• Full Citation: William C. Benson, "Civil War Diary of William C. Benson," Indiana Magazine of History 23, no. 3 (September 1927): 333-364.
• Home: Gibson County (Princeton)
• Years: 1863-1865
• Regiment: 120th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Co. D
• Abstract: Benson's diary spans January 1, 1864- March 10, 1865. He is involved in brief fighting in Tennessee and Georgia, but is hospitalized and returns briefly home in October. In January, his regiment moves from Kentucky to Washington D.C., where he visits the White House, and then moves to North Carolina in early March. Benson died at the Battle of Kinston, North Carolina, on March 11, 1865. His superior officer completed the last entry in his journal. The journal is followed by letters of Benson's relatives writing about their grief, reflecting on the sacrifice of Benson's death, and the lengthy and painful process of transporting his remains back to Princeton.
• Sample Text:
  1. "Same old command; forward, march! yet we know not where we are going." (May 19, 1864).
  2. "Clear and pleasant. Nothing to do but reflect on the past and think of what we have heard of our present camp in former times, when we were enjoying the pleasures of a quiet home." (Jan. 30, 1865)
  3. "Our poor brother lies now beneath the sod of North Carolina...I sometimes feel reconciled that he is gone as I think he is resting from all the toils and troubles of this most awful war. He sleeps in death and will hear of wars no more. He is now numbered with the Heroic dead, having fought for Liberty, and Union we are Cheered at the thought of his dying in a good cause." [Benson's sister to another sister and brother-in-law, March 26, 1865]
• LC Subject Headings:
  1. United States. Army. Indiana Infantry Regiment, 120th (1864-1866)

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