Benjamin Piatt Runkle
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Piatt Runkle, was one of the original seven founders of Sigma Chi
fraternity
at Miami University
, as well as a colonel in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
.
Runkle was born in West Liberty, Ohio
. In Sigma Chi he is remembered most for his pugnaciousness; he threw his DKE
badge on the table in disgust in the pivotal meeting between the founders of Sigma Chi and Whitelaw Reid
. He stood up to Reid and said, "I didn't join this fraternity to be any one's tool. And that, sir, is my answer!" (Years after this heated meeting with Reid, Runkle said that had the situation been explained to him further and had Reid approached the situation in a more respectful way, there probably would have been a more reasonable resolution and, in effect, no Sigma Chi
fraternity.) It is also said that he once was temporarily suspended from school for fighting in chapel with a Beta Theta Pi
brother who publicly sneered at his badge.
After college, Runkle volunteered for a militia
company during the Civil War, which became a part of the 13th Ohio Infantry
. After his initial term of enlistment had expired, he was brevetted
colonel
of the 45th Ohio Infantry
. He was severely wounded in the Battle of Shiloh
, and a glowing obituary was written by Whitelaw Reid, who had seen his wounds at Shiloh. Runkle not only survived but outlived Reid, and in turn praised him in an obituary.
By the time he retired from military service, Runkle was a brevetted colonel
, and it was then that he was ordained as an Episcopal priest
. He was the only founder to become Grand Consul, serving as the seventh from 1895-1897.
He died on the fraternity's sixty-first birthday. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
, Section 1, Grave 240, in Virginia
.
Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi is the largest and one of the oldest college Greek-letter secret and social fraternities in North America with 244 active chapters and more than . Sigma Chi was founded on June 28, 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when members split from Delta Kappa Epsilon...
fraternity
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
at Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
, as well as a colonel 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...
during 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...
.
Runkle was born in West Liberty, Ohio
West Liberty, Ohio
West Liberty is a village in Logan County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,813 at the 2000 census.-Geography:West Liberty is located at ....
. In Sigma Chi he is remembered most for his pugnaciousness; he threw his DKE
Delta Kappa Epsilon
Delta Kappa Epsilon is a fraternity founded at Yale College in 1844 by 15 men of the sophomore class who had not been invited to join the two existing societies...
badge on the table in disgust in the pivotal meeting between the founders of Sigma Chi and Whitelaw Reid
Whitelaw Reid
Whitelaw Reid was a U.S. politician and newspaper editor, as well as the author of a popular history of Ohio in the Civil War.-Early life:...
. He stood up to Reid and said, "I didn't join this fraternity to be any one's tool. And that, sir, is my answer!" (Years after this heated meeting with Reid, Runkle said that had the situation been explained to him further and had Reid approached the situation in a more respectful way, there probably would have been a more reasonable resolution and, in effect, no Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi is the largest and one of the oldest college Greek-letter secret and social fraternities in North America with 244 active chapters and more than . Sigma Chi was founded on June 28, 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when members split from Delta Kappa Epsilon...
fraternity.) It is also said that he once was temporarily suspended from school for fighting in chapel with a Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi , often just called Beta, is a social collegiate fraternity that was founded in 1839 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, USA, where it is part of the Miami Triad which includes Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Chi. It has over 138 active chapters and colonies in the United States and Canada...
brother who publicly sneered at his badge.
After college, Runkle volunteered for a militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
company during the Civil War, which became a part of the 13th Ohio Infantry
13th Ohio Infantry
The 13th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Three-months regiment:...
. After his initial term of enlistment had expired, he was brevetted
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
of the 45th Ohio Infantry
45th Ohio Infantry
The 45th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 45th Ohio Infantry was organized at Camp Chase in Columbus, Ohio August 19, 1862 and mustered in for three years service under the command of Colonel Benjamin Piatt Runkle.The...
. He was severely wounded in the Battle of Shiloh
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, fought April 6–7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee. A Union army under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had moved via the Tennessee River deep into Tennessee and...
, and a glowing obituary was written by Whitelaw Reid, who had seen his wounds at Shiloh. Runkle not only survived but outlived Reid, and in turn praised him in an obituary.
By the time he retired from military service, Runkle was a brevetted colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
, and it was then that he was ordained as an Episcopal priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
. He was the only founder to become Grand Consul, serving as the seventh from 1895-1897.
He died on the fraternity's sixty-first birthday. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
, Section 1, Grave 240, in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.