Congressional Medal of Honor Society

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U.S. Civil War - U.S. Navy

James Smith

Details
  • Rank: Captain of the Forecastle
  • Conflict/Era: U.S. Civil War
  • Unit/Command:
    U.S.S. Richmond
  • Military Service Branch: U.S. Navy
  • Medal of Honor Action Date: August 5, 1864
  • Medal of Honor Action Place: Mobile Bay, Alabama
Citation

As captain of a gun on board the U.S.S. Richmond during action against rebel forts and gunboats and against the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Despite damage to his ship and the loss of several men on board as enemy fire raked her decks, Smith fought his gun with skill and courage throughout the prolonged battle which resulted in the surrender of the rebel ram Tennessee and in the successful attacks carried out on Fort Morgan.

Additional Details
  • Accredited to: New York, New York
  • Awarded Posthumously: No
  • Born: 1826, Belfast, County Antrim, Ireland
  • Died: October 31, 1881, New York, NY, United States
  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery (MH) (65-1485), Arlington, VA, United States
 

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