John Gregory Smith, of St. Albans, Vermont, was elected Governor in September, 1863, and re-elected in September, 1864, serving two terms. He was representative from St. Albans in the Legislature convened in annual session, October, 1860. He was at this time a rising, and one of the leading lawyers of the State, and also trustee of the Vermont and Canada R. R. His ability, suavity, commanding presence and business relations secured to him at once a prominent position in the political and business affairs of the state.
He was an influential member of the Legislature assembled in annual session, October, 1860, and took an active and conspicuous part in the deliberations of the extra session called by Governor Fairbanks only a few days after the assault on Fort Sumter to consider measures pertaining to the then pending conflict between some of the Southern states and the general government.
Mr. Smith, of St. Albans was speaker of the House for the annual sessions of 1861 and 1862 in which capacity he displayed that wonderful executive ability that made him a successful man in the management of great business enterprises, especially railroad developments in Vermont and the great west. From the commencement of the Civil War to its close, he with patriotic devotion gave his ability
and untiring energy to the prosecution of the war in order that the wicked rebellion might be subdued and the Union preserved.
His commanding position in the political, social and business affairs of the State frequently called him into the councils of the nation during the progress of the war. President Lincoln often consulted his war governor, John Gregory Smith of Vermont and entrusted to him the mighty problems that burdened his heart for his opinion. Governor Smith was a frequent visitor in Washington and at the White House.
He visited the hospitals, the camps, especially where the boys from Vermont were to be found, ever on the alert to see what could be done to improve conditions, to encourage and cheer Vermonters that were in the service.
Governor Smith was very proud of the valiant service and unparalleled record made by the sons of Vermont on the many battlefields in which they took part. He appreciated their unselfish devotion to their country, and never forgot to recognize and reward, so far as possible, all who volunteered from the State of Vermont. The uniform was a pass on his railroads to the soldier on his way to the front or returning home from the dreaded hospital, or wounded from the field of battle.
He was one of the noble men of our state that did much to buoy up the hopes of President Lincoln during the last two years of the war. Nearly all of the military organizations from Vermont had companies or parts of companies from St. Albans, the home town of Governor Smith, and the long list of boys from St. Albans who received commissions was a flattering compliment to their valor, and appreciation of their services by the Governor.
The writer was personally acquainted with Governor Smith from the time he was Governor to
the end of his remarkable career and knows whereof he speaks. Of his many virtues and noble characteristics, I have mentioned only a few. It is proper to say that Governor John Gregory Smith was one of the great men of Vermont and the peer of any in his day and generation.
~ History of the 13th Regiment, Vermont Volunteers, War of 1861-1865, written in 1910 by Ralph Orson Sturtevant, pages 16 & 17.
You can visit the memorial page for John Gregory Smith.
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