Allegiance United States Years of service 1861 - 1865 | Rank Corporal Name John Sterling | |
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Died February 2, 1920(1920-02-02)
Indiana Place of burial Bethesda Cemetery, Terre Haute, Indiana Service/branch United States Army
Union Army | ||
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.
Medal of Honor citation
“The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private John T. Sterling, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 19 September 1864, while serving with Company D, 11th Indiana Infantry, in action at Winchester, Virginia. With one companion Private Sterling captured 14 of the enemy in the severest part of the battle.”
In addition to Pvt. Sterling, two other soldiers of the 11th Indiana Infantry received the Medal of Honor for this action. The others were Pvt. Peter J. Ryan and Sgt. Charles H. Seston.