Benjamin Henry Grierson (1826 - 1911)

Born 8 Jul 1826 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States

Husband of Alice (Kirk) Grierson — married 21 Sep 1854 in Youngstown, Mahoniing County, Ohio

Died 31 Aug 1911 at age 85 in Omena, Leelanau, Michigan, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Norman Jones [send private message]

Biography

Benjamin Grierson is Notable.

He was a cavalry general in the volunteer Union Army during the Civil War and later led troops in the American Old West.

He is most noted for an 1863 expedition through Confederate-held territory that severed enemy communication lines between Vicksburg, Mississippi and Confederate commanders in the Eastern Theater.

Postbellum service in the West " Major General Benjamin Henry Grierson decided to remain in the Regular Army after the war and received the rank of colonel. His lack of West Point credentials made him suspect to many fellow officers. He organized the 10th U.S. Cavalry, one of two mounted regiments composed of black enlisted men and white officers, called the Buffalo Soldiers. This assignment also made him unpopular with other officers, including his superior, General Philip Henry Sheridan, because of his support for and trust in his troops. His sympathy and courtesy to Native American tribes also led to questions about his judgment."

"Born July 8, 1826

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Died August 31, 1911 (aged 85)

Omena, Michigan

Place of burial Jacksonville East Cemetery,

Morgan County, Illinois

Allegiance United States of America

Union

Service/branch United States Army

Union Army

Years of service 1861–1890

Rank Union Army brigadier general rank insignia.svg Brigadier General

Union Army major general rank insignia.svg Brevet Major General

Commands held

6th Illinois Cavalry

10th U.S. Cavalry

Department of Arizona

Battles/wars American Civil War

Indian Wars"

Military

Grierson's Raid [1] was a Union cavalry raid during the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. It ran from April 17 to May 2, 1863, as a diversion from Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's main attack plan on Vicksburg, Mississippi.[1][2] (wikipedia.com

"The raid" "Grierson and his 1,700 horse troopers, some in Confederate uniforms serving as scouts for the main force, rode over six hundred miles through hostile territory (from southern Tennessee, through the state of Mississippi and into Union-held Baton Rouge, Louisiana), over routes no Union soldier had traveled before. They tore up railroads and burned crossties, freed slaves, burned Confederate storehouses, destroyed locomotives and commissary stores, ripped up bridges and trestles, burned buildings, and inflicted ten times the casualties they received, all while detachments of his troops made feints confusing the Confederates as to his actual whereabouts, intent and direction. Total casualties for Grierson's Brigade during the raid were three killed, seven wounded, and nine missing. Five sick and wounded men were left behind along the route, too ill to continue."

(There is a Harper's Weekly Magazine sketch of him leading his 6th Illinois, and my g-grampa 2nd Lt Russel PUNTENNEY was with the 33rd Illinois who was also on that Vicksburg MARCH)

Military Fort Commands

"Fort Concho is a National Historic Landmark owned and operated since 1935 by the city of San Angelo, the seat of Tom Green County in West Texas.[3] Situated on the North Concho River, near its confluence with the South and Middle Concho Rivers, the site selected for Fort Concho was strategic to the stabilization of the region, because of the location of no fewer than five major trails in the vicinity. Though the fort was surrounded by miles of flat, treeless prairie, it was considered to be “one of the most beautiful and best ordered posts in Texas."[4] Commanding officers

Among the infantry and cavalry officers who commanded Fort Concho were Colonels Ranald Slidell Mackenzie of New York, William R. Shafter of Michigan, Benjamin H. Grierson of Illinois, John Porter Hatch of New York, and Wesley Merritt. Under Grierson, African American troops were at the fort, as well, which became known as the headquarters of the buffalo soldiers, the black troops of the 10th Cavalry.[8] One of the buffalo soldiers, George B. Jackson, later became a businessman, rancher, and politician in San Angelo.[9]

Colonel Grierson commanded the 10th Cavalry, and "Fort Concho served as regimental headquarters for the Tenth United States Cavalry, known as the Buffalo Soldiers, from 1875 until 1882."[10] Grierson, regimental commander of the 10th Cavalry, faced a personal tragedy at Fort Concho when his daughter Edith, about 12 years of age, died in the upstairs bedroom of one of the houses at the fort. The child was particularly fond of playing jacks.[4]" (wikipedia.com)

"History of Fort Sill, was staked out on 8 January 1869 (factual evidence of actual date needed), by Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan, who led a campaign into Indian Territory to stop hostile tribes from raiding border settlements in Texas and Kansas.

Sheridan's massive winter campaign involved six cavalry regiments accompanied by frontier scouts such as Buffalo Bill Cody, Wild Bill Hickok, Ben Clark and Jack Stilwell. Troops camped at the location of the new fort included the 7th Cavalry, the 19th Kansas Volunteers and the 10th Cavalry, a distinguished group of black "buffalo soldiers" who constructed many of the stone buildings still surrounding the old post quadrangle.

At first, the garrison was called "Camp Wichita" and was referred to by the Indians as "the Soldier House at Medicine Bluffs." Sheridan later named it in honor of his West Point classmate and friend, Brigadier General Joshua W. Sill, who was killed during the American Civil War.

The first post commander was Brevet Maj. Gen. Benjamin Grierson and the first Indian agent was Colonel Albert Gallatin Boone, grandson of Daniel Boone.

Other forts in the frontier fort system were Forts Griffin, Concho, Belknap, Chadbourne, Fort Stockton, Fort Davis, Fort Bliss, McKavett, Clark, Fort McIntosh, Fort Inge, Phantom Hill, and Richardson in Texas.[4] There were "sub posts or intermediate stations" including Bothwick's Station on Salt Creek between Fort Richardson and Fort Belknap, Camp Wichita near Buffalo Springs between Fort Richardson and Red River Station, and Mountain Pass between Fort Concho and Fort Griffin.[5] "

Family Biography

Born to Robert Grierson, born in Amblin Ireland and mother was Mary Sheppard born in Dublin Ireland.

1850 Youngstown, Mahoning, Ohio

Boarding House???

Age 25

Birth Year (Estimated) 1825

Birthplace Pennsylvania

House Number 1577

Alexander Mckinney M 50 Pennsylvania

Nancy Mckinney F 46 Pennsylvania

Isabella Fusselman F 20 Ohio

Jared F Mckinney M 5 Ohio

'James Greer M 26 Ohio M.E. Minister

Benjamin Grierson M 25 Pennsylvania MUSICIAN

Edward Howard M 24 Ohio

Wm Travis M 25 Ohio

Alexander Travis M 21 Ohio

Samuel Wallace M 22 Pennsylvania

Cynthia Stewart F 19 Ohio

Wm Dickinson M 50 Pennsylvania

A Greer living in the same Boarding house as the GRIERSON

Citing this Record

Marriage

"Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,"

Name Benjamin Grierson

Event Date 21 Sep 1854

Event Place Mahoning, Ohio

Spouse's Name Alice Kirk

Citing this Record

NOTE: Apparently there was NO CENSUS taken on military POSTs

as Gen Benjamin Henry Grierson was a life long SOLDIER and his wife and kids lived on the posts.

1860-61 they lived in Ohio, their son Robert K was born.

02 Oct 1867 they lived in Ohio where their next child was born, Benjamin JR..

09 Aug 1869 they had moved out in the Indian Territory where their next child was born at Fort Sill, Indian Territory.

09 Sep 1878 They lived at Fort Concho, Texas, where their 13 year old daughter died and was buried

1887 Brewster, Texas

B.H. Grierson purchased and paid TAXES

until 1910.........

"Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910",

Name B H Grierson

Event Type Tax Assessment

Event Year 1888

County Brewster County

Citing this Record

This is Jr.

1900 Justice Precinct 1, Jeff Davis, Texas,

Name Benjamin H Grierson

Age 33

Marital Status Single lives alone

Occupation: Stock Raiser

Relationship to Head of Household Head

Birth Date Oct 1867

Birthplace Kansas

Father's Birthplace Pennsylvania -Mother's Birthplace Ohio

Citing this Record

Children

Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths

Name Robert K. Grierson

Event Date 25 Jun 1922

Event Place Jacksonville, Morgan, Illinois

Age 61

Birth Year (Estimated) 1861

Father's Name Gen. Benjamin H Grierson

Mother's Name Allice Kirk

Citing this Record

Texas Deaths

Name Benjamin H Grierson

Event Date 13 Jul 1934

Event Place El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States

Marital Status Divorced

Birth Date 02 Oct 1867

Birthplace , Ohio

Father's Name Benjamin H Grierson

Mother's Name Alice Kirk

Certificate Number 31865

Citing this Record

Texas Deaths

Name George Mcgregor Grierson

Event Type Death

Event Date 23 Nov 1950

Event Place Alpine, Brewster, Texas, United States

Marital Status Single

Birth Date 09 Aug 1869

Birthplace Fort Sill, Indian Territory

Father's Name Benjamin Henry Grierson

Mother's Name Alice Kirk

Certificate Number 51787

Citing this Record

Sources

• A COPY of HIS Death Certificate is att'd to Alice's f-a-g memorial

• Grierson House

• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MX33-T36 : 9 November 2014), Benjamin Grierson in household of Alexander Mckinney, Youngstown, Mahoning, Ohio, United States; citing family 1585, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

• "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XZL4-PWL : 8 December 2014), Benjamin Grierson and Alice Kirk, 21 Sep 1854; citing Mahoning, Ohio, United States, reference P 121; county courthouses, Ohio; FHL microfilm 907,321.

• "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VB9S-Y15 : 1 January 2015), B H Grierson, 1888.

• "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NQR1-55B : 27 December 2014), Gen. Benjamin H Grierson in entry for Robert K. Grierson, 25 Jun 1922; Public Board of Health, Archives, Springfield; FHL microfilm 1,556,732.

• "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3CV-3ZH : 5 December 2014), Benjamin Henry Grierson in entry for George Mcgregor Grierson, 23 Nov 1950; citing certificate number 51787, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,074,548.

• "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3P9-YQT : 22 January 2015), Benjamin H Grierson, Justice Precinct 1, Jeff Davis, Texas, United States; citing sheet 9B, family 206, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,241,648.

• "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K34L-VK4 : 5 December 2014), Benjamin H Grierson in entry for Benjamin H Grierson, 13 Jul 1934; citing certificate number 31865, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,116,193.

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6532984/benjamin-henry-grierson: accessed 21 November 2023), memorial page for Benjamin Henry Grierson (8 Jul 1826–31 Aug 1911), Find a Grave Memorial ID 6532984, citing Jacksonville East Cemetery, Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.

• Photo: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/cph.3g07991/?co=cwp

See also:

• Wikipedia: Benjamin Grierson
• Wikidata: Item Q4888732