b. 09/09/1824 Branford, Connecticut. d. 19/09/1875 at sea.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 06/04/1865 Deatonsville (Sailor’s Creek), Virginia.
Aaron S Lanfare MOH
Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. Served in the Civil War as a First Lieutenant in Company B, 1st Connecticut Volunteer Cavalry. He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery at the Battle of Sailors Creek, Virginia on April 6, 1865. His citation reads simply “Capture of flag of 11th Florida Infantry (C.S.A.)”. His Medal was awarded to him on May 3, 1865, which was the day he was mustered out of the Army. A pre-War merchant sailor, he returned to the Sea once the Civil War ended, becoming a successful spice merchant and trader. On a voyage to the West Indies in 1875, his ship sank, and he was lost at sea. In 1984 his descendents placed a memorial stone next to his grandfather’s grave in Branford’s Center Cemetery. He was one of four 1st Connecticut Cavalry soldiers to be awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery during the Civil War (the others being Private Charles H. Marsh, Captain Edwin M. Neville, and Captain Edward W. Whitaker).
MOH CITATION:
Capture of flag of 11th Florida Infantry (C.S.A.).
BURIAL LOCATION: BODY LOST AT SEA.
IN MEMORY OF MARKER AT BRANFORD CEMETERY, BRANFORD, CONNECTICUT.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
