ANDREW JACKSON SMITH
Smith, Andrew J., major-general, was born in the state of Pennsylvania and was a cadet at the
U. S. military academy from July 1, 1834 to July 1, 1838, when he was graduated
and promoted in the army to second lieutenant in the 1st dragoons. He
served at Carlisle barracks, Pa., in the cavalry school for practice, 1838-39;
on recruiting service, 1839-40; on frontier duty at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan.,
1840-46, and he was commissioned first lieutenant in the 1st dragoons on May 4,
1845. He served in the war with Mexico, 1847-48, being commissioned
captain in the 1st dragoons on Feb. 16, 1847, and was on frontier duty at San
Francisco, Cal., 1848-49. He was on recruiting service, 1849-53; stationed
at Fort Lane, Ore., 1853-55; took part in the Oregon hostilities during the
latter year, being engaged in the skirmish at Cow creek on Oct. 31, was in the
Rogue River expedition in 1856, being engaged with hostile Indians in several
skirmishes during March and June, and he was stationed at Fort Yamhill, Ore.,
1856-57. He was on the Oregon war claims commission, 1857-58 and on
frontier duty at Fort Walla Walla, Wash 1858-59. He was at Fort Vancouver,
Wash., 1859-60, and was engaged against the Snake Indians in skirmishes near
Harney lake on May 24 and near Owyhee river on June 23. He was stationed
at Fort Walla Walla, 1860-61, and was on the march to Nez Perce Agency in the
latter year, being commissioned major in the 1st dragoons on May 13 and
transferred to the 1st cavalry on Aug. 13. He served during the Civil war,
first as colonel of the 2nd Cal. cavalry to which position he was appointed on
Oct. 2, 1861; was chief of cavalry, Department of the Missouri, from Feb. 11 to
March 11, 1862 and of the Department of the Mississippi, March 11 to July 11,
being engaged in the advance upon and siege of Corinth, April 15 to May 30,
including several skirmishes. He was commissioned brigadier-general of
volunteers, March 17, 1862; was in command of the troops in Covington, Ky., and
vicinity, Sept. 9-Oct. 9; in command of a division in the movements through
Kentucky, October-November; was stationed at Memphis, Tenn., Nov 28 to Dec. 21,
and was on the expedition to the Yazoo river in December, being engaged in the
assault of Chickasaw bluffs on Dec. 27-29. He was in the expedition to
Arkansas Post, which was carried by assault on Jan. 11, 1863; in the Vicksburg
campaign from January to July, commanding a division in the 13th army corps, and
was engaged in the advance to Grand Gulf, the battles of Port Gibson, Champion's
hill, Big Black river, assaults on Vicksburg, May 19 and 22, the siege of the
place, and the capture of Jackson, Miss., on July 16. He was in command of
the 6th division, 16th army corps, and District of Columbus, Ky., from Aug. 5,
1863, to Jan. 21, 1864; in command of the 3d division, 16th army corps, Jan. 24
to March 6, in the Department of the Tennessee; was in the Red River campaign,
commanding detachments of the 16th and 17th army corps March 6 to May 22, and
was engaged in the assault and capture of Fort De Russy, the battle of Pleasant
Hill, the action at Cane river, and in covering the retreat of Gen. Banks' army,
with almost daily heavy skirmishing. He was commissioned
lieutenant-colonel of the 5h cavalry on May 9, major-general of volunteers on
May 12, and was in command of the right wing of the 16th army corps in the
operations in Mississippi and Tennessee from June to September, being engaged in
the actions near Lake Village and Tupelo Miss., and on the expedition from
Memphis to Holly Springs. He was engaged in the operations in Missouri,
covering St. Louis from a threatened attack by Gen. Price; in command of a
detachment of the Army of the Tennessee in Maj.-Gen. Thomas, campaign against
the Confederates under Gen. Hood, from Dec., 1864 to Jan., 1865, being engaged
in the battle of Nashville and the pursuit of the enemy to Pulaski. He was
in the movement from Eastport, Miss., via Cairo, to New Orleans, Feb. 6-21,
1865, in command of the 16th army corps, Feb. 18-July 20, being brevetted
brigadier-general U. S. A., on March 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious
services at the battle of Tupelo, and the brevet title of major-general, U. S.
A., was conferred upon him at the same time for gallant and meritorious services
in the battle of Nashville. He was engaged in the Mobile campaign, taking
part in the siege of Spanish Fort, but was in reserve during the storming of
Blakely. He was in the movement to and occupation of Montgomery, Ala.,
making detachments to various points in Alabama, was in command of the District
of Montgomery, and later of the District of Western Louisiana, Oct. 27, 1865 to
Jan. 15, 1866, when he was mustered out of the volunteer service. He was
on the board for the recommendation of officers for brevet promotions from March
1O to June 22, and he was commissioned colonel of the 7th cavalry on July 28,
1866. He served in command of the District of Upper Kansas from Nov. 25,
1866 to Sept., 1867, and of the Department of Missouri from Sept. 14, 1867, to
March 2, 1868, when he was given a leave of absence, and he resigned from the
service on May 6, 1869. He was appointed postmaster of St. Louis, Mo., on
April 3, 1869, and he pursued vocations of civil life until Jan. 22, 1889, when
he was recommissioned colonel of cavalry and placed upon the retired list.
Gen. Smith died on Jan. 30, 1897.