The following letter was written by Homer Sargent Bean (1833-1862) of Co. B, 3rd Maine Infantry, who gives an account of the Battle of Bull Run which took place on Sunday, 21 July 1861. The 3rd Maine Infantry was attached to Howard’s Brigade, Heintzelman’s Division of McDowell’s Army of Northeastern Virginia. Though the regiment entered into the battle, they suffered few battle casualties. The official records—2 killed, 4 wounded, 25 captured, 2 deserted, for a total of 33.

Composed primarily of Kennebec lumbermen, the 3rd Maine was mustered in at Augusta for a three-year term of service on June 4, 1861, departing for the front lines the following day. It has been posited that “perhaps no regiment from the state saw more fighting or rendered more distinguished service.” From the First Battle of Bull Run to the Battle of Cold Harbor, the regiment participated in numerous significant battles and military movements. During the first Bull Run, the 3rd was under the command of Colonel Oliver O. Howard (1830–1909), who rapidly ascended to the rank of Major General and emerged as a prominent national figure. At the Battle of Fair Oaks, the 3rd sustained losses of nearly a third of its forces, and Howard suffered the loss of his right arm.

Homer was the son of Jeremiah Robinson Bean (1806-1880) and Sarah Cammett (1801-1857) of Augusta, Kennebec county, Maine. He did not survive the war. He died of disease on 22 November 1862 and was buried in the US Soldiers’ and Airmens’ Home National Cemetery, Site D 4441.

Transcription

Clermont, Fairfax county, Virginia ¹
August 4th 1861

Dear Father and Mother,

It is with pleasure that I seat myself to converse with you a few moments by the silent movings of the pen to inform you of my health which is good—only I had the toothache the other day and I went to the doctor and had it pulled out and my jaw has ached ever since. But it is easy today.

George is well and sends his love to you. Frank is well and sends his love to you.

I suppose you have heard about the battle we had with the rebels. It was two weeks ago today. We had a hard time of it. We were called into ranks at half past one o’clock a.m. and at an hour later, we started. But on account of being the last brigade, we had in the commencement a very slow march and laid exposed to the burning rays of the sun without the least shade for several hours.

Finally we had orders to advance and were drove with such haste that a good many had to give out and fall back, and we were almost beat out by running until we reached the battlefield. What was the worst of it was the scarcity of water. We were real glad to find mud puddles which at home we would not offer to our horses or cattle and quenched our thirst with them for the heat was awful and not the slightest breeze stirring. The consequence was that we were defeated and returned in somewhat confusion until we reached our camp we left in the morning. We halted here for a few hours and then retreated from there in good order back to Alexandria where we stopped about a day and a half and then went out again to the place where our tents was pitched and [have] remained here ever since.

We suffered a good deal in them two days and a good many of us have not got over it yet but we have now time enough to rest and think we shall get over it soon. Our duty now is nothing more than common camp duty such as standing guard and drilling and we are favored as much as possible, but the weather is very not here and that causes us considerable sweating.

Give my love to all inquiring friends. I cannot think of any more to write now. Write as soon as you get this. Write all of the news. Now I must close by bidding you goodbye till I hear from you.

— H. S. Bean

Write how Piggy gets along and tell Cluckey to lay a lot of eggs for I want some when I get home. — H. S. Bean

¹ The 3rd Maine Infantry’s encampment was at F. Forrest’s plantation, Clermont, a quarter of a mile south of Bush Hill, Scott’s farm, Fairfax county, Virginia.