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Decorations

 * Army Superior Unit Award Streamer Embroidered 2008-2009 (1)

Gustavus Adolphus Smith
Gustavus Adolphus Smith (December 26, 1820 - December 11, 1885) served as a Union Army general (1861–1863) during the American Civil War. Prior to the Civil War, Smith was a designer for the Philadelphia Carriage Manufacturers. Smith moved to Decatur where he established a carriage manufacture and fathered seven children. His carriage works at Main and Church streets employed between 20 and 30 workers and is believed to be the only local manufacturer exporting goods prior to 1860.

In 1861 he was commissioned as a Colonel of the 35th Illinois Infantry Regiment. At the battle of Elkhorn Tavern also known as the battle of Pea Ridge, Smith was directing the fire of the 1st Iowa Battery when "[his] horse was shot from under him. While awaiting another horse ... a bullet struck his sword in his hand; his belt was shot from his waist; he received a shot in the right shoulder and was struck on the right side of the head with a piece of shell which fractured his skull ... he was then taken from the field [supposedly] mortally wounded." His wounds did not fully heal until 1868.

In July, 1862, he was authorized to recruit a brigade and as a result was made a brigadier general of volunteers to rank from September 19, 1862. Unable to stand field duty, the United States Senate failed to act on his nomination to General which expired by law March 4, 1863. Smith's regiment performed guard duty on the Nashville 8c Chattanooga Railroad. He was remustered as colonel of the 155th Illinois on February 28, 1865 until the end of the war when he was brevetted brigadier general of volunteers. He was honorably mustered out of service on December 14, 1865.

After residing temporarily in Alabama, Smith was appointed collector of internal revenue for the District of New Mexico in 1870 by President Grant. He lived in Santa Fe from the time of his appointment until he died on December 11, 1885, and was buried in Fairview Cemetery; his remains were later removed to the U. S. National Cemetery in Santa Fe.