Benjamin Franklin Graves (soldier)

Benjamin Franklin Graves (1841-1916) was an American soldier who served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He is primarily known for receiving the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of the Crater in Petersburg, Virginia, on July 30, 1864.

Graves was born in Lockport, New York. He enlisted in the 27th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. During the Battle of the Crater, he distinguished himself by voluntarily crossing Confederate lines to assist in rescuing wounded comrades who were trapped in the crater. His courageous actions under heavy fire earned him the nation's highest military honor.

His Medal of Honor citation reads: "Gallantly volunteered to bring off wounded from in front of the Crater under a heavy fire."

After the war, Graves lived a relatively quiet life. He died in 1916 and is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, New York. His legacy is preserved through his Medal of Honor and the recognition of his bravery in one of the most devastating battles of the Civil War.