Franklin Guest Smith

Franklin Guest Smith (February 16, 1840 – October 7, 1912) was a career officer in the United States Army. A Union Army veteran of the American Civil War, Smith also served in the American Indian Wars and the Spanish–American War, and attained the rank of brigadier general.

A native of Blossburg, Pennsylvania, Smith studied civil engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, from which he graduated in 1859. After briefly working as private secretary for George B. McClellan, an executive with the Illinois Central Railroad and Ohio and Mississippi Railway, at the start of the American Civil War Smith followed McClellan into the Union Army and obtained a commission as a second lieutenant of Field Artillery. Smith served with the 4th Artillery Regiment, part of the Union's Army of the Cumberland. He commanded the 4th Artillery's Battery I, and took part in the Battle of Chickamauga and other engagements.

After the war, Smith continued to serve in the United States Army, including participation in the American Indian Wars and coastal artillery assignments on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. He was the longtime commander of Battery F, 4th Artillery, and in the 1890s began a long tenure as secretary and member of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park Commission. During the Spanish–American War, Smith was assigned as artillery inspector for the army's Department of the South, then commanded a siege train of artillery at Fort Tampa, Florida, which was inactivated after the end of the war eliminated the need for Smith's command to deploy to Cuba.

After the war, Smith commanded the Artillery District of Portland, Maine. On August 3, 1903, Smith was promoted to brigadier general, and he retired on August 4. In retirement, Smith resided in Washington, D.C. He died in Washington on October 7, 1912, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Early life Franklin G. Smith (often referred to as Frank Guest Smith or Frank G. Smith) was born near Blossburg, Pennsylvania, on February 16, 1840, the son of Dr. Franklin Rushton and Mary (Guest) Smith. he attended the local schools, and was graduate of Bellefonte Academy. In 1859, he graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a degree in civil engineering. While in college, Smith became a member of the Theta Delta Chi fraternity. After graduating, he began a career in railroad management as private secretary to George B. McClellan, who was then serving as vice president of the Illinois Central Railroad and president of the Ohio and Mississippi Railway. During the war, Smith received brevet promotions to captain (December 31, 1862) and major (September 20, 1863) as commendations for his superior service.

From 1893 to 1908, except for his Spanish–American War service in 1898, Smith was secretary and member of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park Commission. On August 3, 1903, he was promoted to brigadier general as the result of a federal law permitting still-serving Civil War veterans to be advanced one grade prior to retiring. He retired from the army on August 4, but continued to serve at Chickamauga and Chattanooga. Smith was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Legacy In 1921, the U.S. Army constructed Battery Smith, one of several coastal artillery positions on the island of Corregidor in Manila Bay, Philippines. The site was named for Smith, and remained in operation until U.S. soldiers disabled it at the start of World War II.

Smith's grandson Franklin Guest Smith (1908–2001) was a 1933 graduate of the United States Military Academy and attained the rank of brigadier general. Smith's uncle Charles Eastwick Smith served as president of the Reading Railroad. His first cousin Thomas Guilford Smith was a prominent engineer and corporate executive who was associated with the steel businesses of Andrew Carnegie.