Corporal Wilson Smith, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on September 6, 1862 in Washington, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Battery H, 3d New York Light Artillery. Smith was 21 years old.
The medal was presented on April 24, 1896, 33 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Sergeant.
Smith was born on September 6, 1841 in Madison, Madison County, New York. Smith died on February 22, 1901 in Rome, New York, at the age of 59. He is buried at Rome Cemetery in Rome, New York.
Smith is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Took command of a gun (the lieutenant in charge having disappeared) and fired the same so rapidly and effectively that the enemy was repulsed, although for a time a hand-to-hand conflict was had over the gun.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
- Buried: Rome Cemetery — map
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Timeline
- September 6, 1841Born in Madison, Madison County, New York
- September 6, 1862Act of valor — Washington, North CarolinaAge 21. Battery H, 3d New York Light Artillery
- April 24, 1896Medal of Honor presented
- February 22, 1901Died in Rome, New YorkAge 59.
- Resting placeRome CemeteryRome, New York
Biography
Wilson Smith (6 September 1841 – 22 February 1901) was a corporal of the United States Army who was awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the American Civil War. He was awarded the medal on 24 April 1896 for actions performed in 1862 during the prelude to the Battle of Washington in North Carolina.
From the Wikipedia article “Wilson Smith (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →