𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚎𝚜 𝚂𝚖𝚒𝚝𝚑

Charles Smith was born to a Native American mother and an African American father. For a time, he and his father lived peacefully among his mother’s tribe, but the U.S. Army eventually forced them out of their homeland. A few years later, soldiers captured his mother, and she was never seen again. The loss devastated his father, who sank into alcoholism and despair.

Despite this, Charles learned important skills from his family. His uncle taught him how to craft poisoned arrows using oleander sage, knowledge that would stay with him throughout his life. By the age of thirteen, Charles had left home entirely, wandering the country on his own. These years hardened him into a skilled survivalist, adept at living off the land and defending himself in a hostile world.

In November 1898, Charles crossed paths with the Van der Linde gang as they traveled through the Grizzlies. He joined their ranks, quickly proving himself as both a capable fighter and a man of integrity. Though relatively new to the group compared to old hands like Dutch, Hosea, and Arthur, Charles brought strength, resilience, and a quiet wisdom that made him a valued member of the gang.