The National tribune., 1901-03-21
MAJ.-GEN. B., NJ. PRENTISS.
Biography of an ofd Hero Who Has Just
| Joined the Majority.

SoiASo tuc naUoiisJ'
Maj.-Gcn. Benjamin Mayberry Prentiss
died ut his residence, in Bethany, Mo, on
Friday, Feb. s, 1901, at 7:10 a. IN, aged
81 years, two months and 16 days.
The life ard public services of Gen.
PrentiSs deserve more than Il passing
notice. He WIS bdrn at BelIeyillc, Wood
Co, Va, Nov. %, 1919. In his early life,
with his parents, he settled in Pike Co,
Mo-, at Il smaff place called Taylor's Mills.
The PrentisS family, not being in accord
with their neighbors on the question of
slavery, then agitating the country, and
not being pleased with their new location,
remained in Missouri only n few years.
and in 1911 removed to Quincy, ILL.,, where
the General continued to reside until 1879,
when he removed to Kirksvilc, Mo,
where he lived until 1881, when he again
removed, this, the last time, TO Bethany,
Mo-, where he resided the remainder of his
life.
On March %, 1888, he was married to
| Margaret Ann Sodousky, who died at
| Quincy, ILL.,, Aug. q, 1860. On Nov. IL,
1862, he was again married, to Mary W.
Whitney, who died at Bethany, Mo, July
%, 1894. The General never remarked,
but he and his unmarried son, Il. w. Prem
| tiss, have lived i'll his beautiful home, one
of the finest in the city, situated on South
Hill, and overlooking the little city of
Bethany, with its surrounding hills and
valleys, which present a beautiful view
from the front of his stately residence.
In his early life Gen. Prentiss followed
the business of rope making, and became
somewhat locally famous as an auctioneer,
hut lat. I,,I
bar, and practiced at that profession a
large part of his life.
Originally Wing, he was one Of the
founders of the Republican party. became
imbued with its principles, TO which he
clung as long as life lasted; always ready
to champion its cause, he was always in
demand III political campaigns, for as a
political speaker he was able on all occa-
sions to arouse great enthusiasm. He was
Il political contemporary With Lincoln. In
gersoll, Oglesby and Yates, and cam
paigDed with them in the great Illinois
campaigns of 1856 and 90. He was Il
delegate-atlargc from Missouri to the Re
publican National Convention at Chicago
in 1884, and was honored on that occasion
by being selected to second the nomination
of Gen. John A. Logan.
When Grant became President he ap-
pointed Gen. Prentiss United States Pen
sion Agent at Quincy, ILL.,. and this office
Agencies were consolidated into one
Agency at Chicago. In 1889 he was ap-
pointed by President Harrison Postmaster
at Bethany, Mo-, and held this office until
1893. When Mckinley became President
the General was again appointed Post
master at Bethany, and held the office un-
til the Summer of 1900, when his failing
health compelled him to resign.
Gen. Prentiss was Il born soldier, al
ways taking great interest in military af-
fairs. so that his military history will al
ways overshadow the history of his hte as
civilian. June s, 1916. he enlisted as a
soldier in the war with Mexico, and on the
same day he was commissioned as Cap
tain of Co. j, 1st ILL.,, with which he
served over year, being discharged with
his company at Comargo, Mexico, June II,
fS4T. u. -
The next call of his country found him
ready, and in April, 1861, he took the first
company Of Union soldiers to Springfield
H.. in response to the call for 10000 vol
unteers; April %, 1861. he was commits
stoned Colonel of the 10th Ill., for three
months. May 16, 1861, President Lincoln
commissioned him a. Brigader-GeneraI Of
Nolunteers. For gallantry on the field of
Shiloh he was commissioned n Maior-Cicn-
eral of Volunteers his commission being
dated Nov. 80. 1862 Oct. 2S 1863. he re-
signed his commission as Major General
and retired TO civil life being the first man
of his rank to tender his resignation.
His heroic stand az Shiloh on April 6.
1862, when he sacrificed himself and his
command, in obedience to orders TO hold
his position al all hazards, and thus hold
ing the flower of the rebel army at bay
until the new lines could be formed un-
doubtedly saved the battle for the Union
cause, and justly earned for him the title
of ''The Hero of Shiloh" which he ever
afterward carried and fully characterized
his indomitable character of standing for
what he believed to be right, without re-
gard TO consequences.
In the battle of Helena, Ark. July 4
1868, where he was attacked by the com
bined forces of Holmes, Price. Van Dorm
and Shelby, numbering more than three to
his one, Gen. Prentiss displayed military
genius of high order, and administered a
crushing defeat TO the attacking rebel
hordes and had not the country at that
time been electrified by the brilliant vic
tories of the great armies at Gettysburg
and Vicksburg, the hattie of Helena would
have been hailed as a great Union victory,
which, in fact, it was.
Gen. Prentiss was selected as n member
of the famous court-martial for the trial
of Gen. FitZ John Porter. and was the last
survivor of the members of that famous
tribunal. and with him died its secrets, so
long and faithfully kept.
Since Jan. %, 1887. he had received a
pension of SS per month. as service pen
sion for his services in the war with Mex
leo. This is all the pension he has ever
received or asked for. Some years ago.
when his friends in Congress offered TO
pass special act pensioning him, he de-
| clined, and at that time stated to the
writer that he believed the private sol
diers should all be pensioned before the
high officers were given large pensions.
Offering his services to his country at
| the first call to arms, after arriving at the
age of manhood, leaving his wife and
young family, he went forth as n common
| soldier, but his abilities We're early recoe-
| niZed and he was given CAPTAINS com
mission, and won his first military laureIs
| in the land of the Montczumas, and when
| he had served his country until his services
| We're no longer needed, returned, as a true
volunteer soldier. to the walks of civil life.
| He discerned the lowering war clouds in
| 1861 before most men thought of danger,
and was prepared for it: he had com
pany of soldiers ready, and when the call
was sounded was, ready. and went q
| trained and tried soldier; he was among
the first to offer his services to his coun-
try when such men were badly needed
No man ever suffered more in reputation
| from the carelessness or inaccuracies of
the newspapers than Gen. Prentiss, and
even at his death he has not escaped them.
From the time the army correspondent.
covering under, the, banks of the Tennes-
see River. reported that Premises Divi-
sion was surprised in their hunks, and can
| .'.In.l- 20 ba