Civil War Union Army Officer. He served during the Civil War as Captain and commander of the 4th New York Independent Volunteer Light Artillery battery, having been commissioned it's commander in October 1861. At the July 1863 Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, his battery, consisting of six 10-pound Parrott guns, was posted on ridges above the Devil's Den area, looking over what would be called the "Triangular Field". Here, on the second day of the engagement (July 2, 1863), Captain Smith directed his guns as they fought to repulse the Confederate attack of General James Longstreet's Corps. His position was eventually overrun by run of General Henry L. Benning's Brigade, and three of his artillery pieces were captured by the Confederates (the other guns of the battery were saved by counterattacking Union infantry). The remaining guns were pulled back, and eventually sent to the rear. Captain Smith's battery lost 2 men killed, and 11 horses as it expended 240 artillery rounds. Today, his name is inscribed on the 4th New York Battery Monument, located in Sickles Avenue, above Devil's Den, in the Gettysburg National Military Park. In 1892 he published a history of his battery titled "A Famous Battery and its Campaigns 1861-1864, Fourth New Independent Battery".
Civil War Union Army Officer. He served during the Civil War as Captain and commander of the 4th New York Independent Volunteer Light Artillery battery, having been commissioned it's commander in October 1861. At the July 1863 Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, his battery, consisting of six 10-pound Parrott guns, was posted on ridges above the Devil's Den area, looking over what would be called the "Triangular Field". Here, on the second day of the engagement (July 2, 1863), Captain Smith directed his guns as they fought to repulse the Confederate attack of General James Longstreet's Corps. His position was eventually overrun by run of General Henry L. Benning's Brigade, and three of his artillery pieces were captured by the Confederates (the other guns of the battery were saved by counterattacking Union infantry). The remaining guns were pulled back, and eventually sent to the rear. Captain Smith's battery lost 2 men killed, and 11 horses as it expended 240 artillery rounds. Today, his name is inscribed on the 4th New York Battery Monument, located in Sickles Avenue, above Devil's Den, in the Gettysburg National Military Park. In 1892 he published a history of his battery titled "A Famous Battery and its Campaigns 1861-1864, Fourth New Independent Battery".
Bio by: RPD2
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