Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He enlisted in the Union Navy during the Civil War, and served as a Quartermaster on board the sloop-of-war “USS Kearsarge”. He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery in action when the “Kearsarge” fought and destroyed the Confederate Navy commerce raider “CSS Alabama” off Cherbourg, France on June 19, 1864. His citation reads “Acting as captain of the 11-inch pivot gun of the second division, Smith carried out his duties courageously and deserved special notice for the deliberate and cool manner in which he acted throughout the bitter engagement. It is stated by rebel officers this his gun was more destructive, and did more damage than any other gun of the Kearsarge.” His Medal was awarded to him on December 31, 1864. After the war and his discharge from the United States Navy, he disappeared into history, and his subsequent life and final disposition remain unknown. He was one of seventeen “Kearsarge” crewmen to be awarded the Medal of Honor for their bravery during the battle, including Paymaster’s Steward Michael Ahern, Captain of the Top John F. Bickford, Boatswain's Mate William S. Bond, Captain of the Forecastle James Haley, Carpenter’s Mate Mark G. Ham, Seaman George H. Harrison, Coxswain John Hayes, Seaman James H. Lee, Seaman Charles Moore, Seaman Joachim Pease, Boatswain’s Mate Thomas Perry, Quartermaster William B. Poole, Coxswain Charles A. Read, Seaman George E. Read, Chief Quartermaster James Saunders and Captain of the Top Robert Strahan.
Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He enlisted in the Union Navy during the Civil War, and served as a Quartermaster on board the sloop-of-war “USS Kearsarge”. He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery in action when the “Kearsarge” fought and destroyed the Confederate Navy commerce raider “CSS Alabama” off Cherbourg, France on June 19, 1864. His citation reads “Acting as captain of the 11-inch pivot gun of the second division, Smith carried out his duties courageously and deserved special notice for the deliberate and cool manner in which he acted throughout the bitter engagement. It is stated by rebel officers this his gun was more destructive, and did more damage than any other gun of the Kearsarge.” His Medal was awarded to him on December 31, 1864. After the war and his discharge from the United States Navy, he disappeared into history, and his subsequent life and final disposition remain unknown. He was one of seventeen “Kearsarge” crewmen to be awarded the Medal of Honor for their bravery during the battle, including Paymaster’s Steward Michael Ahern, Captain of the Top John F. Bickford, Boatswain's Mate William S. Bond, Captain of the Forecastle James Haley, Carpenter’s Mate Mark G. Ham, Seaman George H. Harrison, Coxswain John Hayes, Seaman James H. Lee, Seaman Charles Moore, Seaman Joachim Pease, Boatswain’s Mate Thomas Perry, Quartermaster William B. Poole, Coxswain Charles A. Read, Seaman George E. Read, Chief Quartermaster James Saunders and Captain of the Top Robert Strahan.
Bio by: Don Morfe
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