Centurion Auctions is pleased to bring to market the wartime trophies and personal items of Brigadier General Frederick Appleton Smith (1849 – 1922). All of the items indicated as belonging to Brigadier General Smith have been consigned by the family. Graduating from the United States Military Academy (West Point) in 1873 on through his retirement in 1913, the collection encompasses military, wartime, and personal pieces collected by Smith during the course of his 40-year military career in which he served extensively in the Western Frontier, Cuba, and the Philippines.
*Note: Omnia Auctions, within their September 2021 Hobby Collector Auction will also offer a number of personal effects belonging to Frederick Appleton Smith.
Bidders are able to view sale information, item details, register, and bid on the Smith collection via the following links:
- July 28th 2021 | Wartime Collectible & Militaria Auction (Centurion)
- September 5th 2021 | Collector Hobby & Memorabilia Auction (Omnia)
About Smith, his life and career:
Frederick Appleton Smith was born on May 15, 1849 in the town of Craigville, New York, to the parents of Frederick B. and Sarah Durno Smith.
Cadet Smith graduated the United States Military Academy on June 13th, 1873 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant assigned to Frontier Duty with the 12th Infantry.
During this period, Lieutenant Smith served to move Modoc Prisoners from Fort Klamath (Oregon) to Fort D.A. Russell (Wyoming).
Lieutenant Smith was in garrison at Fort McDowell, Angel Island (California) November 1873 - July 1875. He was then assigned to Camp Bidwell (California) from December 1875 - September 1878.
On June 28, 1878 Lieutenant Smith was promoted to First Lieutenant and assigned as Adjutant 12th Infantry (November 1878 – March 1887).
During this period Lieutenant Smith spent time at Whipple Barracks (Arizona) from September 1878 – September 1882; in garrison at Madison Barracks, New York from September 1882 – July 1887; Frontier Duty at Fort Yates (North Dakota) from July 1887 – May 1889.
On October 3, 1878 Smith married Wilhelmine Fowler while in New York.
Following Fort Yates, Lieutenant Smith was in garrison at Columbus Barracks (Ohio) on general recruiting duty from November 1889 – November 1891.
Then on to Fort Sully (South Dakota) from November 1891 – August 1892.
During this period Smith was promoted to Captain and from August 1892 – June 1894 Captain Smith served as Adjutant and Executive Officer, Columbian Guard, World’s Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois.
In June 1894, upon completion of this two-year assignment in Chicago, Captain Smith returned to the frontier serving at Fort Sully (South Dakota) and Fort Niobrara (Nebraska) from September 1894 – August 1895.
Captain Smith was then assigned to the Michigan Military Academy, Orchard Lake, Michigan as the Professor of Military Science and Tactics from September 1895 – September 1897.
After his teaching assignment, Captain Smith returned to Fort Niobrara, Nebraska through April 1898.
Captain Smith was then assigned Adjutant-General, Infantry Division, Camp George H. Thomas, Chickamauga Park (Georgia) and in the vicinity of Tampa (Florida) from April 1898 – May 1898.
On July 30th, 1898 Captain Smith became Acting Assistant Adjutant-General U.S. Forces and 5th Army Corps at Tampa (Florida) and Santiago (Cuba) during the period of May 1898 – July 1898. During this same period, Smith was Mustering Officer, 5th Army Corps during June and July 1898.
In July 1898 Captain Smith was promoted to Major and assigned to duty as Chief Commissary of Subsistence, U.S. Volunteers and stationed in the Department of the Lakes, Chicago (Illinois).
Major Smith was Honorably discharged from Volunteer Service on June 13, 1899.
Come June 20, 1899 Major Smith continued his service assigned as Major of the 1st Infantry.
For the next few years Major Smith would be assigned as Acting Assistant-General, Headquarters Division of Cuba (July – October 1899); Commanding District of Guanajay and Guanajay Barracks, Cuba (October 1899 – August 1900); and then in Philippine Islands (September 1900 – February 1901).
While in the Philippines, Major Smith detailed as Inspector-General Department of the Visayas (Philippine Islands) in August 1901; Inspector-General Department, South Philippines, (Philippine Islands) in December 1901; Inspector-General Department of the Visayas (Philippine Islands) from September 1902 – February 1903.
In April 1902 Major Smith wrote a letter to the Adjutant General, U.S. Army, Washington D.C. requesting a transfer back to the States. His reasoning for a transfer was based on (with the exception of a few months) serving in remote tropical climates for nearly four contiguous years, ongoing health issues, as well as personal issues related to the death of his father during his absence, the failing health of his mother, and having been separated from his wife and children for many years. His request for transfer was granted and came through about ten months later.
In July 1902 Major Smith was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.
On transfer back to the States, Lieutenant Colonel Smith was assigned to duty with the Inspector-General’s Office, Washington, D.C. through April 1903 before being detailed on General Staff later in April 1903.
Lieutenant Colonel Smith was promoted to Colonel in January 1904.
Smith was next assigned to Revising Infantry Drill Regulations, Washington D.C. from September 1903 – July 1904; Governor’s Island (New York) from July 1904 – February 1906; Commanded 4th Brigade, 2d Division, Maneuver Corps, Manassas (Virginia) August – September 1905.
Lieutenant Colonel Smith would then return to the Philippine Islands from April 1906 – April 1908 serving in charge of field operations against Pulajanes, Island of Samar from July 1906 – June 1907, and in addition the Island of Leyte from January 1907 to June 1907.
Lieutenant Colonel Smith then returned Stateside to Fort McDowell (California) from May – September 1908.
In October 1908 Smith was promoted to Brigadier General by President Theodore Roosevelt.
Brigadier General Smith went on to hold various posts over the next few years, including Commanding Department of California, San Francisco (California) from October 1908 - January 1909; Commanding Fort D. A. Russell (Wyoming) from April 1909 to March 1910; Commanding Department of the Missouri March 1910 - February 1913; Commanding 1st Brigade, Maneuver Division, San Antonio (Texas) March - July 1911; Commander Red Army in Connecticut Maneuver Campaign in August 1912; Commanding Central Division, Chicago (Illinois) October - November 1912; Commanding 5th Brigade, 2nd Division from February - April 1913; Omaha (Nebraska) in May 1913.
Brigadier General Frederick Appleton Smith retired in May 1913.
In retirement, Smith returned to his native New York where he resided until his death in 1922 at the age of 72.
Centurion Auctions is an industry leader in the valuation, marketing, and sale of historically important firearms, military collectibles, documents, and arms. Centurion conducts specialty auctions in both Firearms and Wartime Military Collectibles. Firearm auctions are focused on antique, modern, sporting, collector, and military firearms, as well as NFA machine guns. Wartime Military Collectible auctions center on medals, awards, edged weapons, cloth, headgear, uniforms, gear, and the like. Each auction is comprised of collections from around the globe, to include individuals, dealers, trusts, estates, museums, and life-long collections. Acquisition teams travel nationally in the acquisition of collections and important items. If you are selling firearms or wartime collectibles - contact Centurion for a complimentary consultation.
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The following is a list of lots belonging to Frederick Appleton Smith that are included in the July 28th 2021 Wartime Collectible Auction:
Select this link to view all of the Frederick Appleton Smith lots within the online catalog.
WCE WORLD COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION GUARD SWORD WCG, 67001
19TH C. KALINGA PHILIPPINES IGOROT HEAD HUNTER AXE, 67006
CIVIL WAR ERA US ARMY MODEL 1855 SOCKET BAYONET, 67010
US ARMY WINCHESTER REPEATING RIFLE M1873 BAYONET, 67011
US ARMY WINCHESTER REPEATING RIFLE M1873 BAYONET, 67012
19TH C. BONE HANDLE CALIFORNIA BOWIE KNIFE, 67013
19TH C. INDONESIAN KERIS KRIS KNIFE VET BRING BACK, 67014
19TH C. INDONESIAN KERIS KRIS KNIFE VET BRING BACK, 67015
19TH C. PHILIPPINE KNIFE US VETERAN'S BRING BACK, 67016
19TH C. PHILIPPINE WAR US VET BRING BACK DAGGER, 67017
19TH C. SPANISH AMERICAN WAR US BRING BACK DAGGER, 67018
19TH C. PHILIPPINE KNIFE US VETERAN'S BRING BACK, 67019
19TH C. PHILIPPINE KNIFE US VETERAN'S BRING BACK, 67020
19TH C. SPANISH AMERICAN WAR US BRING BACK DAGGER, 67021
INDONESIAN BALINESE KERIS KRIS KNIFE & SCABBARD, 67022
INDONESIAN BALINESE GOLOK KRIS MACHETE & SCABBARD, 67023
19TH C. PHILIPPINE BORANG BOLO KNIFE US BRING BACK, 67024
19TH C. PHILIPPINE PINUTI BOLO SWORD US BRING BACK, 67025
US CIVIL WAR CONFEDERATE NAVY CUTLASS BY COOK, 67026
SPAN-AM WAR BRING BACK SPANISH HABANA MARKED SWORD, 67027
SPAN-AM WAR BRING BACK SPANISH HABANA MARKED SWORD, 67028
WWII IMPERIAL JAPANESE TYPE 30 ARISAKA BAYONET, 67031
WWII BRITISH ARMY BRODIE HELMET DATED 1942, 67065
LATE VIETNAM US NAVY FLIGHT DECK HELMET, 67093
1900'S FIRST PATTERN PHILIPPINES BATTLE FLAG, 67517
FIRST PATTERN PHILIPPINES FLAG SURRENDERED TO US, 67518
WWI - WWII UNITED STATES 48 STARS FLAG, 67519
WWI - WWII UNITED STATES 48 STARS FLAG, 67532
US ARMY WIGWAG SIGNAL FLAG, 67538
US CAVALRY MODEL 1885 LEATHER GAUNTLETS, 67547
SPAN-AM WAR US ARMY CAVALRY RIDING CROP, 67720
WWI US ARMY FIELD GEAR & HAVERSACK IDENTIFIED, 67724
WWII US AAF BAILOUT EMERGENCY SURVIVAL FISHING KIT, 67756
1865 SPANISH BELT PISTOL BY G. STELU, EIBAR, 67777
1854 SPANISH BELT PISTOL PERDO JOSE AGUIRRE, EIBAR, 67778
1898 - 1901 PHILIPPINES INDEPENDENCE WAR BUGLE, 67821
WORLD COLUMBIA EXPOSITION PICTURE BOOKS, 67858
Brigadier General Frederick Appleton Smith
Brigadier General Frederick Appleton Smith - Early In Career
Cadet Frederick Appleton Smith - US Military Academy West Point
Frederick Appleton Smith, Adjutant and Executive Officer of the Columbian Guard
World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago IL
Frederick Appleton Smith - At Camp
Colonel Maximo Abad Surrender to Major Frederick Appleton Smith
Marinduque, Philippines
Frederick Appleton Smith - At Camp
Front / Center
Frederick Appleton Smith with Col. R. Van Horn
Camp George H. Thomas in Chickamauga Park, GA
Frederick Appleton Smith (Personal Image Collection)
Guanajay, Cuba
Frederick Appleton Smith (Personal Image Collection) - Regimental Camp 4th Infantry
Fort Crockett in Galveston, TX
Frederick Appleton Smith (Personal Image Collection)
Madison Barracks in NY
Frederick Appleton Smith - Adjutant and Executive Officer of the Columbian Guard
World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, IL
Frederick Appleton Smith (Personal Image Collection)
Fort Bliss in TX
Frederick Appleton Smith - Parade On Horseback
