| If this website has been useful to you, please consider
making a Donation.
Your support will help keep this website free for everyone, and will allow us to do
more research. Thank you for your support! |
Civil War Soldiers - Fessenden
| Fessenden, Francis, major-general,
U.S. Army, was born in Portland, Me., March 18, 1839. He was graduated
at Bowdoin in 1858, became a lawyer, and at the outbreak of the Civil
war was appointed captain in the 19th U. S. infantry, May 14, 1861. He
was subsequently on recruiting duty, commanded a company in the Army
of the Cumberland from January to April, 1862, and was severely
wounded at Shiloh. Becoming colonel of the 25th Maine volunteers,
Sept. 29, 1862, he commanded a brigade in the defenses of Washington,
and then, from Sept., 1863, to May, 1864, was colonel of the 30th
Maine veteran infantry. He was commissioned brigadier- general in the
volunteer army, May 10, 1864, accompanied Banks in the Red River
expedition, and took part in the battles of Sabine cross-roads,
Pleasant Hill and Monett's bluff, distinguishing himself especially
for gallantry in the last named engagement, where he led the charge of
his brigade and lost a leg. For gallantry at Shiloh and Monett's bluff
he was given the brevet ranks of major and lieutenant-colonel U. S.
A., July 6, 1864. He was commissioned major-general of volunteers, in
Nov., 1865, commanded the 1st infantry division, Department of West
Virginia, and was subsequently assigned to the 1st veteran corps. He
was a member of the Wirz military commission in the winter of 1865-66,
and after that was assistant commander of the bureau of refugees,
freedmen and abandoned lands. He was retired with the rank of
brigadier-general and brevet major-general in the regular army, at his
own request, Nov. 1, 1866, was subsequently mayor of his native city,
Portland, and then practised law there. Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
|
| Fessenden, James D.,
brigadier-general, U.S. Army, was born in Westbrook, Me., Sept. 28,
1833, was graduated at Bowdoin in 1852, and then practised law in
Portland until the Civil war broke out. He was commissioned captain of
the 2nd U. S. sharpshooters, Nov. 2, 1861, and in 1862-63 served on
the staff of Gen. David Hunter and engaged in the operations on the
Carolina coast, being present at the attack on Fort McAllister, in the
operations on the Edisto, and at Du Pont's attack on Charleston. He
organized and commanded the 1st regiment of colored troops in May,
1862, but the government refused to accept such service at that time.
In July of that year he was promoted colonel and additional
aide-de-camp. He was subsequently transferred to the Army of the
Tennessee, in 1863, and served under Hooker in the campaigns of
Chattanooga in that year and Atlanta in 1864. He was promoted
brigadier- general of volunteers, Aug. 8, 1864, was ordered to report
to Gen. Sheridan in the valley of Virginia, and participated in the
battle of Cedar creek in October. He was brevetted major-general of
volunteers, March 13, 1865, for distinguished service in the war, and
served in South Carolina until mustered out, Jan. 15, 1866. Returning
then to Maine, he was appointed register of bankruptcy in 1868 and was
representative in the state legislature, 1872-74. Gen. Fessenden died
in Portland, Me., Nov. 18, 1882.
Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
|
|
Whats New
Bibliography
About Us |