Congressional Medal of Honor Society

Stories of Sacrifice

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

John Smith

Details
  • Rank: Captain of the Forecastle
  • Conflict/Era: U.S. Civil War
  • Unit/Command:
    U.S.S. Lackawanna
  • Military Service Branch: U.S. Navy
  • Medal of Honor Action Date: August 5, 1864
  • Medal of Honor Action Place: Fort Morgan, Mobile Bay, Alabama
Citation
On board the U.S.S. Lackawanna during successful attacks against Fort Morgan, rebel gunboats, and the rebel ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Serving as gun captain and finding he could not depress his gun when alongside the rebel ironclad Tennessee, Smith threw a hand holystone into one of the ports at a rebel using abusive language against the crew of the ship. He continued his daring action throughout the engagement which resulted in the capture of the prize ram Tennessee and in the damaging and destruction of Fort Morgan.
Additional Details
  • Accredited to: Massachusetts
  • Awarded Posthumously: No
  • Born: 1831, Albany, Albany County, NY, United States
  • Died:
  • Buried: , PA
 

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