Benjamin H. Child
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox military person
|name = Benjamin H. Child
|image =
|birth_date = {{birth date|1843|05|08}}
|death_date = {{death date and age|1902|05|16|1843|05|08}}
|birth_place = Providence, Rhode Island
|death_place =
|placeofburial = Swan Point Cemetery
|allegiance ={{flag|United States of America|1861}}
|branch ={{army|USA}}
|serviceyears = 1861 - 1865
|rank = Second Lieutenant
|unit = {{Flagicon|Rhode Island}} Battery A, 1st Regiment Rhode Island Volunteer Light Artillery
|battles = Battle of Antietam
|awards = {{Flagicon image|Medal of Honor ribbon.svg}} Medal of Honor
}}
Benjamin Ham Child (May 8, 1843 – May 16, 1902) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Child received the United States' highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action during the Battle of Antietam in Maryland on 17 September 1862. He was honored with the award on July 20, 1897.{{Cite web |url=http://www.history.army.mil/moh/civilwar_af.html |title=Civil War (A-L) Medal of Honor Recipients |accessdate=22 October 2013 |archive-date=June 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629125947/https://history.army.mil/moh/civilwar_af.html |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/259 |title=Benjamin Ham Child |access-date=22 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029201438/http://projects.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=259 |archive-date=2013-10-29 |url-status=live }}
Biography
Child was born in Providence, Rhode Island, on May 8, 1843. He joined the 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery in June 1861. After his Medal of Honor action, he was promoted to Sergeant, and wounded in the Battle of Gettysburg. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in August 1863, and was discharged by special order from General George Meade after serving a total of 43 months.[http://antietam.aotw.org/officers.php?officer_id=987 Antietam on the Web]
In 1868, Child joined the Providence Police Department, and he was appointed as Chief of Police in 1881. He died on May 16, 1902, and his remains are interred at Swan Point Cemetery in Providence, Rhode Island.{{cite web|title=Notable Persons Interred at Swan Point Cemetery|url=http://swanpointcemetery.com/notable-people.php|website=Swan Point Cemetery|publisher=Swan Point Cemetery|accessdate=23 January 2016|archive-date=January 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122114735/http://swanpointcemetery.com/notable-people.php|url-status=dead}}
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Corporal, Battery A, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery. Place and date: At Antietam, Maryland, September 17, 1862. Date of issue: July 20, 1897.
Citation:
{{quotation|Was wounded and taken to the rear insensible, but when partially recovered insisted on returning to the battery and resumed command of his piece, so remaining until the close of the battle.}}
See also
{{Portal|Biography|American Civil War}}