Civil War CDV Union General Henry W Benham
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Condition as seen. "Henry Washington Benham (April 17, 1813 – July 1, 1884) was an American soldier and civil engineer who served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
Contents1 Biography2 See also3 Notes4 References5 External linksBiographyBenham was born at Cheshire, Connecticut. He graduated at the top of his class from the United States Military Academy in 1837. He was connected with various government works as a member of the Engi...neer Corps, and served in the Mexican War in 1847–48. From 1849 to 1852, he was superintending engineer of the sea wall for the protection of Great Brewster Island, Boston Harbor, and from 1852 to 1853 of the Washington (D.C.) Navy Yard.
In 1861 he was appointed engineer of the Department of the Ohio; in the same year he was promoted to be a brigadier general of volunteers and commanded a brigade at New Creek. He disobeyed orders and was subject to a court martial after the battle of James Island on June 16, 1862, at which he was in immediate command under Major General David Hunter. From 1863 to 1865, with the rank of lieutenant colonel, he was in command of the engineer brigade of the Army of the Potomac.
Benham was mustered out of the volunteer service on January 15, 1866.[1] On January 13, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Benham for the award of the brevet grade of major general of volunteers to rank from March 13, 1865 and the U.S. Senate confirmed the award on March 12, 1866.[2] On December 11, 1866, President Johnson nominated Benham for the award of the brevet grade of major general, U. S. Army, to rank from March 13, 1865 and the U.S. Senate confirmed the award on March 2, 1867.[3] Promoted to colonel in 1867, he was in charge of the Boston Harbor sea wall from 1866 to 1873, and of the defenses of New York Harbor from 1877 to 1882. He was an expert in the construction of pontoon bridges.
Henry W. BenhamHenry Washington BenhamTITLEBrigadier GeneralWAR & AFFILIATIONCivil War / UnionDATE OF BIRTH - DEATHApril 17, 1813 – July 1, 1884Henry Washington Benham began his military career after graduating first in his class from the United States Military Academy in 1837. He entered the Corps of Engineers where he was placed in charge of building coastal defenses in Boston and Washington, DC, earning him a promotion to captain. During the Mexican-American War, Benham served with the 9th Infantry and was slightly wounded during the Battle of Buena Vista.
In 1861, Benham was appointed to the position of chief engineer of the Department of the Ohio, and took part in General George B. McClellan’s western Virginia campaign. During the campaign, Benham led the advance guard of Union General T. A. Morris’ column in pursuit of Confederate General Robert S. Garnett to Corrick’s Ford, where Garnett was killed. As a result of this action, Benham received a promotion to Brigadier General of volunteers. He led an unsuccessful attack against Confederate forces in Secessionville, South Carolina, and was relieved of command by General David Hunter. Benham lost his title of brigadier general, but was sent to command the engineer brigade of the Army of the Potomac as a lieutenant colonel. Benham excelled in this position, and was mustered out of the military at the end of the war after being rewarded a brevet Major General.
Contents1 Biography2 See also3 Notes4 References5 External linksBiographyBenham was born at Cheshire, Connecticut. He graduated at the top of his class from the United States Military Academy in 1837. He was connected with various government works as a member of the Engi...neer Corps, and served in the Mexican War in 1847–48. From 1849 to 1852, he was superintending engineer of the sea wall for the protection of Great Brewster Island, Boston Harbor, and from 1852 to 1853 of the Washington (D.C.) Navy Yard.
In 1861 he was appointed engineer of the Department of the Ohio; in the same year he was promoted to be a brigadier general of volunteers and commanded a brigade at New Creek. He disobeyed orders and was subject to a court martial after the battle of James Island on June 16, 1862, at which he was in immediate command under Major General David Hunter. From 1863 to 1865, with the rank of lieutenant colonel, he was in command of the engineer brigade of the Army of the Potomac.
Benham was mustered out of the volunteer service on January 15, 1866.[1] On January 13, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Benham for the award of the brevet grade of major general of volunteers to rank from March 13, 1865 and the U.S. Senate confirmed the award on March 12, 1866.[2] On December 11, 1866, President Johnson nominated Benham for the award of the brevet grade of major general, U. S. Army, to rank from March 13, 1865 and the U.S. Senate confirmed the award on March 2, 1867.[3] Promoted to colonel in 1867, he was in charge of the Boston Harbor sea wall from 1866 to 1873, and of the defenses of New York Harbor from 1877 to 1882. He was an expert in the construction of pontoon bridges.
Henry W. BenhamHenry Washington BenhamTITLEBrigadier GeneralWAR & AFFILIATIONCivil War / UnionDATE OF BIRTH - DEATHApril 17, 1813 – July 1, 1884Henry Washington Benham began his military career after graduating first in his class from the United States Military Academy in 1837. He entered the Corps of Engineers where he was placed in charge of building coastal defenses in Boston and Washington, DC, earning him a promotion to captain. During the Mexican-American War, Benham served with the 9th Infantry and was slightly wounded during the Battle of Buena Vista.
In 1861, Benham was appointed to the position of chief engineer of the Department of the Ohio, and took part in General George B. McClellan’s western Virginia campaign. During the campaign, Benham led the advance guard of Union General T. A. Morris’ column in pursuit of Confederate General Robert S. Garnett to Corrick’s Ford, where Garnett was killed. As a result of this action, Benham received a promotion to Brigadier General of volunteers. He led an unsuccessful attack against Confederate forces in Secessionville, South Carolina, and was relieved of command by General David Hunter. Benham lost his title of brigadier general, but was sent to command the engineer brigade of the Army of the Potomac as a lieutenant colonel. Benham excelled in this position, and was mustered out of the military at the end of the war after being rewarded a brevet Major General.
