Martin Beem

First Lieutenant Martin Beem died from the effects of a pistol shot at Stanton, Nebraska, on the 1st of May, 1888.

Lieutenant Beem was born near Pittsburgh, Pa., on the 14th of November, 1845, but soon afterwards his parents removed to Alton, Ill., where he received the benefits of a common school education.

He entered the service as a private in the 13th Missouri Infantry — afterwards designated the 22nd Ohio, commanded by our late comrade, Colonel Crafts J. Wright, — and with this regiment participated in the campaign against Fort Donaldson [sic] and the battle of Shiloh, in which latter engagement he earned his Second Lieutenant's commission, dated May 8th, 1862, and three months later was promoted to a First Lieutenancy, and as such served in the approach to and battle of Corinth, but resigned, or was honorably discharged the service immediately thereafter, October 21st, 1862.

He subsequently visited the West Indies, Central America, Mexico and Montana, but with what purpose or object we are not advised. He then accepted a position in Washington City as correspondent and reporter, and while thus engaged studied law. During the Presidential campaign of 1868, he stumped the State of Arkansas for the Republican party. In 1869, he entered the Union College of Law at Chicago, from which he graduated in 1870, and soon thereafter entered upon the active practice of his profession.

In 1880, he was married to Miss Lula S. Case, of Neenah, Wis. He was the first President of the Chicago Union Veteran Club, a Mason and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.

He was of a peculiarly nervous temperament, and so eccentric as to defy any correct insight into his personal characteristics, business relations, or family affairs. We can only leave his faults, such as they may have been, and his sorrows and troubles, such as they were, in the hands of Him from whom no secrets are ever hid.

SOURCE: Report Of The Proceedings Of The Society Of The Army Of The Tennessee, At Toledo, Ohio September 5th and 6th, 1888, p. 179

Youthful Bravery

The following account of an incident of the battle near Pittsburg Landing is given by one who is enabled to vouch for its authenticity.

In the battle at Pittsburg Landing young Martin Beem of Alton, Ill. Scarce 18 years old was a Sergeant in the 13^th Missouri having entered the regiment as a private.  On that fatal Sunday the color bearer was shot down at his side and he caught up the flag and carried it through the day and slept that night with its folds around him.  The next morning his Captain appointed him a Second Lieutenant pro tempore.  The first volley killed the First Lieutenant and Martin took his place.  Soon after the Lieutenant-Colonel fell, and the Captain of Martin’s company acted as Major leaving this young hero to carry the company through the battle which he did most gallantly and escaped unharmed.  Young Martin Beem was in a printing office when the war broke out, he went to St. Louis and enlisted among the three months volunteers.  At the expiration of that service he enlisted for the war. – We may hear from him ere the war is over.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 10, 1862, p. 4