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Charles Ferguson Smith
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Charles Ferguson Smith
Charles Ferguson Smith (April 24, 1807 – April 25, 1862) was an American military officer who served in the United States Army during the Mexican–American War and the Utah War. He served as a Union Army major general during the American Civil War.
He served as commandant of cadets of the United States Military Academy from 1838 to 1843. During the American Civil War, he served in the Army of the Tennessee under Ulysses S. Grant, who was a student of his at the military academy. Smith was instrumental in Grant's victory at the Battle of Fort Donelson but died in April 1862 due to infection of a non-combat leg injury and subsequent dysentery.
Smith was born on April 24, 1807, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Samuel B. Smith and Margaret Ferguson. His paternal grandfather was the Presbyterian church minister John Blair Smith. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1825.
He was commissioned second lieutenant and assigned to the 2nd U.S. Artillery at Fort Delaware and then at the Augusta Arsenal from 1827 to 1829. He returned to the military academy in 1829 and served on the faculty as an instructor of tactics under Ethan A. Hitchcock. He was appointed Commandant of Cadets (second in authority to the academy superintendent) and promoted to first lieutenant. He served in that position from 1838 to 1842.
He distinguished himself as an artillery battalion commander in the Mexican–American War and served under both Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott at the Battle of Palo Alto, the Battle of Resaca de la Palma, the Battle of Monterrey, and the Battle of Churubusco. He received brevet promotions from major through colonel for his service in these battles and at the end of the war was a lieutenant colonel in the Regular Army of the United States. He commanded the police guard in Mexico City from the end of the war to 1848. He was an original member of the Aztec Club of 1847.
He commanded the Red River Expedition (1856) from 1856 to 1857, and served under Albert Sidney Johnston in Utah from 1857 to 1860. He commanded the Army's Department of Utah in the Utah Territory, from 1860 to 1861.
After the outbreak of the American Civil war, Smith briefly led the Department of Washington at Fort Washington, Maryland, through 1861, and served on recruiting duty in New York City. On August 31, 1861, he was commissioned a brigadier general of volunteers and on September 9, 1861, as colonel of the 3rd Regular U.S. Army Infantry. He was transferred to the Western Theater and given command of the Western District of Kentucky. He served as a division commander in the Department of the Missouri under newly recommissioned Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant, who had been one of his pupils decades before at West Point. This potentially awkward situation was eased by Smith's loyalty to his young chief.
Smith led his division in the attack on the Confederate right flank at the Battle of Fort Donelson. His units fought until nightfall and pushed back the 30th Tennessee Infantry. His troops held the captured terrain which soon forced the Confederate defenders to surrender. When the Southern forces sent a request to discuss terms of surrender, General Smith was quoted as saying "no terms to the damn rebels", advice that Grant softened to, "No terms except unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted", which made him known throughout the Northern newspapers as U.S. "Unconditional Surrender" Grant.
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Charles Ferguson Smith
Charles Ferguson Smith (April 24, 1807 – April 25, 1862) was an American military officer who served in the United States Army during the Mexican–American War and the Utah War. He served as a Union Army major general during the American Civil War.
He served as commandant of cadets of the United States Military Academy from 1838 to 1843. During the American Civil War, he served in the Army of the Tennessee under Ulysses S. Grant, who was a student of his at the military academy. Smith was instrumental in Grant's victory at the Battle of Fort Donelson but died in April 1862 due to infection of a non-combat leg injury and subsequent dysentery.
Smith was born on April 24, 1807, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Samuel B. Smith and Margaret Ferguson. His paternal grandfather was the Presbyterian church minister John Blair Smith. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1825.
He was commissioned second lieutenant and assigned to the 2nd U.S. Artillery at Fort Delaware and then at the Augusta Arsenal from 1827 to 1829. He returned to the military academy in 1829 and served on the faculty as an instructor of tactics under Ethan A. Hitchcock. He was appointed Commandant of Cadets (second in authority to the academy superintendent) and promoted to first lieutenant. He served in that position from 1838 to 1842.
He distinguished himself as an artillery battalion commander in the Mexican–American War and served under both Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott at the Battle of Palo Alto, the Battle of Resaca de la Palma, the Battle of Monterrey, and the Battle of Churubusco. He received brevet promotions from major through colonel for his service in these battles and at the end of the war was a lieutenant colonel in the Regular Army of the United States. He commanded the police guard in Mexico City from the end of the war to 1848. He was an original member of the Aztec Club of 1847.
He commanded the Red River Expedition (1856) from 1856 to 1857, and served under Albert Sidney Johnston in Utah from 1857 to 1860. He commanded the Army's Department of Utah in the Utah Territory, from 1860 to 1861.
After the outbreak of the American Civil war, Smith briefly led the Department of Washington at Fort Washington, Maryland, through 1861, and served on recruiting duty in New York City. On August 31, 1861, he was commissioned a brigadier general of volunteers and on September 9, 1861, as colonel of the 3rd Regular U.S. Army Infantry. He was transferred to the Western Theater and given command of the Western District of Kentucky. He served as a division commander in the Department of the Missouri under newly recommissioned Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant, who had been one of his pupils decades before at West Point. This potentially awkward situation was eased by Smith's loyalty to his young chief.
Smith led his division in the attack on the Confederate right flank at the Battle of Fort Donelson. His units fought until nightfall and pushed back the 30th Tennessee Infantry. His troops held the captured terrain which soon forced the Confederate defenders to surrender. When the Southern forces sent a request to discuss terms of surrender, General Smith was quoted as saying "no terms to the damn rebels", advice that Grant softened to, "No terms except unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted", which made him known throughout the Northern newspapers as U.S. "Unconditional Surrender" Grant.
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