Black and white photographic portrait of Medal of Honor recipient Lewis C. Shepard, wearing medal, for service during the Civil War. The sitter also wears an 1893 New York Gettysburg anniversary veteran badge.
The inscription on the reverse indicates that Shepard served as an Ordinary Seaman during the Civil War onboard the U.S.S. Wabash. Shepard was mentioned for "gallant conduct in the assault on Fort Fisher, January 15, 1864," having approached and entered the enemy fort while facing heavy fire.
Official Citation:
SHEPARD, LOUIS C.
Rank and organization: Ordinary Seaman, U.S. Navy. Born: 1843, Ohio. Accredited to: Ohio. G.O. No.: 59, 22 June 1865. Citation: Served as seaman on board the U.S.S. Wabash in the assault on Fort Fisher, 15 January 1865. Advancing gallantly through severe enemy fire while armed only with a revolver and cutlass which made it impossible to return the fire at that range, Shepard succeeded in reaching the angle of the fort and in going on, to be one of the few who entered the fort. When the rest of the body of men to his rear were forced to retreat under a devastating fire, he was forced to withdraw through lack of support and to seek the shelter of one of the mounds near the stockade from which point he succeeded in regaining the safety of his ship.
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