Benjamin Bennett Levy was a Private

Private (rank)

A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...

 in the Union Army

Union Army

The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...

 and a Medal of Honor

Medal of Honor

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...

 recipient for his actions in the American Civil War

American Civil War

The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...

. His younger brother Robert Levy also served as a drummer, with the 7th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment

7th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment

The 7th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It is also known as the Steuben Guard or the Steuben Regiment.-Service:...

, during the American Civil War.

After Benjamin's drum was destroyed during a battle, he took the weapon of his ill tent mate, Jacob Turnbull, and joined the battle. Shortly thereafter he saw the color bearer, Charley Mahorn, fall from a bullet wound to the chest, and picked up Mahorn's flag and joined the charge.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Private, Company B, 1st New York Infantry. Place and date: At Glendale, Va., June 30, 1862. Entered service at: ------. Birth: New York, N.Y. Date of issue: March 1, 1865.

Citation:

This soldier, a drummer boy, took the gun of a sick comrade, went into the fight, and when the color bearers were shot down, carried the colors and saved them from capture.

See also

• List of Medal of Honor recipients
• List of Jewish Medal of Honor recipients
• List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: G–L

External links