John T. Sterling

Last updated
John Tenbrook Sterling
US-MOH-1862.png
Born 1841
Edgar County, Illinois
Died(1920-02-02)February 2, 1920
West Terre Haute, Indiana
Place of burialBethesda Cemetery, Terre Haute, Indiana
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Army
Union Army
Years of service 1861 - 1865
Rank Corporal
Unit 11th Indiana Infantry
Battles/wars American Civil War
 • Battle of Opequon
Awards Medal of Honor

John T. Sterling (1841 – February 2, 1920) was a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Battle of Opequon more commonly called the Third Battle of Winchester, Virginia on September 19, 1864.

Union Army Land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War

During the American Civil War, the Union Army referred to the United States Army, the land force that fought to preserve the Union of the collective states. Also known as the Federal Army, it proved essential to the preservation of the United States of America as a working, viable republic.

American Civil War Civil war in the United States from 1861 to 1865

The American Civil War was a war fought in the United States from 1861 to 1865, between the North and the South. The Civil War is the most studied and written about episode in U.S. history. Primarily as a result of the long-standing controversy over the enslavement of black people, war broke out in April 1861 when secessionist forces attacked Fort Sumter in South Carolina shortly after Abraham Lincoln had been inaugurated as the President of the United States. The loyalists of the Union in the North proclaimed support for the Constitution. They faced secessionists of the Confederate States in the South, who advocated for states' rights to uphold slavery.

Medal of Honor United States of Americas highest military honor

The Medal of Honor is the United States of America's highest and most prestigious personal military decoration that may be awarded to recognize U.S. military service members who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. The medal is normally awarded by the President of the United States in the name of the U.S. Congress. Because the medal is presented "in the name of Congress", it is often referred to informally as the "Congressional Medal of Honor". However, the official name of the current award is "Medal of Honor." Within the United States Code the medal is referred to as the "Medal of Honor", and less frequently as "Congressional Medal of Honor". U.S. awards, including the Medal of Honor, do not have post-nominal titles, and while there is no official abbreviation, the most common abbreviations are "MOH" and "MH".

Contents

Sterling joined the army from Indiana in August 1861, and was mustered out in July 1865. [1]

Indiana State of the United States of America

Indiana is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern and Great Lakes regions of North America. Indiana is the 38th largest by area and the 17th most populous of the 50 United States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th U.S. state on December 11, 1816. Indiana borders Lake Michigan to the northwest, Michigan to the north, Ohio to the east, Kentucky to the south and southeast, and Illinois to the west.

Medal of Honor citation

"The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private John T. Sterling, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 19 September 1864, while serving with Company D, 11th Indiana Infantry, in action at Winchester, Virginia. With one companion Private Sterling captured 14 of the enemy in the severest part of the battle."

In addition to Pvt. Sterling, two other soldiers of the 11th Indiana Infantry received the Medal of Honor for this action. The others were Pvt. Peter J. Ryan and Sgt. Charles H. Seston.

Peter J. Ryan Recipient of the Medal of Honor

Peter J. Ryan was a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Battle of Opequon more commonly called the Third Battle of Winchester, Virginia on September 19, 1864.

Charles H. Seston Recipient of the Medal of Honor

Charles H. Seston was a Union Army soldier killed in action during the American Civil War. He posthumously received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Battle of Opequon more commonly called the Third Battle of Winchester, Virginia on September 19, 1864.

See also

Related Research Articles

Charles Veale United States Army Medal of Honor recipient

Charles Veale or Veal was an African American Union Army soldier during the American Civil War and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions at the Battle of Chaffin's Farm.

Thomas Evans (Medal of Honor) Welsh American soldier in the Union Army, recipient of the Medal of Honor

Thomas Evans (1824–1866), was a soldier in the Union Army who received the United States military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the American Civil War.

John Kennedy was born a British subject in Ireland, and became an American citizen and a private in the Union Army. He received the United States military's highest decoration for bravery, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the Battle of Trevilian Station in the American Civil War.

John Schiller Union Army Medal of Honor recipient

John Schiller was an enlisted soldier in the U.S. Army during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Chaffin's Farm on September 29, 1864.

Chester B. Bowen Recipient of the Medal of Honor

Chester Bennett Bowen was a Union soldier during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Battle of Opequon more commonly called the Third Battle of Winchester, Virginia on September 19, 1864. Corporal Bowen was one of two members of the 1st New York Dragoons to receive the Medal of Honor for this action. The other was Sgt. Andrew J. Lorish.

Gabriel Cole (Medal of Honor) Recipient of the Medal of Honor

Gabriel Cole was a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry and the capture of the flag of the 45th Virginia Infantry Regiment during the Battle of Opequon more commonly called the Third Battle of Winchester, Virginia on September 19, 1864.

Henry W. Downs Recipient of the Medal of Honor

Henry W. Downs was a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Battle of Opequon more commonly called the Third Battle of Winchester, Virginia on September 19, 1864. He is buried at Dayton National Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio.

Patrick H. McEnroe Recipient of the Medal of Honor

Patrick H. McEnroe was a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Battle of Opequon more commonly called the Third Battle of Winchester, Virginia on September 19, 1864.

George Reynolds (Medal of Honor) Recipient of the Medal of Honor

George Reynolds was a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Battle of Opequon more commonly called the Third Battle of Winchester, Virginia on September 19, 1864.

Conrad Schmidt (Medal of Honor) Recipient of the Medal of Honor

Conrad Schmidt was a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Battle of Opequon more commonly called the Third Battle of Winchester, Virginia on September 19, 1864.

Elbridge Robinson Recipient of the Medal of Honor

Elbridge Robinson was a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Second Battle of Winchester, Virginia on June 14, 1863.

John Shanes Recipient of the Medal of Honor

John Shanes was a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Battle of Rutherford's Farm near Winchester, Virginia on July 20, 1864.

John Creed (soldier) Union Army soldier during the American Civil War who received the Medal of Honor for gallantry

John Creed was an Irish born Union Army soldier during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Battle of Fisher's Hill near Strasburg, Virginia fought September 21–24, 1864. The battle was one of the engagements of the Valley Campaigns of 1864.

George G. Moore Recipient of the Medal of Honor

George G. Moore was a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Battle of Fisher's Hill near Strasburg, Virginia fought September 21–22, 1864. The battle was one of the engagements of the Valley Campaigns of 1864.

Ira Hough Recipient of the Medal of Honor

Ira Hough was a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry when he captured an enemy flag during the Battle of Cedar Creek fought near Middletown, Virginia on October 19, 1864. The battle was the decisive engagement of Major General Philip Sheridan's Valley Campaigns of 1864 and was the largest battle fought in the Shenandoah Valley.

Richard Taylor (Medal of Honor) Union Army soldier during the American Civil War

Richard Taylor (1834–1890) was a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Battle of Cedar Creek fought near Middletown, Virginia on October 19, 1864. The battle was the decisive engagement of Major General Philip Sheridan's Valley Campaigns of 1864 and was the largest battle fought in the Shenandoah Valley.

John Walsh (Medal of Honor) American Civil War soldier and Medal of Honor recipient born in Ireland

John Walsh was an Irish-born Union Army soldier during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Battle of Cedar Creek, fought near Middletown, Virginia on October 19, 1864. The battle was the decisive engagement of Major General Philip Sheridan's Valley Campaigns of 1864 and was the largest battle fought in the Shenandoah Valley.

Martin Wambsgan Recipient of the Medal of Honor

Martin Wambsgan was a German born Union Army soldier during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Battle of Cedar Creek fought near Middletown, Virginia on October 19, 1864. The battle was the decisive engagement of Major General Philip Sheridan's Valley Campaigns of 1864 and was the largest battle fought in the Shenandoah Valley.

References

  1. ↑ Indiana Digital Archives


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.