CHEATHAM, Benjamin Franklin, soldier, born in Nashville, Tennessee, 20 October, 1820; died there, 4 September, 1886. He served as captain of volunteers in the Mexican war, distinguished himself at Monterey, Medelin, and Cerro Gordo, and, after the expiration of his twelve months' term of service, was again mustered in as colonel of the 3d Tennessee regiment, and served till the end of the war. He was major general of Tennessee militia after his return, and was a farmer until 1861, when he entered the army of the seceded states, being one of the first Tennesseeans to enlist in the Confederate service, and was early appointed a brigadier-general. He commanded at Mayfield, Kentucky, in September, 1861, and at the battles of Belmont and Shiloh, served subsequently at Columbus, Kentucky, was a division commander in Bragg's army when it entered Kentucky in September, 1862, was soon afterward promoted major general, and was engaged at Perryville, Stone River, being wounded and having three horses shot in the second battle, and at Chiekamauga and Chattanooga, Nashville, and other places. President Grant, who was his personal friend, offered him an appointment in the civil service, but he declined. He devoted himself chiefly to agriculture after the war, but served four years as superintendent of state prisons, and in October, 1885, became postmaster of Nashville.