Making Sense of a Casualty List

[Cumpston1862]

Ladies & Gents-

I found this casualty list on-line for the 16th Connecticut Infantry.

You will note in the list of the wounded there is a "Lieut. Barnum, Company E ,(Bee Hive) slightly..." Is this some kind of period slang saying he was slightly wounded in the head? Or I am missing something here?

[Hank Trent]

Re: Making Sense of a Casualty List

I figured Bee Hive went with the company designation, since sometimes companies carried over militia names or nicknames, and sure enough:

http://www.barnum.org/nti00286.htm

"In July 1862, [Barnum's] ardor made it impossible for him to remain longer at the case, and he became a worker in enlisting the Bee Hive Company of the Sixteenth Regiment"

I'm sure more searching about the regiment would show that Co. E was nicknamed Bee Hive.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@gmail.com

[Cumpston1862]

Re: Making Sense of a Casualty List

My compliments Mr. Trent...well done!

Going through the list again Lieut. Barnum seems to be the only casualty from Company E and all other companies are represented. Yet only Lt. Barnum has the Bee Hive designation by his name. Based on this and the link Mr. Trent provided it seems a safe bet, albeit more research is necessary, that Company E, 16th Connecticut Infantry was known as the Bee Hive Company.

[bAcK88]

Re: Making Sense of a Casualty List

In Record of Service of Connecticut Men in the Army and Navy of the United States During the War of the Rebellion there is no record of a Lt. Barnum serving in Company E, 16th CVI.