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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Quartermaster · U.S. Navy

William Smith

Quartermaster William Smith, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on June 19, 1864 off Cherbourg, France during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War June 19, 1864

Quartermaster William Smith was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on June 19, 1864 off Cherbourg, France during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Kearsarge. Smith was about 38 years old.

16 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. He later rose to the rank of Master's Mate.

Smith was born in 1826 in Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island, US. His Medal of Honor is credited to New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts.

Smith is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 265 credited to Massachusetts.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Served as second quartermaster on board the U.S.S. Kearsarge when she destroyed the Alabama off Cherbourg, France, 19 June 1864. Acting as captain of the 11-inch pivot gun of the second division, Smith carried out his duties courageously and deserved special notice for the deliberate and cool manner in which he acted throughout the bitter engagement. It is stated by rebel officers that this gun was more destructive and did more damage than any other gun of the Kearsarge

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

Timeline

  1. 1826
    Born in Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island, US
  2. June 19, 1864
    Act of valor — off Cherbourg, France
    Age about 38. U.S.S. Kearsarge

Also honored for actions on June 19, 1864

MA Michael Aheam Paymaster's Steward · Navy Civil War · 1864 John F. Bickford Captain of the Top · Navy Civil War · 1864 WB William S. Bond Boatswain · Navy Civil War · 1864 JH James Haley Captain of the Forecastle · Navy Civil War · 1864 MH Mark G. Ham Carpenter's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1864 GH George H. Harrison Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 JH John Hayes Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1864 JL James H. Lee Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 CM Charles Moore Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 Joachim Pease Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 TP Thomas Perry Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1864 WP William B. Poole Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1864

See all 17 recipients for June 19, 1864 →

Same unit

GB George Breeman Seaman · Navy Interim 1899–1910 · 1906 JD John Dempsey Seaman · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1875 IN Isador A. Nordstrom Chief Boatswain · Navy Interim 1899–1910 · 1906 RS Robert Augustus Sweeney Ordinary Seaman · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1881

More Civil War recipients from Massachusetts

EL Edwin Leonard Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 TC Thomas Cosgrove Private · Army Civil War · 1864 Joseph S. Manning Private · Army Civil War · 1863 AW Augustus Williams Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 Alphonso M. Lunt Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 Nathaniel M. Allen Corporal · 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.