The Danny Benedict Story

When does it happen?

I believe that the tombstone of a soldier at Fort Stoneman said he was killed on May 28, 1868 and Major Adams said that was a few weeks ago, thus making the episode happen over a few days in June, 1868.

Where does it happen?

The wagon train is heading west, of course, and after they lose a lot of horses they discuss getting more horses at Fort Stoneman, and if they can't get them there the next place will be at Fort Laramie. Obviously Fort Stoneman must be on the Oregon and California trails, east of Fort Laramie, probably over a hundred miles east.

So Fort Stoneman should be a fictional fort along the North Plate River in Nebraska, and probably named after the real life Major General George Stoneman (1822-1894) who was the colonel of the 21st US Infantry from 1866-1882..

"The Danny Benedict Story" was broadcast on 2 December 1959.

Brandon De Wilde (April 9, 1942-1972) was 17 years, 7 months, and 23 years old on 2 December 1959, making Daniel Morgan Benedict III born in 1850 before November.

Onslow Stevens (March 29, 1902-1977) was 57 years, 8 months and 3 days old on 2 December 1959, making Colonel Daniel Morgan Benedict II born before October in 1811.

If Daniel Morgan Benedict I was born 40 years before his son Daniel Morgan Benedcit II he would have been born about 1771 and old enough to be a high ranking officer in the War of 1812.

I am uncertain what relationship there was supposed to be between General Daniel Morgan (1736-1802) and the Benedict family, but he was born 75 years before Colonel Daniel Morgan Benedict II, and thus could have been his grandfather or great grandfather.