The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-02-29
Our Candidate.

The Republicans of Portland could not
have done a wiser thing than they did last
evening in nominating Gen. Francis Fessen-
den for Mayor. Emlnently qualified for the
position, the son OF one Of Names most gifted
and distinguished statesmen, whose name
was synonym for integrity, courage and
devotion, GEN. FEssENDEN will receive the
hearty supportof the older portion of the
Republican party who remember the victories
which they achieved under the leadership of
the great Senator, while the younger men
who may properly regard the son as their
representative, will rally with enthusiasm
about the man, whose history is so conspicu-
Gus and whose record so brilliant.
~ The fact that GEN. FEssENDEN has re-
ceived 50 large vote in the caucuses for
position which he accepts with great reluc-
tance, indicates that his merits are so well
known to the voters of Portland that any
notice Of his past career1may appear to be a
work ofsupererogatioB but it is never amiss
to call to mind the record of good man.
Gen. Fessenden was born in Portland in 1889
and is now about thirty-seven years of age
He graduated at Bowdoin in 1858. At the
very outbreak of the Rebellion he entered the
service and was appointed captain in the 10th
q. s. Infantry. The regiment was in the
Western army, and in the bloody battle of
Shiloh he was wounded in the arm. While
disabled he came to Maine and on his recov-
cry was commission Colonel OF the 25th
Maine Regiment which served out its term of
nine months in the vicinity of Washington.
Soon after his muster-out in that regiment
he was commissioned as Colonel of the 3Oth
Maine Regiment which was assigned to the
Department ofthe Gulf. He participated in
the disastrous Red River campaign of Gen.
Banks in the spring of 1854. In that cam
paign he commanded brigade and while
taking position on the battle of Cane River
upon which the fate OF the whole army large
ly depended, lie was wounded in the leg SC
severely that amputation was necessary. In
that fight three-fourths of the loss fell on
GEN. FEssENDEN's brigade. He was after
wards promoted to Brigadier General and
brevetted Major General of Volunteers. Be-
longing to the regular army, he was brevetted
Major in the United States army for gallantry
at Shiloh, Lieutenant Colonel in the same for
conspicuous service at Manetts Bluff, Cane
River and at the close of the war was further
advanced to the brevet rank of Colonel in the
regular army "for meritorious service during
the war" After the war he was member
of the 'Wirtz court-martial' at Washington,
and was afterwards made Assistant Commis.
sioner of the Freedmen's Bureau in Mary.
land. In every position which he held in
the army, so full of responsibility for man so
young, he receised the warmest commenda-
tions Of his superior officers, embracing many
of the old graduates OF West Point, famous
in the late war.
A well known physician in this city who
was present at the battle in which GEN. FEs-
sENDEN lost his leg, recently spoke in the
highest admiration of his conduct. Al
though SO severely wounded himself, he said
to the surgeons who were examining him:
"Don't mind me; look out for the boys"
The old members of the Maine regiments in
which he served relate many instances of the
care and consideration he ever evinced for
the men under him.
A true gentleman in every sense of the
word, conversant with the history as well as
the affairs of the city, accustomed to deal
with men, thoroughly conscientious and up
right, in the prime of life, he will, if elected,
make one of the most efficient mayors in the
history of the city.
Republicans! you haze a candidate auorthy
Of you,s best efforts. The outlook is most
propitious. CLOSE UP THE RANKS; BRING
UP THE RESERVES, AND GEN. FRANCIS FEs-
SENDEN WILL BE PORTLAND's NEXT