829, to Sep. 1, 1831, -- as Adjutant, Sep. 1, 1831, to
Apr. 1, 1838, -- and as Commandant of Cadets and
(First Lieut., 2d
Artillery, May 30, 1832)
Instructor of Infantry
Tactics, Apr. 1, 1838, to Sep. 1, 1842; in garrison at
(Captain, 2d Artillery,
July 7, 1838)
Ft. Columbus, N. Y.,
1843-44, -- and Frankford Arsenal, Pa., 1844-45; in Military Occupation of
Texas, 1845-46; in the War with Mexico, 1846-48, being engaged in the Battle
of Palo Alto, May 8, 1846, --
(Bvt. Major, May 9, 1846,
for Gallant and Distinguished
Conduct in the Battles of
Palo Alto and Resaca-de-la-Palma, Tex.)
Battle of
Resaca-de-la-Palma, May 9, 1846, -- Battle of Monterey, Sep. 21-23,
(Bvt. Lieut.-Colonel, Sep.
23, 1846, for Gallant
Conduct in the Several
Conflicts at Monterey, Mex.)
1847; in command of the
storming party which carried Federation Hill, -- Siege of Vera Cruz, Mar.
9-29, 1847, -- Battle of Cerro Gordo, Apr. 17-18, 1847, -- Skirmish of
Amazoque, May 14, 1847, -- Capture of San Antonio, Aug. 20, 1847, -- Battle
of Churubusco, Aug. 20, 1847, -- Storming of
(Bvt. Colonel, Aug. 20,
1847, for Gallant and Meritorious
Conduct in the Battles of
Contreras and Churubusco, Mex.)
Chapultepec, Sep. 13,
1847, -- Assault and Capture of the City of Mexico, Sep. 13-14, 1847, -- and
in command of Light Infantry Battalion, May 1 to Nov. 3, 1847, and of the
Police Guard of the City of Mexico, Sep., 1847, to June 4, 1848; in garrison
at Ft. Marion, Fla., 1849; as Member of a Board of Officers, 1849-51, to
devise “A Complete System of Instruction for Siege, Garrison, Seacoast, and
Mountain Artillery,” which was adopted, May 10, 1851, for the service of the
United States; as President of Board of Claims for supplies, etc., furnished
by Colonel Fremont, in 1846, to California Volunteers, Sep. 7, 1852, to Apr.
3, 1855;
(Major, 1st
Artillery, Nov. 25, 1854)
(Lieut.-Colonel, 10th
Infantry, Mar. 3, 1855)
in garrison at Carlisle
Barracks, Pa., 1855; on frontier duty at Ft. Snelling, Min., 1855, -- Ft.
Crawford, Wis., 1855-56, -- Ft. Snelling, Min., 1856, in command of
Expedition to the Red River of the North, 1856, -- Ft. Snelling, Min.,
1856-57, -- and Utah Expedition, 1857-61, being in command of the department
of Utah, Feb. 29, 1860, to Feb. 28, 1861.
Served during
the Rebellion of the Seceding States, 1861-62: in command of the department
of Washington, Apr. 10-28, 1861; as Superintendent of General Recruiting
Service at Ft. Columbus, N. Y., Apr. 28 to Aug. 19, 1861; in command of
District of Western Kentucky, headquarters
(Brig.-General, U. S.
Volunteers, Aug. 31, 1861)
at Paducah, Ky., Sep. 8,
1861, to Jan. 31, 1862; and in the Tennessee
(Colonel, 3d Infantry,
Sep. 9, 1861)
Campaign of 1862, being
engaged in the operations about Ft. Henry, Feb. 4-6, 1862, -- Assault and
capture of Ft. Donelson, Feb. 13-16, 1862, -- and in command of the advance
upon Shiloh, Mar., 1862, but was
(Major-General, U. S. Volunteers, Mar. 21,
1862)
taken sick, after
receiving a severe injury, before the battle, and
Died, Apr. 25, 1862, at
Savannah, Ten.: Aged 56.
*Was the son of Dr. Samuel
B. Smith, Asst. Surgeon, U. S. Army.
Biographical Sketch.
Major-General
Charles F. Smith was born, Apr. 24, 1807, in Philadelphia, Pa. He was a
grandson of a Colonel of the Continental Army, and son of Asst. Surgeon
Samuel B. Smith, of the U. S. Army. Upon his graduation from the Military
Academy in a distinguished class, of which the great scientist, Alexander D.
Bache, was the head, Smith was promoted to the Artillery. After four years
doing garrison duty, he was detailed, June 25, 1829, as an Asst. Instructor
of Infantry Tactics at the Military Academy. After the lapse of over
threescore years, how vividly can I recall the tall, graceful, and handsome
Lieutenant drilling our company of Cadets in marches and the manual of arms,
and two years later as the soldierly Adjutant of the great Superintendent,
Colonel Thayer. This latter position of exacting details Smith efficiently
filled for nearly seven years, when he became the Commandant of Cadets.
After thirteen years of service at the Academy, where he won the golden
opinions of all over and under him, he, having been promoted to be Captain,
took command of his company.
Difficulties
with Mexico, in 1845, took Smith to the field. In command of a Battalion of
Artillery, he led the advance across the Colorado; won his brevet of Major
by his gallantry at Palo Alto and Resaca-de-la-Palma; for the brilliant
storming of Federation Hill, at Monterey, was brevetted a Lieut.-Colonel;
and, transferred to General Scott’s army, took a conspicuous part in the
varied operations of that daring invasion from Vera Cruz to the enemy’s
capital. In the Valley of Mexico he commanded the Light Infantry Battalion,
with signal ability and characteristic intrepidity, at the Capture of San
Antonio, Battle of Churubusco, Storming of Chapultepec, and Assault of the
City of Mexico, receiving his third brevet, -- that of Colonel, -- as his
well-merited reward in this short war. The citizens of his native city, who
appreciated the value of disciplined courage, military instruction, and
skilled leadership, at the close of this war presented him with a Sword of
Honor.
Soon after the
termination of hostilities, Smith was placed upon the Board to devise a
“Complete System of Instruction for Siege, Garrison, Seacoast, and Mountain
Artillery.” Promoted, Nov. 25, 1854, Major 1st Artillery, and,
Mar. 3, 1855, appointed Lieut.-Colonel of the new 10th Infantry,
he took command, in 1856, of an expedition to the Red River of the North,
and the following year against the Mormons in Utah, remaining in charge,
till 1861, of the Department of Utah.
When the
Rebellion began, Smith was called by his old Chief, General Scott, who
appreciated his merits, to the command of the department of Washington,
embracing Maryland and the District of Columbia, in which was the
defenseless capital of the Nation. In Sep., 1861, as Brigadier-General of
Volunteers, he took charge of the District of Western Kentucky, headquarters
Paducah, at the mouth of the Tennessee River, a post of great importance,
which soon became the base of operations against the Confederate first line
of defense. At once he put the place in a good condition of defense against
any attack in front or flank. Engaged day and night preparing to resist the
foe without, he was suddenly assailed by a secret and unscrupulous enemy
within, who, aided by some scurrilous newspapers, was untiringly trying to
supplant Smith in his command. Fortunately a gentleman and a solider was at
the head of the Department of the Missouri, who, knowing Smith’s worth, and
the falsity of the accusations against him through Halleck’s Chief of Staff,
who had just visited Paducah, supported the General against his demagogic
adversary, and thus retained in command a hero soon to show his brilliant
leadership against a nobler and more open foe.
After various
expeditions to deceive, and prevent the concentration of, the Confederate
forces, General Smith moved his command up the Tennessee, and captured Fort
Heiman, at the same time that Ft. henry surrendered. Marching next across
the narrow strip between the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers, Fort Donelson,
with its numerous batteries, strong intrenchments, and large garrison
confronted the Union forces. We cannot go into a full description of this
well-known battle. Suffice it to say that the assault of the enemy’s lines
on our right having failed, General Smith was ordered to storm those on our
left. Instantly mounting his superb steed, the General, the impersonation
of another Mars, rode along the front of his brigades, and, with brow knit
in stern resolve, told the men to be ready; then, placing himself before the
center as for review, with McPherson at his side, cool and self-possessed,
commanded to charge at double quick with fixed bayonets. Onward his
volunteers advanced with the utmost intrepidity through the tempest of iron
and laden hail, opening wide gaps in the serried ranks, soon filled by other
brave men. Forward they sped to the thick abatis, which seemed impassable
under the deadly fire. Their knightly leader, turning in his saddle and
brandishing his sword, cried out in a loud voice: “No finching now, my
lads! Here, -- this is the way! Come on, my brave boys!” Threading his
path through the felled timber, his noble example inspired his followers,
who swarmed in after him as best they could. Then, reforming their ranks,
they rushed after their gallant chief into the very jaws of death. Upward,
through the smoke of battle, they climbed till the perilous goal was
reached; a lodgment was made in the enemy’s works, the defenders fled, the
day was won, and the battle ended with “unconditional and immediate
surrender.” The hero of the fight, though such a conspicuous target to the
sharpshooters, fortunately escaped with only a contusion below the stomach.
Grant generously
acknowledged to Smith “that he owed his success at Donelson emphatically to
him.” Halleck, the Commander of the D4epartment, at once telegraphed to
McClellan: “Brig.-General Charles F. Smith, by his coolness and bravery at
Fort Donelson when the battle was against us, turned the tide and carried
the enemy’s outworks; make him a Major-General. You can’t get a better
one. Honor him for this victory, and the country will applaud.” The
appointment was at once made, and unanimously confirmed by the Senate; and
the municipal authorities of Philadelphia voted Smith a Sword of Honor.
Shortly after
the capture of Donelson, our troops were in possession of Clarksville and
Nashville. Smith, March 7, 1862, was assigned to the command of the
expedition then moving up the Tennessee River, of which he says: “This
whole force is utterly demoralized by victory. There seems to be neither
head nor tail. The utter want of discipline seems to me to be something
marvelous, and yet I have to go far into the bowels of the earth with these
men;” but he adds, “You shall hear a good account of me or of my death.”
When the
expedition had arrived at Savannah, Ten., Smith, in jumping from his steamer
into a yawl, missed his foothold and badly injured the bone of the lower
part of his right leg, which greatly distressed him, not so much for the
pain he had to endure, but because, as he writes, “he could not take the
field soon, not being able to sit a horse, or in fact walk,” which would
compel him “to ride to the battlefield in an ambulance.” Notwithstanding
the agony he suffered, he made a reconnoissance of the river up to Chickasaw
Bluff. Before the end of March the General had to take to his bed, where he
was obliged to submit to a severe surgical operation. This, with his
debility caused by a cold taken at Donelson, continued harassing exertion,
bad climate, supervening erysipelas, and poisonous drugs, completely sapped
his vital energy. To the last moment he hoped to be well enough “to be
carried about the expected battlefield in a hand litter.” This was denied
him, and like a caged lion he chafed, hearing the tumult of Shiloh a few
miles distant. “Imagine,” says he, “if it be possible, my feelings, -- but
no, that is impossible – lying here bedridden with my injured leg, and
excessive bodily weakness, listening for two days to the sounds of battle,
the roar of artillery, the rattle of musketry, without being able to take my
proper part in it.” Ten days later I saw him on his death-bed. Though
resigned to the inevitable, his solder soul was all aglow with the
anticipated success of the Union cause, in which his loyal heart was so much
bound up.
On the 25th
of April, 1862, this brave and noble paladin, who was as intrepid as Ney, as
chivalric as Murat, and as rock-fast as Macdonald, breathed his last. The
Army could boast of no better general. His stately and commanding presence
inspired his soldiers with respect and almost fear. In his rigid
discipline, though severe, he was always just, requiring no greater
subordination from inferiors than he was ready to yield to superiors. The
call of duty was to him a magic sound for which he was always ready to make
every sacrifice and endure any fatigue. He was the very model of a soldier,
calm, prudent, and self-poised, yet, in the hour of danger, bold almost to
rashness. Had he lived he would have held a high niche in the Temple of
Fame, whose doors were already opened to him. Sherman said that, “had C. F.
Smith lived, Grant would have disappeared to history after Donelson.”
We cannot better
terminate this brief sketch of this knightly soldier than in the words of
General Halleck’s Obituary Order, i8ssued from his headquarters at Pittsburg
Landing on the day of Smith’s death: “He had been in the service of his
country for more than forty years, and had passed through all the military
grades from Cadet to Major-General. He had fought with distinction in
nearly all the battles of Mexico, and by his gallantry and skill had gained
imperishable laurels at the Siege of Ft. Donelson. He combined the
qualities of a faithful officer, an excellent disciplinarian, an able
commander, and a modest, courteous gentleman. In his death the army has
lost one of its brightest ornaments, and the country a general whose place
it will be difficult to supply.
General Smith’s
remains were borne to Laurel Hill Cemetery, in his native city, with the
highest military and civic honors. Peace to his sacred dust! |
