James Anderson Smythe was born in
Canada on May 28, 1849. He eventually emigrated to the United States and enlisted in the
U.S. Army, under the name James Anderson, around 1870. Smythe served with the
6th U.S. Cavalry and assigned frontier duty in Northwestern Texas. On October 5, 1870, he participated in a running battle with hostile
Plains Indians at the
Wichita River. He and five other men, including Sgt.
Michael Welch, Cpl.
Samuel Bowden, Cpl.
Daniel Keating, Pvt.
Benjamin Wilson and Indian guide
James B. Doshier, received the
Medal of Honor for "gallantry during the pursuit and fight with Indians" a month after what would become known as the "Skirmish at Bluff Creek". Smythe remained in the army for another ten years, rising to the rank of
Second Lieutenant. On November 14, 1880, he married Nellie E. Hanlon and together they moved to
St. Louis, Missouri. He worked as stationery engineer for the rest of his life. Smythe's health began to decline in 1917 and he died of
pneumonia on May 31, 1918, only three days after his 69th birthday. He was buried at St. Peter and Paul's Cemetery in St. Louis. Smythe was survived by his wife Nellie; the couple had no children. ==Medal of Honor citation==