The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-11-20
James Deering Fsssenden.

Saturday morning Gen. James ID. Fessenden
left his residence on State street to go down
town. He stopped on the way at Mr.. w. s.
Banks drag store where he complained OF not
feeling well and took some ginger He said
he was very cold. He then left the store and
proceeded down the street At the corner of
Middle and Exchange streets his knees seemed
to give way and he would have fallen had not
Mr.. George Woodbury. caught him, and, with
MIR. Green's assistance, Gen. Fessenden was
taken into Mr.. Ponce's cigar store, but he was
dead. He had evidently passed away pain
lessly, giving but one gasp, and without any
muscular commissions whatever. Both his
BROTHER Gen. Francis FessendeB, his SOB,
Mr.. Harry NJ. Fessenden, and DR.. C. o. Files
were quickly on hand, and the remains were
taken home. 1t was a case OF heart disease,
from which malady the general had suffered
at different times. In fact he was considera-
bly, out of health few years ago and took a
trip to Europe hoping to benefit it.
James Deering Fsssenden was born Sept.
49, 1888. He was grandson Of James Deer
ing, one of the best known Of Portland sons,
and the Oldest son of the late Hon. William
ies Etoo0hNsh' AAO SA"dAasou az A1oWuoiu
in the class OF 1882 with President Chamber
lain, Lewis Pierce OF this CITY, and the late
Walter Wells. He studied law in the office OF
Fessenden & Deblois, and later was partner
in the firm of Fessenden & Butler, the firm
consisting of Hon. VIM. Pitt Fessenden, ex-
Mayer Butler, and the deceased. In 1861; ct
the breaking out Of the war of the rebellion,
Gen. Fessenden enlisted a company OF sharp
shooters for the Second o. s. Regim ent Sharp
shoeters-Berdan's - and was commissioned
captain of Company D. In March. 1862, he
was appointed aide on the staff of Gen. David
Hunter, commanding the Department OF the
South with headquarters at Hilton Head. In
May Gen. Hunter issued his proclamation
freeing the blacks and Capt. Fesssnden was
appointed colonel of the first regiment of
freedmen. President Lincoln's later ORDER to
the effect that Gen. Hunters proclamation
was illegal, sdisbanded Fessenden's regiment
He was then promoted to colonel on Hunters
staff and took part in the campaign against
Charleston.
In September, 1868, Col. Fessenden was
transferred to Gen. Hooker's staff and took
part in the battles of Lookout Mountain, Mis-
complimented by Gen. Hooker for his bravery,
aud promoted to brigadier.general, and imme-
diately afterward, at Dallas, saved the bridge
by gallant daring which enabled the whole
army to cross the creek without delay. In
1864 he con manded the forces at Winchester
during the winter; in July, 1865, the districts
of Western South Carolina and Western Ma
ryland, and in December, 1865, he was made
brevet major general Of volunteers. The Ad-
jutant Generals report of 1864-5 further adds
that if he had been in command Of Maine
troops his brilliant services would have been
better known by his fellow citizens.
After the warm 1S67-he was appointed
register of bankruptcy, and held Office until
the bankrupt law was repealed. He also
formed law partnership with his brother,
Gen. Francis Fessenden. He was
member of the Legislature during 1872
3 and 4. He was modest, courteous, brave.
He leaves a widow nee Frances Cushing
Greeley, and two sons, James D. and Harry
NJ Fessenden. He was q member of the
Loyal Legion, Grand Army, Odd Fellows aud
knights of Pythias
There will be meeting Of the Cumberland
Bar Association this morning at 10 o'clock in
their room in the City Building to take action
upon the death Of Gen. Fessenden.
The funeral will take place at the residence
of Gen. Francis Fessenden, rs Deering street,
this afternoon al 2 80 o'clock.