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{{Infobox military person
|name= Frederick William Benteen
|birth_date= {{birth date|1834|8|24}}
|death_date= {{Death date and age|1898|6|22|1834|8|24}}
|birth_place= [[Petersburg, Virginia]]
|death_place=[[Atlanta, Georgia]]
|placeofburial= initially Atlanta, Georgia<br/>later reinterred in [[Arlington Cemetery]]
|placeofburial_label= Place of burial
|image= Fwbenteen-1865-tilford.jpg
|caption=Frederick Benteen circa 1865
|nickname=
|allegiance= {{flagicon|USA|1861}} [[United States|United States of America]]<br/>[[Union (American Civil War)|Union]]
|branch= [[United States Army]]<br/>[[Union Army]]
|serviceyears=1861&ndash;88
|rank=|rank= [[File:Union army col rank insignia.jpg|35px]] [[Brevet (military)|Brevet]] [[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]]<br>[[File:Union army maj rank insignia.jpg|35px]] [[Major (United States)|Major]] ([[Regular Army (United States)|Regular Army]])
|commands={{flagicon|Missouri}} [[10th Missouri Volunteer Cavalry|10th Missouri Cavalry]]<br/>138th U.S. Colored Volunteers<br/>'H' Company 7th U.S. Cavalry
|unit=
|battles=[[American Civil War]]
*[[Battle of Wilson's Creek]]
*[[Battle of Pea Ridge]]
*[[Milliken's Bend]]
*[[Battle of Pleasant Hill]]
*[[Siege of Vicksburg]]
*[[Battle of Westport]]
*[[Battle of Mine Creek]]
[[Indian Wars]]
*[[Battle of Washita River|Battle of the Washita]]
*[[Battle of the Little Bighorn]]
*[[Battle of Canyon Creek]]
|awards=
|laterwork=
}}

'''Frederick William Benteen''' (August 24, 1834 – June 22, 1898) was a military officer during the [[American Civil War]] and then during the Indian Campaigns and [[Great Sioux War ]] against the [[Lakota people|Lakota]] and [[Northern Cheyenne]]. Benteen is best known for being in command of a battalion (Companies D, H,& K) of the [[US 7th Cavalry Regiment|7th U. S. Cavalry]] at the [[Battle of the Little Bighorn]] in late June, 1876.

While scouting the area, Captain Benteen received an urgent note from his superior officer [[George Armstrong Custer]] ordering him to 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 is one of the most controversial aspects of the famed battle, which resulted in the death of Custer and the complete annihilation of the five companies of cavalrymen which comprised Custer's detachment.

==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 ancestors had emigrated to America from the [[Netherlands]] in the 18th century, settling in [[Baltimore]]. The family had moved 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. In 1856, he became acquainted with Catharine "Kate" Louisa Norman, a young woman recently arrived in St. Louis from [[Philadelphia]].

The election of [[Abraham Lincoln]] as U.S. President in 1860 polarized the country. Theodore Charles Benteen, an ardent secessionist, vehemently opposed his son's associating with Unionists. A family crisis was ignited when Frederick joined the [[Union Army]] on September 1, 1861 as a [[First Lieutenant#United States|first lieutenant]] in the 1st Missouri Volunteer Cavalry Regiment. Frederick married Catherine Norman on January 7, 1862 at St. George's Church in St. Louis. In July 1863, Catherine Benteen gave birth to the couple's first child, Caroline Elizabeth, but the daughter would die before reaching her first year.

Benteen participated in numerous battles during the [[American Civil War]], for which he was awarded the [[Brevet (military)|brevet]] ranks of [[Major (United States)|major]] and then [[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|lieutenant colonel]]. Among his engagements were [[Battle of Wilson's Creek|Wilson's Creek]], [[Battle of Pea Ridge|Pea Ridge]], [[Siege of Vicksburg|Vicksburg]] and [[Battle of Westport|Westport]]. On February 27, 1864, Benteen was promoted to [[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|lieutenant colonel]] and commander of the [[10th Missouri Volunteer Cavalry|10th Missouri Cavalry]]. Benteen was mustered out at the war's end in the spring of 1865, and shortly thereafter was appointed to the rank of colonel as commander of a ''"[[Buffalo Soldier]]"'' regiment, the 138th U.S. Colored Volunteers. He led the regiment from July, 1865 to January, 1866, when it was mustered out. Later that year, he was appointed a [[Captain (United States)|captain]] in the [[U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment|7th U.S. Cavalry]]. Meanwhile, the Senate finally approved awards of brevets to distinguished veterans of the Civil War. Benteen received brevets of major for the [[Battle of Mine Creek]] and lieutenant colonel for the [[Battle of Columbus (1865)]].

==7th Cavalry service under Custer==

In January 1867, Benteen departed for his new assignment with the 7th Cavalry Regiment and its field commander Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer. This would be Benteen's regiment for 16 years. Until 1882, except for periods of leave and detached duty, Benteen commanded Troop H of the 7th Cavalry. On January 30, 1867, Benteen made a customary courtesy call to the quarters of Custer and his wife [[Elizabeth Bacon Custer|Elizabeth]]. Benteen said later that he regarded Custer to be a braggart from their first meeting (and his dislike deepened as his years of service under Custer went by)<ref>{{Cite book | author=Wert, Jeffry D. | authorlink= | coauthors= | title= Custer: The Controversial Life of George Armstrong Custer| year=1996 | publisher=Simon & Schuster | location=New York  | isbn=0-684-81043-3 | pages=17–18}}</ref>
Meanwhile, on March 27, 1867, Benteen's wife gave birth to a son in [[Atlanta]].

Following the Civil War, the Cheyenne Indians represented the greatest threat on the [[Kansas]] frontier. In late July 1868, Benteen led an expedition to provide security for the Indian agents near Fort Larned. On August 13, Benteen, commanding 30 troopers, encountered a Cheyenne raiding party along the banks of Elk Horn Creek near Fort Zarah. He charged into a force of what appeared to be about fifty warriors. To Benteen's surprise, he then discovered more than 200 Cheyennes raiding a ranch. Benteen pursued the Cheyennes without rest until dark, engaging them throughout the day without respite. This first undisputed victory of the 7th Cavalry brought Benteen a brevet to [[Colonel (United States)|colonel]] and the adoration of the settlers of central Kansas.

[[File:Fredbenteen.jpg|200px|right|frame|Frederick Benteen in his later years]]

On October 13, Benteen and his men went to escort a wagon train loaded with weapons and ammunition meant for the regiment. They reached the wagon train just as a war party began to attack. Benteen drove off the warriors, saving the wagon train from capture. Later, the trail of the raiding party would lead the 7th Cavalry to a Cheyenne encampment on the [[Washita River]] in the [[Indian Territory]].

In response to the continued raids, General [[Philip Sheridan]] devised a plan of punitive reprisals. His troops would respond to Indian attacks by entering winter encampments, destroying supplies and livestock, and killing those who resisted. It would include the cavalry moving in the dead of winter through a largely uncharted region and 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 Cavalry, heading towards 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]].

Benteen, as captain of H Company, led a squadron of Major 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 called out that the boy's life would be spared if he dropped his weapon. Benteen made the peace sign. In reply, the boy aimed his revolver at Benteen and fired. The bullet missed, so the boy fired again, the bullet passing through the sleeve of Benteen’s coat. The boy then fired a third time, as Benteen continued to make 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.

Custer in his battle report to Sheridan made little reference to his own casualties. This was because during the action itself, the 7th lost only one man killed (Captain Hamilton) and seven wounded. However, shortly after the actual battle, Major Elliot and 19 men had pursued escaping warriors up the river and had yet to return: as such were posted as missing. It later emerged that Elliot (who rode off with the cry 'Here's for a brevet or a coffin') had been surrounded and wiped out by the Cheyenne, along with all his men.

Benteen decided that Custer had abandoned Elliot and wrote to a friend criticizing Custer over this. The letter was passed to the St. Louis Democrat newspaper without Benteen's permission. On its publication Custer called the officers together and threatened to 'horsewhip' the author. Without revealing that the letter had been published without his knowledge or permission, Benteen admitted authorship, albeit with a hand on his pistol. Custer did not attempt a whipping but dismissed the matter with a curt 'Mister Benteen, I will see you later'.

==Little Big Horn==

During the Little Bighorn (“Sioux”) expedition in 1876, under Custer, Captain Benteen again commanded Company H. Approximately 12 miles from the [[Little Bighorn River]], he was assigned command of a battalion comprising Companies H, D and K. Although Custer was uncertain of the exact location of the Indians, he assigned Benteen the task of defending the left flank.  Benteen searched fruitlessly through rough ground for about two hours before returning to the trail of the main column. As he advanced toward the river, he was met by a messenger from Custer, soon followed by another, indicating that a big village had been found and that Benteen should come ahead. A note delivered to him read: ''"Come on. Big village. Be quick. Bring packs."''<ref name="Connell, Evan S. 1984 281">{{cite book | author=Connell, Evan S. | title=Son Of The Morning Star | location=San Francisco, California | publisher=North Point Press | year=1984 | isbn=0-86547-160-6|page=281}}</ref> Custer seemingly meant for Benteen to unite his companies with the slow pack mules (which were bringing up the rear and guarded by Company B) and then ride on to link up with Custer's five companies. These packs contained the regiment's ammunition reserve. Benteen, however was in no apparent hurry and even spent 20 vital minutes watering his horses at a ford. (Re: April 2010 Wild West Magazine: "... as any good cavalry officer would do seeing they had been pushed to exhaustion in the drive to their commanded location). Hearing gunfire ahead, however, Benteen spurred his command to a gallop.

<div style="float: right; margin: 1em; font-size: 85%; background:#dcf; width:26em; max-width: 40%; padding:1ex">
'''"Benteen has been criticized by some military analysts because he failed to obey (Custer's) instructions. He received the note, he read it, he thought enough of it to tuck it in a pocket, but he did not get the ammunition packs and rush forward to Custer's aid. Instead, as he approached the battleground after his scouting trip he saw Major Reno's demoralized men attempting to organize a defensive position on the bluff and he chose to join them. This decision assured Custer's death. It would seem, therefore, that Benteen must be condemned; yet if he had tried to carry out the order it is possible his three companies would have been hacked to pieces en route. Then Reno's weakened command surely would have collapsed, and when General Terry arrived he would count every single man of the Seventh Cavalry dead.'''

'''Benteen explained to the 1879 Court of Inquiry why he did what he did, and his reasoning is equally clear from subsequent remarks. He thought it impossible to obey; to do so would have been suicide. "We were at their hearths and homes," he said, referring to the Sioux, "their medicine was working well, and they were fighting for all the good God gives anyone to fight for." "'''

— [[Evan S. Connell]] in [[Son of the Morning Star]], pg. 281<ref name="Connell, Evan S. 1984 281"/></div>

A battalion made up of companies M, A and G and led by Major [[Marcus Reno]] had attacked the southwest corner of a large Indian village along the Little Bighorn River and had been routed with heavy casualties in its attack on the Sioux village, and the tattered remains of the battalion struggled to cross the river and climb the bluffs. As Reno's units were still under fire and low on ammunition, and since Reno was technically Benteen's superior officer, Reno ordered Benteen to share his battalion's ammunition with him. Reno was visibly shaken, and his ability to effectually command was diminished.

Within a few minutes, loud firing to the north was heard by the men on the bluffs, and the Sioux began to turn away from the Reno/Benteen units and head back into the village and continue towards the firing. These volleys signified that Custer was engaged, but to what extent, Reno and Benteen had no idea. They did not at once advance to find out, which would later create a controversy regarding an alleged abandonment of Custer (General [[Nelson A. Miles]] made an accusation to that effect).<ref>{{Cite book | author=Barnett, Louise | authorlink= | coauthors= | title= Touched by Fire: The Life, Death, and Afterlife of George Armstrong Custer| year=1996 | publisher=Henry Holt and Company, Inc. | location=New York  | isbn=0-8050-3720-9 | page=311}}</ref>

Captain [[Thomas Weir (American soldier)|Thomas Weir]], infuriated by the lack of movement to support Custer, rode north about a mile towards the sound of the shots to the present-day Weir Point, eventually followed by men of his company, then Benteen and the three companies under his command and finally Reno and his men, carrying the wounded. At Weir Point the view of Custer's location, some three miles further north, was largely of a cloud of dust and numerous Native American warriors in command of the battlefield.<ref name="Connell, Evan S. 1984 281"/>

The Lakota and Cheyenne quickly destroyed Custer’s battalion and then turned their attention to Reno and Benteen, driving them back to their original position now called the "Reno-Benteen defense site". It was a horseshoe-shaped perimeter on the bluffs near where Reno and Benteen had met. During the next 24 hours, Benteen assumed virtual command. He led two charges which drove the Indians back just as it seemed the soldiers would be overrun. Cool and calm, Benteen was seen walking amongst his troops encouraging them and leading by example. He was wounded in the thumb, and the heel was shot off one of his boots.

Benteen was later criticized{{Who|July 2010|date=July 2010}} for his slow travel between the time he was sent to secure the left and the time he reached the bluffs overlooking the river. However, the route he was ordered to scout is much more rugged terrain than the gently descending North Fork of Reno Creek that Custer's command had ridden down at full gallop.

His decision to remain with Reno, rather than continuing on at once to seek Custer, was also questioned by critics{{Who|July 2010|date=July 2010}}.

==Later activities==
Benteen participated in the [[Nez Perce War|Nez Perce campaign]] in 1877, later being brevetted [[Brigadier general (United States)|brigadier general]] on February 27, 1890 for his actions 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.

Frederick Benteen died ten years later on June 22, 1898, leaving his widow Kate and a son Frederick. He was buried in [[Westview Cemetery]] in [[Atlanta]], his pallbearers included [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] [[Governor]] [[William Y. Atkinson]] and [[Charles Collier]], the [[mayor]] of Atlanta. Benteen's remains were later reinterred at [[Arlington National Cemetery]].

==Monuments and memorials==
Benteen Elementary School in Atlanta, Georgia is named for Frederick Benteen's son, Frederick Wilson Benteen.<ref>[http://www.atlanta.k12.ga.us/Domain/942 ''Frederick Wilson Benteen Elementary School page on Altanta school system site]. Retrieved March 9, 2012.</ref>

==See also==
*[[Battle of the Little Bighorn]]
*[[Marcus Reno]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Evans, D. C. ''Custer's Last Fight'' Volume I, ''Battle of Little Big Horn''. El Segundo, CA: Upton and Sons, 1999
* Graham, W. W. ''The Custer Myth'' Lincoln NE: University of Nebraska Press, 1986
* Hammer, Kenneth, edited by Ronald H. Nichols, ''Men with Custer: Biographies of the 7th Cavalry June 25, 1876'', Hardin, MT: Custer Battlefield Historical and Museum Association, 2000.
* Mills, Charles K., ''Harvest of Barren Regrets: The Army Career of Frederick William Benteen, 1834-1898'', Glendale, CA: Arthur H. Clark Co., 1985. ISBN 0-87062-160-2

==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] 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
*{{Find a Grave|2936|accessdate=2008-02-10}}
*Atlanta Public Schools [http://www.atlanta.k12.ga.us/Domain/942]

{{Authority control|VIAF=30948784}}
{{Persondata
|NAME= Benteen, Frederick
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
|SHORT DESCRIPTION= [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] [[United States Army]] officer
|DATE OF BIRTH= August 24, 1834
|PLACE OF BIRTH= [[Petersburg, Virginia]]
|DATE OF DEATH= June 22, 1898
|PLACE OF DEATH=[[Atlanta, Georgia]]
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Benteen, Frederick}}
[[Category:1834 births]]
[[Category:1898 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Petersburg, Virginia]]
[[Category:American people of Dutch descent]]
[[Category:Union Army officers]]
[[Category:People of the Great Sioux War of 1876]]
[[Category:People of Missouri in the American Civil War]]
[[Category:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery]]


Capt. Frederick Benteen hated Custer and blamed him for the debacle at Little Bighorn.

Although no one doubted Benteen's ability as a soldier or accused him of cowardice, he was criticized for failing to go to his rival's aid. But most praised him for his cool command on the bluffs above the river where half of the 7th Cavalry held off the Sioux and Cheyenne for two days.

Benteen, often mean-spirited, especially when drunk, was court-martialed in 1887 and convicted of three of six counts of drunkenness and a charge of conduct unbecoming an officer. He was suspended at half-pay for a year.

He returned to service but received a medical discharge some months later.

He lived in Atlanta for another 10 years and in 1892 received an honorary title of brigadier general for his service at Little Bighorn and at the 1877 battle at Canyon Creek near Laurel in the Army's pursuit of the Nez Perce.

Read more: http://billingsgazette.com/news/features/magazine/cavalry-men-s-lives-come-to-troubled-ends/article_4d4ad79d-d267-5179-bea7-e34702a8b972.html#ixzz2lcr5TJBb