Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 09.djvu/422

 SMITH

SMITH

after serving one session, anil was ailmittetl to the bar in 1853. He was greatly opposed to the institution of slavery, and contributed largely to the cause of anti-slavery. He gave large sums of money to enable free-soilers to settle in Kansas, and presented John Brown with a farm in F^ssex county in order that he might instruct the colored settlers in the colony that he had established in northern New York. He organized the " Anti- Drarashop " party in 1842 and established the first temperance hotel in the country. He refused nomination for President and for governor of the state, but in 18'58 was a nominee for governor on a platform of abolition and prohibition. He gave largely to educational and charitable objects. After the war. with Horace Greeley and Cor- nelius Vanderbilt, he signed the bail bond of Jefiferson Davis. He is the author of: Speeches in Congress (1855); Sermo7is ami Speeches (1861); The Religion of Reason (1864); Speeches and Letters (1865); The Tlieologies (1866); Xature the Base of a Free Theology (1867), and Correspon- dence icith Albert Barnes. He died in New York city. Dec. 28. 1^74.

SMITH, Giles Alexander, soldier, was born in Jeflferson county, N.Y., Sept. 29, 1829. He en- gaged in the dry goods business in Cincinnati, Ohio, and in Bloomington, 111., until 1861. when lie joined the Federal army as captain in the 8th Missouri volunteers. He took part in the battles of Forts Henry and Donelson, Shiloh and Cor- inth; was promoted lieutenant-colonel and colonel in 1862. and commanded his regiment at the first assault on Vicksburg, Miss.; was wounded at the storming of Arkansas Post, Jan. 11, 1863, and in August, 1863, w-as promoted brigadier-general of volunteers "for gallant conduct in the field." He commanded the 1st brigade, 2d division, loth army corf»s. Army of the Tennessee, in the Chat- tanooga campaign and was given charge of the midnight boat expedition to the south bank of the Chickamauga. On Nov. 24, with 116 boats and 30 men, he made the attack near the mouth of the South Ciiickamauga, surprising and captur- ing the guards, thus paving the way for the crossing of Grant's army, and the capture of Lookout Mountain. He commanded his brigade in the Atlanta campaign, and at the battle of Resaca, Ga.. May 14, 1804. he carried the hill held by Gen. Leonidas Polk, in the face of a heavy fire. He commanded the 4th division, 17th army corps, Sherman's army, in the campaign of the Carolinas and the '• march to the sea." and was transferred to the 2.'3th army corps; was jjroinoted major-general of volunteers in 1865; declined a colonelcy of cavalry, U.S. army, and resigned his commission in the volunteer service in 1866. He removed to Bloomington. 111.; was the unsuccess- ful candidate for representative in the 41st

congress in 1868. and was second assistant post- master-general, 1869-72. He died in Bloomington, 111., Nov. 8. \s:g.

SMITH, Green Clay, representative, was born in Kiclimond, Ky.. July 2, 1832; son of Joiin Speed and Eliza Lewis (Clay) Smith, and grand- son of Gen. Green Clay, His fatlier (1792-1854), was a Democratic representative in the 17tli congre.ss, 1821-23; secretary to the U.S. delegation that attended the South American congress at Tacubaya; and district attorney for Kentucky, 1828-32. Green Clay Smith served as a private in the war with IMexico for one year; was graduated from Transj'lvania universitj' in 1850 and from the law school at Lexington, Ky., in 1853, and practised in partnership with his fatlier. He was married to Lena, daughter of James K. Duke of Scott county, Ky. He was school commissioner, 1853-57; removing to Covington, Ky., in 1858; a representative in the state legislature in 1860, and in 1861 enlisted in the Federal army as a private. He was advanced to the rank of colonel, 4tli Kentucky cavalry, in February, 1862; took part in the engagement at Lebanon, Tenn., where he was wounded, and he was promoted brigadier-general of U.S. volunteers, June 11, 1862, resigning his commission Dec. 1, 1863. He was a representative from Kentucky in the 38th and 39tli congresses, 1863-66, and was governor of Montana Territory, 1866-69. He was bre vetted major-general of volunteers March 13, 1865, for gallantry in the field. In 1869 he was ordained to the Baptist ministry and served as pastor at Frankfort, Ky., 1869-90, and of the Metropolitan Baptist church, Washington, D.C., -1890-95. He was moderator of the general association of Baptists in Kentucky, 1879-.81. He died in Wasli- ington. D.C.. June 29. 1895.

SMITH, Gustavus Woodson, soldier, was born in Scott county, Ky., Jan. 1, 1S22. He was grad- uated from the U.S. Military academy, in 1842; served as assistant engineer in the construction of Ft. Trumbull, and Battery Griswold, in New London Harbor. Conn., 1842-44; w^as assistant professor of engineering, at the U.S. Military academy, 1844-46; was promoted 2d lieutenant, Jan. 1, 1845. and commanded the company of Sappers, Miners and Pontoniers during the war with ]Mexico. He was brevetted 1st lieutenant, April 18, 1847. for Cerro Gordo, and captain, Aug. 20, 1847, for Contreras, Mexico. He took part in the battle of Cliurubusco, Aug. 20, 1847; was en- gaged in constructing battery, Chapnltepec, and in the assault and capture of the citj' of Mexico,. Sept. 14, 1847. He was]irincipal assistant profes- sor of engineering at the U.S. Military academy, 1849-54; was promoted 1st lieutenant, March 3. 1853, and resigned his commission, Dec. 18, 1854. He superintended the extension of the U.S.