The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-06-17
DECORATED FOR BRAVERY AND DIS
TINGUISHED CONDUCT.

| The AdJutant Generals Office has re-
ceived notice from the War Department
that the Secretary of War has awarded a
medal of honor to George Grenville Ben
| edict, Lieutenant of the 18th Vermont
Volunteers and Aide-de-camp on the
Staff of Major-General George j. Stan
nard for distinguished conduct at the
battle of Gettysburg. We sincerely con-
graduate Colonel Benedict for this dis
tinguished notice of his gallantry at the
battle of Gettysburg, and are sure that
all Vermonters will join with US in the
same, for no letter soldier or drawer
officer ever served in the Union army
than George Granville Benedict of Bur
lington.
We had the pleasure of reading ex-
tracts from letter from General Wheel
ock G. Veazey, who with his regiment
bore prominent part in the battle on
the afternoon of July 3rd. Judge Yea
zey says: IT saw Colonel Benedict at
different times during the battle of
Gettysburg, and notably on the third
day, during what is known as Pickett's
charge, and while was making an at
tack on Pickett's flank with the 10th
| Vermont regiment. 1t was at the time
when one of Pickett's brigades reached
and for moment broke through the
| front line of battle, therefore at the
very height of the engagement on the
afternoon of July 3rd, 1858. l was at
that time some distance to the front of
the line struck by Pickett and in as try
ing place as was anywhere that day.
| Col. Benedict was the aid of General
| Stannard, and more than once brought
orders to me while in that position. His
conduct and bearing indicated the great
est bravery and efficiency in the dis
charge of the important and dangerous
duties which we're imposed upon him by
his commanding officer" -
| Colonel George W. Hooker, who was
also Aide-de-Camp on General Stan
nard's staff, in this connection said that
Gen. Hancock had once told him that
there was no cooler man upon the field
at Gettysburg than Col. Benedict. On
several occasions since the war Gen
| Stannard has said that he sent COL Ben
edict with an order to Col. Francis V.
Randall, commanding the 18th Vermont,
during the action on the afternoon of
July Sd, to change front forward to the
right on his first company, and attack
| the confederate flank, which was Pick
ett's division. The eagerness of the
new troops in their first engagement
| was so great that they crowded and hud-
died together so as to make them from
four to eight files deep in many places
| they commenced firing upon the enemy,
who promptly returned it. Col. Bene-
dict, by every exertion in his power, in
the din of battle endeavored to straight
en- out his line by passing down behind
the same, and even passing around the
left flank and in front of the 18th YER
mont, with his back to the enemy and
between the two fires, until these men
gave way to the left and poured a rapid
and most effectual fire upon the confed-
crate flank. Later in the day, after
Pickett had been repulsed and the 10th
Vermont had charged upon the Confed-
crate Gen. Wilcox's flank, Aide-de-C Camp
Benedict carried orders to Col. Veazey,
passing through a murderous fire Of
grape and canister, which told severely
upon our men. He then returned in
time to assist in bearing his commander
bleeding and wounded from the field.
This certainly is a record of which any
Vermonter may well be proud, and we
tender our hearty congratulations to the
winner of so distinguished an honor
50. Adams Messenger.