Benjamin Franklin Scribner

Benjamin Franklin Scribner was born September 20, 1825, in New Albany, Indiana. As a youth, he became a member of the “Spencer Greys,” a group of young men from New Albany known for their superior drill skills and appearance. The group won many competitions and, in 1845, were awarded a gold-mounted sword in Louisville. After the battle of Palo Alto in the Mexican War, the “Greys” offered their services and saw action at Buena Vista. Following the Mexican War, excerpts from Scribner’s journal, Camp Life of a Volunteer, was published. When the Civil War began, Scribner, then a druggist, was authorized by the governor to raise a regiment, the 38th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment. On September 21, 1861, armed, but only partially equipped, his troops joined Rousseau (under Sherman) and saw action at Muldraugh’s Hill and Elizabethtown. Scribner commanded a regiment at Perryville and a brigade through the Tullahoma Campaign and Chickamauga. He was present at Chattanooga and the Battle of Lookout Mountain, where he spent the largest part of the night tending to wounded in the hospital. In July 1864, during the Atlanta campaign, Scribner became ill and resigned August 21, 1864, due to his poor health. He was awarded a brevet August 8, 1864, for meritorious and distinguished services during the war. Following his service, Benjamin Franklin Scribner returned to his business. He served as U. S. Internal Revenue collector and wrote the regimental history, How Soldiers Were Made. He died November 29, 1900, in Louisville, Kentucky and was buried in New Albany, Indiana at Fairview Cemetery.

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