Frederick W. Benteen collection addendum

Descriptive Summary
Title: Frederick W. Benteen collection addendum
Creator: Unknown
Creator: Benteen family.
Inclusive Dates: 1833-1978
Language(s): English
Extent: 1.4 Linear Feet (1 document box, 1 oversized box, 1 card file box, 1 oversize folder C)
Collection Number: ms770a
Repository: Hargrett Library

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Collection Description

Historical Note

Frederick William Benteen was born in 1834 and died in 1898. He served in the American Civil War and the Black Hills War. Against his father's wishes, he fought on the Union side as a a soldier with the 10th Missouri Volunteer Cavalry. He later married Catherine L. Norman (1838-1906) in 1862 in St. Louis, Missouri. During the Civil War, Frederick was awarded the ranks of major and then lieutenant colonel and commander of the 10th Missouri Cavalry.

After the Civil War, Frederick led an all-black "Buffalo soldier" regiment - the 138th U.S. Colored Volunteers from 1865 to 1866 - as a colonel. Later in 1866, Frederick was made a captain in the 7th U.S. Cavalry. From 1867 to 1883, he served under George Armstrong Custer. He commanded Troop H. Benteen supposedly had a known dislike of Custer, disagreeing with him on several occasions. During the Battle of Little Bighorn (or Custer's Last Stand), after Custer's battalion was destroyed, Benteen took control of the remaining troops. After many years of service, Benteen acquired the rank of major, 9th U.S. cavalry, in 1882. He finally retired in 1887 after a suspension due to drunk and disorderly conduct. He died in 1898, leaving his wife and son.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of photographs of family members and military friends of Frederick W. Benteen. His commission paper is included as well. It is dated 1864 November 23 and commissions him to brigadier general. Also includes is a bound, gilt-edged album of religious pictures; the folded American flag that draped the coffin of Mrs. Anita Benteen Mitchell), Benteen's graddaughter, in 1978; and a tattered American flag that appears to be a 10th Missouri Cavalry flag, flown during the Civil War and was donated after the initial gift in 1973.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Frederick W. Benteen collection addendum. MS 770a. Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.

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Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

Related Collections in this Repository

Related materials available in the following collections of this repository: Frederick William Benteen papers, MS 770.

Other Finding Aids

A very detailed inventory from the donors, who were descendents of Benteen, can be found within the library and is available upon request.

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Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

1. Photographs
box	folder
Request box
1	1	Allen, Dr.
1	2	Ballou, D.W.
1	3	Barr, Sam
1	3A	Bell, James
1	4	Benteen, Fredrick ( 6 photograph(s) )
1	5	Benteen Family Members ( 10 photograph(s) )
1	6	Bittinger
1	7	Braden, Lt.
1	8	Bruns, Henry G.
1	9	Caffine, [Louie?]
1	10	Chase, Dr. and Daughter
1	11	Cook, Cpt.
1	12	Cook, Joe
1	13	Cornyn, F.M. ( 2 photograph(s) )
1	14	Craycroft, W.T.
1	15	Custer, Tom
1	16	Davidson, J.W.
1	17	[DeGraw, Dr.?]
1	18	Degress, William I.
1	19	English, Mr. and Mrs. Tom ( 2 photograph(s) )
1	20	Forsyth, James W.
1	21	Ft. Harker, KS
1	22	Fritz, Carl
1	23	Fryer, B.E.
1	24	Gibson, Katie
1	25	Grant, U.S. ( 2 photograph(s) )
1	25A	Group of Four Officers: Varnum, Bronson, Benteen, and Hodgson
1	26	Hale, Joe
1	27	Hale, Owen
1	28	[Harrington, Mrs.?]
1	29	Harron, Frank and Staff
1	30	[Junnau?], Henry
1	31	[Kuhe?], John
1	32	Lincoln, Abraham ( 2 photograph(s) )
1	33	McGrath, John P.
1	34	Merrill, Mamie and Nina Tilford (2)
1	35	Norman, William H.
1	36	Ohio River, Suspension Bridge
1	37	Pennypacker, Gen.
1	38	Richards, Capt. ( 2 photograph(s) )
1	39	Ricketts, Private
1	40	Robbins, Sam
1	41	Rosecrans, Gen.
1	42	Roy, Stanislaus
1	43	St. Louie [Louis?], Dr.
1	44	Scott, Winfield
1	45	Sherman, Williams T. ( 2 photograph(s) )
1	46	Sit-tan-ti (White Bear)
1	47	Taylor, Donald
1	48	Thompson, William
1	49	Thompy ( 2 photograph(s) )
1	50	Tolman, W.F.
1	51	[Umbstaetter?]
1	52	Vance, D.M.
1	53	Way, Joseph
1	54	Williams, M.H.
1	55	Wilson, James H.
1	56	Unidentified ( 8 photograph(s) )
1	57	Commission Cerificate of Fredrick W. Benteen
box
Request box
3		Photo Album

 

2. Flags

box

item

Request box

2

1

American Flag

oversized_folder

Request oversized_folder

1C

Tattered American Flag