History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 47

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 47
USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 47

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Elisha Winey, mustered In September 18, 1862; mustered out Juno 27, 1863.

Theodore Yeork, mustered in September 18, 1862 ; mustered out June 27, 1863.

DISCHARGE.D.

brummer-Charles Stanley, mustered in September 18, 1862 ; discharged at I'nited States Army General Hospital, l'biladelphin, Pa., February 4, 1863 ; disability.

Privates-Charles N. Ashley, musterid In September 18, 1862 ; discharged at Hagerstown, Mal., Decenitwer 1, 1862 ; dimbility.

Michael Chester, mustered in September 18, 1862 ; discharged nt Camp, Fair View, Vu., April 16, 1863 ; dimbility.

3'heudore .A. Vanton, mustored In September 18, 1809 ; discharged At Mount Pleasant United States Army General Hospital, Washing- ton, D. C., December 5, 1862; lisalellity.

Richard Walker, mustered in September 18, 1862 ; discharged at I'nited States Ariny General Hospital, No. 6, Frederik t'ity, AId., January 10, 1863 ; disability.

DIED.

Privates-John Bickler, mustored In September 19, 1862 ; died of general drbility in Camp near White Oak Church, Va., March 19, 1863 ; buried at National Cemetery, Fredericksburg, Va., Division B, Section D, Grave 93.

James M. Gilling, mustered in September 18, 1862 ; died of typhoid fever at Regimental Hospital Camp neur White Oak Church, Va., April 8, 1863.

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Privates-James Langdon, mustored in September 18, 1862 ; killed ia nction at Salem Heights, Va., May 3, 1863.

John Swinger, mustered in September 18, 2862; died of general debility in Regimental Hospital Camp near White Oak Church, Vn., January 19, 1×63 ; buried at National Cemetery, Fredericksburg, Va., Divisiea B, Section D, Grave 106.

CHAPTER XIX.

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

Thirty-third Regiment.1-This regiment was raised in the summer of 1863, under an authorization issued to Col. Mindil, permitting the recruiting of | " Veteran Volunteers." The regiment as raised re- presented almost exclusively the Counties of Essex, Morris, Passaie and Hudson.

As originally ordered, four Companies, A, B, C, and F., were to be raised in Newark, and E, in Camden and Essex. The recruiting of a regiment, with head-quar- ters at Beverly, however, thwarted the original plan of raising men in the south part of the State for an Essex and Hudson Regiment, therefore, Essex County added Company E to her quota. Essex could no doubt have raised at that time a whole regiment, as the war fever was running high, and liberal bounties were offered, thus facilitating the raising of troops; so that in fifty-five days from the time the rendezvous was opened at Newark, the ranks were full, and the regi- ment mustered into the service of the United States on the 3d day of September, 1863. The Command was a superior one, armed with Springfield rifles, and dressed in the picturesque Zouave uniform, and fully three-fourths of the men, and seven-eighths of the officers had already seen service in the field.

On the 8th of September the regiment proceeded into Virginia, but in the latter part of the month was sent to the West and reached Bridgeport, a military station on the Tennessee River, in the northeastern part of Alabama, and distant about two days march from Chattanooga, on the 30th. IFere, the command once more engaged in active drill, making such satis- factory progress as to clieit the warmest expressions of approbation from General Howard. On the 18th of October, Colonel Mindil was ordered to proceed with three regiments to the mouth of Battle Creek, about six miles distant on the wagon road to Chatta- nooga, for the purpose of relieving General Morgan's Brigade of Western troops, then holding the place. This temporary brigade, to the command of which Colonel Mindil had been assigned, consisted of the Thirty-third New Jersey, Twenty-seventh and Seven- ty-third Pennsylvania and Eightieth Illinois Volun- teers, and their duty was to protect the pontoon bridge aeross Battle Creek, on the only wagon road to Chat-

tanooga then in our possession, as well as to picket the surrounding country and assist the heavy trains of supplies in moving over the muddy and worn-out roads, which required frequent repairs, by new drain- age, corduroy, &e. On the 24th of October, the three regiments were ordered back to Bridgeport to rejoin the corps, which had been ordered to advance, and Colonel Mindil was left alone with the Thirty-third Regiment in this isolated position, to do the heavy labor formerly assigned to a brigade. The roads, for a distance of six miles, were under the immediate care of the Thirty- third, and the men were constantly employed in guard- ing and repairing them. In the meantime Hooker moved forward and fought the successful battles of Lookout Valley and Wauhatchie-being the first vic- tories achieved on Western ground by Eastern troops -driving the rebels from the valley up the sides of the mountain, and thus opening the road from Kelly's Ferry to Brown's, by which supplies could be for- warded dircet to Chattanooga by steamer, from Bridgeport to Kelly's Ferry, and thenee by wagons to Brown's, where the Tennessee was crossed by a pontoon bridge. Had Hooker failed in this move- ment, directed by Grant, the consequences could not have been otherwise than most serious, and Chatta- nooga would probably have been abandoned.

There being no longer a necessity for the retention of troops at Battle Creek, the Thirty-third moved for- ward, on the 4th of November, to rejoin its corps in Lookont Valley, reaching the brigade camp on the morning of the 6th.2

" When the regiment left Battle Creek, wagon transportation for the necessary baggage could unt be obtained, and it was left behind in charge of the Quartermaster, Lieutenant Litmann, with a small guard of convales- cents, who were unable to march, to be brought up by water to Kelly's Ferry. This gunrd, together with the regimentul stores, officers' baggage and records of the Athutant's office, were placed upon a large burge, or flat- boat, and on the evening of the 7th of November were taken in tow by one of the regular steamboats en route from Bridgeport to the Ferry-the gunrd of sick men being in charge of Lieutenant Somerville ; the baggage under the care of the Quartermaster. But neither was permitted to reach their destination in safety. The incidents of the trip are thus recorded by the correspondent of the Newark "Daily Advertiser" : "Until within about six miles of the ferry, and until about two o'clock Sunday morn- ing, the steumboat's furnace had been fed with mixed green and dried word. At that time, the fireman being ont of green wood was compelled to use altogether dry, principally rails. The rate of speed was thereby suddenly and considerably increased, and soon proved too rapid for the broad-bowed barge in tow, and its bow was dragged and finally dipped under water, when the swift and strong current of the Tennessee swept off all save the heaviest articles of her cargo, and floated them down the stream. The barge being lightened soon righted, although filled with water. Fortunately the majority of the meu, with the Quartermaster and the Lieutenant, had gone on board of the steamboat ; only ten or twelve who had comfortably stowed themselves away amidst the canvass remained. These were all fonted off the moment the barge dipped. The instant she righted the Quartermaster junyund upon her, und assisted by Mimo few others, made strenuous efforts to rescue the men who had been thrown into the river. The Quartermaster succeeded in pulling ont three; a few sved themselves, but despite all the efforts, four men sank to rise no more nlive. Theodore Prake aml Ournr C. Lathrop, of Company C, Patrick Delany, of Company F, und Louls Wite, of Company I, were the names of the men thus suddenly nud unexpectedly rushed fran life into the mystery of death."

Colonel Mindil writes of this And affair : " The Quartermaster was much blamed by the offleers for this mishap, many of them asking for his

J Compiled from Juhu V. Foster's "New Jersey in the Rebellion."

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ESSEX COUNTY IN THE WAR OF 1861-65.

At length, on the 22d of November, the regiment again moved out on active service, marching to Brown's Ferry, and thenee through the camps of Sherman's forces, who had arrived from the Miss- issippi, to and beyond the town of Chattanooga, where it bivouacked in front of Fort Wood. At noon of the next day a few rifle shots were heard, then brisk skirmishing, then volleys of musketry and rapid discharges of heavy artillery, and soon the gallant veterans were seen pressing bravely onward, steadily gaining ground. And now orders came to the Thirty- third to move diagonally forward to the left. Moving a short distance the corps was formed for action in two lines, the sounds of battle on the right growing momentarily louder. Soon, an aid from Howard har- ing delivered orders, the brigade moved into the plain beneath and towards a clump of woods skirting Citico Creek. The regiments of the first line at once sent out skirmishers to feel for the energy, and under their cover the advance was made. Captain Boggs, with Company , deployed along the front of the Thirty- third, and about one hundred and fifty yard- in ad- vance, proceeded some twenty paces, when a heavy lire was opened upon him and the regiment from every side-from the woods in front, from under the stone bridge, and from behind several small buildings in possession of the foe. The Thirty-third, for the first time in action, continued to advance despite the heavy fire. Company A not being strong enough to push back the enemy's sharpshooters, who were well posted, Captain O'Connor, Company F, was advanced as a reinforcement, when Colonel Mindil led both companies to the attack. Under a brisk fire, the men still continued to gain ground, and the enemy soon retired behind the ereck, still holding, however, the buildings and the bridge. But the advance was not made without loss. The brave t'aptain Boggs, while gallantly encouraging his men, was shot in the arm by a sharpshooter, and was obliged to leave the field, while several other casualties were antfered. The regiment now halted, awaiting the arrival of the troops on the right, but the fire from behind the buildings proving a serious annoyance to the men iu the second line. Colonel Mindil was soon ordered to charge forward with his whole command and dislodge the enemy-which was done at once, the regiment, with a cheer, rushing to the assault. The enemy fired rapidly and wildlly, and, unable to resist the assault, the buildings were soon in possession of the assailants. But in this movement also the regiment suffered a

trial. I was convinced, however, by the testimony of the Captain of the Ist and of other disinterested witheras, not only of Lieutenant Lib- man'a Innocence of these charges, but of his conduire and hravery in rescuing some of the drowning men, and of his Indefatigable exertions in recovering that portion of the baggage which was found and restored. But for his conhiers ninh courage, thave more lives would have been lost, And had he not been an indefatigable, faithful ofrer, nothing would have been recovered. Instead of censure, Lieutenant James B. Litman dem rven prime for his gallant behavior. The caom of the weident was ty tul control, and there is no one who should receive the least blame."

severe loss, Captain Waldron, while bravely moving forward on the right of his company (I), on the extreme right of the regiment, falling dead, shot through the head by a sharpshooter from behind the very house which his company, only a few moments later, occupied. Lieutenant Toffey, of Company G, who had been directed to assume command of tom- pany A, after Captain Boggs was wounded, was like- wise severely wounded before he had time to give an order.

In the meantime, and while the regiment was charging in line, Captain O'Connor, with Companies F' and A, had succeeded in gaining the banks of the creek, and had even pushed some of his men across on the flank of the enemy occupying the bridge, but the regiment having halted, the enemy directed all their fury against his little command, compelling him to apply for assistance to enable him to save his com- mand. This had been foreseen by Colonel Mindil. who had already ordered forward Company E, Captain Charles Fields, with Major D. A. Peloubet accom- panying, who was to establish the line in front. All having been gained that was desired, the regiment directed its efforts to holding its position, which it did successfully. Night coming on, the Thirty-third was relieved by a fresh regiment of the brigade, and moved back to take its place in the reserve. It had fought its first battle, acting bravely and well, and the men, as they bivouacked under the stars felt. justly, that they had sustained on that Western field the brilliant reputation which New Jersey soldiers had gained in the East. General Iloward, who had witnessed the gallant charge and steadiness of action, warmly complimented the command on its splendid behavior. The aggregate loss of the regiment, con- sidering the work accomplished, was not large, amounting to one officer killed and two wounded, and one private killed and twelve wounded.

The list of killed and wounded was found to be as follows:

Killed-Captain Samuel F. Waldron, Company I, gun-shot through the heart ; Thomas Marsh, Private, Company II, gun-shot in the head.

Hetende I-Captain William G. Begge, Company A, left arm above the chow, sever-died about a month afterwards in hospital from its effects ; Lieutenant John J. Toffey, Company G, right hip, MTion+-was never able to rejoin the regiment, but entered the Invalid Corte, Company 4 -Corporal Christian Switzer, both Iegn, wrions ; William J. Atkins, groin, mortal-died afterwarda. Company C-William MeNeill, groin, mrima, Company D-John Connell, hand, slight ; W. H. Post, both thighs, erluna. Company E-Joseph Swathurst, tex, slight. Company F -- Corpond William Heart, leg, slight ; Francis Munkler, knee, slight ; Jaines Louis, arm, alight. Company I- Sergeant Charin Fongar, hand. slight ; William Bannon, band, slight ; W. IT. Kelley, hand, slight.

The entire army now ceased firing, and all rested for the night on the ground gained during the day from the pickets, advance guards and outlying re- serves of the enemy. On the 24th, the regiment was early formed in line, but the enemy having been dis- lodged from the bridge by a flank attack of other com- mands, it did not become engaged. Later, however, . it was again called to dangerous service. During the

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

previous night, under cover of the fighting of the Army of the Cumberland, Sherman had succeeded in laying pontoons across the Tennessee, near the mouth of the Chickamauga. Here he was to cross early on the morning of the 24th, and assail and turn the enemy's right, so as to interpose between Bragg and Longstreet, the latter being on his way to Knoxville. General Grant, learning that Sherman was crossing his forces, at once directed General Howard to estab- lish a connection, and for this purpose Colonel Mindil was ordered to cross the railroad track, thence to cross Citico Creek below the bridge so stubbornly held by the enemy the night before, and, passing around their right flank, endeavor to reach Sherman, about a mile and a half distant. Under the direction of General Howard, Mindil effected the crossing of the creek, and at onee made the necessary dispositions to advance, by throwing out skirmishers on the front and right. These skirmishers soon became engaged with the enemy, who was advantageously posted be- hind the railroad embankment, and General Howard fearing that the enemy might prove too strong, or- dered two additional regiments-the Twenty-seventh and Seventy-third Pounsylvania-to Mindil's assist- ance, when the advance was continued, the brave and veteran Captain Bartlett guarding well, with Con- pany I, the exposed flank of the Thirty-third. The regiment bivouacked for the night at the foot of Mission Ridge, near the Tunnel, over which the enemy was strongly posted.

It was during the afternoon of this same day, the 24th, that-the enemy having massed nearly his entire foree over the Tunnel to oppose Sherman- Hooker, with Geary's Division of the Twelfth Corps, and Osterhaus' Division of the Fifteenth Corps, car- ried the sides and crest of Lookout Mountain, plant- ing the Stars and Stripes on its very summit, above the clouds and in plain view of both armies. Sher- man, on the left, had gained a fine position on the enemy's right. Thomas, in the center, held fast to the rebels posted there, in constant demonstrations ; while Hooker, on the right, by his grand achieve- ment, was placed in position to attempt the turning of the rebel left and the "rolling up" of his line- with scarcely a possibility of failure in the attempt. The morrow was to be the decisive day, and the night was spent by both armies in preparations for the deadly struggle.

The morning of the 25th opened with sharp firing on the left, as Sherman carried erest after crest-the rebel artillery meanwhile thundering along the entire line and rendering the position of the Thirty-third exceedingly uncomfortable. At eleven o'clock, Sher- man marshalled his forces for the assault of the rebel left on the Tunnel, and for this purpose the Thirty- third was moved to the right through the woods, then across a field, in full view of the enemy, into another piece of wood, directly opposite the Tunnel. In moving forward to obtain this position, the regiment

was subjected to a destructive shell-fire from the enemy's batteries, which caused some havoc in its ranks, but the line moved splendidly forward, occupied the allotted space and reelined behind the protection of a fenee. Sherman's attack was heavy and spirited; but the masses of the enemy defied assault, and at four o'clock, p. m., the regiments were withdrawn from the struggle to take post again behind their intrench- ments. This demonstration, however, had caused the enemy to reinforce heavily his right ; and the left and center being weakened, Sherman seized his advantage, and pushing forward Thomas and Hooker, carried the enemy's left and center and drove him ingloriousły from the ridge in his front. Owing to this success, the enemy also evacuated in Sherman's front during the night; and long before dawn of the 26th, the eager troops were ordered in pursuit. Thus had the Thirty-third taken a prominent part in three days of the heavy fighting of the ever-memorable battle of Chattanooga, and though raw and inexperienced, ae- quitted itself with the bravery and tenacity of their older, veteran comrades. The casualties in the fight at Mission Ridge, on the 25th of November, were then reported as follows :

Company B .- Corporal Henry Stern, shell, finger ; Henry McDonnell, shell, finger.

Company D .- Wesley Conklin, shell, face.

Company E .- Samuel Scaring, leg, killed.

Company F .- Julius Dachmeyer, shell, hip; Patrick Mc Dermott, shell, knee.

Company G .- Lewis Mangold, shell, arm.

The rest of the Eleventh Corps had now arrived and at daylight of the 26th crossed Chickamauga Creek, moving down behind Mission Ridge in pursuit of the flying, disorganized foe. At night, the Thirty- third came up with the rear-guard of the rebels, who were dislodged after a brief skirmish, and the men bivouacked for the night some four miles from Grays- ville, through which place they marched next morn- ing towards Parkin's Gap, with a view of turning the enemy, who were heavily engaging Hooker at Ring- gold. Colonel Mindil was now placed in command of the brigade, consisting of the Twenty-seventh and Seventy-third Pennsylvania, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth and One Hundred and Fifty-fourth New York and Thirty-third New Jersey, which com- mand he held during the remainder of the campaign. In the absence of Lieutenant-Colonel Fouratt, who was siek at Nashville, Major Peloubet assumed com- mand of the Thirty-third. The brigade remained at Parkin's Gap for two days, during which it destroyed the railroad at Red Clay, thus severing the communi- cation between Bragg and Longstreet; but it had sterner work before it. On the 29th orders were received to move towards Knoxville, about one hun- dred and twenty miles distant, for the purpose of relieving Burnside, by coming up in the rear of Longstreet, who had invested the place ; and on the I same day, Sherman's army of the Mississippi, Davis'

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ESSEX COUNTY IN THE WAR OF 1861-65.

Division of the Fourteenth Corps, with the Fourth and Eleventh Corps, moved out to the performance of the task to which they were assigned, and which they accomplished through great toil, hardship and danger, and relieved from danger twelve thousand fellow sol- diers besieged by a dangerous enemy. General Burn- side warmly thanked the troops who saved him and this important stronghold. During the severe fighting, and still more severe marches, the regiment never flinched, and well earned for itself the commendation of their Division Commander, "Boys, you have done well." They had endured hardships that seemed un- bearable with a cheerfulness that appeared superhuman.

The regiment now established a fine camp and went into winter quarters, where it remained until Sherman, having completed his plans for a movement against the enemy, once more drew out his army and commenced the memorable Atlanta ('ampaign.) Dur- ing the winter, the Eleventh and Twelfth t'orps being consolidated and designated as the Twentieth, under tieneral Hooker, the Thirty-third was assigned to the Second Brigade of the Second Division, the latter commanded by General John W. tieary. The brigade having no general otheer for commander, it was led in the following campaign by the senior t'olonel, Colonel Mindil commanding it most of the time, Lieutenant- Colonel Fouratt, a brave and capable officer, having inimediate control of the Thirty-third.

On the 4th of May, 1854, at four o'clock in the afternoon, the Second Brigade, then commanded by Colonel Bushbeck, of the Twenty-seventh Pennsyl- vania Brigade broke camp, crossed Lookout Moun- tain and the State line of Tennessee, and bivouacked for the night on Georgia soil, near Rossville Gap. On the Fifth, the march was resumed, the Twentieth Corps forming the center of the army, and encamp- ing on the Sixth near Pea-Vine freek. On the Seventh, the Thirty-third crossed Taylor's Bridge, near Gordon's Springs, and at night occupied an advanced position on picket, on the Rome road, eight miles southwest of Dalton-moved on the day fol- lowing in rear of the division as guard to the train. The Fourth and Twenty-third Corps being already engaged in demonstrating against the strong position of Tunnel Hill and Buzzard's Roost, General Geary was ordered to proceed to Dug Gap, about two miles south by west of Dalton, and demonstrate there by making a heavy assault. Ou arriving at Dug Gap,

Geary discovered before him a huge mountain over which ran a narrow road through a gap in the very summit. The mountain was most difficult of access, but Geary determined to attack vigorously and seek to dislodge the foe from their Georgian Gibraltar. Accordingly, placing his rifled artillery in position he at once commenced to shell the Gap, and under cover of this cannonade he advanced the First and Second of his brigades to direct assault. For nearly an hour and a half these men heroically attacked, only to be repelled by an unseen foe at every assault. The rebels were on the erest of the mountain, behind rocks, trees and rifle-pits, and poured a murderous fire into the ranks of Geary's men, who had boldly advanced up the steep sides to within ten paces of its crest. At length, the position being found impregna- ble, Geary retired his line a few hundred yards, in order to reconnoiter again and to make different dispositions for a final attempt. Up to this time, the Thirty-third had not been engaged; but on hearing the firing in his front, and fearing our force was in- adequate to the task in hand. Colonel Mindil pushed forward with his regiment. Upon reporting to Gen- eral Geary at the front, he was ordered to make a detour of half a mile, then seule the ridge, endeavor to reach its summit and turn the enemy's left flank, while the main force occupied his attention in front. The order was at once obeyed, Mindil's force consist- ing, in addition to the Thirty-third, of the Twenty- seventh Pennsylvania and One Hundred and Thirty- fourth New York regiments. After toilsome effort, over and among rough, rolling boulders, the Thirty- third arrived near the top of the ridge, driving the enemy's skirmishers before it, when its progress was impeded by a long series of palisades, rising abruptly from the mountain sides, and which could only be passed through two or three small gaps, capable of admitting but one man at a time. Through these gaps the regiment filed, and almost exhausted, formed line upon the rocks on the extreme right of our posi- tion, the t)ne Hundred and Thirty-fourth New York being next on the left. To flank the enemy was impossible ; his works extended along the erest of the mountain, which rose in a series of still higher palis- ades immediately in front. But one desperate hope of attaining the summit remained ; that was seized, and Colonel Mindil, with the Thirty-third and One Hundred and Thirty-fourth New York, at once made disposition to carry the crest by direct assault. Heavy lines of skirmishers were thrown out, a storming column formed of the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth New York and four companies of the Thirty-third, the remainder of the Thirty-third going into position as a supporting line, to guard against pursuit by the Quemy, il the charge should fail, or to dash forward to follow up its success. At length, all being ready, the storming party charged forward up the sides of the steep mountain, over treacherous, moving boul- ders, and under heavy volleys of musketry, up to the

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History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 47

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