James Theodore Talbot (1825 - 1862)

Born 25 Dec 1825 in Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Ancestors

Died 22 Apr 1862 at age 36 in Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Biography

From Wikipedia: When James turned eighteen, he joined John C. Fremont's expedition into the Oregon Territory, despite pressure from his family to stay in Washington. James served as a member of the Corps of Topographical Engineers along with 38 others during the expedition, and contributed to the detailed and reliable maps created as a result. His journals were among the most detailed and accurate descriptions of the frontier at the time. He went on the third Fremont expedition, the second for him, but was sent to Vera Cruz for duty in the Mexican–American War, but the war had ended by the time he had arrived. He stayed in Vera Cruz for eight months until being reassigned to Fort Columbus on Governors Island, New York. After two months, he was reassigned to the garrison in Oregon. He arrived in Astoria in May 1848. According to Army records, he was instructed to survey the coast of Oregon by General Persifor S. Smith. He went on assignments like this for a few years followed by long periods of boredom. He left Oregon in December 1852, and was reassigned to recruiting duties outside Washington, D.C from 1853–54. From 1855–57, he was assigned to Company K of the US First Artillery at Fort McHenry, Maryland. From there they were reassigned to Fort Dallas, Florida, and then to Fort Brooke near Tampa. From there he was reassigned to Company H in Fort Moultrie, South Carolina. There he received full command of the company, but was forced to go on leave because of his declining health. On April 2, 1862, he was promoted to Captain, and was sent to Washington to request a relief force. On April 8, he met with Governor Pickens to request that he return to his post at Fort Sumter with the letter from Abraham Lincoln instructing Robert Anderson to hold out until the relief force arrived. Pickens refused, and Talbot was put on a train back to Washington. Shortly after returning to Washington, Talbot contracted Tuberculosis, and died on April 22, 1862. He was 37.

Sources

• Wikipedia
• Historical Society; Portland, OR; Index Collection: Biography Index
• Find A Grave: Memorial #8137543