Gustavus Woodson Smith

Gustavus Woodson Smith

Gustavus Woodson Smith, more commonly known as G.W. Smith, was a career United States Army officer who fought in the Mexican–American War, a civil engineer, and a major general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He briefly commanded the Army of Northern Virginia from May 31 until June 1, 1862, following the wounding of General Joseph E. Johnston at the Battle of Seven Pines, and before General Robert E. Lee took command. Smith later served as an interim Confederate States Secretary of War and in the Georgia Militia.