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J.J. Smith

J.J. Smith

Federal (USV)

Lieutenant

James J. Smith

(c. 1835 - ?)

Home State: New York

Command Billet: Regimental Adjutant

Branch of Service: Infantry

Unit: 69th New York Infantry

Before Antietam

Age 26, he served as First Lieutenant, Company C, 69th NY State Militia from 20 April to 3 August 1861. He then enrolled at New York City to serve three years, and mustered in as First Lieutenant and Adjutant, 69th New York Infantry on 8 November 1861.

On the Campaign

He was with his Regiment in action at Antietam on 17 September 1862.

The rest of the War

He was absent, on recruiting duty, for the battle of Fredericksburg in December 1862, but otherwise with the regiment in every action. He succeeded to command of the regiment at Gettysburg in July 1863, as senior officer present. He was wounded in action at Ream's Station, VA, on 25 August 1864, and mustered out 9 November 1864 near Petersburg, VA. He again mustered, as Lieutenant Colonel, on 15 February 1865 (rank to date from 1 January). He commanded the regiment to the end of the War, was honored by brevet to Colonel on 9 April 1865, and mustered out with them 30 June 1865 at Alexandria, VA.

References & notes

Service information from the State of New York1 and Conyngham.2 His role at Antietam from Major James Cavanagh's Official Report. His brevet award from the Register.3 His picture from an 1865 group portrait of the officers of the 69th, original at the Library of Congress; thanks to Joseph Maghe for his help identifying Smith.

Birth

c. 1835; County Monaghan, IRELAND

Notes

1   State of New York, Adjutant-General, Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of New York [year]: Registers of the [units], 43 Volumes, Albany: James B. Lyon, State Printer, 1893-1905, For the Year 1901, Ser. No. 28, pg. 324  [AotW citation 18230]

2   Conyngham, David Power, The Irish Brigade and Its Campaigns, New York: William McSorley & Co., 1867, pg. 549  [AotW citation 18231]

3   US Army, Adjutant General, Official Army Register of the Volunteer Forces, U. S. Army, 8 vols., Washington, DC: Adjutant General's Office, 1867, Vol. 2, pg. 532  [AotW citation 18232]