Browsing: Diary of Charles Francis Adams, Volume 1

4. Alexander Smyth (1765–1830), who represented Virginia in Congress from 1817 to 1825, had been inspector general of the army in 1812–1813. After boastfully claiming he could conquer Canada, he was forced to abandon the projected invasion because the army was so poorly trained and so ill-equipped, and he was much ridiculed for his bombast ( DAB ).