Edwin Smith (born c. 1841, date of death unknown) was a Union Navy sailor in the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

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 Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...

, for his actions during the

Joint Expedition Against Franklin The Joint Expedition Against Franklin was a joint engagement between the Union army, United States Army and Union Navy, Navy against the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The engagement was intended to move Union forces in ...

. Born in about 1841 in

New York, New York New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on New York Harbor, one of the world's largest natural harb ...

, Smith joined the Navy from that state. By October 3, 1862, he was serving as an

ordinary seaman __NOTOC__ An ordinary seaman (OS) is a member of the deck department of a ship. The position is an apprenticeship to become an able seaman, and has been for centuries. In modern times, an OS is required to work on a ship for a specific amount ...

on the . On that day, during the

, Virginia, Smith swam to shore despite heavy

Confederate A confederation (also known as a confederacy or league) is a political union of sovereign states united for purposes of common action. Usually created by a treaty, confederations of states tend to be established for dealing with critical issu ...

fire to assist his ship after it became grounded in the

Blackwater River A blackwater river is a type of River#Classification, river with a slow-moving channel flowing through forested swamps or wetlands. Most major blackwater rivers are in the Amazon Basin and the Southern United States. The term is used in fluvial ...

. He was later awarded the Medal of Honor for this act. Smith was promoted to Master's Mate the same month, but his appointment was revoked in March 1865 due to sickness. He was dishonorably discharged in April 1867.} Smith's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

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.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Edwin 1840s births Year of death missing Military personnel from New York City People of New York (state) in the American Civil War Union Navy sailors United States Navy Medal of Honor recipients American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor