New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-18
"BALDY" SMITH.
Il Gallant Soldier Portrayed by a
Soldier Friend.

LIFE AND SERVICES OF WILLIAM FA TAI. 7.AI
SMITH. MAJOR GENERAL. UNITED STATES
Sketch by James Harrison n wilson. Major Gem
eral, U. S: v. Heroes of the Great Confiot9
1 Press PIP l'O Wilmington; The John M Rogers
To the gallery Of Heroes of the Great Con-
fict" interesting pen AID ink sketch of
Major General William Farrar Smith has been
contributed by lifelong friend. If General
Wilson is not untitled to produce coldly i'm
partial review of General Smiths military
career, that task would at least have been re-
pugnant to him. He candIdly proclains his adj
miration and affection for the man of whom
he writes, and his warmth of feeling imparts
an engaging quality to the narrative. But it
should not be supposed that his eulogy is
discriminating. 1t is most commercially free
from gush. and is altogether a fluent, spirited
and soldierlike performance.
The author has ample knowledge, derived
from intimate association and from mass of
material, largely private, and think he
throws light on some obscure episodes of
the war than any of his predecessors has been
able to throw. 1t has been a vexed question
why General Smith C''Baldy," as he was affec-
tionately known in his day and generation)
never obtained command commensurate with
the military talents which he indisputably pos
sessed and the services which he is acknowl-
edged to have rendered He was a highly ac-
complshed engineer, but in his technical
proficiency in special field associated with
those qualities which are Indispensable to the
conduct Of great military operations There is
much testimony OF the highest competency to
show that he fitted for an independent
command He excellent disciplinarian,
he had in a marked degree the faculty of or
ganization he enjoyed the unbounded confidence
of his men and he had energy, Judgment and
In md
plan by which communications were established
between the Army Of the Cumberland, shut up
in Chattanooga, and its secondary base OF sup
plies at Bridgeport General Smith performed
service which was recognized of inestimable
value to the Union arms. For that and other
achievements he was promoted, and he was
justified in believing that greater honors and re-
sponsibilities would follow but his reasonable
expectation never fulfilled.
Inopportune occurrences of sickness, resulting
from early fever which, besides being physI-
cally disabling, may have affected his temper,
are to be considered: but General Wilson is con-
WINGED. and cites much evidence to show, that
his comrades disappointment was chiefly due
to the effect on the mind of General Grant of
Misrepresentation to which he had been in
duced to listen. General Smith never hesitated
to condemn bluntly operations which he consid-
cred unwise and to tell what he conceived to be
the truth about failures which he deemed un-
| necessary. But he did this in straightforward
fashion-to tho face and not behind the back of
the men whom he severely judged. In some
instances his plain speech to a superior might
have appeared unnilitary, but it seems never
to have been resented. 1t is not difficult to be-
lieve, however, that General Grant may have
been persuaded that he heard directly only
part Of what General Smith saying and
that his structures did not fall far short OF in
subordination. In any case. a career of notable
achievement did not fulfil its still greater prom
ise and General Smiths devoted friends have
always felt that his confinement within COM
paratively narrow sphere was gravely unfort-
innate for the country.