Colonel Charles E. Hooker, Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 12.2, Mississippi
Clement Anselm Evans, Ed.

Brigadier-General James Argyle Smith was born in Tennessee, and from that State was appointed a cadet at the United States military academy, where he was graduated July 1, 1853, and promoted in the army to brevet second lieutenant of infantry. He served on frontier duty at various posts in Kansas, and in garrison at Jefferson Barracks in Missouri, was in the Sioux expedition of 1855, and engaged in the action of Blue Water, September 3d; was employed in quelling the Kansas troubles of 1856-58, and took part in the Utah expedition. In December, 1859, he was commissioned first lieutenant of the Sixth infantry. When the secession movement began, he was on leave of absence. Being a Southern man in sympathy as well as by birth he sent in his resignation, and entered the service of the Confederate States, with the rank of captain of infantry. In March, 1862, he was promoted major and was acting adjutant-general to Gen. Leonidas Polk. At the battle of Shiloh he was lieutenant-colonel of the Second Tennessee. Col. Preston Smith, commanding the First brigade of the Second division, army of the Mississippi, in his report of the battle of Shiloh spoke particularly of the gallant bearing of Lieutenant-Colonel Smith. At the battle of Perryville he commanded the Fifth Confederate regiment, and his gallant service was thus mentioned by Gen. Bushrod Johnson: ‘The Fifth Confederate regiment was promptly moved by Col. J. A. Smith upon the enemy behind the stone fences. The fire of the Fifth Confederate regiment was particularly destructive, plainly thinning the enemy's ranks at every volley. Three times the flag of the enemy was cut down, and finally they were beaten back utterly whipped.’ At the battle of Murfreesboro Colonel Smith was again complimented in the reports of Major-General Cleburne and Brig.-Gen. Lucius Polk. Again in