COLONEL LEWIS BENEDICT.

Lewis, son of Lewis and Susan (Stafford) Benedict, was born September 2, 1817, at Albany, N. Y. His early studies were prosecuted at Aurora, Cayuga Co., but his preparation for college was made mainly at the Albany Academy. In 1834 he entered the sophomore class of Williams College, and graduated in 1837. Three years after he delivered the Master's Oration. As a boy he was noted for his zeal and diligence in study, and not less for enterprise in play. The records of the Albany Academy attest his success in competitive examinations; and it is well remembered, by many who shared in them, how, after sweeping the prizes for scholarship he would resort to the play ground, and exhibit equal superiority in those games and contests, which are alike the peril and delight of robust and ambitious boyhood. His collegiate career resembled his academic-it was successful to whatever degree he chose to make it. While a student of the law, he maintained sufficient ardor of pursuit to enable him to acquire a knowledge of the elements of that science; but his taste for general literature was decided enough to save him from engrossment by studies purely professional. His legal studies were directed by the Hon. John C. Spencer at Canandaigua, and on his admission to the bar, in January, 1841, Marcus T. Reynolds, then at the zenith of his professional fame and intellectual vigor, received him as his partner in the law. He was subsequently admitted to the state and federal courts. In 1845, he was appointed city attorney, and was reappointed for a second term. In 1847 he was appointed judge advocate general on the staff of Gov. John Young. In 1848, he was elected surrogate of the city and county of Albany for four years. In 1849 he was appointed judge advocate general by Gov. Hamilton Fish. In 1852, and again in 1862 he received the whig nomination for city recorder. In 1854 he was appointed one of three commissioners to report on the pecuniary and other conditions of the several state prisons, and to devise laws for their better regulation and discipline. The committee made a voluminous report to the legislature in 1855. In the fall of 1860 he was nominated by the union men of the district for member of assembly and was the only union candidate elected from the county. His political career closed in 1860. He was always a leader. He was often delegate to conventions, state and county, chairman of committees, general and local, a prolific author of addresses and resolutions, and a frequent speaker at political assemblages. As a surrogate the clearness of his mind and the equity of his convictions receive some illustration from the circumstance that of the many judg ments pronounced by him, during his considerable term, but one, and that made in his noviciate, is known to have been reversed by an appellate tribunal. On the outbreak of the rebellion, he early offered his Hist. Coll. iii.

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services to the governor. Declining offers of higher positions, to which, as a civilian, he feared himself unsuited, he finally accepted the lieutenant colonelcy of the Second Fire Zouaves (73d N. Y. Vols.). This regiment made a part of the Excelsior Brigade under Gen. Sickles, took part in the siege of Yorktown and was the first to plant its colors upon the ramparts after the evacuation of the place by the rebels. The battle of Williamsburg, May 5th, 1862, followed, and Col. B. was taken prisoner while bringing up the reserve to reinforce the extreme left which was being persistently assailed by the rebel Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. He was taken to Libby prison, and thence to Salisbury, N. C. He was exchanged August 10, 1862, and his exchange was officially announced September 30, 1862. He came home in wretched health, but careful nursing saved his life. He was, as soon as his condition permitted, appointed by Gov. Morgan, Colonel 162d New York volunteers. The regiment was ordered to, and arrived at New Orleans, December 15, 1862. About January 10, 1863, Col. Benedict was ordered to Donaldsonville, sixty miles above New Orleans, and was acting brigadier general at that post. He commanded a brigade at the battle of Port Hudson, June 14, 1863, where his calm bravery excited the admiration of all who witnessed it. The next day Gen. Banks called for one thousand volunteers to storm the enemy's works. Col. B. volunteered to lead one of the two battalions, but the fall of Vicksburg made the attack unnecessary, and the forlorn hope lost the opportunity of illustrating its bravery and patriotism. About the middle of August Gen. Banks reorganized the army, and put Col. Benedict in command of the First Brigade, Third Division, of the Nineteenth Army Corps. Col. B was engaged in the expedition against Sabine city under Gen. Franklin, and soon afterward was ordered to Brashear city, in western Louisiana. In the skirmish near Vermillion Bayou, he had the satisfaction of stopping the advance of the rebels who were driving our cavalry before them. His position was so well taken that his small force succeeded in repulsing the large masses of the enemy with a loss of but five killed and wounded. February 24, 1864, he arrived at Franklin, La., where the army was concentrated. was organized the Red River expedition. He was assigned to the command of the Third Brigade, First Division (Gen. Emory) 19th Army Corps. The army moved the 15th of March. On the 8th of April, fifteen miles beyond Pleasant Hill, which was reached by the main army on the 7th, was fought the sanguinary battle of Pleasant Grove, which ended in a victory for the nationals, just as darkness covered the scene. "Nothing," said Gen. Banks in his report, "could surpass in impetuosity the assault of the enemy but the inflexible steadiness and valor of our troops. The First Division of the 19th Army Corps, by its great bravery in this action saved the army and navy." Col. Benedict was especially commended for the manner in which he handled his brigade, which was mainly instrumental in effecting this repulse. The rebels receiving reenforcements renewed the fight on the 9th at Pleasant Hill, to which place our army had fallen back. The Third Brigade was posted, unsupported, on the extreme left of the line of battle. Towards evening the enemy made a desperate attempt to carry this our weakest position, falling with several brigades upon Col. Benedict's small force of about 2,000 men. "Outnumbered as well as outflanked, and being without any near support, his brigade fell steadily back, fighting gallantly as they

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were pushed up the acclivity of Pleasant Hill. In the conflict down the slope at the first shock of the onset, and while rallying his men to a charge, Col. Benedict fell, pierced by five bullets." Lossing adds, "no better or more beloved soldier and citizen than he gave his life for his country during the war." He was buried with civic and military honors in the Albany Rural Cemetery, May 2, 1864. His nomination as Brevet Brigadier General United States Volunteers, " for gallant conduct at Port Hudson, to date from March 13, 1865," was confirmed by the senate July 23, 1866. (See Memorial Brevet Brigadier General Lewis Benedict, 1866, 80, pp. 155; Lossing's History of Civil War, vol. III, pp. 261, 262; Greeley's American Conflict, vol. II, p. 544; Clark's Heroes of Albany, pp. 87-118). For portrait of Col. Benedict, see vol. II, p. 198.

Albert, Mrs. Charles, died, 315 Anker, measure of 10 gallons,