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

Private · U.S. Army

Cyrus B. Lower

Private Cyrus B. Lower, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 7, 1864 at Wilderness Campaign, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War May 7, 1864

Private Cyrus B. Lower was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 7, 1864 at Wilderness Campaign, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company K, 13th Pennsylvania Reserves. Lower was 21 years old.

The medal was presented on July 20, 1887, 23 years after the action.

Lower was born on February 28, 1843 in Lawrence, Washington County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to New Castle, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. Lower died on May 21, 1924 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of 81. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Lower is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Gallant services and soldierly qualities in voluntarily rejoining his command after having been wounded.

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

Battles and campaigns

1864 · Civil War

Battle of the Wilderness

Result: Inconclusive

8 Medal of Honor recipients

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Pennsylvania — map
  • Died: Washington, D.C. — map
  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →

Timeline

  1. February 28, 1843
    Born in Lawrence, Washington County, Pennsylvania
  2. May 7, 1864
    Act of valor — Wilderness Campaign, Virginia
    Age 21. Company K, 13th Pennsylvania Reserves
  3. July 20, 1887
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. May 21, 1924
    Died in Washington, District of Columbia
    Age 81.
  5. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Biography

Cyrus Benson Lower (February 28, 1843 – May 21, 1924) was a United States soldier who fought with the Union Army during the American Civil War as a private in the 13th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment (also known as the "Bucktails" or 42nd Pennsylvania Infantry). He received his nation's highest award for valor, the U.S. Medal of Honor, for his display of gallantry during the Battle of the Wilderness on May 7, 1864, and afterward when he rejoined his regiment after having been wounded in action and held as a prisoner of war by Confederate States Army troops. That award was conferred on July 20, 1887.

From the Wikipedia article “Cyrus B. Lower”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

More Civil War recipients from Pennsylvania

JS John Hamilton reid Storey Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 Alexander Kelly First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 John Frederic Hartranft Colonel · Army Civil War · 1861 PL Pierre Leon Captain of the Forecastle · Navy Civil War · 1862 WM William Powers Morris Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 TC Thomas H. Cripps Quartermaster · 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.