A local history and genealogy department provides materials to assist you in finding out more information about your ancestors. The Library has the McComb Union Cemetery Records available on the computer and is updated yearly.
Congressional Medal of Honor
The Library houses the Congressional Medal of Honor that was awarded to William Bensinger,
who received the honor for his part in the Andrew's Raid, during the Civil War on April
12, 1862. Mr. Bensinger was a native of McComb and is buried in the village cemetery.
The Medal was presented to the library by the daughter of Fred Bensinger, Mary Frances
Bensinger of Fostoria.
Bensinger and a fellow McComb native John Reed Porter, who also is buried in McComb
cemetery, were decorated by Abraham Lincoln's Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton on March
25, 1862 for their part in the 22-man raid behind enemy lines during the war between the
states. Known as the Andrew's Raiders, their mission was to sever enemy lines of
transportation in an important segment of southern territory between Atlanta and
Chattanooga.
The men took over a northbound train, setting bridges afire and cutting telegraph lines as
they went north. Being pursued by the southerners they finally had to abandon the train a
little over half way to Chattanooga. They took to the woods and were eventually captured
by the southerners. Eight of the 22 men were hanged by the Confederacy with the two McComb
soldiers being sent to a southern prison. Porter later escaped, and Bensinger was an
exchange prisoner. Mr. Bensinger died in 1918 and Mr. Porter in 1923.
The Congressional Medal that was first presented to Bensinger plus another medal designed
in subsequent years, and sent to the family is on permanent display at the McComb Library.