Daniel Josiah Benner

Daniel J. Benner

Company E, 15th Illinois Volunteer Infantry

Personal War Sketch

DEPARTMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC
PERSONAL WAR SKETCH OF Comrade Daniel J. Benner

Who was born the Eighth day of June A.D. 1837 Near Bonneauville County of Adams State of Pennsylvania

Was Mustered into the United States service on the 19th day of April 1861 at Warren, Joe Davis County, Illinois as a Private in Company E, 15th Regiment . Ills. Vol. Inft. and was elected 1st Lieutenant the same week. Held the offices of Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Colonel and Brevet Brigadier General, and as Quartermaster with Gen. Butler in New Orleans in Sept. 1862. Was Mustered out of the United States services on the 4th day of July 1865 at Freeport, Ills. by reason of end of the War. The first Battle I was engaged in was Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., April 6 and 7, 1862, the next Corinth, Miss., April 30 to May 30, 1862, followed by Bolliver, Miss., Aug.25, 1862, Hatchee, Miss., Oct. 5, 1862, Holly Springs, Miss., Dec. 20, 1862, Hernando, Miss., April 18, 1863, Pigion Roost Creek, May 14, 1863, Collierville, Tenn., Nov. 3, 1863, Memphis, Tenn., Aug.21, 1864, Raleigh, N.C., April 7 to 13, 1865, Salisbury , Tenn., Dec. 3, 1865, and all the engagements of Gen. Sermans Army on its march to the sea. Was slightly Wounded in the Leg on the 6th day of April 1862 at Pittsburg, Landing. Was home on Leave of Absence from June 6 to Aug. 12, 1863, with Inflammatory Rheumatism. Was never captured by the enemy. My most intimate Comrades in the service were Gen. Hulburt, Col. Jack Dempster, Captain Wright, Major Buchanon, Lieut. Bougher, Chaplain Wolf and Captain Cotton. The most important events during my service were Shermans march to the sea and the three days engagements at Pittsburg Landing where my Horse was killed by a shell. Was mustered a Comrade of Post No. 9, G.A.R., June 17, 1872.

Comrade Benner died on the 5th day of July 1885 and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Gettysburg, Pa. on the 8th day of July 1885. Aged 59 years, 6 months and 12 days.

I certify that the Sketch of my War Service as above written is true as I verily believe

Date February 5, 1897 Signed Daniel J. Benner

We certify that Comrade Daniel J. Benner Joined Corporal Skelly

Post No. 9 Department of Pennsylvania by Muster June 17 1872 Held Offices of

__________(Charter Member) Adjutant years 1873 & 1874__________________

Wm. H. Rupp Adjutant Commander
Reproduction by Craig S. Benner Nov. 7, 1999, as original in the Adams County Historical Society

SUPPLEMENTARY
WAR SKETCHES

Was born within two miles of Gettysburg Adams County Pa. On the 8th day of June 1837. Attended the common Public Schools and entered Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg, Pa. In 1853, Graduating in 1859. Went to Port Gibson, Miss. in 1859, taking the Professorship of Languages in the State University, returning home in 1860. In the winter of 1860 he went in partnership with Martin Rindlaub to edit the Warren Independent at Warren Joe Davis County Ill. On May 9, 1861 he was Mustered into the United States service for three years or during the War, by Col. Afterwards Gen. U.S. Grant. His first experience in the service was on June 14, 1861, when he was detailed on a Regimental Court Martial, trying Ezra Douglas for deserting, and being Officer of the Guard that drummed him out of Camp. The next was getting his first pay in Gold. In the latter part of December 1861 was appointed Adjutant on General Turners Staff with the rank of Captain. In February 1862 he was transferred to Gen. Hurlburts Staff as Aid de Camp with the rank of Major, receiving his conformation from the Senate, March 12, 1862. On April 28, 1862 the advance began on Cornith and on July 4th encamped at Stillwater, getting no mail for Four or Five Weeks, paid five dollars for a copy of a newspaper a man standing on a Barrel reading the news to a crowd. On the 24th of July 1862, the Division went into Memphis Tenn. almost naked with only Drawers and Shirts on. November 10, 1862 Gen. Hulburt was promoted to Major General and Major Benner to Acting Adjutant Gen. and Quartermaster. From April 12 to May 12, 1863 he had charge of the Secret Service operations and became very intimate with Charles Bell the great Spy. In 1870 Gen. Hulburt was appointed Minister to the United States of Columbia at Bagota, South America and Comrade Benner was his Secretary. He Edited the St. Joseph Valley Register at South Bend, Indiana for a few years when he formed a partnership with Col. Golbert Moyer of Memphis Tenn., in the Claim Agency business at Washington D.C. where he remained until sickness compelled him to return to Gettysburg, where he died on the 5th of July 1885.

N.G. Wilson, Post Historian
March 12, 1897

The colorful covered bag next to the trunk is a carpetbag used as a suitcase by civilians and soldiers alike.

Major G. L. Smith of the 107th New York Volunteers carried his spirits in the open wooden whiskey chest.

The small trunk was used by Richard Jones, 201st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry during the war.

Major Daniel Benner, 15th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, owned the larger trunk to the rear.

General Lee's Headquarter's staff is said to have used the cot to the rear of the tent. They used wool blankets like the one shown.

General Stonewall Jackson's Headquarters staff may have used the cot in the front.

Source

From Craig Benner, Tuesday, February 13, 2007 to A. V. Lindenberger:

I thought you might like to see a photograph of the Officer who stayed in the house [333 Baltimore] up to the Battle of Gettysburg. As you know he was home on leave for illness. On June 30, 1863 his brother Baltzer Snyder Benner of the 15th Pennsylvania Calvary died at the battle of Nashville. On July 1, 1863 Daniel was taken to Littlestown to stay with other relatives.

Due to his knowledge of the South he provided military intelligence during the war. At the Battle of Shiloh his horse was shot out from under him and he sustained a minor wound.

Daniel Josiah Benner graduated from Gettysburg College in 1859, and then went on to Mississippi College to obtain a doctorate in language. He moved to Illinois in 1860 to become an Editor of the Warren Cook County newspaper. At the outbreak of war he volunteered as a private in April 1861 and became a Brevet General at the war's end. In all 7 Benner's from Gettysburg fought in the war, 3 died, 3 received significant wounds but lived. And nothing, from here until forever, would ever be the same.

Warmest regards,
Craig Benner
www.BennerFarms.com

He was also a fraternity member of Phi Gamma Delta at Pennsylvania College, now called Gettysburg College.