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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Lieutenant · U.S. Army

Cyrus Sears

First Lieutenant Cyrus Sears, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on September 19, 1862 in Iuka, Mississippi during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War September 19, 1862

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, First Lieutenant Cyrus Sears received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 19, 1862 in Iuka, Mississippi during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 11th Battery, Ohio Light Artillery. Sears was 30 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on December 31, 1892, 30 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Colonel.

Sears was born on March 10, 1832 in Meredith Township, Delaware County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Bucyrus, Crawford County, Ohio. Sears died on November 30, 1909, at the age of 77. He is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Upper Sandusky, Ohio.

Sears is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 256 credited to Ohio.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Although severely wounded, fought his battery until the cannoneers and horses were nearly all killed or wounded.

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

Wounds and injuries

What the citation records about his wounds:

Although severely wounded, fought his battery until the cannoneers and horses were nearly all killed or wounded.
  • Age at death: 77
  • Resting place: Oak Hill Cemetery

Battles and campaigns

1862 · Civil War

Battle of Iuka

Result: Union victory

2 Medal of Honor recipients

Places

  • Born: Meredith — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Ohio →

Timeline

  1. March 10, 1832
    Born in Meredith Township, Delaware County, New York
  2. September 19, 1862
    Act of valor — Iuka, Mississippi
    Age 30. 11th Battery, Ohio Light Artillery
  3. December 31, 1892
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. November 30, 1909
    Died
    Age 77.
  5. Resting place
    Oak Hill Cemetery
    Upper Sandusky, Ohio

Biography

Cyrus Sears (March 10, 1832 – November 30, 1909) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Sears received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor. Sear's medal was awarded for his heroism during the Battle of Iuka in Mississippi on 19 September 1862. He was honored with the award on December 31, 1892. Sears was born in Meredith, New York, and entered service in Bucyrus, Ohio. He was buried in Upper Sandusky, Ohio.

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

Also honored for actions on September 19, 1862

CP Cassius Peck Private · Army Civil War · 1862

More Civil War recipients from Ohio

TB Thomas Barton Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1862 WS William H. Surles Private · Army Civil War · 1862 JW James Wiley Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 John Alfred Wilson Private · Army Civil War · 1862 John Reed Porter Private · Army Civil War · 1862 OC Oliver Colwell First Lieutenant · Army 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.