The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-03-29
E. KIRBY SMITH DEAD.
Last of the Full Generals of the
Civil War.
Career Of the Eminent Commander in
the Service of the Union and
of the Confederacy.
Special TO THE MoRSINa CALI.

SEwANEE, Tenn, March 2S.-General E.
Kirby Smith, professor Of mathematics in
the University of the South. died here
this afternoon. For two years his health
has been declining. Two weeks ago he was
taken i'll in New Orleans, and the eonges-
ton of the lungs which followed carried
him off. Once OF twice during the temporary
periods of semi-consciousness of the past
two days his mind has wandered through
past scenes, and he ordered his batteries to
come up. Early this morning he became
totally unconscious, and his end was very
peaceful. His wife and six Of the family
were with him.
General Smith was born at st. Augustine,
Fla, March 16, 1924, and with him closes the
list of full generals on both sides during the
late war. He came from an illustrious
family of soldiers that had participated
with distinction In every war waged in this
country since the old French and Indian
war. His grandfather served both against
the French and the British, being major
In the revolutionary war. HIS father was
colonel in the war of 1912, and was after
ward United States Judge of the Superior
Court of Florida. His brother was killed
in the Mexican war; and General Smith HIM
self was twice hrevetted for gallantry on the
field in-the same war.
Edward Kirby Smith. Confederate gen.
eral, was born in May, 1924. at st. Angus
tine, Fla. On his graduation from West
Point in 1S45 he was appointed second lieu-
tenant of infantry, and in the Mexican war,
for gallantry at Cerro Gordo and Contreras
was twice brevetted. From 1S49 to 1852 he
acted as assistant professor of mathematics
at West Point. In 1855 he was appointed
captain in the second cavalry and served
with distinction on the frontier. being
twice wounded in May. 1859. in an engage
ment with the Comanehe Indians, for his
services against whom he received the
thanks of the Legislature of Texas.
In January, 1861, he was promoted major,
but on the secession of his native State in
May Of that year, he resigned his commits
sion and was appointed lieutenant colonel
in the cavalry corps of the Confederate
army. His subsequent promotion was
rapid. On June II he was made brgadier-
general; on October 9. 1862, lieutenant
general. and on February 10. 1864, full
general. He was present at the first battle
of Bull Run, and was severely wounded
early in the engagement.
In 1862 he was assigned TO the command
of the Department of East Tennessee, Ken
tucky. North Georgia and Western North
Carolina. In the Kentucky campaign he
led the advance of General BragG's army,
and on August so, 1862, defeated the Union
forces under General w. Nelson at Rich
mond. KY.
Having been assigned in February, 1868,
to the Trans Mississippi Department, conf
prising Texas. Louisiana, Arkansas and
Indian Territory, he, in accordance with
his Instructions, organized government
there, making his communications with
Richmond by running the blockade at Gal
weston and Wilmington, N. G. BY simi-
lar process of blockade running, he shipped
large quantities OF cotton to Europe, recelv-
ing back machinery, by the aid of which he
was successful in establishing factories and
furnaces, in opening mines and manufacture
ing powder and castings, so that by the
time the war closed he had made his depart
ment self-supporting, his forces being the
last to surrender. In 1864 he was largely
instrumental in battling General Nathaniel
p Banks in his Red River campaign.
After the war General Smith assumed
the presidency of the Atlantic and Pacific
Telegraph Company, and was later chancel-
lor of the university of Nashville. and from
1876 professor OF mathematics in the Univer-
sty OF the South, at Sewanee, Tenn, which
last position he continued to hold till his
death,