The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-02-21
GEN. B. n. PRENTSS DEAD!

lin, J. N. PRtNllSS UtAD!
The Aged Hero of Shiloh Died at His
Home in Bethany, Friday. Feb. 8.
General Benjamin Mayberry Preniiss
died at his home in this city, Friday,
February Sth, 1901. He had been in
feeble health for many months in con-,
sequence of old age, us he was 81 years,
3 months and rs days old at the time of.
his death, but the immediate cause of
his dissolution was pronounced to be
paralysis.
He was born in Bellevi!le, Wood coun-
ty, Virginia tpow West Nirginia), No.
vember %, 1919, and has been a promi-
nent actor in the most important events
of the last sixty years, both military
and political. With his family he emil
grated to Illinois at an early age and
lived on the border of that state and
Missouri Tor many years, but Quincy,
Illinois, was the home he loved best and
valued most until lie established his last
home at Bethany in 1880.
During the Mormon troubles at Maui
VOC he was in the service of the state as
a lieutenant, in an independent COM
pany. At the beginning of the Mexican
war he was ready for further service to
his country; he was appointed adiutant
OF the first Illinois infantry, June Is,
lS49, and received a captains commits
sion, September IA of the same year,
and distinguished himself and his com.
pany by his dash and gallantry, until
honorably mustered out in June, lS47.
When the civil war began he took the
first company Of union soldiers to
Springfield, Illinois, in April. 1861, and
was elected captain Of the company and
assigned to the 10th Illinois infantry,
April 30, 1861. On the organization of
the regiment he was elected colonel, and
five days later received his commission
from Governor Yates, the great war
governor of Illinois and the father of
the present governor of that state. His
promotion was rapid. On May IA, 1861,
he vas commissioned brigadier general
of volunteers, his commission being dat
ed IN the same day as General Grants
commission as brigadier. His commits
sion as major general was issued Noveln-
Der 30, 1862, only nineteen months after
entering the army without even the
promise of a captaincy. lie ended his
military service October rs, 1868, by
voluntary resignation, believing that
the backbone of the rebellion was brok-
en- and that his services were no longer
needed. ~
General Prentiss vas most distinguish.
ed by his bravery and discretion at the
battle Of Shiloh, where he fought in the
celebrated HHornet's Nest'' ESQ named
by the conteperates), from nine O'Clock
on the morning of that eventful day I'M
til nearly nightfall, with his gallant
command, with obstinate bravery.
When surrounded and overwhelmed he
surrendered the mutilated and weary
remnant Of his division to prevent fur
ther and useless loss of life. After his
release from prison he was granted a
furlough for thirty days, but before the
time expired he, was ordered TIC Wash
ington to sit on the famous court mar
tial of General Fitz John Porter. He
was then assigned to- the command OF
the department Of eastern Kansas, with
headquarters at Helena, where immense
quAp1ities of military stores were kept.
General Holmes, the confederate COM
mander, coveted those supplies, and
July 4, 1868, attacked Helena with a
force largely superior to the %unionists.
Prentiss defended the post with bis us.
ual vigor and g%allantry, and the con-
federates were forced to retire with great
loss. This batLle gained but little no
tice at the time, as it was or the same
day that Nicksburg surrendered and
Gettysburg was won,s and their impor-
lance eclipsedFthe lesser struggle, but
those who participated in the fight re-
gard the defense of Helena as n of the
most brilliant affairs of the war. This
was not the Generals first service on
the west side of the Mississippi river,
for in the autumn and winter Of 1851
and 1862 his operations in central and
north Missouri aided largely In holding
Missouri to the union cause. Fol a few
wears there was some dispute over the
battle of Shiloh, regarding the hour OF
the surrender, but Grant, in his mem
oirs, and all other authorities, now seem
to lead to the conclusion that the grand
fight of Prentiss' division saved the day
and prevented an invasion of the north
on that line.
General Prentiss was also prominent
and useful in civic life. He was APP
pointed U. S. pension agent at Quincy
by President Grant, while he lived there
practicing law, after the war; he held
the position several years ana has sery'
ed Two terms as postmaster at Bethany,
appointed by Presidents Harrison and
Mckinley.
In politics he was a republican with
positive. and emphatic opinions on all
public Questions, but he was not a good
politician. He was once defeated fol
congress in Illinois and once for the
legislature in this county. He was tot
radical and outspoken to suit every
body, but on the whole both friends
and foes admire the brave American
who does not fear to advocate what he
believes to be right. He had his faults
and confessed them.
He wa at one time a member of the
NJ. E. church and always defended his
church.
Gushing, ~extravagant praise is out o
place over men like General Prentiss
The plain unvarnished truth it sufficient
He might have had a large pension
years ago, but when histriends proposed
it he declined with the remark tina
"the priyates ought to be pensioned be-
fore the generals" But recently Hon
John Dougherty, our congressman in
troduced a bill Offering the General
pension Of 500 per month. The bill
would have become a law with
out an objection, but last Friday Will
Mr.. Dougherty was talking to the com
mittee ahor1t the ia yorah le renort airead,