Henry Benson

Henry Benson (November 20, 1824 – August 11, 1862) was a career United States Army artillery officer who served in the Mexican–American War, Third Seminole War, and American Civil War with the 2nd U.S. Artillery. He sustained mortal wounds on August 5, 1862, during an engagement at Malvern Hill near the end of the Peninsula Campaign, and died several days later on August 11 while being transported north aboard the steamer S.R. Spaulding.

Early life Henry Benson was born in Belleville, New Jersey. He enlisted in the United States Army on June 6, 1845, at Fort Hamilton, New York.

He served in the Mexican-American War with Major James Duncan's Battery A, 2nd U.S. Artillery, where he was frequently breveted for "good qualities" from the rank of private in 1845 through the rank of second lieutenant on June 28, 1848, later made permanent after the war on January 26, 1849.

In 1854, Benson was posted in Florida, participating in the Army's mission to survey the state and build roads, protect settlers, and relocate the indigenous Seminole tribe—all of which contributed to the Third Seminole War (1855–58). Benson was heavily involved in the Army's surveying efforts, actively exploring rivers, scouting road paths in the field, alternately present at Fort Myers, Fort Meade, Fort Thompson, and Fort Center.

In 1855-56, Benson was often commander of the Battery E, 2nd U.S. while his commander was on sick leave. On August 2, 1856, the unit engaged the Seminoles at Punta Rassa, an action which concluded the regiment's duty in Florida. By the end of the year, all units were transferred back north, headquartered at Fort Hamilton, New York. In the following year, Battery E was posted to Fort Ontario, New York, Fort Mackinac, Michigan, and Fort Snelling, Minnesota, under the command of Captain Arnold Elzey.

In 1857, Battery E, 2nd U.S. was sent to Kansas to assist in quelling unrest, headquartered at Fort Leavenworth. In 1859, Benson was transferred to command of Battery M, 2nd U.S. Artillery, also located at Fort Leavenworth. Benson was instrumental in assisting with the transfer of heavy artillery from Fort Taylor, Florida (under command of Captain John Milton Brannan) to arm Fort Jefferson—described by Arnold as "the key of the Gulf"— under the direction of Captain Montgomery C. Meigs.

Benson was promoted to the rank of captain on May 14, 1861. Following the First Battle of Bull Run in July 1861, Battery M, 2nd U.S. commander Major Henry J. Hunt was promoted to colonel as the Chief of Artillery for the defenses of Washington, D.C., and Benson was transferred to command of Battery M in September 1861.

In November 1861, Battery M was converted to a horse artillery battery, equipped with six 3-inch Ordnance rifles.

At Seven Pines on May 31, 1862, Benson reported that Battery M had a combined total strength of "four officers [including section chiefs Lieutenants Peter C. Hains, John W. Barlow, and Robert H. Chapin], 109 noncommissioned officers, mechanics, privates. . . . 141 horses, and six 3-inch rifled guns, with caissons and ammunition complete."

For his service, Captain Benson was reported to be a favorite officer of General McClellan.

On August 5, 1862, in a second engagement at Malvern Hill, Virginia (not to be confused with the earlier Battle of Malvern Hill), Benson's Battery M, 2nd U.S., supported by Captain James M. Robertson's Battery B & L, 2nd U.S., engaged two regiments of Confederate infantry and an artillery battery in the early hours of the morning. Benson was mortally wounded during the fire when his leg was broken by a fragment from a burst artillery shell; it was reported to be from one of Battery M's own 3-inch Ordnance rifles.

Benson was removed to the hospital transport steamship S.R. Spaulding for transport north to medical treatment, but died at sea of his wounds on August 11, 1862. His remains were returned to his hometown of Belleville, New Jersey and buried in the Belleville Dutch Reformed Churchyard on August 13, 1862.

Legacy In 1864, an artillery battery in defenses of Washington, D.C., was named Battery Henry Benson.

An Endicott Era coast artillery battery at Fort Worden was named after Benson in 1904.

A street in his hometown of Belleville is also named in his honor.