Teacher of Civil War Generals: Major General Charles Ferguson Smith, Soldier and West Point Commandant

by Allen H. Mesch

From West Point to Fort Donelson, General Charles Ferguson Smith was a soldier's soldier. He served at the U.S. Military Academy from 1829 to 1842 as Instructor of Tactics, Adjutant to the Superintendent and Commandant of Cadets. During his 42-year career he was a teacher, mentor and role model for many cadets who became prominent Civil War generals, and he was admired by such former students as Grant, Halleck, Longstreet and Sherman. Smith set an example for junior officers in the Mexican War, leading his light battalion to victories and earning three field promotions. He served with Albert Sidney Johnston and other future Confederate officers in the Mormon War. He mentored Grant while serving with him during the Civil War, and helped turn the tide at Fort Donelson, which led to Grant's rise to fame. He attained the rank of major general, while refusing political favors and ignoring the press. Drawing on never before published letters and journals, this long overdue biography reveals Smith as a faithful officer, excellent disciplinarian, able commander and modest gentleman.

Genres: Civil War

344 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2015

Reviews

[Sean Chick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great biography that is well written and researched. Smith is worth it too, for although he only fought in one Civil War battle (Fort Donelson) it was an important one. In addition, he played a large role in the development of West Point and fought in nearly every major battle of the Mexican War. In addition, the book sheds light on his personality. He was strict but also a surprisingly gifted writer. Smith though did not understand people. He as a soldier in a strict sense. As such he was not trusted by the Republicans because he refused to denounce friends who went Confederate. As to Grant he saw him as modest and unpolitical, but Grant was anything but. Modest and unpolitical men do not try to get elected president a third time thereby beating Washington.

Smith ruffled a lot of feathers, but he had the trust of Halleck and Grant and I think if he was in good health he would have replaced Grant after Shiloh. From there, who knows how things would have went.

[Dora Ashby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book overall, though some parts were uninteresting. Smith’s impact on the Civil War cannot be understated as he was West Point’s commandant when several generals, including Grant, his future commander, were cadets. I didn’t realize the sheer breadth of Smith’s illustrious career until I read this biography. Unfortunately,
this stands as the only scholarly examination of the life of one of the Army’s most faithful soldiers.