The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-10-05

i
Richmond will probably hear that they have
missed figure in sending their reinforcements
| to Yorktown.
| Sketch or Gustnvus w. Smith, Major
General I'm the Rebel Army.
II is stated that Captain Gustavus w. Smith, late
STR t Commissioner Of New York city and Chairman Of
tho Ma tonal Democratic General Committee OF the city
and coul 'ty Of New York, has been appointed Major
General in the rebel army, and assigned to the column
lately comma, ded by General Joseph T. Johnston who
has assumed CHI command Of the columns the Poto-
mac now command, by Generals Beauregard Smith.
CAPTAIN Smith is a n IAN Of acknowledged ability He
was born near Scott county In the State OF
Kentucky on the FIRST day OF January, 1922 and Is .
cousin Of John c. Breckenridge. He was appointed
cadet at West Point in 1888 throug The influence Of Colo
mel Richard NJ Johnson at that time Vce President OF
the United States He graduated wjt honor in 1S42
aud was recommended for promotion tn she corps OF
United States Military Engineers In 1S46 he was as
signed duty with the company Of engineer sold ers or
"sappcis and miners" which company had just l'een
authorized by act Of Congress- Tho captain Aexau-
dor H. Swift of the corps Of Engineers, officer Of great
distinction and experience who had passed two years In
the military schools of Europe acquiring Information in
regard to practical military engineering, there being no
engineer soldiers In the United States prevouto that
time. Captain Swift taken sick soon after his COM
mand reached Mexico had TO the United States
and died in New Orleans tho day after his arrival thoro
This left the command Of the engineer company the
hands Of the senior lieutenant who continued exercise
1t until tho close of the with Mexico. II in Tits
capacity that Gusavus w Smith. at the age Of twenty
hve for himself the reputation of being Of the
best officers in the American army He had peculiar
and worry important command, embracing in addition to
the company of sappers and miners and its train tho
general engineer train Of the army which was under HIS
exclusive control The records of Congress regard
the war with Mexico now forming part Of tho Official
q 10 nni
and skill Of the young commander Of the engineer troops
At the siege of Vera Cruz the battles Of Cerro Gordo
tack the San Cosmo Garta gates OF the city Of
Mexico, and in The bloody street fighting within the ety.
the name Of G. W. Smith 10 conspicuousy ment.one Gin
the official dispatches OF General Scott and by Generals
Worth Twggs, Persifer +. Smith, Harvey AMI Riley,
under all OF whom his company served at various times
There being but the one engineer company, was al
ways at the head OF the leading division or the army
and as first and then another Of the divisions in
front the sapers and miners served in turn with the
whole army He<vas three times breyeted for skill gal
antry and distinguished conduct upon the field OF bat
to Cerro Gorio, at Conreras aud Cherubusco and at
Cheputepec and the city Of Mexico General Scott has
often borne testimony TO his high character and profess
s!ona ability Official letter, addressed to John G.
breckenridge and William areston of Kentucky both q
them being then members of tho Ecuso Of Representa-
tives at Washington, General soo:t says" In conclu-
sion, viii add that have never known young officer
go often or so highly distinguished as Captain Smith was
during the war with Mexico"
After the Mexican Captain Smith served for
raj years as principal assistant professor Of engineering
ami tho ar, of in the United States Mil tary Acade
y.
time he resigned from the army, in December, 1894.
The resignation Of Captain Smith received with
BY very many of the officers Of all branches of this
vco. But it afterwards understood that he resigned
to take prominent part in revolution then con.em-
plated by neighboring peopleand many predicted for
him military career IN the primo Of hc FUZZY equal TO
tho promise Of his early ,nhood Captain Smith
an intimate confidential friend Of General John A. Quit
man. ana it believed that he resigned from the armyok
tho United States to embark in company with others
under the command OF Qaitman, In expedition which
is known that the active and determined opposition Of
tn tine u ns saos under the gaane'
consunmaon OF Quitmans project and assured to Spain
the possession Of the Queen Of the Antilles.
Captain Smith resided in New Orleans for six eight
months after he resigned from the army of the United
states and during this tmo ho is supposed to have had
against Spanish rule in Cuba However that may be- he
was soon alter placed in very responsible aud impor.
the Treasury CT the United States,
CAPTAIN Smith came to the city Of New York in Octo
ber 1856 and was engaged in this city as Chief Engineer
of the Trenton Iron Company He held various other inn
portant and responsible positions, and associated In
business relations with men of the highest position and
standing in this community In 1858 under the admit
nistraNon Of PANEL +. Temann, he became connected
with the city government and took charge Of the Street
Department in November OF that year. AS Street Com
missioner Of this city he showed himself as competent to
discharge the duties OF a civil executive and admnisrn
tive officer as he had previously done as soldier and
engineer. In tho exercise of legitimate authority over
men, he owes his extraordinary success TO high
of justice combined with decision OF character
Ordinarily he handles skcn rains OF authority those
subordinate 10 him. but mpresses all with conscious
80 that there IN within him latent power that il ia
not entirely safe 10 by improper resistance to his
will He has meny devoted friends in all classes of life,
by whom no is admired and beloved Hs Is respected
by even his foes.
He in the company Of Johnston and Bcauregard,
his bosom friends and must share their fortunes. II
sad reflection that no has turned traitor to his country,
and as Major General in tho rebel army is using his
inquest talents to assist in the attempted
throw Of this government and in the dshonor Of the flag
under whose graceful folds ho won such distinguished
fame.