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 9
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Was a basket maker, working at his trade in Mullica Hill, and joined our company August 7, 1862. He was twenty-seven years of age, and so tall (six feet, three inches) that he took the extreme right of the company in the rear rank just behind our tallest man, Emanuel Stratton, and these two long-legged men took the lead and set a pace in our earlier marches that was difficult for the short fellows to keep up with ; but the battle of Chancellorsville knocked them both out, and reduced the length of our marching step. He was slightly wounded at Chancellorsville, May 3, 1863, just at the time we were driven back, and he tarried so long in helping another wounded comrade that the rebels gathered him in, and at their prompt
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Twelfth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers.
and pointed requests he gave a seemingly cheerful obedience, and was taken back to Guinea Station, where he spent two days and drew his first Confederate rations-one pint of flour -no meat, salt, bread or butter, just plain flour, and no stove ! But as Stoneman's Cavalry was raiding the country between there and Richmond, they were hurried from place to place to keep out of his path. They were marched to Hanover Junc- tion, then back to Spottsylvania Court House, where they spent the night and drew another ration of flour (one pint), which lasted them until their arrival, by a circuitous route, in Rich- mond, just one week from time of capture, where he spent his last money (fifty cents) for a very small loaf of bread, and next day they were given their most generous ration, this time a small strip of bacon (four ounces) and a slice of bread ; and the whole squad of about four hundred men were placed in the fourth story of Castle Thunder, which they were told was un- occupied ; but they soon found that this was a mistake, as the whole place was fully occupied by millions of very sociable and hungry greybacks, who gave them a hearty welcome, and ever afterwards kept them right up to the scratch.
Their guards from the battlefield was a detachment of the Second Georgia Regiment, and they treated these prisoners like men ; no unnecessary hardships or cruelty, but with the careful attention of brave soldiers. But at Castle Thunder they passed into the care of Home Guards, who liked to show authority, and were anxious for some trivial excuse to shoot a Yank, so that it was almost certain death for the prisoners to look out the windows.
He was exchanged September 4, 1863, and sent to Conva- lescent Camp, at Washington, and transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps January 15th. He was discharged February S, 1864, and now resides in Mullica Hill, N. J., and draws a small pension.
ALBERT EASTBURN.
At the time of his enlistment lie was working in the Oak- land nurseries, at Clarksboro, for Thomas D. Brown, and.
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The Men of Company F,
joined our company on August 14, 1862. He was twenty years old, of medium height, and with a bright, sunny dispo- sition, and rosy cheeks and hair. He took his full share of all the fun, and never shirked his duty, but gave cheerful and willing service through all our varied experiences, until we reached Gettysburg, where he was quite severely hurt during that charge on the barn, and taken to the hospital. I think he did not return to the company again, as he was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps on January 1, 1864, and discharged on November 21, 1865. For many years since he was a fakir on the streets of Philadelphia, and this day, February 16, 1897, I find him alive, in good health and spirits, plying his trade, selling crystal cement and water filters, on Market street, above Tenth.
GEORGE I. ELDRIDGE
Was a fine young patriot farmer boy, just entering his eigh- teenth year, when he joined our company on the 9th day of August, 1862. He was a quick, nervous young fellow, who entered into our sports and amusements with the happy aban- don of youth. He learned the drill easily, seemed to enjoy our camp life and duties, and bid fair to make a hardy soldier, when that dreaded camp fever claimed him for a victim, and he drooped and faded, day by day, until death came (by epileptic fit), March 5, 1863. Four of our men walked to the railroad station (over three miles), bought a rough box for a coffin, which they carried to our camp, and his body was placed in this and shipped back to Jersey, where it now rests in the church-yard at Swedesboro.
. GEORGE W. FRENCH
Was working on a farm, near Mullica Hill, where he had always lived and attended school with his young associates, so many of whom were joining our company, that he quickly concluded that the call for more soldiers was meant for him, and he became one of that first squad at Woodbury mustered
Twelfth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers. II3
July 29, 1862, and was immediately appointed corporal and initiated into the duties of that very important position, as shown by the double-barred chevrons. He was twenty-one years of age, with jet black hair and eyes, tall and straight, but slim of body, and of quiet, almost melancholy disposition, so that he made few friends, and did not seem to enjoy our manner of life, yet he gave good service in the company until that winter camp at Stony Mountain, where a slow fever and chronic sent him to the hospital, and he was finally discharged at Philadelphia, October 11, 1864. He came home in such a weak condition that death followed October 16, 1864, and he is buried in Friends' graveyard, at Mullica Hill, N. J.
ELWOOD GRISCOM
Was a Southerner by birth, and by education, up to his four- teenth year, when he came North to live with an uncle, near Woodbury, N. J. The contrast between slavery and its effects in Virginia, and freedom with its attending results in Jersey, soon made him a strong Union man, and when "Father Abra- ham " issued the call for three hundred thousand more soldiers, Elwood was ready to throw the whole weight of his forceful character into that awful struggle ; and for three long years he was a prominent factor in our company, and an earnest partic- ipant and worker for the success of our arms.
He was a birthright Quaker, and when the war broke out was living with Amos J. Peaslee, on his farm at Clarksboro, who brought up many strong arguments in favor of peace and arbitration, as against war and bloodshed, but Elwood failed to develop the necessary "conscientious scruples," and was one of the first to sign the roll of Company F, and was mus- tered in July 29, 1862, for three years, or during the war. He was twenty-two years of age, with strong constitution and magnificent physical development, genial, social disposition; a bluff, hearty, plain-spoken man, fully able to take care of him- self, and just the same on Saturday or Monday. He was de- tailed as a pioneer, and served faithfully in that capacity for several months, but his services were needed in the company.
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The Men of Company F,
He was called back and promoted to sergeant, and took a prominent part in the great Wilderness campaign, marching, fighting, digging, foraging ; always at the front, smiling and cheerful, until in that grand charge at Spottsylvania on May 12, 1864, a bullet struck the visor of his cap, plowing a straight white furrow clear across the top of his head. That sent him to the hospital for many months, and came near ending his life, but he pluckily pulled through, returned to the company, was promoted to color bearer, and in the assault on the rebel works at Hatcher's Run on October 27, 1864, he plunged through the creek, water up to his shoulders, and was the first man on the works, for which he was promoted to Second Lieutenant of Company A on January 17, 1865, and to First Lieutenant of Company E on January 30, 1865. At the fall of Petersburg in April he was one of the first to enter that city, on a visit to his parents, who were living there through all that long, dan- gerous siege, relieving their anxiety as to his fate-and their own, by bringing them a whole barrel of flour, and other rare luxuries, which Confederate money could not buy. Since the war, Elwood, or "Griss," as the boys call him, is a farmer at Moorestown, N. J., and is a conspicuous figure at soldier meet- ings and reunions. May his smiling face and bluff, hearty hand-shake and manner meet and greet us for many years to come.
JOSHUA C. GRICE
Spent the early years of his life on a farm not far from String- town, and joined our company on August 4, 1862. He was ' nineteen years of age, and of fine personal appearance, medium height, but strong and compactly built, and in good health. He soon made friends in the company, and with smiling face and gentle manner, gave close attention to duty and kept his clothing and accoutrements clean and bright. He gave good service in all our marches and battles, and his bravery and courage were of the highest order. He was slightly wounded at Chancellorsville, but did not leave his place, and very seri- ously at Spottsylvania on May 12, 1864, where we mourned
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Twelfth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers.
him as dead for many months. He was with the company when we made that fierce charge in the dim light of the early morning, and was one of that little squad who advanced far ahead of the others, and was terribly wounded by a ball from a bursting schrapnel, which crashed through his chin and shoulder, and left him apparently lifeless ; and scattered the others so completely, that none of them noticed his condition, but fell back to the line of the regiment. When he regained consciousness he was a prisoner, and carried back to their field hospital, where the surgeons removed part of his chin bone, which was badly shattered, and in a few days he was sent to a hospital in Richmond, Va., where he received fairly good treatment for a few weeks. He was then put in Libby prison, where he experienced all the pains and horrors of hunger, filth and cruelty for which that place was noted, until some time in July, (he kept no diary of dates) when the prisoners were marched out for the plausible purpose of exchange; but, it proved only an exchange of prisons, or of bad for worse, as they were taken to Andersonville, and suffered all the horrors of that earthly hell until far in September, when that old but delusive phantom of exchange was once more flashed before them. Their drooping spirits rose high with hope as they came in sight of Savannah, only to be cruelly blasted by a two- weeks' term in that hot and filthy prison, where the burning sun and that terrible hunger drove them to the very limits of human endurance. Then once more on the move to Milan, in Georgia, which they were glad to find was no worse than the other stockades ; and here they somehow managed to sustain lite until about the middle of November, when that ever cheer- ing, but oft delusive, rumor of exchange at last proved true, and they returned to Savannah, where they were paroled on November 26, 1864, and sent by water to Annapolis, Mary- land, where they arrived nearer dead than alive. But after careful nursing and diet, Joshua, who had passed through this terrible ordeal in better condition than most of the others, was given a thirty days' furlough, which he spent at home amongst his joyful family and friends, who had long mourned him as dead. His weakened stomach and strong will were sorely tried
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The Men of Company F,
by the generous food and dainties, so lavishly prepared by loving hands, but he happily withstood the temptation and at * the expiration of his furlough returned to the hospital at An- napolis, where he remained until after the surrender of Lee at Appomattox, and rejoined our company at Munson's Hill, Va., about the last of May, 1865, after an absence of over a year, and by far the longest prison experience of any man in the company. We welcomed him back in our ranks as the dead returned to life, as our hero. He was mustered out with us on June 4th, and discharged at Trenton on June 12, 1865. He now lives on a farm near Daretown, N. J., and a heavy beard conceals the scar of that terrible wound, the worst received in the company by any survivor.
JOHN GRICE,
Just previous to the war, was a farmer boy, living near Harri- sonville; but at the urgent call for more soldiers, he left the farm, happy home, kind friends and loving parents, to join our company, August 6, 1862. He was twenty-one years of age, of medium height, stout, well built, of fine personal appearance and good health; of a genial, social disposition, and always ready for duty. He was badly hurt at Gettysburg, during that fearful prelude of artillery, by a large stone, which was driven from the wall by a solid shot, striking him in the back whilst lying down, bruising him most painfully. He was car- ried back to the hospital, where he remained many months unable for duty. He finally recovered and resumed his place in the company, but was again slightly wounded at Hatcher's Run, October 27, 1864; recovered in time to participate in the grand and final round-up at Appomattox. Discharged with the regiment and remained at home one year; then emigrated to eastern Iowa, and for many years worked in a saw-mill and lumber yard. Poor health has rendered him unable to do much for the past two years. He is now living in a happy home on the banks of the Mississippi River, at Bellevue, Iowa.
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Twelfth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers. JOSEPH T. GARWOOD
Was a farmer boy, living near Mullica Hill. He was of fine per- sonal appearance, and joined our company at Woodbury, Au- gust 11, 1862. Was just twenty years old, with rugged health, and showed his enjoyment of camp life by a cheerful compli- ance with every order, and uncomplainingly accepted his full share of hardship, duty or danger, until we reached Gettys- burg, where he was slightly wounded in the charge on the barn. He was removed to a Philadelphia hospital, where he spent several months; from there to a convalescent camp at Washington, where he contracted a slow fever which became chronic, for which he was discharged December 24, 1863. He removed to Millville soon after the war, and for the past twenty-five years he has been working for Whitall, Tatem & Co. as a glass-packer, and is blessed with good health.
WILLIAM B. GLEASON
Was a prosperous farmer, at Repaupo, N. J., and much older than most of the company, but the war fever struck him just as hard as the rest, and he left his farm, happy home and lov- ing family to join our company, August 11, 1862. He was immediately appointed corporal, and entered into his soldier duties with the serious earnestness of his age, fully expecting trials and hardships. Was well liked in the company, did his duty faithfully, and his bravery was unquestioned. Was badly wounded in the leg at Chancellorsville, May 3, 1863, and after suffering many months in the hospital, he was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, April 10, 1864, and discharged at the close of the war. He resumed his farm duties at Repaupo, and now makes weekly trips over the country, buying up calves and poultry, and draws a small pension, which is poor compen- sation for his shattered health.
SAMUEL S. GREENWOOD
Was a boatman, working at his business along the river near Repaupo, N. J., and was mustered into the company, along
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The Men of Company F,
with his patriotic comrades, August 9, 1862. He was twenty- five years old, of a genial, happy disposition, and well liked in the company. He gave willing service to his country until that fierce onslaught at Chancellorsville, Sunday morning, May 3, 1863, where he was among the first to give up his life, and his body was not recovered.
ISAAC K. HORNER
Was mustered into the company on August 11, 1862. He was a farmer boy, of fine personal appearance, and was working on a farm near Mullica Hill, N. J., when, prompted by curiosity and strong patriotism, he visited our camp at Woodbury, where the happy, earnest, smiling faces of so many of his friends and associates led him to join our ranks and clothe himself with one of Uncle Sam's new and perfect-fitting suits of blue clothes. He was twenty years old, of medium height, light complexion, rosy cheeks and smiling face, and entered into our duties and sports with all the pleasure and earnestness of a strong, healthy farmer boy. He was slightly wounded at Gettysburg, but did not leave the company; was more seriously wounded in the battle of the Wilderness, May 6, 1864. But after a short per- iod in the hospital, he returned to the company and gave faith- ful service clear down to Appomattox. Was discharged with the regiment at Trenton, and is now engaged in the commis- sion business at Camden, N. J.
ENOS HANN
Came from the neighborhood of Evans's Mills, where he was brought up on a farm, and at times drove a meat wagon for a butcher. He was mustered into the company on August II, 1862, being at that time twenty-seven years old, of medium height, and a very quiet, retiring disposition. Took no part in sports or fun, but entered into his new duties with a serious earnestness, and gave faithful service in many hard battles and marches. He was detailed as butcher, and served in that ca- pacity for over a year, or until the close of the war; and he be-
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Twelfth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers.
came so expert with the knife, that it was said of him that he could take a fore-quarter of poor, lean beef and divide it up amongst one hundred men so that every man would get a nice tenderloin steak (or at least that was what they expected). He was mustered out with the regiment, returned to his old home and was engaged in the butcher business for many years, but now lives on a small farm at Evansville, N. J.
JOSEPH S. HARKER,
Just before enlistment, was working on a farm near Mullica Hill, and was mustered into the company on August 11, 1862. He was twenty years of age, tall and slender in body, with a smooth, boyish face. He easily made friends in the company, where he continued to take his full share of duty and rations until we reached Washington, when he was detailed as team- 'ster, and soon initiated into the mysteries of driving a team without riding in the wagon and with a single line. After this he was always a familiar figure in our trains; and he so completely learned the correct mule language, that his gentle voice-and whip, was often heard gently pleading with some obstinate mule who objected to the bad places in the roads. But through all the trials of mud, dust and mules, he never failed to bring his team in on time. He was discharged with the company at Trenton, June 12, 1865, and is now a farmer at Gibbstown, N. J.
JOSEPH B. HILLIARD
Was a farmer boy, who came from the neighborhood of El- dridge's Hill to attend the primary meetings of our company in the old schoolhouse at Mullica Hill, and went to Woodbury with that first batch of new and green recruits to get his ticket for a handsome suit of blue clothes, July 29, 1862. He was a young man of fine personal appearance, just twenty years old, of medium height, fair complexion, happy disposition and good health; he loved to dance and pitch quoits, did his full share of growling at the cook, and assisted in keeping up the
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The Men of Company F,
supply of butter. Also took part in the raid on the sutler at Woodbury, when we raised his shanty up to an equality with the price of his goods. He remained with the company and gave good service in all our marches and battles until after the battle of Spottsylvania, when he secured a position as mounted orderly at brigade headquarters, and when the Tenth New York Regiment's color-bearer was killed at Cold Harbor, he took his position as brigade color-bearer on the staff of General Thomas A. Smythe, and proudly bore aloft that tri- angular blue flag, with its white trefoil and white border, through all that long siege of Petersburg, until that sharp little fight at Hatcher's Run, October 27, 1864, where he was quite severely wounded. But after a few months in the hos- pital, he returned to duty and took part in that thrilling race which ended at Appomattox, April 9, 1865, when he came home with the company and was discharged at Trenton, June 12, 1865. He then returned to his old neighborhood, married his best girl, and is now living at Mauricetown, Cumberland county, engaged in farming and dairying, and draws no pen- sion.
THEODORE F. HUDSON
Came from near Stringtown, N. J., where he lived and worked on his father's farm; went to school, and was known as a quiet, industrious boy, much attached to home and loving parents, whose strong patriotism induced them to tearfully part with their dear boy, only seventeen years old. He joined our company at Woodbury August 5, 1862, and quickly made himself at home and won the love and respect of his comrades. He was of slender build, with dark hair and complexion 'and not very rugged health, though he retained his place in the company through nearly all our marches and battles and escaped any very serious wounds. He came back with the company, was discharged at Trenton, June 12, 1865, and re- turned to his home at Stringtown with his health much broken, and notwithstanding the careful nursing of parents and friends he grew weaker and weaker, until released by death in Octo- ber, 1865.
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Twelfth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers. ยท SAMUEL G. HEADLY
Was thirty-two years old and working on a shoemaker's bench in Edward Iredell's shop at Mullica Hill when he was stricken with the war fever, and entered our company August 5, 1862. He was an earnest, serious kind of a man, who seemed to enjoy work, and he soon rigged up a bench in his tent and spent his leisure time in cobbling our shoes, and took many orders and measures for new boots, which were made in the shop at Mullica Hill and reached us at Ellicott's Mills just in time to cause many sore feet on that march to Port Tobacco. He was soon promoted to the cook house, and ably he filled that trying position for several weeks.
But the boys would growl when the rice was burned, And bless the cook when his back was turned,
so he resumed his place in the ranks. He was badly hurt by a kick in the head while watching a wrestling match, but soon recovered and gave such service as his poor health would per- mit, until the battle of Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864, in that grand charge, where his knee was badly shattered by a bullet, just as we were falling back to the earthworks, and he lay there between the lines, perfectly helpless and with nothing to eat for twenty-four hours. When at last the rebels fell back, he was carried to the hospital very weak from pain and loss of blood, and on Dr. Satterthwait asking how he felt, he replied, "I feel like taking a good drink of whiskey and then I want you to take my leg off." The doctor gave him the whiskey and hurriedly dressed and bandaged his knee, as a quick move- ment of the hospital, caused by a raid of the rebel cavalry, gave no time for amputation, a circumstance which no doubt cost him his life, for he was put in the ambulance, being obliged to take that long, rough ride to Fredericksburg, where his leg was taken off two days later, when he was too weak to rally, but died and was buried there May 30, 1864.
WILLIAM B. HUTCHINSON,
Just before his enlistment, was engaged at his business of house painting, in Beverly, N. J., and came down with the
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The Men of Company F,
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other loyal sons of that patriotic town, and joined our com- pany on August 9, 1862. He was just eighteen years of age, of fine personal appearance, erect, broad shouldered, neat in dress and person, well educated, and with generous disposition, gentle manners and smiling face, he was soon a favorite with the whole company, and entered into our duties with all the enthusiasm of his boyish nature. He was an adept in the use of the "gloves," a set of which he introduced into the com- pany, and gave us practical lessons in the use and possibilities of those big, soft deceptions, until many of the boys became very proficient in stopping hard blows with their nose or eyes. . He was appointed fourth sergeant, and showed great ability in the performance of his duties, being free and social with his men, whilst fully able to command authority and respect. He was always ready for duty, and his courage and bravery was fully proven at Chancellorsville on that thrilling Sunday, May 3, 1863, where he was terribly wounded by a bullet in his right cheek, but by the kind help of his comrades he was brought off the field and given careful attention at the field hospital, and in a few days he was removed to Acquia Creek, and thence to Carver Hospital, in Washington, where he par- tially recovered, but with permanent paralysis of one side of his face, so that he was unfit for any further field service. He was given light duty in that hospital, where he remained until discharged on April 6, 1865. He soon resumed his old trade of house painting, and now has a shop and store at 1229 Pine street, Philadelphia, and is a good, respectable business man, and a credit to our company.
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