Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1862-03-21
Funeral of Col. James Cameron.
The rank Of the gentleman above named

threuged here in the raw weather of last
Tuesday, on % hours paEtia! notice, out
Of regard to his memory-and the fact OF
his being the first Of our neightors losing
bis life in this war, seem 10 invite some
sba, detailed account Of his death and first
iu,ermeo,, the recovery and identity OF his
body, and his fnal burial. For the Pasti-
cal4rs respecting his body after death, we
are indebted principally to Mr. Kane.
Ga the eyen,fal Sunday, 2ls: July last,
Col Cameron led his Regimeut-'he 18th
New York Volunteers, or 'Highlanders,"
with the utmost GOODNESS and courage,
in au.advauced position, shrinking from
no responsibility, aud displaying true mi
li,ary skill aud ardor. He was attiEed in
plain citizens dress chiefly, and di.moun-
led at al early hour, sending his horse to
the rear: (5y these means, his horse with
its ,raPPings, and his own fine cap, dress
sword and best suit, were saved, and are
now in the care of bis brother, at Lewis
burg) About } in the afternoon-not
aware Of the reyerses in other quarters
their Colonel was rallying the brave 18Th
for a hird charge against the enemy,
when be received the fatal ball 10 his
breast: staggering back, he was caught by
Lieut. E!.io, and others of his men, dying
almost instantly in their arms, the blood
issuing from his mouth. Eight Of the
Reg gimeut placed their guns together as a
bier. and upon il bore back his body: two
of this escort (aoi casual spec;ator) were
shot dead, and two others WOUNDED, on the
way. Reaehing an ambulance Of the ID
Maine Reg, he was placed in i; With some
others, and, going towards Washington,
bis men took DO further care. The ambu
laoce stopped at the house Of the Widow
D0.ln, where it was Overtskeu by Com
pauy Of Siuar,'s Black Horse Rebel Cav
airy, ~ho emp,iei it Of its inmates living
and dad, and used it f5r themselves.
Tuesday, the Rebels ordered the burial
Of the eigh, dead at that House. One of
the Cavalry had taken from one body the
portrait; Of !ady-and papers aud some
$50 in money were also taken from him !:
these matters induced the Widow to order
her men to bury that particular body that
it might be found again. But some whites
came along aud told them to inter those
in,Eaiers anyway: accordingly, six were
thrown into gully, without being boxed
or stripped; Cameron, being laid in the
vehicle first, came out last on removal q
blanket was thrown over him, and little
dit upon that, which was renewed By the
negroes as rains washed j; away.
State Treasurer Magrsw, and others, it
will be remembered, were sent TO ask for
the dead body, but were bratally impris-
oued BY Beauregard's men. The design
was doubtless 10 take advantage Of tie
natural sympathies Of the Secretary Of War,
and wiring from him, by correspondence,
some tacit Acknowledgement Of them As a
coyerument instead Of usurpa,ion. But
they failed signaIly in tha, base scheme.
In August, Mr. Kane, with others, under
a flag Of trace, went TO Fairfax c H., and
found Col Stuart and Lieut.. Barbour, who
recognized Kane by bis dress as one Of the
.9lh Reg, and assured him that his Cole
ueps grave was known. Kane described
the IOcket, when Barbour said one Of bis
men had it, knew from whom it was taken,
aud where be was laid Gen. Johnston
gave orders that the grave be marked
and mark was kept up until the enemy
left Manassas, when, for some reason, that
proof was obliterated.
Thursday of last week, (l3th inst Sec
Stanton commissioned Mr. Kane, and Col.
CamerOn's friends requested Lieut.. Elliot,
to renew the search. Friday, they stood
again upon the battle ground, aud reached
the house where the Highlanders las. saw
the corpse of their Colonel. They found
also one Of the black men who assisted in
the burial, aud who correctly described
the locket, the clothing, and the general
appearance Of the man of whom they were
10 search. Opening the third grave, the
blanket was found-snd Kane identified (
The FIRST body as that of Col. Cameron, by
bis coat, vest and pants, the undsrshir. be
lad recently purchased, aud the truss with
lis name, upon his person. They took
lis length, SIX feet and al inch, correspon-
ling With bis height (six feet two when
live. A white man here appeared, and
aid those were Col. Csmeron's remains.
u short, No doubt remains Of their genu-
leness. After nearly eight months Of
-asting, little of the body remained except
le bones and ligameD,s: althO' the decon-
osition Of the muscular FIBRE was not
ymplete, and the surface had something
le appearance Of a mummy. The party
lde box of such materials as could be
ltbered on the spot. The head Of one of i