William Ruthven Smith
Encyclopedia
William Ruthven Smith was a career United States Army
officer who commanded the 36th Infantry Division during its deployment in France during World War I
and later became Superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York
.
, son of Robert McPhail and Lititia (Trimble) Smith. The younger Smith attended Vanderbilt University
and was appointed to the United States Military Academy
from his native state, graduating 10th out of 62 cadets in his class of 1892.
and teaching at West Point as instructor at various intervals of the separate subjects of chemistry
, mathematics
, ordnance, and gun
nery. Made captain of the new Coast Artillery Corps in 1901, he was a student of the school of submarine defense and commanded Fort Monroe
in 1908. In the years preceding the conflict to be called World War I
, Smith commanded anti-submarine technology schools and departments, in February, 1917 stretching "the first submarine net put down in America, 2000 yards long, 84 feet at deepest point, extending from Fort Monroe to Fort Wool and closing entrance to Hampton Roads
"
Promoted to colonel
of the Coast Artillery Corps in May, 1917, Smith was made a brigadier general
of the National Army and assigned to train the 62nd Field Artillery Brigade, 37th Division (Ohio National Guard). After training that command for nine months at Camp Sheridan, Alabama
, Smith traveled with the Guard unit to its embarkation for Europe, but was left on the docks when their ships departed on June 10, 1918, by order of the War Department.
Smith was given command of the 36th Infantry Division and promoted to major general
of the National Army in the Summer of 1918. After arriving in Brest, France
, the 36th Division, Smith established a combat course for training at Bar-sur-Aube
. In October 1918, Smith led the 36th Division while with 2nd Division it was attached to the French Fourth Army
under Henri Gouraud on its push to the Aisne River
.White, 36th Division in World War I, Ch. VI Smith remained in command of the 36th unit demobilization in June 1919, when his National army rank dissolved, his rank reverted again to colonel, U.S. Army.
After promotion again to brigadier, this time of the regular army, Smith had several garrison commands in the Philippines
, Fort Sam Houston
, Fort Monroe again, and Honolulu, Hawaii
, then returned to the academy, this time to occupy the superintendent's billet
from 1928 until 1932. During his tour as superintendent, Smith helped secure Stewart Field
in nearby Newburgh, New York as a base for the Army Air Corps
and USMA pilot training.
After retirement, Smith returned to his native state of Tennessee, settling in Sewanee
where he became superintendent of the local military academy (now St. Andrew's-Sewanee School
) and served in that capacity until his death on July 15, 1941.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
officer who commanded the 36th Infantry Division during its deployment in France during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and later became Superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York
West Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
.
Early life
William Ruthven Smith was born April 2, 1868, in Nashville, TennesseeNashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, son of Robert McPhail and Lititia (Trimble) Smith. The younger Smith attended Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
and was appointed to the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
from his native state, graduating 10th out of 62 cadets in his class of 1892.
Military career
Smith's early postings alternated between garrison service in field artilleryField artillery
Field artillery is a category of mobile artillery used to support armies in the field. These weapons are specialized for mobility, tactical proficiency, long range, short range and extremely long range target engagement....
and teaching at West Point as instructor at various intervals of the separate subjects of chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
, mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
, ordnance, and gun
Gun
A gun is a muzzle or breech-loaded projectile-firing weapon. There are various definitions depending on the nation and branch of service. A "gun" may be distinguished from other firearms in being a crew-served weapon such as a howitzer or mortar, as opposed to a small arm like a rifle or pistol,...
nery. Made captain of the new Coast Artillery Corps in 1901, he was a student of the school of submarine defense and commanded Fort Monroe
Fort Monroe
Fort Monroe was a military installation in Hampton, Virginia—at Old Point Comfort, the southern tip of the Virginia Peninsula...
in 1908. In the years preceding the conflict to be called World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Smith commanded anti-submarine technology schools and departments, in February, 1917 stretching "the first submarine net put down in America, 2000 yards long, 84 feet at deepest point, extending from Fort Monroe to Fort Wool and closing entrance to Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads is the name for both a body of water and the Norfolk–Virginia Beach metropolitan area which surrounds it in southeastern Virginia, United States...
"
Promoted to colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
of the Coast Artillery Corps in May, 1917, Smith was made a brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
of the National Army and assigned to train the 62nd Field Artillery Brigade, 37th Division (Ohio National Guard). After training that command for nine months at Camp Sheridan, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, Smith traveled with the Guard unit to its embarkation for Europe, but was left on the docks when their ships departed on June 10, 1918, by order of the War Department.
Smith was given command of the 36th Infantry Division and promoted to major general
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
of the National Army in the Summer of 1918. After arriving in Brest, France
Brest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
, the 36th Division, Smith established a combat course for training at Bar-sur-Aube
Bar-sur-Aube
Bar-sur-Aube is a commune of France in the Aube department, of which it is a sub-prefecture.-Population:The inhabitants of the commune are called Baralbains.-Culture:*Market every Saturday morning in the halls...
. In October 1918, Smith led the 36th Division while with 2nd Division it was attached to the French Fourth Army
Fourth Army (France)
The Fourth Army was a Field army of the French Army, which fought during World War I and World War II.-World War I:*General Fernand de Langle de Cary *General Henri Gouraud...
under Henri Gouraud on its push to the Aisne River
Aisne River
The Aisne is a river in northeastern France, left tributary of the river Oise. It gave its name to the French département Aisne. It was known in the Roman period as the Axona....
.White, 36th Division in World War I, Ch. VI Smith remained in command of the 36th unit demobilization in June 1919, when his National army rank dissolved, his rank reverted again to colonel, U.S. Army.
After promotion again to brigadier, this time of the regular army, Smith had several garrison commands in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, Fort Sam Houston
Fort Sam Houston
Fort Sam Houston is a U.S. Army post in San Antonio, Texas.Known colloquially as "Fort Sam," it is named for the first President of the Republic of Texas, Sam Houston....
, Fort Monroe again, and Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
, then returned to the academy, this time to occupy the superintendent's billet
Billet
A billet is a term for living quarters to which a soldier is assigned to sleep. Historically, it referred to a private dwelling that was required to accept the soldier....
from 1928 until 1932. During his tour as superintendent, Smith helped secure Stewart Field
Stewart Air National Guard Base
Stewart Air National Guard Base is the home of the 105th Airlift Wing , an Air Mobility Command -gained unit of the New York Air National Guard and "host" wing for the installation...
in nearby Newburgh, New York as a base for the Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
and USMA pilot training.
After retirement, Smith returned to his native state of Tennessee, settling in Sewanee
Sewanee, Tennessee
Sewanee is an unincorporated locality in Franklin County, Tennessee, United States, treated by the U.S. Census as a census-designated place . The population was 2,361 at the 2000 census...
where he became superintendent of the local military academy (now St. Andrew's-Sewanee School
St. Andrew's-Sewanee School
St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School is a private, coeducational, Episcopal, boarding and day college preparatory school serving 260 students in grades six through twelve. It is located in Sewanee, Tennessee on the Cumberland Plateau between Nashville and Chattanooga and adjacent to the University of the...
) and served in that capacity until his death on July 15, 1941.