Enlisted in Co. H, 102nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, on 5 August 1862 at age 33. On 24 September 1864, while the regiment was stationed in garrison at Decatur, AL, Smith was assigned to a detachment sent in relief of Ft. Henderson at nearby Athens, AL, which was under siege by rebel cavalry under the command of CSA Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest. After detraining, the detachment began fighting to gain the fort, and had made good progress, when the fort was unexpectedly surrendered by its commander. Forrest then forced the relief detachment to surrender as well. Smith was sent to Cahaba Prison until exchanged on 22 April 1865. He was killed, while on his way home, by the explosion and fire aboard the steamer Sultana north of Memphis, TN. His body was never identified. Unidentified victims of the disaster were all eventually buried in this cemetery, so this is his likely final resting place.
∼His name along with others is mentioned in the books "The Sultana Tragedy" by Jerry O. Potter & Gene Salecker's "Disaster on the Mississippi".
His wife, Charlotte Lightfoot Smith, filed for a widows pension on 27 June 1865.
∼His name along with others is mentioned in the books "The Sultana Tragedy" by Jerry O. Potter & Gene Salecker's "Disaster on the Mississippi".
His wife, Charlotte Lightfoot Smith, filed for a widows pension on 27 June 1865.
Enlisted in Co. H, 102nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, on 5 August 1862 at age 33. On 24 September 1864, while the regiment was stationed in garrison at Decatur, AL, Smith was assigned to a detachment sent in relief of Ft. Henderson at nearby Athens, AL, which was under siege by rebel cavalry under the command of CSA Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest. After detraining, the detachment began fighting to gain the fort, and had made good progress, when the fort was unexpectedly surrendered by its commander. Forrest then forced the relief detachment to surrender as well. Smith was sent to Cahaba Prison until exchanged on 22 April 1865. He was killed, while on his way home, by the explosion and fire aboard the steamer Sultana north of Memphis, TN. His body was never identified. Unidentified victims of the disaster were all eventually buried in this cemetery, so this is his likely final resting place.
∼His name along with others is mentioned in the books "The Sultana Tragedy" by Jerry O. Potter & Gene Salecker's "Disaster on the Mississippi".
His wife, Charlotte Lightfoot Smith, filed for a widows pension on 27 June 1865.
∼His name along with others is mentioned in the books "The Sultana Tragedy" by Jerry O. Potter & Gene Salecker's "Disaster on the Mississippi".
His wife, Charlotte Lightfoot Smith, filed for a widows pension on 27 June 1865.
Family Members
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
