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TAPS
Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky,
Gleaming bright.
From afar drawing nigh,
Falls the night.
Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, From the hills,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.
Then good night, Peaceful night,
Till the light of the dawn
Shineth bright,
God is near, do not fear,
Friend, good night. |
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BORN:
1826 at Belfast, Ireland
Entered Service in the US
Navy from New York, NY
Earned
The Medal of Honor During the Civil War For heroism on August
05, 1864 at Mobile Bay, Fort Morgan, AL
DIED: October
31, 1881 at the age of 55
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On August 5,
Union Admiral David Farragut's Union fleet of eighteen ships
entered Mobile Bay, Alabama, and received a devastating fire
from Forts Gaines and Morgan and other points. His wooden ships
fought valiantly under this devastating fire as well as shells
from the rebel gunboats and the ironclad ram Tennessee. After
passing the forts, Farragut forced the Confederate naval forces
under Admiral Buchanan, to surrender, along with the prized ram
Tennessee. Fort Morgan was destroyed and this action effectively
closed Mobile Bay as a Confederate port, making the action one
of the greatest Naval victories of the war. Ninety sailors and
eight Marines were awarded Medals of Honor, the most for any
single day in history. Twenty-nine crewmen of the U.S.S.
Richmond were numbered among these heroes, including Captain of
the Forecastle James Smith, who served as captain of a gun.
Despite damage to his ship and the loss of several men on board
as enemy fire raked her decks, Captain of the Forecastle Smith
fought his gun with skill and courage throughout the prolonged
battle.
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