USA > New Jersey > Historical sketch of Co. "D," 13th Regiment, N.J. Vols. Part of the 3d Brigade, 1st Division, 12th Army Corps, U.S.A., with the muster roll of the company > Part 1
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Gc 973.74 N39ne j 1758065
M. L
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01757 1008
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Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012
http://archive.org/details/historicalsketc00newy
HISTORICAL SKETCH
OF
Co. "D." 13TH REGIMENT, N. J. VOLS. :
PART OF THE
3D BRIGADE, 1ST DIVISION, 12TH ARMY CORPS, U. S. A.
WITH THE
MUSTER ROLL OF THE COMPANY.
COMPILED AND PRINTED FOR THE USE OF ITS MEMBERS BY THE AUTHORITY OF " D" SOCIETY.
NEWARK. N. J., 1875.
NEW YORK : D. H. GILDERSI REVE & CO., PUBLISHERS AND PRINTERS, 101 CHAMBERS STREET. - 1875.
1758065
F 8349 .4985
NEW JERSEY INFANTRY. 13th regt., 1862-1865. Co.D. Historical sketch of Co. "D", 13th regiment, N.J. vols., part of the 3d brigade, Ist divison, 12th army corps, U. S. A. with the muster roll of the company. Compiled and printed for the use of its members by the authority of "D" society. New- ark, N.J., 1875. New York, D.H. Gildersleeve & co.,1875.
.
87p. 19cm.
19084
SHELF CARD
NL 40-4198
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1875,
By "D" SOCIETY,
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.
90.84
1
PREFACE.
THIS little book makes no pretense to rank with the "Literature of the Rebellion," nor does it owe its origin to any ambition to take place as a history, in any sense of the word. The same feeling which prompted the survivors of Company D of the Thirteenth Regiment, N. J. Volunteers, to band themselves into a society to perpetuate the associations and friendships growing out of their army experience in the great struggle for the maintenance of the Republic, has also moved them to put in durable form the record of the part they took as a military organization in that struggle. And this. too, not only for their own satisfaction, and for the informa- tion of those who, in time, shall take their places on the society roll, but also as a sacred duty to the memory of their comrades who died on the field of battle, or fell as victims to the exposure and perils of soklier life. If, then, by reason of its appearing in print, this record shall provoke the critic's pen, let it be remembered that it was not written for the public eye, nor for public entertainment and instruction. That, in homely language, it pretends to give only a truthful summary of the life of Company D, as a fractional exponent of that grand
PREFACE.
army of the Republic. The record claims for itself at least one distinguishing quality, and that is authenticity. It is not the compilation of a single writer; but its facts are taken from notes made at the time on the com- pany's rolls; from the private journals, and the recollec- tions of the actors in the scenes themselves. Not a fact stated but has been rehearsed again and again in the hearing of the society, and submitted to their severest scrutiny, until at last the record, as it now stands, is the unanimous verdict of the whole society.
This little book, then, disclaiming all pretensions to other merits, rests itself on the one claim-that its record is true.
ii
HISTORICAL SKETCH
Co. "D." 13TH REGIMENT, N. J. VOLS. OF
As a component part of the Thirteenth Regiment, the history of Company D must, of course, form part and parcel of the history of the regiment. This regiment was raised by the State of New Jersey, under the second call made by the President of the United States for three hundred thousand men, Charles S. Olden being then the Governor of the State of New Jersey.
Colonel Ezra A. Carman, formerly of the Seventh Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, was commis- sioned as colonel of the regiment, and the next commission issued was that of a second lieutenant, to George A. Beardsley, who proceeded at once to raise the company; this was on the seven- teenth day of July, 1862; William G. Boggs, on the same day, was mustered in as the first private recruited for the company, and received the warrant of a sergeant. On the 18th recruiting com-
6
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF COMPANY D,
menced in earnest. On the 19th the following ad- vertisement appeared in the Newark Daily Ad- vertiser:
RALLY - RALLY - RALLY ! COMPANY D, 13TH REGIMENT, N. J. V .- Col. Carman.
The subscriber, having received authority to raise Co. D., of the 13th Regiment, N. J. Vol., is now enlisting good men between the ages of 18 and 45 years, at 305 Broad St., and No. 1 Ferry St. It is desired that this company shall be com- posed, as near as can be, of men of the character which will make the society in camp as pleasant as that of our home circles. Let good men, who love their country, rally to the support of our glorious flag which traitors are seeking to trample in the dust. GEORGE A. BEARDSLEY,
Recruiting Officer.
Through the influence of Thomas B. Smith, Messrs. Macknet, Wilson, and Baldwin, gave the use of an office for recruiting purposes. Recruiting progressed favorably for some days, when it was interfered with by other recruiting officers offering an extra bounty of five dollars each to the next twenty men. Lieu- tenant Beardsley, feeling the necessity of doing the same, applied to. the Hon. Frederick T. Freling- huysen, who had received a contribution of funds to be distributed for this object, and received from him the sum of one hundred dollars, which was ap- plied as extra bounty, and recruiting was again pressed, good men coming forward freely. By the 15th August, one hundred and seven men had been mus-
7
THIRTEENTH REGIMENT, N. J. VOLS.
tered in, and the work of recruiting ceased. These recruits were, as rapidly as they were mustered in, forwarded to Camp Frelinghuysen, the regimental encampment situated on the Morris Canal, about two miles from Broad street, in the purlieus of the city of Newark.
The company being full was then officered as fol- lows, viz. :
George A. Beardsley, captain.
Thomas B. Smith, first lieutenant.
Charles H. Canfield, second lieutenant,
The first muster roll of the company shows the following names :
BEARDSLEY, GEORGE A., Captain. SMITH, THOMAS B., 1st Lieutenant.
CANFIELD, CHARLES H., ed Lieutenant.
SERGEANTS.
WHITFIELD, GEORGE G., 1st Sergeant.
BOGGS, WILLIAM G.
MILLER, JOHN R.
DECKER, JOHN P. PATTERSON, EDWARD.
CORPORALS.
Conselyea, Ira W. Milburn, Samuel.
Hoyt, Edwin. Paige, James C.
Lawrence, Geo. W. Runyon, Peter H.
Lefurge, Andrew W. Spence, John A.
PRIVATES.
Armstrong, James C., Pricate. Botts, George. Pricate. Atha, Thomas II.,
Bartlett, Sen., William, " Atkins, Abram. .. Bartlett, Jr., William, ..
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF COMPANY D,
PRIVATES.
Burlew, John J. C., Private.
Lambert, William, Private.
Burlew, Jacob,
Morgan, David,
Baldwin, George F.,
Mason, Albert,
Musician.
Cook, Charles E .. ..
Milburn, Charles, Private.
Curren, John J.,
McConnell, William, 66
Carter, Alfred, ..
Milburn, David S.,
Cole, Jesse R.,
6.
Morningstern, Abraham, "
Colver, Joseph,
Norcross, William,
Collard, David B ..
Osborn, Alexander,
Dodd, William H., ..
Page, William H., Musician.
Devor. Thomas R., .. Prout, Frederick H., Wagoner. Romer, Washington I., Pricate.
Davis. George T.,
Day, Ludlow.
Russell, Caleb, 66
Edwards, Lemuel H., ..
Rindell, Anthony C.,
Edgar, Moses,
Russell, Washington R.,
Egbert, John II.,
. .
Reighley, Charles, Jr .. ..
Fields, George H ..
Reighley, James B.,
Freeman, Stephen,
Riker, John, Musician.
Faitonte, Joshua F.,
Ritchie, Charles N., Private.
Green, Aaron,
.. Scull, David, . 4
Griffin, John,
Scull, John,
Garabrant. James E.,
..
Stewart, Ezra,
Hetzel, Jacob,
Sherman, Oba, Swaim, George M.,
Hargreaves, John S.,
..
Simmonds, Robert,
Harrison, Henry T ..
Stewart, Mortimer, Shaffer, Rudolph A.,
Harris, Abram M., ..
Taylor, William,
Jeroleman. William HI ..
Terhune, Albert II., ..
Jenkins, Leander,
Vickory, William,
Kinsey, George.
Van Arsdale, George J., 6.
Lyon, Washington, ..
Van Iderstine, W'm. H.,
Love, James,
Wilde, James B.,
Lewis, John,
Whetsell, Andrew R.,
1
-
..
Hopper. Byron C.,
Harrison, George R., ..
9
THIRTEENTH REGIMENT, N. J. VOLS.
The company commenced the work of instruction immediately at Camp Frelinghuysen, and were there uniformed and supplied with arms ; and on the 25th day of August, with the rest of the regiment, were mustered into the United States service, by Lieuten- ant D. Watkins, of the Fifth U. S. Cavalry. At this time it was stated to be necessary that some of the enlisted men of the company should be transferred to the muster roll of Company I, to bring it up to the minimum number for mustering in, as well as to re- duce Company D to a maximum.
That none might be transferred but those who were willing, volunteers were called for, with the express understanding that they should be transferred only on the muster roll, and that they were still to do duty with, and in all respects be treated as belonging to, Company D; whereupon the following persons stepped forward and were mustered in, as of Com- pany I, viz. : Jolm Booth, Thomas Giles, Moses II. Garabrant, James P. Howatt, Martin V. B. Ingram, John Ogden.
There was but little time allowed at Camp Freling- Imuysen for the newly enlisted recruits to learn the duties of a soldier, or how to carry himself under arms. Sooner, far, than any one anticipated, the exi- gencies of the service called instanter for every avail- able man, and orders came to forward to the seat of war. Accordingly, on Sunday, the 31st of August, tents were struck, and the regiment marched out of Camp Frelinghuysen, down into the city, and through
-
10
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF COMPANY D,
Broad street, and on to the Chestnut street depot, of the New Jersey Railroad.
This was a memorable Sunday morning, not only for the boys of the regiment, but in the city at large; as the column, covered with the dust of the unpaved road, moved down Broad street, the churches ap- peared to have been deserted, and the sidewalks were lined with spectators, who testified by open dem- onstrations their sympathy with the chief actors of the scene. Arrived at the depot, the neighborhood was filled up with the friends of the regiment. Here the last sad leave-takings were had, which separated, in many instances, the tenderest of ties; in some cases, too, partings which were fated to be forever ; a delay of about a half-hour, and then the shrill whistle of the steam locomotive announced that the regiment was off for a three years' service in the cause of the Republic.
This was the first trying ordeal through which the boys had to pass ; but, once in the cars, and home and friends left behind, the excitement and novelty of the occasion soon obliterated sad thoughts, and long faces and solemn looks gave way to fun and frolic.
About midnight, on the 2d of September, the regiment reached Washington. The night was passed in the depot, resting the weary body on the floors ; and, on the morning of the 3d, the regiment was marched to the "Soldier's Retreat " for break- fast. Here the boys enjoyed their first experience of 1
-
11
THIRTEENTH REGIMENT, N. J. VOLS.
army rations. About noon the regiment was marched across the Long Bridge to the Virginia shore, and, passing along the road to Alexandria, moved on to the vicinity of Fort Richardson, on Arlington Heights, where the first camp on the enemy's soil was pitched. The Sibley tents, which had been brought with the regiment from Newark, made a fine show in the warlike scene, and contrasted strongly with the veterans who had just come from the Peninsular campaign and were encamped on all the neighboring grounds, with the sky for a canopy, or, at best, the light protection of the "shelter tent." It was then the boys were thrown upon their own resources for comfort ; and, if they did not like things as they found them, they had to exert themselves to im- prove them. The enemy at this time was moving in force toward Harper's Ferry and the fords of the Potomac beyond. It was hardly to be supposed that an attack would be made on the strong lines of forts which surrounded Washington ; but, in view of any possibility, the regiment, together with the One Hundred and Seventh New York (also a new regiment, a neighbor in the field, and subsequently brigaded with the Thirteenth), was set to work at digging rifle-pits, and drilling how to fight in them. This proved, however, nothing more than good practice in soldiers' work, until then unlearned. As, on the evening of the 6th, the command broke camp, and, re-crossing the Potomac over the Aque- duet Bridge at Georgetown, moved on toward Rock-
-
12
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF COMPANY D,
ville, about 22 miles distant, reaching there about 5 p. M., where it again went into camp, about two miles northwest of and beyond the town.
The tents followed the command here, together with a vast amount of baggage and regimental property. To such extent did these impedimenta of the march exist, that it is stated that thirty-two army wagons were required for transportation of the same.
On the 9th the tents were pitched and the camp formed, which was no sooner done than orders came to move immediately in light marching order, leaving behind tents, baggage, those who had fallen sick by the way, and a guard to protect the camp and prop- erty. This was the last the boys saw of their Sibleys, and the last, too, that was seen of many comforts and necessaries contained in the baggage of the unfortu- nate owners. The march commenced about 11 A. M., and at night Middle Brook was reached, where the regiment joined the Third Brigade, Second Division, Bank's Corps, to which it had been assigned. then under the command of Brigadier-General Gordon.
September 10th the march continued in the direc- tion of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad ; the Monoe- acy River was forded, and about noon of the 13th the regiment was halted at about one mile from the town of Frederick, Maryland. Here the first sound of battle was heard by the command, and the hearts of all beat fast, as each one thought the hour for the first fight was at hand.
13
THIRTEENTH REGIMENT, N. J. VOLS.
On Sunday, the 14th, the battle of Crampton's Pass was fought, and the sound of the hostile guns was distinctly heard. The command moved at eight o'clock in the morning, and marched, with frequent halts, for sixteen hours, moving through by-roads and across fields, over the Catoctin Hills, to the west of Frederick, avoiding the main roads, which were ob- structed with trains of artillery, and troops, and wagons, passing through the Middletown Valley, the beautiful scenery of which impressed the soldier's eye and mind with a life-long remembrance.
This was a day of toil which no one who partici- pated in it will ever forget-a memorable march, which, to those ignorant of the causes, seemed without design, and a meaningless doubling over the same ground. Long after midnight, on the morning of the 15th, the exhausted column was halted, and, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Swords, went into bivouac in a field on the road-side, stacking twenty-seven muskets, and about thirty officers and men of the entire regiment being present.
Through the balance of the night, and up to noon of the next day, those who had fallen out exhausted on the march came straggling in, and it was not until about one o'clock p. M. that the march was resumed. The ground over which the command was moving soon began to show signs of the terrific strife of the day before: and as the column crossed the South Mountain and approached Boonsborough, the carnage of the fight was evidenced in the extem-
-
14
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF COMPANY D,
porized hospitals, such as churches, barns, houses, tents, where the surgeons were busy dressing the wounded and amputating limbs. Human gore every- where met the eye, and told a sickening tale to the new recruit of things with which he was but too soon to become familiar. The regiment encamped for the night just beyond Boonsborough. On the 16th the command moved as far as Keedysville, and remained there during the day, cooking rations and resting in preparation for the struggle which the morrow was to witness. The enemy were now posted on the westerly banks of the Antietam Creek, occupying the hills and ridges in front of the vil- lage of Sharpsburg. About midnight the com- mand was roused from their quiet slumber and dreams of happier scenes, and ordered to move immediately. They crossed the creek in cautious silence, and after a short march, took position among the reserves on the right. Here in line of battle the command lay down with equipments on, to catch what sleep they might during the remaining hours of darkness.
At dawn of day, sleep was routed by desultory rifle-firing among the pickets; this was soon fol- lowed by the noise of regular volleys, and then came the roar of artillery, and the combined din told that the battle was begun. The regiment was then moved to the shelter of a piece of wood on the right, and in rear of the engaged line, and held for an hour or so in reserve. At about seven o'clock, General
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THIRTEENTH REGIMENT, N. J. VOLS.
15
Gordon came in person and ordered the command to the front. Moving over the battle-field, the regiment was formed in line within a piece of woodland, on the edge of which was a battery, then engaged in a duel with the enemy's artillery, and to which battery, the regiment for a while formed a support, but, so far, without firing a shot. This was, for the time being, a pretty hot spot : solid shot crashed through the woods, and shells bursted overhead ; added to this, the tops of the lofty trees, as they were cut by the missiles from the enemy, came down with a stand- from-under crash, all of which made the scene a try- ing one for the nerves of a green regiment. By fur- ther orders, the command then faced to the rear, and moved in line about 500 or 700 yards toward the extreme right, passing diagonally across the field and through a piece of standing corn out on to the Hagers- town road. Here, for the first time in its history, the command engaged the enemy ; raw recruits, many of them almost ignorant how to load their rifles, but all full of pluck, engaged the flower of the enemy's army -the veterans of no less a chief than Stonewall Jackson, as he was called. The command had gone over a five-foot post and rail fence, and formed on the opposite side of the road, in front of a similar fence. The ground in front was cleared for some few yards, and then covered by a piece of thick woods along the entire front; within this wood the ground sloped backward and downward, with regular successions of terraces formed by the natural rock; on these
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16
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF COMPANY D,
terraces, the enemy, posted in strength, invisible to most of the Thirteenth, poured in such a galling fire as astonished the boys, and soon made it so hot that it would have been madness to remain, Acting on the principle of discretion being the better part of valor, the regiment broke and moved in pretty lively style to the rear, halting within the protection of a piece of woods. It should be mentioned, however, that Company D, being on the left, and having on their left the 27th Indiana, under Colonel Colgrove, also one of the regiments of the brigade, rallied and fought for a while in the line of the 27th, until Captain Beardsley withdrew it and joined the regiment.
The appearance of the fence rails on the road, as seen after the fight, amply testified as to the sort of fire the regiment had been subjected to, for they were literally riddled, and the only wonder seemed that any one should have escaped unhurt. In the short time the regiment was engaged on this spot many of the regiment were put hors de combat.
NAMES OF KILLED AND WOUNDED.
Captain H. C. Irish, of Company K, a most valu- able officer, was instantly killed and left upon the ground; being buried the next day by some of his command, during a truee for burying the dead.
The regiment had not stood long in this rallying spot when the brigadier commander, the veteran General Gordon, appeared on the left, and noticing the dejected look of the boys, incident to their first
1
17
THIRTEENTHI REGIMENT, N. J. VOLS.
repulse in tackling the enemy, he proposed to the lieutenant-colonel to tell the boys that "the enemy were licked," and to give three cheers. Taking off his hat and swinging it in the air, the lieutenant- colonel quickly complied, and three rousing cheers were given, which ran like an electric spark through the whole command.
General Green having applied to General Gordon, who was in command of the division, for reinforce- ments for his line, which was then engaged on the left of the Hagerstown road, about a quarter of a mile to the left of where the regiment first went in, and sorely pressed, the Thirteenth was given to him, again went to the front under the lead of General Green himself, and took position in the woods on the left of the Dunker Church (a quaint old stone white-washed building, which stood on the ground), and on the ex- treme right of General Green's brigade. Here the command again engaged the enemy, and stood their ground like veterans, loading and firing at will, and under the commendation of their officers, who had little else to do but watch the fight and cheer the boys. They stood this for about an hour, and then a smart trick was played by a force from the enemy, which, coming up from a ravine in front of Company D, pretended they were going to surrender, and thus procuring a cessation of firing long enough for them to carry their point, they passed around the right of Company D, then on the extreme right of the line, and forming across the flank of the command, under
18
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF COMPANY D,
cover of the woods, poured in a murderous fire. Com- pany D was swung round to face the enemy, but they were too strong, and the whole line giving way, the command retired again, and after rambling for some time in search of the brigade, were, under command of the lieutenant-colonel, posted in line of battle with the balance of the brigade, who by that time had been withdrawn from the fight. The battle at this time was pretty much over. The colonel of the regiment had retired to the shelter of a hospital, un- able longer to keep up. The regiment remained under command of the lieutenant-colonel during the balance of the day and night, and was three times moved by him, the last time being about midnight, when it was posted in the immediate front, and within firing distance of the enemy's line, expecting a re- newal of the battle on the morrow. On the day following, the 18th, the Union army was the master of the field, the enemy having retired across the Potomac into his own territory.
On the 19th the command was ordered to move, and, passing over the entire battle-field, had full view of the ghastly spectacle presented ; moving through the village of Sharpsburg, down the river towards Harper's Ferry, and halting on the 20th at a spot in Pleasant Valley, about four miles from Sandy Hook, Maryland, where it remained until the 23d, and then went into camp on Maryland Heights.
The casualties of Company D in this great fight, known in the Union army as the battle of Antietam,
19
, THIRTEENTH REGIMENT, N. J. VOLS.
and in the Confederate as the battle of Sharpsburg, were four killed and eight wounded, as follows :
KILLED-James C. Armstrong, Jesse R. Coles, George R. Harrison, Alexander Osborne.
WOUNDED-George Whitfield,
Ira W. Conselyea. Abram Atkins,
John H. Egbert,
Abram M. Harris,
Byron C. Hopper, who died on the 12th October following.
David S. Milburn, who died on the 2d October following.
The regiment remained at this encampment some six weeks, suffering considerable from exposure and sickness; the only shelter the men had from the hot sun. storms, and sharp winds, which drew through the gulch formed in the mountains on this elevated spot, was such as was afforded by little huts built of brush-wood. On the 17th of October shelter-tents were obtained, and distributed among the command. On the 27th the regiment was visited by the Presi- dent of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, accom- panied by a brilliant staff of general and other officers. The regiment was drawn out in line of battle, and saluted as he passed, giving hearty cheers to the commander-in-chief. On the 29th, under orders from headquarters, the command struck tents and marched up the Potomac to a point on the Sharpsburg turnpike, about three miles west of the
20
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF COMPANY D.
village, and opposite Shepherdstown, Virginia, where they relieved, with the rest of the brigade, Fitz John Porter's command in picketing the Potomac.
While here, and about the 12th November, the regiment was divided, the right wing, with Company D on the right, being moved up the turnpike to a position about one mile west of Sharpsburg, where Captain Beardsley established a neat and comforta- ble camp, to the command of which the Lieutenant- Colonel, Robert S. Swords, was ordered. The com- mand here held a post of honor, being for the pro- tection of the brigade headquarters and stores in Sharpsburg, which were in a very exposed situation, and, from the bends of the river, at considerable dis- tance from the main forces, and within easy striking distance of a raid of cavalry from the Virginia side of the river, the water of the Potomac being at the time uncommonly low. The right wing, while at this encampment, was systematically practiced in the school of the battalion, and acquired considerable proficiency in practice.
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