Collins M. Chadbourn was born around 1838 in Maine to Nathan and Betsey Chadbourn. His father was a farmer who owned $7,000 of real estate in 1850. He grew up and attended school in Waterboro, Maine. His father died on April 25, 1860. Chadbourne took over as head of the household, and by June 1860, he owned $5,000 of real estate and $700 of personal property.

 

Chadbourn enlisted in the Union army on October 31, 1861, and he mustered in as a corporal in Company I of the 1^st Maine Cavalry later that day. The regiment took part in the Second Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of Antietam, the Battle of Fredericksburg, the Battle of Gettysburg, and the Overland Campaign. He was eventually promoted to sergeant. He was wounded and captured in the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House on May 11, 1864.

 

As his brother Joseph noted, “a shot struck Collins[‘] pistol another struck his belt [and] hurt him some but he never left his poast, the third struck him in the Bowels [and] went clear through him & he fell of[f] his Horse.” Soon afterwards, “the Rebs made a charge on them & they had to fall back.” He was exchanged soon afterward, but he died on August 22, 1864.

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