Augustus G. Bennett Explained

Augustus Griffin Bennett (15 May 1836 – 8 August 1897) was an American soldier who was a commanding officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He led "colored" soldiers in the 3rd South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Colored).[1] He took control of Charleston, South Carolina after rebels departed.[2]

Personal life

Bennett was born in Oneida County, New York to Julius Bennett and Charlotte Bennett. His father died when he was 9 and his mother remarried. He moved to Oswego, New York at age 18 and became a carpenter.[3]

He later moved to California. He died in Santa Clara County following a long illness, aged 61.[4] [5]

Career

Bennett enrolled in the Union Army in Oswego on August 25, 1861 and mustered in as First Lieutenant.[6] He served with the 81st "Second Oswego" regiment becoming a lieutenant. He was captain of the regiment's Company B.[6] He and other officers were subsequently promoted to command positions in the 21st United States Colored Infantry Regiment.[7] Soldiers in his regiment protested their receiving half the pay of white soldiers and laid down their rifles. Sergeant William Walker was court martialed and convicted after the incident[8] of mutiny. He was executed in the presence of the entire brigade.[9]

He commanded the retaking of Fort Sumter and accepted the surrender of Charleston, South Carolina.[10] [11] Charleston mayor Charles Macbeth sent a delegation led by Aldermen W. H. Gilliland and George W. Williams to greet Bennett's 21st Regiment United States Colored Infantry and request their assistance after chaos and fires ensued in the wake of the Confederate Army's departure from Charleston.[2]

Bennett was honorably discharged from the service on April 25, 1866. He married Mary E. Jones., the daughter of his regiment's chaplain, in 1867. The couple moved to Jersey City, New Jersey and then the West Coast. Bennett served on the San Jose City Council and Board of Education.[12] Augustus Griffing Bennett Jr. studied to become a dentist in San Jose.[13] [14]

He was a member of the masons.[15] April 11, 1906, his widow's pension of $30 per month was approved.[16]

Captain Henry Sharp's report to him on December 4, 1864 survives.[17] The Massachusetts Historical Society has a photo of him.[18]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: House documents. July 8, 1892. Google Books.
  2. Web site: Path to the Council Chamber: African American Aldermen in Charleston, 1865-1868 | Charleston, SC - Official Website. www.charleston-sc.gov.
  3. Web site: One Hundred Years of Freemasonry in California. Freemasons Grand Lodge of. California. July 8, 1950. Google Books.
  4. News: Death of an Old Soldier . 21 November 2023 . The Journal . 9 August 1897 . Meriden, Connecticut . 4 . subscription.
  5. California, U.S., Death and Burial Records from Select Counties, 1873-1987
  6. Web site: New York in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 to 1865. July 8, 1912. Lyon. Google Books.
  7. Web site: The Honors of the Empire State in the War of the Rebellion. Thomas Seaman. Townsend. July 8, 1889. A. Lovell & Company. Google Books.
  8. Book: Redkey, Edwin S.. A Grand Army of Black Men: Letters from African-American Soldiers in the Union Army 1861-1865. November 27, 1992. Cambridge University Press. 9780521439985 . Google Books.
  9. Book: Berlin, Ira. The Black Military Experience. July 8, 2010. Cambridge University Press. 9780521132053 . Google Books.
  10. Book: The New Annals of the Civil War. Peter. Cozzens. Robert I.. Girardi. July 8, 2004. Stackpole Books. 9780811700580 . Google Books.
  11. Book: Marvel, William. Tarnished Victory: Finishing Lincoln's War. November 15, 2011. HMH. 9780547607795 . Google Books.
  12. https://valleyofheartsdelight.sfgenealogy.org/SCBIOS/agbennett.html Pen Pictures From The Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California
  13. Web site: Announcement of the College of Dentistry. University of California, San Francisco College of. Dentistry. July 8, 1891. The University. Google Books.
  14. Web site: University of California Bulletins. July 8, 1908. University of California. Google Books.
  15. Web site: Proceedings of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of the State of California at Its ... Annual Convocation. July 8, 1891. Google Books.
  16. Web site: Statutes at Large of the United States. United. States. July 8, 1907. U.S. Government Printing Office. Google Books.
  17. Web site: Report - Report from Captain Henry Sharp, 21st U.S. Colored Troops, to Lieutenant Colonel Augustus G. Bennett, 21st U.S. C. T. Gen. Officer of the Day | American Civil War Museum. acwm.pastperfectonline.com.
  18. https://www.masshist.org/database/viewer.php?item_id=2493

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Augustus G. Bennett".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.