A man of great purity of character and great singleness of purpose, he took an intense interest in whatever his hand found to do.  He felt a deep and abiding concern in all public and professional questions, and was both a tender and affectionate friend and an unrelenting enemy.  He was a bold and resolute thinker who indulged in no half way measures.  The bolder his plans and the more dangerous his undertakings, the more careful was he in working out the details, and the more attentive was he in supervising their execution.  He left nothing to chance, but provided for every possible contingency with infinite care and yet he was a rapid worker.  Methodical in his habits, untiring in his application and deliberate in his manner, he was always ready, always on time and nearly always successful.

In following him through the trials and vicissitudes of his active life it will be seen that he was one of the most interesting personalities of his day.  He played a bold and distinguished part in the war for the Union, quite out of proportion to the actual command which fell to his lot.  Indeed, it may well be doubted if any other single officer exerted a more potential or beneficial influence than he did upon the plans and operations in which he took part.  While he was austere and reserved in manners, he was most highly esteemed by all with whom he served, and received unstinted praise for his suggestions and assistance, and yet strangely enough he became involved in several notable military controversies, which so enlisted his interest and wounded his pride as to materially change his career and cause him great unhappiness, during the later years of his life.

It may be truly said that he came to know by experience the dangers of frankness and friendly criticism, and that even the most patriotic and unselfish men in these modern times, like those of antiquity “have their ambitions which neither seas nor mountains nor unpeopled deserts can limit;” their egotism and personal interests “which neither victory nor far-reaching fame can suppress;” their secret motives and purposes which “cause them to injure one another when they touch and are close together.”  After all, generals and statesmen are but fallible men, the most magnanimous of whom are watchful of their rivals, and love not those who despitefully use them.  In the vindication of his claims that he has rendered some service to his country, General Smith has made several valuable contributions[1] to current American history, and has in addition left a manuscript volume of personal memoirs upon which I shall draw as occasion offers, and which will doubtless be published in due time.  They were written during the last two years of his life and throw an interesting light, not only upon his own deeds and character, but upon the life and services of his friends and contemporaries.  They are conceived in a kindly and charitable vein which does credit both to his heart and to his understanding.