Recollections of West Virginia campaign, with "The three months troops" May, June, and July 1861
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Recollections of Mexico and the Battle of Buena Vista: Feb. 22 and 23, 1847
(This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curat...)
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Henry Washington Benham was an American engineer who served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
Background
Henry Benham was born on April 8, 1813, in Quebec, Canada. His mother, Rebecca Hill, born in Quebec in 1783, was the daughter of Lieut. Joseph Hill of the British army. His father was Jared Benham, the son of Darius Benham of Meriden, Connecticut, and a descendant in the seventh generation of Joseph Benham, one of the first settlers of Wallingford, and probably the son of John Benham, who is believed to have come over in the Mary and John in 1630. Jared Benham died while his son Henry was young, and his widow then married Liberty Perkins of Meriden, Connecticut.
Education
Henry's attempts to acquire a schooling met with opposition from his stepfather. Hidden in a garret, and helped by his loyal and devoted mother, he surreptitiously acquired sufficient education to enter Yale in 1832. Disliking the menial duties by which he attempted to defray his expenses at college, he sought and obtained an appointment to West Point. Entering on July 1, 1833, he graduated first in his class, and on July 1, 1837, was commissioned brevet second lieutenant of engineers.
Career
Until 1847 Henry was engaged in engineering duties, principally in connection with coast defenses. Promoted first lieutenant of engineers on July 7, 1838, he entered the Mexican War with that rank. He took part in the battle of Buena Vista, February 22-23, 1847, being employed in making reconnaissances, and in carrying information and orders. Slightly wounded, he was highly commended by Gen. Wool, and was brevetted captain for gallant and meritorious conduct. Promoted captain of engineers on May 24, 1848, he was in charge, from 1848 to 1853, of the repairs of the defenses of New York Harbor, of sea-wall construction in Boston Harbor, of building the Buffalo Lighthouse, and of the Washington Navy Yard. From March 29, 1853, to November 1, 1856, he was assistant in charge of the United States Coast Survey Office at Washington, his duties calling him to Europe.
From 1856 to 1861 Benham was in charge of engineering work connected with the defenses of Boston Harbor, New Bedford Harbor, Newport Harbor, and Sandy Hook, and in charge of the building of the Potomac Aqueduct. On May 14, 1861, he was appointed chief engineer of the Department of the Ohio. In McClellan's West Virginia campaign he commanded the advance guard of Gen. T. A. Morris's column which pursued the Confederates under Gen. R. S. Garnett from Laurel Hill, defeating them at Carrick's Ford on July 13, 1861. This campaign won for him a brevet as colonel, high praise from Morris and McClellan, a commission as brigadier-general of volunteers, and the command of a brigade in West Virginia. The aggressiveness and energy which gained this advancement brought reverses when injudiciously exercised.
On September 10, 1861, Benham incurred the displeasure of Gen. Rosecrans by too rapidly developing the engagement at Carnifex Ferry, W. Virginia. Rosecrans also held him responsible for the failure to capture Floyd's Confederate forces after their demonstration at Gauley Bridge on November 1, 1861, and charged him with disregarding orders. Gen. Hunter claimed that Benham's unsuccessful attack on Secessionville, James Island, South Carolina, on June 16, 1862, was in violation of orders, and relieved Benham of his command. On August 7, 1862, his appointment as brigadier-general of volunteers was revoked; and on September 8 he was placed in charge of coast defense work at Portsmouth Harbor, New Hampshire. An appeal to President Lincoln resulted in the cancellation, on February 6, 1863, of the revocation of his appointment, and his detail, in the spring of 1863, to command the engineer brigade of the Army of the Potomac. Until June 8, 1865, excepting about ten months passed in command of the Ponton Depot at Washington, D. C. , he rendered valuable service with that brigade, particularly in the construction of ponton bridges for the army, and in the construction and command of the defenses of City Point, Virginia. He had been commissioned major of engineers on August 6, 1861, and lieutenant-colonel on March 3, 1863.
Benham’s gallant, meritorious, and faithful services during the Civil War were rewarded by the brevets of brigadier-general United States Army, major-general United States Volunteers, and major-general United States Army. On January 15, 1866, he was mustered out of the volunteer service; and on March 7, 1867, was commissioned a colonel, Corps of Engineers. From June 17, 1865, until his retirement from active service, June 30, 1882, he was in charge of the construction of the defenses of Boston Harbor and New York Harbor. He died in 1884.
Achievements
Henry Benham was an outstanding soldier engineer who participated in the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War. He was with the Army of the Potomac at the Battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and Appomattox. He also was engaging in engineering projects such as the construction of the Potomac aqueduct and the Washington Navy Yard. He is famous for inventing the picket shovel, the concept for rapid construction of pontoon bridges.
