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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

Otis W. Smith

Private Otis W. Smith, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on December 16, 1864 in Nashville, Tennessee during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War December 16, 1864

Private Otis W. Smith, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on December 16, 1864 in Nashville, Tennessee during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company G, 95th Ohio Infantry. Smith was 20 years old.

15 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on February 24, 1865. He later rose to the rank of Corporal.

Smith was born on October 4, 1844 in Logan County, Ohio. His Medal of Honor is credited to Champaign, Champaign County, Ohio. Smith died on March 10, 1923 in Yountville, California, at the age of 78. He is buried at Arroyo Grande Cemetery in Arroyo Grande, California.

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

★ Flags & Colors

Official Medal of Honor citation

Capture of flag of 6th Florida Infantry (C.S.A.).

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

Timeline

  1. October 4, 1844
    Born in Logan County, Ohio
  2. December 16, 1864
    Act of valor — Nashville, Tennessee
    Age 20. Company G, 95th Ohio Infantry
  3. February 24, 1865
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. March 10, 1923
    Died in Yountville, California
    Age 78.
  5. Resting place
    Arroyo Grande Cemetery
    Arroyo Grande, California

Also honored for actions on December 16, 1864

Marion T. Anderson Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 Franklin Carr Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 OC Oliver Colwell First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 WG William Garrett Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 Thomas Parke Gere First Lieutenant & Adjutant · Army Civil War · 1864 DH Daniel Irving Holcomb Private · Army Civil War · 1864 LK Luther Kaltenbach Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 WM William C. May Private · Army Civil War · 1864 Charles H. McCleary First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 WM Wilbur F. Moore Private · Army Civil War · 1864 JP James W. Parks Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 WS William Thomas Simmons First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864

See all 16 recipients for December 16, 1864 →

More Civil War recipients from Ohio

George Green Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 Robert Bruce Brown Private · Army Civil War · 1863 WS William H. Surles Private · Army Civil War · 1862 William Pittinger Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1862 WV Wilson J. Vance Private · Army Civil War · 1862 Philip G. Shadrach Private · Army Civil War · 1862 ✦
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.