Bethuel M. Reed, 7th Connecticut Infantry, Civil War Diary

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Treasures of the Civil War: Premier Auction

By Cowan's Auctions

Oct 31, 2018

Set Reminder 2018-10-31 10:00:00 2018-10-31 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Treasures of the Civil War: Premier Auction https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/cowans/treasures-of-the-civil-war-premier-auction-3522
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• Lot Description
  Bethuel M. Reed, 7th Connecticut Infantry, Civil War Diary
  
  

  Pocket notebook/diary, approx. 4 x 6.5 in., full leather. Owner's ID on ffep, " Bethuel M. Reed, Co. B 7th Regt. C.V. Hilton Head, SC Jan. 1st, 1863 ."
  
  Bethuel (also spelled Bethewel) Montague Reed (1841-1916) was a resident of Somers, CT. He enlisted in September 1861 in the 7th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry after the first call for three-year units. Their first colonel was Alfred Terry, with Joseph Hawley as lieutenant colonel. Terry was promoted to brigadier general in April 1862 (leaving service as major general). Hawley was promoted to colonel a couple months later, achieving the rank of brigadier general himself in 1864. Many of these men had served in a three-month unit prior to enlisting in the 7th. Between their earlier experience and experienced leadership of Terry and Hawley, the 7th was ready for the field in a very short time after mustering in.
  
  They were sent to Fortress Monroe in October, but heavy storms wrecked some of the transports and scattered the remainder. They arrived in Port Royal, SC about the 4th of November. After capturing Forts Walker and Beauregard, the flag of the 7th CT was the first to fly over southern soil since the secession of South Carolina. The unit then set to work on the fortification of Hilton Head, then moved to Tybee Island.
  
  This diary begins in January 1863 with the unit back at Hilton Head. Through the winter they seem to "island hop," going to Fernandina, FL (Amelia Island) in mid-January. By July, they were on Morris Island, engaged in the Second Battle of Fort Wagner (featured in the movie " Glory "). July 20-21: " They have been bombarding fort Wagner all day and night the gunboats fired some in the day time...they have been bombarding the battery the monitors have been firing most of the forenoon... " Sporadic firing continues right into September.

  Some companies go to Folly Island, Sullivan's Island, St. Helena, Seabrook, and back. They frequently return to Hilton Head and Jacksonville. In December they receive new rifles, later (April) new cartridge boxes and other accoutrements. These require target practice on a number of days. Occasionally there are periods in which Reed used ink that faded (or watered down what he had to make it last?). Most can be read, but with some difficulty. The longest period is December 16, 1863 - January 13, 1864, which is difficult, but not much is happening. January is mostly drilling and training the new recruits. Those who veteranized are gone on their furlough.

  In early February they are on the move again, and the veterans have returned. February 20: " We get marching orders went toards [sic] lake City We meet the enemy about noon drove their picketts in and opened the engagement with their main force we fought 4 hours and ware [were] obliged to fall back we marchd [sic] to Barbers Bridge we got thare [there] about 2 oclock in the night and stayed thare the rest of the night... " [Feb. 21] We started from Barbers Bridge in the morning and marched to Baldwin we stayed thare the rest of the night. We were rear guard. "
  
  In mid-April they packed up the sick and wounded and boarded ships (again). They headed toward Yorktown arriving on the 18th. April 29 they went out hunting for deserters, finding 27. May 4 they board ships and the next day leave Yorktown for Fortress Monroe. From about the 9th on, they encounter skirmishes. They move up the James River, but their specific location is a bit vague; he only notes they " camped in the woods ." By the 16th they have moved to the front and firing continues through the 21, the big guns open up again May 30-June 1, and on June 8 they cross the Appomattox River. Fighting on some level continues right through June (Bermuda Hundred).
  
  They encounter battles again in mid-August (Deep Bottom, Deep Run) before receiving orders to go to Petersburg (August 24). On September 3, they were ordered to witness the hanging of John Rowley before going into the rifle pits of Petersburg. On the 10th, a man in the 6th CVI had his head shaved and was drummed out of the camp. Two days later his term of service had expired and he was mustered out. He describes a number of " feeds " put on for the men in New York and surrounding area.
  
  The remainder of the diary, up to the end of 1866, concerns his civilian life - threshing, winnowing, purchasing bushels of apples, etc. Bethuel Reed married a woman named Etta and began building a family. In the 1880 census they had four daughters between the ages of 7 and 1. Reed died in Connecticut on the 3rd of September 1916, at the age of 75.

  Condition

  Covers separated and some signatures starting to come loose. All parts are present. Scattered foxing and staining, but not unexpected for a notebook used every day for four years.
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