At the age of 18, Ben enlisted in Company E, 45th Illinois Infantry Regiment. His unit saw action in Ft Donelson, Shiloh, Siege of Corinth, Operations against Vicksburg [Central Mississippi Campaign, Port Gibson, Raymond, Jackson, Champion's Hill, Big Black River, Siege of Vicksburg], Meridian Campaign, Atlanta Campaign [Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Jonesborough], March to the Sea, and the Campaign of the Carolinas [Bentonville].
Benjamin was severely wounded in the head during the Siege of Vicksburg. In a letter to his girlfriend and soon to be wife Mary, Ben wrote, "I sit down to inform you that I am still a living and am in tolerable good health. I am as well as I ever was. But I can tell you that the wretches has hit me at last, but not dangerous. They hit me on the top of the head it made a gash about as long as my finger. I do not want you to fret yourself about me being wounded, for you know that I can take care of myself as long as anyone out there can."

Benjamin served his country with honor for nearly 4 years and was mustered out on July 12, 1865 at Louisville Kentucky.

After the war, Ben returned home to Illinois and with his wife Mary, raised 3 daughters on their farm in Woodland Township. Benjamin Sisler, widower and retired farmer, died on Christmas Eve at the age of 85.

Submitted by: Brad