Gen. W. F. Smith

5rig. (jron VV. F. Bmitb, whose nomination as Major General of volunteers at the request of Gen. Gratit, is announeed, was, previous to the rebellion, a Captain in the topographical engiueers of tho regular army, and in 1SÖ8 was stationed in Chicago, superuitending tho OODstrnction of the ligLthouse in Cbicago harbor. He was commissioued, ia 1861, as Colonel of the Third Verinont voluntuers,' and coimnanded thafc re"i pient in the Army of the Potomao. For ineritorious coudact, he was, at an early date, appointed Brigadier Gen. ral, ukiog cuimiiand "f tiie Vermont brigade, Jeaüing it thruugli the several eugage:nents in Virginia. He eoramaüded a .división during the Pouinsula and MaryJand canipaignr, di.stinguishing himseif prouiioently in those eventful buttles. - VVhen Lee invaded Peoulvania, (Jen. H-mitl) was ashigncd to the eoinuiand of ,the new levies of Pcijiisylvaiiiii toops .Subsequent to the battle of Guttysburg, e ss'as trftDsferred to Grant'a grand diyision aschief of the eugineers - a position he has filled with great credit up to tho present time. H was by his ingeuity and energy that our line of oommunioation, whioh w;is at one time cut oflF by tho rebels, was reopened at (Jhattanooga. G';u. Gratit, and array offie, rs generally, deemud him one of the very best offieers in tho service. It will be remembered that he was the officer against whom cerfain political critics of military men and fnalters bronght a charge of having fallen off his horso in a state of intoxication at the battle of Lee's Mills, Virginia - a charge that was afterwards proved to have beeu utterly false.