Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-05-31

August of 1861, however, he left the volunteer
service, having received q commission as Second
Lieutenant in the fourth regular infantry.
In his subsequent career il was the fortune oil
the writer to both hear and see much OF Major
Benedict. We saw him in March 1862, en-
barking for the Peninsula, when he looked the
beau ideal Of an 90 officer and gentleman IN
figure and soldierly bearing We remember now
after weary marches be would seek us out 10
furnish us with all the comforts which an ON
GERS pay and position placed at his disposal
we remember hearing from his comrades OF his
gallantry and GOODNESS at Gaines Mills, most
desperate and bloody fight, where he won his
first breyet. At % Bull Run his clothing was
repeatedly cut by bullets at Antietsm he wss
under heavy fire.
At Fredericksburg Major Benedict commanded
forty men of the strong picket line that IN the
darkness Was pushed up 10 the enemy's main
line. while our beaten army was retresnng
across the river. The orders were to hold posi-
ton until relieved, and the intention was TO
withdraw the picket line before daylight should
rsyesl its nearness to the enemy. BY some
fatal mistake the line was not relieved as d.
rectei, and at daylight the enemy from most de
strucuye short range opened FIRE While MAJOR
Benedict was animsting his men by his voice
and his example, an officer Of his brigade thst
was in full sight of the fight noticing that he was
made a special mark for the sharpshooters, SAID
why the devil don't he walk zigrsg." Major
D yer Of the 4th infantry replied, " Don't you
know that Benedict is the last man to ever walk
Igzag with Brigade looking at him" Msjor
Benedict soon after fell shot through the lungs
with mimic ball, and was only rescued by the
devotion Of his men, several Of whom were killed
and wounded while carrying him out Of fire,
gallant Irish sergeant falling dead with bullet
through his head. and the cheer Hurrsh,
we've saved the Lieut." upon his lips. kecoV-
cry seemed impossible, and his friends bid him
farewell, Gen David A. Russell, who afterwards
gave his life for the victory at Opequan, and
with whom he WAS a great favorite. attectionate-
ly bidding hin. good bye. This action gave him
his I'd Brevet. Wounded on the 18th day OF
December, 1862, in less than three months
Major Benedict was at Washington, reporting
for duty with his wosnd still open at the breast
and back.
Finally he got permission to 90 to the held.
and ioined his regiment at Charlottesville while
the bsttl. was in progress At Gettysburg the
wounding Of his superiors placed him in COM
mand Of his regiment, and he handled it amid
all the carnage Of that terrible day with great
credit to himself Shortly after Gettysburg his
health began to fail him, his wounded lung
showing evident signs Of weakness and irrits-
ton In spite Of his failing health he still sought
field duty, and for some time commanded the
4th infantry as the body guard Of Lieut.. Gen.
Grants Head Quarters during the Petersburg
| campaign. He was last stationed at Plattsburg
barracks, leaving there about four months ago
to seek a warmer station, but the gallant fellow
had been living for a year on nothing but sheer
pluck, and from this time he graduslly sank
until death relieved him from bis great suffering
on the 18th instant.
The funeral took place on the 18th from the
house Of his uncle. Hon. Z. c. Benedict, n. 1,
City. At eleven O'Clock the usual religious ser
vices we're held at the house, when detachment
Of troops from Governors Island, accompanied
| by the military band and field drum corps gave
the body military escort to south Ferry.
The military escort consisted OF Cos and
| c. the permanent party at Governors Island
who are the picked men Of the army, Capt
Miles Of the Dist Infantry, and Capt Gageby
Of the 18th, commanding the companies, and
Msjor Ofiey, lst Infantry, commanding th'
whole escort.
Some twenty officers Of the regular army, IN
GLIDING representatives Of the stalls Of Gems
/ Meade and Buttel field, many Of them compsn-
ions in arms Of the deceased, were prese Mt TO Dc
him honor. Among these present was Breye
Msjcr Robert L. Burnett, of the Dist Infantry
| To the sound Of the long pealIng dlrges, anc
muffled drums that are the moving music Of {
military funeral, the body Of our hero, Ersppet
in the folds Of the flag Tor which he died, VS.
borne TO the tomb, and to-day when "our eye
cloud for rain, and mouth Is twitchlng roun'
the corners" in remonstrance sgainst the seem
ing wrong Of the young going first all throb
bing full Of gifts and graces, we should b
thankful that he is gone where wounds ceas
from troubling and the pain-raught soldier i
at rest "Never to walk zigzAg in the face o
the enemy was his motto At the Fredericks
burg fight, and this was the moving principle Q
all his conduct through his short but vel
fought battle Of Life, sud We can say Of him a
was written Of a kindred spirit: