A Savage Cowardly Attack on a Surrendered Confederate General

[formerYank]

As union forces were overrunning the entire confederate line on the 2nd day at Nashville, Thomas Benton Smith, young Brigadier General, was ordered to hold the prominence later known as Shy's Hill at all hazards. Attacking in overwhelming numbers against the hill at the far left of the Confederate line where the guns were improperly placed so that they could not be correctly lowered to hit the attackers, the position was quickly overrun and hand to hand fighting ensued. Smith was in command at this position. He held til the last moment, then surrendered with a white handkerchief. As he was being led to the rear he was accosted by a union officer who some say was insane, some say was overwhelmed with the emotion of battle, others say was just plain drunk. Smith said, "Sir, I am a surrendered prisoner of war." This enraged the union officer and he proceeded to strike Smith on the head again and again with his sabre until other union soldiers stopped the attack. Smith was grievously wounded. The doctor treating him said, "Sir, you have seen your last battle as I can see your brain through the broken bones." But Smith survived. Unfortunately, he would never recover. He soon after the war ended up at the Tennessee Home for the Insane in Nashville. He died there many years later, never having recovered from this vicious sabre attack that occured after he had surrendered.

So, the question for the board is this: Who was this cowardly union officer who assaulted Smith, and was he ever punished for this crime?

Thank you.
FY

[trice]

Originally Posted by formerYank

As union forces were overrunning the entire confederate line on the 2nd day at Nashville, Thomas Benton Smith, young Brigadier General, was ordered to hold the prominence later known as Shy's Hill at all hazards. Attacking in overwhelming numbers against the hill at the far left of the Confederate line where the guns were improperly placed so that they could not be correctly lowered to hit the attackers, the position was quickly overrun and hand to hand fighting ensued. Smith was in command at this position. He held til the last moment, then surrendered with a white handkerchief. As he was being led to the rear he was accosted by a union officer who some say was insane, some say was overwhelmed with the emotion of battle, others say was just plain drunk. Smith said, "Sir, I am a surrendered prisoner of war." This enraged the union officer and he proceeded to strike Smith on the head again and again with his sabre until other union soldiers stopped the attack. Smith was grievously wounded. The doctor treating him said, "Sir, you have seen your last battle as I can see your brain through the broken bones." But Smith survived. Unfortunately, he would never recover. He soon after the war ended up at the Tennessee Home for the Insane in Nashville. He died there many years later, never having recovered from this vicious sabre attack that occured after he had surrendered.

So, the question for the board is this: Who was this cowardly union officer who assaulted Smith, and was he ever punished for this crime?

Thank you.
FY

I have seen it said to have been Col. William Linn McMillan of Ohio, commanding the 1st Brigade of McArthur's division. One account says Smith was struck three times, and the accounts I have seen repeat the doctor's words above. Smith did manage to recover enough physically to do some railroad work after the war, but went into the asylum about 10 or 11 years later and remained there until his death in 1923 (except for some trips to veterans reunions apparently.)

Regards,
Tim

[Susan Sweet]

Ohio Col. William Linn McMillan, commander of a portion of the victorious federal troops. McMillan was an alcoholic who had nearly been cashiered from the service for misconduct, and at the moment he confronted Genl. Smith he may have been drunk, or perhaps simply flushed with adrenaline and "temporarily insane" from the intensity of battle.

[johan_steele]

It was Union troops that stopped the attack, IIRC a Sgt Major in the lead who pretty sharply shamed the man. I've read the MacArthur reprimanded the man but have never seen a direct reference to the reprimand.

[ole]

The attack was certainly not the action of an officer and gentleman which Col. McMillan apparently was not--if it was McMillan.

A devilish thought occurred to me while reading the accounts: the implication is that the attack was the direct cause of General Smith's subsequent sojourn at Happy Acres; can any medico make that connection?

ole

[trice]

Originally Posted by ole

The attack was certainly not the action of an officer and gentleman which Col. McMillan apparently was not--if it was McMillan.

A devilish thought occurred to me while reading the accounts: the implication is that the attack was the direct cause of General Smith's subsequent sojourn at Happy Acres; can any medico make that connection?

I don't know, but from the description it seems like a good possibility, whether physical or psychological. Apparently he was struck in the head three times with the sword, cracking his skull so that the doctor who examined him could see his brain oozing through the cracks. (Obviously not light blows, and probably not administered with a "cake-cutter", but a heavier sword.) The Union soldiers were amazed he survived at all, but his physical health returned and he was able to work and function to some extent after the war for a few years. By 1876 he had been committed, and remained in the institution until 1923, when he passed away.

Regards,
Tim