Captain James H. Shannon
information provided by Alfred Ellis
James H. Shannon joined Company
H of the 5th Maine Infantry Regiment in 1861 in Biddeford, Maine. Captain Shannon mentions
in the Mollus papers that his first attempt to join the 5th Maine were thwarted by his
mother who refused to sign for him. From this it would be suspected that James was not yet
considered an adult. His father, who realized his son was determined to join, agreed to
his being in the 5th Maine Infantry Band. He played the B-baritone horn.
After 1862 when the bands were mustered out, Shannon was commissioned a First Lieutenant
in the Third Maryland of the First Brigade, First Division, Twelfth Army Corps.
In February, 1864, Shannon was sent from Tullahoma, Tn, by General Slocum up to Nashville,
to transact some business with Andrew Johnson, then military governor of Tennessee.
According to the Military Records Shannon at this time was named the Captain of the
Company E of the First Tennessee- Alabama Independent Vidette Cavalry.
The exploits of Captain Shannon during the Civil War can be read in the following:
Maine MOLLUS War Papers Volume 4
A Few Incidents and Reminiscences of the Civil War. - By Captain James H. Shannon
The Mollus Volumes were originally published 1887-1915 and were first-hand accounts
written by men who were active participants in the Civil War. Captain Shannon mostly
details his war-time experiences with the 5th Maine and 3rd Maryland. Unfortunately, there
is no mention of Captain Shannon duty with the Independent Vidette Cavalry.
Information taken from the compiled service record of Captain James H. Shannon:
James H. Shannon Musician in Company H, 5th Maine Infantry, At age 21 was commissioned 1st
Lieutenant, Company H, 3rd Maryland Infantry
February 1, 1863, vice Scherzer resigned; prior service in the Peninsula
campaign; detailed to command Company F, April 1, 1863; detached to
command brigade ambulance corps, May, 1863 - January, 1864; resigned to accept appointment
as Captain, Company E, 1st Vedettes Tennessee
Cavalry, February 8, 1864; transferred to the First Tennessee Vidette
Cavalry.
