The Men of Randolph-Macon College and the Civil War

In 1861, talk of secession transformed into armed conflict. Many of the men educated at Randolph-Macon College in the preceding 29 years immediately responded to the calls of their state militias to serve, while others later enlisted or were conscripted into the Confederate or Union armies. Others served in public office, or were ultimately drawn into the conflict in the last days in reserve units in local defense. These are their stories.

Friday, October 28, 2011

Benjamin W. Arnold, Class of 1860 (A.M.)

Benjamin W. Arnold was the older brother of Peterson H. Arnold and a son of Methodist minister Hartwell Arnold. He enlisted on May 12, 1861, as a private in Co. E of the 14th VA Infantry. Arnold was promoted to Adjutant on September 10, 1863 and to 1st Lieutenant on December 14, 1863. His record indicates a numebr of absences due to illness in 1862 and 1863. he was wounded at Drewry's Bluff, VA, on May 16, 1864 and returned to his unit a month later. He was taken Prisoner of War at Sailor's Creek, VA, on April 6, 1865 and sent to Old Capitol Prison in Washington. He was transferred to Johnson's Island, OH, on April 17, 1865 where he remianed for two months until his release on June 17, 1865. he died in 1920 in and is buried in Walnut Grove Union Church Cemetary in Bedford, County, VA, where his tombstone indicates his final rank was major.