after the outbreak of the war and through the summer of 1861, smith served on recruiting duty as commander of fort columbus, new york. he was commissioned a brigadier general of volunteers (august 31, 1861), and as colonel in the regular army, commanding the 3rd u.s. infantry regiment, as of september 9. he was soon transferred to the western theater to command the district of western kentucky. he then became a division commander in the department of the missouri under brigadier general ulysses s. grant, who had been one of his pupils at west point. this potentially awkward situation was eased by smith's loyalty to his young chief.