b. 06/09/1841 Madison, New York. d. 22/02/1901 Rome, New York.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 06/09/1862 Washington, North Carolina.
Wilson Smith MOH
Smith was born on 6 September 1841 in either Madison, New York. Smith enlisted in the Army on 4 October 1861 as a private and was assigned to Battery H of the 3rd New York Light Artillery. He was promoted to corporal on 9 January 1862 and to sergeant on 12 September 1862. On 6 September 1862, during a Confederate attack on the Union-held Washington, North Carolina, Smith took command of an isolated gun, and, while under heavy fire and in hand-to-hand combat, returned 15 rounds of fire at and scattered the Confederate line while sustaining heavy injuries. Due to injuries sustained in this engagement, his leg was later amputated above the knee. His actions helped prevent the Confederates from taking the town and led to his Medal of Honor nomination.
After being discharged from the Army, he worked in a casket factory in Oneida, New York, and served as a county supervisor in Rome, New York. He received his Medal on April 24, 1896.
MOH 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.
BURIAL LOCATION: ROME CEMETERY, ROME, NEW YORK.
SECTION J, LOT 66, GRAVE 2.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: BELIEVED TO BE FAMILY.
