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Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
Corporal Andrew Jackson Smith
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863, has awarded in the name of The Congress the Medal of Honor to:
CORPORAL ANDREW JACKSON SMITH
UNITED STATES ARMY
for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty: Corporal Andrew Jackson Smith, of Clinton, Illinois, a member of the 55th Massachusetts Voluntary Infantry, distinguished himself on 30 November 1864 by saving his regimental colors, after the color bearer was killed during a bloody charge called the Battle of Honey Hill, South Carolina. In the late afternoon, as the 55th 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. Corporal Andrew Jackson Smith's extraordinary valor in the face of deadly enemy fire is in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon him, the 55th Regiment, and the United States Army.
(c) 2001, Charles Benjamin Hawley
Mrs. Caruth Smith Washington
Descendant of Andrew Jackson Smith
This is a photo of the daughter of Sergeant Andrew Jackson Smith receiving the Medal of Honor, presented by President George Bush. Andrew Jackson Smith was a Corporal during the Civil War who served with the 55th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. He was finally acknowledged, in a ceremony at the White House on July 16, 2001, for his bravery and heroism at the Battle of Honey Hill (South Carolina) on November 30, 1864.
During the ceremony Mrs. Caruth Smith-Washington was flanked, on the left by Gen. Eric K. Shinseki, Army Chief of Staff, and on the right by Sergeant Major Jack L. Tilley, Sergeant Major of the Army.
Photo Courtesy of: Charles Benjamin Hawley, President, Company B, 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Washington, DC. 54thmass.org Casualties from the assault on Fort Wagner.
The 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Company I
Wash. Post Article - "In All Its Glory, The 54th Marches Into Washington"
A site dedicated to the Battle of Olustee , sponsored by the University of Florida.
Meet the sculptor of the African American Civil War Memorial, Amistad Statue, and more, Ed Hamilton .
CLINTON AWARDS POSTHUMOUS MEDAL OF HONOR TO FORMER SLAVE
President Bill Clinton (R) hands the Medal of Honor to Andrew Bowman (L) during a ceremony awarding a posthumous Medal of Honor to his great grandfather Corporal Andrew Jackson Smith in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington January 16, 2001. Smith, a former slave, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his role in the battle of Honey Hill in South Carolina while serving in the 55th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Reuters/William Philpott
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