William Farrar Smith

William "Baldy" Smith

William Farrar Smith (born February 17, 1824 in St. Albans , † February 28, 1903 in Philadelphia ) was a general of the Union who served as a division and corps leader in the American Civil War and particularly distinguished himself in engineering.

Life

Early years

The general, who later became known as William F. "Baldy", was born in Vermont in 1824 as the son of Aschbel Smith and Sarah Butler . His cousin, Gregory J. Smith, became governor of Vermont in 1863 . William Farrar completed his elementary schools in Vermont until the 1841 military academy of West Point came in. After four years, he graduated fourth of 41 cadets . Smith was appointed sergeant on July 1, 1845, and assigned as an adjutant to the topographic engineering corps. As a technical officer, he also spent the years leading up to the Civil War as an instructor at West Point and as a member and secretary of the Lighthouse Board. He was promoted to lieutenant on July 14, 1849 . Smith had twice an assistant professorship at West Point (1846-1848 and 1855-1856). Smith taught mathematics at the academy, but the stay also gave him the opportunity to improve his knowledge of military history and warfare. From 1845 he served in the engineering corps on the Great Lakes, Texas, Arizona, Mexico and Florida. On March 3, 1853 he was promoted to first lieutenant . In Florida he fell ill with malaria while on duty and although he recovered, the disease affected the rest of his life. On July 1, 1859, he was promoted to captain in the US Army.

In the civil war

Due to his poor health and his previously acquired topographical knowledge of the south, Smith was first sent to Monroe fortress as a technical officer after the outbreak of war in 1861 to do reconnaissance work around Yorktown . With the rank of Colonel (from July 16, 1861) he took part in the Battle of Manasas with the volunteers of the 3rd Vermont Infantry Regiment of the Union Army . Under the command of Major General McDowell, he was promoted to Brigadier General on August 13, 1861 and commanded the first brigade of the Vermont Regiment. Initially commander of the second division of the IV. Corps, he distinguished himself especially in the battle of White Oak Swamp. In June 1862 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and on July 4, 1862 to the rank of major general. He led as a result of a division within the VI. Corps, during the campaign of the Potomac army on the peninsula and in the Maryland campaign. His troops fought on September 17, 1862 in Antietam . After his corps commander Major General William B. Franklin left the scene due to confrontation with Commander in Chief Burnside , Smith was at the head of the VI. Corps, which he commanded on December 13 at the Battle of Fredericksburg . After this defeat, he and William B. Franklin wrote to President Lincoln about the poor conduct of General Burnside's operations . This indiscretion, and the fact that he was a close friend of George B. McClellan , ultimately led to his recall.

General Smith and his staff officers

After a series of unimportant commands in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, he became chief engineer in the Mississippi Military Division. On October 3, 1863, Smith was sent to Tennessee as chief engineer in the Cumberland Army . As such, he planned the Battle of Browns Ferry and organized supplies and reinforcements for the Union forces in the Chattanooga area . He was commended for engineering by his superiors Ulysses S. Grant , William T. Sherman , and George H. Thomas, and made a valuable contribution to victory in the Battle of Missionary Ridge . As a result, General Grant insisted that his major general nomination be confirmed, and accordingly he was fully rehabilitated by the Senate on March 9, 1864 for his excellent service at Chattanooga and in the Virginia campaign.

On March 9, 1864 he was reactivated with the rank of major general, returned to active service and the XVIII. Corps under General Benjamin Franklin Butler on the James River. His corps was part of the main army under George G. Meade and took part in the Battle of Cold Harbor . Smith's corps was also subordinate to a division of black troops under General Edward W. Hinks, which were to try to take the city of Petersburg . In remembrance of the Cold Harbor debacle, Smith opted for adequate education. Before his first line of attack had insufficient artillery support, he did not want to attempt an attack. He described General Butler as "as helpless as a child and a visionary on the council" on the battlefield. On July 19, 1864 he was finally given command of the XVIII. Corps recalled.

In the private sector

Smith retired from active field service in 1865 and left the US Army forever in 1867. He was now successfully applying his engineering skills in the private sector. From 1865 to 1873 he was President of the International Telegraph Company. After spending a few years in Europe, he went to New York. From 1875 he served on the board of the New York Bureau and was President of the Board of Commissioners from 1877 to 18881. After his resignation in 1881, spent the rest of his life working on various engineering projects for the government. From 1881 to 1901, as a civil engineer, he made improvements to various river and port facilities. He died in Philadelphia in February 1903 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery .

Publications

Smith made numerous literary contributions to the history of the war, including several articles on military campaigns and the leaders of the Civil War, including:

• Military Operations Around Chattanooga (Four Volumes, 1887–1888)

• The Relief of the Army of the Cumberland, and the Opening of the Short Line of Communication between Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Bridgeport in October 1863 , Wilmington, Delaware: CF Thomas and Co., 1891
• From Chattanooga to Petersburg under Generals Grant and Butler ; a Contribution to the History of the War, and a Personal Vindication, Boston: Houghton, Mifflin and Co., 1893

• The Re-opening of the Tennessee River Near Chattanooga , October 1863 as Related by Major General George H. Thomas and the Official Record, Wilmington, Delaware: Press of Mercantile Printing Co., 1895

Web links

Commons : William Farrar Smith  - Collection of Images, Videos and Audio Files

• Biography on Arlington National Semetery