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Although Benteen is best remembered for his association with the 7th U.S. Cavalry and the Battle of the Little Bighorn, he served ably throughout the Civil War.  Born in Petersburg, Virginia, his family moved to Missouri while he was still young.  Over the objections of his staunchly pro-Southern family, he enlisted in the Union Army.  On hearing of his enlistment, his father declared that he hoped his son would be killed by the war's first bullet, preferably fired by a family member.  Father and son had a memorable reunion during the war when the younger Benteen's regiment captured a riverboat.  The officers and crew were paroled, but the ship's chief engineer, Benteen's father, was sent to prison.  It is believed that Benteen arranged this to ensure his father's safety.  

At the war's end, he was recommended for a Regular Army commission and in 1866, Benteen was assigned to the 7th US Cavalry,  commanded by Lieutenant Colonel George Custer.  From their first meeting, Benteen disliked Custer.  In the ten years that followed, he grew to despise him and did little to hide the fact.  Benteen's hatred for Custer grew from his belief that Custer had abandoned some of his men, including a popular officer, after the Battle of the Washita. Despite their differences, Benteen was the 7th's Senior Captain on the eve of the Little Bighorn campaign.  On June 25th, 1876, at the Battle of Little Bighorn River, Benteen commanded one of the 7th Cavalry's three columns.  Ever since, a vigorous debate has existed whether or not Benteen and the leader of the third column, Major Marcus Reno, purposely failed to come to Custer's support.  What is not debated though, is that Benteen was highly regarded by his men and was considered by many to be the post-Civil War's model of the ideal cavalryman.  

Henry Halleck | Samuel Curtis | Franz Sigel | Alexander Asboth | Peter Osterhaus | Jefferson Davis | Eugene Carr | Grenville Dodge | Philip Sheridan | Frederick Benteen | James "Wild Bill" Hickock

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