Smith, George

George Smith

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Significance:

Company H, 21st Ohio Infantry

Date of Birth:

1843

Place of Death:

Murfreesboro, TN

Date of Death:

February 26th, 1863

Place of Burial:

Murfreesboro, TN

Cemetery Name:

Stones River National Cemetery

George Smith was born in 1843. He mustered in with the 21st Ohio Infantry, Company H, as a private. The 21st Ohio was organized at Camp Taylor, Ohio in April of 1861 for a three month term service. It was then reorganized at Findlay, Ohio in September of 1861 for a three year term service. It is more likely that Private Smith enlisted at the time of the 3 year term's muster date.

The 21st Ohio Volunteers spent time in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama on various duties throughout 1861 and most of 1862. In late August of 1862, they marched to Nashville, Tennessee where they remained until December 26th, 1862. On December 26th, they received orders to march towards Murfreesboro. They arrived in Murfreesboro on December 30th and began to prepare for the fighting that was ahead.

At the battle of Stones River, the 21st Ohio was under Miller's brigade. On the 30th, they were positioned near the intersection of Van Cleve Lane and Wilkinson Pike. Around 6am on December 31st, the Confederate troops in the area began to attack the Union's right flank. Their goal was to create a J-shaped motion around the Union's right and cause them to collapse in on themselves. By 9am, the 21st Ohio could hear the sounds of battle inching closer to them, and were beginning to take on some artillery fire from Confederate troops parallel to them.

Eventually, the Confederate forces were able to sweep the Union troops into a tight, V-shaped position on the Wilkinson Pike and Van Cleve, where the 21st had been waiting. The position was extremely vulnerable and eventually the right side of the V-shape collapsed, sending wave after wave of Union troops retreating towards the 21st Ohio. They all retreated north towards the cedar woods, to eventually regroup along the railroad tracks and the Nashville Pike.

Private Smith suffered a gunshot wound to the leg during the fighting at the Battle of Stones River. He was transported to Regimental Field Hospital No. 747 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where he lingered for several weeks. Despite medical care, complications from his wound proved fatal, and he died there on February 26, 1863. 

George Smith is buried in the Stones River National Cemetery in plot G-2694.