First Lieutenant, Engineers William Henry harrison Benyaurd was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 1, 1865 in Five Forks, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S. Engineers. Benyaurd was 23 years old.
21 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on September 7, 1897, 32 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Benyaurd was born on May 17, 1841 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Benyaurd died on February 7, 1900, at the age of 58. He is buried at U.S. Military Academy Cemetery in West Point, New York.
Benyaurd is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.
Official Medal of Honor citation
With one companion, voluntarily advanced in a reconnaissance beyond the skirmishers, where he was exposed to imminent peril; also, in the same battle, rode to the front with the commanding general to encourage wavering troops to resume the advance, which they did successfully.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Education: United States Military Academy
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →
Timeline
- May 17, 1841Born in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
- April 1, 1865Act of valor — Five Forks, VirginiaAge 23. U.S. Engineers
- September 7, 1897Medal of Honor presented
- February 7, 1900DiedAge 58.
- Resting placeU.S. Military Academy CemeteryWest Point, New York
Biography
William Henry Harrison Benyaurd (May 17, 1841 – February 7, 1900) was a Union Army officer during the American Civil War who earned the Medal of Honor for his actions at Five Forks, Virginia on April 1, 1865.
From the Wikipedia article “William Henry Harrison Benyaurd”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
