Deputy Sheriff
Charles E. Smith

HIS EARLY LIFE AND PROFILE
    It has been over 161 years since Charles E. Smith was born into the union between Winthrop L. and Nancy (Hall) Smith on November 20, 1843. He was the eldest son and was later joined by five brothers. Little is known, or could be determined regarding his early years, except that he was surely born at home, that his mother being a school teacher, his education came from and through her over his formative years, and that he was a resident of the Town of Barrington for all of his life, save the time that he volunteered to serve his state and country during the Civil War. At the time of his death 113 years ago on May 23, 1891, he

had married, had one son, had distinguished himself has a prominent and most successful citizen of Barrington, and although wounded from a bullet wound to the hip region, he was returned to Barrington from the nearby Town of Strafford, where he subsided from infection to the wound at his home.
    The State of New Hampshire had sent many of its young men to serve in the War of the Rebellion since its outbreak in 1861. It wasn’t until January 19, 1865 that Charles E. Smith giving his age as 21 years, giving credit to the Town of Barrington for this place of enlistment, entered into the Union Army as a private. He joined the 18th New Hampshire Volunteer Regiment Infantry and was assigned to Company “G.” His enlistment period was for one year. The 18th New Hampshire was organized at Concord on September 13, 1864. During February, March and April of 1865, companies “G”, “H”, “I” joined the regiment and went south to City Point, Virginia. They were pressed into battle during the Siege of Petersburg, helped repulse the attack on Fort Stedman, participated in the assault and fall of Petersburg and subsequently the occupation of Petersburg. In early April of 1865, the 18th NH moved to Washington, D.C. between April 20-26,1865. They went into camp at Alexandria and Provost duty at Georgetown till July. They provided guard duty in Washington during the trial of President Lincoln’s assassins, the six original companies mustered out June 10, 1865, the balance of the regiments mustered our July 29, 1865. Private Charles E. Smith, however, was discharged as of May 20, 1865 as “disabled”. Smith’s disability was researched through copies of his federal pension records maintained by the National Archives in Washington, D.C. This resulted in confirmation that Smith “contacted RHEU-MATISM by reason of exposure and laying on the wet ground” while line the line of duty at City Point, Virginia. He also “contacted RUMITTYST (sic) FEVER at South Side R.R. Which resulted in dizziness or rush of blood to the head.” Private Smith entered Harewood Hospital in April of 1865. He made application for a disability pension on August 2, 1884, while 40 years of age, which was granted. He received a partial pension until his death and his wife, Ellen è