Ovid Wellford Smith, born in 1844, enlisted at age 16 in the 2nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry as James Smith and volunteered for the 1862 Andrews Raid to destroy Confederate supply lines. He became ill en route and was detained near Huntsville, Alabama, before the April 12 capture of the General locomotive at Big Shanty, Georgia, but escaped and returned to his Army unit. On July 6, 1864, he and five other raiders received the Medal of Honor. He mustered out in October 1864 as a corporal after serving in the battles of Chickamauga, Chattanooga, and Missionary Ridge. Others buried at Green Lawn who received the Medal of Honor are Frederick Phisterer, who rallied a battalion and prevented its destruction at Stones River in December 1862; Clinton Greaves, who led his unit to safety after a surprise attack by a superior force in January 1877; Stanislaus Roy, for the Volunteer Watering Party at Little Big Horn in June 1876; and Edward V. Rickenbacker, who shot down enemy aircraft above and beyond the call of duty in September 1918.
