Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1903-03-05
GEN. "eALoY" SMITH DEAD.
Commander OF Sd VT Regiment and
Native Of ST. Adams.

Native OF St Adams.
Gen. William Farrar Smith, better
known as "Baldy" Smith, one OF the
prominent figures OF the Civil war,
died March at his home in Philadel-
phia. He was in his eightieth year
and was born in St. Adams, VT. lie
entered West Point at the age of IL.
and when the Civil war broke out he
was maze commander of the Sd Yer
mont regiment He is survived by a
daughter and son.
William F. Smith graduated at West
Point in July, 1871, and was assigned
TO duty in the Corps of Typographical
Engineers, with which he served con-
tinuonsly till it was consolidated with
the Corps OF Engineers, when he re-
signed his commission OF major in 1867 /.
His services included duty on the sur
vey of the Northern lakes, at West
Point, as assistant professor OF mathe-
mates, in Texas on explorations, as
engineer of the eleventh lighthouse
district, and as engineer secretary of
the lighthouse board.
At the outbreak OF the rebellion he
served as mastering officer In New
York. on the staff OF General Butler at
Fort Monroe. and on that OF General
Mcdowell. He was appointed colonel
of the Third Vermont Volunteers in
1861, and took the regiment to the
field after the battle of Bull Run and
served in the defense OF Washington.
He was appointed brigadier-general
OF volunteers in August, 1861, and as
such commanded a division OF McClel-
lan's army from March to August, 1862,
being engaged in the siege of York
town, the skirmish of Lees Mills, the
battles OF Williamsburg, Fair Oaks,
White Oak Swamps, Savage Station,
Glendale and Malvern Hill.
He was brevetted Northumberland
u. S. Army, June %, 1862, for gallant
and meritorious services in the battle
OF White Oak swamp. Virginia.
He was appointed major-general Of
volunteers July 4, 1862, and as such
commanded division in the Antietam
campaign, taking part in the battles
of South Mountain and Antietam, and
was breyetted colonel for gallantry
and meritOrious services in the last
mentioned battle. He commanded the
sixth corps in the Rappahannock cam
paign and in the Fredericksburgh cam
paign. He commanded a division in
the department OF the Susquehanna,
taking an active part in the pursuit of
Lees army on its retreat from Gettys-
burg.
In October, 1868, be was transferred
to the West, where he in turn became
chief engineer OF the department of
the Cumberland, on the staff OF Gener-
al George III. Thomas and of the mill
tary division OF the Mississippi, on the
staff OF General Grant. As such he de-
vised the plan of operations by which
the Army of the Cumberland was saw
ed from starvation and capture at
Chattanooga, and was duly credited
with the same by General Thomas.
He also devised the plan of operations
by which Bragg's army was over
thrown and driven back from Mission
airy Ridge, tor which services he was
again appointed and (this time) con-
firmed as major general of volunteers,
also as brevet brigadier- general, I. >.
army.
When General Grant was appointed
acknowledgement and assigned to the
command of all the loyal armies, he
took General Smith East with him and
assigned him TO the command OF the
18th army corps. with which he took
part in the battles OF Cold Harbor and
the siege of Petersburgh.
He was assigned to special duty UNI
der the secretary of war in November,
1864. and continued thereon till De-
cember, 1865. and finally resigned
from the army in 1867, after % years
continuous service. At that time he
held the rank of major of engineers
and brevet major-general, United
States army.
In civil life he was president of the
International Ocean Telegraph COM
pany, president of the board of police
commissions, New York, and has held
the position of government agent in
charge OF q district of internal inn
provements in Delaware and Mary
land.