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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

William Bensinger

Private William Bensinger, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions in April 1862 in Georgia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War April 1862

Private William Bensinger, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry in April 1862 in Georgia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company G, 21st Ohio Infantry. Bensinger was about 22 years old.

The medal was presented on March 25, 1863. He later rose to the rank of Captain.

Bensinger was born on January 14, 1840 in Waynesburg, Stark County, Ohio. His Medal of Honor is credited to McComb, Hancock County, Ohio. Bensinger died on December 19, 1918 in McComb, Ohio, at the age of 78. He is buried at McComb Union Cemetery in McComb, Ohio. His medal is held by McComb Public Library (1896 & 1904 designs), McComb, OH.

Bensinger is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 256 credited to Ohio.

Official Medal of Honor citation

One of 19 of 24 men (including two civilians) who, by direction of Gen. Ormsby M. Mitchell, penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., in an attempt to destroy the bridges and track between Chattanaooga and Atlanta.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Timeline

  1. January 14, 1840
    Born in Waynesburg, Stark County, Ohio
  2. April 1862
    Act of valor — Georgia
    Age about 22. Company G, 21st Ohio Infantry
  3. March 25, 1863
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. December 19, 1918
    Died in McComb, Ohio
    Age 78.
  5. Resting place
    McComb Union Cemetery
    McComb, Ohio

Further reading

Same unit

John Reed Porter Private · Army Civil War · 1862

More Civil War recipients from Ohio

WR William R. Richardson Private · Army Civil War · 1865 Cyrus Sears First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1862 Martin Jones Hawkins Corporal · Army Civil War · 1862 ET Ernest R. Torgler Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 MR Marion A. Ross Sergeant Major · Army Civil War · 1862 ✦ JB John Brown First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.