Hank Smith and Elizabeth Smith

Crosby County
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Crosby County Biographies

Elizabeth and Hank Smith

Birth Date: Jul 12, 1848		Birth Date: Aug 15, 1836
Death Date Jun 5, 1925		Death Date: May 19, 1912

Service

Commanding Officer: Baylor

Organization: New Mexico Co. b., 4th Texas Cav, Sibley's Brigade, CSA

Date of Enlistment: 10 Aug 1861

Date of discharge: 18 May 1865

Enlisted in Orange County, TX

Legend: Hank Smith and William Boyle (who later became his brother-in-law, according to Mrs Spikes) were in Arizona possibly freighting, as activity was great in connection with the goldmines.
To prevent capture of the mines by the Federal troops, a volunteer company of Arizona Guards was mustered in at Pines Altas on August 8, 1881. On July 12, orders came from the U.S. War Department to withdraw all regular troops from the territory of New Mexico. On May 4, Brid/Gen Earl Van Dorn had ordered re-garrisoning of Posts.

On July 27, the Federals buried Fort Fillmers and retreated, but were captured by the Republic.

August 1, Baylor came from Fort Bliss with Shelby's troops and took possession of Arizona for C.S.A.

Muster Roll shown in the book :
Independent Volunteer Companies attached to Baylor's Command:
ARIZONA GUARDS, as of August 3, 1861
Mustered in Pines Altas

Thomas Helm, 2nd Lieutenant (promoted by Captain on death of Tho. J. Martin, killed by Indians), age 27 Henry ("Hank") Smith, and 4th Sergeant, age 37

Listed in PRIVATES:
1. BOYLE, William, age 26

These companies made up what was called "Sibley's Army of New Mexico", C.S.A.

Gen. H. H. Sibley, with the 3000 volunteers of the Texas Brigade moved north up the Rio Grande early in 1862. They were halted by Colorado volunteers at Glorietta on March 23 as the Texans were advancing toward Ft. Union from Santa Fe. The Union detachment had attacked and destroyed the lightly guarded Confederate supply train of 80 wagons.

The confederates moved back to Santa Fe, then began the long retreat south into Texas. Many of these troops saw service in other campaign areas of the Civil War. Most of these men were hardened riders of the plains, dead shots and armed with rifles, shotguns and cavalry lances - a formidable group of fighting men. but loss of supplies, hunger, measles, small-pox and pneumonia, forced them to retreat which ended in almost total disintegration of their ranks as they fled on to San Antonio, the nearest point of supply. Many were added to other existing companies for the duration of the war.

Source: "Sibley's New Mexico Campaign", Martin Hardwick Hull
Information supplied by Mrs. C. E. Sanders, Crosby County Historical Chairman 1965
Informant: Evelyn Lowrie

Submitted by Ralls Historical Museum

Biography

Crosby County's First Settler
Crosby County History Book p. 494

Others Researching This Family

troykaren@msn.com

Burial Site

Row F 3 and 4

Site Map Location

Headstone Inscription & Sentiments

The marker given by the Texas Historical Survey committee, researched by Mrs. D. W. Parmalee, Austin, TX - honoring a Civil War Veteran buried in the county reads:
Henry Clay "Hank" Smith
New Mexico, Co. B, 4th Texas Cavalry
Sibley Brigade, C.S.A.

Headstone Photo Side

Headstone Photo Front View

Headstone Close Up

Government Marker