First Lieutenant Orson W. Bennett, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on November 30, 1864 at Honey Hill, South Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company A, 102d U.S. Colored Infantry. Bennett was 23 years old.
13 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on March 9, 1887, 22 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Major.
Bennett was born on November 17, 1841 in Union City, Branch County, Michigan. His Medal of Honor is credited to Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa. Bennett died on January 8, 1904 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the age of 62. He is buried at Westminster Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.
Bennett is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 55 credited to Iowa.
Official Medal of Honor citation
After several unsuccessful efforts to recover three pieces of abandoned artillery, this officer gallantly led a small force fully 100 yards in advance of the Union lines and brought in the guns, preventing their capture.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Places
Timeline
- November 17, 1841Born in Union City, Branch County, Michigan
- November 30, 1864Act of valor — Honey Hill, South CarolinaAge 23. Company A, 102d U.S. Colored Infantry
- March 9, 1887Medal of Honor presented
- January 8, 1904Died in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaAge 62.
- Resting placeWestminster CemeteryBala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania
Biography
First Lieutenant Orson W. Bennett (November 17, 1841 – January 8, 1904) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Bennett received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action at Honey Hill, South Carolina on 30 November 1864. He was honored with the award on 9 March 1887.
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