Benjamin, David L

David L Benjamin

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Significance:

Company A, 74th Illinois Infantry

Place of Birth:

Guilford, Winnebago County, Illinois

Date of Birth:

1839

Place of Death:

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Date of Death:

February 10, 1863

Place of Burial:

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Cemetery Name:

Stones River National Cemetery

David L Benjamin was born in 1839 in Guilford, Winnebago County, Illinois. In his adult life, he went on to marry Frances M Benjamin and worked as a farmer in Illinois. At the age of 23, Benjamin enlisted on August 15, 1862 at Rockford, Illinois. He mustered in also at Rockford, IL, on September 4, 1862 with Company A of the 74th Illinois Infantry Regiment as a private. The Illinois descriptive muster rolls describe him as having been 5’ 11” with brown hair, blue eyes, and a light complexion. 

The 74th Illinois Infantry was organized in September 1862 and traveled to Kentucky after its organization. They fought at the battle of Perryville in Perryville, Kentucky before moving on to Nashville, Tennessee where they had duty until December of 1862. They were ordered south to Murfreesboro, Tennessee on December 26th, and arrived on December 30th, 1862. 

Upon arrival, they began to set up camp and plan for the looming battle. The 74th Illinois was positioned along Gresham Lane the night before battle, soon to be witness to the first phase of fighting. At 6am on December 31st, Confederate forces made contact with the 74th IL among other Union brigades in the area. By 8am, Confederates had formed a J-shape around the Union’s right flank where the 74th IL was positioned, and began to push them north along Gresham Lane. The 74th Illinois remained front and center to this attack as they were continually pushed northward. By 11am, the fragmented remains of the 74th Illinois infantry had been pushed as far north as Asbury Lane. They reformed a position on the railroad tracks that the Union had been guarding and remained there as the first day of the battle of Stones River came to an end. 

On the 1st and 2nd of January, 1863, the 74th Illinois was positioned as the right flank of the Union line guarding the Nashville Pike and the railroad tracks. They remained there until Confederate forces left the area on January 3rd. 

During the battle of Stones River, likely during the first day, Private Benjamin was injured. Those wounded at the battle of Stones River were sent to regimental hospitals in the area. After being wounded at Stones River, Private Benjamin spent his last days among those in the hospitals. On February 10, 1863, Private Benjamin died of his wounds. 

David L Benjamin is laid to rest in the Stones River National Cemetery in plot G-2810.  

Tags: stones river national battlefield, stones river national cemetery, american civil war