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Civil War Soldiers - Prentiss
| Prentiss, Benjamin M., major-general,
U.S. Army, was born in Belleville, Va., Nov. 23, 1819. He removed to
Missouri in 1835 and to Quincy, Ill., in 1841, and in 1844 was 1st
lieutenant in the Quincy rifles, organized to drive the Mormons out of
Hancock, Ill. He was captain and adjutant in the 1st Ill. volunteers
during the Mexican war, receiving honorable mention at Buena Vista,
and after returning to Quincy engaged as a commission merchant. He was
the unsuccessful candidate for Congress from his district in 1860, and
at the beginning of the Civil war reorganized his old company and
became colonel of the 10th Ill. volunteers, April 29, 1861. He was
commissioned brigadier-general of volunteers on May 17; commanded
Cairo for three months ; led the expedition that raided southern
Missouri from Pilot Knob, and on Dec. 28, routed the Confederate force
at Mt. Zion, Mo. He joined Grant at Pittsburg landing three days
before the battle of Shiloh, and during the first day's fight was
captured with most of his command while valiantly holding his
position. He was released in Oct., 1862, was promoted major-general of
volunteers on Nov. 29, and served on the court-martial of Fitz-John
Porter. He subsequently commanded Helena, Ark., in 1863, and repulsed
the attack of the Confederate forces under Gens. Price and Holmes
there on July 4. Gen. Prentiss resigned his commission, Oct. 28, 1863,
and subsequently practiced law in Bethany, Mo. He died there, Feb. 8,
1901. Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
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