Lewis Benedict
Quick Facts
Biography
Lewis Benedict (September 2, 1817 – April 9, 1864) was a politician in New York State and later a American Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General.
Career
Before the American Civil War, Benedict was an Albany City attorney and a New York State Assemblyman.
Benedict served during the Civil War as Colonel and commander of the 162nd New York Volunteer Infantry. It was recruited under the auspices of the Metropolitan Police at New York City and was part of the Metropolitan Brigade. He was captured at Williamsburg, Virginia, and spent months in various Confederate prisons.
Benedict led an attack on Port Hudson, Louisiana in 1863, and was killed in action at the April 1864 Battle of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana. On March 13, 1865, he was posthumously brevetted Brigadier General, US Volunteers for "gallant conduct at Port Hudson, Louisiana".