A cool and observant First Sergeant

It has been said and is believed that good NCO's (Non-Commissioned Officers) are the backbone of any branch of the military service. Good NCO's lead by example and communicate and implement orders received from the officers to the enlisted personal. This was true in the Civil War and is true today in times of peace and war. The following after action reports describe the excellent combat leadership demonstrated by 1st Sergeant Robert W. Smith of Co. C, 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry.

These reports are unique because they include the follow up report by 1st Sgt. Smith's Commanding Officer and his Brigade Commander, Colonel Charles W. Blair. All of the brief reports are located on Pages 1015 and 1016 in Series I, Vol. 34 of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion.

Fort Scott, Kan., June 16, 1864

To General McKean:

Sir: About noon today a party of 30 men of Company C, 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry, were attacked in the brush 40 miles south of here, on the Carthage Road, as they returned from a scout. There were 100 of the enemy visible that were counted.

The firing was pretty brisk for a few minutes, one of our men being killed, two of theirs were killed and three rode off hanging down on the side of their saddles and are badly, if not mortally wounded. Sergeant Smith, who was in command and who is a cool and observant sergeant, drew his men out on the prairie to have a fair chance. The enemy declined to follow, but as the woods seemed to be full of the enemy, our troops slowly retired. Shall start a scout of 100 men immediately to try to find them, but as they are so far off have but little hope.

Charles W. Blair, Colonel, Comdg. 1st Brigade, South Kansas

Headquarters Company C, 3rd Wisconsin Cav., Dry Wood, Mo., June 16, 1864

Col. C. W. Blair, Commanding 1st Brigade, South Kansas and Post, Fort Scott, Kansas: Colonel: First Sergeant Smith has made his report, which is enclosed, of the sad casualty to our company today. The body undoubtedly lies there and I would like permission to go down with a body of men sufficient to obtain it and to make such endeavor as would be prudent to obtain the cattle.

My first duty is to put my company in fighting trim! We need 40 carbines, 25 pistols and at least 40 saddles. We have the horses, but no saddles.

From every indication these rebels were well mounted and armed with guns of heavy shooting caliber and handled themselves as if accustomed to regular warfare and I have no doubt, but they are the advance or flankers of the reported force of 600 at Pineville.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

M.M. EHLE, 2nd lt., Commanding Company C.

Headquarters, Company C, 3rd Wisconsin Cav. Vols. Dry Wood, Mo., June 16, 1864

Col. C. W. Blair, Commanding Post, Fort Scott, Kan.

Sir: Agreeably to your order of the 13th instant, I proceeded to Carthage, Mo., with 30 men of this company, for the purpose of brining out cattle for use of the Government trains. I was delayed two days after my arrival at Carthage on the 13th instant and started for Fort Scott on the 16th instant at daybreak. All was quiet on the road until after we had crossed the lower ford, on the Big North Fork near Preston, Mo., where 46 rebels came out a short distance from the timber and kept a continuous advance and firing upon us while we were so badly scattered as to afford no possible time for us to form [a] line. I immediately ordered a retreat and formed a line about 100 yards from where we were first attacked and across a ravine, where the rebels came to a halt, but continued firing.

After exchanging a few rounds the rebels withdrew and fell back into the timber, where I had previously discovered another body of men and this attack being so close to the timber it was impossible to follow them without running into three times our number.

I ordered 2 men to the right about one-half mile to an eminence on the prairie, where all that surrounded us was visible to them and made a discovery of 30 rebels on the opposite side of the point of timber from where we were attacked, but none of them on either side offered us an engagement on the prairie. The loss on our side was 1 killed -- Eugene Hunt, a private. This was done before the men had all got together.

Three of the enemy wounded and 1 mortally. The cattle ran into the timber about 200 yards from the rebel camp, leaving no opportunity of recapturing them without great sacrifice. I was consequently obliged to leave them and slowly retreat to (our) camp on Dry Wood tonight.

I am, Colonel, Your Obedient Servant,

R. W. Smith, First Sergeant, Company C, 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry

It is not known if the remains of Pvt. Hunt or the cattle were ever recovered, but it is clear from these reports that 1st Sgt. Robert W. Smith was an excellent combat NCO!

His actions under fire, demonstrate his leadership abilities and ability to adapt and improvise in a fluid combat situation. He had the presence of mind when attacked by a larger enemy force to consolidate and relocate his troops to a more favorable defensive position (the open prairie) and with minimal casualties slowly retired his command to fight another day.