William Bensinger (January 14, 1840, to December 19, 1918) was an American soldier who fought for the Union in the American Civil War. On March 25, 1863, he was the second person given the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the Great Locomotive Chase in Georgia in April 1862.[1][2][3][4][5]
William Bensinger | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | January 14, 1840 Waynesburg, Ohio |
| Died | December 19, 1918 (aged 78) McComb, Ohio |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1861 - 1866 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit |  21st Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry - Company G |
| Battles / wars | Great Locomotive Chase |
| Awards |  Medal of Honor |
Biography
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Bensinger was born on January 14, 1840, in Waynesburg, Ohio, and enlisted into the 21st Ohio Infantry at Hancock County, Ohio.[4][5] He was among a group of Ohio men (19 soldiers and 2 civilians) who volunteered for a secret mission to disrupt Confederate communication. In April, this group led by James J. Andrews, which later came to be called Andrews' Raiders, boarded a train in Georgia. On April 12, after it stopped in Big Shanty, they commandeered its engine and three boxcars and headed toward Chattanooga, Tennessee. Pursued by the Confederates, they destroyed track and telegraph lines along the way. They never made it to Chattanooga and abandoned the engine, before all were captured within a week. Some were hanged and some, including Bensinger, were taken to prison camp.[6] He eventually escaped and arrived in Washington, D.C., later moving to McComb, Ohio, where he died on December 19, 1918.[4][5]
Medal of Honor citation
editOne of the 19 of 22 men (including 2 civilians) who, by direction of Gen. Mitchell (or Buell), penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., in an attempt to destroy the bridges and track between Chattanooga and Atlanta.[1][4][5]
See also
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References
editCitations
- ^ a b Congressional Medal of Honor Society (1918).
- ^ DOD, Medal of Honor Recipients (2023).
- ^ VA, Medal of Honor History (2013).
- ^ a b c d Hall of Valor, William Bensinger (2020).
- ^ a b c d victoriacrossonline.co.uk, William Bensinger MOH (2022).
- ^ ohiocivilwar150.org, William Bensinger's Sword(2010).
Sources
- "Medal of Honor Recipient". Congressional Medal of Honor Society. December 19, 1918. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
- "William Bensinger's Sword". ohiocivilwar150.org. December 31, 2010. Archived from the original on December 31, 2010. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
- "U.S. Military Awards for Valor". Medal of Honor Recipients. September 13, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
- "William Bensinger". The Wall of Valor Project. Hall of Valor: The Military Medals Database. August 8, 2020. Retrieved May 12, 2010.
- Veterans Affairs Administration (April 19, 2013). "Medal of Honor History". National Cemetery Administration. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
- "William Bensinger MOH". Medal of Honor Recipients. The Comprehensive Guide to the Victoria & George Cross. September 29, 2022. Retrieved May 2, 2010.