The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-07-27
Berry Benson Tells
ofMarch mRichmond

Benson was hero of heroes. He
was a member of Company H, first
regiment of South Carolina volun-
teers (Gregg's), which was first
commanded by the knightly Capt.
William T. Haskell. When a bat
talon of sharpshooters war formed
in McGowan's brigade he volun-
teered for service in that famous
command. His career was probably
more remarkable and romantic than
that of any man in the brigade,
and for gallant and daring deeds it
has not been surpassed by anyone
in the Confederate army. Berry
Benson was a fearless scout, and on
one of his adventures into the lines
of the Federal army of the Poto-
mac he was captured and sent to
northern prison. A thrilling ac-
count of his escape and return to
duty has been published. On an
other occasion he went into the en-
emy's lines and captured splendid
horse which had been tied near a
tent, in which the owner of the
steed lay sleeping. The colonel, no
doubt, thought it a case of horse
steality, as we'll as hostility. Berry
and his brother, Blackwood Benson,
were particularly popular with their
comrades. The latter has written
several clever books, among the
number "Who Goes There?" and
"Friend With the Countersign.
Berry Benson is man of fine
scholarly attainments. Some years
age he corrected a number of er-
rors in a leading dictionary. One
of his admiring comrades of the
first regiment of South Carllna
volunteers jokingly said this was to
be expected, for Irishmen and their
descendants are prone to find errors
in the English. The figure of the
Confederate soldier which sur
mounts the handsome monument in
Augusta was designed from pic
lures of Berry Benson, a merited
tribute to the chivalrous young SOL
dier who served for four years in
the splendid brigade of South Caro-
linians, first commanded by Gen.
Maxcy Gregg, and after his lamen-
table death\ by Gen. Samuel Nc
Gowan. But here is the Chronicles
article:
The True Story.
Sergt. Berry Benson is rapping me
on the knuckles because, he says, 1
did not tell the story of his march in
Richmond quite right.
"You tell it to me, then,' I said,
land I will print it just as you say
So here is the story, as he told it to
me:
To begin with, said he, you must
know that Gen. Twiggs had asked
Mrs. Leroy Hankinson to go as spon-
sor for the brigade, but she had re-
gretfully to decline.
We were standing on a side street
waiting to file in behind the Florida
division, when I heard voice at my
side.
won't you come ride with us in
our automobile?"
turned and saw, as I thought,
Mrs. Hankinson, and I was on the
point of saying, 81 am so glad you
came" when 1 saw that it was not
she, but lovely young woman whom
I did not know, wearing the sash of
the maids of honor.
won't you ride with us?'' she ask,
ed, pointing to the car just behind
the generals.
"Why, no." I said. 81 am ordered
to. march alone, in advance of the
brigade, in this old war rig, as you
see, with my rifle. I can't ride with
you," and adding, in a spirit Of mis-
chief, you'd better march with me-
Instantly she answered, *I will"
Marched Side by Side.
At that I was all taken aback; l
had not anticipated that answer.
had expected her to say that she
would have to ride with the maids
of honor. I had no right to change
the programme of the march, but,
flustered though I was, I was not to
be beaten, so I said "You may march
with me one block Her face fell
a little at that, but just then the
drums beat and our march began.
And she at my side.
Well, by the time we had marched
the one block, was so charmed with
her loveliness and had found her so
genial and chummy, I said:
Here, slip your hand in my arm;
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