The National tribune., 1892-08-18

s;tion on the part of Mcclellan. that caused the
expedition to fail dsasirousy, with Mcclellan
plavfng the politician on gunboat lying In
the James River.
Smith wss-rather is-a positive man, with
out the least particle OF sham In his compost
tion When Grant came East to become Gen-
eral of all the Armies, he brought back Smith
with him.
VICTIM To MACHINATIoNs
that led him to prefer civil to military life, for
which he was educated. though the latter
would have heen by far the one of his choice
under circumstances that did not impose upon
him the necessity of sacrificing manhood.
AT the close OF the war, although he had
rendered services that can be described only py
saving that they were among the most valuable
recorded i'm IFS history. he found himself nearly
where he was when the war began, with the
rank Major in the Regular Army, and the GER
tainty growing out of hosiilities that had been
created that for years at least there he would
remain. except rs the death of others advanced
him. He therefore chose 20 employ his talents
in civil life, and consequently resigned. Many
another in his place would have borne persecu-
tion at the sacrifice of truth aud interest.
But il WAS in him to do this. His break with
Grant the prosecutions of Butler drove him
from the army. His mind was always active,
and nothing elighted him SO mUch as oppor-
tuuities for applying military science ana
brains 10 difficult probicIas. Thomas shared
TO the fullest Grants estimate, and Tor nothing
did these great commanders esteem han so
much as his ability to understand an order and
Instant Willingness to execute 1t TO the extent
of his ability. which they rated as el me
highest description lie was not The dashins
rider Sheridan was nor did Sheridan possess
the science and subtle qualities that Smiih
possessed to conceive plans leveled at the enemy
Al a 90 tp
works at Chattanoogs devised by Smith and
erected under his OWN eye were proof OF his
abilities as engineer, while his experience Ill
the East sufficiently proved his capacity ior
commanding fighting columns.
After Gen Smith retired from the army he
engaged in important ocean cable enterprises
and later was employed III connection Win
Government works on .he Atlantic coast
Gen Smith is doubtless tie possessor OF facts
relating to not few passages i'll the his
tory of the war not as fully known to anyone
else-certainly not to the general pubic. 1he
famous attack made him in Buffers
Book may have stimulated him to
PREPARE STATEMENT
nf the whole truth as he understands il, as to
events and occurrences TO which Butler al
ludes. The truth of history is told best by the
narration of contemporary recollection, and III
may be that Smith will some day prove
q good reeollector of things new and important,
whereby history in certain respects VIII be en-
lightened if not revised. Attempts have been
made to have Congress place the General on
the Retired List at his proper rank. as an act OF
simple Justice but all such attempts have failed
not IL is pro able. because he was not worthy of
it. but chiefly from the want of systematic
effort whereby such things are usually accom-
plished During Cleveland's Administration
the General vas proposed for the responsible
post of Superintendent of the Coast Survey
for which he is conlessedly in many respects
admirably qualified; but for reasons akin to
those that have prevented the retiring OF him
someone else got the appointment.
Gen. Smiths devotion to Hancock was some
thing that illustrated trait in his own char
acter. and is worthy TO he mentioned as an in
cident in political history. To him as much
probably more in reality-thau to any other
man Hancock's nomination for the Presi-
dency was due. Though not politician in
hardly any sense of the word, he like Han
cock. was a Democrat aud a patriot, and to
Hancock nomination Smith devoted himself
with zeal and success which he never thought
of employing in his own behalf.
For number of years be has been resident
of Philadelphia and Wilmington. He retired
from public affairs, the recipient of many true
life's journey. When history shall be written
In its truth and fullness Gen. Smith will oc-
cupy high place.
Gen. Smith resigned from the army in March,
1867; he was reappointed Major of Engineers
in February, 1889. and retired from active
service March i, 1889.