Frederick Benteen

[markland]

I was surprised to learn that Benteen was a flasher I will look for more details of the trial including testimony but fear that it will have to be ordered from the Textual Records Center in D.C.

Billy


The Army and Navy Journal
August 30, 1887
p. 794

Before a G. C. - M. which convened at Fort Du Chesne, Utah, and of which Col. A. V. Kautz, 8th Inf., was president, was tried Major Frederick W. Benteen, 9th Cav.

Charge 1. Drunkeness on duty-six specifications, alleging drunkeness while in command of Fort Du Chesne on Sept. 25 and 27, Oct. 10, Nov. 10, 11, and 12, 1886.

Charge 2. Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman-the specification alleging that when in command of Fort Du Chesne, Nov. 11, 1886, he did conduct himself in a scandalous manner in the post trader's store, using obscene and profane language; taking off his clothes, [sic ] to quarrel with citizens, and exposing his person. This to the dishonor and disrepute of the Military Service.

The court found him guilty, except of the drunkeness on Sept. 27, Nov. 10, and Nov. 12, and of the words "and exposing his person" in the specification to the second charge. Guilty of both charges. The proceedings, finding, and sentence having been approved by the proper reviewing authority and the record forwarded for the action of the President of the U. S., the following are his orders indorsed thereon:

"Executive Mansion, Washington, April 20, 1887.

"The proceedings and findings in the case of Major Frederick W. Benteen, 9th U. S. Cavalry, are hereby approved.

"In view of his long and honorable service and the reputation he has earned for bravery and soldierly qualities, so sadly injured by the scandalous conduct of which he has been justly found guilty and by his insubordinate behavior upon his trial, I have determined, in the hope that a remaining sense of honor and an unextinguished regard for his military profession will lead to further valuable service in the Army, to mitigate his sentence of dismissal from the Service of the United States to suspension from rank and duty for the term of one year upon half-pay.

"Grover Cleveland."

(G. C. - M. O. 34, April 20, 1887, H. Q. A.)

[elisabeth]

Good old Grover Cleveland.

Billy, while you're waiting for the trial transcripts, here's quite an entertaining description of Benteen's problems at that time!

historytogo.utah.gov/salt_lake_tribune/in_another_time/072097.html

[markland]

"The following February a letter appeared in the Kansas City Times, supposedly written by an unidentified enlisted man from Fort Leavenworth. It spelled out at length and detail Benteen's view of the problems at Duchesne. Benteen was suspected of writing the letter, but he denied knowledge of it."

Elisabeth, that was interesting! Since I am very close to KC and a couple of libraries which have microfilm of the Times, I will try to get a copy of that letter and post it.

Billy

[elisabeth]

That'd be great! If Benteen DID write it, it's sure to make good reading ...

[Melani]

What an intriguing article! Thanks for the link, Elisabeth. It's a shame his military career ended on such a bad note, but at least it's not what he is remembered for. The whole episode is recent news to me. The feel of it is that he got overly frustrated with typical government snafus, drank too much, and then did stupid things while drunk--not exactly the first guy to behave so. But whatever else you may say about the grouchy old sourpuss, he sure saved Reno's command, and I'm glad that's what people seem to remember.

[elisabeth]

And it's nice that this business wasn't the end of him. He stayed on in the army for quite a few more years; and they even gave him a rather grudging brevet to Brigadier-General once he'd safely retired.

He'd been through a lot, the poor old dear, by the time he started corresponding with the dreadful Goldin ...

[crzhrs]

Benteen's life was full of tragedy and controversy. He sided with the North during the CW while his father and brothers (?) sided with the South, opening up a deep family split. He lost four of five children due to a hereditary disease (if he knew he was responsible for passing it on that would speak volumes about his personality). And when he met Custer (whom he disliked from that first meeting) he felt overlooked when someone much younger was given command of the 7th. Then all the feuding and sniping with Custer over the Washita and the outcome of the LBH which, undoubtedly, Benteen blamed fully on Custer. He carried all that baggage for the rest of his life, leaving him bitter, but not shy about his feelings for everyone he met.

Like him or hate him, admire him or look down at him, he saved the 7th from being completely wiped out and stood his ground regardless of what others thought about him.

[Scout]

Great article Elisabeth. What a strange personality the man had. It is remarkable how many times he talked bad about others in the seventh and he seemed to have more problems that most. I think he even referred to some as drunks. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. Anyway, the man loved fishing and baseball so he couldn't be all bad! His problems closely resemble those of Reno's and several others whose careers went down the tubes in later years do to the love of the sauce and erractic behavior. Could this have been some form of post LBH battle related stress? Benteen was able to hold on to his career until put out to pasture which is more than some of the others, including Reno, were able to do.

In the long run he seemed to be a very troubled man.

[elisabeth]

I agree. I think perhaps he was less happy about his own actions at LBH than he liked to pretend (or tried to convince himself) he was ... What a strong character, to carry all that baggage and still retain his pugnacity and his sardonic humour till the end.

To be fair re the sauce, he seems to have been able to stay away from the booze for long periods; just went on a thorough-going "spree" once in a while. Whenever he did, though, it was memorable!

It seems that the trademark Benteen bloody-mindedness may well have run in the family. The story goes that when Benteen sided with the Union in the CW, his father sent him off with this genial farewell curse: "May you die by a Confederate bullet, and may it be fired by a Benteen"!!!!!!!!!

[elisabeth]

Just for interest's sake, here's a link to the photo referenced in the article:

www.lib.utah.edu/spc/photo/p104/p104.html

[stevewilk]

Well at least he had the courtesy to excuse himself....I'd always pictured Benteen whizzing in full view of these ladies. Perhaps Benteen, so used to cavalry life in the field, thought nothing of peeing on the side of a tent. Or maybe that was his way of venting frustration over the lack of building materials for permanent structures. (I understand any "permanent" buildings on frontier posts had to be authorized by Congress). Either way, the tent could not have smelled too good!

Didn't know Benteen was a ballplayer. The article paints him to be a 19th century "stud". Scout, you're the artist. You did a Dr. Lord caricature; how 'bout one of Benteen in his base ball duds, bat in hand, bulging biceps and ripped forearms?

[Scout]

There was a private...Williams, I believe, who some say played professional baseball in 1877. Wow, going from the Battle of the LBH to playing centerfield. Now there is a story you can't make up. Historians have said that while the Battle of the LBH was going on the St.Louis Cardinals were playing a game at that very same time! A collision of the 19th and 20th centuries on June 25, 1876. Believe it or Not!

[alfuso]

Scout

no doubt. Benteen was a baseball fanatic. While at Fort Rice he had teams which he brought up and down the river for inter-garrison games.

Somewhere I have a John Carroll article on it all. And I think Godfrey's diary details a game.

alfuso

[elisabeth]

And Barnitz mentions one at Fort Hays in 1868. (Life in Custer's Cavalry, p. 152.) "Have not been to church, because there was none to attend -- but in lieu of this all the officers, including half a dozen from Fort Dodge, who were here on a visit, participated in a social game of base ball!"