Civil War]]> Otis Dean, a private in Company E, 56th Massachusetts Infantry during the Civil War, was born on March 1, 1821 at Raynham, Massachusetts, the son of Chandler Robbins Dean and Abigail [Bissn?]. Dean married Augusta Dunbar (born October 1826) on January 4, 1848. By 1850, the Deans were living in Foxborough Massachusetts, where Otis Dean was employed as a boot-maker.

Dean enlisted in the Union Army as a private on December 30, 1863 and was mustered into Company E of the 56th Massachusetts on January 12, 1864. Wounded in battle at Peebles' Farm (September 30), Dean was captured by Confederate forces and held at Richmond. Paroled on October 8, 1864, Dean entered an army hospital at Annapolis, Maryland. He was granted a furlough later that month and spent several weeks recuperating at home and in the hospital at Readville, Massachusetts. After spending several additional weeks in hospitals at Annapolis and Germantown, Pennsylvania, Dean rejoined his regiment on March 20, 1865 and was discharged on June 15, 1865.

Returning to Foxborough, Dean by 1870 had become a farmer and the father of eight children (Mary, Frederick, Arthur, Edwin, William, Ernest, Harry and Herbert). The 1880 census found the family living in Arcadia Township, Iowa. Though no occupation was listed for Dean, three of his sons, living in the same household, were listed as farmers. By 1900, the Deans had again moved westward and were living in San Bernadino County, California. Otis Dean died on March 21, 1907; his wife, in 1911. Both are buried in Bellevue Cemetery of Ontario, San Bernadino County, California.

The 56th Massachusetts Infantry was recruited during the fall and winter of 1863 at Readville, Massachusetts. By February 1864, the entire regiment had been mustered into service. On March 20, the 56th left Massachusetts for Annapolis, Maryland, where it remained for approximately a month. Following the line of the Orange & Alexandria Railroad, the regiment arrived at Bealeton Station on April 30 and remained encamped there until May 4, when it joined the rest of the Army of the Potomac in the Wilderness Campaign. The 56th saw heavy action during the following month and participated in the assault against Petersburg in June and July 1864. The regiment participated in the battle of Weldon Railroad (August 19) and Peebles' Farm (September 30). In November, the 56th went into winter camp at Fort Davis and Fort Alexander Hays. The 56th joined in the final assault on Petersburg and the pursuit of Lee's forces and was mustered out on July 12, 1865.

Source:

Hancock, Daniel W. and Karen L. Hancock. "Hancock and Olson Family History." 26 March 2008 (http://hancockonline.net).]]>
Dean, Otis]]> See the Finding Aid for the Otis Dean Diary]]> 1864/1865]]> Permission to publish material from the Otis Dean Diary must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> Diaries]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]>
Civil War]]>
George H. Marshall of Company K, 113th Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, was born in Pennsylvania, ca. 1835. The son of Sarah Marshall, he lived in Chester County before enlisting as a private in Company K of the 113th on February 23, 1864. He was promoted to full artificer on September 3, 1865. After the mustering out of his regiment at Fort Monroe, Marshall returned to Chester County, Pennsylvania, where he recommenced working as a carpenter. Survived by his wife, Ruth, Marshall died on March 19, 1919 and is buried in the Romansville, Pennsylvania Friends Burial Ground.

The 113th Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery was organized in Philadelphia by consolidation of Segebarth's Battalion of Marine Artillery and the 1st Battalion, Pennsylvania Artillery, with two additional companies formed in Philadelphia. The regiment was ordered to Fortress Monroe, Virginia, serving at times in Graham's Naval Brigade and engaging Confederate forces on the James, Chickhominy and Nansemond rivers. The regiment was mustered out of service at Fort Monroe on November 9, 1865.]]>
Marshall, George H.]]> See the Finding Aid for the George H. Marshall diary]]> 1864/1865]]> Permission to publish material from the George H. Marshall diary must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> Diaries]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]>