SPANISH AMERICAN WAR: US ARMY, Private Edward L. Benjamin, Born: 7 Jul 1878, Enlistment: May 1898, Co. D, Thirty-third Michigan, Died: 28 Jul 1898, Buried: Sec 22, Grave 15255, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington County, Virginia.

—Gladwin has another boy, the property of Mr and Mrs. S. (Sidney) Benjamin, and 10£ pounds old, Mother and child doing well. Gladwin County Record 7/9/1878

Early in the morning of June 24, the men of the 34th Michigan doffed their romantic wide-brimmed campaign hats, slung their heavy Springfields and marched two miles to nearby Dunn Loring. There they boarded a waiting train for Newport News, arriving at the seaport on the following morning. At the pier, the 1st Battalion of the 34th Michigan, together with the 33rd Michigan, boarded the steamer YALE. The remaining two Battalions of the 34th and the entire 9th Massachusetts, boarded the U.S. Auxiliary Cruiser HARVARD (formally the CITY OF NEW YORK). The YALE departed Newport News first, making a rendezvous with the U.S. Blockading Squadron off Santiago early on June 27, the HARVARD arriving on the 30th. The overall American plan for the Cuban Campaign called for the encirclement of the city of Santiago (located on the southern tip of the island) by the Army, and the blockade of the trapped Spanish fleet in the harbor by the Navy. The combination of the capture of the city and destruction of the Spanish Army and Navy would force a surrender. Accordingly, the landing of 17,000 American troops east of the city began on June 22. Slowly, the Americans forced their lines around Santiago and advanced on the city, but only after fierce and bloody fighting. Opposing the Americans were 36,500 Spanish troops armed with superior Mauser rifles using smokeless powder cartridges. Deadly at 1,000 yards, the Mauser made life indeed difficult for the Americans. The 1st Battalion of the 34th Michigan, together with the 33rd Michigan, went ashore near the squalid mining town of Siboney, ten miles east of Santiago on the afternoon of the 27th The remainder of the 34th landed on the 31st. Siboney was the sight of the original American landings and the crucial supply point. As no dock facilities were available, the troops were loaded into the transport's lifeboats and towed by steam launches to the shallows near shore, where they leaped into the surf and waded to the beach. The Regiment's horses were unceremoniously dumped overboard from the steamer and left to swim for the beach. Surprisingly, most made it. http://www.107thengineers.org/history/combatengineer/santiago.html

DIED IN DISTANT CUBA: Dysentery the cause of the Death of Private Benjamin: A SAGINAW MEMBER OF CO. D.: The First Baptist Church, of Which He Was a Member, Planning a Memorial Service: Among the latest reported dead at Santiago, is Private Edward L. Benjamin, of Co. D, Thirty-third Michigan, who died of dysentery. The details of his last illness and death which have thus far been received are very meager. He was a member in good standing of the First Baptist church, and a memorial service in his honor will be held on the return to Saginaw of his pastor, Rev. C. H. Maxson, who is at present out of town. This service will probably be held on Sunday, Aug. 14. Mr. Benjamin was 20 years old on July 07 last and enlisted in May and was one of the second lot of soldiers that left Saginaw for Island Lake. He was unmarried and leaves a mother, two brothers, William and Fay and two sisters, Ida and Alameda. Mr Benjamin was born at Gladwin, Gladwin county, but has passed nearly his whole life in Saginaw, where by his genial manner he has won a large circle of friends, who will mourn his untimely death. Saginaw Courier Herald: 03 Aug 1898, Wednesday, P. 7

Sad news reached the company telling of the death of one of the boys, Private Edward Benjamin, who died in the hospital at Santiago. The sad news was sent to his parents, who reside at Saginaw, west side. He was the first of Saginaw's brave lads to give up his life in Cuba. All of his comrades mourn his loss very deeply. Saginaw Courier Herald, Sunday 14, Aug, 1898, P. 9