Gustavus Woodson Smith was not listed in our school's history books nor was he discussed by teachers of history. However, his story needs to be told, and it is a most historic one.

Smith was born on Nov. 30, 1821, in Georgetown, Kentucky. Precious little is known of his early life, but we do know he attended West Point in 1842. When he graduated, he was ranked eighth out of 56 cadets.

As an engineer, Smith had a local assignment when he was a lead engineer in the construction of Fort Trumbull in New London.

It was there that he met and courted a New London woman by the name of  Lucretia Bassett. Lucretia was born in 1822 and was the daughter of Abner and Harriet Bassett of New London. Gustavus and Lucretia were married on Oct. 3, 1844.

"G.W.," as Smith was often called, received a letter from West Point inviting him to teach at his alma mater, which he did, but shortly thereafter he was called to serve and fight in the Mexican War in 1846. Historically, Smith was involved in the first United States armed conflict chiefly fought on foreign soil.

He was appointed a brevet first lieutenant due to his outstanding service at the Battle of Cerro Gordo. On Aug. 20, 1847, he made brevet captain for his service at the battle of Contreras. Smith received another promotion in 1853, but a year later he resigned his commission to become a civil engineer in New York City.

Eventually, he became a street commissioner there and his position included coordinating duties of employees, managing daily operations and planning the use of given materials. 

In 1861 "G.W." was appointed as a major general in the Confederate Army and his appointment took place at Richmond in the early part of the Civil War. As part of his duties, Smith served as interim Confederate secretary of war and also served in the Georgia state militia.

Additionally, Smith also saw action as a "wing" commander, and fought in the Battle of Seven Pines near Richmond. At that location was the largest battle in the Eastern Theater up to that time. When the army's commander was wounded, Smith took charge. None other than Robert E. Lee replaced Smith. That particular appointment for Lee eventually led to his assignment as Confederate army commander.

Eventually, Smith resigned his commission and became a volunteer aide to Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard.

After the war, Smith did extensive writing and in December of 1894, he was one of 19 founders of the Military Order of Foreign Wars. The MOFW has now become one of the oldest veterans and hereditary associations in the nation. Later members included Adm. George Dewey, Theodore Roosevelt and John J. Pershing.

General Smith died on June 24, 1896, and is buried in his wife's family plot in the Cedar Grove Cemetery in New London. His stone at the cemetery was put in place on Sept. 21, 1977, by a man named Robert Bishop of New London, who was a possible descendant of Gen. Smith on Smith's mother's side.

The last time the stone was viewed, it was accompanied by both Confederate and American flags. Prior to Bishop's work, Smith's grave had no marker.

His burial stone is the only known stone of a Confederate general in the state of Connecticut.

Historically Speaking, which appears on Mondays, presents short historical stories written by Richard Curland of the Norwich Historical Society in cooperation with society president Bill Champagne. Call the society at (860) 886-1776.