Congressional Medal of Honor Society
Stories of Sacrifice
U.S. Civil War - U.S. Navy
John Smith
Details
- Rank: Second Captain of the Top
- 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: Fort Morgan, 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 a furious two-hour battle, which resulted in the surrender of the rebel ram Tennessee and in the damaging and destruction of batteries at Fort Morgan.
Additional Details
- Accredited to: New York, New York
- Awarded Posthumously: No
- Born: 1826, Albany, Albany County, NY
- Died: December 31, 1907
- Buried: Mount Moriah Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA