Samuel Rodmond Smith

Swam a freezing creek under fire to forge a troop crossing.

S. Rodmond Smith won the Medal of Honor by crossing an icy Virginia creek under fire to find a way forward for Union troops. Serving as captain of Company C, 4th Delaware Infantry, he was in action at Rowanty Creek, Virginia, on 5 February 1865.

With the crossing contested and the creek partly frozen, Smith entered the water under enemy fire and established a passage. His action helped open the route for the advance.

Medal of Honor Citation (condensed)

Under fire, Smith swam a partly frozen creek and established a crossing for Union troops at Rowanty Creek.

Samuel Rodmond Smith was born in Wilmington, Delaware, on 20 April 1841. He later held the brevet rank of major. He died at Miami, Florida, on 30 September 1912 and was buried in Wilmington Cemetery in Delaware.