MaineMilitia.com

Following text went out in a press release from the Maine State Museum. Members of the Third Maine will be present at the Musuem Tue, Aug 9th at 9am for the "official" ceremony. The trunk will be on display in the Museum lobby until mid-September.

Press Release Information

Personal Trunk of Major Charles Thomas Watson

On August 9, 2005 the Third Maine Regiment Volunteer Infantry, Inc. officially presented the personal trunk of Charles T. Watson to the Maine State Museum. Major Watson served with the Third Maine Regiment and the quartermaster department of the United States Volunteers during the Civil War. It is believed that the trunk held his personal belongings during his military service. The Third Maine Regiment Volunteer Infantry, Inc. is a non-profit, educational and living history organization with the goals of preserving the history of Maine’s role in the Civil War. The organization was formed 20 years ago and is based in central and southern Maine, with over 100 members.

In the fall of 2003, the previous owner of the trunk contacted the Third Maine to see if there was any interest in acquiring it prior to going to auction. He wanted to get the trunk back to Maine if possible. The trunk is clearly labeled with Watson’s name, written (it appears) in his own hand. After some consideration, the Third Maine purchased the trunk and had it shipped to Maine from South Carolina, where it had resided for many years. It was quickly turned over to the Maine State Museum for conservation and display. The trunk did not contain any artifacts.

Charles Watson was born on April 28, 1939 in Castine, Maine. His family moved to Bath shortly after his birth, where they settled. He enlisted as a Maine Volunteer on April 24, 1861 only twelve days after Confederate forces fired on Ft. Sumter at Charleston, South Carolina. At the time of his enlistment, Charles stood at five feet, eight inches with blue eyes and light complexion and hair. He was a bookbinder. Both he and his older brother William joined the Third Maine, which was known as the Kennebec Regiment since it was mustered from towns up and down the Kennebec River Valley. The Third Maine was active for three years, from June 1861 to June 1864. Watson started out as a private in Company A, but soon ended up in the quartermaster’s office of the regiment, being responsible for the equipment and supplies of the regiment. In June 1862 he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, which is when he acquired the trunk, it is believed. Charles served with the Third Maine in many battles, among them 1st & 2nd Bull Run, Peninsula Campaign, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and the Wilderness. Shortly after he was mustered out of service in June 1864, Watson reenlisted as a captain in the quartermaster’s office in Harrisburg, PA. After the war, he worked in the Freedman’s Bureau in Atlanta, GA. He was promoted to major in 1866, and finished his army career in 1867. After the army, he led a busy life in the Atlanta area, serving as a deputy US Marshal, assessor for US Internal Revenue and as a cashier for a railroad company. Charles died on May 9, 1913 at a sanatorium in Ballston Spa, NY at the age of 74.

NOTE: Full biographical information, pictures and copies of some original documents are available at www.thirdmaine.org on the community service page.