Coxswain Charles H. Smith was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on December 30, 1862 off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Rhode Island. Smith was about 36 years old.
5 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. He later rose to the rank of Master's Mate.
Smith was born in 1826 in Standish, Cumberland County, Maine. His Medal of Honor is credited to Maine. Smith died on February 4, 1898 in West Concord, Vermont, at the age of about 72. He is buried at Concord Village Cemetery in Concord, Vermont.
Smith is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 66 credited to Maine.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Served on board the U.S.S. Rhode Island which was engaged in saving the lives of the officers and crew of the Monitor, 30 December 1862. Participating in the hazardous rescue of the officers and crew of the sinking Monitor, Smith, after rescuing several of the men, became separated in a heavy gale with other members of the cutter that had set out from the Rhode Island, and spent many hours in the small boat at the mercy of the weather and high seas until finally picked up by a schooner 50 miles east of Cape Hatteras.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Timeline
- 1826Born in Standish, Cumberland County, Maine
- December 30, 1862Act of valor — off Cape Hatteras, North CarolinaAge about 36. U.S.S. Rhode Island
- February 4, 1898Died in West Concord, VermontAge about 72.
- Resting placeConcord Village CemeteryConcord, Vermont
