Paul W. Bean, UMaine Class of '35, spent many years collecting and transcribing materials related to the Civil War, a collection that grew to nearly 700 books, maps, diaries and letters donated to the University of Maine in 1972.
As a part of an internship program, Edward Andrew Kobylarz, a Graduate Student in History at the University of Maine, selected materials to be included in this digital collection, digitized, and transcribed them. A wide variety of themes emerged during that process, including Civil War era perspectives on the environment, politics and political movements, views from the home front in Maine, and post-war reflections in documents written many years after the war. Andrew's introduction to the digital collection and the methods used during the project have been included within a document below.
For more information about the Paul W. Bean Civil War collection, please contact the University of Maine Special Collections Department, Raymond H. Fogler Library, at 207.586.1686 or um.library.spc @ maine.edu. An inventory of the complete collection can also be found online at http://www.library.umaine.edu/speccoll/FindingAids/Bean.htm.
-
Letter from Wyatt Turner to Almore, September 10, 1863
Wyatt Turner
Letter from Wyatt Turner to Almore, September 10, 1863. In it he urges Almore to head to Harrison to vote in the Statewide elections, stressed as the most important in the history of the state.
Taken from the Paul W. Bean Collection, Box no. 279, f.44
-
Letter from Unknown to Frank L. Lemont, November 1, 1863
Unknown
Letter from Unknown to Frank L. Lemont. In it the writer (most likely one of Frank's sisters) relates the state of the family and laments any wrongdoings or insults given in the previous letter.
Taken from the Paul W. Bean Collection, Box no. 277, f.8
-
Letter from Charles Warner to his Mother Mrs. Almon Warner, August 20, 1863
Charles Warner
Letter from Charles Warner to his mother Mrs. Almon Warner, August 20, 1863. In it he discusses life in camp at Kelly's ford and the general nature of army culture. He also makes a direct reference to the part of army culture engaged in gambling as a means of passing time, along with the delicate subject of court martial and execution.
Taken from the Paul W. Bean Collection, Box no. 277, f.9
-
Letter from Charles Warner to his mother Mrs. Almon Warner, August 23, 1863
Charles Warner
Letter from Charles Warner to his mother Mrs. Almon Warner, August 23, 1863. In it he waxes philosophical about the nature around him and how the nights often remind him of New England, thus turning his thoughts back to home. He also asks her about potentially being introduced to some young lady upon his return. Turning from pleasantries he intimates that officers in his unit have made arrangements to level charges against their commanding officer (Col. Price) for a host of reasons ranging from insubordination to harshness of command.
Taken from the Paul W. Bean Collection, Box no. 277, f.9
-
Letter from Charles Warner to his mother Mrs. Almon Warner, August 28, 1863
Charles Warner
Letter from Charles Warner to his mother Mrs. Almon Warner, August 28, 1863. In this partial letter to his mother, he tells her a bit of his troubles with his superiors because of sleeping through roll call due to late guard duty. Through the rest of the letter he turns to the poor food offered by the regimental sutlers and the state of his finances since he was last paid.
Taken from the Paul W. Bean Collection, Box no. 277, f.9
-
Letter from Charles Warner to his mother Mrs. Almon Warner, September 3, 1863
Charles Warner
Letter from Charles Warner to his mother Mrs. Almon Warner, September 3, 1863. In it he tells her of the latest developments in camp, namely charges leveled against officers and the latest scuttlebutt among the men. As with some of the other letters he also speaks of the state of food in the army and that soon there will be an officer's mess provided by one of the sutlers, and that in future letters he did not need any more reading material for both lack of time and the fact that he already possessed enough to keep him busy with what little he did.
Taken from the Paul W. Bean Collection, Box no. 277, f.9
-
Letter from Charles Warner to his Mother Mrs. Almon Warner, September 6, 1863
Charles Warner
Letter from Charles Warner to his mother Mrs. Almon Warner, September 6, 1863. In it he speaks of his practice writing as many letters as possible though apologetic if he had missed sending a note or two back home, and his prospects in the army barring his failure to get a promotion. He also makes note of the practice of dress parade and his negative disposition towards the activity, and that he made a habit out of skipping drill entirely at times.
Taken from the Paul W. Bean Collection, Box no. 277, f.9
-
Letter from Viola Adams to John L. Ham, October 14, (1862?)
Viola Adams
Letter from Viola Adams to John L. Ham, October 14, (1862?). In it she scolds Ham for not writing a longer letter and briefs him on the latest events at home, including her schooling. She inquires as to his opinion on army life and requests he write her a longer response, lest he be subjected to later haunting.
Taken from the Paul W. Bean Collection, Box no. 279, f.65
-
Letter from Asaph Boyden to Almore Haskell, January 25, 1862
Asaph Boyden
Letter from Asaph Boyden to Almore Haskell, January 25, 1862. In it sends his condolences to Almore because of the passing of his brother and of the latest goings on at home, especially among the young folk. He passes on information about the stationing of some of his kinsmen and their current locations in the army, also remarking on Almore's own situation in the 1st Maine Cavalry and the hard winter in Augusta.
Taken from the Paul W. Bean Collection, Box no. 279, f.50
-
Letter from A.S. Daggett to Frank L. Lemont, July 28, 1862
A. S. Daggett
Letter from A.S. Daggett to Frank L. Lemont, July 28, 1862. In it he tells Frank of the actions performed after his untimely injury on the battlefield and the current state of the regiment. Daggett also tells Frank of his correspondence with Frank's family and his wish that once his wounds heal, he would be able to go and visit them for a short while.
Taken from the Paul W. Bean Collection, Box no. 277, f.8
-
Letter from A.S. Daggett to Samuel R. Lemont, July 6, 1862
A. S. Daggett
Letter from Captain A.S. Daggett to Samuel R. Lemont, July 6, 1862. Daggett wrote to Samuel Lemont to inform him that his son received wounds in a recent battle and that the last two letters sent to him did not make it in time. He then relayed the circumstances surrounding Frank's injuries received during battle and that soon he may be able to return to the field.
Taken from the Paul W. Bean Collection, Box no. 277, f.5
-
Letter from Achsah Lemont to Frank L. Lemont, April 20, 1862
Achsah Lemont
Letter from Achsah Lemont to her brother Frank L. Lemont, April 20, 1862. In it she discusses some of the latest goings on back home including the health of their sister Josie, the health of their grandparents, the weather in Maine, the news they received of the war thus far and her desire for the war to end and him to come home.
Taken from the Paul W. Bean Collection, Box no. 277, f.8
-
Letter from Achsah Lemont to Frank L. Lemont, December 21, 1862
Achsah Lemont
Letter from Augusta Lemont to her brother Frank L. Lemont, December 21, 1862. In it she expresses her relief that he was not wounded or killed at Fredericksburg but laments that the war seemingly has come to no real conclusion and that all the life lost on the battlefield was a terrible waste. Turning from such grim statements she remarks on the weather and life in Lewiston especially the happy times spent with her friends marveling over some fashion presented by a friend in town.
Taken from the Paul W. Bean Collection, Box no. 277, f.8
-
Letter from Achsah Lemont to Frank L. Lemont, June 8, 1862
Achsah Lemont
Letter from Achsah Lemont to her brother Frank L. Lemont, June 8, 1862. It contains a number of observations and occurrences from home about the weather, family life, the war, and the community. She gives special attention to the arrival of wounded soldiers from home (including a general) and the special attention given them because of their service, following which she remarks that she wishes her brother might be wounded so he could return home, but not out of animosity. Frank's younger sister Josie also writes a short section at the end of the letter to let him know of her health and her intentions to write more later.
Taken from the Paul W. Bean Collection, Box no. 277, f.8
-
Letter from Achsah Lemont to Frank L. Lemont, May 16, 1862
Achsah Lemont
Letter from Achsah Lemont to her brother Frank L. Lemont May 16, 1862. In this letter she writes of life back in Maine and her waning enthusiasm for the war, especially because of how it has put her brother in danger. She mentions the death and funeral of someone they knew who died in the service of the Union and how distraught his family was, later commenting on the religious revival in their community and the state of the weather at the time. It is also important to note that Achsah states her brother sent her a four leaf clover from Virginia which was (and is) inside the note, thus why there is the pigmentation in the letter that is in the shape of a clover.
Taken from the Paul W. Bean Collection, Box no. 277, f.8
-
Letter from Achsah Lemont to Frank L. Lemont, November 2, 1862
Achsah Lemont
Letter from Achsah to her brother Frank L. Lemont, November 2, 1862. In it she mostly speaks of the events at home and the continuing strain of the war on their family and how much it pains them that he can't be at home. She also mentions their plans to move and that their harvest moved from Greene down to Lewiston in accordance with their preemptive transition to life there.
Taken from the Paul W. Bean Collection, Box no. 277, f.8
-
Letter from Achsah Lemont to Frank L. Lemont, November 16, 1862
Achsah J. Lemont
Letter from Achsah Lemont to her brother Frank L. Lemont, November 16, 1862. In this letter she discusses his health, their move to a new home, the planting of potatoes, and the death someone known to the Family down in Tennessee.
Taken from the Paul W. Bean Collection, Box no. 277, f.8
-
Letter from Achsah and J.S. Lemont to Frank L. Lemont, December 7, 1862
Achsah Lemont and J. S. Lemont
Letter from Acsah Lemont and J.S. Lemont to Frank L. Lemont, December 7, 1862. The bulk of both entries deals mostly with their new life in Lewiston and the culture there. They also discuss the state of the family and the weather, specifically the health of J.S. Lemont regarding a sore on her arm that as yet had not healed by the time they sent this correspondence.
Taken from the Paul W. Bean Collection, Box no. 277, f.8
-
Letter from Augusta (Lemont?) to Frank L. Lemont, May 3, 1862
Augusta Lemont
This letter is from Augusta (Lemont?) to her cousin Frank L. Lemont, May 3, 1862. In it she comments on the tragedy of the war and that, though it is a necessity, it is certainly too painful and dreadful an event to take any kind of pleasure in seeing the country torn asunder. She also covers some of the events in the community and the changing of the season allowing many of them to enjoy the outdoors. In that letter she also included a pressed May-Flower.
Taken from the Paul W. Bean Collection, Box no. 277, f.8
-
Letter from Electa (Lemont?) to Frank L. Lemont, October 6, 1862
Electa Lemont
Letter from Electa (Lemont?) to Frank L. Lemont, October 6, 1862. In it she laments his absence away from the family and tells of the latest events in the family.
Taken from the Paul W. Bean Collection, Box no. 277, f.8
-
Letter from Frank L. Lemont to J.S. Lemont, December 15, 1862
Frank L. Lemont
Letter from Frank L. Lemont to his mother J.S. Lemont, December 15, 1862. In it he tells of his experience fighting at Fredericksburg and how the regiment during that time failed to take any casualties but yet it still made a deep impression on him and his fellow soldiers forced to take shelter from the enemy cannon fire. Frank also remarks that he cared little for Achsah constantly telling him of marriages and engagements.
Taken from the Paul W. Bean Collection, Box no. 277, f.5
-
Letter from Frank L. Lemont to J.S. Lemont, December 9, 1862
Frank L. Lemont
Letter from Frank L. Lemont to his mother J.S. Lemont, December 9, 1862. Frank writes his mother wishing her well and hoping to find out more about life in Maine and the status of the family, regretting not being able to be home at such a trying time in his mother's life.
Taken from the Paul W. Bean Collection, Box no. 277, f.5
-
Letter from Frank L. Lemont to J.S. Lemont, July 29, 1862
Frank L. Lemont
Letter from Frank L. Lemont to his mother J.S. Lemont, July 29, 1862. Frank speaks of his misgivings about being wounded and desire to be well and free to move about again, especially with turmoil at home, noted by the mention of his father being ill. Along these lines he mentions as well that he will do everything in his power to return home, even deserting the army or sending in his resignation.
Taken from the Paul W. Bean Collection, Box no. 277, f.5
-
Letter from Frank L. Lemont to J.S. Lemont, June 8, 1862
Frank L. Lemont
Letter from Frank L. Lemont to his mother J.S. Lemont, June 8, 1862. In it he discusses his deep desire to return home and the impending engagement. He notes the rather tenuous nature of the standoff between Union and Confederate forces and the continued jockeying for position by both sides in an attempt to gain an upper hand. Along these lines of military discourse he speaks of camp life and food rationing, including the monetary compensation for his service which he sent back home for safekeeping.
Taken from the Paul W. Bean Collection, Box no. 277, f.5
-
Letter from Frank L. Lemont to J.S. Lemont, May 5, 1862
Frank L. Lemont
Letter from Frank L. Lemont to his mother J.S. Lemont, May 5, 1862. In it he tells her of the Siege of Yorktown and his experiences with battle along with other military matters. He also speaks of his worries and his health at present, wishing everyone back home well.
Taken from the Paul W. Bean Collection, Box no. 277, f.5