Correspondence and diaries of Civil War surgeon, John Bennitt |
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Correspondence and diaries of Civil War surgeon, John Bennitt
Special Collections & University Archives, Grand Valley State
University Libraries
Seidman House
1 Campus Drive
Allendale, Michigan 49401
2010
Descriptive Summary | |
| Repository | Special Collections & University Archives, Grand Valley State University Libraries, Allendale, Michigan 49401 |
| Creator | Bennitt, John, 1830-1892 |
| Title | Correspondence and diaries of Civil War surgeon, John Bennitt |
| Dates | 1861-1865 |
| Collection Size | 1.5 linear feet (2 boxes) |
| Abstract | John Bennitt was a physician from Centreville, Michigan. He joined the 19th Michigan Infantry Regiment as an assistant surgeon, and remained in military service until the end of the war. The collection consists of over 200 letters from John Bennitt to his wife and daughters. In them he shared his detailed observations of army life as a surgeon. Three diaries accompany the correspondence. |
| Accession number | RHC-43 |
Scope and Content of Collection
The collection consists of over 200 letters from John Bennitt to his wife and daughters. In them he shared his detailed observations of army life, including dramatic battles, his medical trials in the field and army hospitals, and character sketches of his regimental comrades, captured Confederates, and local southern citizens.
Three diaries accompany the correspondence. The first volume (Sept. 1, 1863-Jan. 26, 1864) details Bennitt's stay at camps in Murfreesboro and as head of the General Hospital in McMinnville, Tennessee. The second volume (Feb. 9, 1864-Jan. 13, 1865) continues the account of his work as head of the General Hospital in McMinnville, Tennessee, and of his Regiment's transfer to the front for the Atlanta and Savannah campaigns under Gen. Sherman. The third volume (Jan. 1, 1865-May 13, 1865) begins with the account of his leave of absence in Cincinnati, Ohio for an examination given by the Army Medical Board; a temporary stay in Charleston, South Carolina; and return to rejoin his Regiment for the Carolina campaigns in Raleigh, North Carolina. Bennitt's account ends with his march from Raleigh, N.C. to Arlington, Va.
Arrangement
Arranged in 2 series 1) Correspondence; 2) Diaries
Biography
In 1862 at the age of thirty-two, physician John Bennitt of Centerville, Michigan joined the 19th Michigan Infantry Regiment as an assistant surgeon and remained in military service until the end of the war. He served in Army hospitals in Kentucky and Tennessee, was captured by the Confederate forces, and was mustered out in Detroit in June 1865.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection.
Restrictions
Restrictions on Access
Collection is open for research use.
Publication Rights
For information on copyright or permissions for this collection, contact Grand Valley State University Special Collections.
Administrative Information
Alternative Format
Diaries are digitized and transcribed at http://tinyurl.com/johnbennitt
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Correspondence and diaries of Civil War surgeon, John Bennitt (RHC-43). Special Collections & University Archives, Grand Valley State University Libraries.
Acquisition Information
Acquired from Harvey E. Lemmen in 1993.