Private, Co. H, 2nd Massachusetts Heavy Artillery
The son of Benjamin G.M. and Nancy J. (Hicks) Dyer, who married at Boston, MA on June 9, 1845. Other children born to the marriage included Louisa in 1847 and William H. in 1850. The father worked as a Plasterer.
Standing 5 ft. 8 in. tall, with a light complexion, brown eyes, and brown hair, Benjamin Dyer was an 18 year-old Driver from Boston, MA, when he enlisted on December 5, 1863 and was mustered into service with Co. H of the 2nd Mass. Heavy Artillery on December 9th. His regiment was sent to North Carolina where each company was assigned to garrison forts along the North Carolina coast and waterways, including Company G and H at Plymouth, NC.
On April 17, 1864 more than 10,000 Confederate soldiers under command of Brig. Gen. Robert Hoke besieged Union forces at Forts Gray and Williams in Plymouth, NC. Those forts capitulated after three days, surrendering over 275 men from Company G and Company H of the 2nd Massachusetts Heavy Artillery.
Those taken as prisoners of war at Plymouth were sent to Andersonville in Georgia where they experienced an extraordinary death rate, arguably the highest rate among any Union regiment whose members were held at Andersonville. Benjamin himself became ill with Dysentery and was sent to the prison hospital on July 24, 1864, where he died on August 7, 1864. His burial was in grave 4934.
The son of Benjamin G.M. and Nancy J. (Hicks) Dyer, who married at Boston, MA on June 9, 1845. Other children born to the marriage included Louisa in 1847 and William H. in 1850. The father worked as a Plasterer.
Standing 5 ft. 8 in. tall, with a light complexion, brown eyes, and brown hair, Benjamin Dyer was an 18 year-old Driver from Boston, MA, when he enlisted on December 5, 1863 and was mustered into service with Co. H of the 2nd Mass. Heavy Artillery on December 9th. His regiment was sent to North Carolina where each company was assigned to garrison forts along the North Carolina coast and waterways, including Company G and H at Plymouth, NC.
On April 17, 1864 more than 10,000 Confederate soldiers under command of Brig. Gen. Robert Hoke besieged Union forces at Forts Gray and Williams in Plymouth, NC. Those forts capitulated after three days, surrendering over 275 men from Company G and Company H of the 2nd Massachusetts Heavy Artillery.
Those taken as prisoners of war at Plymouth were sent to Andersonville in Georgia where they experienced an extraordinary death rate, arguably the highest rate among any Union regiment whose members were held at Andersonville. Benjamin himself became ill with Dysentery and was sent to the prison hospital on July 24, 1864, where he died on August 7, 1864. His burial was in grave 4934.
Private, Co. H, 2nd Massachusetts Heavy Artillery
The son of Benjamin G.M. and Nancy J. (Hicks) Dyer, who married at Boston, MA on June 9, 1845. Other children born to the marriage included Louisa in 1847 and William H. in 1850. The father worked as a Plasterer.
Standing 5 ft. 8 in. tall, with a light complexion, brown eyes, and brown hair, Benjamin Dyer was an 18 year-old Driver from Boston, MA, when he enlisted on December 5, 1863 and was mustered into service with Co. H of the 2nd Mass. Heavy Artillery on December 9th. His regiment was sent to North Carolina where each company was assigned to garrison forts along the North Carolina coast and waterways, including Company G and H at Plymouth, NC.
On April 17, 1864 more than 10,000 Confederate soldiers under command of Brig. Gen. Robert Hoke besieged Union forces at Forts Gray and Williams in Plymouth, NC. Those forts capitulated after three days, surrendering over 275 men from Company G and Company H of the 2nd Massachusetts Heavy Artillery.
Those taken as prisoners of war at Plymouth were sent to Andersonville in Georgia where they experienced an extraordinary death rate, arguably the highest rate among any Union regiment whose members were held at Andersonville. Benjamin himself became ill with Dysentery and was sent to the prison hospital on July 24, 1864, where he died on August 7, 1864. His burial was in grave 4934.
The son of Benjamin G.M. and Nancy J. (Hicks) Dyer, who married at Boston, MA on June 9, 1845. Other children born to the marriage included Louisa in 1847 and William H. in 1850. The father worked as a Plasterer.
Standing 5 ft. 8 in. tall, with a light complexion, brown eyes, and brown hair, Benjamin Dyer was an 18 year-old Driver from Boston, MA, when he enlisted on December 5, 1863 and was mustered into service with Co. H of the 2nd Mass. Heavy Artillery on December 9th. His regiment was sent to North Carolina where each company was assigned to garrison forts along the North Carolina coast and waterways, including Company G and H at Plymouth, NC.
On April 17, 1864 more than 10,000 Confederate soldiers under command of Brig. Gen. Robert Hoke besieged Union forces at Forts Gray and Williams in Plymouth, NC. Those forts capitulated after three days, surrendering over 275 men from Company G and Company H of the 2nd Massachusetts Heavy Artillery.
Those taken as prisoners of war at Plymouth were sent to Andersonville in Georgia where they experienced an extraordinary death rate, arguably the highest rate among any Union regiment whose members were held at Andersonville. Benjamin himself became ill with Dysentery and was sent to the prison hospital on July 24, 1864, where he died on August 7, 1864. His burial was in grave 4934.
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