Thomas C. H. Smith

Thomas Church Haskill Smith, or Thomas C. H. Smith, (1819-1897) was a lawyer and businessman, during the American Civil War a Brigadier General in the Union Army and later a Major and paymaster in the U. S. Army.

Born in Acushnet, Massachusetts, in 1819, Thomas Church Haskill Smith graduated from Harvard in 1841 and went to Marietta, Ohio and took up the study of law. He completed his law course and practiced in Cincinnati until 1848. On October 11, 1847, he married Lucy Woodbridge, of Marietta and they later had 2 daughters. In 1848 he became involved in a business venture that completed a telegraph line from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati, and another line from Sandusky, Ohio, to New Orleans. In 1851 he again returned to the practice of law, this time in Cincinnati.

Thomas C. H. Smith was enrolled as lieutenant-colonel First Ohio Cavalry September 1, 1861. He served with the First Ohio Cavalry in the fall of 1861 and through the winter of 1862 in Kentucky, and participated with his regiment in the siege of Corinth after the battle of Pittsburg Landing and until June, 1862. During his service with the regiment he was mentioned in special orders by General Buell for bravery and military ability while in command of a detachment of the First Ohio in a fight at Booneville, Mississippi, in June, 1862.

He was then promoted to Brigadier-General, to date from November 29, 1862, and was transferred to the staff of General Pope, and served with General Pope during his campaign, while in command of the Army of the Potomac in the summer of 1862 and was at the 2nd Battle of Manassas. Following that battle he was a witness against the accused at the courtmartial of General Fitz John Porter.

He was promoted colonel January 1, 1863, and honorably discharged April 27, 1863, by reason of appointment as brigadier-general, United States Volunteers. He was appointed brigadier-general, United States Volunteers, March 16, 1863, to rank from November 29, 1862. Afterwards he accompanied General Pope to Minnesota served on the staff in the Department of the Northwest. In 1863 he commanded the District of Wisconsin where he was cited for his work in subduing the resistance to the draft. His last command was as head of the Department of Missouri of the Military Division of the Missouri again under the command of Major General John Pope. He served as brigadier-general until January 15, 1866, when he was honorably discharged.

During Hayes' administration he served in the Treasury Department in 1878 and on April 17, 1878, was appointed Paymaster and Major in the regular army. He was retired from the army in March 24, 1883, at the age of sixty-four, and resided in California until he died. He died at Nordhoff, California, April 8, 1897.