Smith Dykins Atkins (June 9, 1836 – March 27, 1913) was an American newspaper editor, lawyer, and a Union Army colonel during the American Civil War, who temporarily commanded brigades of infantry and cavalry and who was awarded the brevet grades of brigadier general and major general of Volunteers.

He was the first man to enlist as a volunteer private soldier in Stephenson County, Illinois upon the outbreak of the Civil War.

[2] Atkins re-entered military service that fall when he was appointed the colonel of the 92nd Illinois Mounted Infantry on September 4, 1862.

[4] Smith Dykins Atkins commanded several brigades in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

The units and dates were: As the Civil War ended, General Atkins was in charge of the forces occupying the college town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

[5] On April 17, 1865 (Easter Sunday), Atkins paid a visit to the home of David Swain, the president of the University of North Carolina.

[5] Ella died of influenza at age 38, and was buried in [Historic] Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh, North Carolina.