Henry Benson (soldier)  Henry Benson (November 20, 1824 – August 11, 1862) was a career United States Army artillery officer who served in the Mexican–American War, Third Seminole War, and American Civil War with the 2nd Regiment of Artillery. He sustained mortal wounds on August 5, 1862 during an engagement at Malvern Hill, and died several days later on August 11 while being transported north aboard the steamer "S.R. Spaulding." Henry Benson was born in Belleville, New Jersey. He enlisted in the United States Army on June 6, 1845. He served in the Mexican-American War, where he was breveted for "good qualities" to the rank of second lieutenant on June 28, 1848, later made permanent January 26, 1849. He commanded a battery of artillery in the field under General Zachary Taylor, and later General Winfield Scott at the siege of Mexico City. He was promoted to first lieutenant on March 2, 1853. In 1854, Lieutenant Benson was posted in Florida (likely since 1849) during the Army's mission to survey the state and build roads, protect settlers, and relocate the indigenous Seminole tribe—all of which contributed to the Third Seminole War (1855-58). He was heavily involved in the Army's surveying efforts, actively scouting road paths in the field, alternately present at Fort Myers, Fort Meade, Fort Thompson, and Fort Center. Arriving at Fort Center in April 1855, Benson noted his surroundings as "more disagreeable, unhealthy and devoid of interest than I had expected….Mosquitos awful. 1,000,000,000 of them….Hot– hot as fire all day." In 1856, Benson was commander of the 2nd Artillery, Battery E. On August 2, 1856, that unit engaged the Seminoles at Punta Rassa, an action which concluded the 2nd Regiment of Artillery's duty in Florida. By the end of the year, all units were transferred back north, headquartered at Fort Hamilton, New York. In 1857, Battery E was sent to Kansas to assist in quelling unrest, headquartered at Fort Leavenworth. In 1860, Battery E was sent to Augusta, Georgia. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Lieutenant Benson was attached to the 2nd Artillery, Battery C, commanded by Brigadier General Lewis G. Arnold, posted at Fort Independence, Massachusetts. In January 1861, Arnold's command was transferred to Fort Jefferson, Florida to aid in the preparation for war following the secession of Florida from the Union.