Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private George W. Smith was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on September 12, 1874 at Washita River, Texas during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Company M, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Smith was about 26 years old.
5 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on November 4, 1874.
Smith was born in 1848 in Greenfield, Saratoga County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York. Smith died on September 13, 1874 in Buffalo Wallow, Texas, at the age of about 26. He is buried at San Antonio National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.
Smith is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 678 credited to New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
While carrying dispatches was attacked by 125 hostile Indians, whom he and his comrades fought throughout the day. Pvt. Smith was mortally wounded during the engagement and died early the next day. Buffalo Wallow Battlegrounds remains not recovered
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and injuries
What the citation records about his wounds:
Pvt. Smith was mortally wounded during the engagement and died early the next day.
- Awarded posthumously — died September 13, 1874.
- Age at death: about 26
- Resting place: San Antonio National Cemetery
Timeline
- 1848Born in Greenfield, Saratoga County, New York
- September 12, 1874Act of valor — Washita River, TexasAge about 26. Company M, 6th U.S. Cavalry
- September 13, 1874Died in Buffalo Wallow, TexasAge about 26.
- November 4, 1874Medal of Honor presented posthumously
- Resting placeSan Antonio National CemeterySan Antonio, Texas
