- Military records show that Thomas J. Smith enlisted in Co G, 6th W.Va. Cav, on 20 Apr 1864 in Wheeling for a three-year term. He mustered in as a Corporal on 4 May 1864 in Charleston. His physical description was recorded as 5'8" tall, light hair, fair complexion, hazel eyes, occupation farmer.
Following the assassination of President Lincoln in April 1865, the 6th W.Va. Cavalry was ordered to Washington, D.C. In June 1863, orders were received for the regiment to go to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, via Cincinnati and St. Louis. "An incident of this trip was a collision on the night of June 20th, at Carlisle, Ill. Three men and seventy-three horses were killed. Daylight showed a mass of broken cars piled high upon each other." http://members.tripod.com/john_whitacre/ One of the casualties was Thomas J. Smith, who died on 23 Jun 1865 at the Marine General Hospital in St. Louis. The cause of death on his death record was entered as "concussion of the brain and injury of all the internal organs." An entry on the Certificate for Government Undertakers stated "Taken home to West Union, Va." His personal effects were released to his brother John.
NOTE: As of February 2017, the Civil War medal issued for Elijah G. Smith had never been claimed and was in storage at the West Virginia State Archives in Charleston.
http://www.wvculture.org/history/archives/civilwarmedals/medals.html
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1845 - 1865 (~ 20 years)
