Any documents that you have related to your determination that he served in Hampton’s Legion or attended Wake Forest would be appreciated and gladly added to our family history. I would be interested to see his name on the rolls at Wake Forest since we have no knowledge of his attending there either. Our records indicate that he attended Wofford prior to medical school. I have not found his name in their records. Family history does mention his attendance; but no mention of Wake Forest.

Again it is possible that he visited SC during the war; but I feel certain that his family would have known about it. He was not a soldier so when he left after his Volunteer service was completed, we feel certain he spent his time at the local hospitals and supplying for some of the Methodist Episcopal communities in Mississippi.

Being a physician (He was not a surgeon) and preacher most likely spared him from conscription in Mississippi. The only possible reason for him to return to SC would have been a death or illness in the family since he did have several children in Mississippi. His brother Pickett Bethea was killed at Weldon RR, but that was in 1864. His brother, Elisha C. Bethea, Jr. was wounded at Missionary Ridge in Nov. of 1863, but knowledge of hid condition would not have reached the family until 1864. He had a brother James who may have died from illness in 1862, but I have not confirmed the date.

Our records also indicated that Robert C. Bethea lived in Meadeville, Franklin County [Not Pike County] when he joined the 7th Miss. in 1861 and had since 1859. He moved to Pike County after the war and late in life where he ran a pharmacy and preached.

Additional information about his pre-war training and location:

"Robert C. left SC 1853 to Alabama. There he studied during the growing season with his brother. He would then travel to Charleston, SC. "Medical College of Charleston" for four months and then return to Al. He received his diploma in 1858. I have copies from the library at the medical school of the rosters, as well as, a copy of his hand written thesis on "Opium." In 1859 he moved to Meadeville, MS where he practiced medicine and was a supply preacher (Methodist). He enlisted at Meadeville, Franklin county. May 4, 1861, Capt. Daniel Parker's company "Franklin Beauregard's” 7th Reg't. Miss. Vols, later Co E 7th Reg't Miss. Inf. He served his year of volunteer service and returned home sick in May 1862 after the battle of Shiloh..."