NAMESAKES

Privates Bennitt and Duke, local volunteers, were among the over 40,000 Tarheels who did not survive the war. Both men died in the service of their state and each left behind a grieving family. Our SCV camp is proud to perpetuate their memories in the community by carrying the Bennitt-Duke name.

Lorenzo L. Bennitt, aged twenty-six, joined Company G (Orange Guards), 27th NC Infantry, on May 12, 1862. Camp illness struck some weeks later, resulting in his transfer to the military hospital in Winchester, Virginia. Bennitt died of pneumonia on October 21, 1862 and was buried in the Stonewall Cemetery which lies within the Mount Hebron Cemetery in Winchester, Virginia.

Interestingly enough, his father's farm was to become the site of Johnston's surrender to Sherman on April 26, 1865. The Bennett Place (as it is now spelled) has thus been preserved as an important North Carolina Historic Site and is open to the public.

As can been seen from the photo of Lorenzo's original headstone, his name was inscribed as L.L. Burnett. (Photo courtesy of Camp member Doug Nash)

The photos below are of his new headstone which was installed in July 2006. The event which took place at Lorenzo's father's residence has been inscribed on the reverse of the headstone by Steve Sprenkle of the Martinsburg Granite Company in Martinsburg, West Virginia. Mr. Sprenkle also installed the headstone. (Photos courtesy of Steve Sprenkle)

Robert F. Duke, aged thirty-eight, enlisted in Company E, 46th NC Infantry, on March 2, 1863. He was Lorenzo Bennitt's brother-in-law and a member of the Duke family for whom the university would be named. Robert became quite ill early in 1864 and lingered in a Lynchburg, Virginia infirmary until released by death on August 8th of that year. Robert was buried in the Confederate Cemetery which lies within the old Lynchburg City Cemetery in Lynchburg, Virginia.

His original headstone had only his initials and an abbreviation of his company and regiment. John Nash ordered the bronze niche from the VA, had it attached to a granite base, and delivered it to the cemetery for installation. Bill Duke, 2nd great grandson of Robert, paid for the marble base and the installation in the cemetery. The headstone was installed by the Southern Memorial Association which cares for the Confederate Cemetery.

(Photos courtesy of John and Doug Nash)