William Farrar Smith,
U.S. Army.

The extracts here quoted from the letter of the assistant secretary of
war C.A. Dana, to General Grant, dated December 21, 1863, show that at
a crisis in the Nation's life he was in the thoughts of Lincoln,
Stanton and Grant, as the general best qualified for the most important
command.

"The surest means of getting the rebels altogether out of
East Tennessee is to be found in the Army of the Potomac.
This naturally led to your second proposition, namely that
either Sherman or W.F. Smith should be put in command of that
army. Both the Secretary of War and Gen. Halleck said 'Gen.
W.F. Smith would be the best person to try'. The President,
the Secretary of War and Gen Halleck agree with you in
thinking that it would be on the whole much better to select
him."

* * * * *

Series I Vol. XXXI Page 457 Official Records Union and Confederate
Armies. (War of the Rebellion)]

I cannot close this sketch without repeating in part my personal
testimony to the strength and elevation of General Smith's character.
He was blessed by a singularly clear, orderly and comprehensive mind,
and was most industrious and persistent in its use. Somewhat phlegmatic
and deliberate in temperament and manner, he gave the impression
occasionally that he was lacking in push and energy, but such was not