b. 17/05/1841 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. d. 07/02/1900 New York.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 04/1865 Battle of Five Forks.
William H H Benyaurd MOH
Benyaurd graduated sixth in his class at West Point in 1863. Upon graduation he was immediately promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers.
In August 1864 he was breveted to the rank of captain for “gallantry and meritorious service” in the campaign before Richmond, Virginia. In April 1865 received a brevet to major for heroism in the Battle of Five Forks. He was awarded the Medal of Honor on September 7, 1897 for the same action. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1889. During the Spanish–American War he was in charge of submarine defenses (i.e., mines) at Jacksonville and Tampa Bay, Florida. He was also in command of defensive fortification on the St. John River in Florida.
MOH 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.
BURIAL LOCATION: WEST POINT CEMETERY, WEST POINT, NEW YORK.
SECTION XIII, ROW A, GRAVE 061
LOCATION OF MEDAL: FAMILY
