Background
James Anderson Smythe was born in Canada on May 28, 1849.
James Anderson Smythe was born in Canada on May 28, 1849.
He was one of six men received the Medal of Honor for gallantry against a hostile band of Plains Indians at the Wichita River in Texas on October 5, 1870. He eventually emigrated to the United States and enlisted in the United States. Army, under the name James Anderson, around 1870. Smythe served with the 6th United States. Cavalry and assigned frontier duty in Northwestern Texas.
On October 5, 1870, he participated in a running battle with hostile Plains Indians at the Wichita River.
He and five other men, including Sergeant Michael Welch, Corporal Samuel Bowden, Corporal
Daniel Keating, Private Smythe remained in the army for another ten years, rising to the rank of Second Lieutenant.
He worked as stationery engineer for the rest of his life. Smythe"s health began to decline in 1917 and he died of pneumonia on May 31, 1918, only three days after his 69th birthday.
He was buried at Saint Peter and Paul"s Cemetery in Saint Louis.