Civil War Veteran from Maine Who Died In Oregon is Going Home

A man who served as a private with the 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the Civil War before moving to Oregon where he died is finally going home.

Jewett Williams grew up in Hodgson, a small farming community in Northern Maine. He joined the 20th in October 1864 and went on to participate in some of the most decisive victories in the Civil War.

Williams was part of the force that accepted the surrender of Gen. Robert E. Lee at Appomattox on April 9, 1865.

After the war, he moved to Portland, Oregon.

In early 1922, he became a patient at the Oregon State Hospital where he died on July 17.

Williams was 78 years old.

No one ever came forward to claim his remains.

Until this year.

The Adjutant General of the Maine National Guard, Maine Sen. Angus King, and the Togus National Cemetery expressed the desire to have Private Williams returned home.

They said he he was returned, he would be buried with all the honors due a veteran who had served his nation during wartime.

With an agreement in place, Willaims will now be transported from Oregon to Maine by the Patriot Guard Riders, a volunteer organization that performs patriotic services at many military funerals.

On Aug. 1, they will have a ceremony at the Oregon State Hospital that will include a period-specific color guard presentation performed by Oregon-based Civil War reenacts. The ceremony will be live-streamed on the ODVA's Facebook Page at facebook.com/odvavet.