Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Colonel Benjamin Franklin Tracy received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 6, 1864 at Wilderness Campaign, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 109th New York Infantry. Tracy was 34 years old.
12 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on June 21, 1895, 31 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Brevet Brigadier General.
Tracy was born on April 26, 1830 in Owego, Tioga County, New York. Tracy died on August 6, 1915 in New York, New York, at the age of 85. He is buried at The Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.
Tracy is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Seized the colors and led the regiment when other regiments had retired and then reformed his line and held it.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Offices held: member of the New York State Assembly
- Occupations: politician, lawyer, judge
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- April 26, 1830Born in Owego, Tioga County, New York
- May 6, 1864Act of valor — Wilderness Campaign, VirginiaAge 34. 109th New York Infantry
- June 21, 1895Medal of Honor presented
- August 6, 1915Died in New York, New YorkAge 85.
- Resting placeThe Green-Wood CemeteryBrooklyn, New York
Biography
Benjamin Franklin Tracy (April 26, 1830 – August 6, 1915) was a United States political figure who served as Secretary of the Navy from 1889 through 1893, during the administration of U.S. President Benjamin Harrison.
From the Wikipedia article “Benjamin F. Tracy”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
Named in his honor
- USS Tracy — destroyer
