Private John T. Sterling was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 19, 1864 in Winchester, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company D, 11th Indiana Infantry. Sterling was about 23 years old.
14 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 4, 1865. He later rose to the rank of Corporal.
Sterling was born in 1841 in Edgar County, Illinois. His Medal of Honor is credited to Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana. Sterling died on February 2, 1920 in Terre Haute, Indiana, at the age of about 79. He is buried at Bethesda Cemetery in West Terre Haute, Indiana.
Sterling is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 75 credited to Indiana.
Official Medal of Honor citation
With one companion captured 14 of the enemy in the severest part of the battle.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Indiana →
Timeline
- 1841Born in Edgar County, Illinois
- September 19, 1864Act of valor — Winchester, VirginiaAge about 23. Company D, 11th Indiana Infantry
- April 4, 1865Medal of Honor presented
- February 2, 1920Died in Terre Haute, IndianaAge about 79.
- Resting placeBethesda CemeteryWest Terre Haute, Indiana
Biography
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. Sterling joined the army from Indiana in August 1861, and was mustered out in July 1865.
From the Wikipedia article “John T. Sterling”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
