USA > New Jersey > Morris County > A history of Morris County, New Jersey : embracing upwards of two centuries, 1710-1913, Volume I > Part 7
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On May Ist, 1775, the people of Morris county took a decided stand for military organization, as shown by the following :
"Pursuant to an appointment of a meeting of the freeholders and inhabitants. of the county of Morris, agreeable to notice given by the former committee of cor- respondence, the said freeholders and inhabitants did meet accordingly on Monday the first day of May anno Domini 1775-Jacob Ford, Esq., chairman; William De Hart, Esq., clerk-and came into the following votes and resolutions, to wit :
"That delegates be chosen to represent the county of Morris, and that the said delegates be vested with the power of legislation, and that they raise men, money and arms for the common defense, and point out the mode, method and means of raising, appointing and paying the said men and officers, subject to the control and direction of the Provincial and Continental Congress; and that afterward they meet in Provincial Congress with such counties as shall send to the same jointly with them to levy taxes on the province, with full power of legislative authority, if they think proper to exercise the same, for the said province; and the said Provincial Congress be subject to the control of the grand Continental Congress.
"And they proceeded to elect the following persons to be their delegates as aforesaid, to wit: William Winds, Esq., William De Hart, Esq., Silas Condict, Peter Dickerson, Jacob Drake, Ellis Cook, Jonathan Stiles, Esq., David Thompson, Esq., Abraham Kitchel.
"And pursuant to the above appointment the said delegates met at the house of Captain Peter Dickerson at Morristown, in the county of Morris, on the first day of May, 1775. Present: William Winds, Esq., Silas Condict, Peter Dickerson, Jacob Drake, Ellis Cook, Jonathan Stiles, Esq., David Thompson, Esq., Abraham Kitchel. William Winds, Esq., was unanimously chosen chairman. Archibald Dallas was appointed clerk.
"Voted, unanimously, that any five of the delegates when met be a body of the whole, and to make a board, and that the majority of them so met should make a vote.
"Voted, unanimously, that forces should be raised.
"Then the delegates adjourned till to-morrow at 9 o'clock in the forenoon, to meet at the house of Captain Peter Dickerson, aforesaid."
At the adjourned meeting, the delegates voted to recruit three hundred volunteers-five companies of sixty men each, each with a captain and two lieutenants, with the exception of the first two companies, which were to be commanded by field officers. Officers were elected as follows: William Winds, colonel; William De Hart, major; Samuel Ball, Joseph Morris and Daniel Budd, captains. John Huntington and Silas Howell were designated as captain lieutenants-the former in Colonel Winds' and the latter in Major De Hart's company. The captains were authorized to appoint their lieutenants, and instructed to drill their companies one day a week until otherwise ordered. Per diem compensation was fixed as follows ("proclamation" money) : Captains, 7 shillings; first lieutenants, 6 shillings ; second lieutenants, 5 shillings ; sergeants, 31/2 shillings ; privates, 3 shillings and to be provided with food, arms and ammunition. Major De Hart was authorized to procure 500 lbs. of powder and a ton of lead, and to store it in a magazine. The delegates recommended to those people capable of bearing arms, that they "provide themselves with arms and am- munition to defend their country in case of invasion."
The foregoing military preparation is especially notable from the fact that it was made a month previous to the action taken by the Provincial Congress (June 3, 1775) in relation to military organization, and the men who were primarily instrumental in the work are deserving of enduring remembrance. Those before mentioned were Colonel William Winds, Major William De Hart, Peter Dickerson and Jonathan Stiles. The new members were Silas Condict, of Morristown; Ellis Cook, of Hanover; David Thompson, of Mendham; and Abraham Kitchel, of Pequannock.
Silas Condict, born in 1738, was a son of Peter Condict, who removed
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from Newark to Morristown about 1730. He was a man of good education, excellent ability, an exemplary Presbyterian, and an ardent patriot. He was of the committee which drafted the first State constitution of New Jersey ; a member of the Committee of Safety, in 1777-78; and a member of the Continental Congress in 1783. He was county judge two terms; and was elected to the House of Assembly eight times, and was four times speaker of that body. He died September 18, 1801.
Ellis Cook was a man of lofty character; he sat in the council three years, and in the House of Assembly fourteen years.
David Thompson commanded a company of militia. He was a Presby- terian, and noted for his piety and patriotism, and his unswerving con- fidence in the Revolutionary cause. He said, in a particularly dark hour, "We can look to Jehovah when all other refuges fail." His wife was unsparing in her ministrations to the patriot soldiers passing by, declaring that "nothing is too good for the men who fight for our country."
Abraham Kitchel was born August 26, 1736, and died at Parsippany, January II, 1807, and was a son of Joseph Kitchel. He was a lifelong member of the Rockaway church. A biographer describes him as a man of better education than was common among men of this day; of strong good sense, and firmness amounting to obstinacy.
Archibald Dallas, clerk of the meeting of delegates before referred to, made for himself an enviable military record . He was made second lieutenant in Meeker's company, First Battalion, December 9, 1775; also in Captain Howell's company, November 29, 1776; captain in Fourth Battalion, and also in Colonel Spencer's regiment, and was killed in battle, January 28, 1779.
Several of the delegates are again heard of-William Winds, William De Hart, Jacob Drake, Silas Condict and Ellis Cook-as being elected September 2Ist, 1775, as delegates to the Provincial Congress to meet at Trenton, October 3d following. It was the last Provincial Congress; it held several sessions, and adopted the first State constitution of New Jersey, which continued in force until the adoption of the constitution of 1834. Silas Condict was a member of the committee which drafted the instrument. The congress finally adjourned July 2d, 1776, two days before the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
Of the officers of the First Morris county company, as before stated, prior to the action of the Provincial Congress looking to military organiza- tion, a number came to distinction. Colonel Winds, Major De Hart and Captains Howell and Morris soon took their place in the Jersey line of the Continental forces. Captain Morris commanded the First Company, First Battalion, in the first establishment, was promoted to major, and died from wounds received in the battle of Germantown. Captain Howell com- manded the Second Company in the same battalion, and served until Sep- tember 26, 1780.
The first permanent military establishment was effected in pursuance of a call for troops from New Jersey, made by the Continental Congress, October 9, 1775. The call was for two battalions of eight companies each; each company was to comprise a captain, lieutenant, ensign, four sergeants, four corporals, and 68 privates. The privates were to be en- listed for one year, and to be allowed $5 per month, and in lieu of bounty, a felt hat, a pair of yarn stockings and a pair of shoes; the men were to provide their own arms. After some discussion, it was decided that the officers should be appointed by the State, subject to confirmation by the
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Continental Congress. Organization being effected, on November 10th, six companies were sent to hold the fort in the Highlands on the Hudson river ; November 27th, the remainder of the two battalions were barracked in New York, where on December 8th they were joined by the Highlands garrison. The two battalions were respectively designated as the First, or Eastern Battalion; and the Second, or Western Battalion, of the first establishment. Lord Stirling, colonel of the former, was soon promoted to brigadier-general, and was succeeded in the colonelcy by Lieutenant Colonel William Winds, with William De Hart as major. At least three companies of the battalion were from Morris county-First Company, Capt. Joseph Morris; Lieuts. Daniel Baldwin and Daniel Brown; Ensign Jonathan F. Morris. Second Company-Capt. Silas Howell; Lieuts. John Mercer and Richard Johnson; Ensign Jacob Kemper. Fifth Company-Capt. Joseph Meeker; Lieuts. Yelles (or Giles) Mead and Archibald Dallas; Ensign George Ross.
It is difficult to trace the service of the Morris county companies above mentioned. Three companies were sent to Queens county, New York, to arrest Tories; while the other companies of the First Battalion, under Colonel Winds, were stationed at Perth Amboy and Elizabethtown until May, 1776, when, with the Second Battalion and a new Third Bat- talion, they took part in the operations against Quebec, subsequently going into barracks at Fort Ticonderoga, where they remained until returned to New Jersey for muster-out in November, 1776.
The Third Battalion contained one Morris county Company (the Fifth) officered by Capt. Peter Dickerson, of Morristown; Lieuts. Stephen Dun- ham and David Tuttle; and Ensign William Tenbrook.
The men of the first three battalions suffered much discomfort. An inspector found many destitute of many articles of dress; "supplies of every kind they want, but shoes and stockings they are in the last neces- sity for, many having neither." They were reported as well fed, and as having efficient arms.
Of the four battalions from New Jersey called for by congress in September, 1776, to serve "during the war," the first three were principally made up by re-enlistments from the first three original battalions. In the First, Silas Newcomb was made colonel, vice Winds, retired; and the former was subsequently followed in the colonelcy by Matthias Ogden. Major De Hart remained, and became lieutenant colonel. Joseph Morris served as captain of the First Company until promoted to major, with John Mercer as first lieutenant; Robert Robertson as second lieutenant, until he resigned on account of wounds; and Simon Mash as ensign. Silas Howell remained as captain of the Second Company, with John Van Anglen (afterward captain), as first lieutenant; Archibald Dallas as second lieutenant; and John Howell (afterward captain) as ensign. Captain Meeker went home at the expiration of his term of service, his first lieutenant, Giles Mead, remaining as lieutenant of the Third Company, Captain John Conway ; John Flanhaven was second lieutenant, and Ebenezer Axtell was ensign.
Captain Peter Dickerson's Company re-enlisted, and became the First Company of the Third Battalion. The retiring officers were succeeded by First Lieutenant Samuel Flanagan (later captain), Second Lieut. Jonathan Brewer, and Ensign Edward D. Thomas, later first lieutenant.
The Third Company in the Fourth Battalion, second establishment, had for officers: Capt. Noadiah Wade, Ist Lieut. Zophar Carnes; 2d Lieut.
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John Pipes, and Ensign Clement Wood; it was mustered into service June 12, 1777.
Besides these, there were many other Morris county men. John Doughty commanded a company in the Third Battalion; he was promoted to major, and afterward served with distinction in the artillery.
The troops designated above took the field early in 1777, under Gen. William Maxwell, and were known as Maxwell's Brigade, in Maj. Gen. Adam Stephen's division. Gen. Stryker, in his revolutionary history, credits the brigade with most active and efficient service. It marched to Pennsylvania, opened the battle of Brandywine, and skirmished with the enemy constantly until its encampment at Germantown, where it fought on October 4th, under Lord Stirling. The entire command distinguished itself, the First Battalion suffering severely in officers and men. It wintered at Valley Forge, and after the British evacuated Philadelphia it was de- tached to harass Gen. Clinton's forces. Under Washington the brigade, with other troops, crossed the Delaware, and met the enemy near Free- hold. Augmented by other troops, it came under the general command of Gen. Lafayette, and fought in the battle of Monmouth. Probably par- ticipating in the same action were three companies recently recruited, who joined the brigade June 5th, 1778; they were: Capt. Luse's company, 2d Regt .; Capt. Cox's and Capt. Ballard's companies, 3d Regt .; there were also Morris county recruits in other companies.
Maxwell's Brigade wintered mostly at Elizabethtown, small detach- ments being sent to Newark and Spanktown (Rahway). In May, 1779, on account of the massacre at Wyoming, the brigade was sent to that region, returning to New Jersey in October. It fought at Springfield on June 23d, 1780.
In 1778 Congress ordered a consolidation, and the New Jersey troops were formed into three battalions, but this was not fully effected until the summer of 1780. Matthias Ogden became colonel of the Ist Regiment, Israel Shreve of the 2d, and Elias Dayton of the 3d. Recruits were also procured for the Eastern regiment of Morris county, Col. Sylvanus Seeley.
Gen. Maxwell resigned in July, 1780, and was succeeded by Col. Elias Dayton, who commanded the brigade until the end of the war. In 1781 the brigade took part in the siege of Yorktown, Virginia, and wit- nessed the surrender of Burgoyne. It received the proclamation of the cessation of hostilities April 19th, 1783, and it was disbanded November 3d following.
Morris county men were found in regiments raised under authority of Congress for the Continental army, and particularly in Spencer's regi- ment, and the Commander-in-Chief's Guard. The latter, also called the Life Guard, and Washington's Bodyguard, was a picked body of 180 men, selected from the ranks of the army, for their good conduct and soldierly bearing. Every State was represented. Its motto was "Conquer or Die." It was latterly commanded by Captain William Colfax, of Pequannock township, who succeeded Caleb Gibbs, of Rhode Island, the first com- mander.
Colonel Oliver Spencer's regiment was often known as the Fifth Battalion, Jersey Line. Col. Spencer was son-in-law of Robert Ogden, and a brother-in-law of Robert Ogden Jr., of Col. Matthias Ogden, and of Capt. (afterward Governor) Aaron Ogden. Jabez Campfield, surgeon, was of Morristown; his surgeon's mate was John Darcy, afterward a
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distinguished surgeon, of Hanover. Darcy commanded a militia brigade in the War of 1812; he was father of Gen. John S .Darcy, of Newark.
The Militia-The Militia was distinct from the Continental army. In August, 1775, the Provincial Congress called upon Morris county for two regiments and one battalion of militia; the regiments were known as the Eastern and Western Battalions. Six of the Morris county companies were to be "minute-men," ready to march instantly on call. They were to provide themselves with "a good musket or firelock and bayonet, sword or tomahawk, a steel ramrod, worm, priming wire and brush fitted thereto, a cartouch box to contain 23 rounds of cartridges, twelve flints, and a knapsack." Many of the men joined the Continental army, and on Feb- ruary 29, 1776, the organization was dissolved, the men being incorporated. in the militia. The officers of the "minute-men" were: Col. William Winds; Lieut. Col. William De Hart; Maj. David Bates; Adjutant Joseph Morris; Surgeon Timothy Johnes; Ist Company-Capt. Samuel Ball, Ist Lieut. Daniel Baldwin; 2d Lieut. Moses Kitchel; Ensign David Tuttle. 2d Company-Capt. Silas Howell; Ist Lieut. Joseph Lindsley; 2d Lieut. Richard Johnston. 3d Company-Capt. David Thompson; Ist Lieut. Noadiah Wade; 2d Lieut. Isaac Morris; Ensign Samuel Day. 4th Com- pany-Capt. Ebenezer Condit; Ist Lieut. Benoni Hathaway; 2d Lieut. Moses Prudden; Ensign Joseph Beach. 5th Company-Capt. Jacob Drum; Ist Lieut. Joshua Gordon; 2d Lieut. Levy Howel; Ensign Caleb Horton Jr. 6th Company-Capt. Robert Gaston; Ist Lieut. Josiah Hall. These names would make it probable that the first company was from Hanover, the second from Madison and Morristown, the third from Mendham, the fourth from Morristown, the fifth from Roxbury, and the sixth from Rockaway.
In June, 1776, Congress called upon New Jersey for 3300 militia to reinforce the army in New York. Morris and Sussex counties were to furnish one battalion, and its officers were: Col. Ephraim Martin, Lieut. Col. John Munson, Maj. Cornelius Ludlow, Adjutant Joseph King, Quarter- master Joshua Gordon, Surgeon Jonathan Horton, Surgeon's Mate David Ervin. Munson lived near Rockaway, engaged in iron manufacture, he was. afterward colonel of the Western Battalion. Ludlow had been major of the Eastern Battalion. Horton had been surgeon of the Western Bat- talion, and was afterward a surgeon in the Continental army.
To quote Gen. Stryker, "The good service performed by the militia of the State is fully recorded in history. At the fights at Quinton's Bridge,. Hancock's Bridge, Three Rivers, Connecticut Farms and Van Nest's Mills, they bore an active part; while at the battles of Long Island, Trenton, Assunpink, Princeton, Germantown, Springfield and Monmouth, they per- formed efficient service."
The Eastern Battalion, Col. Jacob Ford Jr., successfully covered Wash- ington's retreat across New Jersey after the evacuation of New York, in. 1776. In the battle of Springfield, the attempt of Knyphausen to reach Morristown was foiled principally by the militia.
Arnold's Light Horse was an independent organization, entirely made up in Morris county, and which won for itself an enviable distinction for its long and faithful service and brilliant achievements.
To quote a former annalist: The women of Morris county were not at all behind the men in their patriotism, and in generous sacrifices for their country. They nobly sustained and encouraged their fathers, brothers,. husbands and sons, in their work, and in the care of the sick and wounded,
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in making clothing for the men; and in tilling the soil while the men were in the ranks they contributed their full share to the good cause. The story of Ann Kitchel, of Whippany, sister of Captain Timothy Tuttle, and wife of Uzal Kitchel, is well known. Being urged by a timid deacon to procure a British protection she told him, "having a husband, father, and five brothers, in the American army, if the God of Battles do not care for us, we will fare with the rest."
MORRIS COUNTY IN THE CIVIL WAR.
Morris county is a full sharer in the glories of the Civil War, and countless numbers of her sons gave their lives in defense of the Union. When Fort Sumter was fired upon, the militia system had fallen into disuse, and there were but three uniformed independent companies in ex- istence-the National Guards, of Boonton, Capt. Edwin K. Bishop; the Morris Greys, Capt. William Duncan; and the Ringgold Artillery, Capt. Richard M. Stites.
On April 22d. 1861, three days after the Massachusetts troops had been fired upon in Baltimore, a mass meeting was held in Morristown, Hon. George T. Cobb presiding. Patriotic addresses were delivered by Jacob W. Miller, Jacob Vanatta, Theodore Little, Rev. G. D. Brewerton and Col. Samuel F. Headley, and stirring resolutions were adopted. Wil- liam C. Baker, Dr. Ebenezer B. Woodruff and Jacob Vanatta were ap- pointed a committee to solicit subscriptions for the equipment of volunteers and provisions for their families. Over $2600 was instantly subscribed. Similar meetings with similar results were held in every village. On May 3Ist a flag was raised on Morris Green, and Captains Bishop's, Duncan's and Stites' companies paraded. Neither entered the service as a unit; the men enlisted in companies which were immediately to take the field, Capt. Bishop, with many of his men, going with Company H, 2d New Jersey Regiment, from Newark, while others attached themselves to the 3d New Jersey Regiment, the Excelsior Brigade of New York, and other commands.
In Morristown, a Soldiers' Aid Society was organized, with Mrs. Nelson Wood as president, Mrs. Sherman Broadwell as vice-president, Mrs. Vancleve Dalrymple as treasurer, and Miss Robinson as secretary. This society was maintained throughout the war period, and labored incessantly in providing for soldiers' families, and for the sick and wounded from the front. Similar organizations were formed in various towns and villages throughout the county.
7th New Jersey Regiment-Under President Lincoln's call of July 24, 1861, Capt. James M. Brown recruited what became Company K, 7th New Jersey Regiment-the first distinctively Morris county company. On Octo- ber Ist the company assembled in the First Presbyterian Church, Morris- town, when Alfred Mills, on behalf of friends, presented to Capt. James M. Brown a sword, sash and pistol, and Rev. David Irving, for the Morris County Bible Society, gave to each volunteer a volume containing the Psalms and New Testament. Next day the company departed, and reaching Wash- ington City was encamped on Meridian Hill until December, thence leaving for Budd's Ferry, Maryland, where it became a part of the 3d Brigade of Hooker's division. The next spring it was engaged in the Peninsular cam- paign, participating in the battle of Williamsburg. With its regiment, the company subsequently fought at Fair Oaks, and in the Seven Days Battles. Later it was engaged in the operations along the Orange & Alexandria rail-
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road, and at Bristow Station aided in the attack upon Ewell's division of Jackson's command, and the capture of his baggage. It took part in the sec- ond battle of Bull Run, and the battle of Chantilly, where Gen. Kearny was killed. It was engaged in the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville ; in the latter engagement the regiment captured from the enemy five colors and 300 prisoners. It made the long march to Gettysburg, and fought in the great battle there, its position being in the famous peach orchard. Other en- gagements in which it bore itself heroically were Manassas Gap, McLean's Ford, and Mine Run, and then wintered at Brandy Station. In May, 1864, it entered upon the Wilderness campaign, and continued under Grant until the close of the war.
Southard's Engineers-The second contribution from Morris county was a portion of Capt. Southard's Company K, 8th New York Regiment, Engineers. The Morris county contingent was recruited by Lieut. (after- ward Major) H. M. Dalrymple. It performed arduous service in the De- partment of the South, under Generals T. W. Sherman, Hunter, Mitchell and Gilmore. It took part in the siege of Pulaski, the battle of Pocataligo, Hunter's operations against Charleston, and the siege of Fort Sumter and Charleston, under Gen. Gilmore, erecting the famous Swamp Angel battery which threw shells into Charleston. In 1864 the command was transfered to the Army of the James, and served in front of Petersburg and Richmond.
President's Guard-Being unable to find a place for his company (the Morris Greys) in a New Jersey regiment, Capt. William Duncan recruited a company which contained the greater number of his men, for the District of Columbia Volunteers, to be attached to the President's Guard. The company was 70 men strong, 40 being from Boonton.
IIth New Jersey Regiment-In May, 1862, Governor Olden, antici- pating a further call for troops, authorized the formation of the 11th Regi- ment, for three years service. Capt. Dorastus B. Logan at once began recruiting for what became Company H, and about the same time Capt. Thomas J. Halsey, of Dover, began the formation of what became Com- pany E. The regimental organization was completed, and under the Presi- dent's call of July 7th, was mustered into the service of the United States on August 18th. A week later it left for Washington City, where it was attached to Carr's Brigade, Sickles's Division. It bore itself bravely in a notable list of battles, all except that of Gettysburg being in Virginia: Fredericksburg; Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wapping Heights, Kelly's Ford, Locust Grove, Mine Run, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna River, Totopotomy Creek, Cold Harbor, Baker's Mills, Petersburg, Deep Bottom, North Bank of James River, Ream's Station, Fort Sedgwick, Poplar Spring, capture of Petersburg, Amelia Springs, Farmville, and Appomattox.
15th New Jersey Regiment-This regiment was recruited in the sum- mer of 1862, with two companies from Morris county (C and F), and was mustered into service August 25th. Its first engagement was at Fred- ericksburg, after which it took part in the famous "mud march." It was next engaged in the Chancellorsville campaign, and fought at Gettysburg and at Spottsylvania Court House, where it made a splendid charge, suffer- ing great loss. It shared in the advance upon Petersburg, and served under Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley. At Fisher's Hill, September 22d, 1864, with its brigade, the regiment made a brilliant charge, capturing a number of guns, and was almost equally conspicuous at Cedar Creek. It then served
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