The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-29
GENERALE. KIRBYSMITH
DEATH or THE DIsTISGUISHED
CONFEDERATE SOLDIER.
He Passes AWAY at . Ripe Old Age at Be-
vance, Tennessec--A Sketch OF His Life
and Brilliant Career.

SEwANEE, TENN. March 2.-
General Z. Kirby Smith. professor of
mathematics In the University OF the
South since 1875. died here this afternoon
at 3:25 o'clock.
For two years General Smiths health
had been declining. Two weeks ago he
was taken sick In New Orleans and was
confined to his bed for five or six days,
but recovered sufficiently to travel. and
repoSted at Sewanee ready for duty Mon
day, March 18th. Two days afterwards
he caught cold. a relapse ensued. his
condition being complicated by conges-
ton OF the right lung. Everything In
human power was done 10 save him, but
from the first Il was evident that the
chances were against his recovery.
once or twice during temporary periods
of semi-consciousness his mind wandered
through past scenes and he ordered the
batteries to come up Early this morning
he became totally unconscious. His END
was very peaceful His wife and six OF
his family were with him. He died as he
lived, bright strong and confident In his
Christian faith and hope.
One OF his very last connected utter
ances was a verse from the twenty-thrd
Psalm Though I walk through the
VALLEY Of the shadows of death. I Will
fear no evil for thou art with nre."
with him closes the list OF fun generals
on both sides during the late war; MS
commission as full general In the Confed-
crate service having been issued February
10, 1864.
Edmund Kirby Smith was born In st.
Augustine. Fla. May 10. 1924. was gradu-
ated at the United States Military Aca-
denny in 1sf5, and appointed brevet Sc
cond lieutenant OF infantry. In the war
with Mexico he was twice brevetted for
gallantry at Cerro Gordo and Contreras.
He was assistant professor OF mathe-
matlcs at West Point In 1892, be-
came captain in the Second cavalry In
1855, served on the frontier. and was
wounded May l3, 1859. in an engagement
with Comanche Indians near old Fort
Atchison. Tex. In 1851 he was thanked
by the Texas Legislature for his services
against the Indians. He was promoted
major in January. 1861, but resigned on
April 9th, on the secession of Florida,
and was appointed lieutenant colonel In
the corps of cavalry OF the Confederate
army. He became brigadier-general
June II, 1861, major-general october IL.
1861, lieutenant-general october y, 1862,
and general February 10, 1854. At the
battle of Bull Run. July 21. 1861, he was
severely wounded in the beginning or
the engagement. In 1862 he was placed
in command OF the Department OF East
Tennessee, Kentucky. North Georgia
and Western North Carolina. He led
the advance OF General Braxton Bragg's
army I'm the Kentucky campaign, and de-
feated the national forces under General
William Nelson at Richmond, KY, Au-
gust go 1862. In February 1863. he was
assigned to the command OF the Trans
Mlssippi Department, including Texas.
Louisiana, Arkansas and Indian terri
tory, and was ordered TO organize a
government. which he did. He made his
communications with Richmond by run
ming the blockade at Galveston, Tex, and
Wilmington. ". c.. sent large quantities
OF cotton 10 Confederate agents abroad,
and, introducing machinery from Europe,
established factories and furnaces. open
ed mines, made powder and castings.
and had made the district self-support-
ing when the war closed. at which time
his forces were the last to surrender.
In 1864 he opposed and defeated General
Nathaniel +. Banks I'm his Red river cam
paign. General Smith was president OF
the Atlantic and Pacific Telegraph Com
pany in 1S66-'GS and chancellor OF the
University Of Nashville IN 1S70-'75. and
had been professor OF mathematics In
the University OF the South Sewanee,
Tenn, since 1875.