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Ovid Wellford “James” Smith

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Ovid Wellford “James” Smith Famous memorial Veteran

Birth
Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg City, Virginia, USA
Death
28 Jan 1868 (aged 23)
Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio, USA
Burial
Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio, USA GPS-Latitude: 39.9422, Longitude: -83.033
Plot
Burial 3559, Lot 84, Section C.
Memorial ID
View Source
American Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He received the award for his actions as a private in Company L, 2nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment, on April 12, 1862, as a member of the "Andrews Raiders" also known as the "Great Locomotive Chase." He enlisted in 1861 at the age of 16 by claiming he was 22 and volunteered to participate in the Raid. He was detained en route by Confederate Army and joined the Confederate Army to avoid suspicion, missing the chase part of the Raid. He managed to escape back to his Union Army unit and later participated in the Battles of Chickamauga, Chattanooga, and Missionary Ridge. He was discharged in 1864 at the rank of corporal due to ill health and died at the age of 23. His Medal of Honor citation reads: "One of the 19 of 22 men (including 2 civilians) who, by direction of Gen. Mitchell (or Buell) penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., in an attempt to destroy the bridges and tracks between Chattanooga and Atlanta."
American Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He received the award for his actions as a private in Company L, 2nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment, on April 12, 1862, as a member of the "Andrews Raiders" also known as the "Great Locomotive Chase." He enlisted in 1861 at the age of 16 by claiming he was 22 and volunteered to participate in the Raid. He was detained en route by Confederate Army and joined the Confederate Army to avoid suspicion, missing the chase part of the Raid. He managed to escape back to his Union Army unit and later participated in the Battles of Chickamauga, Chattanooga, and Missionary Ridge. He was discharged in 1864 at the rank of corporal due to ill health and died at the age of 23. His Medal of Honor citation reads: "One of the 19 of 22 men (including 2 civilians) who, by direction of Gen. Mitchell (or Buell) penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., in an attempt to destroy the bridges and tracks between Chattanooga and Atlanta."

Bio by: William Bjornstad



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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Added: Aug 8, 2000
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11582/ovid_wellford-smith: accessed ), memorial page for Ovid Wellford “James” Smith (9 Nov 1844–28 Jan 1868), Find a Grave Memorial ID 11582, citing Green Lawn Cemetery, Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.