Pvt. David Matheys Bean, (USA)

Two Tours of Duty

~• one during the Civil War; one subsequent to the war

• Civil War see: https://civilwarintheeast.com/us-regiments-batteries/pennsylvania/9...
  • commanding officers
  • Roster of Co. B, 95th PA Volunteers
• Reconstruction and General security forces from Alabama to New Mexico Territory
  • commanding officer

95th Pa

Killed and mortally wounded: 11 officers, 171 enlisted men
Disease-related deaths: 1 officer, 72 enlisted men
Total:12 officers, 243 enlisted men

after the war the 95th PA came back to Phila.

David would have found his brother living with their aunt ( https://www.geni.com/profile/6000000019658654263/events/6000000174858033970 ). Perhaps he lived there too, at first.
David then married, if only for a brief time, to an Irish immigrant girl, Eliza Ann McGowan. The two had (or had had) a child together. David enlisted in the Army again and left town, seemingly abandoning his wife and child. Eliza remarried soon thereafter.

Last known of Matt. was in in California. (a note written long ago by his uncle, Theo. Weber Bean reads: "Matt [heirs(?)] {remains (?)} buried below the Gulf"
The above transcribes a nearly illegible and somewhat cryptic note that seems to refer to the fact that his body was carried down the flooding Colorado River to the "Gulf" of California.

David's cousin Wilmer M. Bean wrote a letter in 1896 in which it is claimed that David Matthews (sic) Bean was "out west". The letter is attached here as a source. See page 4. He was correct , for David had been in California after leaving the Army by desertion. He registered to vote in Santa Ana CA in April 1879. He had been with the15th US infantry while stationed at Ft. Cummings in New Mexico. ( see map )

Evidently Wilmer had not heard that his cousin had already died..

official list of enlistment after the Civil War

David M. Bean of Montgomery County Enlisted in Philadelphia on October 17th, 1867; said his age was 21 ; 5ft. 2 1/2 (4 1/2?) in.;
(? unclear) Infantry company C. ; deserted Oct. 16, 1869 Served in Company E companies of the 35th PA Inf. which became Co E of the 15th US Inf.

U.S., Army, Register of Enlistments, 1798-1914 1867 A-O

A check of voter records

a David M. Bean (laborer) age 32 born PA registered to vote in Santa Ana, Ca on April 21 1879.

It seems that once David was discharged (in New Mexico?) he continued West along the existing Butterfield stage route. This would have led him directly into Southern California.

sources

• https://www.legendsofamerica.com/nm-fortcummings/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Cummings
• https://history.army.mil/books/r&h/R&H-15IN.htm

"The Fifteenth assembled at Austin, Texas, in the following June, and after a somewhat prolonged delay, due principally to frequent heavy rains and the consequent swollen condition of the Colorado River, got away finally on the 16th day of July, en route for Fort Concho, Texas, at which point the reorganization of the regiment was to be effected by consolidation with the Thirty-fifth.

The regiment reached Concho early on the following month and went into camp on the Concho River, not far from the Fort, and immediately adjoining the camp of the Thirty-fifth, which had preceded it by a few days. On the 12th day of August, the final order carrying into effect the consolidation of the two regiments, was published and on the 18th formally executed.

The field and staff officers and the captains of the regiment as now constituted were: Colonel Oliver L. Shepherd, Lieutenant-Colonel August V. Kautz, Major John S. Mason, Captains Ellis, Jewett, Whittemore, McKibben, Hedberg, Steelhammer, Shorkley, Brown, Coleman and Stewart. Lieutenant Sartle was continued as adjutant and Lieutenant Blair as quartermaster.

On the 19th day of August the regiment marched from Concho on its way to New Mexico, following the old "Butterfield Trail" across the Great Staked Plain. Two large tanks filled with water from the Concho River were taken with the command, and a limited amount of water for drinking purposes was served from them to the companies at intervals when needed. The regiment reached the Pecos River at "Horse Head Crossing" on the evening of August 25th and on the following day crossed the river in small detachments by means of a raft improvised by lashing together the water tanks, now empty. The impedimenta was taken from the wagons and crossed by the same means.

On the 13th day of September the command reached the Rio Grande River about three miles below Fort Quitman, and continuing its march up the river arrived at Fort Selden, New Mexico, on the 27th day of the same month. At this point the distribution of the companies of the regiment for their posts in the District of New Mexico began.

The last day of the month found the regiment again on the road. The headquarters and five companies continued on up the river and the other companies separated for their several posts. Hedberg's company for Fort Cummings; Jewett's for Fort Bascom; McKibben's for Fort Stanton and Whittemore's and Steelhammer's for Fort Bayard.

On reaching Fort Craig, the regimental headquarters and Shortley's and Coleman's companies took station at that place. The remaining companies continued on for their stations which they reached about the middle of October; Brown's and Stewart's companies to Fort Wingate and Ellis' to Fort Garland, Colorado.

The journey from Austin to Concho, across the Great Staked Plain, and up the Rio Grande, was admirably well conducted. With the exception of two or three long marches that involved much fatigue and discomfort, no severe physical exertions were imposed upon the troops, or privations endured unusual to ordinary marches of brief duration in effecting changes of station. The average distance marched by the companies from their stations in Texas to their new stations in New Mexico approximated fifteen hundred miles." (snip) "The regiment remained in New Mexico a little over twelve years. At the end of that time the headquarters and six companies were sent to Fort Lewis, Colorado, and three companies to Fort Lyons, Colorado, one company remaining at Santa Fé, New Mexico.

In October and November, 1882, the regiment was transferred to the Department of Dakota, headquarters, and Brinkerhoff's company, (A); Conrad's, (C); Stafford's, (D); and Bean's (H), took station at Fort Randall; Shorkley's (B) and McKibben's (I) at Pembina; Steelhammer's (G), and Hartz' (K) at Fort Lincoln: Humphreys' (E), and Whittemore's (F) at Fort Stevenson."

~• note: The "Bean's (H)" is not David M. Bean... I believe it was a John H. Bean

sources

• 1888 map of the Santa Fe Railroad showing Yume and the Colorado River where David drowned