Fairfield-Windham County CT Archives Obituaries.....Greaves, Benjamin L. August 10, 1868

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Stamford Soldiers' Memorial 1869
  BENJAMIN L. GREAVES, a native of Windham, Conn., was living in the family of
the author when the war opened, Enlisting as private into Co. G, 10th Conn., he
soon showed capacity for command, and was rapidly promoted to a captaincy. He
was in thorough sympathy with the aim of the war, and in several engagements
displayed the best qualities of a good captain. The summer of 1863 was
especially trying to his health, and he was obliged to go into hospital on the
first of October. For some thirty days, in the vicinity of Petersburg, Va., his
company had been under fire, often, both day and night, and the exposure and
strain proved too much for his nerves. He resigned, and was honorably discharged
October 25, 1863.

  Returning to New York City, where he had spent a large portion of his earlier
life, he died there of congestion of the brain, August 10, 1868, leaving a wife
to whom he had been married but a few months. His remains were taken to Windham,
and deposited beside those of his father, in the beautiful cemetery of his
native town.

  The following testimony from Rev. H. C. Trumbull, chaplain of the Tenth, is
worthy a place in our record of the captain's service : "Captain Greaves will
ever be remembered by his army comrades, as a brave soldier, possessing fine
qualities of mind, and many attractive traits of personal character. The fact
that he was in command of the company, in the ranks of which he went out from
Stamford, when hardly a year of his enlistment had expired, and that, too, in a
regiment comprising such material as the Tenth, with its bright record for
discipline, hard fighting and thorough efficiency evidenced his superiority in
much that went to make a first-class soldier."

  General J. L. Otis, in referring to captain Greaves' efficiency, while in
command of a skirmish line at Deep Run, Va., Aug. 16, 1864, adds this estimate
of his military character. "His conduct was always commendable in action. He was
one of the kind not likely to get all the credit due to him. He never got
excited under fire, and consequently did not make so much display to attract
attention as others less deserving might. I always considered coolness and
self-possession in action the most valuable characteristics an officer could
possess, and captain Greaves had these in a remarkable degree."

  At the annual re-union of the officers of the Tenth, Sept. 23, 1868, they thus
testify to the military character of the captain:

  "Captain Greaves, enlisting at the organization of the regiment, was soon
promoted from the ranks for his gallantry and his faithfulness in duty. Step by
step he won the command of a company, and. thenceforward in prolonged and
arduous army service, he ever bore himself as a brave, prompt and efficient
soldier. Never flinching in the hour of danger, never failing in the performance
of any task assigned him, he won the confidence of his commanders, and the
respect of those whom he commanded. His record of patriotic services is one in
which those who love him may have just pride, and his early death is sincerely
lamented by many who knew his capabilities of usefulness."


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