History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 16

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 840

USA > New Jersey > Essex County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 16
USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 16

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY. NEW JERSEY.

Is he invested with the control of the Government? The people have come out to express their fealty to the tiovernment of their choice. We have no feelings of revenge against the citizens of the South; there is but one feeling predominant, and that is, that the Government must be sustained." Cortlandt Parker "called upon all men to give their prayers, their money, their strength to the cause, and the women, too, to give everything for what is great and good." He added: "Ile that would not fight now is a das- tard." The dore Runyon-who, five days later was commissioned by Gov. Charles S. Olden, Brigadier- General of New Jersey troops-gave eloquent expres- sion to his sentiments. lle said they had come together as citizens of the Republic, ignoring all party polities, "to counsel upon the great question of up- hokling the banner of our country. It was by no act of his that the present incumbent of the Presidential chair was placed in that position : he tried all he could to keep Abraham Lincoln out. Ile (the General) had but one duty now to do, and that was to recognize him as the legal President of the United States, and to sup- port his Government." In a similar strain of patriotic fervor. Frederick T. Frelinghuysen-a grands mn of that Frelinghuysen whose valor contributed largely to the Revolutionary turning-tide victory at Trenton in 1776-then Attorney-tieneral of the State, spoke, and in regard to a national separation insisted that it should not be done without the consent of the Gov- ernment, and in a manner consistent with the honor of the national ensign, and consistent with the Goy- ernment and its laws. Anthony t2. Keasbey, who had just been appointed United States District Attorney for the District of New Jersey, "spoke exultantly of the manifestations all around of loyalty to the Gov- ernment." Speeches were also made by Joseph t. Jackson, F. Seriba and Samuel H. Baldwin. As the unanimous sentiment of the great gathering, resolu- tions were adopted setting forth "that it is the firm, unanimous and unalterable determination of the citi- zens of Newark, first of all, and above all other duties, laying aside all party distinctions and ass wiations, to sustain the Government under which they live"; and, furthermore:

That we, the said citizens of Newark, will give our united, strong and un wavering support to the President of the U'nited States and the Gene- ral Government in its endeavour to enforce the laws preserve the common property, vindicate the dignity of the Government, and cruch the treasonable conspiracies and insurrectiona which are rampmint in various parts of the land, leaving to them, as the constituted authorities, the exercise of their rightful discretion, within all constitutional limits, as to the mede and Dinner in which it is to be done ; at the wane time deploring the treeity which conquis us to array ourselves in opposition to men of the same blood, and who press, in common with us, the tra- ditions of the Revolution, milesunly declaring that nothing but the highest and most sa red sende of duty to our Country and our Godt could Jead He to risk the shedding of our brother' blood.

A resolution was als , passed authorizing the chair- man to appoint a committee of citizens "to take in charge and carry forward all measures needful for the equipment of troops, and to take such measures in

co-operating with the authorities for the general sect- rity and protection as may be deemed advisable." This committee consisted of the following well-known citizens:

MARCUS L. WARD, PETER II. BALLANTINE.

JOSEPH P. BRADLEY, JAMES F. BUNU,

ALFRED L. DENNIS, THOMAS KIRAPATKR K.

HENRY VANDERPUPL, JAVOR LAGOWITZ,

NILAS II. KITOHELL

STEPHEN H. C'HADHT.

JAMES M. QUISHY.

THEODORE P'. HOWEL.I.,

JOSEPH N. TUTTLE, WILLIAM RANKIN.

GEORGE PETERE. JUSEPH H. HALSEY,

JACOB VAN ARSDALE, FREDERIC'K I. TEX-E.

C. L. C. GIFFORD, IRA M. HARRISON,

NICHOLAS MOURE, S. R. W. HIKATH,

JACOB STICKY. JAMEN DOL WIE ETY.

To this connitte were added the Mayor and Alder- men John C. Littell, James Smith, John Remer, Charles S. Macknet and W. A. Whitney, It organ- ized the day following the mass-meeting, under the name of the "Public Aid Committee of the City of Newark, " and with the following officers:

MARCUS L. WARD, Chairman. JAGTH VAN ARNDALE, Secretary.

BEACH VASDERPOOL, Treasurer. JAMES F BOND, Assistant Secretary.

How thoroughly the great Court House meeting voiced the sentiments of the entire community was speedily made manifest. Soon came the actions which spoke louder than words. Upon the Wednesday fol- lowing the meeting, the women of Newark set a noble example to their sisters throughout the State-an example which was generously emulated everywhere in New Jersey. Under the lead of Mrs. William Pemington, the patriotic wife of the ex-tiovernor, they organized an association, "to co-operate with the authorities and citizens in relieving the families of those who from this city go to uphold the laws." The active committee chosen represented the various reli- gious denominations, as follows: Mrs. Dr. Wilson. South Park Presbyterian Church; Mrs. F. T. Fre- linghuysen, North Dutch Church; Mrs. Dr. HE. (. Fish, First Baptist Church; Mrs. R. L. Dashiell, Central M. E. Church; Mrs. MeKenzie, High Street Presbyterian Church; Mrs. Dr. William O'Gorman, Roman Catholic Church; MIrs. Edward Wright, House of Prayer (Episcopal); Miss Fanny Rowland, Park Street Presbyterian Church; Mrs. Dr. Craven, Third Presbyterian Church; Mrs. W. T. Clough, Trinity (Episcopal) Church; Mrs. W. B. Brown, Con- gregational Church; Mrs. Dr. C. M. Nichols, Central Presbyterian Church; Mrs. Crockett and Mrs. A. Q. Keashey, Grace (Episcopal) Church. Mso prominent in the movement were Mrs. A. P. Whitehead, Mrs. J. F. Stearns, Mrs. J. P. Jackson, Mrs. Frederick G. Seriba, Mrs. Jane Trimble, Mrs. Peter Duryee, Mrs. 8. 11. Condiet, Mrs. John Rutherford, Mrs. J. P. Bradley, Mr-, Cortlandt Parker, Mrs. E. F. Horn- blower, Mrs. S. 11. Pennington, Mrs. Captain Gil- lespie, Mrs. W. H. Steele, Mrs. Daniel Dodd, Mrs. J. P. Wilson, Mrs. Thomas Colyer, Mrs. W. T. Mereer and Mrs. William Wright. To recount the services of

ESSEX COUNTY IN THE WAR OF 1561-65.

these noble women and their associates, to recall their labors of love in camp, in hospital, and in the homes of absent heroes, is a task that the imagination can alone faintly attempt. It is no mere figure of speech to say, however, that hosts of suffering soldiers, and other hosts of suffering wives and little ones, were moved to say of each of these genuine Sisters of Mercy :

" When pain and anguish wring the louw, A ministering angel show. .

· Women of all classes of society were almost alike in- Gelsted in such organizations. The American, the tier- man, the Irish-all brought their gifts and Jaid them ujuon the altar of patriotism.' The churches contributed not alone of their means but of their membership. Upon the Sunday following the assault upon Fort Sumter, there was scarcely a pulpit in the city which dul not give voice in advance to the great meeting bell in front of the Court House. Later when the call for troops came, none responded with greater promptitude than " those who professed and called themselves Christians." One church alone (the First Baptist) sent into the military and naval service of the country no less than one hundred and seventy-two of its members, of which number about thirty were killed. Many members of the same congregation were represented in the war by substitutes. Other Newark churches were almost as largely represented in the army and navy. Even the schools " shared in the absorbing excitement," and made contributions of money. The attack upon Fort Sumter rekindled the fires of '76. " A carnival" of patriotism prevailed. The day following the Court House meeting Major Robert Anderson (afterwards General) the hervie de- fender of Fort Sumter, visited Newark-he was to have been present at the Union meeting, but mistook the date-and was received with the greatest enthu- sim, Captain Toler's Montgomery Battalion escort- ing him from the Market Street station. While passing St. John's (R. V.) Church the hero of the hour was complimented with " Hail tolumbia," ad- mirably rendered on the beautiful chimes of the church. Every incident furnished occasion for an outburst of l'nion feeling.

And thus, within a couple of weeks after the first shot was fired in t'harleston harbor upon the ensign of American unity, the people of Newark had grandly answered the slanderous charge made some months before that they included " mercenary and unprinci- pled men" who cares more for "Southern trade" and " the wishes of their Southern masters" than for the pubhe interests-the indivisibility of the American I'nion ! And thus arts, not words, swept aside the calumny uttered in the sore disappointment and anger of political defeat.

Beauregard's guns aimed not alone at Sumter, but at the heart of the American Republw, and their flash was instantly transmitted to the North, thrilling

every chord of patriotism in the national heart. The effect in Newark was instantaneous. With a common impulse her citizen soldiery sprang to arms and re- solved to move in defence of the I'nion upon the first eall. Forty-eight hours had scarcely elapsed before every company of the First Regiment (the chief organization of the Newark Brigade) had agreel to stand by the ohl flag and maintain it against every for. This action, though simultaneous, was unpre- concerted. In every company almost there was an American Rouget de Lisle to arouse his compatriots with a soul-stirring Americanized Marseillaise hymn ; and speedily

"_there was mounting in hot hasta ; The stood, the mastering squadron and the clattering car, Went pouring forward with impetuous spend, And swiftly forming in the ranks of war."

CHAPTER XV.

ESSEX COUNTY IN THE WAR OF 1861-65. (Continue ].)

Second Regiment ( First Brigade) .- We have seen by the foregoing chapter that the people of Essex County responded with the most eager alacrity to the first call for troops to defend the nation. So numerous, indeed, were the volunteers for active service, that within two weeks after the first call, April 15th, 1961, several additional regiments might have been fur- nished. In some cases, whole companies which had been recruited under the first call, finding that there was no probability of acceptance as a part of the quota of New Jersey, were transferred to New York and became a part of the Excelsior Brigade and other organizations which subsequently achieved great dis- tinction.

Warned by the rapidly increasing proportions of the rebellion, that a greater number of troops would be wanted, and for a longer period than for the first call, the President on May 3, 1861, called for thirty- nine regiments of infantry and one of cavalry, to serve for three years or during the war ; and on the 17th of the same month a requisition was made on New Jersey for three of these regiments, This requi- sition was granted at the special request of Governor Olden, with the command that the number should in no case be exceeded. A sufficient number of com- panies being already organized, the regiments were quickly raised, Essex County furnishing Companies A, B, C, D, E, F, G. HI, I, and K of the Second Regiment, and among them were a large number of the City Battalion of Newark. The regiment, with the rest of the brigade, left Trenton June 28, and reported to General Seott at Washington on the fol- lowing day. Immediately subsequent to the battle of

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Bull Run, the Second with other regiments went into camp at Alexandria, Va.

The first skirmish in which any portion of the regiment was engaged was on the 29th of August, 1861, when one company of the regiment became engaged with a body of the enemy, in which one man was wounded and twelve of the rebels killed and wounded.

General Kearny having been commissioned Brigadier on the 25th of July, was in August assigned to the command of the New Jersey troops, and on the 29th of September he made the first important demon- stration which had been made since Bull Run, in which the Second participated.

PHILIP KEARNY! was born in New York t'ity. June 2, 1815. He was of Irish lineage, one of his paternal ancestors being Edmund Kearny, who "married Elizabeth Fox, of Balligdien, in the Coun- ty of Limerick, Esquire, in the latter end of the reign of King Henry VII., and had issue, James Kearny, who married Elea- nor O'Brien, daughter of Murrough O'Brien, fourth son.of Thurlough, Earl of Thomond, by Eleanor, daughter to Thomas Fitz- gerald, Knight of the Val- ley, &c." A number of the Kearnys lost their lives " in the service of Queen Eliza beth, against the Earl of Desmond." The first of the family to come and setthe in America was Michael Kearny. He came here in - the early part of the seven- teenth century, and settled at Shrewsbury, New Jersey. That he was a man of distinction in the colony, is shown by his incumbency of the office of colonial Secretary of State. He had two sons, one named Michael and the other Philip, both born in this country. Michael became a Post- ('aptain in the British navy, which position he re- signed soon after the breaking out of the Revolutionary War. He afterwards settled ou a farm in Morris County. His brother Philip lived at Amboy, and was the grandfather of General Philip Kearny, the sub- ject of this sketch. On the General's maternal side there was a strain of Huguenot stock. Even as a boy Philip developed a decided penchant for military life. After passing through Columbia College, and for a

time studying law, he sought and obtained a henten- ant'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 Saumar. Quitting his studies, he went to Africa with the French army, was attached to the Chasseurs d'_lfrique, and in two engagements distinguished himself. He returned to America in 1841, was attached to General Scott's staff, and during the Mexican war made his mark as an officer of great skill and equal courage. At Cherubusco he performed a most daring feat, had his left arm shot away, and was promoted to be major. Subsequently he fought against the In- dians in Oregon and C'ali- fornia, but soon wearied of that sort of service. Re- signing his commission, he visited Europe and traveled extensively, making Paris his trans-Atlantic rosi- dence. During the Italian- Austro war of 1859, he served as aide-de-camp on the staff of (teneral Morris, and was present at the bat- tleof solferino. For signal gallantry he received from Napoleon III. the cross of the Legion of Honor. Early in the Spring of 1861 he returned to America eager to enter the service of his country. He tried in vain to obtain a commis- sion from the Governor of New York. Several JJer- seymen of influence then interested themselves in behalf of the Major, and, on July 25, Kearny was com- missioned by the Governor of New Jersey, Brigadier General of Volunteers, and assigned to the command of the First New Jersey Brigade, just then organized and attached to Franklin's Division. With all the ardor of a young subaltern ambitious for opportunity to win his spurs, General Kearny though now a man slightly beyond the meridian of life-he was forty-six- panted for the fray. Like a fiery charger held by the bridle he was restive under delay. In his lexicon there was no such word as " wait." He saw the foe in front. It mattered not to him how large his number was, how superior his position, or how inferior the attacking party, Kearny was impatient to close and grapple with him. To be inactive, was with him, to be almost if not quite cowardly ; to fail to push forward was feebleness. During the Autumn of 1861 and along into the Spring

1 Frau Atkinson's History of Newark.

ESSEX COUNTY IN THE WAR OF 1861-65.

of 1862, Kearny chafed continuously under what he considered the halting, doubting, undecided and va- ciHlating e murse pursued by our armies. In March he was offered the command of a Division vacated by General Summer's promotion. Because he could not take his Jersey boys with him he declined, an act of self-denial that planted him for ever in the hearts of not only his own soldiers but in those of other com- mands. Subsequently however, under a sense of im- perative public duty, he assumed command of a Divi- sion in Heintzelman's Corps. The opportunities he thirsted for came at last, the battles of the Peninsula. In all of these he " displayed conspicuous bravery and skill." He was at Williamsburg, arriving there with other commanders, just in time to save Hooker and his old Jersey troops. At Fair Oaks (or Seven Pines) and White Oak Swamp, he behaved as was his wont. " Wherever the danger was greatest, there he pressed, carrying with him a personal power which was equal to a reinforcement." It was the same at Malvern Hill. Alas! it was the same at Chantilly-fatal, disastrous Chantilly -where brave, noble, " Fighting Phil " Kearny paid the penalty of being too brave, too dar- ing, too chivalric.

"Oh, evil the black shroud of night at Chantilly, That hid him from sight of his brave inen and tried ! Foul, foul sped the bullet that clipped the white lily, The flower of our knighthoud, the whole army's pride

Upon that fateful September Ist, after he had saved Pope's army from a rout, driven Lee's forces back and frustrated effectually Lee's designs upon Washington, Kearny rode forward about sunset to reconnoitre the enemy's position. Unexpectedly he came upon the Confederate lines. A summons to surrender was met with defiance, and as the General turued to fly, spur- ring his charger and lying forward on its neck, he less in his use of words. It was this wild impetu- was shot dead, his body falling into the hands of the enemy. The fatal ball entered at the hip and came out at the breast.

A thrilling sensation swept the heart-strings of the nation when it was announced that Kearny was shot dead, and there was deep lamentation everywhere. In the army, where he was idolized, strong men who had often faced death wept bitter tears of anguish. Even in the Confederate lines brave men grieved-as brave men only can grieve -- over the fall of him, whom in the bitterness of frequent defeats, they had called "the One-armed Devil." Once the body of Kearny was recognized, it was treated with the greatest re- speet, and the highest honors were paid to it. It was promptly returned to the Federal lines with all of Kearny's effects. In Newark the event created the profoundest sorrow. Every fireside went into mourning. Upon the arrival of the remains and dur- ing their passage through the city to the place of interment-Trinity Church graveyard, New York- the city of Newark, by resolution of the Common Council and universal concurrence, made every custo- mary manifestation of deep sorrow, including a military

and civic funeral procession, flags everywhere at half- mast, and a general suspension of ordinary pursuits. Since then, on every recurring Decoration Day, there have never been found wanting some JJerseymen whose affectionate remembrances of General Kearny have found beautiful expression in a profuse decoration of his grave with garlands sweetly emblematic of peren- mial love and admiration for the noble and the heroic.

Of General Kearny's character as a soklier it has been written : " His talents as an organizer, his fervid enthusiasm for his profession, his close study of the art of war, his intuitive perception of character. his strategie genins, his generosity and lavish expenditure of his large wealth in order to promote the efficiency of his command-all these qualities from the outset distinguished his career." There was such an abun- dance of the true chevalier d'honneur about Kearny, there was such a large share of the noblest manhood iu his composition, there was so much that wax knightly and chivalric in the man, that his character will moult no feather in the estimation of the dis- criminating, if it be said as truth requires it should be said, that he had one great fault in a military com- mander. He was too impetuous, too impulsive. He was quick to think, quick to spring at conclusions, and oftentimes proved a marvel of prescience; but. for all that, it must be candilly confessed that he was too much controlled by impetuosity and impulsiveness. Without stopping to learn the real causes, the con- trolling influences in Washington, as well as the oyer- estimation of Federal and under-estimation of Con- federate strength, General Kearny attacked his General-in-chief, with an intensity of fierceness and fury characteristic of his physical onslaught- against the armed enemy. For the moment he was remorse- osity, this rash impulsiveness, which cost the nation his precious life. There were scores of subalterns. and hundreds of unepauletted soldiers, any one of whom could have gone on that fatal reconnoitre at Chantilly just as well as he. True, he scorned to send an inferior where he would not go himself. It is wisdom however, not cowardice, in a commander, to avoid needless exposure of his person. There is such a thing as being too brave. At Chantilly Kearny illustrated this, even as did the gallant hero C'uster more than a dozen years later in the Indian country. Suppose Kearny had restrained his rashness, -who can tell whether he might not have become the chief of the army? Chantilly's ill-starred incident avoided, "KEARNY," instead of "tinANT," might have been inscribed forever in American history as the great captain of the Civil War. A bronze statue of Kearny placed in the interior of the Capitol building at Tren- ton, and another in Military Park, Newark, are New Jersey's tributes to Newark's illustrious hero.

After the skirmish of August 29th, 1861, nothing of importance occurred with the regiment until March 7th, 1862, when Kearny's Brigade was

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY

ordered to Burke's Station on the Orange and Alex- andria Railroad, for the purpose of guarding a party of laborers, which place was reached on the following day, and a reconnoisance of the country was made for several miles around. On the 9th, the Second and Third Regiments, with a squadron of the Lincoln Cavalry, occupied Stanger's Station on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, about five miles from Bull Run and nine from Manassas Junction. Here they surprised a detachment of rebel cavalry, killing three and capturing a lieutenant and cleven men. On the same day the Second with other troops, pushed forward, and at ten o'clock in the morning occupied the abandoned works at Manassas Junction.

Early in April, the Second with the rest of the brigade, was attached to the First Division of the First Army Corps, and on the 7th proceeded to Bristoe Station, and from there to Catlet's Station, where it remained until the 11th when it returned to Alex- andria, and on the 17th embarked for the York River disembarking at York Point. On May 5th the division was transferred to West Point, and on the 6th the Jersey Brigade was engaged with the enemy, and on the 9th joined Stoneman's forces. On the 15th the entire division (Franklin's) effected a june- tion with Mcclellan's army near White House, whence it advanced to the Chickahominy where it remained for two weeks. June 6th, the division was ordered to Mechanicsville, on the extreme right of Mcclellan's line, where it remained several days, during which time the Jerseymen were engaged in picket duty at Meadow Bridge and other places.

On the afternoon of the 27th of June, the Jersey Brigade left its intrenched camp on the Chickaho- miny, crossed that stream and moved down to Wood- bury's Bridge, where it met Fitzjohn Porter and McCall's troops, who were being severely pressed by the enemy. The Jersey Brigade was brought into action, and the fighting from first to last was of the most desperate character. With all the odds of position and numbers against them, the "Jer- Hey Blues" fought steadily on, their ranks terribly thinned. One by one, the officers of the ohl Second were shot down. During this engagement, in which four companies of the Second were engaged, fifteen were killed, forty-eight wounded, and forty-one missing.

The following is the report of Lieut .- Colonel Buck, of the Second Regiment :- " On the 27th this regi- ment was engaged with the enemy at two points. Companies A, B, E, F and ti, under my command, were detailed on the 26th for picket duty, and on the 27th were attacked and held their ground against a much superior force, only one man being slightly wounded, which was truly providential considering the perfect storm of shot and shell which rained over 14." On the 27th, Colonel Tucker with D, II, Land K, was ordered to cross the Chickahominy, and soon after ordered to relieve a full regiment. Nothing daunted at the smallness of their numbers, they

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History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 16

Author: Shaw, William H Publication date: 1884 Publisher: [United States :] Number of Pages: 840

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 840