USA > New Jersey > Cumberland County > Historic days in Cumberland County, New Jersey, 1855-1865 : political and war time reminiscences > Part 6
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Died in the service-John Rounds, fever, at camp near Falmouth, Va., January 20, 1863, buried at National Ceme- tery, Fredericksburg, Va., Division A, Section A, grave 4II ; Loren Russ, at Fredericksburg, Va., December 14, 1862, wounds received in action at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862; Henry Adler, at Ascension U. S. Army General Hospital, Washington, D. C .. January 13, 1863, wounds received in action at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862, buried at Military Hospital Cemetery, D. C .; George Donnelly, of fever, at Division Hospital, near Fal- mouth, Va., March 15. 1863, buried at National Cemetery, Fredericksburg, Va., Division D, Section C, grave 16; James Gibson, killed in action at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862; Samuel II. Jones, of fever, at Hospital, Windmill Point. Va., February 9, 1863 ; Henry Reeves, killed in action at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863: Ezekiel Simmons, killed in action at Fredericksburg. Va., December 13. 1862; Anson Thompson, at Washington, D. C., December 18, 1862, wounds received in action at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862 ; Benajah Thompson, killed in action at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13. 1862; William Tinker, of disease, at camp near Falmouth. Va., February 8, 1863, buried at National Cemetery, Fredericksburg, Va., Division D. Section C. grave 66; Benjamin F. Vannaman, of disease. at Emory U. S. Army General Hospital, Washington, D. C., October 3. 1862.
WAR TIME PICTURES IN Group Company B, Twenty-fourth N. J. Inf. Vols. Nicholas Griner Isaiah E. Johnson John W. Simmons Thomas S. Simmons Samuel F. Bard
Ezekiel Simmons
George B. Langley
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While volunteers were forming the three Bridgeton companies for the Twenty-fourth Regiment, the young men of Fairfield and Downe Townships were, with patriotic ardor, rallying for the organization of Company D, of the Twenty-fifth Regiment. This company was composed largely of oystermen and farmers, young men of brain and muscle. Amid the boom of cannon, the music of a drum corps, and presentation of a beautiful flag at the hands of a local committee, the company left its rendezvous in Fair- field for the seat of war. Appended is a roster of its officers and men :
COMPANY D .- Captain, Ethan T. Garretson; First Lieutenant, Samuel Peacock; Second Lieutenants, Joseph Bateman. Charles J. Field, B. Frank Williams; First Ser- geant, Nathaniel Westcott; Sergeants, William W. Mes- sick, James W. Trenchard, James B. Russell, Henry Jess ; Corporals, Rufus E. Bennett. George Crosier, Frank Gandy, Francis P. Riley, James H. Stevens, Charles H. Turner, David S. W. Steelman, Charles R. Conover ; Musi- cian, William P. Sink ; Privates, Wesley D. Barton. David E. Bateman, John P. Applegate. Henry H. Beakley, Robert M. Bennett, Charles Biddle. John Blizzard. Joseph C. Brad- ford, Archibald Campbell, Philip Clark. Peter Campbell. William M. Carter, Joseph L. Cassidy, William Cobb. John Coleman, James G. D. Craig, David M. Craner. John Dowdridge, Job Dilks. James Douthaday, Sylvanus Dough- erty. Eli Earl, Peter Felts. Hugh Fowler, Benjamin F. Gaskill. Horatio M. Gates. William L. Gray, Charles Gas- kill. Eldridge Hand. John Hanes, George Harley, Charles Henry, Henry D. Hines, George W. Hall, Elmer E. Hog- bin. Lewis B. Holmes, Daniel W. Husted, Joseph E. Hus- ted. John P. Jerrell. John B. Jones, Jr .. William T. C. Jordan. Robert J. Kell. Charles Lloyd, Charles S. Lore. Dallas Lore, George D. Ogden. John M. Nicholson, John F. Ogden. Willis A. Ogden. James W. Pettit. Benjamin Pine, Martin V. B. Powell, Thomas B. Shaw. William B. Shaw. William H. Sheppard. Charles P. Stewart, Thomas Sutton, Edward H. Sheppard. Charles Swing, Leonard R. Swing,
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IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY, NEW JERSEY
Elijah Thompson, John Thompson, William Tullis, Samuel Vanaman, Robert O. Wallen, John B. Westcott. Henry H. Whitecar, Isaac S. Whitecar, William T. Whitecar, Benja- min F. Williams, Furman R. Willis, Henry Wallen.
Died in the service-Ephraim F. Bateman, of fever, at Armory Square, United States Army General Hospital, Washington, D. C., February 19, 1863 ; Hiram B. Whitecar, of fever, at camp near Julian's Creek, Va., May 21, 1863; James P. Calloway. of disease, at Chesapeake U. S. Army General Hospital, Fortress Monroe, Va., May 25, 1863; Henry Craven, of fever, at camp, near Falmouth, Va., Jan- uary 22, 1863; Lewis M. Kates, killed in action at Freder- icksburg, Va., December 13, 1862; James Nicholson, of disease, at Emory U. S. Army General Hospital, Washı- ington, D. C., November 5. 1862, buried at Military Asylum Cemetery, D. C. ; Daniel B. Powell, at camp near Falmouth, Va., December 22, 1862, wounds received in action at Fred- ericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862; David Simpkins, of disease, at camp near Fairfax Seminary, Va., November 19, 1862, buried at National Cemetery, Alexandria, Va., grave 1,600; Benjamin F. Sockwell, at Stanton U. S. Army Gen- eral Hospital. Washington, D. C., February 5, 1863, wounds received in action at Fredericksburg, Va., Decem- ber 13. 1862: Ephraim L. Young, killed in action at Fred- ericksburg. Va., December 13. 1862.
Job Dilks, of Company D. of Cedarville, because of wounds received in action at Fredericksburg, had a leg am- putated, and to the day of his death walked on crutches. Second Lieutenant Joseph Bateman, of Company D. had a remarkable experience at the battle of Fredericksburg. Vir- ginia. December 13, 1862. About dusk the regiment was ordered to take an advanced position in front of the fortifi- cations on Marie's Heights. While lying on a little knoll near the rebel works, in the midst of a heavy artillery fire which opened on the Union troops very suddenly, Lieuten- ant Bateman found that the two comrades who were with him. Lewis Kates and Ephraim Young, had been killed by
IHISTORI DAYS
his side, their bodies torn and mutilated by the Confederate shot and shell. The slaughter was terrific, the surrounding field being covered with wounded and dying men.
From Downe Township then extending from the Fair- field line to Maurice River and the Cove, came First Lieu- tenant Charles M. Pease with a delegation of stalwart young men from Port Norris, Mauricetown and vicinity. They enlisted in Company G. 24th New Jersey, Captain Hoag- land and among the number was a fighting family of five brothers known as the Cobbs, as follows: Caleb Cobb. Joseph W. Cobb. John W. Cobb. Jacob F. Cobb. Alfred S. Cobb, the latter dying of fever at camp, near Chain Bridge, Va., November 14th, 1862. The two McDaniels brothers came with them. Charles McDaniels enlisting in Company G. and Major McDaniels in Company F. Jacob C. Shinn. of Company G, one of Port Norris's best citizens, after whom "Shinn Post." Grand Army of the Republic was named. was another patriot whom fate had willed should sleep in an unknown grave. Missing in action at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13th, 1862, is the record. Perhaps, in that great cemetery on the heights of Marie by the side of the Rappahannock, where the silent forms of 17,000 Union soldiers slumber.
"On his grave the sunlight lingers, And the silvery moonbeams fall, There he sleeps far, far from kindred Sleeps until the last great call."
From the eastern section of Downe came the Garrisons, the Ladows, the Husteds, the Hines, the Orrs. the Trouts, the Newcombs, the Gandys, the Blizzards, the Baileys, the Corsons, and a host of others with brave Lieutenant William B. Pepper. Several of these gallant sons of Downe left their bones on Southern battlefields and returned not to the families and the homes in which for many years there- after loving hearts have waited and longed for a vision of the departed.
WAR TIME PICTURES-1.02
Group Company D, Twenty-fifth N. J. Reg. Inf. Vols.
Second Lieut. Joseph Bateman
George A. Ogden
James W. Trenchard Capt. Ethan T. Garretson
Henry Wallen
Francis P. Riley
William P. Sink
Leonard R. Swing Archibald Campbell
HISTORIC DAYS
Great days had preceded it in Bridgeton, but Monday, September 3d, 1862, surpassed all other days before or since in the history of the town. Never had such a patriotic out- pouring of the people or such tremendous enthusiasm been witnessed. It seemed as though every member of every fam- ily was interested. The stars and stripes appeared on every side, while the melody of the fife, stirring airs of the drums, and the firing of cannon, woke Bridgeton at early dawn. Stores were closed and business suspended while the volun- teers were preparing for departure. Drawn up in double column on the sidewalk in front of the famous old Davis House, the companies presented a picture which it is un- fortunate for posterity that the photographer's art has not preserved. Splendidly officered were these bodies of fine young men about to reinforce their fighting brothers in the field. On the one hand was Lieutenant Robeson, handsome and erect, a modest patriot, a model citizen, in a few short weeks killed in action at Fredericksburg. Virginia, his bones to be numbered among the unknown dead. On the other hand stood stalwart Captain Hoagland, afterward to be Judge of the Cumberland Courts; lawyer Lieutenant James J. Reeves ; editor Lieutenant Robert B. Potter: Cap- tain Samnel Harris fresh from the battle of Gaines' farm, Virginia : Captain Henry Neff, scholar and patriot. Stand- ing at rest each company received a stand of colors. Again the tall form of Paul T. Jones arose and made a telling ad- dress to the departing soldiery. Rev. James F. Brown, of the First Baptist Church, and Hon. John T. Nixon made earnest remarks, the latter presenting the flags. Responsive speeches were made by Joel A. Fithian, in a short period to be Major of the Twenty-fourth ; also by Captain James R. Hoagland and Lieutenant James J. Reeves. How youthful did the officers and men appear, mere boys as it were, going at their country's call. brave and courageous. Especially did this seem to be true of Lieutenant Alexander L. Robeson. Mr. Robeson at the time of enlistment was a member of the firm of Whitaker & Robeson, druggists, located on Con- merce street, near Laurel, in an old-time brick building. He
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WAR TIME PICTURES-18 2 Five Patriotic Cobb Brothers-Company G, "Ith N. J. Reg. Inf. Vols. John W. Cobb
Jacob P. Cobb Joseph W. Cobb
Caleb Cobb Alfred S. Cobb (¥9)
HISTORIC DAYS
was a rising young business man, with a large circle of friends, and much esteemed by his fellow-citizens. In a word he was a gentleman "sans peur, et sans reproche," and his untimely death at Fredericksburg brought sorrow to many homes in Bridgeton.
The march from the Davis House to the West Jersey Railroad depot on Irving avenue was an ovation, and yet a parade in sorrow. Wrapped in the arms of a mother, a wife, a sister, it seemed as though the ties of affection would not be severed from the forms of those who were taking their last farewell of those so near and dear. The scenes witnessed at the departure of the "Cumberland Greys" and of "Company K" were being repeated, only on a larger scale. Forebodings of disease, of wounds, of death, were in the minds of loved ones because of what had happened to many of Cumberland County's sons in the battles so far fought. Thus was the parting the more solemn, the more tender, the more pathetic.
Time went on. The Twenty-fourth Regiment was equipped, uniformed, and in the presence of the enemy be- fore the heights of Marie on the Rappahannock. The battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia, was fought December 13th and 14th, 1862. The weather was disagreeable. Early winter had set in in gloom. General Ambrose E. Burnside, brave, modest. but incompetent for great command was at the head of the Army of the Potomac. Crossing the river on pon- toons in the face of a murderous fire the three Bridgeton companies advanced with their comrades and entered the village of Fredericksburg. Inexperienced but heroic to the core they fought from beginning to end. The roar of cannon, the whistle of shell, the crash of musketry, the bay- onet charge deterred them not. Through the blinding smoke and the carnage of battle they followed the flag, bul- let to bullet, steel against steel. Comrades fell around them some dying instantly, others suffering with terrible wounds while the life blood slowly ebbed away. In the lull of battle the early moon hid its face behind the cloudy night as if
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DAVIS HAUSE
THE DAVIS HOUSE, BRIDGETON 1-55-1-65 Edmund Davis, Proprietor
IJISTORIA DAY'S
fearful of the bloody scenes on the earth below. Here and there a soldier was praying for succor and help, and yet no help save that alone which came from the Master whose pity- ing eye and loving heart was ready to receive. If, per- chance, some comrade 'mid the storm of grape and cannister sought to rest the head of a dying friend upon his breast. the forward. ever forward command prevented. The burial of Sir Thomas Moore was re-enacted a thousand times on Fredericksburg's fatal field.
"Slowly and sadly we laid them down ; From the field of their fame fresh and gory, We carved not a line ; we raised not a stone --- But left them alone in their glory."
From the field of death with its bloody repulse came the retreat across the turbulent river. Safe on the other shore the terrific cost of this unfortunate conflict was counted. The aftermath of this and other battles is found in the cemetery on Marie's heights where repose the bones of seventeen thousand Union soldiers and among the known and un- known dead are many members of the gallant companies who left the dear old town of Bridgeton on that fair Sep- tember morning.
Immediately after the battle on the Rappahannock Rob- ert DuBois and Charles R. Elmer, together with Jeremiah Dubois, full of interest and charity for those who were baring their bosoms to the storm of death on Southern fields, began inquiries in Washington and Virginia as to the casualties occurring to our home companies. December 27, 1862, Robert DuBois and Charles R. Elmer returned to Bridgeton with very sad news and a list of those killed and wounded. In its issue of that date, the Chronicle said :
"At the time of going to press no news has been re- ceived of Lieutenant Robeson who has been missing since the battle of Fredericksburg. There is reason to suppose that he has been taken prisoner and is now in the hands of the rebels. The wound received by Lieutenant Reeves is a flesh wound upon the left arm, painful though not dan-
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LIEUTENANTS IN BRIDGETON COMPANIES
Twenty-fourth New Jersey Inf. Vols .- 1\2
Second Lieut. James J. Reeves, Co. H. First Lieut. Charles M. Pease, Co. G. First Lieut. Alexander L. Robeson. Co. H.
Second Lieut. William B. Pepper, Co. F. Second Lieut. Robert B. Potter, Co. G.
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1HISTORIC DAYS
gerous. Captain Samuel Harris was severely shocked by a shell. Lieutenant Robert B. Potter had a very narrow escape. A ball striking his watch glanced off and wadded itself in a glove in his pocket. He was also knocked down by a shell. Captain . Hoagland is unhurt."
The town went wild on the receipt of this news. Great crowds gathered in front of the Post Office, George W. Johnson, Postmaster, office then located on Commerce street. near the southeast corner of Laurel, listened to tele- grams from Washington, clamored for letters from the ab- sent sokliers, and packed the sidewalks, while some person stood upon a dry goods box and read the lists of killed and wounded from the columns of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the popular newspaper of war days.
The "Copperheads" were plentiful about this time with their sneers and "I told you so's." but the patriotic senti- ment of the people soon asserted itself from bruised but loyal hearts, and the war went on.
Then it was that the good President on his knees be- fore God appealed for guidance in the nation's hour of bitter trouble.
Mr. Lincoln issued and concluded the Emancipation Proclamation with the following eloquent passages :
"I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States and parts of States are and henceforth shall be free.
"And upon this act. sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution, upon military neces- sity, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind and the gracious favor of Almighty God."
The world wondered. and the black man went free. No more auction block. no more separation of husband from wife, parent from child, at the command of the brutal mas- ter. The prayers of centuries which had gone up from the humble cabins of the South were answered at last. "Halle- lujah!" cried the manumitted freemen. "It is God and Massa Lincoln. Bress de Lord."
95
IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY, NEW JERSEY
The Republican Congressional Convention met at May's Landing, Atlantic County, and nominated John F. Starr, of Camden, Hon. John T. Nixon, declining a re- nomination.
Governor Charles S. Olden, who had endeared him- self to the people of the State and the soldiers in the field. was about to retire from office. The Republican State Con- vention met at Trenton and named Marcus L. Ward as his successor. The Democratic State Convention nominated Joel Parker. The latter convention adopted a platform which Governor Parker afterward told the writer, had two meanings. Part of it read for a vigorous prosecution of the war, the other portion read for peace. This was a di- lemma, but "I straddled it," said the Governor, "and so managed to please both the War and Peace Democrats that I was elected all right." And as he said this there was a twinkle in his eye and a broad smile on his handsome coun- tenance. Joel Parker was elected, and proved an efficient and loyal Governor for whom President Lincoln had great respect.
Thursday, October 9, 1862, the Republican County Convention met at the Court House, Bridgeton. Isaac Sharpless was chosen chairman. Dr. Ephraim Bateman and J. Edmund Sheppard were made secretaries. The conven- tion proceeded immediately to business. Nominations being declared in order. Providence Ludlam, of Bridgeton, was unanimously chosen as the candidate for State Senator. A contest for the county clerkship which Mr. Ludlam was about to vacate, developed. Theophilus G. Compton and J. Edmund Sheppard were proposed. The ballot resulted in 35 votes for Compton. 14 votes for Sheppard. Mr. Comp- ton was declared the unanimous choice of the convention amid some excitement on the floor. Dr. B. Rush Bateman, of Fairfield. was nominated for Assembly. First District ; Edward W. Maylin, of Millville, for Assembly. Second District. For Coroners: James M. Riley, Cohansey ;
THISTORIC DAYS
George Woolford, Millville: Charles Madden, Maurice River.
Providence Ludlam, then in the prime of life, of fine personal appearance, accepted the nomination in a brief speech. Ile was received with applause. Mr. Compton also appeared and accepted the nomination for County Clerk, as did Dr. Bateman and Mr. Maylin for Assembly.
The Democratic County Convention nominated Richard Lott, of Bridgeton, for Senator, and Dr. Joseph C. Kirby, of Bridgeton, for County Clerk. The canvass was quiet, owing to the great interest in the war, but there was an occasional scrap between "Provie" and the Demo- cratic leaders. These debates generally occurred in front of the Davis House, and every now and then were finished before Edmund's bar where the "jack" went 'round, lend- ing a mellow radiance to the asperities of the day.
The removal of General George B. McClellan from the command of the Army of the Potomac occurred No- vember 10, a few days after election, but the contemplation of this act made the Democrats a little snappy, for they loved "Little Mac" and looked upon him as the great soldier of the war of whom the Republican administration was jealous. Ludlam was always around to take up the cudgel when Mr. Lincoln's conduct was attacked, and in the verbal encounters with Ephraim Sheppard and 'Squire llughes which ensued, "Provie" usually came out on top.
The polls closed with the following result in the county : For Governor. Marcus L. Ward. Republican, 322 majority over Joel Parker, Democrat; for Congress. John F. Starr, Republican, 273 majority over Nathaniel Strat- ton, Democrat: for State Senator, Providence Ludlam, Republican, 213 majority over Richard Lott. Democrat ; for County Clerk, Theophilus Compton, Republican. 299 majority over Joseph C. Kirby, Democrat: for Assembly First District, Dr. B. Rush Bateman, Republican, 180 ma- jority over Ezekiel Mayhew, Democrat; Second District,
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PROMINENT CITIZENS-1Mil-I'M
Hon. Nathaniel Stratton Dr. Joseph C. Kirby
Sherrard Sockwell
Artis E. Hughes Richard Lott
197
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HISTORIC DAYS
Edward W. Maylin, Republican, 74 majority over Andrew H. MeNeil. Democrat. The Republican Coroners were elected by about 300 majority.
The victory was celebrated at the County Clerk's office on Commerce street. "Provie" made a good speech, and the boys tumbled over each other in the apple barrel and made sad havoc with the crackers and cheese.
This was the campaign in which Richard Lott, the Democratic candidate for State Senator, who kept the grist mill near the Cumberland Iron Works, got rid of several barrels of extra quality of flour famous as "Lott's Best." Richard Lott was one of the leading citizens of Bridgeton, and one of the best of men. He was a man of genial quali- ties and good appearance, but had no knowledge of politics and was completely outgeneraled by Ludlam from start to finish. Mr. Lott in after years was wont to refer to the contest with "Provie" as a campaign in which he seemed to be doing well in his own neighborhood. but said he, "When we got into Downe township it appeared as though every other stump was a Republican."
In this canvass Nathaniel Stratton. of Millville, the Democratic candidate for Congress, met his first defeat. He had been Sheriff of Cumberland County and State Sena- tor, filling both positions with credit. "Natty," as his fol- lowers delighted to term him, was a man of impressive appearance, dignified in bearing, and of genial manners. His face smoothily shaven, he was a type of the good citizen who fifty years ago was the salt of the earth. The tem- perance men made him Sheriff because of his ardent views upon that great moral question, to which he adhered through a long and useful life, his last honors terminating with his career as a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas.
With the advent of Providence Ludlam to a seat in the Senate of New Jersey, a great force was given to the leader- ship of the Republican party in the Southern section of the State. He rose rapidly, and by the end of his first ses- sion was more influential than any member of the State Senate previously sent from Cumberland County.
IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY. NEW JERSEY
The elections of 1862 were not encouraging to the Union cause and the Republican Administration. New York had elected Horatio Seymour, Governor; Ohio and Indiana had gone back to the minority party which, through its press and its public speakers, was ridiculing the party in power and openly sympathizing with the enemy in the field. The Vallandighams of the North were apparently in the saddle. To crown the miseries of the situation Gen- eral Burnside had fought and lost the battle of Fredericks- burg. Not a rift appeared in the pall of darkness which seemed to have settled over the country. In this hour of national grief and depression, Mr. Lincoln, the devout President, leaning upon the Higher Power, issued a procla- mation setting apart Thursday, the 30th day of April, 1863. as a day of national humiliation, fasting and prayer. How humble and yet how tender were the petitions set out in that remarkable document. Never before in all history had a great ruler so penitently placed himself and the fu- ture of his country in the hands of his Lord and Master. It rested upon the hearts of his countrymen with a gentle in- fluence like unto the soft wind which, blowing upon the land from the Pacific Ocean, is known as the "chinook"-a breath from God. Said he :
"And inasmuch as we know that by His divine law nations, like individuals, are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world, may we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war which now desolates the land may be but a punishment upon us for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people? We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven: we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity ; we have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and en- riched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined. in the deceitfulness of our hearts that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our
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HISTORIC DAYS
own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.
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