How a Mexican-American War vet became the U.S. Army’s oldest enlisted man

Mark Smith’s 32-Year Military Career Across Three Forts

Mark Wentworth Smith got shot at the Battle of Chapultepec in 1847 but kept on serving. He went on to become an ordnance sergeant at Fort Adams in 1859, a job so tough only the War Secretary could pick you.

When the Civil War broke out, Smith stayed put, taking care of weapons and the whole fort when the Naval Academy moved in.

Later, he moved to Fort Trumbull and kept watch over Fort Griswold until he died in 1879 at age 76.

His story of duty spans 32 years and waits for you at Fort Adams State Park, where you can still see the quarters where this forgotten hero once lived.

Young Smith Fought in the Mexican-American War

Mark Wentworth Smith joined the Army during the Mexican-American War from 1846 to 1848. He served as an infantryman in the Mexico City campaign under General Winfield Scott.

Smith marched with 7,200 other American soldiers as they pushed toward the Mexican capital in September 1847.

The fighting skills and military know-how he picked up during this campaign set him up for a career that would last over three decades.

Wounded at the Castle on the Hill

Smith got hurt during the Battle of Chapultepec on September 13, 1847. This key battle lasted only 60 to 90 minutes but changed the war’s direction.

Smith and his fellow soldiers faced about 1,000 Mexican troops and young military students who guarded the fort on top of a 200-foot hill.

American forces charged up the steep slope and broke through the castle walls in heavy fighting. The American win at Chapultepec let U.S. forces take Mexico City days later, mostly ending the war.

The Army Became His Life After Recovery

After healing from his Chapultepec wounds, Smith stayed in the Army instead of going back to civilian life. He climbed through the ranks, aiming to become an ordnance sergeant.

The job needed at least eight years of total service with four years as a non-commissioned officer. Smith stuck with it, meeting all the tough requirements for the Secretary of War to give him this top position.

His commitment to military service shaped the rest of his life.

One of Only 44 Special Sergeants

Smith reached the rank of ordnance sergeant, joining a small group of only 44 such experts in the entire Army by 1833. The Secretary of War picked him after his commanders suggested him for the job.

He ranked higher than a first sergeant but lower than a quartermaster sergeant. His work involved taking care of weapons, bullets, and all military supplies at his posts.

Many ordnance sergeants like Smith worked alone as caretakers of empty forts.

Rhode Island’s Massive Fort Needed a Keeper

The Army sent Smith to Fort Adams, Rhode Island in 1859 to serve as its ordnance sergeant and caretaker. This huge coastal defense fort had just been finished in 1857 after many years of building.

Smith took charge of all the weapons, bullet stocks, and kept up the fort’s buildings even without regular soldiers. Fort Adams stood as one of America’s most important coastal defenses, guarding Newport Harbor.

Smith ran the daily operations of this key fortress, often working alone.

The Naval Academy Moved In During the War

When the Civil War started in 1861, Smith faced new tasks as the Naval Academy moved to Fort Adams. The Navy brought the academy from Annapolis because they worried Maryland might leave the Union.

Smith helped house the midshipmen who stayed at the Atlantic House Hotel while still doing his fort duties. Future naval leaders like Admiral Robley D.

Evans trained at Fort Adams during Smith’s time there.

The war years brought more work as Smith balanced his caretaker role with the needs of the naval school.

Big Guns Arrived as Smith Prepared to Leave

Smith watched over major weapons upgrades at Fort Adams in the early 1870s.

The fort got eleven huge 15-inch Rodman guns and thirteen 10-inch Rodman guns to boost its firepower. Workers built three new gun spots just for the enormous 15-inch artillery.

Smith saw coastal defense technology change during his time at the fort, with newer, stronger weapons replacing older cannons. After four years at Fort Adams, Smith left in 1863 for his next job.

A Historic Revolutionary War Fort Became His Home

In 1863, the Army sent Smith to care for Fort Griswold in Connecticut, across the Thames River from Fort Trumbull.

This Revolutionary War fort had a bloody past as the site of the 1781 Battle of Groton Heights where 85 American defenders died.

The battle became known for when Benedict Arnold’s British forces killed American defenders after they had given up. Smith took on the job of keeping up this historic site with its sad legacy.

Smith Grew Vegetables While Guarding Cannons

At Fort Griswold, Smith ran the lower battery that workers rebuilt in the 1840s to hold 20 cannons.

He kept up the fort’s 32-pounder and 24-pounder guns, which workers later swapped for more modern 10-inch Rodman cannons. To add to his army food, Smith grew a vegetable garden on the fort grounds.

Fort Griswold worked as a smaller post of nearby Fort Trumbull within the Army’s coastal defense network. Smith handled all upkeep and security tasks by himself.

No Soldier Served Longer in His Lifetime

Smith kept his active duty service going well past the age when most soldiers quit. He stayed physically fit and mentally sharp enough to handle the tough job of fort caretaker.

His career showed the dedication of professional NCOs who kept America’s coastal defenses running during the 1800s.

Smith lived in a time when soldiers often served for decades at a single post, becoming experts in their special roles. As he got older, he neared a service record no other enlisted soldier had reached before.

His Death at 76 Set a Military Record

Smith died in 1879 while still on active duty at Fort Griswold. At 76 years old, he earned the distinction of being the oldest active-duty enlisted soldier in U.S. Army history.

His military career spanned an amazing 32 years as an ordnance sergeant at multiple fortifications.

Smith represented a forgotten generation of career soldiers who quietly maintained America’s coastal defenses through war and peace.

His legacy lives on in the records of the forts he faithfully served throughout his remarkable career, though few Americans today know his name or extraordinary story.

Visiting Fort Adams State Park, Rhode Island

Fort Adams State Park at 90 Fort Adams Drive in Newport offers free entry and parking to explore where Mark Wentworth Smith served.

You can take guided tours for $20 (adults) or $10 (youth 6-17) that include officers’ quarters, underground listening tunnels, and land defenses.

Self-guided tours cost $10 (adults) or $5 (youth) and now include access to the underground tunnels for the first time. Children 5 and under get free admission to all tours.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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