Folder Shelf Lists
R Bennett,
L. G. (Lyman G.).
274 Collection,
1857-1865.
Ten folders.
Folder 1: Diary, 1857
01 Jan Wedding of
“Cousin Mary” near
03 Begin
Preparation for Trip to
05 Travel through
05 Travel through
12 To
14 Muscoda
18
19
25 Sketch of
Sugar Loaf Mountain, near
26 Good
Templars meeting at
28 Travel
to Wabash and return to
03 Feb To La Cross and Muscoda
05 To
12 To Muscoda and Boscobel
18 To
19 Commence
selling maps of area in
16 Mar Proceed to
21 To
01 Apr Winter ice on
Mississippi River begins to break up at
07 Mayoral
elections in
20 Hunting
trip along the
30 Travel to Chatfield District of Minnesota to pre-empt land, arrive 1st May
02 May Return to
04 Knights
of Grand Templars meet at
07 Travel
toward Faribault District passing through
07 Make
inspection of land near
11 Sketch of Bennett’s shanty erected on his claim
17 Travel to Fairbault to enter claims
19 Visit
21 File for
pre-emption, return to
24 Employed as Member of survey team for Transit Railroad
26 Begin
Survey at
27 Survey to
28
30
01 Jun
02
03
04 Reconnaissance
survey from
06 Survey
toward
08 Survey
toward Lake Elysian &
09 Arrive at
St. Peter, lodge at
12 Survey to Redstone
13 New
15 Back to
St. Peter to begin Survey east of
21 Abandon
survey and recommence at
22 Jun Survey to
point near
23 Survey
from Winnebago Reserve to outlet of
25 Survey near
27 Visit
28 Survey to Hasota
30 Move camp to St. Peter
02 Jul Head for Sioux Country
04 Terminate survey to avoid Sioux areas
05 Retrace steps to New Ulm and Redstone
11 Arrive at
20 Begin
Survey of Gilmore Valley, Burns, Barrett’s &
27
31
03 Aug Bennett quits
railroad survey party, return to
14 To
16
17 To
21 Commence
plat of
07 Sep Survey at
Head of Tombro River, return to
14 Begin
survey of country road from
22 Comments
on grist mill under construction at
29 Head fro
04 Oct Comments on
economic hard times at
06 View
tribe of Indian dancers in
12 Cross
Mississippi River above
13 First
elections held in
19 Start for
Wabesha on steamboat
22 Oct
24 Take
steamboat to Dunleith, then train to Amboy,
Oct.
09 Nov Employed as
school teacher in
18 Threshing on family farm
23 Employed
to survey road from
01 Dec Commence
teaching school at
16 Attend
church benefit supper at
Folder 2: Diary,
19 Aug—20 Dec 1861
19 Aug Organization of Fox River regiment (36th Illinois Infantry)
21 Regiment
moved to
22 Mustered
into
28 [sic] Bennett appointed corporal of Co. E
29 Detailed as sergeant of the guard
28 [sic] Visitors to
29 Monotony of camp life
30 Bennett visits his home
31 Visitors at camp
01 Sep Storm disrupts camp
02 Clean-up after storm
03 Dysentery in camp
04 Battalion drill
05 Receives visit from parents; camp regulations tightened
06 Homesickness
07 Visits
home in
09 Attends temperance
meeting in
11 Dress parade
12 Medical examinations of men, and muster-in for second time. Two men refuse to be mustered-in
and are severely beaten by soldiers.
13 Visit by wife and daughter
14 Drunkenness in camp
15 Visits
family in
16 Visits
dentist in
17 Homesickness sweeping camp
19 Trouble in camp over removal of non-commissioned officers of company by Capt. Camp
20 Partial issue of uniforms
22 Religious services held in camp
23 Uniforms and equipment issued, no firearms
24 Leave
Camp
25 Board
steamboat at
27 Disembark
at
28 Description
of
29 Arrive at Rolla
30 Description
of Rolla. Wyman’s column returns from
01 Oct Col. Greusel attempts to institute prohibition in Rolla
02 Comments
on drill of 13th
03 Camp and parade grounds cleared
04
05 Homesickness; patriotic sentiments
08 First death by disease in regiment
09 Soldiers
arrested for passing counterfeit money in trade with
10 Wyman reviews regiment; complaints against inferior rations and company commander Capt. Fish
11 General unrest in camp and confrontations between men and overbearing officers. An officer
arrested for passing counterfeit money
12 Marked improvement in disposition of officers
13 Bennett
detailed to assist engineers at
commissions of officers
14
15 Drafted
plan of blockhouse at
expedition from regiment is arrested.
16 Work on
17 Continue
work at
18 Establish
exact center of
19 Prisoners from Wet Glaze enter town. Account of skirmish at Wet Glaize. Prisoners incarcerated
at fort.
20 Accidental
shooting among pickets of 4th
21 Guns at
22 Guns
fired at
24 Work
force at
25
26 Secesh prisoners put to work at fort
28 Unrest in camp over rations and fraudulent activities of cooks. Judge Sample Orr and Southwest
refugees prepare to return home.
29 Continued unrest over cooks and rations
31 Work
suspended at
01 Nov Pay for laborers at fort, rumors of attack on Rolla
02 Spies at Rolla
03 Funeral for soldiers of 4th Iowa Infantry
04 Commissioned by Col. Dodge to prepare topographical map of Rolla area, begin along Beaver
Creek
05 Survey
along
06 Survey
along
07 Survey west of Rolla
08 Survey
Beaver Creek and Little Piney Creek; return of
09 36th Illinois Infantry paid at Rolla
11 Prisoners
at
13 Survey
along
14 Camp excitement and near riot as soldiers force an abusive officer to flee camp; survey Beaver
Creek
15 Survey
area between
16 Difficulty between Bennett and Col. Gruesel
18 Assist in
work at
19 Work on drawing up maps; temperance
20 Gen.
Sigel delivers prisoners to
21 Bennett
moves tent to
22 Prisoners at the fort
23 Bennett forced by cold weather to work in headquarters; Col. Phelps and trouble with teamster
24 Prisoners
from
25 Refugees
from southwest
26 Col. Dodge and Gen. Wyman
28 Survey
area north of Rolla; description of Rolla as seen from
29 Exploration of cave near Rolla
01 Dec Prisoners
removed from
02 Bitter dispute between Col. Greusel and the quartermaster
03 Description
of skirmish at
06 Survey
along
07 Arrest of regimental quartermaster; arrival of paymasters
08 Sabbath day in camp; sickness and deaths of soldiers
09 Survey
along
12 Survey Beaver Creek rd.; ordered by Gen. Halleck to report to St. L. to complete topographic map
13 Col. Greusel arrested and confined to camp
15 Measels in camp of Col. Phelps’ regiment; skirmish between Bowen’s cavalry and Coleman’s
rebel band
16 Train to
17 Report to army headquarters; visit Benton Barracks
18 Begin work on plats
19 Continue platting
20 Final entry in volume, followed by Bennett’s note to his wife that he is sending diary home in care
of M. LaRue Harrison
Folders 3-5: Diary,
21 December 1861—4 April 1862
21 Dec Detached duty
at headquarters in
22 Visit
with cavalrymen from
23 Enter
military hospital at
25 Lithograph
of
27 Visit to
the hospital by the Biddle sisters of
28 Receipt of letters from M. LaRue Harrison and George Walker
29 Dwight
Follett of
30 Sketch of
camp of 36th Illinois Infantry at
03 Jan Death of Dwight Follett
04 Benjamin F. Wells of Birge’s Sharpshooters
06 Visit to Benton Barracks; comments on Franz Sigel
09 Regimental
affairs at
11 Visit to
home of Biddle sisters,
13 Release from hospital; return to duty at headquarters
22 Arrest and release of Bennett for lack of proper pass
31 Begin
furlough to
16 Feb Sketch of
17 Pass
Waynesville and
18 Feb—20 Feb
22 Sketch of
camp near
23 Sketch
and description of
25
26 Expedition
to
28 Description of Home Guard at Cassville
03 Mar Meet Army of
Southwest Missouri at
06 Rejoin 36th
7-8
11-17 Rivalry within regiment and criticism of Col. Greusel; duty in engineer department, survey of
Sugar Creek; Sketch of “Bob’s Knob,”
18 Begin plat of battlefield at Pea Ridge; 13th Illinois Infantry arrives from Rolla
19 Army
begins retrograde march to
22 Begin Plat of telegraph road at Keitsville
27 Visit M. LaRue Harrison at Cassville
02 Apr Negro arrested for mail robbery
04 Final entry. Diary sent home via member of regiment returning on furlough
Folder 6: Diary
-- “Route of the Army of the Southwest,” 1862
Page Date Map
Features
03 10 Mar Bentonville and Sugar Creek,
04 16 Position of Sigel’s batteries, 6
Mar;
05 -- Cross timbers and Keitsville, Barry County, Mo.
06 06 Apr Washburn’s Prairie and
07 07 Grist mill and Curtis’s encampment
near
08 07 Road northeast from Cassville
09 08 Road northeast from Cassville
10 7-8 Road northeast from Cassville
11 -- Plat of
12 08 Plat of
13 9-10 Valley of Raley’s Creek,
14 10
15 10 Camp at confluence of Bear and Bull
Creeks,
16 11 Road to Forsyth; confluence of White
River & Swan Creek,
17 -- Plat of Forsyth; road northeast to
18 17-19
19 19-20 Stormy Camp, Little Beaver Creek,
20 21
21 --
22 25 Route east from Vera Cruz and campsite
23 -- Crossings of Big North Fork and
Spring Creek,
24 -- Plat of West Plains and route along
Spring Creek,
25 -- Road south along
26 -- Missouri-Arkansas border, site of skirmish 18 Mar 1862
27 -- Plat of
28 -- Road south of
29 -- Crossing of Piney Creek
30 -- Junction with
31 -- Poke Bayou
32 -- Plat of Batesville; Blowing Cave
and Star Mills,
33 -- Junction with
34 -- Plat of
35 24 Jun
36 -- Turnstall’s Ferry over
37 -- Camp on Village Creek; site of Battle of Waddle’s Farm. 12 June 1862
38 03 Jul
39 -- Road obstructions
40 4-6 Camp on White River at
41 -- Road shouthward and cemetery
42 07 Confluence of Bayou Cache and
43 08 Jul Camp near Bayou de View
44 -- Crossing of unnamed slough
45 -- Road along
46 9-10 Camp near Clarendon,
47 -- Road northeast from Clarendon
48 -- Road northeast from Clarendon
49 11 Crossing of Big Creek, Lee County,
Ark.; plat of Moro,
50 12 Crossing of Spring Creek
51 -- Route to
52 -- Route to
53 --
Folders 7-8: Diary,
1 Jan –4 Oct 1865
Date
01 Jan Description
of
02 Negro wedding at Paola
03 Abusive soldier shot and killed by Negro at Paola
04 Travel to
of blacksmith at
05 Description of Mine Creek battlefield, unburied Confederate dead noted. Anecdote concerning
Gen. Marmaduke. Return to
06 Select
grounds for fortifications at
07 Draft
maps of Big Blue,
08 Ride to
09 Work on battlefield map
10 Finish battlefield map
11 Map area
surrounding
12 Description of mapping procedures
13 Ride to
Drywood Creek, 9 miles south of
14 Mapping
in vicinity of
15 Mapping
in vicinity of
16 Map area
north of
17 Continue work on maps
18 Complete maps
19 Prepare
for move to
20 Move
toward
21 Proceed
to Paola and inspect fortifications under construction, then move to
22 Arrive at
23 Report for duty, receive suggestions from Gen. Curtis for improvements on maps
24 Seek lodging for family
25 Seek lodging for family
26 Arrange lodging for family
27 Continue work on maps
28 Continue work on maps
29 Visit Congregational Church
30 Work on maps
31 Work on maps
[no entries from 31 January through 10 Feb 1865]
11 Feb Prepare for
trip to
12 Attend church services, remarks on presence of Col. William F. Cloud. Attend Baptist service in
evening
13 Arrangements
for
14 Arrangements
for
15 Start for
16 Camp 4
miles west of
17 Pass
through
18 Remain in camp
19 Pass through Kinnekuk on edge of Kickapoo Reserve
20 Pass
21 Pass
22 Start
toward Oketa but cannot cross flooded
23 Pass through Marysville and cross Big Blue, camp 17 miles west of Marysville
24 Enter
25 Cross
Little and
26 Proceed along north bank of Little Blue River
27 Proceed along north bank of Little Blue River
27 Proceed along north bank of Little Blue River, camp at deserted farm
28 Camp at
stage station 28 miles from
01 Mar Reach Platte
River, then proceed to
02 Inspect
unfinished fortifications at
03 Make
preparations to continue to
04 Pass
through
were inspected and approved
05 Pass stage stops with small garrisons at Millaley’s Ranch, Miller’s Ranch, and Dan Smith’s
Ranch. Make recommendations for defense against Indians.
06 Pass
Gillman’s Station and camp at
07 Remain at
considerable alterations at post.
08 Remain at
09 Pass
Morrow’s Ranch, 12 miles from
Bluff.
Order post removed from the latter to
10 Travel 25 miles to Alkali Station
11 Travel 25 miles to Beauvois Station
12 Make
plans for fortifications at Beauvois Station, move on to
13 Pass ruins of stage station at Wisconsin Ranch, encamp at Buffalo Springs post
14 Move
through
15 Reach American Ranch, destroyed by Indians. Corpse of an Indian attacker in evidence.
Continue to Godfrey’s Ranch and Beaver Creek Station
16 Take
17 Reach stage stop at Living Springs, continue to Kiowa Creek
18 Proceed
to Box Elder, reach
19 Meet Gen. Moonlight, commanding district. Make recommendations for posts at Living Springs,
Junction, American Ranch, Spring Hill and Julesburg
21 Prepare plans for posts in district
22 Tour
23 Ride to
mountains to view gold mining operations.
Creek, Black Hawk and Central City
24 Visit
gold mines Gregory No. 2 and Old Gregory, return to
25 Prepare
for move to
26 Prepare
for move to
27 Move to
Bulington on
28 Arrive at
29 Move
north toward
30 Pass
Lodge Pole Creek and former site of
01 Apr Arrive at
02 Examined site for defenses
03 Leave Ft.
04 Pass into
Ficklin’s Ranch
05 Remain in camp due to storm
06 Pass Chimney Rock and Courthouse Rock, reach Mud Spring Station. Hear of capture of
07 Camp on Pole Creek
08 Reach
09 Remain at
Julesburg, Hear of surrender of Robert E. Lee’s army at
10 Remain in camp
11 Take
stage for
12 Change horses at Godfrey’s Station, move to Bijou
13 Pass through Living Springs
14 Reach
[no entries from 15 April through 2 July 1865]
03 Jul Aboard
Missouri River steamer at
near small hamlet of
across Plains. Board stage headed west.
04 Join Cole’s
Expedition moving along north bank of
at Confluence with
05 Leave
Plate and camp above mouth of Loup 3 miles from
06 March up
north bank of Loup River, camp 17 miles from
07 Pass town
of
Beaver Creek. Camp near Council Creek
08 Camp near Cedar Creek
09 Camp on
10 Camp
three miles above mouth of
11 Camp on
12 Camp on
13 Cross
divide to main branch of
14 March up south bank of Loup and encamp. Stampede of horse heard at night
15 Remain in camp to collect animals
16 Proceed
northwest along north bank of
17 Proceed
northwest along north bank of
18 Proceed
northwest along north bank of
19 Camp near
mouth of
20 Proceed
up middle fork of
21 Collect animals and march three miles. A Threatened mutiny by soldiers who refuse to go on
22 Proceed
up
23 Proceed
up
24 Proceed
up
25 Proceed
up
26 Reach headwaters of Loup, search parties sent out to determine the best route northward
27 Proceed
from head of Loup, march 16½ miles to camp on
28 March toward
29 Camp on
Boardman Creek, a branch of the
30 March to
McMurry’s Creek. Bennett continues with
scout to
mouth.
Continue to
31 March 31
miles to
01 Aug Pass Angelope
Creek and reach
02 March northwest 12 miles to camp on Wounded Knee Creek
03 March 13 miles, encamp 10 miles from Porcupine Tail Butte
04 March 17 miles down Wounded Knee Creek
05 Camp on Wounded Knee Creek
06 March 15
miles, cross
07 Enter Badlands, march 16 miles to camp at Ash Springs
08 Pass head
of Bear Creek, camp on
09 Remain in camp
10 Cross
11 March 14 miles to Elk Creek
12 Encamp on Bear Creek
13 March west along Bear Creek to headwaters, then to camp on head of Broken Water Creek
14 March northward, camp on south branch of Bear Butte Creek
15 March 12 miles to camp on White Wood Creek
16 March 18 miles to camp on unnamed creek
17 March
west, cross Peak and Cascade creeks, branches of
death of the expedition
18 March 10
miles, 16th
19 March
north-northwest to the
20 Cross to north bank of river, march 9 miles
21 Aug Pawnee guide found dead, a soldier also dies of disease. March 21 miles to little Missouri River
22 March 12 miles northeast down Little Missouri
23 Cross river and march 11 miles along west bank
24 Another soldier dies, of scurvy. March 11 miles
25 Remain in camp
26 Cross
divide into
27 March 9½ miles northwest from Box Elder Creek
28 March 30
miles toward
29 March 11
miles to camp on
30 Party
sent to explore route to Tongue River and
column under Gen. Patrick Connor
31 Remain in camp
01 Sep Scout returns to camp reporting no sign of Gen. Connor. Band of 30–40 Indians attempts to
stampede horses, resulting in skirmish. Another band attacks hunting party. Five cavalrymen
killed.
02 Dead
buried. March 24 miles down west bank of
03 Return to
die in course of 17 mile march.
04 March 2 miles to camp. 50 Indians attack cavalry squad, pursuit ends with nightfall
05 Skirmishing
resumes with Indian attempt to capture wagons.
Cavalry sortie across
results in many casualties. March 12 miles toward
06 March up
07 Attack on party of stragglers from 12th Missouri Cavalry, 1 man killed. Total of nine deaths due to
Indian attacks. March 11 miles.
08 Attack on
16th
09 100 animals left dead at camp, 200 more dying animals shot in 2½ mile march. 300-400 men now
dismounted, barely enough draft animals to pull wagons. Excess baggage and 100 wagons
burned to lighten loads.
10 Pass old Indian camp, march 6-¾ miles
11 March 11½ miles. Command on short rations
12 Cross to
west bank of
13 Cross
14 Indians attack stragglers on two occasions, 1 trooper killed. March 9½ miles, passing mouth of
Clear Creek
15 March 20
miles. Communications received from Gen.
Connor, who is moving up
16 March 20 miles, pass stream thought to be Sandy Fork
17 Scout
sent to
18 March 19 miles. Detachment of 50 men arrives from Connor’s command
19 Relief
party arrives with rations from
20 March 12
miles to encamp within 5 miles of
recent as August 15.
21 Remain in camp to issue commissary stores
22 Bennett
visits
23 Move camp
to within 3 miles of
24 Gen. Connor’s column arrives
25 Bennett
ordered to proceed to
Powder and
27 Cross
headwaters of
28 Strike
telegraph road and
Lapasselle [La Prele?] Creek
29 Reach stage station at La Bonte. Pass Horseshoe Station to encamp 2 mi. below. March 45 miles
30 Pass
Maggie’s Springs and Limestone Creek, reach
01 Oct Rest at
02 Begin work on maps of operations
03 Continue mapping
04 Continue work, meet Jim Bridger at Fr. Laramie
Folders 9-10: Diary of
Date
29 Jul Leave
30 Star Ranch
31 Horse Shoe Station & Horse Shoe Creek
01 Aug LaBonte’s Ford
02 “Bad
Lands of the
03 LaParelle Creek. [LaPrele Creek.]
04 Sage Creek
05 Brown’s Spring Creek
06 Bear
Lodge Trail & Rattlesnake Run, S. Fork
7-8 Middle,
or
9 Dry Fork
of
10
11-12 Powder
River, Scouts along
13 Scout to Old Woman’s Fork [Crazy Women Creek]
14 Camp on
Powder, Scout toward
15-16 Cross Powder River, stake out Ft. Reno/Ft. Connor
17 Return of
Capt. North’s Pawnee Scouts, account of fight with
18 Move camp
2 miles up
19 Camp on
20 Pawnee scouts chase Sioux
21 Move camp down river to bluffs below fort
22 Break
camp, pass
23 Travel
24 Remain in camp
25 Pass
Smith [DeSmet]
26 Cross
Piney Creek, to forks of
27 Peno
Creek on
28 Down Peno
Creek to Tongue River, camp on Tongue at
w/300 men to attack Arapahoe village.
29 Camp on
30 Account
of Battle of Tongue River, camp on
31 Continue down & camp on Tongue
01 Sep Continue down river
02 Continue down river
03 Continue down river
04 Continue down river
05 Remained
in camp on
06 Gen. Connor orders withdrawal, move up river.
07 Camp on
08 Remain in camp, Capt. North with 50 Pawnees sent to make contact with Col. Cole’s column on
Powder River, another scout sent toward
Connor and Ft,
09 Remain in camp
10 Remain in camp
11 Move camp short distance up river. Capt. North returned to report evidence of Cole’s command
having camped on
12 Continued
up
with command on
13 Move up
14 Continue up river toward mouth of Peno Creek. Criticism of Gen. Connor. Comments on Indian
uprisings on Plains, with speculation that Confederate emissaries played a part in encouraging
unrest against
Information Sheet for this collection
Shelf List for this collection
Index cards for this collection
Questions? Use our Researcher Registration FormReturn to
WHMC-Rolla's home page.