Joseph Sewall Smith

He Saved Two Guns and Captured an Enemy Battle Flag

He led Union soldiers through a desperate battlefield engagement, saved two artillery guns from Confederate capture, secured an enemy battle flag, and took several prisoners. On October 27, 1864, at Hatcher's Run near Petersburg, Virginia, Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Sewall Smith of the United States Army distinguished himself through extraordinary leadership and courage. Although his regular military duties involved supplying Union troops rather than commanding infantry in battle, he assumed an active combat role when the situation demanded immediate action. His bravery eventually earned him the Medal of Honor, the United States' highest military decoration for valor.

Joseph Sewall Smith was born on November 27, 1836, in Wiscasset, Lincoln County, Maine. He was the son of Jacob Smith Jr. and Julia Augusta Lambard Smith and grew up in a family with established connections to the coastal communities of Maine. One of six children, he spent his early years during a period when the United States was experiencing significant economic expansion and growing political divisions over slavery and the future of the Union.

His family connections included individuals who would later become involved in the Civil War. His older sister, Julia Augusta Lambard Smith, married Charles Davis Jameson, who subsequently served as a brigadier general in the Union Army.

By the time Smith reached adulthood, tensions between Northern and Southern states had become increasingly severe. Disputes over slavery, political representation, and federal authority ultimately led to the secession of Southern states following the election of Abraham Lincoln in November 1860.

The Confederate attack on Fort Sumter in April 1861 marked the beginning of the American Civil War. President Lincoln called for volunteers to defend the Union, and Maine responded by organizing infantry regiments for Federal service.

Joseph Sewall Smith answered that call.

On June 4, 1861, he entered military service with the newly organized 3rd Maine Volunteer Infantry, serving as a Quartermaster Sergeant. His appointment placed him in a position responsible for helping manage the supplies, equipment, and logistical requirements necessary to maintain an effective military organization.

The 3rd Maine Infantry was among the early regiments raised by the state after the outbreak of hostilities. Its soldiers entered Federal service at a time when Union commanders were rapidly assembling an army capable of conducting operations against Confederate forces.

Quartermaster responsibilities were essential to the functioning of Civil War regiments. Soldiers required uniforms, tents, transportation, food, weapons, ammunition, and numerous other supplies. Maintaining these resources became increasingly difficult as armies moved farther from established supply centers.

Smith's early military responsibilities gave him practical experience in an area that would become central to his wartime career.

In August 1861, he received a commission as First Lieutenant. The promotion marked his transition from noncommissioned logistical service to the responsibilities of a commissioned officer.

His association with the 3rd Maine Infantry was relatively brief. In November 1861, Smith received an appointment as Captain of United States Volunteers and entered the Commissary of Subsistence Department.

This transfer represented an important advancement in his military career.

The Commissary Department was responsible for obtaining, storing, transporting, and distributing food supplies to the Army. Its officers played an essential role in ensuring that soldiers remained properly provisioned during campaigns and extended operations.

Military commanders depended upon commissary officers to coordinate supply arrangements under difficult conditions. The failure of a supply system could seriously weaken an army, even when its soldiers were otherwise capable of fighting effectively.

Smith's growing responsibilities brought him into contact with senior officers and major military formations.

During the early years of the war, he served on the staffs of Major Generals John Sedgwick and Oliver Otis Howard, both of whom held important commands in the Union Army.

These assignments provided Smith with experience in military administration and the logistical organization required to support large numbers of troops.

In April 1862, he became associated with the staff organization of the Army of the Potomac, which was then conducting extensive operations in Virginia.

The Army of the Potomac was the principal Union force operating against Confederate armies in the Eastern Theater. Its campaigns involved large numbers of infantry, cavalry, and artillery units supported by complex transportation and supply arrangements.

By June 1862, Smith had been assigned to the Army's II Corps.

The corps became one of the most distinguished organizations in the Union Army, participating in numerous major engagements throughout the war.

Its responsibilities demanded continuous coordination between combat formations and the military departments that maintained their supplies.

Smith eventually became Chief Commissary of Subsistence for the II Corps, placing him in a significant administrative and logistical position.

In January 1863, he advanced to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

His promotion reflected the increasing importance of his responsibilities within the Union military establishment.

Throughout 1863, the Army of the Potomac fought major campaigns against Confederate forces commanded by General Robert E. Lee.

The II Corps played prominent roles during these operations, including the campaigns surrounding Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and the subsequent fighting in Virginia.

As an officer assigned to the corps' logistical organization, Smith worked within a military system responsible for sustaining troops during prolonged marches, defensive operations, and major battles.

The difficulty of maintaining adequate supplies increased when the Union Army operated through damaged transportation networks or across territory where Confederate forces threatened its communications.

Food supplies had to be moved with the advancing army, while wagons, animals, and storage facilities required constant management.

Smith's work formed part of the administrative structure that enabled the II Corps to remain operational through these demanding campaigns.

In 1864, Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant assumed overall command of Union military operations and began a coordinated campaign against Confederate forces across the South.

The principal offensive in Virginia involved Grant and Major General George G. Meade directing the Army of the Potomac against Lee's Army of Northern Virginia.

Beginning in May 1864, the Union forces fought a series of costly engagements during the Overland Campaign.

The fighting included the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, the North Anna River, and Cold Harbor.

These battles produced severe casualties and demonstrated the determination of both armies.

Unlike previous Union commanders who had often withdrawn after suffering heavy losses, Grant continued moving southward, maintaining pressure upon Lee's forces.

In June 1864, Union operations shifted toward Petersburg, Virginia.

Petersburg was a strategically important railroad center located south of Richmond, the Confederate capital.

Several transportation routes passed through the city, making it essential to the movement of supplies and reinforcements supporting Confederate armies in the region.

After direct Federal assaults failed to capture Petersburg, the campaign developed into an extended struggle involving trenches, artillery positions, fortified lines, and repeated attempts to disrupt Confederate communications.

The Siege of Petersburg continued for many months.

Union forces gradually extended their positions around the city, seeking to weaken Confederate supply routes and compel Lee to abandon his extensive defensive system.

Throughout these operations, the II Corps played an important role in offensive movements against Confederate positions.

In August 1864, the corps participated in the Second Battle of Ream's Station, an engagement associated with efforts to damage the Weldon Railroad and disrupt Confederate transportation.

Although Smith's principal responsibilities remained connected with the Commissary Department, his wartime service placed him near important military operations and brought him into situations requiring decisions under battlefield conditions.

His most distinguished action occurred two months later.

In October 1864, Grant directed another offensive designed to threaten Confederate supply routes southwest of Petersburg.

The principal targets included the Boydton Plank Road and the South Side Railroad.

Both transportation routes were essential to the Confederate position. Their loss threatened the movement of supplies into Petersburg and could make Lee's defensive lines increasingly difficult to maintain.

Major General Winfield Scott Hancock commanded the II Corps during the operation.

The Union advance was supported by elements of the V and IX Corps and cavalry formations operating in the surrounding region.

On October 27, 1864, Union troops began moving toward the Confederate positions near Hatcher's Run and Burgess Mill in Dinwiddie County, Virginia.

The engagement became known as the Battle of Boydton Plank Road, also called the Battle of Burgess Mill or First Battle of Hatcher's Run.

The terrain presented serious difficulties for the attacking troops.

Dense woods, narrow roads, streams, and poorly mapped routes complicated the movement of infantry, artillery, and supporting formations.

Despite these obstacles, Hancock's II Corps advanced toward the Boydton Plank Road and temporarily gained control of an important section of the transportation route.

However, the advance exposed the Union formation to a Confederate counterattack.

Confederate commanders recognized that the advancing II Corps had become separated from some of its supporting forces.

General Henry Heth and other Confederate officers organized attacks intended to isolate Hancock's troops and force them away from the important road.

During the afternoon, Confederate infantry and cavalry advanced against the Union positions near Burgess Mill.

The attacks threatened the Federal flanks and rear, creating a dangerous situation for the II Corps.

Union troops struggled to reorganize as Confederate forces attacked through the wooded terrain.

The fighting became especially intense as opposing infantry formations attempted to gain control of the roads and defensive positions.

Artillery batteries were particularly vulnerable when enemy forces approached their positions.

Civil War artillery guns were heavy weapons that required teams of horses, trained crews, ammunition wagons, and sufficient space to maneuver.

When an enemy attack threatened to overwhelm a battery, removing the guns could become extremely difficult.

The loss of artillery was a serious military setback because captured guns could be used by the enemy and represented valuable equipment that could not easily be replaced in the middle of an engagement.

It was during this dangerous phase of the battle that Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Sewall Smith performed the actions for which he would later receive the Medal of Honor.

Although Smith was serving as a Commissary of Subsistence officer with the II Corps, he assumed command of part of a brigade during the fighting.

His actions went beyond the normal responsibilities of his administrative position.

Rather than concentrating solely upon the logistical duties associated with the Commissary Department, Smith took an active leadership role in the developing battle.

He led soldiers against Confederate forces at a critical moment when Union artillery and battlefield positions were threatened.

His decisive action contributed to the recovery and protection of two artillery pieces that were in danger of falling into Confederate hands.

The operation also resulted in the capture of an enemy battle flag and several Confederate prisoners.

The combination of these achievements demonstrated the effectiveness of the troops under his leadership and his willingness to assume responsibility during a dangerous engagement.

The official Medal of Honor citation later recognized Smith for leading part of a brigade, saving two artillery pieces, capturing a flag, and securing prisoners.

Although the surviving citation does not identify the Confederate regiment whose flag was captured or establish the exact number of prisoners taken, it confirms the extraordinary conduct for which Smith received national recognition.

His actions were particularly significant because his primary military appointment was not that of an infantry field commander.

As a senior commissary officer, his usual duties involved ensuring that the Army remained supplied during operations.

At Hatcher's Run, however, he demonstrated that an experienced staff officer could also exercise effective leadership in direct combat.

The successful protection of the artillery prevented valuable Union equipment from being captured during a battle in which Confederate forces were aggressively attempting to disrupt the Federal position.

The capture of the enemy flag also carried symbolic importance.

During the Civil War, regimental colors represented military identity, honor, and cohesion. Capturing an opposing unit's flag was regarded as an important battlefield achievement.

Smith's actions therefore combined tactical leadership, the protection of military resources, and the capture of important enemy equipment.

The Battle of Boydton Plank Road continued into October 28.

Although the Union troops initially achieved important advances, Confederate attacks prevented the Federal army from maintaining permanent control of the targeted transportation routes.

Hancock's II Corps eventually withdrew from its exposed position.

The Confederates retained control of the Boydton Plank Road during the winter, delaying Union efforts to cut the final transportation connections supporting Petersburg.

Nevertheless, the battle included notable acts of individual courage and effective battlefield leadership.

Smith's distinguished conduct became one of the important personal achievements associated with the engagement.

His wartime service received additional recognition through the brevet system.

During the Civil War, brevet promotions were used to acknowledge officers for gallant or meritorious service. Such promotions conferred an honorary rank but did not necessarily replace an officer's permanent or substantive rank.

Smith received the brevet rank of Colonel in recognition of his distinguished wartime service, including his conduct in the 1864 engagements.

He later received the brevet rank of Brigadier General for faithful and meritorious service during the war.

This distinction represented the highest military rank associated with his career.

His substantive rank remained Lieutenant Colonel, while Brevet Brigadier General reflected the honorary recognition granted for his military achievements.

Smith continued serving until July 11, 1865, when he was mustered out of Federal military service.

The Civil War had effectively ended following the surrender of General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865, and the subsequent surrender of other Confederate forces.

By the time Smith left the Army, he had completed more than four years of military service.

His career had progressed from Quartermaster Sergeant in the 3rd Maine Infantry to Lieutenant Colonel in the Commissary Department, followed by the recognition of his service through the brevet rank of Brigadier General.

Following the war, Smith returned to civilian life in Maine and settled in Bangor.

In 1866, he married Agnes E. Clark.

The couple established a family and became the parents of two sons and a daughter. Their family also experienced personal tragedy when their eldest son died during early childhood.

Smith pursued a civilian career in business and public service.

He worked as a merchant in Bangor, participating in the commercial life of a growing Maine community.

He later served as a United States Collector of Customs, a federal position responsible for administering customs matters associated with commercial trade and the collection of government revenue.

His public responsibilities reflected the administrative experience he had developed during his military career.

The organizational skills required to oversee military supplies also had practical applications in civilian government service.

Smith remained closely connected with veterans and organizations dedicated to preserving the memory of the Civil War.

He maintained an interest in the welfare of former Union soldiers, many of whom faced financial hardship, disability, or serious health problems after returning to civilian life.

He became associated with the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, an institution established to provide accommodation, care, and support for former military personnel.

The organization developed an extensive network of facilities across the United States to assist veterans whose service or personal circumstances made independent living difficult.

Smith served on its Board of Managers, helping oversee an institution that had become an important part of the country's response to the needs of aging and disabled veterans.

His involvement represented a continuation of his commitment to military service, although his responsibilities had shifted from supporting active soldiers to caring for those whose military careers had ended.

Smith also maintained connections with military heritage organizations, including the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts, with which he held an honorary association.

In Bangor, he remained a prominent figure in Civil War commemorations.

Historical accounts describe his role in arranging appearances by distinguished former generals during Memorial Day events.

These ceremonies provided opportunities for communities to honor soldiers who had died during the war and preserve the experiences of surviving veterans.

Smith's participation reflected the importance he placed upon remembrance and military tradition.

Nearly twenty-eight years after his heroic actions at Hatcher's Run, his bravery received formal recognition from the United States government.

On May 25, 1892, Joseph Sewall Smith was awarded the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary conduct on October 27, 1864.

The Medal of Honor had been established during the American Civil War to recognize exceptional military courage and distinguished service.

Authorized for the Army in 1862, it eventually became the United States' highest military decoration for valor.

Smith received his decoration during a period when many surviving Civil War veterans were being formally recognized for remarkable actions performed decades earlier.

His award honored the courage and leadership he displayed while directing troops against Confederate forces near Petersburg.

Unlike some recipients whose awards recognized the personal capture of a flag or the rescue of a wounded soldier, Smith was recognized for a combination of battlefield achievements.

He had assumed command of part of a brigade, helped prevent the capture of two Union artillery pieces, secured an enemy flag, and taken prisoners.

These actions reflected both personal bravery and the ability to lead soldiers effectively under dangerous circumstances.

His Medal of Honor also demonstrated that extraordinary battlefield courage was not restricted to officers whose usual assignments involved direct combat.

A commissary officer responsible for feeding and supplying troops had distinguished himself in an unexpected combat role at a decisive moment.

For Smith, the decoration represented a lasting acknowledgment of his military service and the extraordinary responsibilities he had assumed when the Union position was threatened.

His Medal of Honor became an important part of the historical record of the II Corps and the Richmond-Petersburg Campaign.

Smith continued his civilian activities and involvement with veterans' organizations during the remaining years of the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century.

His wife, Agnes, died on August 17, 1910, after more than four decades of marriage.

Her death marked a significant personal loss during Smith's later years.

Eventually, he relocated to Virginia, where he became more directly involved in the administration of a facility for former military personnel.

From 1915 to 1918, Smith served as Governor of the Southern Branch of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers at Hampton, Virginia.

The institution, commonly known as the National Soldiers' Home, provided accommodation, medical care, and other services for veterans.

The Southern Branch had been established during the years following the Civil War and became an important center for the care of former Union soldiers.

Its location near Hampton and Fort Monroe connected it with a region that had experienced significant military activity during the conflict.

As governor, Smith was responsible for the administration of an institution serving men whose military service had often left them with permanent disabilities or limited means of supporting themselves.

The position brought his career full circle.

He had begun his military service managing supplies for Union soldiers in 1861, and more than fifty years later, he was helping oversee the welfare of veterans who had served their country.

His experience as a former senior military officer and public administrator provided a foundation for the responsibilities of the position.

Smith's service at the Soldiers' Home continued until 1918, when he was more than eighty years old.

By this time, the United States had entered the First World War, and the generation of Civil War veterans was steadily declining.

The military world Smith had known in the 1860s had changed dramatically, but his commitment to military service and the welfare of veterans remained a defining feature of his later career.

During his final years, Smith lived in the vicinity of Fort Monroe, Virginia, where he was accompanied by his daughter.

He resided at the Hotel Chamberlin, a prominent establishment overlooking the waters of Hampton Roads.

Joseph Sewall Smith died on January 25, 1919, at Fort Monroe, Virginia, at the age of eighty-two.

His death marked the end of a life that had included military service, battlefield distinction, federal public office, business activity, and decades of work associated with veterans' welfare.

He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, in Section 2, Grave 996.

His grave commemorates his service as a Lieutenant Colonel, his honorary rank of Brevet Brigadier General, and his Medal of Honor recognition.

The burial placed him among thousands of American service members whose sacrifices and achievements became part of the nation's military history.

Joseph Sewall Smith's legacy remains closely connected to the events of October 27, 1864, at Hatcher's Run.

During a dangerous Confederate counterattack, he moved beyond the normal duties of a commissary officer and assumed command of troops engaged in direct combat.

His leadership helped save two Union artillery pieces, capture an enemy flag, and secure several prisoners.

The achievements demonstrated the importance of initiative, courage, and effective command during moments when battlefield conditions changed rapidly.

His subsequent brevet promotions recognized his wider military service, while the Medal of Honor provided the nation's highest acknowledgment of his extraordinary actions.

Smith's postwar career added another important dimension to his legacy.

Through his work in public administration and the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, he continued serving former military personnel long after the Civil War had ended.

The Medal of Honor awarded to Joseph Sewall Smith stands as an enduring tribute to his bravery, leadership, and devotion to duty.

His life illustrates how military service can extend beyond the battlefield, encompassing the logistical responsibilities that sustain an army, the courage required to lead troops in danger, and the continued commitment to veterans after the fighting has ended.

From his early enlistment in Maine to his extraordinary actions near Petersburg and his later responsibilities at the National Soldiers' Home, Joseph Sewall Smith left a distinguished record of service that remains part of the enduring history of the American Civil War.