Done in by Scraped Shin: Maj. Gen. Charles F. Smith

[Battleline]

Maj. Gen. Charles F. Smith (b. 1807, d. 1862) A severely scraped shin, followed by a septic infection and dysentery, ended both the career and life of Maj. Gen. Charles Ferguson Smith. At the time of the injury, suffered when he jumped into a rowboat on the Tennessee River near Savannah, Tennessee, Smith was overall commander of troops moving south through Tennessee trying to find the Confederates under Gen. A.S. Johnston. Briefly advanced over Maj. Gen. U.S. Grant, Smith relinquished his command first to Maj. Gen. Lew Wallace, and then to Grant just prior to the Battle of Shiloh (April 6-7, 1862). Smith did not live much beyond the battle, dying April 25, 1862, in Savannah, Tennessee. Born in Philadelphia April 24, 1807, Smith was the son of an army surgeon. Entering the U.S. Military Academy at the age of 14, Smith graduated in middle of the West Point Class of 1825 (19th of 37). After four years of military service with the 2nd Artillery, he returned to West Point, where he had several different jobs, including commandant of cadets, until 1842. Many future generals, including Grant and William T. Sherman, went through West Point during his tenure. It has been said that Grant “revered Smith as his beau ideal of a solder,” (Generals in Blue by Ezra Warner). In the Mexican War, Smith acquired an outstanding reputation while serving in the armies of Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott. He was breveted all the way to colonel for gallant and meritorious conduct at Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterey, Contreras and Chrubusco. In 1854, Smith received a full promotion to major and was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1855. In 1856, he led an expedition into northern Idaho. He was a member of A.S. Johnston’s campaign against the Mormons in Utah. He later commanded the Department of Utah from February of 1860 to February of 1861. With war coming, Smith was summoned to command the Department of Washington for two weeks in April of 1861. From there, he was sent to New York City to recruit until August of 1861. Smith was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers Aug. 31, 1861, and colonel of the 3rd Regular Infantry Sept. 9, 1861. In October, Smith was sent west and took over the Department of Western Kentucky. Smith’s men operated in concert with Grant’s forces at the inconclusive Battle of Belmont, Missouri, Nov. 7, 1861. Forces under Smith’s command demonstrated against Columbus, Kentucky. As 1862 arrived, Smith commanded one of the three divisions under Grant which attacked the Confederate forts along the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers in northern Tennessee. Smith’s division was part of the force which subjugated Forts Henry and Heiman on the Tennessee River. At the Battle of Fort Donelson, Feb. 13-16, 1862, Smith’s division held the far left of the Federal line. During the Confederate attack, Feb. 15, Smith’s men took advantage of a weakened opponent and invested key positions within Fort Donelson. At the end of the day, when these troops could not be dislodged, it led to the Confederate surrender. Smith played a key role in surrender negotiations. It has been reported that Smith was the one who advised Grant to accept nothing but “unconditional surrender,” which later became Grant’s nickname. After the successful sack of Fort Donelson, Smith was praised by both Grant and Maj. Gen. Henry Halleck, the theater commander, and promoted to major general March 22, 1862. With Grant under suspicion of drinking and a “misunderstanding” between commanders led to Smith being moved above Grant for the next campaign. However, with Smith’s injury and subsequent infection, it was never discovered how Smith would have reacted as an army commander at Shiloh. When Johnston’s Confederates attacked, Smith was in a sick bed. After his death, at Grant’s headquarters, he was buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia.

[Gil R.]

Copied, thanks.

[Gil R.]

I made a few minor changes here and there, plus the ones in boldface, but the only thing impacting the substance of the bio is that I moved up the historical what-if question about Shiloh to the beginning, along with other info from the final sentences. Nice job with this – I didn’t realize that about his being the general who should have been in command there.

Maj. Gen. Charles Ferguson Smith (b. 1807, d. 1862). A severely scraped shin, followed by a septic infection and dysentery, ended both Smith’s military career and life. At the time of the injury, suffered when he jumped into a rowboat on the Tennessee River near Savannah, Tennessee, Smith was overall commander of troops moving south through Tennessee trying to find Gen. Albert S. Johnston’s Confederates. Recently advanced over Maj. Gen. U.S. Grant, the bedridden Smith had to relinquish his command, first to Maj. Gen. Lew Wallace and then to Grant, just prior to the Battle of Shiloh on April 6-7, 1862 – raising the question of how the battle, and the war, might have gone differently if not for his accident. Smith did not live much beyond the battle, dying on April 25 in Savannah at Grant’s headquarters. Born in Philadelphia on April 24, 1807 to an army surgeon, at the age of 14 Smith entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, graduating in middle of the Class of 1825 (19th of 37). After four years of service with the 2nd Artillery, he returned to West Point, where he held several positions, including commandant of cadets, until 1842. Many future generals, including Grant and William T. Sherman, went through West Point during his tenure. It has been said that Grant “revered Smith as his beau ideal of a solder,” (“Generals in Blue” by Ezra Warner). In the Mexican War, Smith acquired an outstanding reputation while serving in the armies of Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott. He was brevetted all the way to colonel for gallant and meritorious conduct at Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterey, Contreras and Churubusco. In 1854, Smith received a full promotion to major and was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1855. In 1856, he led an expedition into northern Idaho. He also served in Johnston’s campaign against the Mormons in Utah, and later commanded the Department of Utah from February 1860 to February 1861. With civil war coming, Smith was summoned to command the Department of Washington for two weeks in April 1861. From there, he was sent to New York City to recruit until that August. Smith was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers on August 31, and Colonel of the 3rd Regular Infantry on September 9. In October, Smith was sent west and took over the Department of Western Kentucky. Smith’s men operated in concert with Grant’s forces at the inconclusive Battle of Belmont, Missouri, on November 7, demonstrating across the Mississippi River against Columbus, Kentucky. As 1862 arrived, Smith commanded one of the three divisions under Grant that attacked the Confederate forts along the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers in northern Tennessee: Smith’s division first was part of the force which subjugated Forts Henry and Heiman on the Tennessee River on February 4-6, and in the Battle of Fort Donelson on February 13-16 the division held the far left of the Union line. During the Confederate breakout attempt on the 15th, Smith’s men took advantage of the reduced number of troops facing them and invested key positions within the enemy’s defensive lines. At the end of the fighting, when these troops could not be dislodged it led to the Confederate surrender the next day. Smith played a key role in the surrender negotiations. It has been reported that Smith was the one who advised Grant to accept nothing but “unconditional surrender,” which later became Grant’s nickname. After the successful sack of Fort Donelson, Smith was praised by both Grant and Maj. Gen. Henry Halleck, the theater commander, and promoted to major general on March 22. Suspicion of Grant drinking and a “misunderstanding” between the commanders led to Smith being moved above Grant for the next campaign, but soon thereafter he suffered the accident that turned fatal. Smith was buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia. (Bio by Bill Battle)

Leadership: 6
Tactics: 5
Initiative: 4
Command: 5
Cavalry: 0

Teaches: Stalwart (27), Resilient (23), Polar Bears (18)

Start date: 15
“Death” date: 29