b. 13/05/1847 Cumberland, Pennsylvania. d. 14/03/1933 Port Townsend, Washington.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 02/07/1863 Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
Smith was born May 13, 1847, in Cumberland, Pennsylvania and was one of six children born to Henry and Elizabeth Smith and one of five boys. When the American Civil War broke out, Smith enlisted into Company E, 6th Pennsylvania Reserves (also known as the 35th Pennsylvania Infantry).
On the second day of fighting in the Battle of Gettysburg Union forces had been forced to fall back due to the superior numbers of the opposing Confederate force. As more Union troops arrived to fight however the battle started to shift. In an area known as Devil’s Den, Smith, along with J. Levi Roush, John W. Hart, George Mears, Chester S. Furman and Wallace Johnson volunteered to attack a small log cabin being held by Confederate forces. Although they attempted to approach the cabin by stealth, they were spotted and began taking fire from the enemy force locked inside. Smith and the other men rushed through the enemy fire and forced their way into the cabin. Before they could start shooting the confederate soldiers surrendered and were taken back to Union lines as prisoners. For their actions during this incident, all six men received the Medal of Honor.
On May 31, 1864, Smith was transferred to Company E, 191st Pennsylvania Infantry. Corporal Smith was captured August 19, 1864 by Confederate forces at Weldon Railroad, Virginia and sent to Andersonville prison. He was released two months later. After the war Smith returned to Pennsylvania where he met and married his wife Joanna C. Hinkel and together they had a daughter they named Blanche. He did not receive his Medal of Honor until May 5, 1900.
MOH CITATION:
Was one of six volunteers who charged upon a log house near the Devil’s Den, where a squad of the enemy’s sharpshooters were sheltered, and compelled their surrender.
BURIAL LOCATION: LAUREL GROVE CEMETERY, PORT TOWNSEND, WASHINGTON.
GAR SECTION, BLOCK 198.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
