Private Michael A. Sowers was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on December 1, 1864 at Stony Creek Station, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company L, 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry. Sowers was 20 years old.
The medal was presented on February 16, 1897, 32 years after the action.
Sowers was born on September 14, 1844 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Sowers died on January 7, 1920 in Findley, Pennsylvania, at the age of 75. He is buried at St. Columbkille Cemetery in Imperial, Pennsylvania. Records also list him as Michael A. Sauers.
Sowers 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
His horse having been shot from under him, he voluntarily and on foot participated in the cavalry charge made upon one of the forts, conducting himself throughout with great personal bravery.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
- Buried: Saint Columbkille Cemetery — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →
Timeline
- September 14, 1844Born in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
- December 1, 1864Act of valor — Stony Creek Station, VirginiaAge 20. Company L, 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry
- February 16, 1897Medal of Honor presented
- January 7, 1920Died in Findley, PennsylvaniaAge 75.
- Resting placeSt. Columbkille CemeteryImperial, Pennsylvania
Biography
Michael A. Sowers (also known as Michael A. Sauers, 14 September 1844 – 7 January 1920) was a private in the United States Army who was awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry in the American Civil War. Sowers was awarded the medal on 16 February 1897 for actions performed at the Battle of Stony Creek Depot in Virginia in 1864.
From the Wikipedia article “Michael Sowers”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

