{⋆★⋆} GEN Kirby-Smith, Edmund

Edmund Kirby-Smith

:CSA1stNat:
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Born: May 16, 1824

Birthplace: Saint Augustine, Florida

Father: Joseph Lee Smith 1776 – 1846
(Buried: Huguenot Cemetery, St. Augustine, Florida)​

Mother: Frances Kirby 1785 – 1875
(Buried: Huguenot Cemetery, St. Augustine, Florida)​

Wife: Cassie Selden 1837 - 1907
(Buried: University of the South Cemetery, Sewanee, Tennessee)​

Married: September 24, 1861 in Lynchburg, Virginia

Signature:
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Children:

Caroline Selden “Carrie” Kirby-Smith Crolly 1862 – 1941​
(Buried: University of South Cemetery, Sewanee, Tennessee)​
Frances Kirby-Smith Wade 1864 – 1952​
(Buried: Evergreen Cemetery, Los Angeles, California)
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Edmund Kirby-Smith Jr. 1866 – 1938​
(Buried: Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Long Beach, California)​
Rowena Selden “Nina” Kirby-Smith Buck 1870 – 1965​
(Buried: University of the South Cemetery, Sewanee, Tennessee)​
Lydia Kirby-Smith Hale 1871 – 1943​
(Buried: University of the South Cemetery, Sewanee, Tennessee)​
Elizabeth Chaplin Kirby-Smith 1872 – 1917​
(Buried: University of the South Cemetery, Sewanee, Tennessee)​
Dr. Reynold Marvin “RM” Kirby-Smith 1874 – 1962​
(Buried: University of the South Cemetery, Sewanee, Tennessee)​
William Selden Kirby-Smith Sr. 1876 – 1941​
(Buried: Evergreen Cemetery, El Paso, Texas)​
Josephine Kirby-Smith Fayerweather 1878 – 1961
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(Buried: O’ahu Cemetery, Honolulu, Hawaii)​
Dr. Joseph Lee Kirby-Smith 1882 – 1939​
(Buried: Oaklawn Cemetery, Jacksonville, Florida)​
Ephraim Kirby-Smith 1884 – 1940​
(Buried: University of the South Cemetery, Sewanee, Tennessee)​

Education:

1845: Graduated from West Point Military Academy (25th in class)​

Occupation before War:

1845 – 1846: Brevet 2nd Lt. United States Army, 5th Infantry Regiment​
1846 – 1851: 2nd Lt. United States Army, 7th Infantry Regiment​
1849 – 1852: Assistant Mathematics Instructor at West Point​
1851 – 1855: 1st Lt. United States Army, 7th Infantry Regiment​
1855 – 1861: Captain, United States Army, 2nd Cavalry Regiment​
1861: Major, United States Army, 2nd​ Cavalry Regiment​
1861: Resigned from United States Army on April 6th

Civil War Career:
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1861: Major of Confederate States Artillery​
1861: Lt. Colonel of Confederate States Army Cavalry​
1861: Assistant Adjutant General for the Shenandoah Valley​
1861: Brigadier General of Confederate Army Infantry​
1861: Wounded in neck and shoulder during First Battle of Bull Run​
1862: Commander of Department of Middle & East Florida​
1862: Major General of Confederate Army Infantry​
1862: Commander of Army of East Tennessee​
1862: Participated in the Battle of Richmond, Kentucky​
1862 – 1864: Lt. General of Confederate Army Infantry​
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Edmond Kirby-Smith Bronze Statue
Designed by Artist C. Adrian Pillars
Given by the State of Florida in 1922
Capitol Visitor's Center, Washington, DC
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Public Domain Photo
from the
Architect of the Capitol

1863 – 1865: Commander of the Trans – Mississippi Department​
1864 – 1865: General of Confederate Army, Infantry​
1865: June 2, Signed terms of Surrender in Galveston, Texas​
1865: Lived in Mexico and Cuba​
1865: Took Oath of Amnesty at Lynchburg, Virginia​

Occupation after War:

1866 – 1868: President of Atlantic & Pacific Telegraph Company​
1868 – 1870: President of Western Military Institute​
1870 – 1875: President of University of Nashville​
1875 – 1893: Mathematics Professor, University of the South​

Died: March 28, 1893

Place of Death: Sewanee, Tennessee

Cause of Death: Pneumonia

Age at time of Death: 68 years old

Burial Place: University of the South Cemetery, Sewanee, Tennessee

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Enjoy that statue in Washington , there are plans of removing it and that may have already happened.

One of the things that I admired about this general was his not wanting to pay his soldiers with money that would soon decrease in value. Richmond issued money that soldiers "West of the Mississippi" only had several months to turn in before it was very heavily taxed. Kirby Smith had old money stamped and reissued.

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Speaking of names, he was nicknamed Seminole at West Point.

The bio that I've read about him states that he was wounded fighting Indians in the Nescutunga Valley of Texas. I can locate no such valley in Texas. The only place I found with that name is in Kansas.But he was in Texas just before the War as he refused to surrender his command to Ben McCulloch's Forces.

There some generals (around 9 or 10) that even though are considered to be generals were never approved of by Richmond. They were appointed by Kirby Smith as he was pretty much on his own after Vicksburg fell and the control of the Mississippi was lost. The TransMississippi depart was known as "Kirby Smithdom".

Speaking of names, he was nicknamed Seminole at West Point.
I see where he also had the nickname "Ted'', anyone know the details?

In one particular book is listed the 8 Confederate Generals. By Kirby Smith's name is the word "Provisional".

When he passed away in 1893 He was the last remaining full Confederate general.

Kirby Smith took over control of the Trans-Mississippi Department from Theophilus Holmes, who was somewhat pleased when relieved of command. This became a vitual independent nation after the fall of Vicksburg and control of the Mississippi River and was at times referred to as "Kirby Smithdom".

Kirby Smith took over control of the Trans-Mississippi Department from Theophilus Holmes, who was somewhat pleased when relieved of command. This became a vitual independent nation after the fall of Vicksburg and control of the Mississippi River and was at times referred to a"Kirby Smithdom".

An interesting story concernung Kirby Smith. In August of 1865 while Smith was in exile(Mexico or Cuba) , rumor had it that General Beauregard was harboring Smith in his New Orleans home.Federal troops surrounded the house and since no jail was close the inhabitants of Beauregard's house were locked in a cotton press overnight.Beauregard complained to Gen. Phil Sheridan and the matter was taken care of. It is said Sheridan "expressed his annoyance."

I'm using some figures in this post that I have nothing but a memory as their source. Smith supposedly said in Febuary of 1865 that Richmond owed his Department over $50,000,000.00. He could have done a whole lot more had he been properly supplied.And it sounds like Richmond had plans for the Trans-Mississippi Department, $12,000,000.00 in notes and stamps were supposedly sent to Marshall, Texas near the end of the war in anticipation of Jefferson Davis reaching Texas. It had to be by ship. Was it ever sent? And what became of it if it was sent?
 
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I wonder if he and Edmund J Davis had known each other growing up. They were both born in St Augustine Florida a couple years apart; Smiths father was a judge, Davis’ was a lawyer.

E J Davis moved to Texas as a 20 something and by 1860 was a local judge. He opposed secession and had to flee the state. Became a Colonel and then Brigadier General in US army.

When Edmund Kirby Smith agreed to meet in Galveston to sign surrender terms, Edmund J Davis was sent to represent the US. Ive wondered if it was a sort of bittersweet reunion
 
The naming is a weird thing. Edmund Kirby Smith, said to be called "Ted" by his family, began signing with E. Kirby Smith only when the civil war began to differentiate from the many other Smiths (guess it worked). While becoming E. Kirby-Smith over time (though Kirby was the middle name stemming from the maternal family) he was not the original E. Kirby Smith - that had been his older brother Ephraim (1807-1847) who was killed in Mexico. Ephraims son Joseph Lee Kirby Smith (1836-1862) hold a grudge against his uncle Edmund for "stealing the name and linking it with treason"; the younger Kirby Smith, a West Pointer like the others, serving as Colonel of the 43rd Ohio Infantry Regiment when he was mortally wounded at Corinth.
 
He must have liked his mother's maiden name of Kirby, since he generally went by his middle name. He gave it to all of his children as their middle name. A good psychologist or an expert genealogist might have an explanation for this unusual naming convention.
Seems to have been a family thing. Edmund Kirby Smith's brother, Ephraim (mortally wounded in the Battle of Molina del Ray in Mexico) also went by E. Kirby Smith.
 
It has happened, been removed. Tried to get it put in Museum here in Florida. It was set to go and then with the troubles they voted not to accept it. Have no idea what will happen to it now.

Happy Birthday to the General.
I hope all the statues that are being removed nowadays are safely preserved somewhere. I worry that a lot of them will just end up in landfills.
 
An interesting story concernung Kirby Smith. In August of 1865 while Smith was in exile(Mexico or Cuba) , rumor had it that General Beauregard was harboring Smith in his New Orleans home.Federal troops surrounded the house and since no jail was close the inhabitants of Beauregard's house were locked in a cotton press overnight.Beauregard complained to Gen. Phil Sheridan and the matter was taken care of. It is said Sheridan "expressed his annoyance."

http://finding-aids.lib.unc.edu/00404/#folder_70#1
#404 Edmund Kirby Smith Papers
Front cover: Vol 1-1849-1868-Intermittent diary & miscellaneous notes
Folder 77 Volume 5: notebook, June-August 1865
Giving account of trip to Mexico & Cuba mentions other expatriates

6/1 gave Miller $25
6/6 gave Miller $206/gave Willie $50
6/11 [To or Jo] King $40
6/11 gave Col Douglas $200
6/11 gave escort $55.00

Left:
Hempstead 6/15
San Antonio 6/20
Eagle Pass 6/21
Monterey 7/5


6/14 AM left Hempstead by RR for Galveston to give my parole, met Dick Howard & Col Douglas on the return train with Johnson’s amnesty proclamation & finding there was no reason to __ or __gained by giving my parole, at the urgent entreaty of my friends I returned with these gentlemen to Hempstead & made preparations for immediately crossing the Rio Grande frontier into Mexico.

When M..n left me at Galveston, I was determined to seek my parole. I approved Buckner’s surrender on the condition of officers being able to leave the country. This I understood was not allowed & with the President’s amnesty proclamation & the news… [cut off]saw no need to give my parole

6/15 K Smith left Hempstead before daylight, mounted on horseback, I left Kirby’s home in company with Douglas, Burton, Frank King & Loggins. Making a circuit of 30 miles thru the woods to avoid observation & interruption I commenced my tedious journey into exile.

I had abandoned everything leaving only with the clothes on my back, the horse under my saddle, a clear conscious & a light purse to re-___life.

K Smith writes-Willie gave you the news of everything from my flight from Hempstead on 6/15-I arrived safely & without incident at San Antonio. Col Douglas left me on the road & did not overtake me. I waited for him 2 days in San Antonio

6/19 arrived San Antonio-Passing thru Gonzalez & Seguin I arrived safely without attracting observation in San Antonio...

…Found a party organized & ready to leave awaiting my arrival-Gen Hawes, Wilcox, Col Jones, Maj Read, Maj Borland & Judge Devine with myself & Burton comprising the party.

Douglas left at Gonzales, King & Loggins returned home.

Gen Shelby with his party, Gen Price, Gov Allen, Gen Magruder & Gov Murrah with theirs left San Antonio 6/20

According to his biographer, Cadmus Wilcox traveled to New York immediately after Appomattox & there boarded a ship bound for Texas. Wilcox went on to Mexico, where he was photographed in Mexico City with other former CS Gen’ls on Oct 8, 1865, & remained in that country until the following year when he relocated to New Orleans. It is possible that Wilcox attended the 1867 meeting of the Aztec Club at the Astor House. But he could not have been photographed at the same time as Smith.

6/21K Smith writes-Our party left 6/21 overtaking the grand caravan that night-Leaving the main column on the 23rd​, our little party escorted by 6 of Shelby’s officers pushed forward…

Smith says-I left on 6/21 with Gen’ls Wilcox & Hawes, Judge Divine, Col Jones, Maj Read, Maj Borland. Hawes, Jones & the judge left their families in San Antonio. We were well armed & though few in numbers passed through the dangers safely

6/26 crossed the Rio at Eagle Pass & there joined by Governor’s Allen & Moore & 6 La refugees with them. You should have seen me in my riding outfit on a mule in shirt sleeves & a kerchief Tex style, with a revolver & shotgun & all my worldly goods on my person…

6/27 Leaving Pedro’s Negros on 6/27 we were joined by Gov Allen, Gov Moore, Col Dennis, Maj__Capt__Capt __ who travelled with us to Monterey. We were joined by Col Mitchell & Col Wood with their families…I met Preston, Walker, Bee & many others who were detained in Monterey from the dangers of travel on the Matamoras road…

7/5 with Gov Reynolds, Gen Wilcox, Gen King, Col Flournoy & Capt Martin & Mr. Crael

7/28 Arrived Havana on the 28th​-ref to Maj Minter, Capt Beauregard … ref to Benjamin, Helm, & Breckinridge who left for South Hampton

Preston, Walker & Gov Moore arrived by the Vera Cruz steamers on the 7th​. Preston & Walker left for South Hampton on the next day
 
I always liked him as well. The Trans Mississippi Department was a tough and frustrating assignment for anyone.
He has always been one of my "preferred" generals too. I can't really tell you why, maybe cause he was fighting on this end of the Confederacy and his name kept popping up in Texas History.
 
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