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Benjamin Hammet Teague, a prominent member of the United Confederate Veterans' Association, was born in Aiken, S. C., October 20, 1846. His youth was spent in the city of Charleston, and his education was directed by such well-known teachers as B. R. Carroll and Dr. Henry Bruns.

When the guns at the entrance of Charleston harbor opened upon the Star of the West and Fort Sumter, thus commencing the drama of the Confederate War, he burned to volunteer, but parental authority consented only to his becoming a member of the then only boy company of volunteers in the State, the Pickens Rifles, made up of the older pupils of his school. These did valuable camp and guard duty about the city of Charleston. When seventeen years of age, he promptly obeyed the call of his country and joined Company B, Hampton's Legion, South Carolina Volunteers, Gary's Cavalry Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia, and served the Confederacy gallantly until the surrender at Appomattox. During the last few months of the war his health broke down from improper food, but he refused to go to a hospital and did his duty to the end. He prided himself that during his time of service he never missed an engagement with the enemy and was never wounded nor captured.

At the inception of the organization of the United Confederate Veterans he organized Camp Bernard E. Bull, No. 84, at Aiken, S. C., the first camp of continuous existence in the State. He represented his State on the two standing Committees of the U. C. V. Association, the Jefferson Davis Monumental Committee, and the Board of Trustees of the Confederate Memorial Association. He was elected Brigadier General, Commander of the 2d Brigade of the South Carolina Division, U. C. V., and later Major General Commanding the Division.

General Teague was a member of the dental profession and resided and practiced in Aiken, S. C., for forty-eight years.

In 1874 he married Miss Julia Parker, of Edgefield, S. C., who survives him with two daughters.

He was a faithful member of St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church and served for many years as a warden. It was while attending service at his beloved church on February 27, that he received his call to go up higher, and he went from God's earthly tabernacle to a heavenly one. The funeral services were conducted from St. Thaddeus Church, and his body rested for the last night on earth within its sacred walls rested for the last night on earth within its sacred walls under guard of the American Legion, and early the next morning was taken to Charleston, where he was laid to rest in his family lot in historic Magnilia Cemetery. His body was conducted to the grave by an escort of cadets from the Citadel, and while the bugler souded the solemn requiem of "Taps," the color bearer held the Confederate flag over the grave as his body was lowered to its last resting place.

"Now the laborer's task is ended,

Now the battle is past,

Now upon the farther shore,

Lands the voyager at last,

Father, in thy gracious keeping

Leave me now thy servant sleeping."