Smith, E. Kirby Smith

(1824-1893) Born in Florida. Graduated from West Point. Fought in Mexican War. On the Texas frontier in the 1850s, commanded Camps Belknap, Cooper and Colorado. In 1860 and many years afterwards was a partner of J. M. Hunter of Fredericksburg in a Texas ranch. Resigned from U. S. Army, 1861, to serve Confederacy. Was appointed 1863, to command all the area west of the Mississippi. At that time Federals held the river, all of Missouri, much of Arkansas, Louisiana and Indian Territory, and were trying to take Texas and her supplies of food, cotton and horses. The Trans-Mississippi Dept. had many problems. The French under Maximilian were approaching from Mexico. Indians and bandits constantly raided frontiers. Freighters and blockade runners had to be employed for exporting cotton-- the only product the South had for trading to get guns, ammunition and goods. Texas was chief source of the cotton Gen. Smith used for financing his army. It was place of safety to which he sent his wife and children. It gave him ovations as he went to Mexico after the war ended. Young Texans studied, 1875-1893, in his mathematics classes at the University of the South, Sewanee, Tenn.

Smith, E. Kirby Smith is a historical marker in Fredericksburg, Gillespie County, dedicated in 1965. It is one of 109 historical markers documented in Gillespie County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 195 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 30.2232, -98.7221 near Fredericksburg. The nearest cataloged historic site is Burg, Peter (cemetery), about 0.1 miles away. Others within a short drive include Lower South Grape Creek School, Unknown Graves #2, and Luckenbauch Cemetery.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5171010116. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.