Person:Marshall Smith (10)

MOBILE REGISTER 21 Jun 1905

DEATH OF COLONEL MARSHALL J SMITH

The New Orleans Times Picayune of Monday records the death of Colonel Marshall J Smith, who died Sunday morning, after an illness of ten days. The Picayune speaks of him not only a valued citizen and business man, but his career as a soldier, his record as an officer in the United States navy, and later on, as a commander in the Confederate army, entitled him to a high place in the annals of his country. He was a veteran of the Mexican war and of the civil war and his deeds while in active service in both contests have been written on the brightest pages of history.

Colonel Smith came to this city, from Mobile, fifty years ago and ever since he so conducted himself as to merit the esteem and confidence of all whom he had occasion to meet, whether in social or business associations. He was a successful merchant here long before the civil war and, after having served the Confederacy throughout the four years of strife, he came back to this city and engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1872, when he went into the insurance agency and built up a prosperous business to the day of his death. Though nearly eighty years of age, Colonel Smith was hale and hearty until the final stroke of paralysis overtook him last week.

Colonel Marshall J Smith's family in this country dates back to the year 1700, when John Smith came from Bristol, England to Westmoreland county VA. The Smiths became known as "The Germantown Smiths," and became related by marraige, with some of the best families in Fauquier and in Warrenton counties, the Marshalls, Adamses, Hawkins, and Loves, also of old English stock, some of whose forebearers had achieved distinction in the wars on the Old Continent, and others who had played conspicuous roles in the Revolutionary war.

He was the son of J A Smith and Maria Love, and was born in Warrenton county VA on the 17th of October, 1824, the eleventh child of twelve. Left an orphan at an early age, his mother dying when he was two years old, and his father following her to the grave five years later, he was reared by near relatives in Fauquier county. At the age of thirteen he entered St Mary's College, Baltimore, and after graduating, four years later, entered the United States navy as a midshipman. His first cruise was on the United States frigate Macedonian, in West Indian waters, and on his return to the United States, he went on a cruise in the East Indies, on the United State sloop St Louis, which made a tour of the world, lasting nearly three years. He was next on the United States receiving ship Pennsylvania, and about that time the war with Mexico caused him to be sent to the scene of operations, and he served on the United States frigates Puritan and Cumberland, and the United States ship Mississippi. For a time he commanded a small vessel of four guns and was stationed in Vera Cruz.

At the close of the Mexician war he went back to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, where he had studied for a few months and graduated. He went on the frigate St Lawrence on a cruise to the Baltic, but was invalided home, and in 1851 he resigned from the navy and engaged in the mercantile business in Mobile.

Colonel Smith was in partnership with his brother R W Smith, in Mobile, until 1854, when he removed to New Orleans and associated himself with David Hadden in general commisssion business. The Mobile and New Orleans houses were consolidted until Mr Smith retired, and Mr Hadden died, when Colonel Smith continued operations in partnership with Thomas Foster and with Douglas Vass, his nephew, residing in Mobile. The name of the firm was Marshall J Smith & Co.

The war between the states caused Colonel Smith to abandon his business and to enlist in the cause of the South.

He took a prominent part in organizing the Twenty-fourth Louisiana Volunteers, known as the Crescent Regiment, which was mustered in for ninety days, March 6, 1862, under his command as colonel. At the battle of Shiloh he and his regiment were distinguished on the first day for their part in the capture of Prentiss' federal division, and on the second day they made a gallant charge in support of the Washington Artillery, saving three of its guns from capture. After this, Colonel Smith, on account of bad health, resigned from the regiment and went on sick leave to Mississippi. After remaining in Mississippi awhile he went on to Richmond, and while there was commissioned lieutenant colonel of artillery, and ordered to Port Hudson, and assigned to the important duty of chief of heavy artillery.

When Farragut's fleet attempted to run by on the night of March 14, 1863, he was present in the batteries during the whole of the engagement, and directed the firing with conspicuous skill, coolness and energy, having previously arranged the ammunition and given full instructions in reference to the firing of each gun. The result was that only the Hartford and a small vessell succeeded in passing. The Mississippi, on board of which Admiral Dewey then was a lieutenant, was disabled and burned, and the others turned back.

During the seige of Port Hudson by the army of General Banks , from May 24 to July 9, 1863, he continued in command of the heavy artillery, effectively aiding in holding the enemy at bay until, influenced by the fall of Vicksburg and the sufferings of the garrison, it became advisable to surrender. He was made a prisoner and was sent to Fort McHenry, and was in captivity fourteen months until, with seventy-five officers, he was sent to the bay at Charleston and exchanged. He served in front of Richmond until the close of the war.

Colonel Smith came back to New Orleans and engaged in the bagging and ties business until 1872, when he opened an insurance agency, and in a few years had become prominent among the insurance men in the city. For thirty-two years the firm of Marshall J Smith & Co has been established and it now represents about twenty companies, home and foreign. Associated with Colonel Smith are Messrs Julian D Payne, his son-in-law, and Mr Walter J Ferguson.

In 1842 , while a midshipman at Norfolk VA, he met Miss Mary M Taylor, daughter of Arthur Taylor and Annie Saunders, and their acquaintance developed into friendship, and next into a more tender and sacred feeling. They were betrothed and seven years afterwards were married. Colonel Smith was then acting lieutenant on the United States ship Erie, commanded by Lieutenant Porter. Two years later he resigned from the navy on account of the serious illness of his wife and went to live in Mobile.

Of their marraige several children were born. Those who are still living are: Carrie, wife of Julian D Payne; Marshall J Smith Jr; and Miss Alice Smith.