USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, New Jersey, 1664-1920, Volume I > Part 15
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
The First Regiment remained in Maryland until October 2, when it crossed the Potomac to participate in the movement against Freder-
.
I33
WAR BETWEEN THE STATES
icksburg. The regiment was formed in line of battle and was also engaged in picket duty. The battle of Fredericksburg terminated the campaign of 1862, and the First Regiment went into winter quarters near Falmouth, Virginia, where it rested for four months in comparative quietness.
In the spring of 1863, General McClellan was succeeded in the com- mand of the Army of the Potomac by General Joseph Hooker. The latter, determined upon a movement against the enemy, crossed with the bulk of his forces the rivers Rappahannock and Rapidan, and took position at Chancellorsville. The First Brigade, now a part of the Sixth Corps, crossed the Rappahannock three miles below Fredericks- burg on the morning of April 29, 1853. On the evening of May 2nd, the First Regiment attacked and drove in the enemy's pickets, holding the ground thus obtained. The regiment moving rapidly through Freder- icksburg, proceeded some three miles in the direction of Chancellorsville, where it formed in line of battle and advanced until Salem Church was reached. Here the enemy was strongly posted, and the veterans of Longstreet stood resolutely at bay. Though the First Brigade did not write a new victory on its banners, it proved itself once more worthy to march and fight in the van of the battle-beaten Army of the Potomac. The regiment remained on the field during the whole of the following day, but was not engaged except as a support to batteries. On the night of the 4th the entire army withdrew, the First Regiment proceed- ing by slow marches to its old camping grounds. The First Regiment loss at the battle of Chancellorsville was 7 killed, 71 wounded, and 27 missing.
General Lee having defeated Hooker's movement against Richmond, determined upon an offensive campaign, and early in June again crossed the Potomac, taking position on free soil. General Meade having suc- ceeded General Hooker, came up with the advance of the enemy at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The First Regiment, prior to this movement, had participated in various aimless marches in Virginia. The regiment crossed the Potomac at Edward's Ferry on the afternoon of June 27 and marched rapidly forward to Manchester, where it arrived July I. The following day, by a forced march of thirty-six miles, it reached Gettysburg, and at once was sent into position on the left of the line. The fighting being mainly on the right and center, the First did not become engaged on the decisive day of the battle except on the picket line. After the defeat of the enemy, the regiment on July 19 crossed the Potomac, went into camp near Warrentown, and on September 15 removed to Culpeper Court House. During the month of October it participated in movements along the Rappahannock, but subsequently went into camp at Warrentown, whence it removed to Rappahannock Station, and early in December to near Brandy Station, where it remained in winter quarters until late in April, 1864.
134
MIDDLESEX
On May 1, 1864, having fully matured his plans, General Grant, who was in supreme command, set all his columns in motion. The First Regiment as a unit in these decisive attacks on the enemy which were terminated by Lee's surrender at Appomattox, valiantly performed its part. It was present at all the important engagements with the enemy on the Peninsula in Virginia and in the Shenandoah Valley. It took part in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Spottsylvania Court House; North and South Anna River, Hanover Court House, Tolopo- tomy Creek. Cold Harbor, before Petersburg, Snicker's Gap, Strasburg, Winchester, Charlestown, Opequan, Fisher's Hill, New Market, Mount Jackson, Cedar Creek and Middletown, Hatcher's Run, Fort Stedman, capture of Petersburg, Sailor's Creek, Farmville, and Lee's surrender at Appomattox.
On May 24, 1865, the regiment marched through Richmond on its way northward. It encamped four miles from Georgetown, D. C., on June 2, and after a short time the regiment was mustered out of service and proceeded to Trenton, New Jersey, where it was dissolved and ceased to exist.
Ninth Regiment-The Ninth Regiment was raised under authoriza- tion from the War Department to recruit a regiment of riflemen. Com- panies A and B were from Middlesex county. The recruiting for the regiment was begun in September, 1861, and the first muster was made at Camp Olden, Trenton, on October 5. The regiment was soon filled to the maximum, and remained in camp until December 4, when it pro- ceeded to Washington. It was armed with Springfield rifles, and was more fully equipped than any regiment which up to that time had left the State. The regiment went into camp on the Bladensburg turnpike, where it remained until January 4, 1862, when it proceeded to Annapolis to become a portion of Burnside's expedition to North Carolina. It was assigned to the brigade of General Jesse L. Reno, and embarked for Fortress Monroe, January 10. Arriving at its destination, sail was made for some point southward. On February 6 all the vessels arrived off Roanoke Island, which separates the Pamlico and Albemarle sounds, and where the Confederates were in force with entrenchments, batteries and gunboats. The fleet steamed directly up Pamlico Sound led by a dozen gunboats under the command of Commodore Goldsborough. The Ninth Regiment as part of Reno's command was placed in the second line of attack, and remained inactive about a half a mile from the scene of hostilities. The order for advance was soon given, and the regiment entered the swamp and up to hips in water advanced to within one hundred yards of the enemy's fort. Here a vigorous fire was opened on the enemy, which was responded to by the batteries pouring a storm of shot and shell into the regiment. The rebel guns were, however, silenced by the sharpshooters picking off their cannoneers. The Con-
135
WAR BETWEEN THE STATES
federates retreated about II o'clock. The conduct of the Ninth was highly courageous, the enemy admitting after the battle that they did not suppose a body of troops could operate in the swamp, as this opera- tion on the rebel flank made it possible to secure the great success of the day. By order of General Burnside, "Roanoke Island, Feb- urary 8, 1862," was emblazoned on the Ninth's banners in compliment for their gallantry on that day. The Ninth lost in the battle, 9 killed and 25 wounded. The capture of Roanoke Island gained the key to all the inland waters of North Carolina, thus interrupting communications which at that time were essential to the enemy.
The Ninth remained on the Island until early in March; on the 11th of that month it sailed down the sound to Hatteras Inlet to participate in an attack on Newberne. In the line of battle before that city, the Ninth occupied the extreme left. Discovering a movement on his left flank, Colonel Heckman, in command of the regiment, reversed his left wing in time to repel a fierce attack of the enemy, the regiment then resumed a direct attack, silencing the Confederates' artillery by their sharpshooters. The Federal troops had made several charges, and on the solicitation of Colonel Heckman, General Reno ordered the Ninth to make a charge. Dashing eagerly forward, leaping from ditch to ditch, wading knee-deep in mire, rushing over pitfalls through almost impene- trable abattis, the irresistible assailants swept up to the earthworks, climbed the blood-stained slippery sides and captured the whole line of fortifications in their front, with six guns. The flags of the Ninth waved from two of the enemy's redans, while the right guidon floated from a third. Soon the entire division took complete possession of the Confederate works mounting some sixty-nine cannons. The river bat- teries in the rear were evacuated, thus leaving the land and water approaches to Newberne open, all that remained being to march in and take possession. The Ninth camped at the junction of the Trent and Neuse rivers about four miles from the captured fortifications, remaining until April 1, when it proceeded to Newport Barracks, where its head- quarters remained during the siege of Fort Macon. On July 26, six companies of the regiment took part in an expedition to Young's Cross Roads. The next three months were spent in reconnoitering and guer- illa warfare. The regiment on October 30, 1862, joined General Foster's expedition against Tarborough, while two brigades were transported by water to Washington, and the third, which included the Ninth, marched overland. It was on the morning of November 2 the column was first attacked by rebel rangers, and after marching some nineteen miles it became evident that an engagement was imminent. Two Massa- chusetts regiments having been forced to retire, the Ninth was ordered to the rescue. Running through the ranks of the Massachusetts regi- ments, the Ninth dashed past the fort of the enemy, halting upon a
136
MIDDLESEX
high clay bank beyond the swamp. Here parties were detailed to find convenient fords, but on receiving a report that the river could be crossed by infantry, Colonel Heckman placed a battery in position to open fire with canister on the enemy, then ordered the Ninth to cross over the burning bridge into the works of the Confederates. The latter fled precipitately, leaving considerable property behind. Few achieve- ments of the North Carolina campaign were more gallant than this passage of a burning bridge, and the rout of the enemy strongly posted, by a single regiment. The expedition moved forward in the direction of Tarborough, but learning that the enemy had been reinforced, it was determined to return, the Ninth reaching Newport on November 12.
In accordance with an order from the War Department dated Novem- ber 18, 1862, the regiment was reduced from twelve to ten companies, A and L being disbanded, and the enlisted men transferred to other com- panies of the regiment. Company M was designated as Company A. In December, 1862, the regiment took part in Colonel Heckman's expe- dition to destroy railroad junctions in North Carolina, in which it took part in engagements with rebel forces at Deep Creek, Southwest Creek, before Kinston, Whitehall and Goldsborough. On December 24, a beautiful stand of colors costing seven hundred dollars, was presented to the Ninth by the Legislature of New Jersey.
The year 1863 opened with the Ninth in camp in North Carolina, a part of what was known as "The Star Brigade." In the early part of that year it took part in several minor expeditions, but for the greater part of the time was in camp at Morehead City. In July, 1863, an expedition was undertaken into the interior of North Carolina, and the Ninth took part in an engagement near Winton in that State. Many of the Ninth being sick with chills and fever, the regiment was ordered to Carolina City, where it remained unemployed for a month and a half. On October 18, 1863, the regiment broke camp and proceeded to Newport News, Virginia, where it remained during the remainder of the year.
The term for which the Ninth had volunteered having in the early part of 1864 nearly expired, two-thirds of the regiment immediately reënlisted for three years in the war, being designated "Veteran Volun- teers." This number entitled them to a veteran furlough, and on Febru- ary 2, 1864, they sailed for Jersey City, thence proceeding to Trenton, where their arms were stored and the men scattered for their homes. The portion of the regiment that did not reenlist, in a reconnaisance at Deep Creek, Virginia, fell in with a body of rebels who compelled them to retreat.
The gallant Ninth, strengthened by a number of recruits, once more set its face towards the battlefields. Reaching Portsmouth, Virginia, March 17, 1864, it proceeded to Getty's Station, where it reunited with General Heckman's command. This command sailed up Chuckatuck
I37
WAR BETWEEN THE STATES
river, landing April 15 at Cherry Grove, where the enemy were met and engaged by several companies of the Ninth. The command return- ing to their camp at Getty's Station, was transferred to Yorktown, finally sailing to Fortress Monroe. The Ninth disembarked at Bermuda Hundred, on the south side of James river, being the first to land. Bivouacking about two miles from the river on the morning of May 6, the division moved forward, the Ninth as usual having the post of honor and of danger. Moving steadily forward, the regiment at noon came within sight of Petersburg, and advanced steadily to Port Wal- thall Junction, where the enemy were strongly posted. Here it met a superior force of the enemy and after two hours' fighting was obliged to retire; the Ninth losing four killed and 30 wounded. The following day the regiment was engaged in fighting, but it was less severe than the preceding day. The morning of the 9th an advance was made southward to Swift Creek, three miles from Petersburg. The enemy was driven two or three miles with heavy loss, the Unionist soldiers tearing up the railroad track between Petersburg and Richmond. Both armies held during the night the ground occupied during the day. The loss of the Ninth was one man killed and nine wounded. The Ninth was not again engaged until the 12th, when the whole army again advanced, encountering the enemy on the Richmond and Petersburg turnpike. Night closed active operations, both armies resting on their arms, skirmishing was resumed at daylight, the enemy being gradually driven at all points of the line. The morning of the 14th the artillery opened vigorously upon the enemy. Companies D and G of the Ninth were deployed as skirmishers and compelled the enemy to fall back to their fortifications During the 15th while a sharp musketry fire was kept up all day, no general demonstration was made. The extreme right of Heckman's command was held by the Ninth. The commanding general had repeatedly asked for reinforcements which had been denied him. At midnight the rebels moved out of their works strongly massed, and rushed just before daylight upon the pickets ; they were forced back, but the 16th was to be a sad day for the "Star Brigade." Under cover of a dense fog, five picked brigades in columns debouched, left the rebel fortifications, drove in the Union pickets, and pressed forward on a run for the main line. Though they were repulsed, the rebels executed a flank movement on the extreme right, and the Ninth, defending that position, having no artillery and being greatly outnumbered, was obliged to give way. The Ninth lost heavily in this battle, which is named in the reports as Drury's Bluff, one hundred and fifty being killed and wounded. The regiment at the commencement of the engagement had nineteen officers, thirteen of whom were killed and wounded and three taken prisoners. Among their dead officers was their commander, Colonel Abram Zabriskie. During the next week the Ninth was more or
138
MIDDLESEX
iess constantly engaged in skirmishing, severe fighting at times, and on being ordered to Cold Harbor on June 3, became engaged with the enemy. While the fighting was continued along the whole line the following day the Ninth was not engaged. On the 12th General Smith's army withdrawing from its position, the Ninth covered his rear and marched directly to White House, where it embarked and sailed to Ber- muda Hundred. The total loss of the regiment during the operations at Cold Harbor was five killed and thirty wounded.
After reaching Bermuda Hundred, nine companies of the Ninth, with a part of the Twenty-third Massachusetts, were with other troops united under the title of Provisional Brigade, and attached temporarily to the Tenth Corps; with this organization the Ninth took part in the move- ments before Petersburg, Virginia, fighting forty days in the rifle pits.
The fighting of the Ninth in Virginia was ended, and on September 17 it proceeded to Bermuda Hundred, embarked for North Carolina, reaching Morehead City and proceeded to its old camp at Caroline City. On October 21, one hundred and eight men whose terms of serv- ice had expired, left the camp for Trenton, New Jersey, to be mustered out. The Ninth remained in North Carolina until the close of hostilities, taking part in several engagements-Gardiner's Bridge, Foster's Bridge, Butler's Bridge, Southwest Creek, Wise's Fork, and Goldsborough.
The Ninth during its term of service participated in forty-two battles and engagements. Entering the service with 1,042 men and at various times strengthened by recruits, the mean strength of the regiment when mustered out was only six hundred. The regiment as an organization was mustered out of the United States service at Greensborough, North Carolina, July 12, 1865, and proceeded by rail to Danville, Virginia. On the 15th it embarked at City Point for Baltimore, reaching Trenton the following day, where it was furloughed until the 28th when the final discharge papers were issued, and on the day following the Ninth Regi- ment, after nearly four years of service, ceased to exist.
Fourteenth. Regiment-The Fourteenth Regiment was mustered into the service of the United States, August 25, 1862, leaving Freehold for the seat of war, nine hundred and fifty strong, September 2, 1862. The regiment was composed of excellent material. Companies D, H, I and K were largely from Middlesex county ; there were also a number in Com- panies C and E who were citizens of the county. Reaching Baltimore, the regiment was dispatched to guard Monocacy Bridge. Receiving advice of the advance of General Lee into Maryland, the regiment was transferred to Elysville. The Confederates burned the bridge crossing the Monocacy, and the Fourteenth was ordered to rebuild it. Here for nine months the regiment remained inactive; owing to poor rations during the winter, a great deal of sickness prevailed, seventy-five deaths occurring. This period of inactivity came to an end after the battle of
I39
WAR BETWEEN THE STATES
Chancellorsville, when the Fourteenth was ordered to Harper's Ferry and took position on Maryland Heights. Here it remained two weeks, when General Meade assumed command of the Army of the Potomac and ordered the position abandoned. The regiment then marched to the relief of the Union army at Gettysburg, but did not join the main army until July 9, and on the afternoon of the 17th crossed the Potomac at Edward's Ferry, going into camp at Bealton Station. The Fourteenth at this time numbered eight hundred men, and for five weeks camped along the Rappahannock.
The regiment still was located in Virginia, and on October 30 was engaged in its first active engagement, at Locust Grove, where it suf- fered a loss of 16 killed and 58 wounded. The enemy retiring on the approach of night, General Meade ordered a withdrawal across the Rapidan, and on December 4 the regiment went into winter quarters at Brandy Station. At this time the regiment had fit for duty six hundred men. The monotony of the winter quarters was not disturbed until February 6, when an unsuccessful attempt was made to cross the Rapi- dan river. General Grant having been placed in command of the Army of the Potomac, orders were issued May 3, 1864, for a forward movement against the enemy now concentrated in the Wilderness. Here the Four- teenth was engaged for several hours, fighting valiantly and losing heavily. On the second day the enemy retired, and Grant advanced his columns, concentrating around Spottsylvania Court House, and late in the afternoon the Fourteenth again went into action. The six days fol- lowing were occupied in manoeuvering and skirmishing; on the night of the 21st General Grant commenced a flanking advance to the North Anna, the Fourteenth crossing at Jericho Ford, thence, with the other regiments of the brigade, it proceeded to Nole's Station and destroyed the Virginia Central railroad for a distance of eight miles. During Grant's retrograde movement north of the Chickahominy, the Fourteenth was on the skirmish line. The army resumed its advance on the morning of June I ; after marching fifteen miles the enemy's position at Cold Harbor was reached, the Fourteenth being in front. Here a terrific battle ensued, the Fourteenth losing in two hours 240 killed and wounded. In the second day's fight the Fourteenth also took a part, losing several men. Grant having arrived at the conclusion that General Lee's position was impregnable, wisely decided to pass the Chickahominy far to Lee's right ; thence move across the James river, to advance against Richmond from the south. The Fourteenth was carried by transports to Bermuda Hundred, where it was united with Butler's army, then investing Peters- burg. It was engaged on the Weldon railroad in tearing up tracks, when a large force of the enemy appeared, and in an action that followed the regiment lost forty men in killed and prisoners.
General Early's successful raid in the Shenandoah region caused General Grant to transfer the Third Division of the Sixth Corps from
140
MIDDLESEX
the front of Petersburg to that seat of war. The Fourteenth was the first regiment to reach Monocacy. Here on July 9, dispositions were made for battle, the Fourteenth being on the extreme left. The Con- federates enveloping the Union lines, forced them to retreat; the Four- teenth in this engagement suffered severely. Every line officer with the exception of Captain J. J. Janeway, of Company K, was either killed or wounded, but happily the regiment extricated itself from its peril and at last found safety six miles distant, at New Market. The whole num- ber of the casualties in the Fourteenth was 10 killed, 69 wounded. and five missing. Of the 950 men that left New Jersey, but ninety-five were left for duty on the night of July 8, 1864, without an officer to command them. Captain Janeway received a wound after taking command that obliged him to leave the battle field.
This engagement, while disastrous to the Union forces, is believed by historians of the war to have retarded the Confederate's advance on Washington. The delay thus occasioned enabled divisions of the Union army to reach the capital before General Early was enabled to accom- plish the object of his expedition. The regiment remained at Ellicott's Mills until the IIth, when it proceeded by rail to Baltimore to join in the pursuit of Early, who was now retreating. On the 15th it crossed the Potomac at Edward's Ferry, pushed through Leesburg and Snicker's Gap, eventually reaching Harper's Ferry to take part in Sheridan's cam- paign in the Shenandoah Valley. This expedition moved against the enemy August 10, 1864, but no general action took place until August 19, when the enemy was attacked at Opequan Creek. The Fourteenth by the means of recruits had augmented its numbers to three hundred men; their loss in this engagement was 7 killed, 62 wounded, and one missing. Its greatest loss, however, was Major Vredenburg, who while at the head of his regiment, ordering a charge upon a rebel battery, was struck by a shell and instantly killed. The following morning, Early having taken position at Fisher's Hill, Sheridan crossed Cedar Creek, and on the 22nd gave battle, which lasted three hours, the casualties of the Fourteenth being ten killed and thirty wounded.
The great battle of the campaign was yet to be fought, that of Cedar Creek. Sheridan had gone to Washington on business, and the wily Early on October 18 moved his entire army across the mountains sepa- rating the branches of the Shenandoah. Under cover of fog and dark- ness, the Eighth Corps was attacked on both flanks, the enemy capturing twelve hundred prisoners, twenty-four guns, and much camp equipage. The Eighth, aroused from its morning slumbers, was unable to make any great resistance. The Sixth Corps, of which the Fourteenth Regiment was a member, had more opportunity to rally, and held the rebels in check for a time. A general retreat was ordered; the Union forces fell back five miles and reformed their line of battle. Then Sheridan appeared
141
WAR BETWEEN THE STATES
on the scene, having made his famous ride from Winchester. Riding along the lines, he inspired the men by speaking to them, stimulating them to new endeavors, and prepared them for a fresh encounter, saying as last words to them the effective sentence, "We are going to lick them out of their boots." The soldiers, with these words ringing in their ears, assumed the offensive. After considerable manoeuvering, a charge was ordered, the enemy was driven back, the trains, artillery and other trophies recaptured, defeat converted into victory, by the inspiring spirit of Sheridan. The Fourteenth Regiment, which took an active part, lost heavily. It remained in the vicinity of Winchester until December 3, when it proceeded to Washington, thence by transports to City Point, whence it advanced and occupied a position on the Wel- don railroad. Here the regiment was reorganized, having received recruits to the number of two hundred, and remained in winter quarters until late in March, when orders were received to join the armies operat- ing against Richmond.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.