Major James Jourdan
Born: 1831.
Died: Unknown.
Buried: Unknown.
Enlisted: April 18, 1861 at Brooklyn, NY to serve 3 years (30 years of age).
Mustered In: May 23, 1861 as Major.
Commissioned: Major, 14th New York Militia on April 27, 1861.
With rank from April 19, 1861.
Discharged: January 2, 1862 for Promotion to Lieutenant-Colonel, 56th New York Infantry.
The following article appeared in the Brooklyn daily Eagle in December 1861:
MEETING OF COMPANY C, 14TH REGIMENT.
At a meeting of Company C, 14th Regt. N.Y.S.M., held at their company quarters, Camp Marion, Upton Hill, Va., December 27th, 1861, the following farewell address was received and read; from Major Jourdan, on the occasion of his leaving the regiment:
Camp Marion, Dec. 26, 1861
To the members of Company C 14th Regiment N.Y.S.M.:
COMRADES-I am called upon to perform a painful duty, I am called upon to leave you and to leave a regiment in which I have served for many years, and which I have found and do now leave some of the best friends I have in the world. I have rejected promotion in three particular instances, insomuch as I preferred to be with the Old Fourteenth; but in this particular case I feel myself compelled to yield to the wishes of many good friends in accepting the position of Lieut. Colonel of the 56th Regt. N.Y.S.V. To remain longer with you in my present position could render no particular benefit to you.
I have seen you fight for and I have seen our brave comrades fall in defense of our glorious flag, and by your valor the Fourteenth Regiment has achieved a good reputation.
May the name of the Fourteenth Regiment of Brooklyn be a passport to the admiration and respect of all loyal citizens and a terror to traitors. Loved at home, and respected abroad may you ever be, is the heartfelt wish of your late "Major."
(Signed)
J. Jourdan___________________
On Motion a committee of three was appointed to draft resolutions expressive of the feelings of the company.
The following resolution was presented and adopted:
Resolved, That we offer to our late Major, J. Jourdan, our congratulations on his recent promotion to the Lieutenant Colonelcy of the 56th Regt. N.Y.S.V. We feel that we have lost a kind friend and a brave leader, and we tender him our kindest wishes for his further promotion. The past has shown to us his noble qualities. His courage and gallantry, ever evinced when danger menaced the "Fourteenth," will afford in the future, when clustered around our firesides, a theme in which all will join in the praise of our gallant Major. We regret that no opportunity was offered to us to bid him farewell; but we predict that should the 56th and 14th meet upon the battlefield, his presence will add renewed vigor to our arms, and the Fourteenth will never disgrace themselves when his eyes are upon them.
Seg't Harry Wm. Michell
Corp'l James McLeer
John M. Knowlton
Committee___________________
Source: The History of the Fighting Fourteenth by Tevis & Marquis.
Brooklyn Daily Eagle.