Benjamin Hodges Smith, Jr.

(1836 - 1920)
Home State: Virginia
Command Billet: Battery Commander
Branch of Service: Artillery
Unit: Richmond Howitzers, 3rd Company

Before the Antietam Campaign:
From Richmond, he enlisted 21 April 1861 as Second Sergeant in the Richmond Howitzers, but was promoted Lieutenant the same day. He was appointed Captain of the Battery in August 1862 on the promotion of Captain Edgar F Moseley (to Major First Virginia Artillery Battalion).

The remainder of the War:
Shortly after the Maryland Campaign, on 16 October, he was wounded near Charlestown (WV) and captured. He was exchanged, but had a foot amputated as a result of the wound. He was in action in command of the Battery at Gettysburg (June-July 1863). In January 1864 he was court martialled, charged with "misbehavior before the enemy" at Gettysburg, but was acquitted. He was again captured in action at Spotsylvania Courthouse on 10 May 1864, imprisoned at Ft. Delaware until paroled on 14 Sept 1864. He briefly commanded the Battalion (Jan-Feb 1865), and was present at the surrender at Appomattox on 9 April 1865.

References, Sources, and other notes:
His life dates from his gravesite listing. Service dates from the roster in Contributions1 and Wallace2, Gettysburg organization in Eicher.

Birth Date: 11/17/1836 Birth State: VA
Death Date: 12/23/1920 Death Place: Augusta, GA Burial Place: Magnolia Cemetery, Augusta, GA

Notes

1 Richmond Howitzer Association, and Carlton McCarthy, editor, Contributions to a History of the Richmond Howitzer Battalion, 4 pamphlets, Richmond: Carlton McCarthy & Co, 1883, pg. 286 [AotW citation 1125]

2 Wallace, Lee A., The Richmond Howitzers, Lynchburg (Va): H.E. Howard, Inc., 1993, pg. 157 [AotW citation 1126]

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