|
|
Photo Courtesy of HomeOfHeroes.com |
|
ADVERTISEMENT |
|
Private Andrew Jackson Smith was one of four soldiers who earned the Medal of Honor for heroism during the battle at Honey Hill, South Carolina, on November 30, 1864. In the late afternoon, as his Regiment pursued enemy skirmishers and conducted a running fight, they ran into a swampy area backed by a rise where the Confederate Army awaited. The surrounding woods and thick underbrush impeded infantry movement and artillery support. The 55th and 54th regiments formed columns to advance on the enemy position in a flanking movement. As the Confederates repelled other units, the 55th and 54th regiments continued to move into flanking positions. Forced into a narrow gorge crossing a swamp in the face of the enemy position, the 55th's Color-Sergeant was killed by an exploding shell, and Corporal Smith took the Regimental Colors from his hand and carried them through heavy grape and canister fire. Although half of the officers and a third of the enlisted men engaged in the fight were killed or wounded, Corporal Smith continued to expose himself to enemy fire by carrying the colors throughout the battle. Through his actions, the Regimental Colors of the 55th Infantry Regiment were not lost to the enemy. |
|
Andrew Jackson Smith's Medal of Honor was presented belatedly to his family by President William J. Clinton on January 18, 2001. |
Medal Of Honor Feature Sites |
||||
History  |
Citations |
Photos |
Living Heroes |
In Memory |
|
If you don't see links to
additional MOH Photos at LEFT, CLICK HERE. |
||||
| Copyright
© 1999-2014 by HomeOfHeroes.com 2115 West 13th Street - Pueblo, CO 81003 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED If you reproduce the above photograph, please credit: HomeOfHeroes.com |
HomeOfHeroes.com now has more than 25,000 pages of US History for you to view.
