Beebe, William Sully

Autograph letter signed William S. Beebe

Alexandria, Louisiana: Head Quarters in the Field, 26 April 1864 THE HERO OF CANE RIVER CROSSING WRITING TO HIS MOTHER OF THE BATTLE OF APRIL 23, 1864 DURING THE RED RIVER CAMPAIGN. "We have been fighting every foot of the way from Grand Encore about eighty miles...mentioned again for good conduct in the battle of Mohnette's Crossing." Beebe was sent by Major General Nathaniel P. Banks to go to General Birge and his men and stay until they were engaged and then to return and report. Beebe joined Birge and his men in their progression but when it was evident that they needed to cross a field and climb up a steep hill to reach the enemy's highly fortified position some confusion arose about which officer of the Brigade was to lead the assault. Beebe offered to take the men across himself, Birge declined his offer but about ten minutes later when it was offered again, seeing how little progress was being made, he accepted it. Beebe describes how he took command of the Regiment (the 30th ME), encouraged the Colors Sergeant and "I then started and they after me, whenever they wavered I would cheer them and say Come on, the old Color Sergt. right by my every foot...I won't undertake to say what the fire was, but there were eighty men killed and wounded from that Regiment in crossing that opening and reaching the top of the hill...I rallied the men, made them fix bayonets and when we rushed up Johnny Rebs commenced leaving immediately, and then I called to the men 'Men take good low aim and let them have [it]' and they accordingly did and knocked over about forty and captured twenty....I went to report. When I told Banks 'General I have the honor to report that the hill is ours,'...General Franklin who is the head man out here and says little, says 'Banks, I would court martial him, for disobeying orders and interfering with other people's commands.' [General W. B. Franklin actually commended his actions at Cane River Crossing and subsequently recommended him for command of a regiment.]¶ William Sully Beebe (b. NY, 14 Feb 1841), the seventh consecutive soldier in his line, nephew and adopted son of John C. Casey (West Point 1828), graduated the U.S. Military Academy in 1863. He was a first Lieutenant in the Ordnance Department of the U. S. Army at the time of this battle. He was cited twice in Major General Nathanial P. Banks, Commander of the Department of the Gulf's report of the Red River Campaign and promoted by Brevet to Captain (Cong. Journ. 7 Feb. 1865) for his actions. The following month (23 August 1864) at Fort Morgan on Mobile Bay , Beebe's actions once again brought him to the attention of Congress and for his services there he was subsequently promoted by Brevet to Major (Congressional Records 19 July 1866). His distinguished career in the Ordnance Department continued until 1874 when he resigned his commission. With the Spanish-American war situation in 1898 he became a Major of the Volunteers. He was sent to Cuba on active duty during the evacuation of Havana where he contracted and died of the yellow fever on 12 October 1898. William Sully Beebe received the Medal of Honor and was among the first inducted at the Ordnance Department's Hall of Fame (CIVIL WAR) 8vo. 8 pages. To his mother. Folded, slight soiling, else very good

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