Benjamin Baxter

Benjamin Baxter

Benjamin Baxter (Plymouth Pilgrims) was a survivor of Andersonville Prison. He first enlisted as a weaver from Amesbury, Massachusetts into Company E, 14th Massachusetts Regiment Heavy Artillery, which was later changed to Company E., 1st Massachusetts Regiment Heavy Artillery. He was medically discharged March 21, 1863 and reenlisted from Webster, Massachusetts, December 3, 1863, into Company G, 2nd Massachusetts Regiment Heavy Artillery. During the April 17-20, 1864 Battle of Plymouth, North Carolina he was captured and sent to Andersonville Prison.

He was quoted in Warren Lee Goss's book, A Soldier's Story of his Captivity. The book also says they thought he died on his way home, which fits into our family history that says it took him two months to get home and he weighed 97 pounds. He died May 9, 1885, in Hancock, Stevens County, Minnesota. Photograph submitted by great great granddaughter, Linda Currie.

Benjamin Baxter