Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History
Benson Lossing, Ed.

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Smith, William Farrar 1824-

Military officer; born in St. Albans, Vt., Feb. 17, 1824; graduated at West Point in 1845, entering the corps of topographical engineers. He was engaged in several important military surveys before the Civil War. When that began he was secretary of the light-house board at Washington. He became a brigadier-general of volunteers in August, 1861, having done good service in the battle of Bull Run the previous month. In the Peninsular campaign he was particularly distinguished, and was promoted to major-general (July, 1862). He commanded a division in Franklin's corps, and was in the battles of South Mountain and Antietam. He commanded the 6th Corps at Fredericksburg (December, 1862) ; was chief engineer of the Army of the Cumberland late in 1863; was active in operations about Chattanooga late in that year; and from May to July, 1864, commanded the 18th Corps, Army of the Potomac. He was brevetted major-general for “gallant and meritorious services during the Rebellion” ; resigned from the volunteer army in 1865, and from the regular army in 1867; was for several years connected with the police department of New York City, and afterwards engaged in civil engineering.