Benoni
Stinson
Medal
of Honor Recipient
“Bravery in Scouts & Actions Against
Indians”
The
Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy
force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of
the United States. Since 1863, when the first Medal of Honor was awarded during
the Civil War, there have been 3,458 such medals awarded to date. Benoni
Stinson was awarded the Medal of Honor during the Indian Wars in the West.
The
son of Lewis Cobb Stinson & Sarah Sullins, was born in Overton County,
Tennessee, about 1831. An adventurous young man, he would seek his fortune in
the gold fields of California when gold was discovered in 1849. He and his
brother would open a business in Placer County, California in the early 1850’s
in the occupation of early photography. At the outbreak of the Civil War,
Benoni would enlist in the 4th Regiment California Infantry, U.S.
Volunteers. He served from July 1861, thru March 1866 with this regiment. On
September 24, 1866, Benoni, age 35 enlisted for a second time, joining the 8th
U.S. Cavalry.
The 8th Cavalry troops were composed
primarily of men enlisted on the Pacific Coast, and included many of the
so-called “Forty-Niners”; men who had spent months or years in the mines or
gold fields of California. Many were reenlistment's of experienced frontier
soldiers, having served with California Volunteer units fighting the Indians
during the Civil War. From December of 1866, companies of the 8th Cavalry were
involved in the continuing Snake Indian War, replacing California and Oregon Volunteer
companies that had been fighting the Snake Indians in Nevada and Oregon during
the American Civil War. During the year 1867, Troop B, I, K, and L, were
reassigned, and sent to posts in Arizona. The 8th’s new assignment
became trying to control various Native American tribes and bands throughout
the western territory. Their duties during this period were of almost
continuous field service by troops or detachments, scouting for Apaches and
Navajo Indians, and furnishing guards and escorts.
Pvt. Benoni Stinson, Troop B, 8th US
Cavalry was constantly engaged in encounters with the Apache Indians from May
to October of 1868 in Arizona, in an effort to keep the territory open to
settlers. The fierce Chiricahua Apache Indians, whose name literally translated
by other Indians, means “fighting-men” or “enemy," were murdering men,
women and children without mercy, and stealing live stock and other property of
the settlers arriving in the territory. It was during the months of August,
September and October when the greatest hardships were endured by the men of
Troop B. Numerous difficult marches through the mountains and deserts of
Arizona exposed them to the extremes of heat and cold, thirst and hunger. The
cavalry soldiers spent the greater portion of every twenty-four hours in the
saddle, and were exposed to treacherous fire from ambush in their determination
to ferret out the Indians from the Dragoon's canyons, which was considered the
impregnable fortress of the Apache Indians for many years.
For
their gallantry in these actions against the Apaches, and their successful
efforts in keeping the territory open to the settlers, thirty-four men of the 8th
U.S. Cavalry were awarded the Medal of Honor. Benoni Stinson, one of the
thirty-four men from this regiment so honored, was officially issued the award
on July 24, 1869, in one of the largest Medal of Honor presentations at the
time.
Benoni Stinson
continued to fight the Apache and other Indians preying on settlers in the West
until his discharge on March 30, 1870, in Stockton, California.
It
was through his “Lost to History” reference on the Medal of Honor
Historical Society of the United States web page that his true name came to
light. His name erroneously translated as “Benoni Strivson” on the Medal of
Honor citation, obscured his ties to Overton County, and his family.
Through renewed community interest in discovering Pvt. Stinson's story, Overton
County proudly honors our native son Benoni Stinson this Memorial Day, May 28,
2012.
Interest in this story since published in 2012 has never waned. What happened to Ben Stinson after the war? Why was he only a Private after serving nine years in the military? When did he die, and where is he buried? These are just a few of the questions that myself and others have asked since this story came to light. Benoni was a family name held by his uncle, a cousin among others in his family before him. It is a Hebrew biblical baby name, more often than not the person was called "Ben" as was the case of his uncle and cousin.
