History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 39

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 39
USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 39

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A pleasant incident occurred in camp on Friday.

1 " From Heslaigences of the War," by Samuel Toomle. Published by him in 1878.

136

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY. NEW JERSEY.

the 29th of August, when the regiment was presented with a large and handsome bunting flag by several ladies of Newark. The presentation was made by Rev. Dr. Levy, then pastor of the South Baptist Church of Newark. The following account of this interesting event appeared in the Vorark Daily _Id- vertiser the next day :

" At 6 P. M., the regiment was ordered ont for dress parade, and after the usual evolutions, was formed into a hollow square with a view to a flag presenta- tion. Rev. Mr. Levy, of the South Baptist Church, accompanied by a number of ladies, one of whom bore an legant standard. then advanced to the centre and made the presentation substantially as follows :

(' 1 CARMAN : la behalf of Miss Lindell, it is my agreeable duty to present to your Regiment this flag. It is not made for holiday uses, bor to float in the quiet breezes of home. It is intended for the smoke of battle, the rallying Let in the hour when you and the enemy shall Wert face to farr Woman's hand huy wrought it: it remains now for y. u and your nich to f How and defend it. There has always been, in t' new of nati mal danger asti og incentive to hervie action. It is found in the participation of the Hier's tails by that sex, whose delicate natur- night well shrink from the tempest of war -in their sympathy with the suff rings of the brave, and aversion and contempt for the tiand and wavering. The women of Sparta carried their jewels into the public treasury and gave up their lovers, husbands and sons to their country, and he narrative of our Revolution is alternately orummented with frmal o ustan'y and manly achievement.

B. aRUTed Colon 1, female patriotism still survives ; and while your Reguuent is far away from home and loved ones, tender hearts will le praying for your su ress, and gentle haads will be preparing to wreathe your brows with honor, or strew your graves with flowers.

"After an allusion to the new era in the history of the war, to be marked with greater energy and bold- ness, the speaker committed the flag into the keeping of the t'olonel and the Thirteenth Regiment, as an emblem of our institutions, dear to every patriot. IIe called upon them to let its past renown stimulate them to deeds of heroism, and concluded by invoking the God of Battles to prosper them as they adhered to the sacred cause of Liberty.

"Colonel Carman received the standard with the following remarks :

KIN SIR. In behalf of my fellow offers and the soldiers of my the ladies of this city We shall look upon this beautiful fag as no holiday thing. to be true merely na parade, but shall foll on it to the Battle-fold, fight under it, and if nood be di beneath its folds, shell- ding our bl wal for the glorious cause in which we are engaged. We go forth as dermerien, to istain the honor of our State which is already holed for th bravery of La soldiers, the noble derds of its citizens, and 1 may a M, the beauty and patriotism of its women. Rest assured sir, tout though we may be called upon to endure hardships and privations. tie memory of the kand friends at home will over cheer us and stimulate

Again sir. I return som my thanks.

"The regiment responded to these speeches by loud and repeated cheers. The standard is made of bunt- ing, handsomely trimmed, and has for its field the State arms."

The announcement that the regiment would move on Sunday, or carly on Monday morning, brought erowds of visitors to camp. The scene at Camp Frelinghuysen on Sunday morning was very affecting.

The parting with wives, mothers, sisters, daughters and other dear ones, proved a severe trial to most of the men. Strong men said their last good-bye and "(Hdl bless you," with tears coursing down their cheeks ; and to many it was indeed a final parting.

The line of march from camp was down Orange to Broad, to Chestnut street, where the regiment boarded the train, and arrived in Camden about dusk, where it crossed the Delaware, and was bonntifully enter- tained at "The Soldiers Rest " in the "('ity of Bro- therly Love."

On Monday night, September 1st, the regiment arrived in Washington, and after partaking of break- fast the next morning at the "Soldiers Retreat," the officers and men took a bird's-eye view of Washington, and about noon the regiment marched across Long Bridge, and went into camp at Fort Richardson, on Arlington Heights.

The stay of the regiment on Arlington Heights, though short, was delightful. The scenes about them were historical, and full of interest. The view north- ward toward Washington, where the stately Capitol building arose prominent above all its surroundings, was a pleasant picture. The Capitol presented a mag- nificent sight in the early morning when the sun gilded its front, and it was a special object of admira- tion when lit up at night. Those were the days of long sessions. The veterans of the Army of the Po- tomac were eneamped between them and Alexandria, and visits from friends in the old New Jersey brigades were frequent. The death of General Kearny occa- sioned deep regret among them, and was the chief theme of conversation next to the desire for news from Newark.

The appearance of these old soldiers was in striking contrast to the Volunteers who were enjoying the luxury of Sibley tents; clothing and equipments were new and in perfect order, and it was ditheult to he- lieve that they should ever present an appearance so devoid of soldierly bearing as the men with whom they came in daily contact.

On Saturday night, September 6th, the regiment broke camp and entered upon the Maryland cam- paign, the objective point being Rockville, Md., which place was reached on the next day (Sunday), when the regiment went into eamp two miles north of the town. Ilere the regiment was brigaded with the Second Massachusetts and Thirty-Seventh Indiana, the whole being assigned to Williams' Division, Banks' corps. Wednesday, September 10th, moved off along the direction of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad ; forded the Monoeacy River on the 12th, reaching Frederick City on the morning of the 13th. The regiment subsequently participated in the capture of South Mountain Pass, and the battle of Antietam, where the losses of the regiment were quite severe ; nine being killed and sixty wounded. The following names of the killed and wounded are taken from the State records; no mention, however, being made of

137

ESSEX COUNTY IN THE WAR OF 1861-65.

the wounded, except where a man has been discharged or died, and in many of these instances the word " Dis- ability" covers cases where discharges have been granted resulting from other caused.

Company A .- Killed, James M. Taylor, Wounded, Willisa A. Ball, Charle & Oughietre, samuel Question died sept. 9th.

Company B .- Killed, William Casey.

Company " - Wounded, Peter Arlington, John M Shepherd, George Meyers lied Ort. 3

Company D .- Killed, Jamest. Armstrong, Jeas. R Coles, George R. Harrison, Alexander Osborne, Wounded, George WIntheld, Ira W. Commelyon, Sbram Skins, John Il. Egbert, Abrum M. Harris, Byron 4 Hopperche Ort 12. Davids, Millarnede Oct. 2 Stephen Freeman.

Company E .- Wounded, Albert Bradley, Frederick Walter, Anzi P. Willianis

Company F. Killed, John 1 Brant Wounded, Edwin D. Callen, Ismer Crawford, John Campbell called Out. 11. Harvey W Holdans, Samuel C. Shippen, Emmimel shirdon, John E. Wilson.

Company I .- Wounded, William Pell.

Camping K .- Killed, Captain H. C. Irish, Abraham Margroff. Wounded, Curtis Bonne died March 13, 1863), John H. Foreman (die Der. 9, 1802), Badwert Gatomall thed Dec. 11, 1862), Frederick . King ulied sept. 30, 186 0.

There being no record of the wounded who after- wards returned to the regiment, it is impossible to mention by name all the casualties which occurred. Color Sergeant James Kilroy, of Company G, was among these, also David Mack, of Company E, and many others.

Col. Carman was obliged to retire to a hos- pital during the day, and the command of the regiment devolved upon Lieutenant-Colonel Rob- ert S. Swords, by whom they were conducted to the brigade. On the night of the battle the Color Sergeant, Kilroy, was obliged to relinquish the colors on account of his wound, and Lieut-l'ol. Swords passed down the line asking for a volunteer to carry the flag. Private George W. Haulenbeck, of Company F, promptly responded, and though he did not come up to the standard either in build or height -he was small of stature and apparently not very strong-the colors were given to him for a trial. That night the regiment was posted in the front line of battle, anticipating a renewal of hostilities on the Isth. Gen. Gordon, in his official report to Gen. A. S. Williams, who commanded the Corps after the death of Gen. Mansfield, gives a detailed account of the part borne by each of the regiments of his brigade in the fight of the 17th.

We next find the regiment, with the brigade, mov- ing towards Harper's Ferry, which place was reached on the 23d of September, where it went into camp on Maryland Heights, opposite the Ferry. Up to this time the regiment had been in service but twenty- nine days, and none regretted the prospect of a short rest, after such a severe campaign in so short a time. While in camp here, the men were exposed to many hardships for want of tents and enoking utensils, until the 17th of October, when the knapsacks they had left at Rockville a month before, arrived, and "the boys" were again happy.

During their stay at Harper's Ferry, quite a number

of resignations occurred in the regiment, which gave general dissatisfaction to the men. They were Capt. Alex. Vreeland, Company F; Capt. James Brannin, Company H; Capt. Chas. Mackey, Company I; First Lieutenant Flavel W. Sullivan, Company F; First Lieutenant Henry Reynolds, Company I.

The duties of the regiment consisted of daily drills, picket and camp guard duty and the general routine of camp life. A good story was told of one of the camp guards, which will hear repeating here. One cold, stormy night, after the guards were posted a member of Company "A," was stationed near the Commissary tent. The rain came down unmer- eifully, the wind blew a gale, and he soon became chilled to the marrow. It seemed an age before the relief came, and he was about making up his mind that the guards were all asleep at headquarters when he heard a body of men approaching. "Halt!" he shouted, " who comes there?" As the squad of men advanced, the guard congratulated himself on his speedy relief from duty, but his dismay can be better imagined than described when the reply came "Officer of the Day, on grand rounds." The "grand rounds " were generally performed at midnight, the Officer of the Day being escorted to all the posts by a squad of men from guard headquarters. The poor fellow, wet through, almost stiffened with the cold, and angry with himself and everybody else, was in no condition to appreciate the situation properly, and instead of saying, "Advance, Officer of the Day, and give the countersign," he retorted, " The deril take the grand rounds. I thought it was the Third Relief."

From Harper's Ferry the regiment moved to Sharps- burg, Va., and relieved Fitz John Porter's Corps who were doing picket duty. The following were the losses while at Sharpsburg :

Company A. Mexander Mann, died December 5, 1942. Company (. Ellsworth Brower, died November 8, 1862. Company L', John Fitzgerald, died November 1, 1862. Moses 1. Rogers, died November 21, 1-62. Company F, Frederick W. Brus, died Incember 4. 1982. Company G, Jacob R. Sythoff, died November 26, 1862.

On Thursday, Dee. 11, the regiment was at Loudoun Heights, Va., and the next day marched to within two miles of Leesburg. Crossing Goose Creek, the corps, to which the Thirteenth was attached, marched some fourteen miles on the road to Aldie, where a halt was made. On the 14th, the regiment passed through Chantilly and entered Fairfax Court House in the afternoon, halting at Fairfax Station about dusk. The next day the march was resumed, and crossing Decoquan Creek at Wolf Run Shoals the regiment bivouacked for the night about two miles below that stream. The next camping place of the Thirteenth was at Stafford Court House, where it went into camp on the 24th of January, 1863, in a thick pine woods almut a mile from the court house. Here the regiment re- mained for some time, doing light picket duty and enjoying the sports incident to camp life.

138

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Marching orders were received on the 14th of April, but the regimeut did not move until Monday, the 27th, when, with eight days' rations, the Thirteenth broke camp, and on Wednesday reached Kelly's Ford, on the Rappahannock, crossed on a pontoon, pushed on to the Rapidan, where the men fixed bayonets, fastened their knapsacks and haversacks to them, and waded through the river, the water in some places being over tour feet deep, and the next day reached Chancellorsville, where the Thirteenth participated in that memorable campaign under Hooker, when the regiment returned to camp at Stafford Court-House. Here an account was taken, and the following casualties reported.

FIELD AND STAFF. - Wounded, Major John Grimes, Adjutant Thomas B. Smith.

Company .A .- Killed, Th mas Doyle. Wounded, Second Lieutenant Gen. G. Whitfield (died May 6th, : Sergeants William A. Nicholson, John R. Williams ; Privates Frank W. Denuis, Cornelius Van Arsdale, Thomas Bishop, Augustus Combe, Henry (. Dakes.

Company B .- killed, Corporal William Moffit ; Private's Thomas IMdell, William St. Clair. Wounded, Corporal Peter H. Slover ; Privates George C. Woolhopter, Thomas Ferris, J. Howard Titsworth.

Company C .- Missing supposed killedl), John Peachant. John Hammer. Wounded, Orderly Sergeant George Baitzel, Corporals Freeborn Gar- ris u, Charles B. Burris ; Privates David Burris. Amzi Brown, George H. Comer, John (' Crawford, Audrew Leise, R. B. Manning, Jacob Mirkler, William Parker. Gilbert smith.

Company D .- Willed, William Bartlett, Jr .. William Vickery, Andrew R. Whetsell. Wounded, William Taylor (died May 18th), George J. Van Arulale (dlied May 8th , Moses Elgar, Jannes Love, Anthony (. Rindell, and Washington B. Russell were wounded slightly.

Company F ..- Killed, Orderly Sergeant John B. Munn ; Private Samuel P. Taylor. Wounded. Corporale De Witt ('. Allen, William W. Jacobus; Privatce Amzi W. Baldwin, William Jordan. Bennet Livingstou, William Sanderson, Joseph Trott, Thomas H. Williams, George Allerton, Harmon >. Blur.

Company F .- Killed. Moses Nugent, Stephen Schmidt. Wounded, Irenius P. Howell (died May 220), John Wilson, Michael Dickerman, Gottleib Hanly, James MeGrain, and Corporat Grorge Murehouse.

Company G .- Killed, Patrick Monaghan. Wounded, First Lieutenant Jamies F. Layton, Sergeant Ogden Foxcroft, Corporal Samuel J. Harmon ; Privates Jarub White, Daniel Christy, George W. Cherry, Joseph Bahl- win, Charles B. Hemmingway.

( ompomy H .- Killed, Corporal Charles H. Lathrop. Wounded, Captain Charles H. Bliven ; Privates George C. Hnas, Hrhry Mallen, Thonuns Hogan, Peter C'unners, Augustus Ademar, John Burbage, James C'atford.

Company I. Killed, { harles Stout, Jarob Rentzler. Wounded, Captain Ambrine M. Matthews, Orderly Sergeant Arthur R. Elgarton ; Privates JanI'M Behan, Jas b Hoffman, Louis Kahler, John Roach, Reulun Sammen, Alfred Sharp. George W Lee, Cornelius Petty.

Company K .- Killed, Llewelyn J. T. Probst. Wounded, Lieutenant Hober Will, Sergeant Cornelius Morceau (died July 19th); Corporal Henry Sprer : Privates Silas Ahlartt died May 28th), Isme Clark, Joseph B. Prowed, William Freeland, Mexan ler Kidd, Francis Moore, John J. Nield, William J. Pust, Jaunes W. Vanderlock, Stephen Carlungh, William La'nbert.

After the battle and return to Stafford Court-House through a drenching rain, and no tents or blankets for protection, the next thing to be done was to again prepare for camp-life. Requisitions were made and speedily filled, and the camp soon wore its accustomed appearance, and the regiment naturally fell into the ordinary routine of duty. In this vicinity the regi- ment remained until near the commencement of the Gettysburg campaign, when the order came to "fall in," and the long and tedious and never-to-be-for- gotten marches towards Gettysburg were commenced.

The regiment left Leesburg on Friday, June 26th, cross- ing the Potomac at Edwards' Ferry, and encamped for the night at Poolesville and Point of Rocks. The next day the regiment crossed the Monocacy River, and passed through Point of Rocks. On Monday, the 29th, the regiment passed through Frederick, thence through Walkersville, Woodsborough, and Middle- burgh, where it encamped for the night. June 30th it passed through Bruceville, Taneytown, and Littles- town, Pa., where a halt was made. The regiment was not long in this position before it was brought face to face with the enemy at Gettysburg, yet not in as perilous positions as some others, but it performed all the duties required of it in a manner that elicited praise from the commanding officers. Its loss during the battle was but slight, as follows:

Company A .- Wounded. Edward S. Smith.

Company B. - Wounded, Thomas Ferris.

Company C .- Wounded, Captain D. A. Ryerson, Alex. Barnes, JA8. Winter, James Parliament idird July 27th), William Remington.

Company D .- Wounded, James P. Howatt.

Company E .- Wounded, Corporal Thomas H. Williams (Ing ampu - tatuılı. Julın Van Mickle.

Company F .- Wounded, Cornelius ('lark.

Company G .- Henry Darnig, killed. Wounded, Captain John II. Ar- rey, Corporal Cyrus Williams, and John Welsh, drummer. Company H .- Wounded, David Latourette.

Company I .- Wounded, Lieutenant Charles W. Johnson, (acting adju- tant), Aaron Chamberlain, S. P. Brown, Valentine Huller.

Company K .- Wounded, Archibald Brown.

Assistant-Surgeon Freeman, of the Thirteenth Regi- ment, was placed in charge of the Twelfth Corps Field llospital, and remained at Gettysburg while the regi- ment participated in the pursuit of Lee.

The Federal loss at Gettysburg was twenty-three thousand one hundred and ninety, of whom two thousand eight hundred and thirty-four were killed, thirteen thousand seven hundred and thirty-three wounded, and six thousand six hundred and forty- three missing. The Confederate loss amounted to about thirty-six thousand, of whom nearly fourteen thousand wounded and unwounded remained as pri- soners. The entire loss of the Confederates from the time when they started upon the invasion to the close of July, when they returned to their starting-point, was fully sixty thousand.

The morning of the 6th of July, 1863, was rainy and disagreeable; however, the army was on the march in pursuit of Lec, and on the 7th the Thirteenth, for the third and last time, marched through Freder- ick, Md., then by way of Middletown to Crampton Gap, through Boonesborough, Rohrersville, and at last came up with the enemy at Williamsport, on the 12th of July. Lee escaped without a fight, and the course of the Thirteenth was turned towards Boones- borough, and on the 17th reached Sandy Hook, and finally, on July 31st, they reached Kelly's Ford.

The camp at Kelly's Ford was located on an open plain, about two hundred yards from the river. A day or two after our arrival the enemy's pickets es- i tablished themselves on the south bank, some distance

139

ESSEX COUNTY IN THE WAR OF 1861-65.

from the river, but occasionally a few of them woukl come up to the stream and engage in conversation with the men, generally in the expectation of barter- ing tobacco for coffee or salt. The first attempt re- sulted rather discouragingly for the "Johnnies," as they were designated. One day a Confederate soldier made his appearance on the opposite bank of the river, and yelled out :

" Hello, Yank !"

" Hello, yourself." was the reply.

" Have you got any coffee left ?" asked the anxious Reb.

" Yes " said the Yank, "a little of the kind we gave you at Gettysburg,"-meaning powder and ball.

"To h- with Gettysburg. We've had enough of that."

Finally a good feeling exhibited itself between both sides, and there were frequent meetings between the pickets, when exchanges of desirable articles were made.

Incidents like this and the following were often indulged in by the okl "vets," and sometimes by those not as oll. The following incident was related by one of the jokers as an actual fact, and shows the sort of fun indulged in when in camp. On his way to the spring for a canteen of water, the "old vet " was met by a " substitute," who came limping towards him, with a pair of damaged boots in his hand. Stop- ping the old soklier, he says, "Say, old soldier, do you have any shoemakers in any of these camps ?"

The okl soldier stopped a moment, when a bright idea came to him. (General Knipe, who commanded the First Brigade, used to be in the shoe business). and seeing the opportunity of perpetrating a joke, he said. "Oh, yes. Do you want your boots mended?"

" Yes," said the innocent fellow ; " you see we have had to foot it pretty lively down here from Alexan- dria, and my boots are all busted out. Where is your shoemaker?"

The soldier pointed to a row of wall tents that skirted the woods, and said :

" You see that middle tent over there ?"

" Yes. "

" Well, that's where you will find him when he's in. You just go up and ask for General Knipe-we call him General down here, and he might get mad if you called him anything else. He'll attend to you." " What does he charge ?"

"Oh, he's reasonable enough. You go right up there and you'll find out all about the cost."

The poor fellow went up, and was of course ac- costed by the guard, with-" What do you want ?"

"I want to see General Knipe."

"Well, there's his tent," said the guard, pointing it ont to hin.

The man knocked on the pole in front, aud the General spoke up quick :

" Who's there? Come in."

He went in and asked if that was General Knipe. " Yes," said he.

" Well," said the fellow, "I've got a pretty bad pair of boots here, and I'd like to have you fix them up for me right away. I'm in dreadful need of 'em,

General Knipe, who had risen from his couch when the man entered the tent, caught the recruit by the collar of his coat, and was about to administer a se- vere castigation to the poor dupe, when he suddenly took in the situation and bade him begone and not be made a fool of again.

There was one death in the regiment while en- camped at Kelly's Ford. Andrew Anderson, of Com- pany H, who died from typhoid fever.

Surgeon J. J. H. Love was assigned to the duties of surgeon-in-Chief of the First Division, on the 1-t of August, by special orders from corps headquarters.

A new departure was now to take place. The old Eleventh and Twelfth Corps, with General Joseph E. Hooker in command, were to be transferred to new fields, where other battles were to be fought. victories gained and laurels heaped upon their deserving brows. The Thirteenth, with other troops, left Rac- coon Ford, Va., on the 24th of September, 1863, and went by railroad to Nashville, Tenn., and soon be- came a part of the grand army operating in and around Chattanooga, and which soon became the Army of the Cumberland. The Thirteenth took active part in the battles of Lookout Mountain, or "The Battle among the Clouds," also all other engagements where General Hooker was the grand moving spirit.

From this time forward, in the "grand march to the sea," and to the final collapse of the so-called Confederacy, the Thirteenth performed well its part in the great drama, and when, and not till then, the last "rch " had grounded arms, did the old Thirteenth turn its back to the sunny south, and look forward to the happy time when those of the old guard that were left could greet loved ones at home, turn their instru- ments of war into implements of husbandry, and learn war no more forever.

The Final Muster Out .- On Thursday, June 8th, the muster out rolls were signed by the proper ofli- cers, and on Friday, June 9th, the regiment took pas- sage on the cars at Washington for home At Balti- more a telegran: was sent to Newark with the informa- tion that the regiment was on its way home. Major Arcy had started for Newark in advance of the regi- ment that morning, and every one naturally antici- pated an enthusiastic welcome. Saturday morning shortly after daylight, they passed through Philadel- phia, and about two o'clock in the afternoon the train stopped at the Market street depot, Newark. No one was there to receive them. They formed in line across Market street and awaited further orders. All were anxious to get home. A shower of rain fell and the men became dissatisfied with the delay. At last Tucker Council of the Union League, with a band of

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

music appeared, and taking up position at the head of the line, the column moved through the crowd which had by this time congregated. The command was halted in front of Lockwood's Hotel, and after listening to an address of welcome by Mayor Runyon, which was replied to by Colonel Carman, the regi- ment moved up to Broad street, and thence to Ward United States Hospital, near the Centre street depot, where guns were stacked and the men dismissed.

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History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 39

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