From 1848 to 1854 General Smith was natively employed on various government works of internal improvement and defence in Georgia, Florida and Texas; and was subsequently stationed in Washington city, where he remained on duty, with the exception of a brief interval, until the organisation of the Southern Confederacy.
He resigned his commission in the United States army in March, 1861 tendered his services without delay to President Davis, from whom he received the appointment of Major of Engineers, and was ordered to report for duty at New Orleans, where he planned and completed the series of works enveloping that city, designed to defend it against an attack by land. Two small batteries, a portion of those works, mounting about as many guns as the enemy vessels, successfully disputed, for a time, at Chalmette, under his command, advance of the enemy's fleet, after it had passed forts Jackson sad St. Philip, and were only abandoned after the last round of ammunition had been expended.
In April, 1862, he was commissioned brigadier-general, and early in May was ordered with his brigade to Vicksburg by General Lovell, then in command of that department, and directed to defend the city. Upon his arrival at Vicksburg, the 9th of May, 1862, he found only three small batteries erected and a fourth begun, which he completed, and with great energy proceeded to construct other more formidable works before the approach of the enemy, then known to have passed Baton Rouge with a powerful fleet. The armed force then under his command did not exceed 4,000 men, the most of them undisciplined troops that had just been mustered into service
Notwithstanding the prolonged siege of Vicksburg and the length of time occupied by the enemy in shelling the place, the 28th of June was the day on which the decisive battle was fought. At four o'clock in the morning of that day, the enemy concentrated his entire force, numbering about three hundred guns of heavy calibre, and moving boldly up in front of the city, engaged our batteries at very short range Then one of the most terrific bombardments on record began and continued with unabated fury for three hours, during which time our batteries replied with a tornado of iron hail, dealing death and destruction to the foe, and finally succeeded in driving the whole fleet out of range of our fire; thus gaining a brilliant victory for our arms, dispelling the charm which, in the minds of many, had so long attached to the Yankee navy, and disproving the boasted invincibility of their iron-clads.
Foiled, and smarting under the defeat and repulse of their "Armada," it was supposed that a land attack would next be attempted by the enemy. This claimed at once the attention of General Smith, and prompt and decisive efforts were directed to meet it; but the timely arrival just then of General Breckinridge, with re-inforcements, dispelled all further apprehension, and from that moment the siege of Vicksburg was considered virtually raised.
No combined attack by the enemy was again made to reduce this stronghold, and at the expiration of thirty days both the upper and lower fleets withdrew.
Relieved of the presence of the enemy on his front, and remaining still in
