History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 21

Author: Snell, James P; Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1140

USA > New Jersey > Sussex County > History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers > Part 21
USA > New Jersey > Warren County > History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers > Part 21

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James Stewart, Jr., a native of Warren County (born in 1840), who finally became the colonel of the Ninth, was brevetted a brigadier-general before the close of the war. He went into service as first lieu- tenant of the Oxford company (H), and came home, at the close of the war, at the head of his regiment. with merited honors and a hearty welcome.

Dec. 24, 1862, a beautiful stand of colors costing seven hundred dollars, the gift of the New Jersey Legislature, was presented to the Ninth, the following resolutions, among others, passed by the Legislature, accompanying the gift :

" for solved, That the Ninth Regiment of New Jersey Volunteere, by their patient endurance ander privation and tatigne, and by their cour- age at the ever-to-be-remembered battles of Roanoke and Newbern (a courage evinced by the havoc made in their own unwavering colnuts better than by the reports of partial journals), have sustained the high reputation which, since the days of the Revolution, has belonged to the soldiers of New Jersey, and as evidence of our appreciation of that acme of every manly vittne, 'patriot c devotion to country,' the Governor of the State is requested to have prepared and forwarded to said regIment a standard on which shall be inscribed these words: 'Presented by New Jersey to her Ninth Regiment, in remembrance of Roanoke and New- bern.'

" Resolved, That Col. Chas. A. Heckman, who so gallantly led his well- ordered men to the conflict, is requested, at the proper time, to report to the clerk of the House of Assembly the mumnes of those who fell, killed or mortally woonded, on either of the said battle-fields; and that the clerk of the House in, by virtue of this resolution, ordered to enter their hainen, with the place where they fell, on the minutes of the Assembly

* Greeley. In his " American Conflict," erroneously gives to Hawkins' Zounves the credit of the operations here performed by the Ninth.

of New Jersey, as men who have fallen in defense of the best government of the world," etc.

These colors, well worn and battle-scarred, were returned to the State authorities in October, 1864, ac- companied by Color-Sergt. George Meyers (and one hundred and eight men of the Ninth whose term of service had expired), and a letter of transmittal to Governor Parker from James Stewart, Jr., colonel commanding, dated Carolina City, N. C., October 15th, in which he said,-

"Sın,-I herewith have the honor to forward to you for safe keeping in the archives of New Jersey the national and State colors of the Ninth Regiment New Jersey Volunteer Infantry. Three years ago they were intrusted to our hands. How well we have performed our trust our past record must show. In every engagement they have been with us, and, battle-worn and bullet-riddled as they are, we can proudly look upou them with the consciousness that not upon a single thread is thero the least speck of dishonor or shame. . . . Understanding it to be your in- tention to furnish the regiment with new national and State emblems, we can only say we shall be gratified to receive them, and it shall ever be our utmost endeavor to preserve them as unsullied ne are those we now place in your hands. I have the honor to remain, etc."

A few days later a new stand of colors was presented by the State. 4

The regiment was mustered out of service July 12, 1865. It had participated in forty-two battles and engagements. Eight officers offered their lives a sac- rifice on the nation's altar, while twenty-three received wounds in battle. Sixty-one enlisted men were killed, and four hundred wounded. Forty-three men died from wounds, and one hundred from disease. The total loss of the Ninth from all causes was one thou- sand six hundred and forty-six. No fact could more strikingly exhibit the destructive nature of the cam- paigns in which the regiment participated than this, clearly authenticated by official reports. t

VII .- THE ELEVENTH REGIMENT.

This regiment, which contained many field- and line-officers as well as enlisted men from the counties of Sussex and Warren, was from the time it left the State for the front, in the sumner of 1862, until the close of its service particularly noticeable for its bravery and patriotic gallantry. It was first engaged at Fredericksburg, and received the proud congratu- lations of its brave commander; again, at Chancel- lorsville, it shared in the honor of having saved the army in one of the most desperate struggles of the war. The heroic deeds of that day, performed by officers and privates alike, will never be fully told. "They had repelled five fierce charges, mainly with the bayonet, had captured eight flags (all taken by the New Jersey troops), and taken many prisoners without losing any." Col. McAllister, Lieut .- Col.

t See sketch of the regiment in John Y. Foster's "New Jersey in the Rebellion.11

# "Sergeant Lauterman, of Company II, I considered one of the bravest men in the regiment. At Chancellorsville, after tho two lines had been hotly engaged for some time, he went directly to the front and oscer- tained the enemy's position. His bravery was the coolest I ever wit- nessed. He was killed at Spottsylvanin, May 12th."-Report of Adjt. Schoonover.

SUSSEX AND WARREN COUNTIES IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.

Moore, and Adjt. Schoonover were among the last to leave the field, and at one time, fighting alone, were almost surrounded by the enemy. Lieut .- Col. Schoon- over, in a letter written after the close of the war, says, " I think the regiment made one of its best fights at Chancellorsville, taking into consideration the mass of fugitives it met from the Eleventh Corps while going into position; its coolness deserves special mention." Gen. Hooker said, "It fought splendidly ; officers and men alike deserve credit." Gen. Carr added his commendation of their brave con- duct. From Col. McAllister's official report we learn that the regiment lost in this battle twenty killed and one hundred and fifteen wounded. Lients. Bloom- field and Kelly were among the killed.

At Gettysburg, as the Eleventh was about to fire its first volley, Col. McAllister fell, severely wounded in two places. Yet the regiment continued its fight with great steadiness, notwithstanding Capts. Kear- ney, Martin, Logan, and Ackerman were killed and nearly all the remaining officers were wounded, while the ranks had been terribly thinned by the fire of the enemy, its losses being twenty-four killed and one hundred and thirty wounded,-one hundred and fifty- four in all. In Adjt. Schoonover's report of the bat- tle he pays a high tribute to the bravery of the regiment, and especially mentions the gallantry of Capt. Lloyd, Lieuts. Buckley, Baldwin, and Corey, and Corp. Thomas Johnson, of Company I, who took the colors and advanced with them to the front after two color-bearers had been shot down. In the battles of the Wilderness, at Spottsylvania, and in all future engagements it ably sustained its fighting reputation. June 15, 1875, it reached Trenton, N. J., and was dis- banded.

Maj .- Gen. Robert Me.Allister, a Warren County man, was distinguished for his patriotic services, Leaving his home at Oxford Furnace, raising a company at the outbreak of the war, he was appointed and served as lieutenant-colonel of the First, and later as colonel of the Eleventh Regiment. As ranking colonel he commanded brigades in the Third and Second Corps, and was brevetted successively brigadier-general and major-general. "Not a soldier of the schools, he yet had what is better than all the knowledge of the book-, -perfect and entire fearlessness, joined with the sturdiest tenacity of purpose; and these making him a leader, and so an inspiration to his followers, gave him success in the most desperate and exhausting straits, and secured him a place by common voice among the 'fighting generals' of the war, whose hearts, as well as their hands, were in the work to which they had been called. He was hardly less distinguished for the blamelessness of his life in camp and hi- conscientious devotion to his duties as a Chris- tian." Capt. Cline, of the Eleventh, says, " He was a self-denying, laborious officer. And he knew no danger. There was no affectation in his fervid pa- triotism, no absorbing ambition for military renown in

his desire to meet the foe, but a quiet determination and an inflexible firmness which were not always seen. Ile was throughout a Christian oflicer."

COL. JOHN SCHOONOVER.

Simeon Schoonover, father of Col. John, born in 1807, resides at Bushkill, Pa., and has carried on plow- and wagon-manufacturing for many years. His mother was Sarah Heller, who was born in 1817.

The children of Simeon and Sarah Schoonover are Amos, who was a captain in the Eleventh New Jersey Regiment in the late Rebellion; Elizabeth ; Henry B., of Scranton, Iowa, who served as a private in the One Hundred and Forty-sixth Pennsylvania ; Anna; Ellen ; William R., a physician of Oswego, Ind. ; Martha ; Edward, of Bushkill, Pa. ; and John John, subject of this sketch.

John Schoonover was born at Busbkill, Pa., Ang. 12, 1839. Ile obtained his education at the common school of his native place, and under the instruction of R .v. J. K. Davis, of Smithfield, Pa. At the age of six con he became a teacher, and for several years thereafter was engaged in teaching and preparing for college. Fired with patriotism for the welfare of his country, upon the breaking out of the Rebellion he wat- among the first to show his courage and devotion to the Union cause under the first call for three months' men. We quote a sketch of his career in the army from Foster, found in his "History of New

SUSSEX AND WARREN COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

Jersey and the Rebellion :" "John Schoonover joined the First New Jersey Regiment at its organization as a private, and served with the knapsack and musket for about a year, being subsequently made commis- sary-sergeant, in which position he remained until the Eleventh Regiment was raised, when he was made its adjutant, serving with marked credit in all the campaigns of the regiment prior to the battle of Gettysburg. He was especially recommended by Gen. Carr for gallant conduct in that battle, at which, Colonel McAllister being wounded, he assumed com- mand of the regiment, which he retained until the 17th of September following.

" He was made lieutenant-colonel of the regiment in August, 1863, and served, most of the time in com- mand, in all the subsequent campaigns of the Army of the Potomac. He was brevetted colonel for gallantry in action before Petersburg, and also for meritorious conduct in the campaign ending in the surrender of Lee's army. He was three times wounded,-at Gettys- burg, Spottsylvania, and Cold Harbor.

"Col. Schoonover was, under all circumstances, a courageous and efficient soldier and commander, and was highly esteemed by all who knew him, not only for his soldierty qualities, but for his exalted charac- ter and genuine worth as a man."

Chaplain Cline says of Col. Schoonover, " He ever showed himself to be a man of rare excellence, of great firmness and energy, of a dauntless courage which never calculated danger when a duty was to be performed, a high sense of right, and unflinching adherence to its obligations, with intellectual endow- ments of a superior order, and social qualities which won the affection and admiration of all his associates. Kind-hearted to his command, never exacting from them any unnecessary work, and always ready to do everything in his power for their comfort and happi- ness, he was universally beloved and honored, and there was scarcely one who would not have given his life, if needs be, to save his. Brave himself and ever in the front of the battle, he took them there; and in camp his regiment was in the highest state of disci- pline and order."

CHAPTER XIV.

SUSSEX AND WARREN IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION (Continued).

I .- FIFTEENTH INFANTRY (THREE YEARS).

Tmis regiment was recruited in the northern part of the State, and had in its composition three com- panies from Sussex and two from Warren County, the remaining half of the organization being from the adjoining counties of Hunterdon, Morris, and Somerset. The regiment was rendezvoused at Flem- ington, N. J., during the summer of 1862, and mus- tered into the service on the 25th of August, under

command of Col. Samuel Fowler. The other regi- mental officers were: Lieutenant-Colonel, Edward L. Campbell ;" Major, James M. Brown ; Adjutant, Wil- liam P. Seymour; Quartermaster, Lowe Emerson ; Surgeon, Redford Sharp; Assistant Surgeons, George R. Sullivan and George Trumpore. The names of the commissioned officers and enlisted men composing the companies from Warren and Sussex may be seen on a succeeding page.

August 27th the regiment, nine hundred and twenty-five strong, left its camp at Flemington for the front. On its arrival at the capital it was marched to Tenallytown, and there at once placed on fatigue duty in the building of roads and erection of defenses ; among which latter was the construction of the for- midable 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 to join the victorious Army of the Potomac on the battle-field of Antietam, and, by special request of the corps, division, and brigade commanders, was assigned to the First Brigade, First Division, Sixth Corps,-the already veteran "First New Jersey Brigade." From this time forward to the close of the war its history is that of the famous Sixth Corps.

Its official fighting record, as made up by the ad- jutant-general of the State, is as follows : Fredericks- burg, Va., Dec. 13 and 14, 1862; Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; Salem Heights, Va., May 3 and 4, 1863; Franklin's Crossing, Va., June 6 to 14, 1863; Gettysburg, Pa., July 2 and 3, 1863; Fairfield, Pa., July 5, 1863 ; Funktown, Md., July 10, 1863; Rap- pahannock Station, Va., Oct. 12, 1863; Rappahan- nock Station, Va., Nov. 7, 1863; Mine Run, Va., Nov. 30, 1863; Wilderness, Va., May 5 to 7, 1864; Spottsylvania, Va., May 8 to 11, 1864; Spottsylvania Court-house, Va., May 12 to 16, 1864; North and South Anna River, Va., May 24, 1864; Hanover Court-house, Va., May 29, 1864; Tolopotomy Creek, Va., May 30 and 31, 1864; Cold Harbor, Va., June 1 to 11, 1864; before Petersburg, Va., June 16 to 22, 1864; Weldon Railroad, Va., June 23, 1864; Snickers'

# Lieut .- Col. Campbell, who was already In the field with the Army of the Potomnc, did not join the Fifteenth until the lat of October, when the regiment was on its march to the Sixth Corps in Maryland. Lieut .- Col. Campbell was made colonel by brevet Oct. 19, 1864, brevet brigadier- general April 9, 1865, and promoted to the coloneley of the Fourth Regi- ment May 20, 1865. In Maryland, upon the illness of Col. Fowler, he took command of the Third Regiment, which position he held during most of the time it was in the service, lending it in nearly every grent battle in which it participated. One who served with the regiment says, " If the Fifteenth ever performed any efficient service for the country, or by its conduct reflected any honor npon New Jersey, It was due more to Edward L. Campbell than to any other man, His bravery, Integrity, cujacity, und diligence stamped the regiment with a character whose value was known in many criticnl junctures and hard-fought littleg."

SUSSEX AND WARREN IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.

Gap, Va., July 18, 1864; Strasburg, Va., Aug. 15, 1864; Winchester, Va., Aug. 17, 1864; Charlestown, Va., Aug. 21, 1864; Opequan, Va., Sept. 19, 1864 ; Fisher's Hill, Va., Sept. 21 and 22, 1864; New Mar- ket, Va., Sept. 24, 1864; Mount Jackson, Va., Sept. 25, 1864; Cedar Creek and Middletown, Va., Oct. 19, 186-1; Hatcher's Run, Va., Feb. 5, 1865; Fort Steed- man, Va., March 25, 1865; capture of Petersburg, Va., April 2, 1865; Sailor's Creek, Va., April 6, 1865; Farmville, Va., April 7, 1865; Appomattox Lee's surrender), April 9, 1865.

The regiment received its baptism of fire at the great battle of Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862. Dur- ing 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 had before sustained, many beinz taken prisoners, among whom were a number of men of the Fifteenth. This charge was the last of the regiment's lighting for the day. Its total loss at Fredericksburg was about thirty, of whom very few were killed outright. Michael Mulvey (Company () was the first man of the regiment killed. The next morning the regiment was relieved at the front by the One Hundred and Twenty-first New York Regi- ment. The Fifteenth went into camp at White Oak Church, and there passed the dreary winter. The next spring, with the army under command of Gen. Hooker, the Fifteenth crossed the Rappahannock, and participated in the battle of Chancellorsville. Of the part taken by the Fifteenth in the battle of Salem Heights, May 3d and 4th, Lieut .- Col. Camp- bell, commanding the regiment, in his report ulated May 11th), says,-

" My command broke camp at White Oak Church, Va., on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 28th, and marchel to the bank of the Rappahannock, near Franklin's Crossing, where it bivouacked until towards morning, when it was moved to the river and crossed in boats just before daylight on the morning of the 29th, taking up a position on the south bank. Re- mained there until the morning of the 3d of May, when I was ordered to the front at about daybreak, and was assigned a position in support of a battery on the extreme left which was hotly engaging the enemy. Remained upon this duty, taking up various positions, and part of the time exposed to a severe scattering thank fire from the enemy's line of skirmishers, until the enemy was driven from his position on the heights above Fredericksburg and the Line on the left was ordered to retire towards that place, when I was left in the rear as a support to our retiring skirmisher -. Everything was brought from the field without ditli- culty. ... Arriving some distance out of the city. on the plank-road, I learned that the enemy was making a stout resistance in front, and that the First

Brigade was about to engage him. Marching as ra; - idly as practicable, I arrived at the front at about five o'clock p.M., and, without halting, was immediately ordered by the general commanding the corps to en- gage the enemy on the right of the road, in a thick wood in which they had taken a pos tion and effect- ually resisted any attempt to disl algo him. My com- mand advanced about one hundred yards through a dense, and in places impassable, undergrowth, to within about thirty yards of the enemy's prition, where it engaged at least four of his regiments, with, as I am convinced, a terrible effect, but without driv- ing him from his well-chosen position. Just at dark, my ammunition being entirely exhausted and the one:ny's fire destructive, Ir tired in good order, the enemy showing no disposition to follow. I have the satisfaction of saying for my command that not a man left the line of battle except the wounded, and when the rol's were called, immediately upon arriv- ing in the open field, every man was present or prop- erly accounted for except those who were killed, wounded, or missing in action, the latter being but five, and all probably killed or wounded. My wounded were all brought off during or after the action, except possibly the five mentioned above, not found on account of the dense undergrowth of bushes. "On Sunday night ( May 31 my commail biv- Quacked upon the battle-fieldl. During the engage- ment of Monday I was assigned to various positions. a part of the time in support of batteries. When at night the artillery was ordered towards the river, I was ordered to follow it. Recrossed the river just before daylight in the morning, and went into camp on the north bank. On Friday, the Sth inst., marched to my present place of encampment. I would re- spectfully call attention to the conduct of Lied .- ''. Campbell. He was seen in the thi key of the fight, and repeatedly he went to the front alon ;, trying to got not only his own men, but those of other regi- ments, to follow. I am much indebte ] to our chaplain Haines for his services in transmitting orders and attending to the wounded. All my officers behaved well, especially when taking into consideration that it was their first engagement."

After a few weeks of quiet the Fifteenth, with the army of tien. Hooker, pressed northward by forced marches, arriving in the afternoon of July 2d at Get- tysburg, where the great battle was already in pro- press. At about a half-hour before sunset the berale was moved to the front, to hold a position fr un which Sickles' corps had been compelled to retire. But n> further assault was made that evening. Through all the cairnage of the following day, inclu lige ti. tre- men lot 4 charge of Pickett's Confederate corp -. th Fifteenth, with its brigade, stond constantly in line. ready for work, but was not erlerel in. Upon the retreat of the Confederate legans, on the 5th, the Fifteenth took part in the pursuit and in minor en- garements at Fairfieldl. Pa , and Funktion, MI, and

SUSSEX AND WARREN COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

crossed the river into Virginia with the main body of the army. During the remainder of the year it par- ticipated in the various movements of the Sixth Corps, and in December, 1863, went into winter quarters near Bandy Station, Va.

In the spring of 1864 opened the bloody campaign of the "Wilderness." Lieut .- Gen. Grant was now in command of the armies. In this campaign the Fifteenth saw its most desperate fighting, and sus- tained the severest losses experienced during its term of service. May 5th it became slightly engaged, suffering some losses, as also on the 6th and 7th. On the 8th the Jersey brigade was sent to the assistance of Gen. Warren, whose corps had met with a check. " After some manoeuvring the Fifteenth, with the Third (as a skirmish-line), was selected to make an . assault on the enemy and develop his position and strength. No charge was ever more gallantly deliv- ered. With two armies looking on, it advanced across an open field ; when within about three hun- dred yards of the front of the wood in which the enemy was posted it fixed bayonets, and with a line of glittering steel as steady as on dress-parade dashed up to the rebel position, to find them strongly en- trenched and in full force. As far as rifle-shot could reach, upon each flank they opened upon the de- voted little band. Notwithstanding the deadly fire, it drove the enemy out of the work in its front, cap- tured two prisoners, and, to save annihilation, was ordered by its commander to retire. One hundred and one of its brave officers and men were left upon the field, killed or wounded. It may be doubted if a more perilous forlorn hope was ever more daringly executed."

The following day the regiment (with the First) was detached to turn the right flank of the enemy and gain possession of a cross-roads. The next morn- ing they drove the rebel skirmish-line before them for about a mile, and struck the right of the enemy's line, strongly entrenched on the top of a hill, which position was afterwards known as the "bloody angle." The two regiments attacked vigorously, but were forced back. Later, reinforced by two more regiments, they again attacked, but could not dislodge the enemy, although they held their own position. On the 12th occurred one of the most stubbornly-contested strug- gles of the war. It was for the possession of the "bloody angle." In the attack the Fifteenth was on the extreme right of the front line. It charged with fixed bayonets and carried the work, capturing 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." But this desperate charge was at fearful cost : one hundred and fifty men of the regiment were swept away in a half hour; more than half the rank and file and seven of the most valued officers fell, killed or wounded, inside or near the hostile works. Out of four hundred and twenty-nine men and four-

teen line-officers who crossed the Rapidan on the 4th, only one hundred and twenty-two men and four offi- cers remained."*

The losses in the Warren and Sussex companies of the Fifteenth during the eleven days succeeding the crossing of the Rapidan, to the close of its fight- ing in the neighborhood of Spottsylvania Court-house, May 4 to 15, 1864, are given as follows :

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History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 21

Author: Snell, James P; Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford) Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1140

Author: Snell, James P; Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1140