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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Lieutenant · U.S. Army

Henry I. Smith

First Lieutenant Henry I. Smith, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on March 15, 1865 at Black River, North Carolina during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War March 15, 1865Born in England

First Lieutenant Henry I. Smith, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on March 15, 1865 at Black River, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company B, 7th Iowa Infantry. Smith was 24 years old.

The medal was presented on September 7, 1894, 29 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Major.

Smith was born on May 4, 1840 in Nottingham, England — one of 98 recipients born in England. His Medal of Honor is credited to Shell Rock Fall, Butler County, Iowa. Smith died on November 15, 1910 in Mason City, Iowa, at the age of 70. He is buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Mason City, Iowa.

Smith is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 55 credited to Iowa.

★ Rescue & Lifesaving

Official Medal of Honor citation

Voluntarily and under fire rescued a comrade from death by drowning.

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

Timeline

  1. May 4, 1840
    Born in Nottingham, England
  2. March 15, 1865
    Act of valor — Black River, North Carolina
    Age 24. Company B, 7th Iowa Infantry
  3. September 7, 1894
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. November 15, 1910
    Died in Mason City, Iowa
    Age 70.
  5. Resting place
    Elmwood Cemetery
    Mason City, Iowa

More Civil War recipients from Iowa

James Dunlavy Private · Army Civil War · 1864 AT Andrew W. Tibbets Private · Army Civil War · 1865 LK Luther Kaltenbach Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 George Washington Healey Private · Army Civil War · 1864 LG Leonidas Mahlon Godley First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 CS Charles Alexander Swan Private · Army Civil War · 1865
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.