BIO: James CAMERON, Dauphin County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JAWB

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/runk/runk-bios.htm
_______________________________________________________________ 

Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, 
Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the 
Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: 
J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, page 225.
_______________________________________________________________ 

  CAMERON, COL. JAMES, youngest son of Charles Cameron and Martha 
Pfoutz, was born at Maytown, Lancaster county, Pa., March 1, 1801.  He 
received his early education at the village school, and at nineteen 
entered the printing office of his brother, General Cameron, at 
Harrisburg, where he served a faithful apprenticeship.  In 1827 he went 
to Lancaster, where he assumed the editorship of the Political 
Sentinel, studying law in the meantime in the office of James Buchanan, 
afterwards President of the United States.  He was duly admitted to the 
Lancaster bar, and in 1838 established himself at Harrisburg.  During 
the Mexican war he served under General Scott, and upon its close 
settled upon a farm near Milton, Pa., where he was living in retirement 
when the war for the Union was inaugurated.  At the solicitation of the 
soldiers of the so-called Highlander regiment (the Seventy-ninth New 
York), he accepted the commission of colonel of that organization.  At 
the battle of the first Bull Run, June 21, 1861, he was of Sherman's 
brigade, Tyler's division, and at the crisis of the struggle bore 
himself with the greatest gallantry.  Again and again he led his men 
with the cry, "Scots, follow me!" in the face of a withering fire of 
musketry and artillery, until stricken down mortally wounded, expiring 
on the field of his heroic exploits.  "No mortal man," says an eye 
witness, "could stand the fearful storm that swept them."  After 
repeated efforts the body of the gallant Cameron was recovered, brought 
to his home, and interred amid many demonstrations of respect and 
affection.