U.S. Navy
Smith, EdwinConflictCivil War
Year of Action1862
Unit/CommandUSS Whitehead
HometownNew York
Citation
On board the USS 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.
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