Charles H. Smith (March 7, 1826 – February 4, 1898) was a
Union Navy sailor in the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...
and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration, the
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. ...
, for his actions aboard the .
Biography
Smith was born March 7, 1826, in
Standish, Maine
Standish is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 10,244 at the 2020 census. It includes the villages of Standish Corner, Sebago Lake Village and Steep Falls, and the localities known as Richville, Elmwood, Stand ...
, Jones was living in Maine when he joined the U.S. Navy. He served during the Civil War as a
Coxswain on the .
Smith died September 4, 1900, in
Concord, Vermont. He is buried in Ocean View Cemetery, Wells, Maine.
Medal of Honor citation
Smith's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
Rank and organization: Coxswain, U.S. Navy. Born: 1826, Maine. Accredited to: Maine. G.O. No.: 59, 22 June 1865.
On board the which was engaged in rescuing men from the stricken in Mobile Bay, on December 30, 1862. After the Monitor sprang a leak and went down, Smith courageously risked his life in a gallant attempt to rescue members of the crew. Although he, too, lost his life during the hazardous operation, he had made every effort possible to save the lives of his fellow men.''.
See also
*
List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: Q–S
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Charles H.
1826 births
1898 deaths
People of Maine in the American Civil War
Union Navy sailors
United States Navy Medal of Honor recipients
American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor
People from Standish, Maine