Benjamin Smith (1838 - 1864)

Born 1838 in New York, United States

Died 18 Sep 1864 at about age 26 in Andersonville Prison, Sumter, Georgia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Cathryn Hondros [send private message]

Biography

Benjamin Smith was a New Yorker.

Benjamin was born in 1838. He. Enlisted in Company A of the 105th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He passed away in 1864.

Note there was a Benjamin F. Smith b. in 1843 who served in Company B of the same regiment.

There is a Benjamin Smith from New York who died May 23 and is buried at Andersonville. His grave number is # 1310; he is not the Benjamin Smith of this profile.

Books

Private Benjamin Smith served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: August 1, 1862
Mustered out: September 18, 1864
Side: USA
Regiment(s): Co. A 105th Regiment Ohio Infantry

Private Benjamin Smith was a POW in Andersonville Prison during The United States Civil War.

Private Benjamin Smith Died in Military Service during the United States Civil War.

Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio, Volume VII, page 573

In roster of 105th OVI, Company A, “Captured Sept. 20, 1863, at Battle of Chickamauga, Ga.; died Sept. 18, 1864, in Rebel Prison at Andersonville, Ga.”

The Story of a Thousand by Albion Winegar Tourgée, Appendices, published by S. McGerald & Son, 1896

Enlisted into Company A of the 105th Ohio Volunteer Infantry on August 1, 1863 with his brother Daniel. He was captured by the Confederates on September 20, 1863 and subsequently died September 18, 1864 at Andersonville, Georgia.

For further research

FindAGrave suggests that while Benjamin Smith was imprisoned at the Confederate’s Andersonville Prison Camp but that he did not die there, rather he was killed returning home as a passenger on the Sultana.

This contradicts both the Official Roster and Tourgée. Can anyone provide sources to clarify this?

Sources

"United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXS5-JYJ : 21 December 2020), Benjamin F Smith in household of Daniel Smith, Richmond Township, Ashtabula, Ohio, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

"United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (ark:/61903/1:1:MCG5-JMD : Tue Oct 11 00:49:26 UTC 2022), Entry for Benjamin Smith and Caroline Smith, 1860. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCG5-JMD

"United States Civil War Soldiers Index, 1861-1865", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FS6C-7M4 : 25 August 2021), Benjamin F. Smith, 1861-1865.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41182143/benjamin-franklin-smith: accessed 28 February 2023), memorial page for Benjamin Franklin Smith (unknown–24 Apr 1865), Find a Grave Memorial ID 41182143, citing Richmond Center Cemetery, Richmond Center, Ashtabula County, Ohio, USA; Maintained by Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (contributor 48353502).

Andersonville Records: http://www.civilwarprisoners.com/searchresults.php?fname=Benjamin&lname=Smith&regiment=&database=andersonville