Cyrus Hodges Sears (1832 - 1909)

Born 10 Mar 1832 in Delhi, Delaware, New York, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 30 Nov 1909 at age 77 in Harpster, Wyandot, Ohio, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: L. Ray Sears [send private message]

Biography

Cyrus was born in 1832. He was the son of Elkanah Sears. He passed away in 1909.

Sources

• May, Samuel. The Descendants of Richard Sares (Sears) of Yarmouth, Mass., 1638-1888 Page 501 (Joel Munsell's Sons, 1890) No 2456, Mr Sears studied law, but abandoned the profession for trade; enlisted in 11th OH Battery in 1861; was commissioned 1st Lt, and later Lt Col 11th LA Vols (colored), and served until mustered out at the end of the war. Is now in mercantile business at Fowler, Wyandotte co., OH

• Deeds of Valor Vol 1, Ed:WF Beyer p.92: At Iuka (19 Sep 1862, Union forces entrenched at Corinth on the Tennessee River) the Eleventh Ohio Battery under my command made a most desperate fight, which was not only 'full measure, pressed down and overflowing,' but in which it lost, in killed and wounded, over 52 percent of its entire force and over 88 percent of its combatants or cannoneers-or forty eight out of fifty-four men. "The part taken by this battery in the field was in violation of orders. When we reached a point just south of its battle ground-which was done under pretty heavy fire from the enemy's artillery and infantry- I was ordered to 'form in battery' at a point designated, and await further orders. These orders never came, but the enemy did, in force, sneaking up with their pieces at 'charge bayonets,' in plain view and at easy canister range. Though just then there was a comparitive lull in the enemy's firing, their bullets were s-s-z-z-z-ipping among the battery with very uncomfortable frequency, and occaisonally winging a two or four-footed victim. On the charging masses came, 150 or 200 yards. Still the battery was waiting for 'further orders,' every man at his post, toeing the mark, with everything 'ready' under fire. "Of course, this wait was not actually long, though it seemed longer than the whole fight. Naturally, the boys grew uneasy, and chafed from seeing such splendid chances for the most beautiful pot-shot going to waste, and gave expression to views on the conduct of the war accordingly. For example, one sergeant said "By God, I guess we're going to let them gobble the whole damned shooting match before we strike a lick, if we don't mind and quickly too. A corporal replied, I guess we are obeying orders. I gave the order: "With canister, load, aim low, and give them hell as fast as you can!' And so the fight was on. Before the end it became evident that the position of the guns of this battery had become so much the bone of contention in that fight, that everything else, both flags, the Union and Confederacy were forgotten in that all-absorbing, handspike and ramrod, rough and tumble, devil-take-the-hindmost fight for those six guns. I was wounded, and after the battle was ordered home to Ohio for repairs. In recalling the fight, Lt Cyrus Sears quotes the following from the report of General Rosecrans: "The enemy's line of infantry now moved forward on the battery, coming up from the woods on our right on the Fifth Iowa, while a brigade showed itself on our left and attempted to cross the road toward Colonel Puiczel. The battle became furious. Our battery poured a deadly fire upon the enemy's column advancing up the road, while musketry concentrated upon it soon killed or wounded most of the horses. When within one hundred yards they received a volley from our entire line. The enemy penetrated the battery, were repulsed; again returned, were agan repulsed, and finally bore down upon it with a column of three regiments, this time carrying the battery. Many of the cannoneers were knocked out with ramrods and handspikes in the hands of the batterymen. Sands' Eleventh Ohio Battery, under Lt Sears, was served with unequaled bravery under circumstances of danger and exposure such as rarely, perhaps never, have fallen to the lot of a single battery during the war. Medal of Honor Recipients 1863-1978, 14 Feb 1979; BNS News Service from CT State Library; p 213 Date of Issue: 31 Dec 1892. Citation: Although severly wounded, fought his battery until the canoneers and horses were nearly all killed or wounded.

• John W Sears Archive: he wrote for a Sears medal in 1902

• Mayflower Index: No. 29,914 Cyrus; spouse Sarah A Harpster; father Elkanah

• Sears, Cyrus 1832- Medal of Honor Recipients, 1863-1978. 96th Congress, 1st Session, Senate Committee Print No. 3. Prepared by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, United States Senate. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1979. Use the "Medal of Honor Alphabetical Index," which begins on page 1023, to locate biographies. (MedHR) Sears, Cyrus 1832-1909 Medal of Honor Recipients, 1863-1994. Two volumes. Compiled by George Lang, Raymond L. Collins, and Gerard F. White. New York: Facts on File, 1995. Use the alphabetical Index, which begins on page 865, to locate biographies. (MedHR 94) www.nps.gov/archive/vick/vcweb/la_un/la11inf.htm This unit was attached to Col's Isaac F. Shepard (under arrest at the time of the battle of Milliken's Bend) & Hermann Lieb (wounded 7 June 1863) & Lt. Col. Charles J. Paine's African Brigade, District of Northeast Louisiana under Brig. Gen'ls Jeremiah C. Sullivan (relieved 6/3/63) & Elias S. Dennis and was commanded by Col. Edwin W. Chamberlain & Lt. Col. Cyrus Sears. [Refer to Edwin Bearss' The Vicksburg Campaign, Volume III, page 1205 and also Shepard of Missouri & Dennis of Illinois.] LC Control No.: 10005342 Type of Material: Book (Print, Microform, Electronic, etc.) Personal Name: Sears, Cyrus. [from old catalog] Main Title: Paper of Cyrus Sears. Published/Created: Columbus, The F. J. Heer printing co., 1909. Description: 29 p. front. (port.) 23 cm. CALL NUMBER: E475.4 .S43 Copy 1 -- Request in: Jefferson or Adams Bldg General or Area Studies Reading Rms Artillery Units: 11th Ohio Battery, Independent Light Artillery The biographical sketches here show only those members of the unit who wrote letters to their local newspapers. Information may be drawn from the unit roster, newspaper obituaries, or other biographical sources. Captain Cyrus A. Sears Cyrus A. Sears was born March 10, 1832 in Delaware Co., New York and came with his father's family, in January, 1836, to Crawford County, where he remained on a farm until of age. He graduated at the Cincinnati Law School April, 14, 1856, and, in June of the same year, was admitted to the bar at Upper Sandusky. He commenced practice at Bucyrus, April 1, 1857, and continued until June 15, 1859, when he removed to Upper Sandusky and continual practice. October 12, 1861, he was enrolled a private, at Cincinnati, in the 11th Ohio Independent Battery of Light Artillery, and was promoted to First Lieutenant to date October 27, 1861. He participated in the siege of New Madrid and Island No. 10, and commanded the battery during the siege of Corinth, and also at the battle of Iuka, where his battery lost fifty-six men and he was severely wounded. For his actions, he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. In his official order on this battle, Gen. Rosecrans states that "The 11th Ohio Battery, under Lieutenant Sears, was served with unequaled bravery, under circumstances of danger and exposure, such as rarely, perhaps never, have fallen to the lot of a single battery during the war." Sears' account of his experience at Iuka is quoted here from Deeds of Valor: "At Iuka, the 11th Ohio Battery under my command made a most desperate fight, which was not only returned full measure, pressed down and overflowing, but in which it lost, in killed and wounded, over 52 percent of its entire force and over 88 percent of its combatants or cannoneers-or 48 out of 54 men.The part taken by this battery in the field was in violation of orders. When we reached a point just south of its battle ground-which was done under pretty heavy fire from the enemy's artillery and infantry-I was ordered to 'form in battery' at a point designated, and 'await further orders.' These orders never came, but the enemy did, in force, sneaking up with their pieces at 'charge bayonets,' in plain view and at easy canister range. Though just then there was a comparative lull in the enemy's firing, their bullets were s-s-z-z-zipping among the battery with very uncomfortable frequency, and occasionally winging a two or four-footed victim. On the charging masses came, 150 or 200 yards. Still the battery was waiting 'further orders,' every man at his post, toeing the mark, with everything 'ready' under fire.Of course, this wait was not actually long, though it seemed longer than the whole fight. Naturally, the boys grew uneasy, and chafed from seeing such splendid chances for the most beautiful pot-shot going to waste, and gave expression to views on the conduct of the war accordingly.For example, one sergeant said: 'By God, I guess we're going to let them gobble the whole damned shooting match before we strike a lick, if we don't mind and quickly too.'A corporal replied: 'I guess we are obeying orders.' 'Damn the orders! To wait for orders in a time like this!' the sergeant retorted.This dialogue struck a responsive chord in my mind, and was, perhaps, the last straw that moved me to take a chance and shoulder the responsibility. I gave the order: 'With canister, load, aim low, and give them hell as fast as you can!' And so the fight was on.Before the end it became evident that the position of the guns of this battery had become so much the bone of contention in that fight, that everything else, both flags, the Union and the Confederacy, and even the 'damned rigger' were forgotten in that all-absorbing, handspike and ramrod, rough-and-tumble, devil-take-the-hindmost fight for those six guns.I was wounded, and after the battle was ordered home to Ohio for repairs." Following several months of recuperation in Ohio, Sears was discharged from the 11th Ohio Battery to dated May 25, 1863 and was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of the 11th Louisiana Infantry, African Descent on May 26, 1863 and commanded the regiment with great credit at the battle of Millken's Bend on June 7, 1863. In a letter to his superior officer, dated March 25, 1866, Col. Vail E. Young, commanding the post of Vicksburg, says: "Lieut. Col. Sears was specially mentioned in official reports of the battle of Iuka, and recommended for promotion for gallant conduct, by Gens. Hamilton, Rosecrans and Grant. He was also conspicuously gallant at the battle of Milliken's Bend, Sears served with this regiment throughout the remainder of the war until he was mustered out on March 22, 1866. He returned home to Wyandot County and within a few years owned a half interest in the Stevenson Machine Works which he sold in 1872. He was a member of the Oak Hill Cemetery Association and later worked as the postmaster of Pitt Twp. He started another mercantile business in Fowler, Ohio that grew into the Harpster, Sears, and McCampbell firm; he also served on the Fowler Board of Education. Cyrus Sears died November 30, 1909 and is buried at Oak Hill cemetery in Upper Sandusky, Wyandot Co., Ohio. Articles: Wyandot Democratic Union- February 25, 1864 pg. 1 Letters: Wyandot Pioneer October 4, 1861 pg. 2November 15, 1861 pg. 2November 22, 1861 pg. 2December 13, 1861 pg. 2March 28, 1862 pg. 2May 2, 1862 pg. 2May 30, 1862 pg. 2June 20, 1862 pg. 2 (2 letters)October 3, 1862 pg. 3June 12, 1863 pg. 2 COL. CYRUS SEARS is a native of Delhi Township, Delaware Co., N. Y., born March 10, 1832. His parents were Elkanah and Desiar (Phelps) Sears, whose history is elsewhere detailed. (See sketch of J. D. Sears). Cyrus Sears, the subject of this sketch, removed with his parents to a farm near Bucyrus, Crawford Co., Ohio, in 1836, where he resided till about 1852, attending the district schools during winters in the meantime. He afterward attended the Union Schools of Bucyrus one year; taught one term; took a course in book-keeping, and while waiting for a business opening, learned the art of telegraphy. He was employed one year by T. Stout & Co., of Upper Sandusky, as book-keeper, and in the spring of 1855 began the study of law with his brother J. D. Sears at Upper Sandusky, subsequently entering the Cincinnati Law School, where he graduated at the close of the first term, but attended a second course of lectures as a more thorough preparation for his work. After spending about one year in the employ of Messrs. Ferguson & Long, he located in Bucyrus one year and then formed a partnership with his brother, J. D. Sears, with whom he remained till 1861. Mr. Sears then removed to Cincinnati and engaged in the practice of his profession, but soon joined the Burnet Rifle Company.. of which ex- President Hayes was first Captain, and ex-Gov. Noyes and many other since distinguished men were privates. In July, 1861, Mr. Sears began recruiting the Eleventh Ohio Independent Battery, and August 12, of the same year, was mustered into it as private, serving till March 22, 1866. He was commissioned First Lieutenant of said Battery October 12, 1861, and for gallant and meritorious conduct, was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the Eleventh Regiment Louisiana Volunteers, soon after known as the Forty ninth Regiment United States Colored Infantry. Owing to the absence or disability of the Colonel, Mr. Sears was in command of this regiment during twenty-seven of the thirty five months of its service, and as evidence of his efficiency Gen. Rosecrans indorsed, in his own hand, the order of his brigade commander, sending him home on recruiting service after the battle of Iuka, and recommended that he should be permitted to go, on account of gallant conduct. This order was also indorsed favorably by Gen. U. S. Grant, who, also, in his own hand, recommended him for promotion for gallant conduct. His promotion was also recommended and his general good conduct commended by several more of the most prominent officers in the service by letters and orders, which he now has in his possession, but which are too numerous and extended for insertion in this sketch. That portion of Gen. Rosecrans' order referring to the action of the Eleventh Ohio Battery, under Col. Sears, in the above battle is as follows: " The Eleventh Ohio Battery under Lieut. Sears was served with unequaled bravery under circumstances of danger and exposure such as rarely, perhaps never, have fallen to the lot of a single battery during the war." Col. Sears was severely wounded in this battle by a musket ball. On May 27, 1865, he was married to Sarah A. Harpster, daughter of David and Rachel (Hall) Harpster. (See sketch.) He took his bride to Vicksburg, Miss., from whence he was soon placed in command of the District of Yazoo City, where they spent the summer of 1865. At the close of the war, our subject returned to Upper Sandusky and resumed his legal profession, in the course of which he made the argument credited to J. D. and C. Sears, in the case of Shaffer vs. McKee in the 19th Ohio State Report, which argument received the compliment of the court (see report), and attests the ability of its author. During the summer and fall of 1867 he was engaged in reporting the proceedings of the Louisiana Senate at New Orleans, and while there, reported the celebrated Pinchback speech so extensively circulated. By rigid economy, Mr. Sears was enabled to save about $6,000 of his military wages, and this with $1,000 more, was totally lost in an attempt to raise a crop of cotton near Vicksburg immediately after the close of the war. Hoping to more speedily retrieve his broken fortune, he abandoned the legal profession and purchased a half. interest in the machine works of Upper Sandusky, where for several years a profitable business was conducted under the firm name of Stevenson & Sears. This firm being dissolved, he established himself in the mercantile business in the new village of Fowler in 1876, where he is still engaged and where he has erected one of the finest homes in the county. He has four children-Horace H., aged seventeen; Iva R., fourteen; Fanny E., eleven, and Laura J., the latter but ten months old. During his attendance at the law school, Mr. Sears boarded himself as a necessary economic measure, living so plainly as to reduce his expenses to less than $1 per week, but notwithstanding this he was one of the most athletic in the school, being one of the few chosen from about 1,500 members of the Young Men's Gymnasium, to take part in their public exhibitions, and, at his present age, is a man of remarkable physical health, strength and activity, who bids fair to reach threescore

• 1900 United States Federal Census Name: Cyrus Sears [Cyorn Scara] Home in 1900: Pitt, Wyandot, Ohio Age: 68 Birth Date: Mar 1832 Birthplace: New York Race: White Ethnicity: American Gender: Male Relationship to Head of House: Head Father's Birthplace: New York Mother's Birthplace: Connecticut Spouse's name: Sarah Marriage Year: 1865 Marital Status: Married Years Married: 35 Residence : Little Sandusky Village, Wyandot, Ohio Household Members: Name Age Cyrus Sears 68 Sarah Sears 58 Horace H Sears 33 Laura J Sears 17 Cora Stewart 17 Benjamin Harman 58