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| birth_date = {{birth date|1834|8|24}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1898|6|22|1834|8|24}}
| birth_place = [[Petersburg, Virginia]], US
| death_place = [[Atlanta, Georgia]], US
| placeofburial = initially Atlanta, Georgia<br />reinterred in [[Arlington National Cemetery]]
| placeofburial_label = Place of burial
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| allegiance = {{flagicon|USA|1861}} [[United States|United States of America]]<br />[[Union (American Civil War)|Union]]
| branch = [[United States Army]]<br />[[Union Army]]
| serviceyears =
| rank = [[File:Union Army colonel rank insignia.png|35px]] [[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]] (Union Army)<br />[[File:Union
| commands = [[10th Missouri Volunteer Cavalry|10th Missouri Cavalry]]<br />138th U.S. Colored Infantry<br />'H' Company, [[7th U.S. Cavalry]]
| unit =
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** [[Battle of Wilson's Creek]]
** [[Battle of Pea Ridge]]
** [[Battle of Milliken's Bend|Milliken's Bend]]
** [[Battle of Pleasant Hill]]
** [[Siege of Vicksburg]]
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After scouting the area of the left flank as ordered, Captain Benteen received a note from his superior officer [[George Armstrong Custer]] ordering him to quickly bring up the ammunition packs and join him in Custer's surprise attack on a large [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]] encampment. Benteen's failure to promptly comply with Custer's orders is one of the most controversial aspects of the famed battle. The fight resulted in the death of Custer and the complete annihilation of the five companies of cavalrymen which comprised Custer's detachment, but Benteen's relief of Major [[Marcus Reno]]'s battalion may have saved them from annihilation.
Benteen subsequently served in the U.S. Cavalry another 12 years, being both honored by promotion and disgraced with a conviction for drunkenness by a military tribunal. He retired for health reasons in 1888, and lived a further decade until his death
==Early life and career==
Frederick Benteen was born August 24, 1834, in [[Petersburg, Virginia]], to Theodore Charles Benteen and his wife Caroline (Hargrove) Benteen. Benteen's paternal ancestors had emigrated to America from the [[Netherlands]] in the 18th century, settling in [[Baltimore]], [[Maryland]]. Theodore and Caroline moved their family to [[Virginia]] from Baltimore shortly after the birth of their first child, Henrietta Elizabeth, in October 1831. Frederick Benteen was educated at the Petersburg Classical Institute, where he was first trained in military drill. His family moved to [[St. Louis, Missouri]], in 1849.
The election of [[Abraham Lincoln]] as U.S. President in 1860 polarized the country and the state. While a slave state,
Benteen participated in numerous battles during the [[American Civil War]],
Shortly thereafter he was appointed to the rank of colonel as commander of the 138th
==7th Cavalry service under Custer==
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In response to the continued Cheyenne raids, General [[Philip Sheridan]] devised a plan of punitive reprisals. His troops would respond to Indian attacks by entering their winter encampments, destroying supplies and livestock, and killing those who resisted. The cavalry was directed to travel in the dead of winter through a largely uncharted region, which required daring leadership. Sheridan turned to Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer, who was brought back early from his court-martial and given the mission. Sheridan trusted only Custer with such a deed, and in November 1868 Custer returned to his regiment under special orders from Sheridan.
On November 23, 1868, Custer left Camp Supply with the 11 companies of the 7th US Cavalry, heading toward the Washita River. On November 27, the 7th surrounded a Cheyenne encampment at the river. Just before dawn, Custer launched a four-pronged [[Battle of Washita River|assault on the village]], known as the [[Battle of Washita River]].
As captain of H Troop, Benteen led a squadron of Major [[Joel Elliott]]'s command during the attack. His horse was shot from under him by a son of Cheyenne Chief [[Black Kettle]]. The boy was about fourteen years old and was armed only with a revolver. Benteen yelled he would spare the boy's life if he dropped the revolver, and made the peace sign. In reply, the boy aimed his revolver at Benteen and fired. The bullet missed, so the boy fired again, and the bullet passed through the sleeve of Benteen's coat. The boy fired a third time, although Benteen was making friendly overtures. This bullet hit Benteen's horse, killing it, and pitching Benteen into the snow. When the Indian boy raised his pistol to fire once more, Benteen finally shot him dead.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}}
Custer, in his battle report to Sheridan, made little reference to US casualties. During the action itself, the 7th lost only one man killed (Captain Hamilton) and seven wounded. However, shortly after the battle, Major
Benteen concluded that Custer had abandoned
==Little Bighorn==
Captain Benteen still commanded H Troop of the Seventh US Cavalry regiment during an 1876 expedition to find the Lakota and Cheyenne and force them onto reservations. On June 25, 1876, still searching approximately 12 miles from the [[Little Bighorn River]], Custer divided his force into three battalions. He assigned Benteen command of a battalion comprising Troops D, H and K, tasked with searching on the left flank and securing any possible escape route. Benteen searched fruitlessly through rough ground for about two hours before returning to the trail of the main column. At a marshy crossing of Reno Creek ("the morass"), he stopped twenty minutes to water the horses. Some of his officers were concerned with the delay; one asked, "I wonder what the old man is keeping us here for."<ref>Kenneth Hammer, ''Custer in '76: Walter Camp's Notes on the Custer Fight''. (Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 1990), p. 75.</ref> Just before leaving, they heard the sound of gunfire in the distance.<ref>Richard Hardorff, ''On the Little Bighorn with Walter Camp: A Collection of Walter Mason Camp's Letters, Notes and Opinions on Custer's Last Fight''. (El Segundo, CA: Upton and Sons, 2002)p. 219</ref> Captain [[Thomas Weir (American soldier)|Thomas Weir]] was already mounted at the head of the column. Pointing ahead, he said of Custer's companies, "They ought to be over there," and started his company forward. Benteen ordered the rest of the battalion to advance.<ref>Kenneth Hammer, ''Custer in '76'', p. 75.</ref>
As they approached the Little Bighorn River, Benteen was met by a messenger from Custer, soon followed by another, both saying that a big village had been found and that Benteen should immediately come up. A note delivered to him read: "Come on. Big village. Be quick. Bring packs. PS: Bring packs."<ref>Evan S. Connell, ''Son of The Morning Star: Custer and the Little Bighorn''. (San Francisco: North Point Press, 1984), p. 281</ref>
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As night fell, the attack slackened off, while the large Lakota village was alive with celebration. About 2:30 a.m., two rifle shots signaled a resumption of the attack. Whatever his reluctance earlier, Benteen took charge of the force, leading at least one, perhaps three, charges which drove the Indians back just as it seemed the soldiers would be overrun. Cool and calm (at one point he lay down for a nap), Benteen walked among his troops encouraging them. When his men urged him to get down, he replied that he was protected by some charm his wife had sewn in his uniform.<ref>John M. Carroll, ''The Benteen-Goldin Letters on Custer and his Last Battle''. (Lincoln, NE: The university of Nebraska Press, 1974), pp. 43-44.</ref> He was wounded in the thumb, and the heel was shot off one of his boots.
Attacks on the soldiers
When General Terry and his staff reached him, Benteen asked if he knew "where Custer had gone." Terry answered, "To the best of my knowledge and belief, he lies on this ridge about four miles below here with all his command killed." Benteen could not believe it.<ref>Kenneth Hammer, ''Custer in '76'', p. 249.</ref> Later they rode to the battlefield, where Benteen identified Custer's body. "By God, he said, "that is him."<ref>Richard Hardoff, ''The Custer Battle Casualties: Burials, Exhumations, and Reinternments''. (El Segundo, CA: Upton and Sons, 1989), pp. 19-20.</ref>
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==Later military activities==
Benteen participated in the [[Nez Perce War|Nez Perce campaign]] in 1877. He was brevetted [[Brigadier general (United States)|brigadier general]] on February 27, 1890, for his actions in that campaign at the [[Battle of Canyon Creek]], as well as for his earlier actions at the Little Bighorn. He testified at the Reno Court of Inquiry in 1879 in [[Chicago]].
Benteen was promoted to major, 9th U.S. Cavalry, in December 1882. In 1887, he was suspended for drunk and disorderly conduct at [[Fort Duchesne, Utah]]. He was convicted and faced dismissal from the [[United States Army|Army]], but President [[Grover Cleveland]] reduced his sentence to a one-year suspension. Benteen retired on July 7, 1888, citing disability from rheumatism and heart disease.
==Family==
While stationed in eastern Missouri in 1856, Benteen became acquainted with Catharine "Kate" Louisa Norman, a young woman recently arrived in [[St. Louis]] from [[Philadelphia]]. They were married on January 7, 1862, at St. George's Church in St. Louis. He and Catherine had five children, four of whom died in infancy:
Caroline Elizabeth, born in July 1863 at St. Louis; died before her first birthday; Katherine Norman, born in December 1868 at Fort Harker, Kansas; died a year later; Francis "Fannie" Gibson Norman, born in April 1872 at Nashville, Tennessee; died at eight months; Theodore Norman, born April 1875 at Fort Rice, North Dakota; died that winter. Their fourth child, Frederick Wilson, born March 27, 1873, at Atlanta, Georgia, survived, living until July 20, 1956. Like his father, he pursued a military career, rising to Lt. Colonel.
==Death and legacy==
Benteen died in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 22, 1898, leaving his widow Kate and son Frederick. He was buried in [[Westview Cemetery]] in [[Atlanta]]; his pallbearers included [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] [[Governor]] [[William Y. Atkinson]] and Atlanta [[mayor]] [[Charles A. Collier]]. Benteen's remains were later re-interred at [[Arlington National Cemetery]].<ref>[https://ancexplorer.army.mil/publicwmv/#/arlington-national/search/results/1/CgdiZW50ZWVuEglmcmVkZXJpY2s-/ Burial Detail: Benteen, Frederick William (Section 3, Grave 1351, Interment Date: November 1, 1902] – ANC Explorer</ref>
Benteen Elementary School in Atlanta, Georgia is named for Frederick Benteen's son, Frederick Wilson Benteen, who grew up there and had a military career.<ref>[http://www.atlanta.k12.ga.us/Domain/942 "Frederick Wilson Benteen Elementary School"], on Atlanta school system site; Retrieved March 9, 2012.</ref>
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==External links==
* [http://www.shapell.org/manuscript.aspx?frederick-benteen-little-bighorn-7th-cavalry Frederick Benteen: Oath of Office as Captain in the 7th Cavalry, 1866] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140616012821/http://www.shapell.org/manuscript.aspx?frederick-benteen-little-bighorn-7th-cavalry |date=June 16, 2014 }}, Shapell Manuscript Foundation
* [http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/History/History-idx?type=goto&id=History.Reno&isize=M&submit=Go+to+page&page=1 Complete transcript] of the Reno Court of Inquiry
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[[Category:Battle of the Little Bighorn]]
[[Category:United States Army officers]]
[[Category:Southern Unionists in the American Civil War]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel who were court-martialed]]
[[Category:Recipients of American presidential clemency]]
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