William Smith (Medal of Honor, 1869)

He fought in the Chiricahua Mountains and earned high honour

William Smith served as a private in Company G of the 8th United States Cavalry during the Army's campaigns in Arizona Territory. His service is associated with the regiment's operations against Apache forces in the Chiricahua Mountains in 1869.

On 20 October 1869 he took part in an engagement in those mountains. The Army recognized his conduct with the Medal of Honor, issued on 14 February 1870. The official citation consists of the words "Gallantry in action." The recipient record identifies his company and regiment and connects that brief commendation with the fighting on that date (https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/william-smith-1).

His award was one of several arising from the same engagement. Smith's recorded place in it is that of an enlisted cavalryman, rather than an officer commanding the force. The Medal of Honor was awarded during his lifetime. He served in the post-Civil War regular Army, whose cavalry detachments operated across the Southwest.