Frank Bean Collection
Perhaps the most interesting items in this collection are the diaries that Sergeant Bean kept between 1862 and 1864. The first, covering December 23, 1862 to December 31, 1863, is concerned primarily with the generally mundane existence of the average Union solder. It speaks of the weather, letters that Bean has received or written, camp life in general, marching, food, and Bean's financial accounts. This diary does, however, also contain snippets relating to the Civil War on a larger scale: for example, it speaks of troop movements (both Union and Confederate), of Bean's experiences in battle, and of Bean's various military duties. Bean's 1864 diary concentrates almost exclusively on battle. Here, we see an abundance of descriptions of Bean's experiences in battle, troop movements (again both Union and Confederate), and notes as to which of Bean's friends have died in various actions. The collection is further enriched by an ambrotype of Bean himself and by Bean's Veteran's Medal.
Dates
- 1861-1864
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Conditions Governing Use
The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
0.33 Linear Feet
Abstract
This collection consists of two diaries, an ambrotype, and a Grand Army of the Republic Veterans' medal relating to Sergeant Frank Bean. Bean, a Sergeant in the Union Army, served in and around Tennessee during the American Civil War.
Biographical/Historical Note
Although Frank Bean's exact date of birth is not known, he was residing in the Santa Anna township (called Mt. Pleasant until June 7, 1859) of DeWitt County, Illinois when he joined Company G of the 107th Illinois Infantry. He mustered in when the unit was formed at Camp Butler, Illinois on September 4, 1862. The 107th Illinois began its service in Kentucky and was stationed in Elizabethtown, Munfordsville, and Glasgow before participating in the pursuit of Confederate Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan (June 18 - July 26, 1863). They were then assigned to General Ambrose Burnside's campaign in East Tennessee (August 16 - October 17, 1863) and to the Knoxville campaign (November 4 - December 23, 1863). They remained in Knoxville until April 1864, when they joined the Atlanta campaign (May 1 - September 8, 1864). They were then active in operations against Confederate General John B. Hood in North Georgia and North Alabama (September 29 - November 3, 1864) and in the Nashville campaign (November - December, 1864). They were stationed in Clifton, Tennessee until January 26, 1865, when they were assigned to the occupation of Wilmington, North Carolina. They participated in the Campaign of the Carolinas (March 1 to April 26, 1865) and remained in Saulsbury, North Carolina after the surrender of Confederate General Edward Alleghany Johnson and his army until mustering out on June 21, 1865.
During its service, the regiment lost 3 officers and 27 enlisted men as a result of battle and 122 enlisted men to disease. Bean himself survived the Civil War and mustered out with the rest of the unit in Salisbury, North Carolina on June 21, 1865.
Arrangement
Collection consists of four folders.
Acquisition Note
The Special Collections Library purchased this collection in August of 2004.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository