Cyrus Carter was born in 1829/1830 to George and Caroline Carter in Chatham Township, Morris County, New Jersey. He wed Nancy Tappan in Scotch Plains, NJ on April 21st, 1852, and, in 1854, their daughter Caroline (Carrie) was born.

By 1860, Cyrus was a 31-year-old carpenter residing on his parents’ farm with his wife and daughter. On September 15th, 1861, Cyrus enlisted as a private with Company K, 7th Reg. Infantry, NJ Volunteers at Morristown, NJ for a three year enlistment.

Cyrus participated in an expedition into lower Maryland and did duty at Budd's Ferry. He was part of the battles in the Virginia Peninsula, the Siege of Yorktown, the Battle of Williamsburg, and the Battle of Fair Oaks (Seven Pines).

However, in May 1862, Cyrus was sent to the "General Hospital" near Bottoms Bridge, VA with "sickness contracted in the line of his duty." He was subsequently sent to White House, VA and then Savage Station, VA. On July 1st, 1862, he was captured by the enemy at Savage Station Hospital.

By September 1862, he had been paroled and transferred to "Camp Parole" at Alexandria, VA. Details from a pension application filed by his family suggest he suffered from "chronic diarrhea" and passed on December 6th, 1862. He was 33 years old.

He was survived by his parents, wife and daughter, and several siblings.

special thanks to Daniel Carter for this biography