Life span: 05/16/1824 to 03/28/1893TabsLife SummaryFull name: Edmund Kirby SmithPlace of Birth: St. Augustine, FLBurial Place: University of the South Cemetery, Sewanee, TNBirth Date Certainty: ExactDeath Date Certainty: ExactGender: MaleRace: WhiteSectional choice: SouthOrigins: Slave StateNo. of Spouses: 1No. of Children: 11Family: Joseph Lee Smith (father), Frances Marvin (Kirby) Smith (mother), Ephraim Kirby Smith (brother), Frances Smith (sister), Frances Marvin Kirby (wife)Education: West Point (US Military Academy)Occupation: MilitaryBusinessmanEducatorChurch or Religious Denomination: OtherOther Religion: Protestant EpiscopalMilitary: US military (Pre-Civil War)Confederate Army Note Cards Edmund Kirby Smith (American National Biography) ScholarshipIn July 1863 President Jefferson Davis granted Smith "any assumption of authority which may be necessary" within his department. Despite Smith's best efforts, the maintenance of morale in "Kirby Smithdom," as the Trans-Mississippi Department was frequently described, became increasingly difficult because of poor communications with the Confederate capital at Richmond and a lack of fiscal resources. Smith was criticized for not doing more to support the war effort east of the Mississippi, but Union control of the river after 1863 rendered that virtually impossible. Smith was an able commander but an overextended administrator who, in his isolated circumstances, attempted to provide civil as well as military leadership within his jurisdiction, though a vocal minority found him wanting in both spheres. At no time did he interfere with the actions of the civil authorities unless these impeded his military initiatives. His efforts to break the Union blockade through a military thrust into Mexico and to secure foreign, principally French, assistance for his department were not notably successful. Despite his best efforts, he was never able to completely satisfy his superiors in Richmond, who were largely out of touch with the realities of his situation. During his two-year tenure, Smith created a number of general officers to fulfill his local requirements, some of whom were approved by President Davis, while others were not. Ultimately, the devaluation of the Confederate currency and insuperable logistical difficulties rendered Smith's situation untenable.Keir B. Sterling, "Smith, Edmund Kirby," American National Biography Online, February 2000, http://www.anb.org/articles/05/05-00407.html. Events Date span begin Life span End Event 05/13/1859 05/13/1859 Second Cavalry units under Major Earl Van Dorn defeat hostile Comanche in the northern Indian Territory 07/21/1861 07/22/1861 The first pitched battle of the war between armies results in a Union disaster at Bull Run 04/29/1862 04/29/1862 In northern Alabama, Union troops capture the Bridgeport railroad bridge over the Tennessee River 03/15/1864 03/15/1864 On the Red River, Union troops storm the formidable Fort De Russy in twenty minutes 04/30/1864 04/30/1864 Battle of Jenkins' Ferry Major TopicsRed River CampaignVicksburg Campaign Documents Subject Docs Date Title 04/30/1864 Recollection of Joseph Blessington, Battle of Jenkins' Ferry, April 30, 1864 04/27/1865 Otto C. Bardon, Reminiscences of the Sultana Disaster, April 27, 1865 Images Edmund Kirby Smith Edmund Kirby Smith, detail General Kirby Smith's Confederate army goes home, Shreveport, Louisiana, May 23, 1865, artist's impression. General Kirby Smith's Confederate army goes home, Shreveport, Louisiana, May 23, 1865, artist's impression, detail. Bibliography Chicago Style Entry Link Parks, Joseph Howard. General Edmund Kirby Smith, C.S.A.. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1954. View Record Kerby, Robert Lee. Kirby Smith's Confederacy: The Trans-Mississippi South, 1863-1865. New York: Columbia University Press, 1972. View Record
Edmund Kirby Smith (American National Biography) ScholarshipIn July 1863 President Jefferson Davis granted Smith "any assumption of authority which may be necessary" within his department. Despite Smith's best efforts, the maintenance of morale in "Kirby Smithdom," as the Trans-Mississippi Department was frequently described, became increasingly difficult because of poor communications with the Confederate capital at Richmond and a lack of fiscal resources. Smith was criticized for not doing more to support the war effort east of the Mississippi, but Union control of the river after 1863 rendered that virtually impossible. Smith was an able commander but an overextended administrator who, in his isolated circumstances, attempted to provide civil as well as military leadership within his jurisdiction, though a vocal minority found him wanting in both spheres. At no time did he interfere with the actions of the civil authorities unless these impeded his military initiatives. His efforts to break the Union blockade through a military thrust into Mexico and to secure foreign, principally French, assistance for his department were not notably successful. Despite his best efforts, he was never able to completely satisfy his superiors in Richmond, who were largely out of touch with the realities of his situation. During his two-year tenure, Smith created a number of general officers to fulfill his local requirements, some of whom were approved by President Davis, while others were not. Ultimately, the devaluation of the Confederate currency and insuperable logistical difficulties rendered Smith's situation untenable.Keir B. Sterling, "Smith, Edmund Kirby," American National Biography Online, February 2000, http://www.anb.org/articles/05/05-00407.html.
General Kirby Smith's Confederate army goes home, Shreveport, Louisiana, May 23, 1865, artist's impression.
General Kirby Smith's Confederate army goes home, Shreveport, Louisiana, May 23, 1865, artist's impression, detail.