Charles Davis Jameson
Encyclopedia
Charles Davis Jameson was an American Civil War
general and Democratic Party
candidate for Governor of Maine
. He contracted "camp fever" (typhoid) at the Battle of Fair Oaks, returned to his native state of Maine
, dying in transit or soon after.
Jameson was born in Gorham, Maine
, but his family moved to the lumbering and sawmilling center of Old Town, Maine
when he was still a child. Jameson became a successful lumberman, and in 1860 was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention from Maine. With the outbreak of war in 1861 he was elected Colonel commanding the 2nd Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment
, the first Maine unit to leave the state for the front. He led his regiment into the First Battle of Bull Run
and was soon made Brigadier General of Volunteers.
In the months after Bull Run the Democratic Party of Maine split into anti-war and pro-war factions, and Jameson became the gubernatorial candidate of the "War Democrats". He lost the election to Republican Israel Washburn, Jr.
from the neighboring town of Orono
, but narrowly beat the anti-war Democrat, John W. Dana. In 1862, however, with the war going badly, Jameson was largely abandoned by Democratic voters when he ran again, though the anti-war Democratic candidate was narrowly defeated by Republican Abner Coburn
.
Later that year at the Battle of Fair Oaks, Jameson was wounded and subsequently disabled by "camp fever" (likely typhoid fever) and allowed to return to Maine. He died in Old Town on November 6, 1862 and is buried at Riverside Cemetery in Stillwater, Maine. Some sources report that Davison actually died on the steamship carrying him home between Boston and Bangor.
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
general and Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
candidate for Governor of Maine
Governor of Maine
The governor of Maine is the chief executive of the State of Maine. Before Maine was admitted to the Union in 1820, Maine was part of Massachusetts and the governor of Massachusetts was chief executive....
. He contracted "camp fever" (typhoid) at the Battle of Fair Oaks, returned to his native state of Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, dying in transit or soon after.
Jameson was born in Gorham, Maine
Gorham, Maine
Gorham is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 16,381 at the 2010 census. In addition to an urban village center known as Gorham Village or simply "the Village," the town also encompasses a number of smaller, unincorporated villages and hamlets with distinct...
, but his family moved to the lumbering and sawmilling center of Old Town, Maine
Old Town, Maine
Old Town is a city in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. The population was 7,840 at the 2010 census. The city's developed area is chiefly located on a relatively large island, though its boundaries extend beyond that...
when he was still a child. Jameson became a successful lumberman, and in 1860 was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention from Maine. With the outbreak of war in 1861 he was elected Colonel commanding the 2nd Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment
2nd Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 2nd Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment was mustered in Bangor, Maine for two year's service on May 28, 1861 and mustered out in the same place on June 9, 1863...
, the first Maine unit to leave the state for the front. He led his regiment into the First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run, also known as First Manassas , was fought on July 21, 1861, in Prince William County, Virginia, near the City of Manassas...
and was soon made Brigadier General of Volunteers.
In the months after Bull Run the Democratic Party of Maine split into anti-war and pro-war factions, and Jameson became the gubernatorial candidate of the "War Democrats". He lost the election to Republican Israel Washburn, Jr.
Israel Washburn, Jr.
Israel Washburn, Jr. was a United States political figure. Originally a member of the Whig Party, he later became a founding member of the Republican Party....
from the neighboring town of Orono
Orono, Maine
Orono is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. It was first settled in 1774 and named in honor of Chief Joseph Orono of the Penobscot Nation. It is home to The University of Maine. The population was 10,362 at the 2010 census.- Geography :...
, but narrowly beat the anti-war Democrat, John W. Dana. In 1862, however, with the war going badly, Jameson was largely abandoned by Democratic voters when he ran again, though the anti-war Democratic candidate was narrowly defeated by Republican Abner Coburn
Abner Coburn
Abner Coburn was the 30th Governor of Maine from 1863 to 1864 and a prominent individual in Skowhegan, Maine until his death....
.
Later that year at the Battle of Fair Oaks, Jameson was wounded and subsequently disabled by "camp fever" (likely typhoid fever) and allowed to return to Maine. He died in Old Town on November 6, 1862 and is buried at Riverside Cemetery in Stillwater, Maine. Some sources report that Davison actually died on the steamship carrying him home between Boston and Bangor.