Nathaniel J. Jackson was born in the coastal town of Newburyport located in Essex County, Massachusetts.

The 1st Maine did not participate in the opening campaigns of the Civil War, and the 90-day regiment as well as Jackson were mustered out of the volunteer service in early August.

Our line rested behind a rail fence, which position we maintained for upward of an hour, when our ammunition became completely exhausted.

We then fell back a short distance... then received orders to fix bayonets and charge upon the enemy, which we did at double-quick.

[5]Jackson was promoted to brigadier general on September 24, 1862, and given brigade command in the XII Corps of the Army of the Potomac that October.

[6] On November 11, 1864, Jackson was ordered to the Western Theater and given temporary command of a division of XX Corps in the Army of Georgia.

Jackson was brevetted to the rank of major general in the Union Army on March 15, due to his conduct at Battle of Gaines' Mill nearly three years prior.

It was noted that neither of the local newspapers in Jamestown or Buffalo, the nearest major city, reported on Jackson's death.