William Duncan Smith
| William Duncan Smith | |
|---|---|
William Duncan Smith
|
|
| Born |
July 28, 1825 Augusta, Georgia |
| Died | October 4, 1862 (aged 37) Charleston, South Carolina |
| Place of burial | City Cemetery, Augusta |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America Confederate States of America
|
| Years of service | 1842–61 (USA) 1861–62 (CSA) |
| Rank |
 Captain (USA) Brigadier General (CSA)
|
| Battles/wars | |
Mexican–American War
American Civil War
William Duncan Smith (July 28, 1825 – October 4, 1862) was a career United States Army officer who fought in the Mexican–American War. Later he served as a Confederate general during the American Civil War, and he died in the second year of the war from the disease yellow fever.
Smith was born in Augusta, Georgia, in 1825. He entered the United States Military Academy in West Point in July 1842, and graduated four years later, standing 35th out of 59 cadets. He was appointed a brevet second lieutenant in the 2nd U.S. Dragoons, and was promoted to second lieutenant on August 18, 1847.
Smith served during the Mexican–American War, and was wounded in the Battle of Molino del Rey on September 8, 1847, one of the conflict's bloodiest engagements. After the war with Mexico ended he was promoted to first lieutenant on August 18, 1851. His final promotion in the U.S. Army came on June 4, 1858, to the rank of captain. He was in Europe on a leave of absence from the Army from 1859 to 1861.
Choosing to follow his home state and the Confederate cause, Smith resigned his U.S. commission on January 28, 1861. He entered service in the Confederate States Army on March 16 as a captain in the cavalry, but transferred to the infantry that same day, also with a promotion to major. Shortly afterward he was assigned to the 1st Georgia Regular Infantry Regiment.
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