The Civil War began six months before Thomas reached his 16th birthday. He enlisted in August 1861 at Greensboro, Mississippi, Company D, 15th Mississippi Infantry Regiment.

He joined the Troops at Cumberland Gap, Tennessee and for the next four years, he was in constant battle. From Tennessee to Kentucky back to Mississippi through Georgia and in the final stages of the war entered into North Carolina. This was April of 1865.

The confererate Army was in a shambles and the perils and ravages of the war had a told upon all. All were discouraged and disheartened and with sadness longed to be with their loved ones back home. Rumors were heard that General Lee's Army was defeated and the end of the war was not long in coming. By now, most of the men had wandered away from their Companies and a great many were sick and exhausted. The Missippi Troops had halted along the line of a North Carolina railroad from Haw River to Company Shops, North Carolina, a distance of about five miles.

At this place, Thomas was forced to stop and was not able to keep up with his command. He drifted across the country side all day and when night came stayed at the home of John Troxler. On the next day, he started walking up the Alamance Creek. He finally felt too sick to travel further and stopped under a cedar bush to rest until he felt better. While resting there, he was accosted by a party, who proved to be Lewis Seymour Boone, who requested him to accompany him to his house until he felt able to go further. He ramained there for an indefinite period. It was during his stay at Mr. Boone's that he met and fell in love with Mr. Boone's daughter, Barbara Ann.

It was scarcely three months later that Thomas and Barbara Ann were married in Greensboro, North Carolina. It was told that shortly after their marriage, Thomas was able to buy an old horse and wagon and they drove to the state of Mississippi. They lived there for two years where Thomas taught school. Around 1868, they moved back to North Carolina and lived in Alamance County, North Carolina. By 1870, they had moved to Mecklenburg County, North Carolina and there they bought their first home. At the time they were living in Alamance County Thomas was working for the Old Richmond and Danville Railroad as a watchman. Later, when they moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, he was made purchasing agent for the railroad. He remained in this position until he retired in 1900.

Thomas served on the Mecklenburg County school board for 25 years, being elected in May of 1891, and served in that office until 1918. During his connection with the city schools, the pupil increase rose from 1,200 to nearly 8,000 and the teacher increase rose from 26 to 178.

This Confederate Veteran, public spirited citizen and man of high virtues, passed away at his home on June 24, 1919. Funeral services were held at the First Baptist Church, Charlotte, North Carolina.

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Above narritative information obtained from Garold Stewart at RootsWeb.com-I0668 - Thomas Tristum Smith 470, Capt Thomas Tristum Smith, Sr