Charles Henry Smith

Wounded but Unyielding at St. Mary's Church

Charles Henry Smith was a United States Army officer and Medal of Honor recipient whose distinguished military career extended from the American Civil War into the final decade of the nineteenth century. Serving as Colonel of the 1st Maine Cavalry, Smith demonstrated extraordinary courage at the Battle of St. Mary's Church, Virginia, on June 24, 1864. Although severely wounded during the engagement, he remained in command and continued fighting until the battle ended. His conduct earned him the Medal of Honor on April 11, 1895.

Smith was born on November 1, 1827, in Hollis, Maine, to Aaron and Sally Smith. He attended Limerick Academy and later Waterville College, now Colby College, graduating in 1856. Before entering military service, he worked in education and taught in Eastport, Maine. He was also studying law when the Civil War began in 1861.

In 1850, Smith married Mary R. L. Livermore. Their marriage continued throughout his military career, which would eventually take him far beyond his home state.

When the Civil War began, Smith entered Union military service. In 1861, he received a commission as Captain in Company D of the 1st Maine Cavalry, a volunteer regiment organized to serve in the Union Army.

The regiment entered service with the Army of the Potomac and became involved in cavalry operations in Virginia and neighboring states. Its duties included reconnaissance, mounted patrols, screening military movements, and direct engagements with Confederate forces.

During 1862, Smith served in operations associated with the Army of the Potomac. His military assignments included participation in the campaigns in Virginia and service as provost marshal at Frederick, Maryland, during the latter part of the year.

His wartime responsibilities increased considerably in 1863.

On February 16, 1863, Smith was promoted to Major, and on March 26 he advanced to Lieutenant Colonel. These appointments placed him in senior command positions within the 1st Maine Cavalry.

During the spring of 1863, Smith participated in the cavalry operations associated with Major General George Stoneman's raid. The expedition formed part of the broader Union campaign in Virginia during the period of the Battle of Chancellorsville.

In June 1863, the 1st Maine Cavalry took part in the cavalry fighting that preceded the Battle of Gettysburg.

On June 17, 1863, Colonel Calvin S. Douty was killed during the Battle of Aldie, Virginia. Smith subsequently assumed command of the regiment and received promotion to Colonel.

Under his command, the 1st Maine Cavalry continued its participation in the Gettysburg Campaign. The regiment served with Union cavalry forces operating against Confederate mounted units during the movements and engagements surrounding the battle.

Smith remained in command through later operations in 1863, including the Mine Run Campaign.

By the spring of 1864, Union forces under Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant had begun a major offensive against General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Cavalry units were assigned demanding missions involving reconnaissance, protection of supply routes, and engagement with Confederate mounted forces.

Smith continued leading the 1st Maine Cavalry during these operations.

In June 1864, Union cavalry under Major General Philip H. Sheridan conducted a raid intended to disrupt Confederate transportation and supply lines. After the Battle of Trevilian Station, Sheridan's force moved toward the James River while Confederate cavalry pursued and attacked.

On June 24, 1864, Union and Confederate cavalry fought at St. Mary's Church, Virginia.

The engagement developed into a severe confrontation as Confederate forces under Major General Wade Hampton attacked the Union cavalry position.

Smith commanded the 1st Maine Cavalry during the fighting. Confederate attacks placed heavy pressure on the Union line, and the opposing cavalry forces engaged in repeated combat across the battlefield.

During the engagement, Smith was severely wounded in the thigh.

Historical accounts describe him remaining mounted and continuing to direct his soldiers despite the injury. His horse was shot from beneath him during the fighting, but he did not abandon the battlefield.

Smith remained with his command as the engagement continued.

His decision to stay in the fight despite his wound became the defining act of bravery for which he would later receive the Medal of Honor.

The official Medal of Honor citation records that Smith remained in the fighting until its conclusion, although severely wounded.

His conduct demonstrated determination under dangerous battlefield conditions. Rather than withdrawing for treatment after being injured, he continued carrying out his responsibilities as a cavalry commander.

The Battle of St. Mary's Church was a difficult engagement for Union cavalry. Confederate forces pressed repeated attacks against Sheridan's troops, and the fighting resulted in significant casualties.

Smith's personal bravery was recognized for his persistence in command during the engagement, not for a specific captured flag or the seizure of an enemy position.

Following his recovery and continued wartime service, Smith received brevet recognition for distinguished conduct. He held the honorary grade of Brevet Brigadier General and eventually attained Brevet Major General, the highest rank recorded in his military history.

These brevet appointments were honorary distinctions and should be distinguished from his substantive military rank.

Smith continued serving during the final campaigns of the Civil War. His military responsibilities included command of cavalry formations during the pursuit of Confederate forces in Virginia.

By April 1865, Union forces had broken through the Confederate defenses around Petersburg and Richmond. The Army of Northern Virginia retreated westward while Union infantry and cavalry pursued.

Smith's military service extended through the Appomattox Campaign, which ended with General Robert E. Lee's surrender on April 9, 1865.

Following the Civil War, Smith remained associated with the United States Army and continued his military career.

His postwar service included responsibilities in Arkansas, where he served as an assistant commissioner of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, commonly known as the Freedmen's Bureau. The bureau was responsible for assisting formerly enslaved people and refugees during the transition from slavery to freedom after the Civil War.

Smith subsequently continued in the regular United States Army, including service associated with the 19th United States Infantry.

His military career lasted until 1891, when he retired with the substantive rank of Colonel. Although he had received higher brevet recognition, Colonel remained his regular Army retirement rank.

On April 11, 1895, Charles Henry Smith received the Medal of Honor for his gallantry at St. Mary's Church on June 24, 1864.

The decoration was presented more than thirty years after the battle and formally recognized his decision to remain in combat despite suffering a severe wound.

His recognition preserved the account of a cavalry commander who continued directing his troops during a difficult engagement rather than leaving the battlefield after being injured.

Smith's wife, Mary, died on December 18, 1897, in Washington, D.C. He did not remarry.

Charles Henry Smith died on July 17, 1902, in Washington, D.C., at the age of 74. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, beside his wife.

His military career spanned the Civil War and the decades that followed, including active cavalry command, honorary brevet appointments, and continued regular Army service.

Smith's enduring military legacy is centered on June 24, 1864, when he remained with his regiment at St. Mary's Church despite being severely wounded.

As Colonel of the 1st Maine Cavalry, he demonstrated the battlefield courage that earned him the Medal of Honor and established his place among the distinguished officers of the Union Army.

Charles Henry Smith remains remembered for his leadership during the American Civil War, his continued military service after the conflict, and his extraordinary bravery at St. Mary's Church, Virginia.