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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Captain · U.S. Army

Samuel Rodmond Smith

Captain Samuel Rodmond Smith, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on February 5, 1865 at Rowanty Creek, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War February 5, 1865

Captain Samuel Rodmond Smith, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on February 5, 1865 at Rowanty Creek, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company C, 4th Delaware Infantry. Smith was 23 years old.

3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 8, 1895, 30 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Brevet Major.

Smith was born on April 20, 1841 in Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware. Smith died on September 30, 1912 in Miami, Florida, at the age of 71. He is buried at Wilmington Cemetery in Wilmington, Delaware.

Smith is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 13 credited to Delaware.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Swam the partly frozen creek under fire to establish a crossing.

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

Timeline

  1. April 20, 1841
    Born in Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware
  2. February 5, 1865
    Act of valor — Rowanty Creek, Virginia
    Age 23. Company C, 4th Delaware Infantry
  3. April 8, 1895
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. September 30, 1912
    Died in Miami, Florida
    Age 71.
  5. Resting place
    Wilmington Cemetery
    Wilmington, Delaware

Also honored for actions on February 5, 1865

DB David Eastburn Buckingham First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 JR Jacob F. Raub Assistant Surgeon · Army Civil War · 1865 TS Timothy Spillane Private · Army Civil War · 1865

More Civil War recipients from Delaware

Henry Algernon du Pont Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 CT Charles B. Tanner Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1862 JS John Shilling First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 James Parke Postles Captain · Army Civil War · 1863 BM Bernard McCarren Private · Army Civil War · 1863 JM John B. Mayberry 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.