Gustavus Woodson Smith (November 30, 1821 – June 24, 1896), more commonly known as G.W. Smith, was a career U.S. Army officer who fought in the Mexican War, a civil engineer, and a major general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He served as interim Secretary of War for the Confederacy and he fought in the Battle of Seven Pines near Richmond, Virginia. He briefly took command of what would become "The Army of Northern Virginia" after Joseph Johnston was wounded. However, he suffered a nervous breakdown upon taking command and was quickly removed and was replaced by Robert E. Lee.

Smith was born in Georgetown, Kentucky. He died in New York City and is buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery, New London, Connecticut.

References

• Eicher, John H., & Eicher, David J., Civil War High Commands, Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.

1821 births | 1896 deaths | Confederate States Cabinet members | Confederate Army generals | People of the Mexican-American War | West Point graduates

Gustavus Woodson Smith