History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 35

Author: Snell, James P; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1170

USA > New Jersey > Somerset County > History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 35
USA > New Jersey > Hunterdon County > History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 35

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Michael Spellman, enl. Oct 18, 1861.

John Sweeny, enl. May 20, 1864.

Samuel Tomlinson, enl. Aug. 9, 1861; disch. for disability Oct. 17, 1862. George W. Taylor, enl. Aug. 9, 1861 ; died of fever March 5, 1862.

William H. Tracy, enl. Aug. 9, 1861 ; killed at Petersburg, Va., June 17, 1864.

Obediah Wiley, enl. Aug. 9, 1861; trans, to Co. G, Eighth Regiment; re- enl. Dec. 27, 1863.

Ephraim Walker, enl. Aug. 9, 1861 ; died of fever March 1, 1862.

Peter Wean, enl. Aug. 9, 1861; died of wounds, Gettysburg, July 11, 1863.

George Walker, enl. May 23, 1864.

Charles White, eul. May 18, 1864.

Charles Williams, enl. May 18, 1864.

Oliver G. Woodward, enl. Ang. 9, 1861 ; must. out Sept. 7, 1864. Michael Wright, enl. Aug. 9, 1861 ; disch. May 3, 1965.

James Wrisband, eul. Aug. 9, 1861; must. out Sept. 7, 1864.

William A. Yard, enl. Aug. 9, 1861: trans. to Veteran Reserve Corps Sept. 1, 1863; disch. Aug. 29, 1864.

CHAPTER XIII.

FIFTEENTH INFANTRY REGIMENT.

Three Companies from Hnuterdon and Somerset-Leave for Washington -Construct "Fort Kearney"-The Fifteenth at Fredericksburg- Michael Mulvey, Co. G, the first Man killed-Battle of Chancellorsville -The " Wilderness"-Capt. Vanderveer and Lieut. Hamilton wounded -Roster of Casualties in the vicinity of Spottsylvania Court-house- In the Charge at Cold Harbor-With Sheridan's Army in the Shenan- doah Valley-Fisher's Ilill and Cedar Creek engagements-Maj. Boe- man killed-List of Battles of the Fifteenth-Rosters of Officers and Enlisted Men of the Companies from these Counties.

IN the composition of the Fifteenth Infantry Regi- ment of New Jersey, two of its companies (A and G) were made up of men from Hunterdon County, and one (E) from Somerset .* The regiment was organized at Flemington during the months of July and August, 1862. It was mustered into the service on the 25th of August, under command of Col. Samuel Fowler. The other regimental officers were: Lieutenant-col- onel, Edward L. Campbell ;; major, James M. Brown ; adjutant, William P. Seymour; quartermaster, Lowe Emerson ; surgeon, Redford Sharp; assistant surgeons, George R. Sullivan and George Trumpore. The com- missioned officers of the Hunterdon and Somerset com- panies were: A company : Captain, Lambert Boeman; first lieutenant, Thomas P. Stout ; second lieutenant, John R. Emery. E company : Captain, John H. Vanderveer ; first lieutenant, Stephen H. Bogardus; second lieutenant, Ellis Hamilton. G company : Cap- tain, William H. Slater; first lieutenant, Henry Suy- dam Crater; second lieutenant, John D. Trimmer.

On the 27th of August the regiment, then number- ing nine hundred and twenty-five men and officers, left the State for Washington, and on its arrival at the capital marched thence to Tenallytown, Md., where it was at once placed on fatigue duty in the

building of roads and the erection of defenses ; among which latter was the construction of the formidable work named " Fort Kearney," in honor of that brave and dashing New Jersey general who gave his life on the field of Chantilly at almost the precise time when the men of the Fifteenth commenced their work on the fortification.

The regiment moved from Tenallytown on the 30th of September, and, proceeding to Frederick, Md., marched thence, by way of the Antietam battle-field, to Bakersville, where it was incorporated with the First (New Jersey) Brigade of the First Division, Sixth Army Corps. It remained here about a month, engaged in drill and camp duty, and on the 31st of October moved forward with the other commands of the Army of the Potomac, ; and, crossing the river into Virginia, marched, by way of Warrenton (where a halt of several days was made), to Stafford Court-house, and thence, after another considerable delay, to Staf- ford Heights, where it arrived on the morning of the 11th of December, and where the men of the Fifteenth had their first view of the scenes of actual battle,-the bombardment of Fredericksburg by Gen. Burnside's batteries, posted on the left bank of the Rappahan- nock.

In the evening of that day the army was massed on the plain north of the river preparatory to the grand crossing of the stream. The pontoons were placed in position, and at daylight on the following morning the Fifteenth, with the other regiments of the Jersey brigade, crossed at " Franklin's Crossing" to the south shore, and moved quickly through a dense fog up the acclivity to the edge of the plateau which extends to the foot of Marye's Heights, which were then brist- ling with the enemy's batteries and the bayonets of his heavily-massed infantry. At about two o'clock in the afternoon the brigade again moved swiftly for- ward in line of battle, and under a vigorous fire from the Confederate artillery on the Heights. The range of the rebel artillerists, however, was imperfect, and the brigade advanced without serious casualties to Deep Run, where shelter was found in the ravine through which it flows. In this ravine the brigade remained during the remainder of the day and through the night.

The 13th of December was the day of the great battle at Fredericksburg. Early in the morning the entire line of the Army of the Potomac advanced to assault the strong positions of the Confederates, and the battle raged with fearful energy and with little intermission until nightfall. During the greater part of that bloody day the Fifteenth was posted along the line of the railroad, keeping up a steady fire and making occasional charges, but with light loss. At about four o'clock the Jersey brigade made a more determined attempt on the position in its immediate front, but was forced back with a greater loss than it

1 The regiment was then under command of Liout .- Col. Campbell, Col. Fowler being left behind in hospital, slek with typhoid fever.

* Of the other companies, three wore from Sussex, two from Warren, and two from Morris County.

+ Lient .- Col. Campbell, who was already in the field with the Army of the Potomac, did not join the Fifteenth until the 1st of October, whon the regiment was on its march to join the Sixth Corps in Maryland.

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FIFTEENTHI INFANTRY REGIMENT.

had before sustained, many of its men being taken prisoners, among whom were a number from the Fifteenth. This charge was the last of the regiment's fighting for the day. Its total loss at Fredericksburg was about thirty, of whom very few were killed* out- right. It could not be regarded as a heavy loss to be sustained in so fierce and protracted a conflict as that of Fredericksburg, yet to the soldiers of the Fifteenth it seemed a very serious one, because this was the first field on which they had been tried in the fire of battle.

In the morning of the 14th the regiment was re- lieved at the front (and under a heavy fire) by the One Hundred and Twenty-first New York Regiment. The battle, however, was over; the assault of those grim heights was abandoned, and the army recrossed to its old position on the north side of the Rappahan- nock. The Fifteenth Regiment went into eamp at White Oak Church, where the men spent a most dreary winter, during which the typhoid fever in a malignant form appeared among them, and many died of the disease.

On the opening of the spring campaign under the new commander of the army, Gen. Hooker, the Fifteenth again crossed the Rappahannock, and par- tiripated in the great battle of Chancellorsville.t The part taken by it in that battle is shown in the report of Lient .- Col. E. L. Campbell,; as follows :

" My command broke camp at White Oak church, Va., on the after- noon of Tuesday, April 18th, and muarched to the bank of the Ruppn- hannock, neur Franklin's Crossing, where' it bivouacked until towards morning, when it was moved to the ilver, nud crossed in boats just beforo daylight en the morning of the 20th, taking up n position on the south bank. Romalned thero until the morning of tho 3d uf May, n part of which time was employed In doing outpost duty immediately in the face of the onemy. On the morning of the 3d instant [Mlny], I was or- doroil to the front ot about daybreak, and was assigned a position in sup- port of a battery on the extreme left which was hotly engaging the enemy. Remained upon this duty, taking up various positions, and part of tho thno oxposed to n sovere scattering flank fire from the enemy's line of skirmishers, until the enemy was driven from his position on the heights abovo Fredericksburg, mind the line on the left was ordered to retire towards that place, when I was left in the rear ns a support to our sellring skirmishers by order of the general commanding the division. I'verything was brought from the field without difficulty, as the oulemy did not follow up. After procuring ambulances (to get which I was com. pulled to sond to the city of Fredericksburg) and moving tho wounded luft upon the field during the rapid movement, I proceeded upon the lino of march of the corps. Arriving some distance out of the city, on the plank road, i learned that the enemy was making a stout resistance

* " Michel Mulvey, Company G, was the Best man of the regiment killed. At the time, shots were being exchanged with the rebel pickets. He was cautioned not to expose himself, but rachidmed, ' flush! don't lell n Jorvey boy to keep back when the enemy is In sight.' He lind ifi ved his attention on a rebel sharpshooter who fred from behind a tree. When, at length, the rebel exposed himself In firing, bo took him and fred. The rebel was seen to tumble over, evidently killed. At the wie moment Michel Iell back deud, shot through the bruin. As the Tegimont was telloved on Sabbath morning, a plunging bullet-shut passed through the kanpack and body of Alexander S. Sergeant, Com- Inny F, killing him. Ezekiel ". Quick, Company G, was shot through the lungs, and lived several days, expressing his entire willingness to «hitler for his country, and his strong faith in the savior."- Notes by Alors A. Hames, Chaplain of the d'yteenth Regiment.

+ Otherwise known as the battle of salem Heights.

1 001. William H, Pemose, a liontenant in the Third Regular Infantry, was made colonel of the Fifteenth in the latter part of April, 1803.

in front, and that the First Brigade was abont to engage him. March- ing as rapidly as practicable, I arrived at the front nt about five o'clock P.M., and without balting was Immediately ordered by the general c. I- mandiog the corps to engage the enemy on the right of the road, In a thick woud In which the enemy had taken a position and effectually le- sisted any attempt to dislodge him. My command advanced about one hundred yards, through a dense and in places impassable undergrowth, - to within about thirty yards of the enemy's position, where it engaged at least four of his regiments, with, as I am convinced, n terriblo effect, but without driving him from his well-chosen position. Just ot dark, my ammunition being entirely exhausted and the enemy's firo destruc- tive, I retired In good order, the enemy showing no disposition to follow. I have the satisfaction of saying for my command that not a mon left the line of battle except the wounded, and when the rolls woro called, immediately upon arriving in the open field, overy mau was present or properly accounted for except those who were killed, wounded, or miss- ing in action, the latter being but five, and all probably killed or wounded. My wounded wero all brought off during or after tho action, except pua- sibly the five mentioned nbovo, not found on account of the dense under- growth of bushes,

"On Smudiny night (May 3d) my command bivouacked upon the bottle- feld. During the engagement of Monday I was assigned to various positions, a part of the time in support of batteries; when at night the nrtillery was ordered towards the river, I was ordered to follow it. Re- crossed the river just before daylight in the morning, and went into camp on the north bank. On Friday, the 8th instant, marched to my present place of enenmpmont."

After Chancellorsville a few weeks of quiet ensued, and then it was ascertained that the Confederate com- mander was moving his army down the Virginia val- ley with the evident intention of invading the States north of the Potomac. Upon this, the army of Gen. Hooker was put in motion, and the Fifteenth Regi- ment with its brigade, as a part of the Sixth Corps, moved rapidly northward, by way of Fairfax, to Edwards' Ferry, where it crossed the Potomac into Maryland, and, thence pressing onward by forced marches, came, in the afternoon of July 2d, to the field of Gettysburg, where the great battle had already commenced. At about half an hour before sunset the brigade was moved to the front to hold a position from which Sickles' corps had been compelled to re- tire. But no further assault was made that evening, and the men slept on their arms in the advanced position. Through all the carnage of the following day, including the tremendous charge made by the Confederate infantry under Pickett, the Fifteenth with its brigade stood constantly in line ready for work, but was not ordered in. "The Fifteenth," wrote a member of the regiment, " witnessed all from their position, but, though ready for duty, were not sum- moned to actual fighting."

Hostilities were suspended during the following day, July 4th, and before the sun rose on the 5th the C'onfederate legions were in full retreat towards the Potomac. The Jersey brigade took part in the pur- suit and in minor engagements at Fairfield, Pa., and Funktown, Md., and crossed the river into Virginia? with the main body of the army. During the re- mainder of the year it participated in the various movements of the Sixth Corps, and in December. 1863, went into winter quarters about two miles from Brandy Station, Va.

¿ July 19th.

134

HUNTERDON AND SOMERSET COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

In the spring of 1864 was opened the bloody cam- paign of "the Wilderness," under the immediate supervision of Lieut .- Gen. Grant. In this campaign the Fifteenth saw its most desperate fighting and sus- tained the severest losses experienced during its term of service. On the 4th of May, at daylight, the regi- ment with its brigade moved out from its winter camp, and marched, by way of Brandy Station and Stevensburg, to Germania Ford, where it crossed the Rapidan, and soon entered that desolate region of stunted woods and copses known as the Wilderness. In the afternoon of the 5th it came up to the position where Warren was already fighting with the Confed- erate corps of Ewell, and later in the day it became slightly engaged, suffering some losses, among which was that of Capt. John H. Vanderveer, of E com- pany, who there received the severe wounds which soon after compelled his resignation. In the opening of the fight on the following day Lieut. Ellis Ham- ilton, of the same company, was desperately wounded in both thighs. During the latter part of this day the regiment was not heavily engaged. On the 7th the regiment did some fighting and lost slightly .*

"On the 8th, about noon, at the head of the corps, it reached the front at Spottsylvania Court-house, after a long night-march by a circnitous route. Warren, whose corps (the Fifth) had moved by a more direct route and reached the position first, had met with a check. He sent to Sedgwick-the grand old leader of the Sixth-for aid, and the .Jersey brigade was sent to his assistance. After some manœuvring, the Fit- teenth, with the Third (then little more than a detachment and used as a skirmish-line), was selected to make an assault on the enemy and de- velop hie position and strength. No charge was ever more gallantly de- livered. With two armies looking on, it advanced across an open field ; when within about three hundred yards of the front of the wood in which the enemy was posted, it fixed bayonets, and with a line of glitter- ing steel as steady as on dress-parade dashed up to the rebel position to find them strongly intrenched and in full force. As far as rifle-shot could reach, upon ench flank they opened upon the devoted little band. Notwithstanding the deadly fire, it drove the enemy ont of the work in its front, captured two prisoners, and, to save annihilation, was ordered by its commander to retire. One Imindred and one of ite brave officers and men were left upon the field, killed or wounded. It may be doubted if a more perilons ' forlorn hope' was ever more daringly executed.

"The Sixth Corps took position on the left of the line as it was formed, ite lamented commander falling on the same spot at which one of the color-bearers of the Fifteenth had but just fallen ; and on the afternoon of the 9th the regiment was detached, with the First, to turn the right flank of the enemy and gain possession of a cross-roads. After wading a deep swamp, and having a sharp brush with the rebel skirmishers, the cross-rouds was under their gons and they were separated some distance from the main army. The next morning, being ordered to develop the flank of the enemy's main line, the two regiments advanced, drove the rebel skirmish-line before them for about a mile, and finally struck the right of the rebel line, strongly intrenched on the top of a high hill. This was the position afterwards known as ' the bloody angle.' The two regiments attacked vigorously, but were forced back by a heavy mus- ketry- and artillery-fire. Two more regiments were sent to their assist- ance, and again they attacked, but with no better success, and they were

* " It was two o'clock in the morning of May 7th when the regiment enme into the new line. It had stood its ground when others iled, and panie prevailed on either side, and now, determined to hold its position, began intrenching at daylight. By ten o'clock A.M. the works were very strong, and, though the enemy felt the line in front, and drove in a part of the skirmish-line, by which three men were wounded and John Brogan, Company A, killed, no real advantage was gained. At dark the regiment marched by the Fredericksburg road to Chancellorsville, and thence to the point where Grant was now concentrating."-Foster's New Jersey and the Rebellion.

compelled to be content with holding the position they had gained in an unequal contest. The characteristic orders under which they were act- ing, issued by an able general officer, afterwards killed and sadly missed, were, 'Fight! Fight! - it, fight"' Two days later this was found to be the strongest field-work ever attacked by the army.

"On the afternoon of the same day (the 10th) a series of assaults was organized along the different corps lines. The Second Division of the Second Corps, which had come up by the cross-roads taken us above re- lated, was to make the charge on the extreme left, and the two detached regiments reported to and participated in the charge with it. Only one of these assaults was successful (that of the Sixth Corps), and the line of works and many of the prisoners captured by it had to be abandoned, owing to the failure of the attacks to the right and left. That on the left being unsuccessful, and the troops retiring from the hill, left the two detached regiments again alone to hold the ground which had cost them a severe struggle. This they did uutil relieved, after dark, when, re- joining their brigade, they left the position to the Second Corps, all of which was concentrated there on the night of the 11th.

"On the 12th came one of the most stubbornly-contested struggles of the war. It was for the possession of ' the bloody angle' which the Fif- teenth and First had repeatedly attacked two days previously. The first charge was made by the Second Corps early in the morning, took the rebels by surprise, carried a part of the line of works, captured several thousand prisoners and a large number of guns. The Sixth Corps wns moved to the position as soon as practicable, to complete the victory, the enemy having recovered from the shock and concentrated his forces. The First Division was ordered to attack first, to the right of the Second Corps, in echelon of brigades, the First Brigade on the right, and the Fifteenth Regiment on the extreme right of the front line. It was placed in position in a wood of low pines, by a superior officer, in a drizzling rain. At the order to charge it dashed gallantly forward with bayonets fixed, and trailed to escape the low branches, into the narrow strip of open ground upon the opposite margin of which was the rebel intrenched line, covered with an abattis of slashed brush. Its line being very oblique to that of the enemy, it was compelled to execute a half- wheel under a most murderous fire. Again it dashed forward, carried the work at the point of the bayonet (and with some actual bayonet- fighting,-a very unusual thing), captured a stand of colors and all the rebels who did not fall or run. It was the only regiment of the Sixth Corps which got inside the enemy's fortifications that day. Its right flank, however, being entirely ' in the air,' and a solid rebel line moving towards it, subjected to the continued fire from a second rebel work in. front and from the numerous traverses of the line to the left which had not been carried, it was compelled to retire again to the wood. This. desperate charge was made at fearful cost. More than half of the rank and file and seven of the most valued officers fell, killed or wounded, in- side or near the hostile works. Out of four hundred and twenty-nine men and fourteen line-officers who crossed the Rapidan on the 4th, only one hundred and twenty-two meu and four officers remained."+

The losses in the Hunterdon and Somerset com- panies of the Fifteenth during eleven days succeed- ing the crossing of the Rapidan-that is, up to the close of its fighting in the vicinity of Spottsylvania Court-house-are given in the sketch of the regiment from which the above is extracted, as follows :

COMPANY A.

Capt. C. C. Shimer, killed ; Sergt. Paul Kuhl, killed; Sergt. Lucien A. Voorhecs, killed; Lient. George C. Justice, killed ; Sorgt. William B. Dungan, wounded; Corp. John F. Servis, wounded ; Corp. Jona. P'. Collis, killed ; Corp. Joseph Runkle, wounded ; David Allgard, missing, David Anthony, killed; Jacob Apgar, killed ; Jacob Bryan ;. wounded; William B. Bryan, wounded ; John Butler, wounded ; John Burns, wounded ; John Brogau, killed ; Jacob Beam, wounded and missing ; Geo. S. Beaver, wounded; Andrew Closson, missing ; Isane Dayton, missing ; Joseph Dawes, missing ; Jos. Everett, killed ; John Evans, missing ; William Gulick, wounded; George P. Ileu- derson, killed ; Lewis Wiggins, missing ; Wm. L. Higgins, wounded ; Silas Hockenberry, killed; Lemuel Hockenbury, wounded; Moxes Ilonsel, missing; John W. Heury, wounded and missing; ller- miun Helmbold, killed ; Garret Hogun. missing ; Henry P. Johnson,,

¡ From a " Historical Sketch of the Fifteenth Regiment Now Jersey Volunteers." by n member of the regiment.

135

FIFTEENTH INFANTRY REGIMENT.

wennded ; John Moser, wounded ; Van Meter P. Hlammet, wounded; Cornelius 1. Nevins, killed; Willlun N. Peer, killed ; James C. Palmer, wounded; John Rouch, wounded; Geo. Kessler, wounded ; Robert Sorter, wounded ; Joseph Sullivan, wounded; Henry C. Sinlth, killed ; Charles Scherer, killed ; Charles E. Smiley, wounded; Theodore Stammets, wounded; John Staats, missing; Abram Tran- ger, wounded ; Peter I. Tenbroeck, wonuded.

COMPANY E.

Capt. John HI. Vanderveer, wounded; Sergt. Benj. O. Sendder, killed; Sergt, Garret I. Schenck, wounded; Corp. Daniel Richardson, killed; Sergt. William C. E. Gulick, killed; Abraham D. Baird, wounded; Peter S. Bennet, wounded ; Nicholas Conover, killed ; Andrew Cran- ney, missing ; Peter Dennis, killed; William K. Dow, wounded ; Francis Hughes, wounded ; John HI. Jones, wounded; James MeKen- sey, killed ; Thomas MeConral, wounded ; Benjamin Moulton, wounded ; John W. Priestley, wounded; William H. Rose, killed; Jeremiah Slack, wounded ; George Thompson, wounded; John L. S. Van Deren, wounded.

COMPANY G.

Lleut. Henry M. Fowler, wounded; Sergt. Wm. E. Trimmer, killed ; Sergt. Jacel: J. Lair, wounded ; Sergt. Wm. M. Thompson, killed ; Sorgt. Jacob F. Thatcher, wounded ; Corp. John Bucock, wounded; Corp. John Gurren, missing ; William Ashcroft, wounded; Nathun Culver, wounded ; George Haney, missing ; Cornelius King, missing ; Simeon G. l'eddrick, missing ; John Reisinger, wounded; Jobn M. Smith, killed ; Levi Stull, killed; William HI. Wyckoff, wounded ; George 1. Wagoner, wounded ; Jumes C. Myers, wounded.

Moving southward from Spottsylvania, in the flank movement to Petersburg, the regiment again became engaged at the North and South Anna Rivers, at Hanover Court-house, at Tolopotomy, and at Cold llarbor; on which last-named field, in a charge made on the 1st of June by the Sixth Corps, the Fifteenth sustained a loss of twenty-five. "In the charge," says Foster, " the Fifteenth and Tenth Regiments reached a position on a hillock, which they held when the line was broken on either side of them, and which they began to intrench upon at sundown. On this little hillock they remained for the greater part of the next ten days, and from it many never came alive. The firing from the enemy was almost constant, and when- ever a man raised his head above the surface he was almost certain to be struck. The men, in fact, were obliged to burrow in the ground, and communication was kept up with the rear through a long ditch, dug to hide those passing from the sight of the enemy. The dust, the great heat, the confined space, and the dead bodies buried just under the surface, soon ren- dered the place most offensive. Day after day passed, line after line of works were constructed, the number of dead and wounded increased, but still the regiment was not taken from this horrible place, till, on the night of the 12th, it marched for the JJames River." Crossing that stream, it reached the exterior defenses of Petersburg on the 19th of June, and remained on that line until the 9th of July, when it was embarked on steamers and sailed for Washington, and moved thence to join Sheridan's army in the Shenandoah valley.

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History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 35

Author: Snell, James P; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1170

Author: Snell, James P; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1170