Francis Bennett enlisted in Company G, 4th Iowa Infantry at Mt. Ayr, Iowa, on July 4, 1861, and mustered into federal service at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, on August 15, 1861. On February 11, 1863 he was promoted to lieutenant. After the war, Bennett applied for an invalid pension, claiming he was wounded in the right knee at the Battle of Bentonville, North Carolina, on March 19-21, 1865, although examining doctors failed to find evidence of any wound.

The 4th Iowa Infantry fought at Pea Ridge, Fort Hindman (Arkansas Post), the Siege of Vicksburg, the Siege of Jackson, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Jonesboro, and Bentonville. The regiment was mustered out of service on July 26, 1865.

Carte-de-Visite by J.H. Emerson, Keokuk, Iowa

Image Courtesy Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield; WICR 31584