GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC
PERSONAL WAR SKETCH OF
Comrade Daniel J. Benner
Who was born the Eighth day of June A.D. 1837 in
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 slightley Wounded in the Leg on the 6th day of April 1862 at Pittsburg, Landing. Was home on Leave of Absense from June 6 to Aug. 12, 1863, with Inflamatory 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 engagments at Pittsburg Landing where my Hourse 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 Quartermast. 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
Many thanks to Craig S. Benner who submitted this information.