"Home of the Infantry"

Major General Henry Lewis Benning, CSA, for whom Fort Benning was named, saw careers as a soldier, attorney, politician, and Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court.  A native Georgian, Benning's career began in Columbus in 1835 when he set up residence and began practicing law.  At the age of 39, two years after his unsuccessful campaign for Congress, he was elected associate justice of the Georgia Supreme Court.  He was the youngest man to hold that office.

Benning was a staunch advocate of States Rights and took a prominent part in the conventions concerning secession prior to the War Between the States.

With the start of the War Between the States, Benning recruited men to form the 17th Regiment of Georgia Volunteers.  During the first year and a half of the war, he fought with General Robert E. Lee, and attained the rank of major general.  Because of his coolness in battle, he became known to his troops as "Old Rock."

After the war, Benning returned to his law practice in Columbus.  He died in 1875 at the age of 61.