He was born on August 3, 1816 in the canton of Berne, Switzerland. His father, John Banler Smith, was an officer in one of the Swiss regiments which accompanied Napoleon from his ill-fated Moscow campaign to Waterloo. Before John Eugene was a year old his parents emigrated to America and settled in Philadelphia.
John received an elementary education and learned the jeweler's trade in Philadelphia.
In 1836, after having followed his trade for a few years in St. Louis, Missouri, he removed to Galena, Illinois, and established a jewelry business.
In 1860 he was elected treasurer of Jo Daviess County, Illinois. When the Civil War broke out he at once offered his services to Governor Yates, and, after serving on the staff of the latter for a few months, he organized the 45th Illinois Infantry and became colonel on July 23, 1861. During 1862 he led his regiment in the operations against Forts Henry and Donelson, was in the thickest of the fight at Shiloh, and temporarily commanded a brigade at the siege of Corinth. He was appointed brigadier-general of volunteers on November 29, 1862.
In the spring of 1863 he was given command of a division, under General Grant, which he led ably throughout the Vicksburg campaign, participating in the expedition to Yazoo Pass, the battles of Port Gibson, Raymond, Jackson, Champion's Hill, Big Black River, and the final siege and capture of Vicksburg. Smith, with his division, was then transferred to the Army of the Tennessee, made a brilliant charge at Missionary Ridge, Tennessee, and accompanied General Sherman on his march to the sea.
A prompt and effective deployment of his division at Savannah, on December 20, 1864, was instrumental in causing the Confederates to evacuate the city. In June 1865 he was assigned to command the district of western Tennessee where he remained until he was mustered out of the service on April 30, 1866. The following July he was commissioned colonel of the 27th Infantry in the regular army. He served at various frontier posts, and by his coolness and prompt action at Fort Laramie, helped to quell an outbreak of the Sioux Indians under Spotted Tail.
Smith retired from active service in May 1881, and settled in Chicago, Illinois, where he died.
John Eugene Smith organized the 45th Illinois Infantry, known as the "Washburne Leadmine Regiment, " led his regiment with bravery and distinction, fought at Shiloh, at the siege of Corinth. He had been three times honored with brevet rank: in 1865, as major-general of volunteers for service and gallantry in action at the Atlanta and Carolina campaigns; in 1867, as brigadier-general in the regular army for gallantry at the siege of Vicksburg; and again in the same year, as major-general in the regular army for action at Savannah.
In 1836 he was married to Aimee A. Massot of St. Louis. He was survived by three sons.
