Veteran in crisis? Dial 988 then press 1 · Text 838255 Next observance: Navy Birthday · October 13
Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Ordinary Seaman · U.S. Navy

Edwin Smith

Ordinary Seaman Edwin Smith, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on October 3, 1862 in Franklin, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War October 3, 1862

Ordinary Seaman Edwin Smith was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on October 3, 1862 in Franklin, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Whitehead. Smith was about 21 years old.

8 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. He later rose to the rank of Mate.

Smith was born in 1841 in New York. Smith died on September 15, 1875 in Indianola, Texas, at the age of about 34. He is buried at body not recovered.

Smith is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.

Official Medal of Honor citation

On board the U.S.S. Whitehead in the attack upon Franklin, Va., 3 October 1862. When his ship became grounded in a narrow passage as she rounded a bend in the Blackwater River, Smith, realizing the hazards of lowering a boat, voluntarily swam to shore with a line under the enemy's heavy fire. His fearless action enabled his ship to maintain steady fire and keep the enemy in check during the battle.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: New York City — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. 1841
    Born in New York
  2. October 3, 1862
    Act of valor — Franklin, Virginia
    Age about 21. U.S.S. Whitehead
  3. September 15, 1875
    Died in Indianola, Texas
    Age about 34.
  4. Resting place
    body not recovered

Biography

Edwin Smith (born c. 1841, date of death unknown) was a Union Navy sailor in the American Civil War and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the Joint Expedition Against Franklin. Born in about 1841 in New York, New York, Smith joined the Navy from that state. By October 3, 1862, he was serving as an ordinary seaman on the USS Whitehead. On that day, during the Joint Expedition Against Franklin, Virginia, Smith swam to shore despite heavy Confederate fire to assist his ship after it became grounded in the Blackwater River. He was later awarded the Medal of Honor for this act.

From the Wikipedia article “Edwin Smith (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Further reading

Also honored for actions on October 3, 1862

TB Thomas Barton Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1862 JB John Breen Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1862 JB James H. Burbank Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1862 DL Daniel Lakin Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1862 William Wallace McCammon First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1862 DM Dennis J. f Murphy Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1862 AP Alfred Peterson Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1862 JW John Williams Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1862

More Civil War recipients from New York

JB John Francis Benjamin Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 HW Henry S. Webster Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1865 PG Patrick J. Ginley Private · Army Civil War · 1864 HW Henry Wilkes Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864 WC William Henry harrison Crosier Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 IP Irvin C. Payne Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.