Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 09.djvu/414

 SMITH

SMITH

Smith; grandson of Joel and Abigail (Dewall) Smith, and of James and Clarissa (ToplilT ) Itoyce. He removed with his parents to Albany, N.Y.. in 1S19; attended the Albany academy, and was graduated from Union college, in 1801. He was appointed

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aide-de-camp to Gen- i^ '^\ '''■•^' Rathbone in 18(51,

I,. 1^ and was engaged in

J/tt I^Z. V^ recruiting duty till

1 ] '.^ ""f 1863, when lie became

^^ a professor in Albany-

academy. He was "', married in June, 18G3,

to Ella, daughter of _, Christoi)her T. and

Bertha (Bradt) Hunt- ly. of Albany, N.Y. He was editor of the Albany E.vpress, 186.J- 70, and of the Al- bany Journal, 1870- 80; was chairman of the committee on resolu- tions at the Republican state conventions, 1874- 80. and president of the convention of 1879, and was a delegate to the Republican national convention of 1876. He removed to Philadel- phia, and became editor of the Philadelphia Press, in 1880: was U.S. minister to Russia by app'jintment of President Hnrrison, 1890-02, and in April, 1898, was appointed U.S. postmaster- general in the cabinet of President McKinley, to succeed James A. Gary, which office he i'esigned Jan. 15. 1902. and returned to his editorial duties in Philadelphia. He was elected president of the State Press association, in 1874; a trustee of Union college, in 1881, and regent of the Uni- versity of the State of New York, in 1879. The lionorary degree of LL.D. was conferred on him by Union college, in 1889, by Lafayette, in 1899, by Knox, in 1900, and by Wesleyan, in 1901. He Is the author of numerous papers on the public service, and on governmental policy, contributed to the f urrent nia^'nzines.

SMITH, Charles Ferguson, soldier, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., April 24, 1807; son of Dr.

Samuel Blair and (Ferguson) Smith, and

grandson of the Rev. John Blair Smith (q.v.) and of Col. Ebenezer Ferguson, of Penn-sylvania. He was graduated from the U.S. Military aca- demy, .18 brevet 2d lieutenant of 2d artillery, July 1, 1825, and was promoted 2d lieutenant llie same date. He .served in garrison in Delaware and Georgia. 1825-29; was assistant in.structor in infantry tactics, at the U.S. Military academy, 1829-.'J1: a.ljutant, 1831-.3S. and commandant of cadets and instructor in infantry tactics, 1838-42. He was promoted captain, July 7, 1832; took part in the war with Mexico, and was brevetted

major. May 9, 1846, for gallantry at Palo Alto and Re.saca de la Palma; lieutenant-colonel, Sept. 23, 1840. for Monterey, and colonel, Aug. 20, 1847, for Contreras and Churubusco. He was present at the storming of Chapultepec. Sept. 13, 1847. and at the as.sault and capture of the city of Mexico, Sept. 14, 1847. He commanded the police guard of the city of Mexico, 1847-48; was in gar- rison at Fort Marion, Fla., in 1849; and was a member of a board of officers to devise " a com- plete system of instruction for siege, garrison, sea coast and mountain artillery." He was president of the board of claims for supplies, etc., furnished by Colonel Fremont to California volunteers in 1840, 1852-55; was promoted major, 1st artillery, Nov. 25, 1854, and lieutenant-colonel, 10th in- fantry, March 3, 1855, and served in garrison and frontier duty, 1855-61. He was in command of the Department of Washington, April 10-28, 1801; was superintendent of general recruiting service at Fort Columbus, N.Y., April-August, 1801; was appointed biigadier-general of U.S. volunteers, Aug. 31, 1861; and was given com- mand of Paducah, and the Kentucky shore of the Mississippi river, 1861-62. He was promoted colonel, 3d infantry, Sept. 9, 1861; commanded the 2d division in the land operations against Fort Henry, Feb. 4-6, 18G2, and marched up the left bank of the river against Fort Heiman. In the assault and capture of Fort Donelson, Feb. 16, 1862, he commanded the 2d division, Grant's army, and led the assault on the outworks, cap- turing the Confederate rifle pits, and planting his colors on the breastworks. By order of Halleck on March 4, 1862, he temporarily relieved Grant, leading an expedition up the Tennessee River to operate on the enemy's railroad communications, and when on March 13, Grant was restored he was the first to congratulate him. He had been Grant's commandant at West Point and appre- ciating the position of his former pupil who had refrained from exercising his authority. Smith begged to be treated like the other division coramandei's. He was promoted major-general, U.S. v., March 21, 1862. General Grant arrived March 17tli, and selected that point as the ren- dezvous for the two armies. Smith's division was held in reserve at the battle of Shiloli, an<l as he was ill at Savannah, the command devolved on Gen. W. H. L. Wallace (q.v.), who was mor- tally wounded on the first day. General Smith died at Savannah. Tenn., April 25, 1862.

SMITH, Charles Forster, pliilologist, was born in Abbeville county, S. C, June 30, 1852; son of the Rev. James F. and Julianna (Forster) Smith; grandson of Jonn and Jane (Franklin) Smith and of Alexius Mador and Elizabeth (Rodgers) Forster, and a descendant of John Smith of Culpeper, who died in 1776; and of