USA > New Jersey > New Jersey and the rebellion : a history of the service of the troops and people of New Jersey in aid of the Union cause, Pt. 1 > Part 12
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"It being decided to attack the enemy posted in the Pass, the division was ordered to advance in six lines, two regiments front, the First Brigade in rear. About three o'clock, I marched my brigade in two lines, by the right flank, under cover till we gained the open groand, when the advance was made in line of battle as follows: First line, First and Second Regiments; second line, one hundred and fifty paces in rear, Third and Fourth Regiments. They advanced about half a mile with great regularity through elover and corn fields, intersected by high wood and stone fenees, being exposed the greater part of the time to the enemy's artillery fire. Arriving
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NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
came up with the enemy in front of Sharpsburg, posted across An- tietam Creek, and at once formed in line of battle. The following day, however, was suffered to pass without a general demonstra- tion, but on the morning of the 17th, the battle opened in earnest, raging with great vehemence and varying fortune until nightfall. The First Brigade, which had marched from its bivouac in Cramp- ton's Gap, took position about twelve o'clock in the night, in front of a belt of woods, relieving General Sumner's Corps, which had
within supporting distance of Colonel Bartlett's Brigade, which was engaging the enemy, I halted. Soon after, I ordered the Second Regiment forward to relieve one of Bartlett's regiments, which was out of ammunition, which they did with promptness.
"The enemy was posted behind a stone wall at the base of the mountain, with a wood just behind them. At this time the distance between the contending parties was between three and four hundred yards, an open field intervening. Thinking the distance too great, General Newton ordered me to charge forward to the woods. Accordingly I ordered forward my second line, Third and Fourth Regiments, to charge across the open field into the woods. The first line was ordered to cease firing. 1 cheer, and the men went forward at double quiek in a most gallant manner leaping the fence on the way, behind which our men had been fighting. When they had advanced about a hundred and fifty yards, I ordered the second line, First and Second Regiments, to charge in the same manner as the first, which they did most handsomely. The enemy, although holding a very strong position, and having the advantage of artillery, could not stand these charges, so broke and fled up the mountain-side in great disorder, closely pursued by our men, who drove them through the Pass and some distance in the valley on the other side, when night put an end to the pursuit.
"Too much cannot be said in praise of the bravery and gallantry of both officers and men; they certainly did eredit to themselves and the State they represent. I am pleased to make particular mention of Lieutenant-Colonel Collett, (of Third Regiment.) commanding the First Regiment; Colonel Buck, Second Regiment; Colonel Brown, Third Regiment, and Colonel Hatch, for their bravery, coolness, and the admirable manner with which they handled their regiments. # A great many of the enemy were taken prisoners, and among them several officers. The brigade captured nearly enough Springfield rifled muskets to arm the Fourth Regiment, who were before armed with the smooth-bore musket. I am happy to state that the Fourth Regiment, which lost its colors before Richmond, captured two colors during this engagement.
"I regret to mention the death of Josialı S. Studdiford, First Lieutenant and Adju- tant of the Fourth Regiment, who fell while gallantly elieering on his men, just as we gained the top of the Pass.
"The loss to the brigade has been as follows: One offieer killed and nine wounded : thirty-nine non-commissioned officers and privates killed, and one hundred and twenty- tive wounded-total, one hundred and seventy-four."
Adjutaut Studdiford, who was killed in this battle, was born July 2d, 1837. Gradua- ting at Prineeton College in June, 1858, lie entered the law office of Hon. A. G. Rieley, of Trenton, and had almost completed his legal studies when, in response to the country's call, he volunteered as Adjutant of the Fourth Regiment in August, 1861. He was taken prisoner in the battle of Gaines' Mill, in June, 18622. After his release lie served with marked distinction in the second battle of Bull Run, and finally fell, as already stated, bravely fighting for the nation's flag. A brave soldier and courteous gentleman, his memory is precious to all who knew his worth and ean appreciate genuine nobility of character.
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THE FIRST BRIGADE.
been hotly engaged. Here it remained for some forty-two hours, until long after the battle had closed, being for six hours exposed to a very severe artillery fire, but not actually engaged-the re- mainder of the corps, however, performing gallant service. The casualties of the brigade during this time were two men killed and seventeen wounded. The ground in front of the brigade, and north of the position held by it, was the scene of some of the bloodiest struggles of the day, Hexamer's battery, especially, doing fearful execution in the ranks of the enemy.30
Though this battle closed indecisively, it was one of the blood- iest, and to the enemy one of the costliest of the war, his loss being over thirteen thousand men, including many valuable officers, and it is not surprising that, during the night, Lee moved off across the Potomac, leaving his dead on the field. The pursuit not being vigorously pressed, the bleeding columns of the enemy effected a safe lodgment in Virginia, and moving leisurely down the valley, awaited the development of Mcclellan's programme. The Union forces finally crossing the Potomac, moved down to Warrentown, where Mcclellan was relieved of command, and Burnside succeed- ing, there was a brief cessation of hostilities. The First Brigade remained in Maryland until the 2d of October, when it crossed at Berlin, and after tedious marching and countermarching, went into camp on the 18th at Stafford Court House, where it remained until ordered to the Rappahannock to participate in the movement against Fredericksburg.
In this movement, it will be remembered, Franklin's column, consisting of the First and Sixth Corps, and embracing the First Brigade occupied the left, his right wing resting on the outskirts of Fredericksburg, his left resting on the river some three miles below, and his centre advanced a mile in front. The First Brigade, which then included the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifteenth and Twenty-third Regiments, reached the north bank of the river on the night of the 11th of December, and crossing at daylight on
39 The losses by regiments were as follows : First Regiment, killed none, wounded 6; Second Regiment, killed 2, wounded 7; Third Regiment, killed none, wounded 1; Fourth Regiment, killed none; wounded 3. Total killed, 2; wounded, 17.
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the following morning, was formed in two lines in rear of its Divi- sion, (the First,) as follows : first line, Fifteenth and Twenty-third Regiments, deployed; second line, First, Second, Third and Fourth Regiments, in line of masses, one hundred yards in rear of the first. Here it remained until two o'clock, when the brigade ad- vanced across the plain, exposed to a heavy fire, to support the second line of the division, then hotly engaged. Here the men were posted in a deep ravine to shelter them as much as possible from the enemy's fire, and remained, lying on their arms, until the following morning, when the pickets of the division were re- lieved by the Fifteenth Regiment, supported by the remainder of the brigade. At this time, the battle was raging all along the line, but the brigade was not actually engaged until three o'clock, when Colonel Torbert was ordered to advance one regiment, supported by a second, for the purpose of drawing the enemy from a position which it was important to occupy,31 two regiments of the Third Brigade being at the same time placed under his orders. Colonel Torbert at once ordered Colonel Hatch, of the Fourth Regiment, about three hundred men, to advance and take the position, simul- taneously directing the left of the picket line with its reserve, under Major Brown, of the Fifteenth, to support the movement. These troops promptly advanced in the most handsome manner, under a ' severe fire of grape and canister, and then, reaching favorable ground, led by the gallant Hatch, charged the enemy's position, driving him from it with great loss, and capturing twenty-five prisoners. Rallying, however, the rebels again returned to the fray, and the position becoming critical, the Twenty-third Regiment under Colonel Ryerson, and two regiments of the Third Brigade, were hurried forward as a support-six companies of the Twenty- third becoming immediately engaged, and fighting bravely. At this moment, however, when everything was favorable to our arms, General Torbert was ordered to halt the remainder of his supports and fall back from the railroad, holding it by pickets only. Reluc-
#1 "The enemy, at the point designated in the order for assault, were posted in a rail- road cut behind the embankment, just where the railroad crossed a deep ravine, and on the extreme left of my picket line."-Colonel Torbert's Report.
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tantly the column, fighting with intrepid obstinacy, fell back, when, as was to have been expected, the enemy seeing only a feeble picket line in his immediate front, charged with a full brigade and re- covered the lost position, compelling Torbert's command to take up its original line. Why it was advanced at all by General Brooks, if the position was not to be held after being taken with serious loss, is perhaps susceptible of explanation, but was certainly not so regarded by the gallant fellows who fought, apparently, to no pur- pose. From this time forward until the night of the 15th, the brigade remained inactive in the position it had occupied, the First Regiment only being engaged on picket. Upon the recrossing of the army, after the battle, the brigade, with that of General Devins, covered the withdrawal, being the last to leave the field on the left of the lines. The brigade lost in killed, wounded and missing, one hundred and seventy-two men."2
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The battle of Fredericksburg terminated the campaign of 1862, and the army went into winter quarters near Falmouth, where for
:2 Sceond Regiment, killed none, wounded 1, missing none; Third Regiment, killed none, wounded 2, missing none ; Fourth Regiment, killed 8, wounded 36, missing 36 ; Fifteenth Regiment, killed 4, wounded 20, missing 5; Twenty-Third Regiment, killed 5, wounded 37, missing 9. Total killed 17, wounded 96, missing 50.
Colonel Torbert, in his official report of the battle says : " Many of the missing were wounded and taken prisoners. The brigade has lost one of its best and most gallant officers in Colonel William B. Hatch, of the Fourth Regiment, who was wounded in the right leg, having to have it amputated near the thigh. (He died a day or two after, mourned by the whole brigade.) Captain Slater, of the Fifteenth, also lost a leg. I am pleased to speak in the highest terms of the conduct of the Twenty-Third Regi- ment, a nine months' regiment, and this being the first time they have been under fire. Their Colonel, (Ryerson,) formerly of the Second Regiment, who was badly wounded at Gaines' Mill, was to be seen in the thickest of the fight, cheering on his men. Major Grubb, of the Twenty-Third, deserves great credit for the manner in which he fought a part of his regiment. Major Brown, of the Fifteenth, in command of the piekets, (who was also wounded,) behaved with great coolness and bravery."
The following may be mentioned as one of the many ineidents of this battle : Private Mulvey, of the Fifteenth Regiment, a fine marksman, had been doing good service with his Enfield rifle, when he was cautioned by an officer against exposing himself to the tire of the enemy's skirmishers. With a patriotic answer, he sprang forward to a pile of railroad ties, where he presently discovered a rebel sharpshooter posted on the op- posite side of the stream, behind a tree. A moment afterwards, the rebel thrust his rifle and head ont from the tree. Mulvey did the same above the pile of ties. There was a double explosion ; Mulvey fell back pierced through the brain with a Minie ball ; and at the same instant the rebel also tumbled over, his body in full view, pierced to the brain through the eye. At sundown, the regiment holding that part of the field, Mulvey was buried with his blanket around him, and left, without a monument, at the place where, with his last breath, he had struck down a foe of the flag he loved.
13
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NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
nearly four months it rested in comparative quiet. The First Brigade, during this time, was stationed near White Oak Church. and being gradually strengthened by the return of the missing and wounded, was prepared, when spring opened, once more to grapple with the foe.
On the 30th of April, General Hooker, commanding the army of the Potomac, having determined upon a movement, crossed the Rappahannock and Rapidan, and with the bulk of his forces took position at Chancellorsville-marking the movement by a feint of crossing below Fredericksburg, where Sedgwick, with the Sixth Corps, was left to divert attention from the operations of the main army. At this time, as before, the First Brigade was attached to this corps, and it is only with its operations, therefore, that we have to do. The brigade, commanded by Colonel Brown, in the absence of Colonel Torbert, who was ill, crossed to the south side of the Rappabannock, three miles below Fredericksburg, on the morning of the 29th-the Fifteenth Regiment being in advance. Forming in line of battle, the command, late in the afternoon, moved to the front where it was placed on picket duty, being relieved, however. on the following morning, when it fell back to the line of the rifle- pits close to the river. This position was occupied until the even- ing of the second of May, when the First Regiment attacked and drove in the enemy's pickets on the right, the ground thus taken being promptly occupied and held. Meanwhile, the remainder of the corps had crossed, and Sedgwick, urged to advance with all haste by Hooker, who, at Chancellorsville, had sustained heavy loss. prepared to push forward to the front. But the enemy, still on the alert, had by this time concentrated a considerable body of troops on Mary's Hill, west of Fredericksburg, where they had several guns in position and were prepared to make obstinate resistance. Promptly at daylight the First Brigade was advanced to the old Richmond road, where it was put in position as support to a battery. Meantime, the heights had been carried, and the brigade about noon was ordered to advance-the Fifteenth Regiment, however, and four companies of the Second, being detailed for special duty elsewhere. Moving rapidly through Fredericksburg, the command
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THE FIRST BRIGADE.
proceeded some three miles in the direction of Chancellorsville, when, forming in line of battle, it still steadily advanced, the enemy opening an artillery fire, until Salem Church was reached. Here the enemy was found strongly posted in a thick woods, behind brush fences and earthworks, both on the right and left of the road. But the men who had stormed and carried a still more formidable position at Crampton's Pass, did not falter here. Throwing out six companies of the Second as skirmishers, the brigade advanced with a shout and delivered a withering fire into the ranks of the foe, but were in turn assailed with a storm of balls, which for a moment staggered the column. Still, however, the ground was stoutly held, and after a stubborn resistance, the enemy was driven through the thicket and into the rifle-pits beyond it, hundreds, however, having fallen in the conflict. Meanwhile, the Fifteenth Regiment, Colonel Penrose, having hurried to the front, had ad- vanced into the thicket, and for a time fought four times its number with the utmost bravery, but without dislodging the enemy. The action on this and other parts of the line continued until nightfall, when firing ceased, and the brigade bivouacked on the field. It had lost largely, but it had fully sustained its exalted reputation. The batteries and muskets of the enemy, blazing never so furious- ly, thundered upon its ranks in vain. For two hours and a half, fighting on and on, not a face blanched before the tempest, not a foot turned away backwards. The severest and most desperate fighting of that bloody day, by common admission, was around that tangled thicket where the veterans of Longstreet stood reso- lutely at bay; and the First Brigade, though it did not write a new victory on its banners, approved itself, once more, worthy to march and fight in the van of the battle-beaten army of the Potomac.
The brigade remained on the field during the whole of the fol- lowing day, but was not engaged except as a support to batteries. On the night of the 4th, the entire army withdrew, crossing the river at Banks's Ford about dawn on the 5th, and proceeding by slow marches to its old camp, where it arrived on the 8th.
The loss of the command in this battle was five hundred and eleven men, in killed, wounded and missing, including seven com-
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missioned officers killed and nineteen wounded. Colonel Brown, who commanded the brigade during the early part of the engage- ment, was severely wounded; Colonel Collett, of the First, was killed in the thick of the fight, and Colonel Buck, of the Second, sustained an injury from the fall of his horse, devolving the com- mand upon Colonel Penrose, of the Fifteenth-the latter regiment suffering more severely than any, owing to the difficult nature of the ground over which it fought."" The total loss of all the New Jersey Regiments engaged in this movement, a number having par- ticipated in the fighting about Chancellorsville, was nearly one thousand six hundred men.31
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33 The following is the official table of losses : First Regiment, seven killed, seventy- one wounded, and twenty-seven missing; Sceond Regiment, four killed, thirty-six wounded, and nine missing; Third Regiment, ten killed, sixty-nine wounded and six- teen missing; Fifteenth Regiment, twenty-four killed, one hundred and twenty-six wounded, and four missing ; Twenty-third Regiment, twenty killed, fifty-seven wounded, and thirty-one missing. Total, sixty-five killed, three hundred and fifty-nine wounded and eighty-seven missing. Of the above, there were seven commissioned offieers killed,' nineteen wounded, and two missing; fifty-eight enlisted men killed, three hundred and forty wounded, and eighty-five missing.
5+ The following orders and reports furnish partial details in reference to the service of the First Brigade :
" HEADQUARTERS FIRST BRIGADE, FIRST DIVISION, SIXTH CORPS, May 5th, 1863.
General Order, No. 60.
"The sad casualty to the brave Colonel Brown, of the Third Regiment, having placed the brigade under my command, Leannot in justice to you or myself refrain from cx- pressing my heartfelt thanks for the prompt and energetie manner in which you obeyed my commands.
"Officers and men of the First New Jersey Brigade-You have carned for yourselves imperishable fame, and nobly redeemed the pledge you so recently made on the receipt of your new colors, which have been gallantly borne, and bravely defended, as the life- blood of the brave Colonel Collett and many others sadly testifies.
" Where all behaved so well, it would be invidious to particularize, but I cannot re- frain from mentioning the conduct of four companies of the Second Regiment, who, at the command of their officers, bravely faced an overwhelming foree and coolly received their deadly fire, thus enabling the regiment in the rear to reform and hold the enemy in check.
"The thanks of the entire brigade are eminently due to Captain Henry C. Cook, Brigade Inspector, Lieutenant Whitehead, A. A. A. G., Lieutenants Abeel and Gold- smith, for their bravery and coolness, which added much to our success.
" By order,
" SAMUEL L. BUCK, " Colonel Second New Jersey Volunteers, "Commanding Brigade." Brigade Report.
"HEADQUARTERS FIRST BRIGADE, FIRST DIVISION, SIXTH ARMY CORPS, May 12th, 1863. "I have the honor, in the absenec of Colonels Brown and Buck, the former wounded
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THE FIRST BRIGADE.
General Lee, having defeated Hooker's movement against Rich- mond, again determined upon an offensive campaign, and early in
and the latter injured by an accident, to submit the following report of the action taken by this brigade, in the recent movements on the south side of the Rappahannock, in compliance with orders received from Headquarters, First Division, Sixth Army Corps.
"On the afternoon of the 28th of April, took up line ofmarch for Franklin's crossing, about two miles below Fredericksburg, reached the north bank of the Rappahannock, where we bivouacked for the night, with the exception of the First New Jersey Volun- teers, which was detached to support two batteries of the reserve artillery which were to be stationed near thic Grey Farm, about three miles below White Oak Church, on the river. During that night, the regiment rejoined the brigade at Franklin's crossing.
"Just before daylight, on the morning of the 29th, the brigade moved down to the river and crossed in pontoons, Fifteenth New Jersey Volunteers in the advance. The regiments were promptly formed in line of battle on the south bank, where they re- mained until sundown, when it moved to the front, relieving General Russell's Brigade, on picket duty immediately in front of the enemy.
" During the night, the enemy's piekets withdrew some five hundred yards, and in the morning our pickets advanced and occupied their grounds, where we remained un- til dark, and being relieved by General Bartlett's Brigade we fell back to the line of rifle pits, on the bank of the river. This position we occupied until Saturday evening, when the Light Division moved to the front, the First New Jersey Volunteers being detailed to extend their line to the right. Being deployed, they attacked and drove in the enemy's pickets to the line of the railroad. During the night, the First Regiment was relieved and returned to the brigade. On the morning of the 3d, the brigade was under arms at two o'clock. Soon after daylight, the Fifteenth Regiment was ordered for- ward to the old Richmond road, on arriving at which the Colonel commanding was in- formed by the officer commanding picket line that the enemy were in strong force in his immediate front, and preparing to attack. Information was immediately sent to General Brooks, commanding the division, when the balance of the brigade was brought up, and took position on and near the road, in support of two batteries-McCartney's and one other-which were brought up and put into position. This position was occu- pied until near noon, meeting with some loss from the enemy's sliells, and from an enfilading fire from their pickets.
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"About this time the heights in front of Fredericksburg having been assaulted and carried, the brigade was ordered to fall in and march towards Fredericksburg, with the exception of four (4) companies of the Second New Jersey Volunteers, and the Fifteenth Regiment, the former relieving a portion of Russell's Brigade on picket, the latter to cover the withdrawal of the entire picket line. This latter was accomplishiod without loss, the enemy withdrawing the same time as we did.
"The brigade, with the exception of the Fifteenth Regiment, and the four (+) com - panies of the Second Regiment, marched through Fredericksburg, and out the plank road, about three miles, towards Chancellorsville, when they halted. Soon after the Second New Jersey Volunteers was deployed as skirmishers in our front, the First, Third and Twenty-third in line of battle two hundred yards in the rear. The brigade was then ordered to advance under tire of the enemy's skirmishers until arriving near Tabernacle Church, when the skirmishers retired, and the brigade taking the double quick, charged the enemy in the following order, the Twenty-third New Jersey Volun- teers on the left, and First and Third on right of plank road. Here the enemy were found, strongly posted in a dense thicket, some three hundred yards in depth, protected on the opposite side by earthworks and ritle pits.
"After a stubborn resistance for some time the enemy were driven through the thicket, and into the rifle pits; here our further advance was checked, neither party
THE
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June again crossed the Potomac and took position on free soil. Hooker, after some delay, also set his columns in motion, and on
gaining or losing ground; about this time the Fifteenth New Jersey Volunteers, and four (4) companies of the Second, having learned the Brigade was engaged, pushed rapidly forward towards the scene of action, on arriving near which, the Colonel com- manding was ordered by General Sedgwick, commanding corps, to take his regiment in our extreme right, and, if possible, turn the enemy's left. The regiment moved forward immediately in compliance with this order, and when near the thicket was met by Colonel Brown, commanding brigade, and ordered to move to the left sufficient to move up in rear of the Third Regiment, which was being sorely pressed; this order was complied with, relieving the Third, which retired. Soon after this, the gallant Colonel Brown was wounded in the thigh which obliged him to be carried from the field. He then turned over the command temporarily to Colonel Penrose, senior officer present on the field. At this time the enemy heavily reinforced their whole line, thic Twenty- third, supported by the One Hundred and Twenty-first New York, Bartlett's Brigade, on the left of the road, were obliged to fall back; the right of the iine hield its ground until relieved just at dark, soon after which the action ceased.
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