Inventory of the Jesse S. Bean Diary, 1864-1867

These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online catalogs.

Biographical Note

Jesse S. Bean of Saint Peter, Minn., served in the 4th Minnesota Infantry Regiment, Company H, during the Civil War.

Collection Overview

The collection consists of Jesse S. Bean's diary, December 1864-August 1865, in which he described his experiences with Sherman's army in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, and while traveling home after the Civil War. Towns through which he passed included Savanah, Ga.; Beaufort, S.C.; Orangeburg, S.C.; Columbia, S.C.; Cheraw, S.C.; Fayetteville, N.C.; Goldsboro, N.C.; Raleigh, N.C.; Petersburg, Va.; Richmond, Va.; Fredericksburg, Va.; and Washington, D.C. His daily entries discuss where Bean was, where he was going, what he passed along the way, details of military life, and observations about surroundings and events. Entries written after the war concern Bean's activities and family life in Saint Peter, Minn.

Detailed Description of the Collection

Pages 1-67: Entries were made almost daily and are from five to fifteen lines each. Bean tells where he was, where he was going, what he passed along the way, what time he started each day, and how far he marched. He noted the letters he wrote home and the letters he received, his attendance at preaching, his drills and work details, weather conditions, and other observations about his surroundings and events taking place. From 20 December 1864 to 23 January 1865, Bean was in camp on the outskirts of Savannah, Ga. He moved by sea to Beaufort, S.C., on 23 January. On 30 January, he began marching and continued almost daily, going to Columbia, S.C., by way of Orangeburg, arriving on 17 February and leaving on the 20th. Bean went through Cheraw on 4 March and entered North Carolina on the 8th. He was in North Carolina most of March and April, going by way of Fayetteville and Goldsboro, and he camped in Raleigh 14-28 April. He received news on 17 April of Johnson's surrender and Lincoln's death. From Raleigh, he marched to Washington, D.C., by way of Petersburg, Richmond (13 May), and Fredericksburg, Va., arriving on 23 May, and remaining until the 31st. He left Washington by train and camped near Louisville, Ky., from 15 June to 20 July. During this time, he was able to get furloughs and passes to visit relatives nearby. Bean was discharged at Fort Snelling, near Saint Paul, Minn., in August 1865 and returned home to Saint Peter, Minn., on the 8th.