James Parnell Jones: 7th Maine Infantry

James Parnell Jones

1834-1864

Captain, Company B
Major, 7th Maine Volunteer Infantry

Well...this is a sad story, actually. James Jones was a member of a prominent Quaker family who lived in the village of China, Maine. He was sent to schools operated by the Society of Friends in Rhode Island and Haverford College in Pennsylvania and graduated with highest honors from the Unversity of Michigan in 1856. Haverford offered him a professorship in Greek and Latin, but he decided to return to China where he became principal of China Academy. He married a fellow school teacher and settled down to raise a family.

When the War broke out in '61, the citizens of China organized a rally for the raising of troops, and you can imagine the excitement that prevailed in the small village, even though there was a strong Quaker presence in the community. James and his 18 year old kid brother were present at the rally, and when all those who were willing to volunteer were asked to raise their hands, the boy impulsively raised his. James reached over and pulled his brother's arm down, saying "Thee's too young, Richard."

Instead, James went himself, after much soul-searching, and in spite of the opposition of his family and the Society of Friends, from which he had to resign.

The 7th Maine fought in all the major engagements of the Army of the Potomac. James was wounded at Antietam and in the Battle of the Wilderness. After a short convalescent absence he returned to duty only to be killed by a sniper's bullet on July 14, 1864.

Although the Quakers could not condone his choice to fight, they respected and honored his sacrifice. His body was laid in state in Independence Hall in Philadelphia before his remains were sent home to be buried in China, Maine, on July 26, 1864.

The notation on James' carte-de-visite is in the handwriting of Maine's Adjutant General, John L. Hodsdon, who says it all:"A brave and good officer".

Sources:Report of the Adjutant General of Maine1864-1865; Regimental rolls of the 7th Maine Infantry; family reminisences of the Jones family as compiled in China, Maine: A Bicentennial History by Marian T. VanStrien, 1966.
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This page was last on March 29, 2000.

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