Benjamin Levy - Biography

Benjamin Bennett Levy (22 February 1845 - 20 July 1921) was a Private in the Union Army and a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in the American Civil War. His younger brother Robert Levy also served as a drummer, with the 7th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, 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