Smith Larimer

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Smith Larimer
Born(1829-03-17)March 17, 1829
Richland County, Ohio
DiedFebruary 20, 1881(1881-02-20) (aged 51)
Place of burial
AllegianceUnited States of America
Union
Service/branchUnited States Army
Union Army
RankCorporal
UnitOhio Company G, 2nd Ohio Cavalry
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War
AwardsMedal of Honor

Smith Larimer (March 17, 1829 – February 20, 1881) was a corporal in the 2nd Ohio Cavalry, Union Army and a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions at the Battle of Sayler's Creek in the American Civil War.

Biography[edit]

Born on March 17, 1829, in Richland County, Ohio, Larimer enlisted in the Army from Columbus. By April 6, 1865, he was serving as a corporal in Company G of the 2nd Ohio Cavalry. On that day, during the Battle of Sayler's Creek in Virginia, he captured the flag of Confederate General Joseph B. Kershaw's headquarters. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor a month later, on May 3.[1][2]

Larimer's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

Capture of flag of General Kershaw's headquarters.[2]

Larimer died at age 51 on February 20, 1881, and was buried in Mansfield, Ohio.[1] He was one of five people from Richland County to receive the Medal of Honor for actions during the Civil War, the others being David L. Cockley, Joseph Hedges, John H. Ricksecker, and James Wiley.[3]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Smith Larimer". Hall of Valor. Military Times. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Medal of Honor Recipients - Civil War (A–L)". Medal of Honor Citations. United States Army Center of Military History. December 3, 2010. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  3. ^ Simon, Ron (May 30, 2011). "Five Richland Co. soldiers earned Medals of Honor during Civil War". Mansfield News Journal. Mansfield, Ohio. Archived from the original on May 30, 2011.

External links[edit]