Edwin Smith

Ordinary Seaman · U.S. Navy

U.S. Navy

3 October 1862 · USS Whitehead

Branch: U.S. Navy
Era: Civil War
Home state: New York
Action: USS Whitehead

The citation

Official citation

On board the U.S.S. Whitehead in the attack upon Franklin, Va., 3 October 1862. When his ship became grounded in a narrow passage as she rounded a bend in the Blackwater River, Smith, realizing the hazards of lowering a boat voluntarily swam to shore with a line under the enemy's heavy fire. His fearless action enabled his ship to maintain steady fire and keep the enemy in check during the battle.

Sources

U.S. Army Medal of Honor citation index
Wikipedia. Linked only. The article text is not copied here.