Friend Smith Rutherford

Friend Smith Rutherford (September 25, 1820 – June 20, 1864) was an American military officer who was colonel and posthumously appointed brigadier general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He commanded the 97th Illinois Infantry Regiment during the Vicksburg campaign. On June 18, 1864, President Abraham Lincoln nominated Rutherford for appointment to the grade of brigadier general of volunteers and the United States Senate confirmed the appointment on June 28, 1864. Rutherford's appointment was dated June 27, 1864, and it was to rank from June 28, 1864. Since Rutherford had died, the confirmation technically could not be given and the commission could not become effective. Nonetheless, several sources list Rutherford as a Union Army general, although historian Ezra Warner does not.

Early life

Friend Smith Rutherford was the great-grandson of Doctor Daniel Rutherford, a Scottish physician, chemist and botanist who is known for the isolation of nitrogen which he described in his M.D. dissertation at the University of Edinburgh in 1772.

Friend Smith Rutherford was born on September 25, 1820, in Schenectady, New York. His parents were Alexander Rutherford (1794–1849) and Sally (Clifford) Rutherford (1797–1875). He had four siblings: Dr Joseph Chase Rutherford (1818–1902), Reuben Clifford Rutherford (1823–1895), Rebecca Fifield Rutherford (1825–1880) and George Valentine Rutherford (1830–1876). On September 2, 1862, he resigned as captain commissary and helped organize the 97th Illinois Infantry Regiment, which was raised at Camp Butler, Illinois in August and September 1862. The regiment then was assigned to the 2nd Brigade, commanded by Colonel William J. Landram, of the 1st Division, commanded by Brigadier General Andrew Jackson Smith, of Major General William T. Sherman's Union Army XIII Corps.

In December 1862, Sherman led his corps in an expedition from the north along the Mississippi River to attack the Confederate States Army's base at Vicksburg, Mississippi, one of the two remaining major Confederate defensive positions along the last stretch of the Mississippi River controlled by the Confederacy. Overall Union commander, Major General Ulysses S. Grant planned a further assault in the direction of Vicksburg with his force luring the Confederates from their defenses toward the southeast while Sherman attacked them from the north. Union Navy gunboats and troop transports commanded by Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter also were part of the attack force. At the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou, over the period December 26–29, 1862, Sherman's force, which included the 97th Illinois Infantry Regiment led by Rutherford,

After the Battle of Arkansas Post, Grant regained command of Sherman's force, the reorganized XV Corps, and also of McClernand, who kept command of the XIII Corps. Colonel Rutherford and his 97th Illinois Infantry Regiment, was still with Colonel Landram's brigade, now the 2nd Brigade in Brigadier General Andrew Jackson Smith's 10th Division. The 97th Illinois Infantry Regiment took part in the Battle of Port Gibson on May 1, 1863.

At the Battle of Champion's Hill on May 16, 1863, the crucial battle of the Vicksburg campaign, Rutherford "had the not very pleasant duty of holding his regiment as a target for the Confederate artillery for at least two hours, and at a distance of not over 800 yards." As the battle ended, the Confederate force retreated toward Vicksburg and prepared to defend a line at the Black River.

On the next morning, May 17, 1863, McClernand led his corps to the Black River where they fought in the Battle of Big Black River Bridge.

On May 19, 1863, and May 22, 1863, Rutherford led his regiment in two charges at the Vicksburg defenses at the start of the Siege of Vicksburg. The Union forces suffered significant casualties so Grant decided to besiege the city and proceed by maneuver instead of making further frontal attacks. The 97th Illinois Infantry Regiment then took part in the siege, culminating with the Confederate surrender on July 4, 1863. Rutherford could not have taken part in the Jackson Expedition with the 97th Illinois Infantry Regiment because he took sick leave due to "camp dysentary" and returned to Alton, Illinois to recover on July 5, 1863.

Death and posthumous appointment

Rutherford had never regained full health after the Vicksburg campaign and resigned his commission on June 15, 1864, due to physical disability brought on by exposure and fatigue,

On June 18, 1864, President Abraham Lincoln nominated Rutherford for appointment to the grade of brigadier general of volunteers and the United States Senate confirmed the appointment on June 28, 1864. Rutherford's appointment was dated June 27, 1864, and it was to rank from June 28, 1864. His appointment was made and his commission was issued without knowledge of his death on June 20, 1864.