USA > New Jersey > History of the men of Co. F, with description of the marches and battles of the 12th New Jersey Vols. Dedicated to "our dead." > Part 8
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GEORGE W. ADAMS
Was'a farmer boy, nineteen years old, who came from Beverly, and was mustered into the company at Woodbury, August 9, 1862. He was a large, spare man-or boy, of a quiet, reserved disposition. He seemed to be old-much beyond his years, and not desirous of making many friends, or of participating in our sports or conversation; but minded his own business and attended strictly to duties, whilst his bravery was unquestioned. He was killed at Gettysburg, July 3, 1863, and his body now lies in the National Cemetery at that place, in Section A, Grave No. 14.
ROBERT ADAMS
Was another one of the "Beverly Squad," though not closely related to the other Adams's from that place. He was a farmer boy, of large body, dark hair and quiet disposition. Was mustered August 9, 1862, and continued in faithful service un- til that long-to-be-remembered Sunday at Chancellorsville, May 3, 1863, where he was instantly killed, and his body was never recovered.
HENRY M. AVIS
Was a bright, smiling boy of seventeen years, working at his fa- ther's farm and grist mill, near Stringtown, N. J. He caught the war fever after a very slight exposure, and took part in the preliminary meetings and early formation of the company.
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Twelfth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers.
Was present for duty and mustered in with those first green recruits on July 29, 1862. He was immediately appointed corporal, secured a room and table-board in Sibley No. 3, where he soon made himself at home, with his bright, cheery dispo- sition and melodious voice, singing "Betsey Baker" and "Johnny Has Gone Away for a Soldier," drove away all thoughts of home-sickness.
The story is told that during one of our movements to Hatch- er's Run, Company F, as skirmishers, came suddenly on a squad of rebels, but a few yards distant. One of them, with a gun at a ready, sprang from the bushes so close to Henry, that he forgot he had a gun, but shook his fist defiantly in the rebel's face with, "Don't you dare shoot, d-n you ;" but the bullet cut through Henry's haversack, and he and the rebel both escaped.
He was promoted to sergeant on September 22, 1864, and detailed for care of mails at division headquarters, where he remained until the close of the war ; was discharged with the company at Trenton, on June 12, 1865, and is now a traveling salesman in Camden, N. J.
WILLIAM AVIS,
At the time he enlisted was driving a team, and working in the grist mill of his father, near Stringtown. He enlisted July 29, 1862, and was mustered with the first squad at Wood- bury. He was seventeen years old, of light complexion and slender build, with not very rugged health. He did not seem to enjoy our life in camp, nor did he enter into drill and duty with the willing earnestness and zeal that was shown by many others. He was on duty during our stay at Ellicott's Mills, but went to the hospital at Falmouth, and was discharged for disability on March 31, 1863, and is now a watchman at Wash- ington, D. C.
JOSEPH J. ASHBROOK
Was a bright, promising young man, of slender build and not very rugged appearance, just eighteen years old, and son of a
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The Men of Company F,
farmer at Mullica Hill, who entered our company on August 12, 1862, and took up the duties of a soldier with all the en- thusiasm of a new recruit ; was well liked in the company, did his duty cheerfully, and bid fair for making a good, hardy soldier, when an unlucky accident befell him at Ellicott's Mills, where he was badly hurt by a detached stone rolling down from the cliff above, striking and cutting his head, ren- dering him insensible. He was under the doctor's care for some days. The acccident changed the whole course of his life, as he never fully recovered his health and vivacity, but drooped and faded until, at Falmouth, he developed camp fever. After days of careful nursing by his tent-mates he was removed to the regi- mental hospital, and discharged for disability on February 25, 1863. He came home, and after months of careful nursing he partially recovered, and was for many years a dealer in wall papers in Philadelphia, where he died in 1892.
JOHN ALBRIGHT,
As shown by our records, was a farmer near Mullica Hill. He became so strongly imbued with loyalty and patriotism that he forsook the pleasures of a happy home and loving family, and was mustered into our company August 9, 1862. He was much older than most of the comrades (thirty-four years old), and seemed more like a father or much older brother, so that his life and duties took on a serious, thoughtful nature. Though he seemed to enjoy our sports and fun he never took any part, but gave earnest attention to drill and duties. He stood his turn on guard at Woodbury and at Ellicott's Mills. Kept his place in the ranks on that long, tiresome march through Mary- land. Went on picket in the mud and snow at Falmouth. Proved his bravery at Chancellorsville. Experienced the hardships and discomforts of that hot and dusty march to Gettysburg. Passed unscathed through that thrilling charge on the barn, but was instantly killed in the repulse of Pickett's charge at the wall. His body now rests in the solem11 grandeur of the National Cemetery at Gettysburg, and we re- call him as one of our heroes.
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Twelfth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers. GEORGE W. ALLEN
Was working by the month on the farm of William G. Haines, near Clarksboro, N. J., when, caught by the patriotic excite- ment of the times, he enlisted in our company, August 1, 1862. He was of strong bodily appearance, but not very rugged health. Of slow, phlegmatic temperament and retiring dispo- sition, he did not seem to care to make friends, or take part in conversation or sports. His health interfered with his enjoy- ment of soldier life, and he seemed to droop and fade, day by day, until he was removed to the hospital at Ellicott's Mills, where he died December 9, 1862, and was buried the same day that we broke camp and started for Washington. His was the second death in the company, and we mourned the loss of a quiet, unostentatious man gone from our ranks.
WILLIAM P. AMEY
Was working on a shoemaker's bench at Beverly, N. J., when his patriotism led him to heed the call of President Lincoln for 300,000 more men. He straightway. left his shop and trade, and volunteered to do his part toward avenging the insults to our grand old flag. He came along with the other patriotic sons from Beverly, and was mustered into the company Au- gust 9, IS62. He was thirty years old, and entered on his duties with a serious earnestness; and gave faithful service in our ranks until that terrible struggle in the Wilderness, May 6, 1864, where he was badly wounded. After being cared for in the field hospital, he was sent on to Washington, where he died June 30, 1864.
DAVID BORTON
Was the second son of Aaron Borton, a noted philanthropist and Quaker preacher of Mullica Hill, who carefully trained up his large family in plainness of speech, behavior and ap- parel ; regular in attendance of their First-day meetings, punct- ual to promises, and just in payment of debts ; a' strong advo-
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The Men of Company F,
cate of peace and arbitration, but withal so loyal that he gave two of his beloved sons to help our country in her time of need.
David was twenty-two years old, of strong, healthy body, active temperament, and a happy, sympathetic disposition. He entered our company on August 7, 1862, and faithfully performed his duties through all the joys and trials of Wood- bury drills, and Ellicott's Mills, and our winter camp at Fal- mouth. He passed bravely and safely through that terrible experience at Chancellorsville, and escaped the bullets at Get- tysburg. He served a short term with the pioneers, from May 12 to August 19, 1863, then again in the company, always ready for duty. October 5th, he was detailed as quartermas- ter's clerk, where he served until April 16, 1864. Then he was promoted to sergeant, in charge of ordnance at regimental headquarters, and held this position until ordered back to the company on July 18th, where he remained two months ; and was again detailed to take charge of intrenching tools, under Captain William P. Seville, at division headquarters, where he served until March 10, 1865, when he was appointed ordnance sergeant of the division under Captain Anson L. White, com- pleting his term of service in this capacity, and was discharged with the company on June 12, 1865.
He was the best nurse in the company, and seemed to de- light in caring for the sick and unfortunate. Always ready to help a weary comrade on the march, or encourage and soothe our sufferings with almost the gentle care of a mother, often denying himself pleasure or rest to help his comrades ; yet did it all so quietly and so unostentatiously, as showed it came from the heart. He was devoted to the happiness and care of his younger brother, Richard, who fell at Chancellorsville, and this sad event seemed to cast a gloom over the rest of his mili- tary life, but did not prevent his giving faithful performance to every duty. Vet the sad ending of that fair young life was always before him, and even yet calls up the silent tear. He is now a public notary, insurance agent and auctioneer at Mullica Hill, N. J., and prominent in the Grange and Grand Army of the Republic.
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Twelfth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers.
RICHARD BORTON
Was a young patriot, twenty years old, living at Mullica Hill, N. J., when he left his father's farm, happy home, loving par- ents and kind friends, to join our company on August 7, 1862. He was of fair complexion, slender build, and upright form, with much force of character. He was a great student, and had become proficient as a scholar in history, physiology and mathematics ; he had ranked high in his classes the year before at Fairville School, in Chester county, and remarked to his brother, " I want to see the war close in time to enter school in the autumn."
On the morning of May 3, 1863, after partaking of a hastily prepared breakfast, the order was given to "fall in," and as he started for his position said, "Every man to his place and do his duty." How long he continued to do his will never be known, for he evidently was killed early in the engagement, and the regiment was driven back, leaving our dead and some of the wounded on the field of battle.
He was an ardent lover of free institutions, and from child- hood a strong advocate of the anti-slavery cause, and devoted to the principles of a republican form of government; so that when the attempt was made to destroy or dismember the Union, his loyalty and patriotism knew no bounds, and in his death, like that of many others, it was a sad ending of what appeared to be a bright and useful life.
JACOB BENDER
Was twenty-one years of age, and working on a farm near Ewan's Mills, when the call for more soldiers to " fill the va- cant ranks of our. brothers gone before," aroused his dormant patriotism, and a visit to our camp at Woodbury soon led to his enlistment on August 11, 1862. He drew his new clothes with the usual difficulty about fit and style-trousers too long, blouse too short, coat too tight, shoes too loose, cap about two sizes both ways-but these little things were quickly adjusted, and Jake fell into his place near the left of the company, and engaged board and lodgings in Sibley tent No. 5. He was
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The Men of Company F,
now a permanent fixture in our ranks, through rain and snow, mud and dust, through picket, skirmish, march and battle, right on down to Cold Harbor, where he was severely wounded in the face, whilst on the skirmish line on June 10, 1864. But a few weeks in the hospital patched him up, and he continued to do his full duty until mustered out at the close of the war. He is now a laborer at Paulsboro, and draws a small pension.
THOMAS BERAN
Was an Italian boy, born in Rome in 1842, but came to this country when he was eighteen years old, and engaged in the business of an image peddler. His bright, smiling face and slender, child-like form, was often seen in our neighborhood, as he traveled about with a large rack of plaster of paris dogs, lambs, cats and saints neatly balanced on his head, which he importuned you to buy, with. his quick, musical, broken lan- guage of, "Cheepa doga; velly nicee; ten centa." And he often made sales, through sympathy and the children's curi- osity to hear him talk. The house of James Sherwin, near Mullica Hill, was his home and stopping place when in this neighborhood He enlisted from there July 29, 1862, among the first of the company. . Was twenty years old, of dark com- plexion, happy disposition and a quick temper, which rose up with Italian swiftness and fell just as quickly. He enjoyed our camp life, and his smiling earnestness made him a favorite with the whole company. He was always ready for duty or danger, and his unflinching courage was shown in many of our battles. He took a heavy cold soon after the fight at Bris- toe Station,- which soon developed into camp-fever and became chronic, so that he was removed to the hospital; but his not very strong constitution failed to rally and he was sent to a hospital in Newark, N. J., from which he was discharged in a very weak condition, December S, 1864, and his fate is shown by the following extract from the diary of Hon. Nathan T. Stratton, deceased, of Mullica Hill: "Sunday evening, Decem- ber 18, 1864. To-day we consigned to the grave the remains of ' Italian Tommy; ' he was buried from James Sherwin's. I
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Twelfth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers.
brought him from Woodbury last week, and found him so weak that I had to get a bed for him to lie upon."
ALLEN BAKER,
At the time of enlistment, was working on a farm near Five Points; but, heeding the patriotic promptings of his heart, he came to our camp at Woodbury, and was mustered in August 4, 1862. He was of medium height, with a strong, compact body, rugged health and earnest, willing disposition. He was just eighteen years old, and entered into his new life and duties with a cheerful promptness which won the love and respect of his comrades and tent-mates. Was always present in camp or on the march, and his bravery and courage were well tested on many hard-fought fields. Was severely wounded at Spottsyl- vania, May 18, 1864, but was back again in time to participate in the siege of Petersburg. He was promoted corporal on Febru- ary 25, 1865, was instantly killed in the engagement at Hatcher's Run, March 25, 1865, and we mourned the loss of one of our best soldiers. His body now lies in the National Cemetery at Poplar Grove, Va., in Division C, Section D, Grave No. 134. He was the last man killed in the company.
EDWARD H. BARNEY
Was born in Wilmington, Del., in 1842. At the time of en- listment he was a farm laborer from near Bridgeport, N. J. He joined our company August 7, 1862. A stout, good- natured boy, he took life very easy, and was seldom heard to complain. He was so frank and good natured that he soon had many friends. He retained his position and good health, through all our marches and battles, clear on down to Spott- sylvania, where his bright young life was brought to a sudden stop by a bullet, and his body was left on that field.
DAVID BOODY.
The subject of this sketch, was born at Millville, N. J., Novem- ber 5, 1820. In 1838 he commenced to learn the trade of cabinet-
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The Men of Company F,
making, finishing it in New York. He married Miss Eliza- beth Loper, of Daretown, November 4, 1847, and started in business as a cabinet-maker in Sharptown, N. J. From there he went to Mullica Hill, about 1852, and while at work for Jacob G. Turner at his trade, he enlisted, August 11, 1862, in Company F, Twelfth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers. He was a stout-built man, five feet five and one-half inches in height, genial and kind in nature, and everybody's friend. Fond of making rhymes, and enjoyed a. good joke; could lift more pounds than anyone who ever tried strength with him here-at one time lifting nine hundred pounds. He was a pa- triot to the core, as will be noticed from extracts taken from a letter written from Camp Johnson, Ellicott's Mills, Md., Sep- tember 15, 1862, to N. T. Stratton : "I am satisfied with my
ยท lot, let it be what it may, so that I may be able to do some- thing towards suppressing the rebellion. *
* I don't
think we are in a very dangerous proximity to the enemy. I think we have more to dread from the citizen-rebel in this place than the rebel soldier; but should we be called to face the enemy, here or elsewhere, I believe there would be no flinching, no faltering, in the Twelfth New Jersey Volunteers. We know for what we came, we know what we may expect, and should we ever be in a battle, we intend to make our friends and the whole of New Jersey feel proud of such soldiers; and if I ever return to friends and home, I'll return with honor, for sooner than return disgraced, I would fill a patriot's grave. Perhaps you may think I boast of bravery that's not my due, but I tell you I've laid my path out, and walk in it I will, whatever may be my fate. I trust I shall return. I believe I shall. Should it be otherwise ordered, I shall leave to my family a name that they could honor as a husband and father. But I would like to live to see our country restored, and have the proud satisfaction to know that I helped to achieve a com- plete restoration." He left for home on a furlough, and re- joined his company on October 14th. Taken sick and sent to hospital down town.
November 2d, he returned to the company. Thursday, No- vember 6th, taken back to the hospital not so well as when he
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Twelfth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers. 107
left it, and gradually grew worse; comrades of the company taking turns in watching and waiting on him. He was very patient and seemed fully resigned, growing weaker each day. Finally he passed quietly from this life to the life beyond, on Thursday, November 13, 1862, aged forty-two years and eight days, leaving a widow with six children (three boys and three girls.)
His company procured a casket and the body was taken to his late home, at Mullica Hill, N. J. The funeral was on Sun- day, November 16th, from the Methodist Episcopal Church, at 2 p. m. A large concourse of friends and neighbors gathered to pay tribute of respect to the departed friend and soldier. His death was the first in the company; the first break in our little band; a broken link in our family circle.
GEORGE H. COLES.
On the 11th day of August, 1862, this fine young man left his avocation as agriculturist, on a farm near Harrisonville, and came to our camp at Woodbury, where he was so badly stricken with the patriotic fever, at that time epidemic, that he was mustered into the company, and engaged a nice room with board and lodgings in Sibley tent No. 4, payable in advance. He was twenty-two years old, of strong, healthy body and mind, and fully able to look out for himself, and assist with the supply of butter for the company. He was a jolly, good- hearted fellow, with a sort of sly humor that made him well liked in the company. He did faithful duty in the company until our first baptism of blood at Chancellorsville, Sunday, May 3, 1863, where he was so seriously wounded in the leg as to be unable to walk, and in his frantic efforts to escape from the advancing rebels, one of them gave him a slashing cut on the head with his saber, which compelled him to surrender, and his wounds were dressed at their field hospital. After a stay of about two weeks he was paroled, and sent across the river, but was not exchanged until the following September, when he was sufficiently recovered to be transferred to the
V
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The Men of Company F,
Veteran Reserve Corps, and served until the close of the war, when he was discharged, June 11, 1865.
He is now a farmer at Mullica Hill, and draws a small pen- sion, which is a poor recompense for that terrible wound, the scar of which is a deep furrow across the top of his head, a mute witness of an awful cut and a thick, strong skull. He was the only man in Company F to be wounded by a saber cut. George says the rebels neglected to give him very much to eat, so that he was glad to get back in God's country, and get his fill of Uncle Sam's hard-tack and soup from the hands of those Christian Commission women at the Lacy House.
JAMES CORNEAL
Was a shoemaker, working at his trade in Glassboro, N. J., when his patriotism prompted him to join our company on August 11, 1862. He was nineteen years of age, with a slen- der body, pale face and not much physical strength, nor did he seem to take kindly to the life and duties of a soldier. He was often sick and off duty for a few days, but continued with the company until after the Mine Run campaign, when he was removed to the Second Corps hospital at Stevensburg, Va., and was discharged for disability on January IS, 1864. His fate is shown by a funeral notice, cut from an old newspaper of 1864, viz .:
On the 3rd inst., after a severe illness, contracted in camp, Corporal James Corneal, Company "F, Twelfth New Jersey Volunteers. Funeral from the residence of his parents, No. 219 Sargeant street, on Sunday afternoon, at I o'clock.
JOHN CONNOR
Was a young farmer boy, eighteen years old, mustered in at Woodbury with the Beverly squad, August 9, 1862. He was a small, compact, well built, jolly Irish boy, and was well liked in the company, where his happy disposition and quick wit soon won him many friends. He was a good soldier, and did his full duty until that fatal Sunday morning at Chancellors-
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Twelfth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers.
ville, May 3, 1863, where, during that awful holocaust of fire and bullets, he yielded up his young life, and his body was left, with many others, on that field of battle.
GEORGE H. DUELL
Was a farmer boy from near Harrisonville. He was twenty- two years old, of fine appearance and happy manner, but with a feeling of patriotism so strong that he left a happy home with kind friends and enlisted in the company August 7, 1862. He was immediately appointed corporal, and always worked for the good of the company, and by word and example strove to check and restrain those wild young farmers. He had good health, and took his share of duty or danger in all our varied experiences. He was detailed for recruiting service in the autumn of 1863, and was absent from the company for nearly three months, but was back in time to participate in the Wil- derness campaign until May IS, 1864. At Spottsylvania, whilst out on a reconnoisance, a bullet passed through his arm, shattering it so badly as to require amputation. He was discharged at Washington, September 20, 1864, with the rank of sergeant. He is now living on a small farm at Mullica Hill, N. J., in rather poor health, but always glad to meet his old comrades.
GEORGE W. DUNLAP
Lived and worked with his father on a farm near Mullica Hill, and was taken into our company July 30, 1862. He was a large, stout looking boy of seventeen years, but his health was rather delicate, so that he did not reap the keen enjoyment of our camp life as fully as the more rugged ones, although he gave good service in the ranks for many months, until badly crippled with rheumatism in our winter camp at Falmouth ; but with the advent of warmer weather he straightened up, and continued with the company until July 28, 1863, when he was detailed on recruiting service and sent home to Trenton, where he served the rest of his time, and was discharged with the company June 12, 1865. He now resides in Philadelphia.
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The Men of Company F, WILLIAM DERMOTT,
A few years before the war, was a pupil in the Upper Green- wich school, and worked on a farm for John L. Haines, near Mickleton, N. J. He joined our company August 7, 1862. He was nineteen years old, of fine bodily appearance and rugged health. He entered on his new duties as a soldier with earnest zeal and patriotism, and greatly enjoyed our life and fun, never too tired to dance, wrestle, or pitch quoits, and always looked out for his share of the rations. He was frank, open hearted. and much attached to his friends and schoolmates. He was always ready for duty or danger; took his turn on guard or picket with a smiling face, and was an honor and credit to our com- pany. He was grazed by a bullet at Chancellorsville and Get- tysburg, and seriously wounded at Bristoe Station October 14, 1863, but after a few weeks in the hospital at Washington, he returned to the company at Stony Mountain, and marched with us to the Wilderness, where, in the excitement of the first day's battle (May 5th) he was terribly wounded by the carelessness of a new recruit. He was taken to the hospital at Fredericks- burg, where his leg was amputated, and he died May 15, 1864. He now sleeps in the National Cemetery at that place. The careless recruit who shot him was instantly killed at Cold Harbor a few weeks later.
JAMES EACRITT
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