The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-07-19
COL. JOHN w. BENNETT.
Sketch of Former officer of Old First
Vermont Cavalry.

The Reformer publishes today by request I
a sketch of the late Col John w. Ben
nett, who was well-known here, from the |
Mortified (Mass) Press of June 25:
Col John Wesley Bennett, one of |
Northheld's most distinguished citizens |
died at the Bennett homestead at the |
Upper Farms last Monday afternoon at
4.3O o'clock
Although Col. Bennett had been showing
the infirmities of age for some time he
passed away rather suddenly at the end,
the immediate cause of his death being
heart failure.
On Memorial day he was present at the
exercises at the town hall and until a
few days ago was about as usual
He was born in Westmoreland, n H.,
January 80, 1887. As soldier he had al
distinguished record. At the outbreak of
the Civil war he set out to enlist in the
infantry, but owing to an injury to his
foot received when he was boy he fol-
lowed the advice of an experienced officer
and enlisted in the First Vermont cavalry.
one of the hard fighting regiments of the
Union service, which did service both as
cavalry and infantry during its career.
At the time of his enlistment he ep-
tered the service as I'd lieutenant and be-
fore the end of the war he had been pro
NOTED TO lieutenant-colonel and had com.
mand of the regiment. At the close of
the war higher promotion was offered
him but he declined the honor.
During the term of his service he was
under fire 1j3 times and took part in IS
battles.
His personal experiences were so thrill
ing and his hair-breadth escapes SO many
that narrative of them would read like
n tale of romance.
He was wounded FIVE times in battle
Once in May 1862, on Banks retreat in
the Shenandoah Valley, twice at Gettvs
burg. wounds being inflicted on both sides
of the face; twice on May 9th. 1864. sec
ond day of the Wilderness at Craig's
Meeting House, Va, over right ear and
through right thigh. That he had many
other 'narraw escapes is shown by the
fact that is clothing was pierced by bull
let holes sixteen times in battle After
the battle of Craig's Meeting House, Sur
geon Gale and Col Preston counted
twelve buletholes in his clothing besides
the one which made the wound in his
thigh. He had two horses wounded and
third killed under him in battle. At
Gettysburg the scabbard OF his saber hang
ing by his side was twice hit by rebel
bullets, and at Craig's Meeting House the
| saddle on which he sat was struck by bull
lets twice.
One of the most spectacular incidents
in Col. Benefits military career was a
pistol duel in front of both armies with
confederate cavalry officer 1t was like
one of the contests which we read about
in the days of knighthood. As if by mu-
tual consent there was no firing on either
side as the two mounted warriors met
about twenty PAGES apart. The Confed-
crates fired six shots and Col Bennett
four. One Of the shots from the latter's
pistol killed the confederate officers horse
and at the end the rebel troopers carried
off their commander in an apparently
helpless condition.
As an officer Col. Bennett was compli-
mented on the field four times for the
skiIlful handling of his command and for
his personal courage. During the war he
and the troops under his command cap
tured AZ peices of artillery, three battle
flags, nearly two miles Of wagon train
and a large number of prisoners.
Those of us who have read history will
remember that the honors were all on his
side as no Vermont regiment ever lost
flag in battle.
It was at Cedar Creek that Col. Ben.
nett's command covered itself with glory
by accomplishing that rare feat in arms,
the charging and capturing of artillery by
cavalry. At that time he was under the
command of the brilliant cavalry officer
General Custer who was later killed at
the Battle of the Little Big Horn by the
Sioux Indians Col Bennett in com
mand of the first Vermont and four com
panies of the 9Th New York cavalry.
charged and captured l6l prisoners among
whom was one general officer Besides
the prisoners mentioned, including q
colonel and lieutenant colonel the spoils
Of the battle were three battle flags,
twenty-three pieces of artillery, fourteen
caisons,e seventeen army wagons. six
sprung wagons and ambHlanees, eighty
three sets of artillery harness, seventy
five sets Of wagon harness, ninety-eight
horses and sixty-nine mules The above
was turned in and receinted for in the Of
fcial report but Col Bennett sHii that
this was only a small fraction Of the nris-
| orers captured and that not over half the
nranertv was turned in Eye witnesses
/ have mentioned this engagement as ono
&c the hardest fought battles of the war.
| After his retirement from the military
service Col Bennett took nm the practice
4 of the law and for many Years he was one
! Of the most successful and brilliant law
vers in tho city of Chicago About ten
wears ago he returned Fast having retired
| from the bar and for the past few wears
ihas been familiar figure in Mortified,