Gen. John Eugene Smith, a pioneer of Illinois, having a long and distinguished! military record, died suddenly at his home, No. 376 Warren avenue, yesterday at noon of heart failure.

Gen. .Smith has been a great sufferer from neuralgia for twelve years, and was frequently subject to severe attacks of vertigo, but for some time past he had enjoyed comparatively good health save for the natural eebleness consequent upon bis advanced years.

He was sitting In the library of his home with his son, J. Eugene Smith, yesterday about noon, when the latter, attracted by a gasp, turned and saw his father was lying unconscious in his chair.

All efforts to revive him failed, and in a few moments he passed away. Gen. Smith was born In the Canton of Berne, Switzerland, in 1S16. His father was an officer in one of the famous Swiss reg iments which followed Napoleon through the ill-fated Russian campaign, and was severely wounded at Waterloo.

When John Eugene was a baby his parents came to this country, locating in Philadelphia, where he remained until 1836, when he moved to Galena, 111., and soon became one of the most influential residents of that town.

When the civil war broke out he was Treasurer of Jo Daviess County, but he promptly, offered his services to Gov. Tates, and organized the Forty-fifth Illinois- Volunteers, better known as the 44 Lead Mine Regiment." He served all through the war, and for his distinguished services was promoted to be a Brigadier-General on Nov. 29, 1862, and was made brevet Major-Gem eral on Jan. 12, 1885.

He served under Gen. Grant at Shiloh, Fort Henry, Fort Donaldson, and in the numerous battles about Vicksburg. He was In the thickest of the fight at Shiloh, ana had several narrow escapes, bullets passing through his cap, coat collar, and trousers, but he escaped unharmed. He took part in the battle of Lookout Mountain, where he was reported among the dead, but he was uninjured. He subsequently joined Gen. Sherman's army, and marched with him to the sea. After that he was given the command of the district of Tennessee, with headquarters at Memphis.

At the conclusion of the war he was appointed United States Assessor for Utah, and served until the beginning of Gen. Grant's Presidential term. He wias then appointed Colonel of the Twenty-seventh United States Infantry stationed at Fort Phil Kearney, where he remained until it was abandoned in 186S.

Consequent upon the reorganization of the army he was appointed Colonel of the Fourteenth Infantry at Fort Laramie, and It was here, through his coolness and prompt action, the outbreak of the Sioux under Red Cloud and Spotted Tail was quelled without serious trouble. Shortly after this he was ordered to Fort Douglas, Utah, where he remained until he was retired-in 1881.

He then came to this city, and for the last fifteen years has resided at No. 376 Warren avenue.

In 1836 he married Aimee A. Massott of St. Louis, who died in June, 1884. He leaves four children, Col. Alfred T. Smith of the Thirteenth United States Infantry, stationed at Fort Niagara, N. Y. ; Mrs. Adele Bascom of this city: Benjamin M. Smith, Superintendent of thePublic Library : and J.Eugene Smith, secretary of the Northwestern Horse Nail company.

The family is wailing a reply to a message sent to Col. Smith before fixing the date of the funeral. The interment will be at Galena.