Morgan's Younger Brother: USA Maj. Gen. Giles A. Smith

[Battleline]

Maj. Gen. Giles A. Smith (b. 1829, d. 1876) Serving in units commanded by his older brother, Morgan L. Smith, provided Giles Alexander Smith the necessary boost he needed to ascend to major general of volunteers during the Civil War. Giles A. Smith was born in Jefferson County, New York, Sept. 29, 1829. At the age of 18, he moved to London, Ohio. He later became a Cincinnati businessman. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he was operating a hotel in Bloomington, Illinois. He joined his brother’s 8th Missouri Infantry (the Riverfront Rowdies) and was commissioned captain of Co. D, June 14, 1861. His first combat action came at the Federal siege of the river forts in northern Tennessee (Forts Henry, Heiman and Donelson). At Fort Donelson, Feb. 13-16, 1862, Smith was commended in the report of his major. At the Battle of Shiloh, Smith’s unit saw heavy action on the second day after missing the first day of combat as part of Maj. Gen. Lew Wallace’s division. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the 8th Missouri, June 12, 1862, and colonel June 30, 1862, when his brother was elevated to brigadier general. At Corinth, Mississippi, Smith was part of the advance on that vital junction Oct. 3-4, 1862. When Brig. Gen. Morgan L. Smith was wounded at Chickasaw Bayou, Dec. 27-28, 1862, Giles Smith took over the brigade. His unit was detailed to capture Arkansas Post Jan. 10-11, 1863. Smith’s brigade first was in the XIII Corps and then was shifted to the XV Corps. He led a brigade through the Vicksburg Campaign. There, his chief contribution was in rescuing a gunboat fleet trapped at Steele’s Bayou, Mississippi, March 14-27, 1863. He also fought in the expedition to take Jackson, Mississippi. Smith received his commission as brigadier general of volunteers to rank from Aug. 4, 1863. At Missionary Ridge, Tennessee, Nov. 25, 1863, Smith led his brigade in Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman’s assault on the north end of the ridge. Smith was severely wounded during the assault. The Confederates reported him killed. After leading a brigade in Alabama and at Resaca, he was given temporary command of a division in the XVII Corps. At the Battle of Atlanta, July 22, 1864, his division absorbed Confederate Maj. Gen. William Hardee’s assault, which came close to breaking the Army of the Tennessee. The army’s commander, Maj. Gen. James McPherson, was killed in the attack and Smith was again reported to have been killed. Smith received a brevet promotion to major general of volunteers Sept. 1, 1864. He remained in division command during the “March to the Sea” and the subsequent Carolinas Campaign to end the war. After the war, he commanded a division in Texas. Smith was promoted to full major general of volunteers Nov. 24, 1865, the final appointment made on the basis of seniority for the war. He turned down a colonel’s commission due to health problems resulting from his wound at Missionary Ridge. Smith returned to Bloomington. In 1869, he was appointed second assistant postmaster general by President U.S. Grant. He left that position in 1872 due to failing health and moved to California. When his health did not improve there, he returned to Bloomington two months before his death, which occurred Nov. 5, 1876. He was buried in Bloomington Cemetery.

[Gil R.]

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