Gustavus Adolphus Smith

Gustavus Adolphus Smith
Gustavus Adolphus Smith
Born	December 26, 1820; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,US
Died	December 11, 1885(aged 64); Santa Fe, New Mexico,US
Buried	Santa Fe, New Mexico
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/ branch	Union Army
Years of service	1861–1865
Rank	Colonel; Brigadier General; BrevetBrigadier General
Commands	35th Illinois Infantry Regiment; 155th Illinois Infantry Regiment
Battles / wars	American Civil War Battle of Pea Ridge;

Gustavus Adolphus Smith(December 26, 1820 – December 11, 1885) was a prosperous carriage maker inDecatur, Illinoisbefore theAmerican Civil War.He was a volunteerUnion Army colonelfrom the beginning of the war until September 22, 1863 and from February 28, 1865 until December 14, 1865. After the end of the war, on January 13, 1866,President Andrew Johnsonnominated Smith for appointment to the grade ofBrevet brigadier generalof volunteers, to rank from March 13, 1865. TheUnited States Senateconfirmed the appointment on March 12, 1866.^[2]Starting in 1870, Smith was a collector of internal revenue inNew Mexico.

At the outset of the American Civil War, Smith drilled recruits inIllinoisandMissouri.He was appointed colonel of the35th Illinois Infantry Regimenton September 1, 1861. At theBattle of Pea Ridge(Elkhorn Tavern), on March 7, 1862, he was severely wounded in the right shoulder and head. After Smith was authorized to raise a brigade of volunteers in July 1862,President Abraham Lincolnnominated Smith for, and temporarily appointed him to, the grade ofbrigadier generalof volunteers in the Union Army, to rank from September 19, 1862. Because he was unfit for field service due to his wounds, theUnited States Senatedid not confirm his appointment as brigadier general of volunteers and it expired on March 4, 1863. His actual highest substantive rank remained colonel.

Smith was dismissed from service in the Union Army on September 22, 1863.^[3]He was recalled on February 28, 1865 and appointed colonel of the155th Illinois Infantry Regiment.That regiment guarded theNashville and Chattanooga Railroaduntil the end of the war. Smith served as colonel of the 155th Illinois Infantry Regiment until he was mustered out of the service with the regiment on December 14, 1865.

In 1870, PresidentUlysses S. Grantappointed Smith to the office of collector of internal revenue for the District of New Mexico. Smith lived inSanta Fe, New Mexicountil his death on December 11, 1885.

Early life

Gustavus Adolphus Smith was born inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvaniaon December 26, 1820. During his youth, he moved toMarylandandOhio.In 1837, he settled at Decatur, Illinois, where he became a successful and prosperous carriage maker.^[4]^[5]

He married Margaret Ann Bane, who was born inCounty Kildare, Irelandon March 5, 1824. In 1851, Gustavus and Margaret Smith had a son, William A. Smith. Near the end of the American Civil War in 1865, William ran away from home at age 14 to join his father with the 155th Illinois Infantry Regiment. William A. Smith was latersheriffofMcKinley County, New Mexico.

American Civil War

After months of drilling recruits in Illinois and Missouri at the beginning of the American Civil War, Gustavus A. Smith was appointed colonel of the Union Army's35th Illinois Infantry Regimenton September 1, 1861.^[4]^[5]^[6]The regiment was informally called "Gus Smith's Independent Regiment."^[5]

Smith was severely wounded in the right shoulder and had a skull fracture after his horse was shot from under him, his sword was struck by a bullet and shot from his hand and his belt and scabbard were shot off on March 7, 1862, early in the fighting on the first day at theBattle of Pea Ridgeon Narrow Ridge near Telegraph Road and Elkhorn Tavern.^[4]^[5]^[7]According to HistorianEzra J. WarnerSmith was directing the fire of the1st Iowa Independent Battery Light Artillery^[5]when he was shot in the right shoulder and hit in the head by a shell fragment.^[6]Historians William L. Shea and Earl J. Hess described the movement of the 35th Illinois Infantry Regiment down Narrow Ridge to the right of division commanderEugene A. Carr'sadvanced position on Telegraph Road.^[7]The 35th Illinois Infantry came under fire fromConfederateartillery and infantry directed at the 1st Iowa Artillery Battery.^[7]Smith's horse was killed from under him, his sword was shot from his hand and his belt and scabbard were shot away.^[7]While waiting for a new mount, he was shot in the right shoulder and struck in the head by a shell fragment.^[7]They do not mention whether Smith was also trying to direct the nearby guns of the 1st Iowa Artillery. At the time, Smith was bleeding profusely and thought to be mortally wounded.^[5]^[7]Although he recovered, his wounds did not fully heal until 1868.^[5]

Smith was assigned to recruiting duty after he had recovered enough from the Battle of Pea Ridge to perform limited service.^[8]He was authorized to raise a brigade of volunteers in July 1862.^[5]Smith then was nominated for, and temporarily appointed to, the grade of brigadier general of volunteers in the Union Army byPresident Abraham Lincolnto rank from September 19, 1862.^[4]^[5]Since Smith was unfit for field service due to his wounds suffered at Pea Ridge, the United States Senate did not confirm his appointment as brigadier general of volunteers.^[4]^[5]He reverted to his grade of colonel when the brigadier general appointed expired without confirmation on March 4, 1863. Thus, his actual highest substantive grade remained colonel.^[6]

Smith was dismissed from service in the Union Army on September 22, 1863.^[9]Historian Stewart Sifakis states that Smith was discharged for "fraudulent recruiting practices."^[8]

Smith was recalled to duty on February 28, 1865 to serve as colonel of the155th Illinois Infantry Regiment.^[4]^[5]^[8]The regiment guarded the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad until the end of the war.^[5]^[8]Smith served as colonel of the 155th Illinois Infantry Regiment until he was mustered out of the volunteer service with the regiment on December 14, 1865.^[4]^[5]^[8]

On January 13, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Smith for appointment to the grade of brevet brigadier general of volunteers to rank from March 13, 1865 and the United States Senate confirmed the appointment on March 12, 1866.^[2]

Later life and death

After living inAlabamatemporarily after the war, the Smiths moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1870 when President Grant appointed Smith to the office of collector of internal revenue for the District of New Mexico.^[4]^[5]Smith was a member of theOdd Fellowsfor more than 35 years. He served in executive and honorary posts with the society.^[5]

Gustavus Adolphus Smith died in Santa Fe, New Mexico on December 11, 1885.^[4]^[5]^[10]Warner states that Smith was buried inFairview Cemetery (Santa Fe, New Mexico)and later reinterred atSanta Fe National Cemetery,while Eicher merely states that Smith was interred at Santa Fe National Cemetery.^[4]^[11]

Notes

^appointment expired without confirmation March 4, 1863
^^a ^bEicher, John H., andDavid J. Eicher,Civil War High Commands.Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001.ISBN 978-0-8047-3641-1.p. 757.
^Historian Stewart Sifakis states that Smith was discharged for "fraudulent recruiting practices." Sifakis, Stewart.Who Was Who in the Civil War.New York: Facts On File, 1988.ISBN 978-0-8160-1055-4.p. 602.
^^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^jEicher, 2001, p. 495.
^^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^pWarner, Ezra J.Generals in Blue: Lives of the Union Commanders.Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1964.ISBN 978-0-8071-0822-2.p. 458.
^^a ^b ^cSifakis, Stewart.Who Was Who in the Civil War.New York: Facts On File, 1988.ISBN 978-0-8160-1055-4.p. 602.
^^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^fShea, William L. and Earl J. Hess.Pea Ridge: Civil War Campaign in the West.Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1992.ISBN 978-0-8078-4669-8.p. 166.
^^a ^b ^c ^d ^eSifakis, 1988, p. 603.
^Warner, 1964, p. 458, notes that F. B. Heitman, in Heitman, Francis B.Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army; From Its Organization, September 29, 1789, to March 2, 1903.Vol. 1 of 2 vols. U.S. Government Printing Office, 1903,OCLC 1200947,Retrieved January 12, 2011, p. 898 used the word "dismissed" in connection with Smith's discharge in 1863. Eicher, 2001, p. 495 also uses the word "dismissed," rather than "mustered out." As noted next, Historian Stewart Sifikas states "fraudulent recruiting practices" was the reason for Smith's dismissal.
^Eicher, 2001, p. 495 notes that one source gives the date of Smith's death as December 7, 1865.
^Warner, 1964, p. 459

References

Eicher, John H., andDavid J. Eicher,Civil War High Commands.Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001.ISBN 978-0-8047-3641-1.
Heitman, Francis B.Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army; From Its Organization, September 29, 1789, to March 2, 1903.Vol. 1 of 2 vols. U.S. Government Printing Office, 1903,OCLC 1200947,Retrieved January 12, 2011.
Shea, William L. and Earl J. Hess.Pea Ridge: Civil War Campaign in the West.Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1992.ISBN 978-0-8078-4669-8.
Sifakis, Stewart.Who Was Who in the Civil War.New York: Facts On File, 1988.ISBN 978-0-8160-1055-4.
Warner, Ezra J.Generals in Blue: Lives of the Union Commanders.Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1964.ISBN 978-0-8071-0822-2.

[1] tment expired without confirmation March 4, 1863

[Eicher757-2] Eicher, John H., andDavid J. Eicher,Civil War High Commands.Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001.ISBN 978-0-8047-3641-1.p. 757.

[3] Historian Stewart Sifakis states that Smith was discharged for "fraudulent recruiting practices." Sifakis, Stewart.Who Was Who in the Civil War.New York: Facts On File, 1988.ISBN 978-0-8160-1055-4.p. 602.

[Eicher495-4] ^^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^jEicher, 2001, p. 495.

[Warner458-5] ^^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^pWarner, Ezra J.Generals in Blue: Lives of the Union Commanders.Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1964.ISBN 978-0-8071-0822-2.p. 458.

[Sifikas602-6] Sifakis, Stewart.Who Was Who in the Civil War.New York: Facts On File, 1988.ISBN 978-0-8160-1055-4.p. 602.

[Shea166-7] Shea, William L. and Earl J. Hess.Pea Ridge: Civil War Campaign in the West.Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1992.ISBN 978-0-8078-4669-8.p. 166.

[Sifikas603-8] Sifakis, 1988, p. 603.

[9] Warner, 1964, p. 458, notes that F. B. Heitman, in Heitman, Francis B.Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army; From Its Organization, September 29, 1789, to March 2, 1903.Vol. 1 of 2 vols. U.S. Government Printing Office, 1903,OCLC 1200947,Retrieved January 12, 2011, p. 898 used the word "dismissed" in connection with Smith's discharge in 1863. Eicher, 2001, p. 495 also uses the word "dismissed," rather than "mustered out." As noted next, Historian Stewart Sifikas states "fraudulent recruiting practices" was the reason for Smith's dismissal.

[10] Eicher, 2001, p. 495 notes that one source gives the date of Smith's death as December 7, 1865.

[11] Warner, 1964, p. 459

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