| Joseph Bennett Plummer | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 15, 1816 Barre, Massachusetts |
| Died | August 9, 1862 (aged 45) Corinth, Mississippi |
| Place of burial | Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia |
| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Service/branch | United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1841 - 1862 |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Joseph Bennett Plummer (November 15, 1816[1] – August 9, 1862) was a career soldier in the United States Army, serving as a general during the American Civil War.
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Plummer was born in Barre, Massachusetts, and educated in the common schools. He taught school for several years. In 1841, he received an appointment to the United States Military Academy. He received a brevet rank of second lieutenant in the 1st U.S. Infantry and served on garrison duty. He missed the first year of the Mexican-American War due to sickness. Plummer did quartermaster duty on the Texas frontier from 1848 until 1861. In 1852, he was promoted to a captaincy in the 1st U.S. Infantry. He married Frances Hagner; they had a son, Satterlee Clark Plummer, who later also became an officer in the U.S. Army after graduating from West Point in 1865.
Plummer was commissioned as the colonel of the llth Missouri Volunteers in September 1861 and assigned command of the post at Cape Girardeau, Missouri, a position he filled until March 1862. Then, he was appointed as a brigadier general, U.S. Volunteers. In April 1862, Plummer was promoted to major of the 8th U.S. Infantry in the Regular Army. He was wounded at the Battle of Wilson's Creek while commanding a battalion of Regulars.
Later, he commanded the 5th Division of Pope's army at New Madrid and the Island Number Ten campaign. He subsequently commanded a brigade of Stanley's division at Corinth and died in camp at Corinth on August 9, 1862 (exactly one year after Wilson's Creek) from lingering effects of his wounds and prolonged exposure in the field.
He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.