Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He began his Civil War service in response to the Confederate firing upon Fort Sumter, South Carolina, enlisting as a Private in Company I, 1st Iowa Volunteer Infantry on April 23, 1861. After serving in Missouri and taking part in the August 10, 1861 Battle of Wilson's Creek (where he was wounded), his unit's three-month enlistment expired, and Orson Bennett was mustered out on August 21, 1861. A few months later he re-joined the Union war effort, and was mustered in as a Private in Company G, 12th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry on November 12, 1861. He served in the field for over two years with the 12th Wisconsin, which fought in the 1863 Vicksburg Campaign, and saw the capitulation of that city. Tabbed to be an officer in one of the newly-raised African-American Union regiments, he was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant in Company A, 102nd United States Colored Troops, a unit who's Lieutenant Colonel was Orson W. Bennett's older brother, William True Bennett. It was in this duty that Lieutenant Bennett performed his act of bravery at the November 30, 1864 Battle of Honey Hill, South Carolina that would see him awarded the CMOH. His citation for that award reads "After several unsuccessful efforts to recover 3 pieces of abandoned artillery, this officer gallantly led a small force fully 100 yards in advance of the Union lines and brought in the guns, preventing their capture". The charge was ordered by Lieutenant Colonel Bennett, who through the fortunes of war had to order his brother into harms way. His Medal was awarded to him for this act on March 9, 1887, twenty-two years later. Promoted to Captain and commander of Company A on May 6, 1865, he was brevetted Major, US Volunteers on September 30, 1865, and was mustered out on the same day at Charleston, South Carolina, having served the entire length of the war.
Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He began his Civil War service in response to the Confederate firing upon Fort Sumter, South Carolina, enlisting as a Private in Company I, 1st Iowa Volunteer Infantry on April 23, 1861. After serving in Missouri and taking part in the August 10, 1861 Battle of Wilson's Creek (where he was wounded), his unit's three-month enlistment expired, and Orson Bennett was mustered out on August 21, 1861. A few months later he re-joined the Union war effort, and was mustered in as a Private in Company G, 12th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry on November 12, 1861. He served in the field for over two years with the 12th Wisconsin, which fought in the 1863 Vicksburg Campaign, and saw the capitulation of that city. Tabbed to be an officer in one of the newly-raised African-American Union regiments, he was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant in Company A, 102nd United States Colored Troops, a unit who's Lieutenant Colonel was Orson W. Bennett's older brother, William True Bennett. It was in this duty that Lieutenant Bennett performed his act of bravery at the November 30, 1864 Battle of Honey Hill, South Carolina that would see him awarded the CMOH. His citation for that award reads "After several unsuccessful efforts to recover 3 pieces of abandoned artillery, this officer gallantly led a small force fully 100 yards in advance of the Union lines and brought in the guns, preventing their capture". The charge was ordered by Lieutenant Colonel Bennett, who through the fortunes of war had to order his brother into harms way. His Medal was awarded to him for this act on March 9, 1887, twenty-two years later. Promoted to Captain and commander of Company A on May 6, 1865, he was brevetted Major, US Volunteers on September 30, 1865, and was mustered out on the same day at Charleston, South Carolina, having served the entire length of the war.
Bio by: RPD2
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