Veteran in crisis? Dial 988 then press 1 · Text 838255 Next observance: Navy Birthday · October 13
Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Lieutenant · U.S. Army

Aaron Steven Lanfare

First Lieutenant Aaron Steven Lanfare, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 6, 1865 at Deatonsville (Sailor's Creek), Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War April 6, 1865

First Lieutenant Aaron Steven Lanfare was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 6, 1865 at Deatonsville (Sailor's Creek), Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company B, 1st Connecticut Cavalry. Lanfare was 40 years old.

59 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on May 3, 1865. He later rose to the rank of Captain.

Lanfare was born on September 9, 1824 in Branford, New Haven County, Connecticut. Lanfare died on September 19, 1875 in At Sea, at the age of 51. He was buried at sea.

Lanfare is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 57 credited to Connecticut.

★ Flags & Colors

Official Medal of Honor citation

Capture of flag of 11th Florida Infantry (C.S.A.).

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Branford — map
  • Buried: Branford — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Connecticut →

Timeline

  1. September 9, 1824
    Born in Branford, New Haven County, Connecticut
  2. April 6, 1865
    Act of valor — Deatonsville (Sailor's Creek), Virginia
    Age 40. Company B, 1st Connecticut Cavalry
  3. May 3, 1865
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. September 19, 1875
    Died in At Sea
    Age 51.
  5. Resting place
    Buried at sea

Biography

Aaron Steven Lanfare (September 9, 1824 - August 19, 1875) was a first lieutenant in the Union Army and a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in the American Civil War. A pre-war merchant sailor, Lanfare enlisted in the 1st Connecticut Cavalry from Branford, Connecticut in November 1861, and was mustered out in August 1865. After his military service he returned to serve in the merchant marine, until his ship was lost in the West Indies.

From the Wikipedia article “Aaron S. Lanfare”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on April 6, 1865

JB John Francis Benjamin Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 OB Orrin Bennett Private · Army Civil War · 1865 HB Hugh Patterson Boon Captain · Army Civil War · 1865 Lewis Francis Brest Private · Army Civil War · 1865 AB Andrew Bringle Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 IC Ivers S. Calkin First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 JC John Chapman Private · Army Civil War · 1865 AC Albert Adams Clapp First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 TC Trustrim Connell Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 FC Francis Marion Cunningham First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 Thomas Ward Custer Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 TD Thomas Davis Private · Army Civil War · 1865

See all 60 recipients for April 6, 1865 →

More Civil War recipients from Connecticut

LD Lorenzo Denning Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864 John Calvin Curtis Sergeant Major · Army Civil War · 1862 Robert A. Gray Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 EB Elijah William Bacon Private · Army Civil War · 1863 ✦ EB Elijah A. Briggs Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 JR James Roberts Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.