Gustavus W. Smith

[Sheltowee]

Any students of GW Smith out there? Honestly, I know very little about him- and would have little interest if he were not from my hometown.
Seems he had solid service in the Mexican War, but a complete flameout in the CW.

I'm curious about his "mental breakdown" after Seven Pines. Do we know if he suffered from mental illness?

Are there any biographies on Smith? He's an enigma to me- just trying to connect some dots.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Gustavus Smith was a West Point graduate who served capably enough as a junior officer in the U.S. Army during the Mexican-American War. He was later promoted to First Lieutenant in 1853, but resigned his commission the following year.

At the start of the Civil War, Smith somehow managed to gain an entry appointment (on September 19, 1861) as a M-G in the Confederate Army.

At Seven Pines on May 31, 1862, Smith was Johnston's second in command (and senior to Longstreet). When Johnston was wounded, Smith was briefly appointed that evening to command of the Army of Northern Virginia. When Davis and Lee met with Smith to discuss the new Army commander's battle plan during the same night, Smith created such an unfavorable impression that Davis replaced him with Lee around noon the next day. On June 2, Smith became ill and took leave.

Some sense of Smith's failed mental state at this time can be gleaned from Major and Assistant-Adjutant General Jasper Whiting's correspondence, dated June 2, to Lee, which states:

…"I regret to inform you that General Smith finds himself utterly unable to endure the mental excitement incident to his actual presence with the army. Nothing but duty under fire could possibly keep him up, and there is a danger of his entire prostration. He goes to town to-day to gain a few days' respite. All business and all exciting questions must be kept from him for awhile……….

Since writing the above I have again seen the general, and am pained to learn that partial paralysis had already commenced. The case is critical and the danger imminent."…

('OR': Series 1, Vol. XI, Part III, at pp 685-86)

When Davis wanted to know afterwards whether Smith was recovered sufficiently to take on another role, on July 18 Smith wrote to Johnston the following correspondence which is also revealing of his condition:

…" 'My health is not yet sufficiently restored to enable me to return to duty'……I came off on a three weeks' leave.

I am improving, but do not get straight in brain and nerves as I hoped – in fact, in these respects have improved very little – but my general health is already quite good,"…

('OR' : Series 1, Vol. LI, Part II, at pp 593-94)

In his published recollections, 'Fighting for the Confederacy, the astute observer E. P. Alexander (a good friend of Smith) wrote at page 88 about Smith at this time:

…"Smith was a martyr to physical ailments which greatly reduced his energy, &, especially made riding almost impossible."…

To me, these correspondences and comments clearly indicate that Smith did not have the mental constitution (nervous disposition) to undertake/handle the responsibilities of high command of the Army. In this role, he became paralysed and indecisive in his thinking. (He was not the only Army commander, however, to experience such a diminished mental state in battle during the war).

It would seem that Smith displayed the symptoms of a severe nervous breakdown and perhaps an ongoing inability to cope (as an Army commander) with the stressors of the battlefield and demands of leadership. That is, the enormity of these responsibilities and pressures overwhelmed him to such an extent, that he couldn't cope. This finding is consistent with comments by Stephen Sears in 'To the Gates of Richmond', where at page 155 he says , …"On June 2, the day after giving up command of the army, Smith suffered what later generations would describe as a nervous breakdown."….

After witnessing Smith's behavior and lack of effectiveness at Seven Pines, Lee resolved that Smith would never again get another field command in the Army of Northern Virginia. As a result, Smith was assigned to various local defense or administrative duties for the remainder of the war (it is during this period that he also resigned his commission as a M-G in the Confederate Army). Think Lee exercised sound judgement here in recognizing Smith's enduring (not temporary) inability to function in stressful battlefield conditions by permanently removing Smith from any future battlefield commands.

 

[danny]

6/2/62 AAG Whiting to Gen Lee-I regret to inform you that Gen Smith finds himself utterly unable to endure the mental excitement incident to his actual presence with the army. Nothing but duty under fire could possibly keep him up, & there is danger of his entire prostration. He goes to town today to gain a few days' respite. All business & all exciting questions must be kept from him for a while. Major Melton will accompany him to prevent, while it is necessary, all such intrusion.
Since writing the above I have again seen the Gen & am pained to learn that partial paralysis has already commenced. The case is critical & the danger imminent...

July 62 Smith writes: The President informed me that he had told a distinguished gentleman from SC that he would order me to Charleston to command the Dept of SC & Ga in July last if my health would permit. I was consulted on the state of my health alone. That subject was referred to the Medical Director of my command. He decided that the state of my health would not justify my attempting to take that command at that time.

Smith, Gustavus W., Maj Gen., acting Secretary of War from November 17 to 20, 1862.


2/7/63 Gen Smith resigns his commission
"The day that Gen Smith tendered his resignation as Maj-Gen, he offered his services to Gen Beauregard, as a volunteer in the defense of Charleston, & they were accepted.

2/17 Smith's resignation accepted

Gen Smith's letter of resignation, dated 2/7/63, was endorsed by the President as follows:
"Sec of War—If the alternative of resignation or appointment as Lt-Gen be presented as a claim founded on former relative rank as a Maj-Gen it will only be proper to accept the resignation, as to admit the claim would be in derogation of the legal power of the Executive & in disregard of the consideration due to services rendered in battle & campaign. Jefferson Davis."

3/13/63 G W Smith to Kirby Smith---My Dear Ned-Understanding that you are assigned to command in Ark as well as in La & Tex, & knowing that you will have need of the services of all the first-class men you can get I recommend to your most favorable consideration my friend Jilson P. Johnson of Ark, formerly of Ky. He is a man of the highest character, great ability, indomitable energy, thoroughly acquainted with everything in Ark, & has great influence in the state. He will be eminently useful to you in any capacity or position upon the staff. He is now volunteer aid to Gen Breckinridge, but desires to have a commission & would like to serve in his own state. I have reason to believe that an application from you would secure for him any appointment in the staff you would ask.
I was crowded to the wall, & was compelled to retire, the only alternative being to resign, or make war upon the President. Of course, the latter could not be done at this time. & I resigned. Wishing you every sincere & good fortune, I remain as ever. Your friend G.W. Smith





Gustavus Woodson Smith papers
University of Georgia
Special Collections Libraries



https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/16849\
Confederate war papers: Fairfax Court House, New Orleans, Seven Pines, Richmond and North Carolina / by Gustavus W. Smith

 

[Sheltowee]

Excellent insight and responses. Thank you.
I can only surmise that his post-war endeavors of iron manufacturer and State insurance commissioner caused him no relapse. Seems to have been able to manage a comfortable career.

 

[bdtex]

I do know that he's buried at Cedar Grove Cemetery in New London, Connecticut. I visited there in June 2017.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Excellent insight and responses. Thank you.
I can only surmise that his post-war endeavors of iron manufacturer and State insurance commissioner caused him no relapse. Seems to have been able to manage a comfortable career.

Agree. Think that Smith just couldn't mentally manage/handle the stressors and pressures associated with battlefield high command. He seems to have functioned normally in other kinds of environments though.

There were other Army leaders who experienced mental breakdowns during battles too. Can recall Rosecrans at Chickamauga and Bragg at various times having temporary states of mental paralysis at crucial times. Suspect, however, that Smith's mental incapacities for combat command might have been more permanent.

 

[David Moore]

Agree. Think that Smith just couldn't mentally manage/handle the stressors and pressures associated with battlefield high command. He seems to have functioned normally in other kinds of environments though.

There were other Army leaders who experienced mental breakdowns during battles too. Can recall Rosecrans at Chickamauga and Bragg at various times having temporary states of mental paralysis at crucial times. Suspect, however, that Smith's mental incapacities for combat command might have been more permanent.

It's safe to assume you have no actual evidence of Rosecrans having " mental paralysis" at Chickamauga?

 

[major bill]

G.W. Smith is not a Confederate general we hear much about. Had he not been promoted to major general so soon he might have developed over time in to a reasonable good officer. It is possible he was simply overwhelmed with the responsibility of such a high office.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

It's safe to assume you have no actual evidence of Rosecrans having " mental paralysis" at Chickamauga?

In relation to Rosecrans at Chickamauga.

With the Confederate breakthrough on September 20, most of the Union Army was in full flight. However, Thomas gathered an ad hoc force to mount a steadfast defense and delayed his withdrawal until later that night.

In 'This Terrible Sound', Peter Cozzens conveniently summarized (at page 520) Rosecran's own personal mental state at this time by saying, …"Rosecrans was in no condition to offer Thomas any help,"…

During the evening, one of Thomas's Division commanders, Negley, sent a mounted Captain Alfred Hough, 19th​ US Infantry, to find Rosecrans at Chattanooga, to obtain his instructions. Hough managed to make contact with Rosecrans around midnight but was unable to receive any orders from the commanding general. In Hough's published letters, 'Soldier in the West; The Civil War Letters of Alfred Lacey Hough', Hough recorded (at pp 150-51) his impressions/observations upon meeting Rosecrans at these critical moments:

…"He looked worn and exhausted and was laboring under excitement, he heard my statement but in doing so showed the want of one requisite of a great military commander, firmness and self reliance under adverse circumstances. He was evidently crushed under the weight of his disaster; skillful, energetic, and brave, his nervous temperament overbalanced all and exposed his one weakness."…

In a footnote (at page 151), Hough's son, a judge, provided a further account of what he heard from his father upon meeting Rosecrans on that same evening,

…"I discovered him crying, despairing, and even seeking spiritual comfort from the priest (Father Treacy) who was his confessor and formed part of his bodyguard. Orders from the Commander, there were none."…

From these descriptions, one interpretation that could be argued is that Rosecran's mind (during this brief period) was unable to function - he was experiencing a temporary mental breakdown. He was overwhelmed by the situation. His state of mind was such, that his thinking became disordered and he was incapable of making any high command decision.

 

[SgtDarby8OVI]

Excellent insight and responses. Thank you.
I can only surmise that his post-war endeavors of iron manufacturer and State insurance commissioner caused him no relapse. Seems to have been able to manage a comfortable career.

For a scholarly biography, see Leonne Hudson, The Odyssey of a Southerner: The Life and Times of Gustavus Woodson Smith (Mercer University Press, 1998).

 

[Sheltowee]

For a scholarly biography, see Leonne Hudson, The Odyssey of a Southerner: The Life and Times of Gustavus Woodson Smith (Mercer University Press, 1998).

Thank you

 

[SgtDarby8OVI]

His Mexican War journals are edited and published by Kent State Press as Company A Corps of Engineers 1846-1848 in the Mexican War. Smith is author, Hudson editor. I use it sometimes in my early US history class.

Company “A” Corps of Engineers, U.S.A., 1846–1848, in the Mexican War, by Gustavus Woodson Smith - The Kent State University Press

www.kentstateuniversitypress.com