Maj. Gen. William F. Smith
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Born: February 17, 1824
St. Albans, Vermont
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Died: February 28, 1903
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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1845: West Point Graduate
July 1, 1845: Brevet 2nd Lieutenant
July 14, 1849: 2nd Lieutenant
March 3, 1853: 1st Lieutenant
July 1, 1859: Captain
August 13, 1861: Brigadier General
July 4, 1862: Major General (disapproved by the Senate)
March 9, 1864: Major General
Maj. Gen. William F. Smith
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1845: West Point Graduate - 4th of 41 cadets
July 1, 1845: Brevet 2nd Lieutenant and assigned to Topographical Engineers Corps
July 14, 1849: Promoted to 2nd Lieutenant
March 3, 1853: Promoted to 1st Lieutenant
Conducted surveys of the Great Lakes, State of Texas, Arizona and Florida and much of Mexico
While serving in Florida, contracted malaria which affected his health for the rest of his life
1856: Began his involvement in the Lighthouse Service and eventually rose to become the Engineer Secretary of the Lighthouse Board
1846-1848, 1855-1856: Assistant Professor of Mathematics
July 1, 1859: Promoted to Captain
July 21, 1861: 1st Battle of Bull Run - staff of Brig. Gen. Irwin McDowell
August 13, 1861: Appointed Brigadier General after organizing the 1st Vermont Brigade
Appointed Brevet Lieutenant Colonel in Regular Army for gallantry at White Oak Swamp
July 4, 1862: Promoted to Major General
September 17, 1862: Battle of Antietam
December 13, 1862: Battle of Fredericksburg - Commander of VI Corps
Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside wanted to dismiss several of senior officers, but Pres Lincoln prevented the order from taking effect and relieved Burnside from command. Smith was one of the officers, however, by communicating with Pres. Lincoln resulted in losing his command and rank.
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March 4, 1863: His nomination to Major General was not approved by the Senate
Commanded a division sized force within the Department of the Susquehanna during the Gettysburg Campaign
Repelled Maj. Gen. Stuart during a skirmish in Carlisle
October 3, 1863: Chief Engineer of the Army of the Cumberland
Chattanooga Campaign
October 26-30, 1863: Cracker Line Operations
March 9, 1864: Senate approved his nomination to Major General which was heavily endorsed by Lieut. Gen. Grant
Commander of XVIII Corps of the Army of the James
May 26-June 3, 1864: Battle of Cold Harbor
June 15-18, 1864: 2nd Battle of Petersburg
July 19, 1864: Relieved from command and spent remainder of the war on special duty
1865: Resigned from Volunteer Service
1867: Retired from the Army
1864-1873: President of International Telegraph Company
1875-1881: Board of Police Commissioners becoming President of the board in 1877
1881: Civil Engineering work Pennsylvania
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Boatner, Mark M. III. The Civil War Dictionary. New York: David McKay, 1967. p775-776
Warner, Ezra J. Generals in Blue Lives of the Union Commanders. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State, 1964. p 4662-464
William Farrer Smith. 16 November 2022. web. 15 May 2023.
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