Louis C. Shepard
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Shepard, Louis C. | |
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| Born September 2, 1841 – April 27, 1919 | |
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| Place of birth | Ashtabula, Ohio |
| Place of death | Danbury, Ohio |
| Allegiance | USN |
| Years of service | 1860–1865 |
| Rank | Ordinary Seaman |
| Unit | American Civil War USS Wabash |
| Battles/wars | Fort Fisher |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
Lewis Capet Shepard (September 2, 1841 – April 27, 1919) was a sailor in the United States Navy and a recipient of the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Second Battle of Fort Fisher during the American Civil War. He is the only Medal of Honor winner from Ashtabula County, Ohio.
Shepard was born in Ashtabula, Ohio. He entered the U.S. Navy during the Civil War and was assigned as a ordinary seaman to the USS Wabash. He participated in the landing party that assaulted Fort Fisher in North Carolina in January 1865. He advanced 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 not only reaching the angle of the fort, but in being one of the few to enter it. When the rest of the men to his rear were forced to retreat due to devastating fire, Shepard was forced to withdraw and seek the shelter of one of the mounds near the stockade. Shepard then succeeded in regaining the safety of his ship.
Shepard was just 23 years old at the time. After the fall of Fort Fisher, the Confederate army evacuated its remaining forts in the Cape Fear area, and Union forces soon overtook Wilmington. Once Wilmington fell, the supply line of the Confederacy was severed, and the war soon ended.
He was later presented with the Medal of Honor in recognition of his service. Due to a Navy clerical error, his citation reads Louis; however his name was spelled Lewis. Shepard died in Danbury, Ohio, and was buried in Lakeview Cemetery in Port Clinton, Ohio.
In April 2005, Ohio Congressman Steven C. LaTourette, representing the district that contains Shepard's native Ashtabula, passed a resolution in the House honoring Shephard. The flag that was flown over the United States Capitol on April 27, 2005, was unveiled on Memorial Day 2005 during the dedication ceremony for the new Ashtabula County Veterans Memorial. VFW Post 3334 in Jefferson was instrumental on behalf of the new memorial, and for choosing to honor the valor of Louis C. Shepard.
