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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Lieutenant & Adjutant · U.S. Army

Francis M. Smith

First Lieutenant & Adjutant Francis M. Smith, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on February 6, 1865 in Dabney's Mills, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War February 6, 1865

First Lieutenant & Adjutant Francis M. Smith was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on February 6, 1865 in Dabney's Mills, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 1st Maryland Infantry. Smith was 22 years old.

9 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on August 13, 1895, 30 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Captain.

Smith was born on November 29, 1842 in Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Frederick, Frederick County, Maryland. Smith died on September 22, 1917 in Baltimore, Maryland, at the age of 74. He is buried at Loudon Park Cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland.

Smith is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 85 credited to Maryland.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Voluntarily remained with the body of his regimental commander under a heavy fire after the brigade had retired, and brought the body off the field.

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

Timeline

  1. November 29, 1842
    Born in Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland
  2. February 6, 1865
    Act of valor — Dabney's Mills, Virginia
    Age 22. 1st Maryland Infantry
  3. August 13, 1895
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. September 22, 1917
    Died in Baltimore, Maryland
    Age 74.
  5. Resting place
    Loudon Park Cemetery
    Baltimore, Maryland

Also honored for actions on February 6, 1865

AC Abel G. Cadwallader Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 DC Daniel G. Caldwell Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 JC James Coey Major · Army Civil War · 1865 CD Charles Day Private · Army Civil War · 1865 John Carroll Delaney Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 JS John Christopher Sagelhurst Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 WS William Sands First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 JT John J. Thompson Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 John Mitchell Vanderslice Private · Army Civil War · 1865

More Civil War recipients from Maryland

JS Joseph Stewart Private · Army Civil War · 1865 AH Alfred B. Hilton Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 ✦ DD Decatur Dorsey Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 TC Thomas Connor Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 PM Patrick Mullen Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1865 Bartholomew Diggins Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.