Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-05-23
THE GRIM REAPER.
Sudden Death of Col. L. w. Smith, U. s.
Army.

Sudden Death of Col. Il. w. Smith, u ).
Army.
The GLOBE regrets to announce the sud-
den death on Monday last of Col. Smith,
for many years connected with army head
quarters in st. Paul as the senior aide-de-
camp on Gen. Terry's staff. The event
| took place at Fort Lewis, Colorado,
| where Col. Smith has been sta
toned since last autumn, and beyond the
bare announcement of his decease con-
tanned in a private telegram received in
this city yesterday nothing is known. The
fact, however, that for several years past
| Col. Smith has been in poor health and
frequently under the care of his physician
will make his sudden end less startling to
some than it otherwise would.
Col. Smiths long residence in this city
made him one of the best known officers
stationed here. He first came to st. Paul
with Gen. Terry in 1867, and remained
here with that officer several years. When
the general returned in 1872 Col. Smith
again accompanied him, and continued on
| duty at headquarters until a year ago, then,
having been promoted to be major of the
22d infantry, he babe good bye to the
| city which was, more than any other, a
home to him, and joined his regiment. lat
| first he was stationed at Fort Clark, Texas,
but last autumn he was moved to the post
| far and among the mountains as southern
| Colorado, where he died. During his resi-
dence among US he formed many friend
| ships.
| His somewhat reserved manner frequent
| ly repealed one, but to all who knew him
intimately and we'll, his ability as SOL
| der and his worth and trueness as a man
| was sure to become apparent. There are
many others who did not know him per-
| sonally, but who yet were familiar with
his face and some of his rare qualities.
Possessed of more than ordinarily sweet
| tenor voice which he handled extremely
| we'll, he was often, during the earlier years
of his residence here, heard in public con-
| certs or private parlors. Later he became
| somewhat prominent in amateurIItheatri-
Gals, and few who saw him as "Sir Joseph
| Porter K, G. B." in ''Pinafore," or the "Ser-
geant' in ''Ours" on the Opera house stage,
will gainsay his talent as an actor.
Col. Smiths army necord is one of which
he could well be proud. A practicing law
yer in Chicago in April, 1861. He accept
ed on May IA of that year first lieutenan-
cy in the Fifteenth y. S. infantry, in which
regiment he became captain February II,
1868. He was breveted major July IS,
1868, "for gallant and meritorious service
in the assault on Fort Wagner" colonel of
! volunteers January 1, 1865, "for meritori-
GUS service in the campaigns of 1868 and
1864" brigadier general of volunteers
March Is, 1865, 'for faithful and merito-
| rious services during the war;" and lieuten-
ant colonel April 2, 1865 for gallant and
meritorious service in front of Petersburg"
On March 4, 1880, he was transferred to the
Eighteenth infantry, on whose rolls he was
carried until he became major of
the Twenty -second, as before stated.
Early in the war he was appoint
ed assistant adjutant general of volun-
teers, and was mustered out from such
| service in 1866. During that period he
| occupied high and responsible position,
most of the time upon Gen. Terry staff,
| and many old soldiers who fought in the
| Carolinas will remember his we'll known
signature endorsed upon their papers.
| During the disastrous campaign of 1876.
Col. Smith again occupied the position of
acting assistant adjutant general of Gen.
Terry;s expedition, and after the fatal
fight upon the Littla Big Horn, he came
down in charge of the steamer which
! rounded to at Fort Lincoln, its flag at half
mast as the first bearerzof the saddest of
news to the widows at the post.
Col. Smith leaves a widow and one
youAg daughter, besides mother residing
at st. Adams, Vermont, and several broth
ers and sisters. One of the latter is Mrs.
James N. Granger of st. Paul, while a
brother Capt Charles S. Smith of the
ordinance corp, Is we'll known throughout
the army.