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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

James (Ovid) Smith

Private James (Ovid) Smith, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions in April 1862 in Georgia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War April 1862

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private James (Ovid) Smith received the Medal of Honor for his actions in April 1862 in Georgia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company I, 2d Ohio Infantry. Smith was about 18 years old.

The medal was presented on July 6, 1864, 2 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Corporal.

Smith was born on November 9, 1844 in Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg County, Virginia. His Medal of Honor is credited to Circleville, Pickaway County, Ohio. Smith died on January 28, 1868 in Columbus, Ohio, at the age of 23. He is buried at Greenlawn Cemetery in Columbus, Ohio. Records also list him as Smith, Ovid Wellford.

Smith is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 256 credited to Ohio.

Official Medal of Honor citation

One of the 24 men (including two civilians) who, by direction of Gen. Ormsby M. Mitchell, penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory. Smith was captured near Huntsville, Ala., and did not participate in the remainder of the raid.

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

Timeline

  1. November 9, 1844
    Born in Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg County, Virginia
  2. April 1862
    Act of valor — Georgia
    Age about 18. Company I, 2d Ohio Infantry
  3. July 6, 1864
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. January 28, 1868
    Died in Columbus, Ohio
    Age 23.
  5. Resting place
    Greenlawn Cemetery
    Columbus, Ohio

Further reading

More Civil War recipients from Ohio

Charles H. McCleary First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 AW Alason P. Webber Musician · Army Civil War · 1864 JB James Bennett Bell Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 Milton Murray Holland Sergeant Major · Army Civil War · 1864 FD Freeman Davis Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 William Wallace Cranston Private · Army Civil War · 1863
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.