In May 1861, Smith was elected as the colonel of a state militiaregiment, the 154th Tennessee, which was soon mustered into the Confederate army. In April 1862, he led his regiment during the Battle of Shiloh in western Tennessee, where he was disabled from a severe wound to his right shoulder, rendering it useless and forcing Smith to turn over command to a subordinate and leave the field. He was unable to resume his command duties until the following month.[1]
On October 27, 1862, Smith received a promotion to brigadier general and was given command of a brigade in the Army of Tennessee.
Death at Chickamaugaedit
During a night attack at Chickamauga, Smith and his staff inadvertently rode into Union lines, where he and two aides were struck down. Smith was shot by a sergeant (Bryson) of the 77th Pennsylvania Infantry, as the general chastised the NCO, mistaking him for one of his own troops[3] His gold watch diverted a bullet that would have entered his heart, but Smith's injury was mortal. He was carried to the rear, where he died within the hour. His body was transported to Atlanta for burial. It was exhumed later and re-interred in Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis.[1]
It was in this night attack that Brig.-Gen. Preston Smith of Tennessee received his mortal wound, from which he died in 50 minutes. At the head of his noble brigade, of which he had been the commander as colonel and brigadier-general for two years and a half, he fell in the performance of what he himself, with his expiring breath, simply said was his duty. Active, energetic and brave, with a rare fitness to command, full of honorable ambition in perfect harmony with the most elevated patriotism, the whole country will mourn his fall and do honor to his memory.[2]
Evans, Clement A., ed. Confederate Military History: A Library of Confederate States History. 12 vols. Volume 8. Porter, J. D. Tennessee. Atlanta: Confederate Publishing Company, 1899. OCLC 833588. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
Heidler, David S., and Heidler, Jeanne T., eds., Encyclopedia of the American Civil War: A Political, Social, and Military History, W. W. Norton & Company, 2000, ISBN0-393-04758-X.
Sifakis, Stewart. Who Was Who in the Civil War. New York: Facts On File, 1988. ISBN978-0-8160-1055-4.
U.S. War Department, The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1880–1901.
Warner, Ezra J.Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1959. ISBN978-0-8071-0823-9.
Welsh, Jack D., Medical Histories of Confederate Generals, Kent State University Press, 1999, ISBN978-0-87338-853-5.
External linksedit
"Preston Smith". Find a Grave. Retrieved 2009-02-26.
February 16, 2024
preston, smith, general, preston, smith, december, 1823, september, 1863, lawyer, soldier, from, state, tennessee, served, general, confederate, states, army, during, american, civil, killed, action, during, night, attack, during, battle, chickamauga, northern. Preston Smith December 25 1823 September 19 1863 was a lawyer and soldier from the state of Tennessee who served as a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War He was killed in action during a night attack during the Battle of Chickamauga in northern Georgia 1 Preston SmithBorn 1823 12 25 December 25 1823Giles County TennesseeDiedSeptember 19 1863 1863 09 19 aged 39 Catoosa County GeorgiaPlace of burialElmwood Cemetery Memphis TennesseeAllegiance Confederate States of AmericaService wbr branch Confederate States ArmyYears of service1861 1863RankBrigadier GeneralCommands heldBrigade in the Army of TennesseeBattles warsAmerican Civil War Battle of Shiloh Battle of Richmond Battle of Perryville Battle of Chickamauga Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Death at Chickamauga 2 See also 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksBiography editPreston Smith was born in Giles County Tennessee After being educated in a country school he attended Jackson College in Columbia Tennessee Smith studied law passed his bar exam and established a practice in Columbia He later moved to Waynesboro Tennessee and finally to Memphis where his practice flourished 2 In May 1861 Smith was elected as the colonel of a state militia regiment the 154th Tennessee which was soon mustered into the Confederate army In April 1862 he led his regiment during the Battle of Shiloh in western Tennessee where he was disabled from a severe wound to his right shoulder rendering it useless and forcing Smith to turn over command to a subordinate and leave the field He was unable to resume his command duties until the following month 1 He returned in time to participate in Braxton Bragg s Kentucky Campaign He commanded a brigade in the division of Patrick Cleburne and temporarily succeeded him in command when Cleburne was wounded during the Battle of Richmond 2 On October 27 1862 Smith received a promotion to brigadier general and was given command of a brigade in the Army of Tennessee Death at Chickamauga edit During a night attack at Chickamauga Smith and his staff inadvertently rode into Union lines where he and two aides were struck down Smith was shot by a sergeant Bryson of the 77th Pennsylvania Infantry as the general chastised the NCO mistaking him for one of his own troops 3 His gold watch diverted a bullet that would have entered his heart but Smith s injury was mortal He was carried to the rear where he died within the hour His body was transported to Atlanta for burial It was exhumed later and re interred in Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis 1 His divisional commander Maj Gen Benjamin F Cheatham reported It was in this night attack that Brig Gen Preston Smith of Tennessee received his mortal wound from which he died in 50 minutes At the head of his noble brigade of which he had been the commander as colonel and brigadier general for two years and a half he fell in the performance of what he himself with his expiring breath simply said was his duty Active energetic and brave with a rare fitness to command full of honorable ambition in perfect harmony with the most elevated patriotism the whole country will mourn his fall and do honor to his memory 2 See also edit nbsp Biography portal nbsp American Civil War portalList of American Civil War generals Confederate Notes edit a b c Welsh p 201 a b c Evans pp 331 32 77th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Original History 77th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Retrieved 2011 09 09 References editEicher John H and David J Eicher Civil War High Commands Stanford Stanford University Press 2001 ISBN 978 0 8047 3641 1 Evans Clement A ed Confederate Military History A Library of Confederate States History 12 vols Volume 8 Porter J D Tennessee Atlanta Confederate Publishing Company 1899 OCLC 833588 Retrieved January 20 2011 Heidler David S and Heidler Jeanne T eds Encyclopedia of the American Civil War A Political Social and Military History W W Norton amp Company 2000 ISBN 0 393 04758 X Sifakis Stewart Who Was Who in the Civil War New York Facts On File 1988 ISBN 978 0 8160 1055 4 U S War Department The War of the Rebellion a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies U S Government Printing Office 1880 1901 Warner Ezra J Generals in Gray Lives of the Confederate Commanders Baton Rouge Louisiana State University Press 1959 ISBN 978 0 8071 0823 9 Welsh Jack D Medical Histories of Confederate Generals Kent State University Press 1999 ISBN 978 0 87338 853 5 External links edit Preston Smith Find a Grave Retrieved 2009 02 26 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Preston Smith general amp oldid 1168168265, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
