Collections record Beta

Camp Bed

1912-01-7

Civil War camp bed that is comprised of a fold out writing surface, compartments for storage, and a canvas cot. The bed folds into a more easily moveable trunk when not in use. Wooden trunk covered in leather. Front scored to simulate blind tooling. Heavily stitched leather handles held by iron straps. Buckles and straps at front and back bound by iron straps nailed onto outside of trunk. Three battens nailed on top. A paper note reading, "Given to Colonel Leverett W. Wessells, 19th Regiment Conn. Volunteer Infantry, August 1862 by his friends Henry W. Buell and Henry R. Coit, all of Litchfield." tacked inside.

This camp bed was used by Col. Leverett Wessels during the Civil War. Leverett W. Wessells, the first Colonel of the 19th CT Regiment, was born in Litchfield on July 28, 1819. He enlisted on July 25, 1862, and was commissioned Colonel on the same day. Prior to the war he had been prominent in public affairs and served for twelve years as Sheriff of the community. Ill health interfered with his military service however, and he was honorably discharged on September 15, 1863. He was later appointed Provost Marshal for the Fourth District of Connecticut, and was finally discharged on October 5, 1865 at the end of the war.

ca. 1861

Closed 30 1/8" x 21 1/2" x 21"

• wood
• leather
• iron
• canvas