History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 26

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 26
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 26

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· Foster's " New Jersey lo T'ie Rebellion," 412.

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SUSSEX AND WARREN COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

reorganization of the regiment by the State, he was superseded by Sir Percy Wyndham, an Englishman by descent, who had been a colonel in the Sardinian service, a soldier under Garibaldi, and a chevalier of the Military Order of Savoy.

We give from Foster's history of the regiment Col. Wyndham's order upon assuming command :

" HEADQUARTERS FIRST NEW JERSEY CAVALRY, ? " February 9, 1862. " [Regimental Order No, 1.]

" I, Sir Percy Wyndham, colonel-brigadier of the Italian army, having been recommended by Maj .- Gen. Mcclellan, and duly commissioned as colonel of the First Regiment of New Jersey Cavalry by the Governor of the State of New Jersey, do hereby assume command of this regiment, which from this day is known and recognized by the Governor of New Jersey as the First Regiment of New Jersey Cavalry. The monthly allowance made by the State to the families of ber volunteers will here- after be paid to the relatives of the patriotic sons of New Jersey who are in the ranks of this regiment. The regiment is now well armed and splendidly mounted, and all that is needed to put it in the most efficient state is strict obedience to orders and thorough military discipline ; and th . colonel commanding desires the assistance of all officers and men to attain this end,-the well-being of the regiment being the first.

" SIR P. WYNDHAM, " Colonel Contmanding.'

II .- SERVICE IN THE FIELD.

Spending the winter and early spring in scouting and picket-duty, the regiment, on the 18th of April, 1862, was ordered to Fredericksburg to join Gen. Mc- Dowell. On the 20th it proceeded towards the lower extremity of North Neck, whence a party of twenty men, under Lieut. Walter R. Robbins, was sent towards the extremity of the Neck upon a difficult expedition, which they accomplished without loss, returning with some two hundred negroes and a num- ber of horses. On the following Saturday and Sun- day the regiment made a reconnoissance across the country to the Potomac, and on the 28th returned to camp near Falmouth. Here the regiment was bri- gaded with the First Pennsylvania Cavalry, under command of Brig .- Gen. George D. Bayard, Remain- ing here engaged in picket-duty till May 25th, at that date the brigade moved across the river and advanced on the plank road as far as Salem Church, whence it pushed on to the front of the army, within hearing of the guns at the battle of Hanover Court-house. At this point orders were received to march into the Shenandoah valley for the purpose of opposing Stone- wall Jackson, and the regiment and brigade took up the line of march on the 28th. In five days they ar- rived at Strasburg, where they captured about one hundred and fifty rebel stragglers.

The Second Battalion of the First Cavalry, headed by Lieut .- Col. Karge, at once pushed forward in pur- suit of the retreating enemy, and, overtaking the rear-guard, charged upon them, capturing a number of prisoners. At length the rebel line of cavalry ap- peared drawn up across the road and covered by a small stream, the bridge over which had been hastily destroyed.

" At this moment Wyndham brought up the rest of Lis regiment at a gallop, and without pause the three

battalions, in different columns, were thrown across the stream against the enemy. The fourth squadron, -Companies D and F,-covering their advance in a ravine, struck the road close to the enemy, and in close column of fours wheeled into it to charge. Just as they debouched upon it a deep voice from the tall wheat of the adjacent field called out, 'Ready, aim!' and a regiment of rebel infantry rose up from their concealment. 'Down on your saddles, every man !' shouted Capt. Boyd as the order to fire issued from the rebel commander. Each man stooped to his horse's neck, and the whole volley whistled harmlessly over the heads of the troops, riddling the fence be- hind. Simultaneously with the infantry, the rebel cavalry in the road opened right and left, uncovering a section of artillery in position. 'Right about, wheel, march, trot, gallop !' shouted Boyd with an energy proportioned to the emergency. As the column dashed round the bend of the road a few scattering shots from the infantry were sent after it, killing the blacksmith of Company D, while just as the rear got out of range the canister of the artillery tore along the causeway,-too, late, however, to hurt them.

"The rebel battery continuing its fire, the First Battalion (Beaumont's) took a wider sweep and now came towards the road in the rear, while a portion of the Third, under Haines and Janeway, strove to take it more in front. As our men, advancing, set up their wild cheer, the supporting rebel cavalry broke and retreated in disorder, leaving the guns without pro- tection and causing the artillerists and drivers to waver. But by each gun sat the officer of the piece with his pistol in his hand, holding the men sternly to their places. Deserted by their supports, our men still pressing on, and their pistol-shots whistling in advance of them, these gallant fellows forced their gunners to limber up as accurately as if on drill, and then at a gallop the pieces were whirled along to the rear. Maj. Beaumont and Capt. Bristol and Kester, with Sergt. Fowler, of Company E, and half a dozen men, dashed forward in pursuit through the field by the side of the road, firing their pistols as rapidly as the chambers would revolve, but the severe march of the past week and the desperate speed of the morn- ing's chase told now exhaustingly upon the horses. In spite of all their efforts they were left behind, though Fowler, one of the corporals, and a private named Gaskill, found their animals so crazy with excite- ment as to be unmanageable. After the flying battery they raced with headlong speed, plunging at last right into the ranks of the rebels, who were obliged, in self- defense, to fire at those who were thus riding them down. Within a few yards of the rebel general Ashby himself Fowler was shot dead, the corporal wounded, and Gaskill unhorsed and taken prisoner.

" The scenes of the day closed with a fight between the rebel artillery and the First Maine Battery, which had intercepted them, the shells falling thickly among the men of the First New Jersey, who, as

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SUSSEX AND WAARREN IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.

night came on, bivouacked upon their first battle- field. Ashby, without loss, drew off his command."

It will be impossible, in the space allotted to this sketel, to follow the regiment through all its move- ments.

The rebels in their retreat destroyed the bridge across a branch of the Shenandoah, then swollen with the recent rains; but on the second day after the bat- tle our forces crossed and continued their march to New Market. On Friday, the 6th of June, the army arrived at Harrisonburg. A considerable battle was fought with the enemy at Cross Keys, on the road to Port Republic.

As Shelmire, with the leading squadron, passed the line of Sawyer's skirmishers, the latter calle l out to him to take care, for the enemy was in force in the woods beyond. The captain answered in his resolute way, "I have been ordered to charge any force I may meet, and it is my duty to try and do it." With these words he continued on. Wyndham carried his whole force forward with drawn sabres, all of them wild with the excitement of the race. "Gallop! Charge !" were his orders, and the whole body, half-arrayed, plunged forward to the attack. Two men-Charles Parry and William Traughan-fell dead, and a lad named Jonathan Jones reeled, mortally wounded, from his horse. The enemy were posted in the woods in force, and nothing was left to our men but to retreat and form line in the open field. Shelmire and Wyndham, however, had entered the woods, and the former, being driven back, was pressed by the enemy upon the right of the line just forming, throwing everything for the moment into inextricable confu- sion, and resulting in a retreat of our forces from the fieldh.

"Among the last to retire was Capt. Thomas Haines. In the midst of the confusion his slender form was conspicuous as he called to the men of his company and sought to rally them around him. As he was crossing the heavy ground bordering the stream a squad of the Virginia cavalry, led by an ofli- ver in a long gray coat, who sat erect and easily upon his bounding charger, came down upon the flank of the fugitives. A bullet from that officer's pistol pene- trated the body of Capt. Haines, who dropped, dying, from his horse. Broderick, in whose company he had been lieutenant, was close behind him when he fell. Rising on his horse, he turned round upon the rebels, and, shouting 'Stop!' fired his revolver at their leader. The officer reeled in his saddle, and his men, catching him in their arms, hurried back from the spot. Broderick stooped over Haines and called him by name, but there was no answer and no time to pause. Leaving the lifeless form as the enemy again pressed upon him, he sadly spurred his horse to a re- newał of his flight."*

The above action, known as the battle of Cross Keys, closed the campaign of Gen. Fremont in the Shenandoah valley. Gen. Pope then assumed command. The First New Jersey Cavalry was or- dered to assist Gen. Hatch at Gordensville and Char- lotteville in holding the railroad and preventing con- nection with the valley. Hatch failed to comply with the instructions of Gen. Pope, and marched his com- mand, by way of Sperryville, to Culpeper Court-house. On the last of July the regiment marched to the Rap- idan and guarded the crossings of that river from Rapidan Station to Cave's Ford.

On the night of the 7th of August, "Stonewall" Jackson crossed with fifteen thousand men at Bar- nett's Ford. The following morning, at three o'clock, Col. Karge, with a battalion of the regiment, moved around the left of the enemy, where the rebel cav- alry had left their tracks the night before. Dividing his force and pursuing different directions, they dashed upon and captured a party at breakfast, coming off with twenty-three prisoners.

Capt. Boyd, in the evening, found himself cut off from his command and pursued by a party of the enemy. Dashing into the woods, he managed to elude the foe, and the next morning joined his regi- ment as it was forming in line of battle.

The regiment behaved with great intrepidity at the battle of Cedar Mountain. It is said that in this ac- tion the steadiness of Capt. Lucas saved the day. Col. Karge was sick in the hospital at Culpeper Court-house. As soon as he returned to his regiment he issued the following congratulatory order :

" [ Regimental Order Ne 1.] " HEADQUARTERS FIRST NEW JERSEY CAVALRY, ) "CAMP NEVE CFDAR MOUNTAIN, VA., Aug. 14, 1862. 1

" The commanding officer of this regiment takes the first opportuni y of expressing his high gratification at the card and breve behavior of With the men and the officers during the last action. Although himself severely indisposal, he was watching the movements of the regiment and if« Intrepidity while under a gulfing fire with unlimited pride. Maj. Hennmont, In command of the regiment, acquitted himself nuldy n. an officer by his coolness and the excellent momenvres which he jar- formed umuler n hwwvy fire of shell.

" The commanding officer therefore gives his heartfelt thanks to you, brave defenders of your country and your principles, and you may well rest nahred that the date of the 9th of August will be deeply impressed upon his heart na the day on which he has seen the regiment nurtured by him do Ite a hole duty. The commuudding officer desites to take notice of the coolness, prompt abedienco to onler, and energetic performance of their duty by Hospital Steward Simnel C. Laume, Orderly Wilfint Show, Corp. Vouchers, Ambulance-Driver MeAffee, and the men attached to the hospital department without exception, and to give them the thanks of the regiment for promptly Hoisting our brave wounded from the feld, In spite of danger and under a heavy fire.

" By onler of " JAMER KARNE, " Lieutenant-( błonel Commanding."

In relation to the action of this regiment nt Cedar Mountain, Mr. Foster remarks,-

" The glorious resistance shown by our small force on the 9th was not followed up by Gen. Pope on the 10th, though the enemy was actually leaving his train and artillery teamless in the road, in a confused appre- hension of pursuit from us; and on the 18th the First

* The body of Capt. Haines was in a fon duya recovered, some friendly farmer In the neighborhunnt having given it decent hurtel. The remains were removed and interred in the Harris burg churchyard.

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SUSSEX AND WARREN COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

Regiment was ordered, with the other cavalry, to cover the rear in a retrograde movement."

At Brandy Station, on the 20th of August, the regiment, with its brigade, consisting of the First New Jersey, the First Pennsylvania, and the Second and Tenth New York Cavalry, was engaged with Stuart's (rebel) cavalry. "At the moment when the head of the opposing forces came together a lieuten- ant commanding the first platoon of the Second New York (Harris Light) Cavalry drew rein and backed his horse through the ranks behind him. Instantly the whole column halted in confusion, and a moment after the whole regiment broke and swept back, thus opening the centre of the field and forcing Karge to change front with his line. Before, however, the new formation could be completed, the masses of the en- emy swept down upon the front and flank." Karge emptied the chambers of his revolver into their ranks, and then, throwing the weapon at their heads, dashed among them with his sabre, followed by the men around him. The enemy gave way before the impet- uous charge. But, with both flanks of his line broken, all that he could hope to do was to regain the reserve in the rear and rally under cover of his charge ; and, accordingly, skirmishers and main body, with one accord, spurred to the rear, fighting hand to hand as they did so with the foremost of their pursuers. A wide ditch stretched across the field, and was relied upon by the colonel to assist the reserve in their charge. Many of the exhausted horses fell as they strove to leap it, and headlong above them rolled the pursuing rebels. As he drew near the ditch, the last man of the Jersey (?), Lieut. Robbins' horse fell dead beneath him. Robbins kept his feet, and ac- tnally sprang across the ditch on foot, but he was soon seized by his pursuers, dragged to the rear, and cut down while a prisoner, though fortunately saved from death by a metal plate in the top of his cap." In this engagement Karge was disabled, Hicks hurt and unhorsed, Robbins and Stewart fell into the en- emy's hands, and many others were captured, but were cut out by the well-timed charge of Broderick, Lucas, and their comrades.

Instances of heroism and soldierly bearing are nu- nierous in the history of this regiment. For example, at Cedar Mountain: "There was a slight confusion in the ranks of Company A. 'Steady, there!' cried the commanding officer. Two men-Washington Raimer and Albert Young-drew their horses out of the ranks and saluted, saying, quietly, ' We are hit, sir,' as they moved to the rear. The ranks closed up again like a wall, and in ten minutes these two men, instead of nursing their hurts, had the balls extracted, the wounds bandaged by the surgeon, and before tlie blood had clotted on the lint were once more back in their places."

At Aldie, on the 30th of October, Stuart, with a large force of rebel cavalry, made an onslaught upon Stoneman's pickets, capturing all but a dozen or more

men. "Capt. Kester at once gathered his men to- gether, and, forming in the village street, awaited the onset of the rebels. Down the hill they came with a headlong dash, expecting to carry everything before them, and, wheeling into the village, rode at our little squadron. But the brave band never wavered at their approach, and instinctively the leading files of the Virginians began to lessen their speed. At the moment when their ranks were thus thickened and confused Capt. Kester poured into them a volley from his carbines, and then, with sabres drawn and a ring- ing cheer, his troops charged the startled enemy. Back rushed the rebels to escape the shock, and after them went the captain, while close upon his heels fol- lowed the rest of the First New Jersey, eager to press the advantage."

At Brandy Station, Col. Wyndham was in com- mand of the Second Brigade, composed of the First New Jersey, First Michigan, and First Pennsylvania Cavalry. Maj. Janeway commanded the regiment. In his report to the adjutant-general of the State he says,-

".Col. Wyndham moved his troops with such celer- ity that we were upon the enemy almost before they were aware of our vicinity. The fight lasted four hours, and was a continued succession of the most brilliant charges ever made. Every officer acted with the utmost bravery and coolness, and it is impossible for men to behave better than did ours. They proved themselves weil worthy of the State from which they came, and more cannot be said in their praise."

The severity of the engagement at Brandy Station is attested by the fact that out of thirty-nine horses in the second squadron twenty-seven were left on the field, and that of two hundred and eighty officers and men in the regiment six officers and over fifty men were killed, wounded, or missing. Of the three senior officers on the field, Wyndham received a ball in his leg, which unfitted him several months for active service, and Broderick and Shelmire never came off the field alive.

As the battle opened at Gettysburg on the decisive day,-July 3, 1863,-the First Jersey was advanced from the very rear some two miles to the front, ar- riving just in time to see the dense column of the rebel cavalry pouring upon the flank of the army. Leaping from their horses, forming line as they touched the ground, and starting at once into a run in the very face of the enemy, the regiment dashed at the nearest cover, where, supported only by a little squadron of their own reserves, they prepared to check the progress of the entire force arrayed against them. "And they did it, and more, even driving back" the assailing columns. Refusing to dismount in spite of the storm of bullets constantly whistling over the heads of his men, Janeway rode from end to end of the line of skirmishers, encouraging, warning, and directing its every portion. Advancing from point to point, heralding each renewed charge with a

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cheer which shook the enemy worse than the bullets of their carbines, for more than a hundred yards the First Jersey pushed their little line, and at last, with ammunition exhausted, they still held their ground, facing the rebels with their revolvers.

At length the Third Pennsylvania Cavalry came upon the line, and the First New Jersey was at lib- erty to retire. But no ! Borrowing ammunition from the Pennsylvanians, they held their ground, cheering lustily and flinging defiance at the rebels. Meantime, the grand attack of Longstreet had been made and repulsed, and all that remained was for the cavalry to sweep away the rebel horse from the flank.

Guarding the line and picketing far to the front, the First Jersey watched through the night upon the bloody ground until the welcome light of the nation's birthday permitted them to seek a brief season of re- pose

At Sulphur Springs and Bristow Station the reputa- tion of the regiment was well sustained. "The steady fire of Capt. Malsbury's squadron, though composed largely of recruits, completely frustrated the attempts of the enemy."" The First New Jersey came out of this contest with the loss-wonderfully small under the circumstances-of four officers and thirty men. The only prisoner lost was Lieut. Kinsley, who was missing by accident.t

In Meade's advance across the Rapidan, on the 26th of November, the First New Jersey was sent in advance to a position near Hope Church, on the Fred- ericksburg and Orange plank road. Here they had an engagement with a body of rebel cavalry which disputed their advance. They were stationed in a thicket of woods, into which the First New Jersey and First Pennsylvania, dismounting, plunged, and with a cheer that rolled along the line, waking the echoes of the solitude, dashed upon the enemy. The skirmishers fell back with a loss of forty prisoners, in- cluding several officers. Pushing back the rebel line to a point where a desperate struggle ensued, twenty- seven of the regiment, officers and men, were killed or so wounded as to be disabled. Jamison was shot through the heart, Gray had his hand shattered, Lane was almost stunned, and Hobensack was struck so violently by a piece of shell as to be for some min- utes crazed. Yet they carried skirmish-line and bat- tle-line in the face of the rebel artillery, pushing them back for a quarter of a mile, till they were relieved by the Fifth Corps.

In December the regiment went into winter quar- ters nt Warrenton. One of the exploits of the winter of 1863-64 is thus detailed in an official report of Lieut .- Col. Kester to Governor Parker :

" I have the honor to report that on the, lith inst. ( February, 1864) I was ordered to take three hundred and fifty mien (comprising one hundred and fifty of the First New Jersey Cavalry, under command uf Capt. Ihuurt, and two hundred nion of the First Pennsylvanis. First Minute chusetts, and Third Pennsylvania) and attempt the capture of Musly's

guerrillas. We started from Warrenton at ten o'clock on the ovrulng of the Isth Inst., and marched rapidly, it being cold, to Salem. At that ment I detached fifty mon to meet are at Paris and at Piedmont. I sent Capt. Hart with one hundred and fifty First New Jersey to pass through Piedmont Valley and join me ut Purls In Ashby's Gap, nod with one hun. dred and fifty men I started for Markham Statlon, In Manassas Gap. The ' a ty of fifty men reached Paris without capturing nny guerrillas. The party under Capt. Hurt puesod through Piedmont Valley to Paris, cap- tuing fifteen guerrillas and a large number of horses, arms, and equip- ments. The party with myself pursed through Mannssas Gap to Mark- ham, and from that point crossing the mountain to Paris, in Aulby's Gup. We captured nineteen guerrillas and a large number of horses, arnia, and equipments, and some medical stores. It was twelve o'clock before I reached l'arts, at which place I halted one hour to feed. At one o'clock I started to return. Ju the mean time the guerrillas lind collected to the number of abont one handred, and attempted to capture my rear-guard, which was under the command of Capt. Hart. The enemy churged ser- ennl times, It was repulsed with loss. The casualties on our skle were C'apt. Huit wounded and two horses killed. Capt. Hart was wounded at Upperville, and traveled with the column to Warrenton withont com- plaint,-a distance of twenty-six miles. The distance marched by ns was seventy-four miles in twenty-two hours. Great credit is due to Capt. Hart : also to Lients. Lame, Dye, and Cause."

During the battles of the Wilderness and in turn- ing Lee's right wing in the advance on Richmond the regiment did excellent service, and maintained its reputation for daring hardihood and brilliant ex- ploits. In an engagement on the 28th of May, 1864, the ammunition of the men gave out while they were hardly pressed by the enemy. A new supply was brought from the rear, and Capt. Beckman was shot through both hands as he stretched them forth in the act of distributing ammunition to the men. Lieut. Bellis was almost at the same moment mortally wounded, as was also Lieut. Stewart. Capt. Robbins was wounded severely in the shoulder, Lieut. Shaw badly in the head, Lieut. Wynkoop fearfully in the foot. Lieut. Bowne was the only officer of the First Battalion on the field who was untouched, and he had several narrow escapes.

The regiment rendered Gen. Warren efficient as- sistance in the destruction of the Weldon Railroad, repelling the attack on the extreme left, and thus securing the line of the road. Ilere, in the front line, fell dead or mortally wounded a number of the gallant men who had fought on many a hard field, just as the term of service for which they had enlisted expired.

On the Ist of September, 1864, the men whose term of service had expired embarked at City Point for Trenton, N. J., but leaving the regiment, as an or- ganization, still in the field. It participated in the engagement at Stony Creek and in the final campaign of the war.

The following non-commissioned officers and pri- vates received " medals of honor" from the Secretary of War for gallantry in the campaign : First Sergt. George W. Stewart, Company E; Sergt. Aaron B. Tompkins, Company G ; Sergt. David Southard, Com- pany C; Color-Sergt. Charles Wilson; Sergt. William Porter, Company Il ; Sergt. Charles Titus, Company H1; Sergt. John Wilson, Company L; Corp. William B. Hooper, Company L; Private Christian Strach, Company I.

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History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 26

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