Just got a interesting e-mail from Mabry Tyson, who has a great website on the CSS Virginia. He sent me the following information on Abraham W. Bessant.

Bessant,Abraham W., enlisted at Montgomery, Alabama as a Pvt. in Co.C CSMC, April 1, 1861, probably served at Pensacola Yard until Co.C transfered to Gosport Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia.

November 29, 1861 assigned to Marine Guard, Co.C CSS Virginia, until May 1862.

1863 with Co.C at Camp Beall, Drewery's Bluff, Virginia.

February/March sent to Charleston, South Carolina as part of a Monitor Boarding Party under Capt. Wilson. Co.C

Paid extra as a carpenter, December 10, 1863-January 11, 1864.

Probably part of raid on USS Underwriter at New Bern, North Carolina. February 1864. (There were 25 Marines from Co.C who were in this raid, I hope his pension record will confirm this.)

On Expedition in Wilmington, North Carolina July 1864.

Retained by Lt. Crenshaw as part of the guard for the CSS Tallahassee. July 1864

Detailed to Capt. Alfred C. Van Benthuysen, CSMC, Wilmington, North Carolina, August-September 1864 on extra detail as a orderly to post-commander. Served as cook September-October 1864.

Served as a orderly to Btn.Commander (?) November-December 1864 (Richmond Station?)

No Further Info.

I can't wait to see what his pension record says.

Chris Lane