SMITH, Thomas Kilby

Affiliation:  Union

Born: September 23, 1820, Boston MA

Died: December 14, 1887, New York City NY

Pre-War Profession: In 1853 was appointed by President Franklin Pierce as the special agent in the Post Office Department at Washington, D.C., and later United States Marshal for the Southern District of Ohio and deputy clerk of Hamilton County.

War Service: Smith entered Army on September 9, 1861, as a lieutenant colonel. Later was commissioned as colonel of the 54th Ohio Infantry. In February 1862, Smith and his men were ordered to Paducah, Kentucky, where they joined the division of Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman. He was commissioned as a brigadier general of volunteers on August 11, 1863. Smith was assigned on March 7, 1864, to the command of the detached division of the XVII Army Corps and rendered distinguished service during the Red River Expedition.

Post War: Appointed States Consul at Panama. He inventoried Julius H. Kroehl's personal belongings (the first successful deep diving submarine).