Field, Benjamin T. Memoir, 1862-1865

Held by The Filson Historical Society

Creator: Field, Benjamin T.

Title: Memoir, 1862-1865

Rights: For information regarding literary and copyright interest for this collection, contact the Curator of Special Collections.

Size of Collection: 1 volume

Locator Number: Mss. A F453

Scope and Content Note

Collection consists of a single volume of memoirs recorded by Sgt. Field, Company E, 10 th Kentucky Cavalry Regt., C.S.A. The entries were possibly copied from a diary approximately 45 years after the Civil War and are dated between his enlistment in August, 1862 and his return home after the war in July, 1865. Major topics include his imprisonment in two Union military prisons, Johnson Island and Camp Douglas, Ill., and his regiment’s exploits during Gen. John Hunt Morgan’s raid into Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio in July, 1863.

Biographical Note

Benjamin T. Field was born in March, 1842 in Daviess Co., Ky. In August, 1862, he enlisted in what became the 10 th Kentucky Cavalry Regiment, C.S.A. Barely 3 weeks later, he surrendered to Union forces during a skirmish near Uniontown, Ky. He was transported to Johnson Island prison in Ohio where he spent the next two months. Following his release through a prisoner exchange, he rejoined his regiment now stationed in Tennessee under the command of Gen. John Hunt Morgan. In July, 1863, his regiment participated in Morgan’s raid into Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio. He was captured in West Virginia 3 weeks later and sent to Camp Douglas (Ill.) where he spent the next 18 months as a prisoner of war. After enduring considerable hardship, he was released through another prisoner exchange in February, 1865. He was prevented from joining his regiment now stationed in western Virginia and spent the final months of the war at a farm near Salem, Virginia. There he met his future wife, Mattie Hurt, with whom he corresponded over the next 4 years. They were married in December, 1869 and had 5 children.

List of Folders

Folder 1: Memoir, 1862 – 1865; one attached sheet

Subject Headings

Camp Douglas (Ill.)

Clarke, Marcellus Jerome, 1844-1865

Confederate States of America. Army – Discipline

Confederate States of America. Army – Military life

Confederate States of America. Army. Kentucky Cavalry Regiment, 10th

Confederate States of America. Army. Morgan’s Cavalry Division

Courtship – Virginia

Field, Benjamin T., b. 1842

Indiana – History – Civil War, 1861-1865

Johnson Island Prison

Kentucky – History – Civil War, 1861-1865

Morgan’s Ohio Raid, 1863

Ohio – History – Civil War, 1861-1865

Tennessee – History – Civil War, 1861-1865

United States – History – Civil War, 1861-1865 – Destruction and pillage

United States – History – Civil War, 1861-1865 – Medical care

United States – History – Civil War, 1861-1865 – Prisoners and prisons