He was one of six men received the Medal of Honor for gallantry against a hostile band of Plains Indians at the Wichita River in Texas on October 5, 1870.
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.
[6] Smythe remained in the army for another ten years, rising to the rank of Second Lieutenant.