Smith D. Atkins

Smith Dykins Atkins (June 9, 1836 – March 27, 1913) was an American newspaper editor, lawyer, and army officer who served in the American Civil War as a colonel. Serving in the Union army, he commanded brigades of infantry and cavalry and was awarded the brevet grades of brigadier general and major general of Volunteers. After hostilities ended in 1865, Atkins returned to his editorial work and became an author.

Early life and career

Atkins was born in Horseheads, New York, in 1836. He moved to Illinois in 1845 and later entered the Rock River Seminary in Mount Morris. He also became editor of the town's Gazette and began practicing law. He was a supporter of and canvasser for Abraham Lincoln for President of the United States. He was elected Prosecuting Attorney in 1860. He was the first man to enlist as a volunteer private soldier in Stephenson County, Illinois upon the outbreak of the American Civil War.

Civil War service

Upon Lincoln's call for 75,000 volunteer militiamen at the outbreak of the Civil War, Atkins immediately chose to defend the Union cause and entered the volunteer ranks of his home state. He served in the western theater of the conflict. He was appointed a captain in the 11th Illinois Infantry on April 30, 1861, and was promoted to major on March 21, 1862. By April he was assistant adjutant general of the 4th Division in the Army of the Tennessee, but resigned on April 17 to take a two-month respite from duty for health reasons. Atkins was mustered out of the volunteer service on June 21, 1865 and he returned to his civilian life in Illinois.

Brigade commands Smith Dykins Atkins commanded several brigades in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The units and dates were:

Infantry 2nd Brigade, Absalom Baird's Division, Department of the Cumberland (February – June 8, 1863) 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Reserve Corps, Army of the Cumberland (June 8 – July 15, 1863)

Cavalry 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, Cavalry Corps, Department of the Cumberland (January 28 – February 20, 1864) 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, Cavalry Corps, Department of the Cumberland (May 13 – May 21, 1864) 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, Cavalry Corps, Military Division of the Mississippi (November 5, 1864 – January 12, 1865) On April 17, 1865 (Easter Sunday), Atkins paid a visit to the home of David Swain, the president of the University of North Carolina. The story is related in the book Undaunted Heart: The True Story of a Southern Belle & a Yankee General by Suzy Barile, published by Eno Publishers in 2009. Barile is a great-great-granddaughter of Ella Swain and Smith Atkins.

Postbellum Atkins became editor of Freeport's Daily Journal newspaper and also was the city's postmaster for 24 years. He published a number of short works, and speeches late in life. He was the first president of the Freeport Public Library, and a member of the board of education. He was also active in veterans' organizations and affairs. Atkins died in Freeport in 1913, and is buried there in City Cemetery.

Works Democracy and Dred Scott (1860; essay) With Sherman's Cavalry Marching Through Georgia (1870; essay) "Chickamauga. Useless, Disastrous Battle" (1907; speech) "Abraham Lincoln" (1909; speech)