USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Essex county, N.J., illustrated > Part 6
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VIEW OF NEWARK. N. J., IN 1892, LOOKING SOUTH-WEST FROM CLARK'S CHIMNEY.
the honor of completing the first regular work of the war over which " old glory " few. The most important place in a strategie point of view was that held by the New Jersey troops. with our own Essex County First Regiment to the fore front.
We now approach the first great battle of the war, known as Bull Run, the name taken from a little stream running through the now famous ground.
A writer, in speaking of the battle, writes : " When the battle was fought and lost to the nation's troops, yet it was no fault of the first New Jersey brigade or of General Theodore Runyon. When all was disorder and dismay- when many others had left their posts of duty and skulked away under cover of the night that followed the battle, the Jersey brigade was found standing as a wall between the enemy and the capital. Amid the tur- moil of defeat to our army, 'twas General Runyon who gave the
The venerable Monsignor Doane, of St. Patrick's Cathedral, who was chaplain of the brigade, had set up his altar in the little tent he was occupying on that Sunday morning of July 21st, 1861, and when about to begin the services of his church, one of the first shells fired by the enemy crashed through the tent and knocked down his improvised altar, causing him to suspend mass for the day.
AMBASSADOR RUNYON'S DEATH.
T "HE ink on the above brief account of General Runyon's life and career had not become fairly dry when through the cable came, under the great ocean, the sad announcement of his death at his Ambassadorial home in Berlin. A cloud of sorrow at the death of this great and good man quickly spread over his native land as the news of the great bereavement on
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ESSEX COUNTY, N. J., ILLUSTRATED.
electric wings flew from port to port, from place to place, over hill and mountain. Throughout the length and breadth of the Young Republic of the West the flag, which he had planted on the walls of Fort Runyon now floating at half-mast, became the fit emblem of a nation in mourning over his loss.
While in attendance at church the Ambassador was attacked with a chill. He quietly left his pew and endeavored to throw off its effect by walking to his home. It proved a hard struggle, and just as he reached his own door he fainted, and was carried to his room by a servant who quickly discovered him. Although he partially recovered and gave some attention to the business connected with his office, yet in less than two weeks, and with- out warning and almost without a struggle, and near the mid- night hour, he passed away, and New Jersey's son, who had so distinguished himself and so honored his native State, had gone to his reward.
While Ambassador Runyon had lived out nearly a half-score
FORT RUNYON.
IN honor of the General who led the first New Jersey troops to take the field, the great earth-work constructed by these same soldiers' own hands, was called Fort Runyon, a letter from the Adjutant-General of the army granting to the soldiers who built it. that distinguished honor.
The First New Jersey Regiment was almost exclusively Essex and was officered by Essex County men, its Colonel being Adolphus S. Johnson ; its Lieutenant-Colonel, James Peckwell ; Major, William W. Michels ; Adjutant, Joseph Tra- win ; Quartermaster, Theodore F. Ketchem ; Surgeon, John J. Craven ; Assistant Surgeon, Edward F. Pierson ; Sergeant Major, George H. Johnson ; Drum Major, Nathan P. Morris; Fife Major, Elijah F. Lathrop, and fourteen musicians. Colonel Johnson will be remembered as Jail Warden for many years, and Colonel Peckwell, who afterwards became Sheriff of Essex
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VIEW OF NEWARK, N. J., IN 1892, LOOKING SOUTH-EAST FROM CLARK S CHIMNEY.
more of years than the allotted three score and ten, yet, so well preserved he seemed, and such a beautiful rounding up of a marvellously successful life, was in the very height of consum- mation, and while he seemed marching with such sturdy tread along Time's border land, his brilliant career seemed not so near its ending. " Man proposes, but God disposes."
For many years General Runyon had verily lived the life of the righteous, and was ever ready to meet the king of terrors. The sad news of his sudden death cast a dark shadow over the city of Berlin, and the Emperor William (between whom and the Ambassador had sprung up a warm friendship). gave expression to the deep sorrow which he so keenly felt.
After his body had been embalmed, all that was mortal of the beloved General, with Hags at half-mast, was tenderly car- tied on board ship for the voyage to his native land for interment near the graves of his fathers.
County. Many of the officers and men of the First, who went out under the three months' call, afterward returned to the army and won distinction on many bravely contested fields. The writer of this well remembers seeing Colonel Johnson brought into Yorktown, after having been severely wounded, in the battle of Williamsburgh, whence himself and other Jersey- men had pursued Magruder's troops after his evacuation of Yorktown. If memory is faithful, 'twas in this same engage- ment where General Ward received such wounds as compelled him to carry an empty sleeve ever after. As a tribute to his worth as an officer and gentleman, he was made Postmaster of Newark, and held the position for many years, honored and re- spected by all who knew him.
Among the host of gallants who heard the first call are the names of Captain John Brintzinghoffer, of Company A, Cap- tain William O. Timpon, of Company B, Captain Thomas L.
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ESSEX COUNTY, N. J., ILLUSTRATED.
Martin, of Company C, Captain Henry O. Beach, of Company D, Captain Martin B. Provost, of Company E, Captain Henry Bowden, of Company F. Captain Henry V. Sanford, of Com- pany G, Captain William II. Reynolds, of Company H, Cap- tain John H. Higginson, of Company I, and Captain Charles W. Johnson, of Company K, who each took out their company in the old First Regiment, under the three months' call, are worthy, one and all, to have their names kept fresh and their memories green in the recollections of every citizen of Essex County. Not these alone, but all the commissioned, non- commissioned officers and men who went to the war, deserve to have their names recorded on the roll of honor, inscribed as those who took their life in their own hands, and many of whom laid it down in behalf of liberty and union.
A word or two to show how deeply the partisan was sunk in the patriot and how quickly and thoroughly party lines were erased, and these from the expressions of those holding pos-
jaws of defeat. Gen. Kearny, who was a trained soldier, was commissioned a Brigadier-General on July 25, 1861, and in the August following was assigned to the command of our New Jersey soldiers. When the news of his assignment to the command of the Jersey Blues reached their encampment, cheer upon cheer arose from regiment and company, and the brave boys made the welkin ring over the announcement. Although Philip Kearny was born in New York city (which event took place in June, 1815), he was a Jerseyman by adoption, and the house in which he spent his earlier life is yet standing on Belleville avenue, in the City of Newark, as are the okl elms under which he played, and the mansion in which he lived at the time of his appointment stands among the pines on the beautiful high grounds just across the Passaic, in the town of Kearny, Hudson County, the town being named in his honor. General Kearny had a penchant for military life and this he showed as a boy, and as manhood came this penchant grew
VIEW OF NEWARK, N. J., IN 1892, LOOKING NORTH-WEST FROM CLARK'S CHIMNEY.
itions of honor and trust, must suffice. Moses Bigelow, a democrat of the olden school, who was Mayor of Newark at the breaking out of the war, in a message to the Common Council, said: "I regard the union of these States as indis- pensable to the liberty, peace and prosperity of our people and the great source of happiness at home and honor and respect abroad. When compared with the question of its preservation, the transitory issues of party should be regarded as mere ' dust in the balance.'"
Henry A. Whitney, an Alderman, also a democrat, in offering a series of resolutions in Council, said : " It is the high duty of every citizen to ignore all past political issues, and rally under the banner of the stars and stripes in defense of the Union."
GENERAL PHIL. KEARNY.
T was in this engagement that Gen. Philip Kearny won his laurels in the internecine war, for indeed, it was he, on coming up with his Jersey boys, snatched victory from the
After passing through Columbia College he studied law for a while, but his intense liking for military life led him to seek and obtain a lieutenant's commission in a regiment of dragoons, in which Jefferson Davis was a captain. In 1839 he was one of three United States' officers sent to France to pursue, by permission of the French government, a course of instruction at the Military School of Gaumor. He soon tired of the confinement which his student life imposed, and joining the French army he went to Africa. He was attached while on this service to the Chasseurs d'Afrique and in two engage- ments distinguished himself. When he came back home in '41 he was made an officer on the staff of General Scott, who had a high admiration for his character and was ever desirous of having him near his person.
All through the Mexican war he gave abundant evidence of rare skill as a soldier. Those who knew him will remember the empty sleeve he carried, and what masterly dexterity he exhibited in horsemanship, and with what skill he handled
ESSEX COUNTY, N. J., ILLUSTRATED.
the sword and bridle rein with his right single arm, the other having been shot away at the famous battle of Churubusco, in which he performed prodigious feats of valor. His bravery and skill on that bloody field cost him all too dearly in the loss of his arm, but he won honor and fame, and the golden oak leaf which he afterwards wore as a major.
After fighting for years the wild Indians in Washington and Oregon, who feared him no less than the great Indian fighter. the celebrated Custer, he resigned his commission and sought the excitement of European wars by joining himself to the French army as an aide-de-camp on the staff of Gen. Morris. taking an active part in the battle of Solferino. His gallantry in that battle won for him the cross of the Legion of Honor, and this mark emblematic of soldierly skill, bravery, honesty and daring was placed on his breast by the French Emperor, Louis Napoleon. During his stay on the other side of the Atlantic he made his abode in Paris. In the spring of the year 1861, Phil. Kearny heard the tocsin sounding which told him of the dangers which threatened his home and fireside and he immediately set out for New York. While war was raging in the land of his birth, Paris had no attractions with force sufficient to hold him.
same. Is it any wonder that this Essex County boy should win the title of " Fighting Phil Kearny," when fear he never felt, and that danger lurked near he never knew, and 'twas a burning shame
That he should not have the right, Where skill might conquer might, To die in the thickest of the fight.
The penalty is paid for being too brave, and the poet had abundant reasons for saying :
"Oh ! evil the black shroud of night at Chantilly
That hid him from sight of his brave men and tried !
Foul, foul, sped the bullet that clipped the white lilly, l'he flower of our knighthood, the whole army's pride."
Kearny had faults like all other mortals. Those prominent were his impetuosity and his impulsiveness. Had he sent some unepauletted soldier to the Chantilly reconnoisance, his name, instead of Grant's (a writer has said), might have stood on the pages of history as the great captain of the age.
SUCH IS FATE.
W HEN he died New Jersey mourned his loss and honored his memory. Ile was given a splendid military funeral in Newark. A bronze monument erected to his memory adorns
VIEW Of NEWARK, N. J., IN 1845. 100KING SOUTH-EAST FROM HIGH STREET.
No sooner had the good ship which brought him over touched the shore than he at once offered his sword to his native coun- try, and asked for a commission of the Governor of the old Empire State. Strange to say, this was refused, and the sword of this soldier of experience, bravery and of the highest repute lay rusting in its scabbord till the middle of summer, chating under this enforced idleness and restraint and oft within hear- ing of the booming of the heavy artillery, which was almost music to his ears. Under such circumstances, what was more natural than for him to turn to New Jersey? Here Phil Kearny got recognition, and he had but to express the desire and a com- mission was at hand, bearing date of July 25th, 1861, and was signed by the Governor of New Jersey. His spirit was such it could not, nor would not. brook delay. " Like the fiery charger held in by the bridle, he was restive under idleness."
Of the battles he fought, and the victories he won, and pro- motions he gained, we might write enough to fill every page of ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY, ILLUSTRATED, and yet be com- pelled to sigh for more pages to fill of the life and deeds of this born soldier. We have said he was brave and daring, and now we may add that he was fearless to recklessness, for wherever he flashed the glittering steel and with magic skill controlled his fiery steed with bridle rein between his teeth, it was always the
Military Park and another stands in the Library at Tienton. The body of this great soldier, Gen. Philip Kearny, who pos- sessed the faculty of making the warmest of friends and the most implacable of enemies, sleeps in the church-yard of old Trinity. in the city of New York.
COL. ISAAC M. TUCKER.
L IKE many another brave spirit, Col. Isaac M. Tucker's body sleeps in an unknown grave on the field where he fell as brave men love to fall, if fall they must, with their face to the for. The love lis soldiers bore for this ideal officer caused them to make frequent and persistent attempts to recover his body, but all proved failures.
As it has ever been, the New Jersey soldier, wherever engaged, is found in the thickest of the fight, it seeming to be his fate to be at the point of greatest danger. So it was with Col. Tucker, In a note at the bottom of page 64 of Shaw's excellent work, we find the following tribute: " In personal courage, fertility of resource and readiness of apprehension, Col. Tucker had few superiors."
Col. Isaac M. Tucker's memory is cherished by all who knew him, not alone for his war record but also for the high qualities
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ESSEX COUNTY, N. J., ILLUSTRATED.
of citizenship which he possessed and the true manliness of the man who fell while rallying his men, in the thick of the fight, around the "'colors, our glorious stars and stripes," and who cried out, as some of his men were carrying him to the rear. " Never mind me, go ahead and give it to 'em." Al- though space forbids. we cannot refrain from paying the tribute of a nation to a few others of the many brave men- undaunted spirits who laid down their lives or lived to feel the pang of wounds re- ceived. Among the latter was
MAJOR DAVID A. RYERSON,
Who is yet going out and in among us, having recovered from the ter- rible wound he received when he- too, was rallying his men around "Old Glory," his good sword flash- ing high. As the Major fell with his face to the foe,
VIEW OF SPRINGFIELD AVENUE, NEWARK, N. J .. LOOKING WEST.
CORP. JAMES MARSHALL
Seized the colors and defiantly bore them away and when too closely pressed, tore them from the standard and buried them out of sight. Major Ryerson is, at this writing, engaged in practicing his profession of law, and gives promise - so greatly improved is his health-of living long to do honor to the pro- fession he loves and rehearse the story of the Chicamauga fight.
CAPT SAMUEL F. WALDRON
Who had seen service with Walker, "the grey-eyed man of destiny," in the swamps of Nicaragua, and who earned the title of "female honor protector" at Guadaloupe Church. There the women had assembled, and to protect them against the assaults of the vile natives and his own beastial comrades. he placed himself in the doorway of the church and promised to " shoot down like a dog " the first man who attempted to pass. Capt. Waldron had long been assistant, under Principal Leake, of the Third Ward public school of the city of New- ark. The writer well remembers the quiet little man with sparkling eyes seated in his tent at the head of Military Park engaged in enlisting men for Company I, of the Thirty-third Regi- ment, and as he marched away as the modest Captain saluting him in the front of his rank and saying what proved a last fare- well. Although a SETH BOYDEN, INVENTOR. man, physically
speaking, not of giant proportions, he proved a target fair for the bullet of a Southern sharp-shooter who sent a ball through his heart while he was bravely moving his company forward. The shot which
Stilled the pure heart Whose every pulsation Was in sweet unison With the good and the irne
Was fired from behind the very house which his company occupied shortly after their captain fell.
So highly was Capt. Waldron regarded by the regiment, a detail to accompany his remains to Newark was made, and Capt .- afterward Major-O'Connor was placed at its head. On their arrival in Newark, his old friend Dr. M. II. C. Vail immedi- ately set about the work of honoring him with a military funeral. Through the assistance of others, the project was soon brought to a successful conclusion and his funeral was con- ducted in old Trinity Church, Dr. Windyer performing the rite and reading the service. After the services at the church, which were largely attended, the remains, encased in a rose- wood coffin provided by Capt. William W. Hullfish, then as now, sexton of the church) and wrapped in the American flag, was laid away in Fairmount Cemetery, Company A, Capt. John Brintzinghoffer. of the old First Regiment, leading the long procession of followers and mourners and firing the military salute over his grave.
GEN. WILLIAM WARD,
Who assumed command as Lieutenant-Colonel after Trawin resigned. and led the old Eighth Regiment afterward in several desperate fights until, at the battle of the Second Bull Run, while marching at the head of his regiment, he was pierced with five musket balls. One of these shattered his left arm which, though the surgeons believed him to be in a dying condition, was amputated. The wounds in his body were of such a serious character that he lay for several months in hospital before he could be removed to his home. It took a year and a half of the best skill of the surgeons and the kindly intentions of mother nature to so far heal his wounds as to enable him to get about. Gen. Ward was elected City Clerk of
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ESSEX COUNTY, N. J., ILLUSTRATED.
the city of Newark in 1866, and in 1869 he was nominated by Gen. Grant for Postmaster of his native city. Gen. Ward continued to fill the position of Postmaster with eminent satis- faction to the people till he was succeeded by the Hon. W. H. F. Fiedler.
The high appreciation in which the General is held had a splendid confirmation in his appointment by Gov. Parker as Brigadier-General for long and meritorious conduct and service. lle was next appointed as President of the Court of Inquiry to examine into the matter of the disbandment of Company F. Third Regiment, National Guard.
Gen. Ward was born in Newark, January 30, 1824, and conse- quently completed his three score and ten on the 30th of January last. May the sands of his well spent life continue to run smooth till the summons which always comes to the good and the pure, " come up higher."
The abundant good nature which permeated every fibre (as a rule) of the New Jersey soldier was always finding vent, and especially was this so when the boys were ordered out on picket (luty. A single example of the methods they employed in reach- ing Johnny Reb : As they were doing duty, marching to and fro on the picket line, the work becoming monotonous and the tobacco getting short, our Essex boys shouted to the rebel picket then in sight, "Hello, Johnny, I say, hello !" " Ilello back again, Yank," shouted Johnny. "Have you any good tobacco?" questioned our Jersey Yank. " I just have," answered Johnny, " and I do want some salt and pepper so bad." "What," Said the Essex boy, " some of the same we gave you at Gettys- burgh?" "Oh, get out. What do you say for a trade ?" "Come along," they responded in union, and the trade was made. Such occurrences, we are informed, were quite common (luring army days on picket lines.
GENERAL GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN.
NO more fitting subject could be found for a conclusion of what we have had to say of the part Essex County took in the war of 1861 to 1865 than a short sketch of General George B. Mcclellan, who, when driven from the command of the Army of the Potomac, found an asylum in New Jersey and filled up the hours of his enforced idleness in bringing into play his skill and experience as an engineer and in beautifying the landscape of the home he had selected on the brow and summit of the Orange Mountains, near that culmination of their rare beauty known as Eagle Rock. It goes without the saying that George B. Mcclellan was a master in the engineering art.
Although not a citizen to the manner born, Essex County can claim him as an adopted son, for it was on her soil that the hearthstone of his home lay, surrounded by his household gods, and where. now since the bugle note will never wake him to war again. he sleeps the sleep that knows no waking, in New Jersey soil, and where the spot is marked by a beautiful monu- ment erected over his tomb in the cemetery near Trenton by loving hands of those who stood near him during the hours of his severest trials, and where the battle was the thickest, bravely upheld his unfaltering hands.
On almost every page of American history is found enrolled the names of her children who have contributed by their virtues and valor, their character and worth, to throw a halo of gran- dieur around and over each, and forming a constellation of brilliancy with few parallels. Among these, and leading the host. are Washington, Lincoln and Grant, Sherman, Hancock, Sheridan and Mcclellan, the latter, while a resident of our county, being asked to sheath the sword to take up the Gov- ernorship of the State. We might continue to read from the roll honored names who earned the right as citizens of New Jer-
sey and to be partakers in the honor of wearing the famous Jersey Blue. A word or two as to some of the characteristics of the home of him whose banner waved in victory over the field of Antiteam, and who led the Union hosts through the wilder- ness and hurled back the enemy from Malvern Ilill, and whom the soldiers under him loved as the " apple of their eye," and who bore the favorite cognomen of Little Mack, will not be out of place.
To get all the charm possible out of this enforced idleness McClellan filled in the time by converting the grounds of his mountain home into a lan Iscape, beautifully located, where Nature's lovliness quickly felt the touch of his own master hand, and grew and expanded till it became the pride of his own heart and a rare exemplification of all that is lovely in artistic surroundings and the added endearments of home. As an ex- ample of villa home lovliness, few places the writer has ever visited could excel the home surroundings of George B. Mc- Clellan at the time he was called away to take up the Governor- ship of the State in which was his adopted home.
Whether this educated soldier, a thorough West Pointer as he was, really enjoyed the new life, even though eminent as it was, certainly is a secret that was well kept. All who knew him intimately could not remain long in his company without discovering a peculiar, far-away look that beamed from his eyes. As he discoursed of the present there ever seemed a restlesness to reach out after the past, and then should something per- chance come up of the " gone by," he seemed to regret it and had little power to restrain the welling tear or to hide the suf- fused eye, which told all too plainly how tender was the great loving heart within.
On one occasion, when visited by the writer, he was found amid the wealth of flowers and sweet shrubs of the grounds which he loved and regretfully left for the reception room, to which we had been invited. After a few moments of general talk the conversation turned on the subject of our quest, a college friend whom we had learned had held the post of a lieutenant colonel on the General's staff while the latter was in command of the Army of the Potomac. As the General reached across the centre table and drew toward him a large album filled with photographs, his eyes became suffused with unbidden tears in answer, apparently to our inquiry in regard to him. After a moment's hesitation he turned a page or two, and placing his finger on Colonel Coburn's photo, turned the book to us and with quivering lip said : " Do you remember him ? " "I do." was the reply. There was but little change, although more than a decade of our young years had gone by and this we sup- plemented with the remark, since they had parted we had heard that Colonel Coburn had been ordered West, and there had sickened and died. "Yes, he's dead," replied the General. " I loved him dearly, and I am told that the separation took such leep hold that the poor fellow really died of a broken heart." Light-hearted as the General naturally was, so much did the first Trenton order affect him that even after the soothing effect of the second order to Trenton, he, too, died of something akin to a broken heart,
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