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 16
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THE SECOND BRIGADE.
the right, and sending in the Fifth New Jersey as their support. Almost simultaneously, the remaining regiments of the brigade -Sixth, Seventh and Eighth -- were sent into the left of the road, occupying a wood in front of a line of field-works. At this time the rain was falling in torrents, and the men stood half leg deep in mire and water. Steadily advancing through the underbrush, the gallant regiments soon came upon the enemy's forces, and at once opened a vigorous fire. Here, for three hours, the conflict raged with desperate fury. Commanding the ground at every point, the fire of the enemy was pitilessly destructive, and did not slacken for a moment. But the brave fellows into whose faces it was poured, stood firmly and unflinchingly,-sometimes, indeed, pushed back a little space, but as surely hurling the rebels, bleeding and shat- tered, back to their works. From the nature of the ground, there was no opportunity for the bayonet; but the rapid volleys of our heroic troops were scarcely less effective. And thus the battle raged, the enemy reinforced again and again, directing against these three regiments all the fury of their attack; but still for hours the little column stood immovable. At last, however, the enemy, driven now to desperation, rushed forward in overwhelming num- bers, pouring a terrific fire into our whole line. Then, at last, that brave line wavered. Their ammunition exhausted, their muskets rusted by the drenching rain, their ranks terribly thinned, exhausted by want of food and a difficult march, these heroes of the day, before this last overwhelmning onset, fell slowly back. But they were not defeated. They had held the enemy in check, had frus- trated every attempt to flank our position, and so had saved the division, which, but for this stubborn resistance, would have been swept in disaster from the field.
Meanwhile, the Fifth Regiment, supporting the batteries on the right of the road, had bravely maintained the reputation of the bri- gade. For six hours it had been exposed to the fire of the fort in front and that of an earthwork on the flank, and later in the day, our cannoneers being driven from their guns, charged forward and at once engaged the enemy, continuing its fire without cessation for four hours longer. During the whole of this time, officers and
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men alike fought with the utmost courage, and achieved the very highest place in the confidence of all who witnessed their gallantry.
But with all the desperate fighting of Hooker's Division, the day was not yet ours. Pitted against it was nearly the whole of the rebel army, and though it had fought as bravely as any command of which we have record, it could not accomplish the impossible. But soon, Kearney, pushing impetuously forward with his division, hurled himself against the foe. Other commands came up, the fight redoubled in intensity and vigor, and a part of the rebel works being carried, the victory was soon ours-the enemy retreat- ing under cover of the night, leaving their dead and wounded on the field. But the victory was dearly purchased. Hooker alone had lost nearly one thousand six hundred men, and of these over five hundred were in the New Jersey Brigade. Among the killed were Lieutenant-Colonel John P. Van Lear and Adjutant Aaron Wilks, of the Sixth, Major Ryerson,' of the Eighth and others ;
: The following sketch of Major Ryerson, prepared by Mr. A. Q. Keasbey, and pub- lished in the Newark Mercury, is at once just and appreciative :
"New Jersey has lost one of her worthiest citizens and bravest soldiers in Major Peter M. Ryerson, of the Eighth Regiment, killed in the late battle at Williamsburg.
"The training of his whole life had fitted him for the gallant part he was to act in the service of his country. The qualities which marked him as a citizen were such as always make the soldier faithful and brave. He was born at Pompton, on the 20th of June, 1798. He inherited from his father a large property, and early came into pos- session of the extensive irou works at that place. He built the rolling mills and works at Pompton and at Winockie, and conducted the business on an extensive seale. He was a large stockholder and a director in the Morris Canal Company, and for several years was superintendent of the works of the company in that region. Soon after he had completed the iron works, and was prepared to reap the reward of his vast ontlay and exertions, the reduction of the tariff embarrassed his operations, financial difficulties ensued, beneath which he struggled with the most untiring energy for many years, until at last, in the fall of 1859, he was forced to abandon the unequal contest, and giving up to his creditors the home of lis ancestors, where he had passed so many years of toil and anxiety, he removed to Newark with his family. But his was not a spirit that could brook a life of idleness, even at sixty-three, if any field of honorable labor opened to him; and sneh a field was opened in the war for the Union, and he entered upon it with all the zeal and vigor of his early manhood. He had always been a commander. With thousands of acres as his domain, and hundreds of men under his control, he had always shown those qualities that are sure to distinguish the soldier. And now his old energy awoke at the call of his country. He went up to the beautiful hills of his old home, and called upon his former retainers to join him or to send their sous to act again under his command. He formed Company A, of the Eighth Regiment, chiefly from these sturdy forgemen and axemen of his native place. He was the senior captain of the regiment, and was afterwards promoted to be Major, which position he held at his death.
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while among the wounded were a large number of officers, including Lieutenant-Colonel Carman, of the Seventh, and Colonel Johnson of the Eighth. Major Ryerson was killed while in command of his regiment, being pierced by three balls.3
"He delighted in his military duties. He seemed as creet and vigorous as at any period of his life. Tall and athletic, of a fine soldierly appearance and bearing, prompt in word and act, attentive to all the requirements of his position-he had gained the reputation of a thorough and faithful soldier before he went upon his first battle-field, from which he was never to return.
" Upon that field he met his death as he would have chosen to meet it. His regiment was sorely pressed by superior numbers on the left of the bloody field of Monday. At one o'clock, Colonel Johnson was severely wounded and the command of the regiment devolved on Major Ryerson. Their ammunition was exhausted and they were slowly falling back before the greater forec of the enemy seeking to turn their flank. The fate of the day, and perhaps of the army, depended on their firmness. Major Ryerson, with his old habit of command, rallied them to the charge. Again they wavered, having nothing to fight with, and again and again he rallied them, standing in advance, a too conspicuous mark for the foc. At two o'clock, he was struck by a bullet in the side as he was cheering on his men. Lieutenant Sincs came to him and led him to a tree. He felt that the wound was fatal, he saw that the enemy were approaching in overwhelming force, and calmly begged Lieutenant Sines to leave him, and not uselessly sacrifice his own life.
"Brief interval remained for the last thoughts of the dying soldier-but enough for the Christian Patriot. The hosts of the enemy came rushing over lim,
'So underneath the belly of their steeds That stained their fetlocks in his smoking blood, The noble gentleman gave up the ghost.' .
" New Jersey will honor his familiar nanie as that of the first of her field officers who fell in the war for the Union."
" There was no question in any mind after that bloody day, as to whether New Jersey troops would fight. The whole country rang with their praises. General Hooker, in 's official report, bore the very highest testimony to their gallantry, and General Heintzelman was profuse in his praises. Even the newspaper correspondents, usually Aturing the services of New Jersey troops, for onee wrote in terms of the warmest .tiendation. A correspondent of the Philadelphia Inquirer, writing at the time, 'd: "New Jersey may well be proud of her sons in this battle. Men never stood up sure bravely to their work, and the conflict at Williamsburg proves that the Jersey Bues of our day are worthy descendants of the heroes who made her name and soil var ted for all time in the dark hours of the Revolution." A correspondent of the !": adelphia Press said that our " brave boys fought like tigers, driving back the enemy with great slaughter." As to the reports of the brigade and regimental officers, all, « Choat exception, commended the behavior of the troops. These reports are as fol- **. , that of General Patterson, commanding the brigade, being first given :
*** IR: In obedience to the orders of the General of the Division, on the morning of Le ith inst., I followed the First Brigade and found it engaged on the right of the Wil- Astroburg road. The Fifth New Jersey Regiment, Colonel Starr, was detached from !! ^ brigade by order of the General, and deployed to the right of the road to support !' batteries of the division. The Sixth Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Van Leer, and tar seventh, Lieutenant-Colonel Carman, were deployed on the left of the road; the th Regiment, Colonel Jolinson, had not yet come up. A wood extended from the "sdl, northwesterly to a line of field-works that extended perpendicularly across the Head front. The Sixth and Seventh Regiments occupied this wood by a flank march,
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The day following this sanguinary conflict, the brigade encamped on the battle-field, being engaged in burying the dead and other sad duties consequent upon the battle. Three days afterwards, it took up the line of march towards Richmond, arriving on the 26th at Turner's Farm, some distance beyond Bottom's Bridge, and about four miles from Seven Pines, or Fair Oaks. At this time Casey's Division, of the Fourth Corps, (Keyes') was stationed at Fair Oaks, and the Third, (to which the brigade belonged,) upon its arrival, took position in rear of the former. On the 31st, Casey's Division was suddenly attacked by the enemy in large force, and after a brief resistance, was driven back in confusion, some of his troops retreating in the most shameful disorder. Fresh troops, however, opportunely arriving, the enemy was held in check, though the battle became general all along the line, and the assailants, at the main point of attack, had gained a considerable advantage. Late in the afternoon, orders were received to advance the Third Corps, which was promptly done. The Seventh and Eighth New Jersey being detailed as a reserve for the performance of specific duties of an important character, the Fifth and Sixth (the latter under Colonel Mott) moved forward under Colonel Starr, (General Pat-
and moved to the front by the right of companies, about two-thirds the distance to the line of field-works in front, when our skirmishers came upon the enemy's forees, as we could not see them, the woods having a growth of under-brush. The skirmishers being re-called, the two regiments advanced until met by a warm fire, when the com- panies were formed forward into line and marched rapidly to the front, some hundred paces, halted and a file fire opened and kept up until the opposing fire was silenced, when we again advanced, and were again met by a heavy fire, and the command was ordered to lie down. It was now patent that we were outnumbered, as, in addition to a heavy fire in front, it was spreading around our left flank. Colonel Johnson, with the Eighth, having come up, was deployed on the left of the regiments already in line, and for a time silenced their fire. The heaviest fire that had yet ocenrred was now opened on our right; it was inet by a direct fire from our right and an oblique fire from our center and silenced. During this time the commands of officers in a large column moving in our front and to our left were heard, and the efforts to outflank us was continned. There being no more men available, and having sent twice for reinforce- ments, Colonel Johnson was ordered to change front obliquely to the rear on his right company; this, for a time, preserved the flank. Reinforcements had been twice ap- plied for-none came-outnumbered five to one, outflanked, and out of aunmunition, the Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Regiments, numbering when they entered the field seventeen hundred and sixty-seven men for duty, to avoid. being surrounded, fell slowly back by my orders, before a division consisting of Pryor's Virginia and North Carolina, Gholson's Mississippi and Alabama, and Pickett's Virginia Brigades, forming a division of six thousand men, with a loss of one hundred and seventeen killed, two
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terson being ill,) cutting their way through the mass of panic- stricken fugitives. Reaching the field at dark, the regiments went
hundred and eighty-four wounded, and two hundred and thirty-five missing, from the ground they had taken and held, within one hundred yards of the end of the woods, from eight until half-past one o'clock, to their original position on the left of the road. The conduct of the officers and men of the brigade, including my personal staff, was, without exception, marked by coolness, steadiness, and valor. Their loss, in this, their first engagement, bears ample testimony to the proverbial gallantry of the State they came from. The Fifth Regiment, Colonel Starr, was separated from the brigade, and placed, by order of the General of the division on the right of the road and removed from my observation. Its loss was eight killed, seventy wounded, including the Colonel, and thirty-seven missing. It was under fire from morning until night. Since writing the above, I have obtained the list of casualties.
"Fifth Regiment, Colonel Starr commanding. Killed, two lieutenants, seven non - commissioned officersand privates ; wounded, one colonel, one captain, seven lieuten- ants, fifty-eight non-commissioned officers and men; missing, twenty-eight non- commissioned officers and men.
"Sixth Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Jolin P. Van Leer commanding. Killed, one lieutenant-colonel, one lieutenant, thirty-seven non-commissioned officers and privates ; wounded, four captains, three lieutenants, seventy-one non-commissioned officers and privates; missing, twenty-six non-commissioned officers and privates.
"Seventh Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel E. A. Carman commanding. Killed, one lieutenant, twenty-seven non-commissioned officers and privates; wounded, one lieuten- ant-colonel, three captains, five lieutenants, seventy-seven non-commissioned officers and privates ; missing, nine non-commissioned officers and privates.
"Eighth Regiment, Colonel Adolphus J. Johnson commanding. Killed, one major, one lieutenant, thirty-four non-commissioned officers and privates; wounded, one colonel, four captains, six lieutenants, one hundred and seventeen non-commissioned officers and privates; missing, four non-commissioned officers and privates.
" Recapitulation : Killed, wounded and missing, two colonels, two lieutenant- colonels, one major, twelve captains, twenty-five subalterns, four hundred and fifty- tix non-commissioned officers and privates. Aggregate, four hundred and eighty-eight-
"The loss of the services of Colonel Johnson and Lieutenant-Colonels Van Leer and Carman, and Major Ryerson, is a very serious one, in so far as the future service of the brigade is concerned. They had the respect and confidence of their commands, and proved they well deserved it. I have yet to learn if the brigade can be handled in evolutions of the line with such a destitution of field officers. To risk a reputation so dearly carned, without them, until those taking their places have learned their duties, would be injustice. I append hereto a list of casualties.
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"I have the honor to be, "Very respectfully, your obedient servant, "F. E. PATTERSON, "Brig .- Gen. U. S. Volunteers, Commanding Brigade."
In a supplemental report, General Patterson says :
"The Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Regiments were under my immediate command ; their commanders all join in praise of the steadiness and bravery of their commands, and say that they are able to name but few as having particularly distinguished them- relves, because all seemed animated with the desire to do their whole duty, and all succeeded. Major Burling, now in command of the Sixth Regiment, in his report spwaks in high terms of praise of the heroic conduet of Lieutenant-Colonel Jolin P. Van Leer and of Adjutant Aaron Wilks, both of whom were killed, while in the act of cheering and encouraging their men; and Major Price of the Seventh speaks in the highest terms of the conduet of Lieutenant-Colonel Carman, who was severely
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NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
into position and so remained during the night. On the morning of June 1st, the battle was renewed, and again, as at Williamsburg,
wounded, and of Captains L. R. Francine, Bartlett, Sims, First Lieutenants Thomson and Wetherall, Second Lieutenant Wm. Harrison, Sergeant-Major Crane, Color-Ser- . geant Onslow and Sergeant Molloy. The Lieutenant-Colonel of the Eighth pays a just . tribute to the gallantry of Colonel A. J. Johnson, who was dangerously wounded; and to the memory of Major Peter M. Ryerson who fell dead while directing the operations of the regiment after Colonel Johnson had been carried from the field. The conduct of Captains Wm. A. Henry, Company B, and Tuite, Company C; who (after the regi- ment had fallen back and were about being replaced by the Excelsior Brigade,) col- leeted together a number of volunteers and again entered the contest in company with that brigade, cannot, I think, be too highly commended. These officers were unani- mous in their expressions of approbation of the skill and indefatigable exertion of the medical staff, and of the Chaplain, who fearlessly rushed into danger to assist in bear- ing off the wounded.
"I may be permitted to say, in conclusion, that when it is remembered that the bri- gade had been worn down by labor in the trenches before Yorktown, by their long and wearisome march, which extended into the night before the battle, and by the weight of one hundred rounds of ammunition which each man carried, joined to the fact that . for the preceding thirty-six hours they had had but little to eat, entering the battle wet, cold and hungry-it will be conceived that the performance of the brigade has never been surpassed, and rarely equalled, by men for the first time under fire." .
The report of Colonel Starr, of the Fifth Regiment, was as follows :
"SIR: In compliance with a circular from Headquarters Army of the Potomac, of the 10th inst., I have the honor to report the part taken by my regiment in the action be- fore Williamsburg, Va., on the 5th of May.
"Early on the morning of the 5th, the regiment, worn out by labor in the trenches at Yorktown, and by the preceding day's march with a hundred rounds of ammunition in their knapsacks and cartridge boxes, suffering from privations and exposure, was marched to the front along a road completely enfiladed by the enemy's cannon. De- bouching from the woods which lined the road on either hand, I received orders from General Hooker, in person, to march my regiment to the support of a battery, (manned by regular troops, I have been informed,) which was engaged with the enemy's chief defensive work in front. On receiving this order, I marched my regiment at right angles to the road, and took up a position to its right, on the edge of the fallen timber or abattis, in the rear of the battery I was to support, at the distance of about sixty yards. This position was one of great difficulty for raw troops, owing to the fact that the regiment was compelled to remain inactive, exposed to a severe fire of shell, grape and musketry from the work in front, and from a raking fire from a redoubt on its left flank. In this position the regiment remained from about eight o'clock, a. m., till about two o'clock, p. m., losing many men. The battery I was supporting was aban- doned by its cannoneersat about half-past twelve o'clock, the men retiring through my lines. The cannoneers were driven from their guns by the cannon of the enemy, as they were threatened at no time after I had taken my position, by either cavalry or in- fantry. The enemy had turned the left flank of our position, upon which were en- gaged the Sixth, Seventh and Eighth New Jersey Regiments, (Patterson's Brigade, Hooker's Division, ) and was slowly pressing these regiments back. Seeing this, and perceiving that defeat was probable, unless reinforced immediately, (owing to the greatly superior force of the enemy,) and also seeing that the deserted and now use- less battery would be best protected by moving my regiment forward, covering the left flank of the battery, where alone it was threatened, without orders I changed front forward on my left and took up a position on the before-mentioned road, (still entiladed by the enemy's batteries, ) on the right of the regiment above-named. The new line of
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THE SECOND BRIGADE.
the Jersey Regiments had the post of honor in the advance. As upon that memorable field they had saved the division from de- struction, so now they were called upon to retrieve the broken for- tunes of the previous day. Placing himself at their head, General
battle was at right angles with and to the old. In this position my regiment was ac- tively engaged, and suffered severely, and I believe contributed considerably to the final result. My loss was one hundred and three killed, wounded and missing. A list of the names of these I have had the honor already to submit. The regiment was under fire ten hours, without intermission, viz: from eight o'clock, a. m., till six o'clock, p. m. Myself and officers were without food for sixty hours, except four or tive small crackers cach.
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"The regiment was brave, and I have reason to congratulate myself in having com- mand of as gallant a regiment as any in the service. Some distinguished themselves above others for their coolness, many for tlicir courage and zeal. At present, from want of information, I can only mention those by name who distinguished themselves under my own observation and that of the officers in whose reports I place great con- fidence: Lieutenant-Colonel G. Mott, Lieutenant and Adjutant V. M. Healy, (severely wounded), Lieutenant Edward A. Acton, (severely wounded,) Captains John Ramsey, E. C. Hopper, J. J. Cladek, Robert S. Gould, Lieutenants Wm. H. Hill, (severely wounded, ) Simon P. Whitly, (dangerously wounded, ) Gco. S. Russell, Henry H. Wool- sey, Thomas W. Eayre, John H. Moore, John L. Pierson. The following non-com- missioned officers and privates are also commended for their courage and gallantry : Sergeant-Major William P. Wheeler, First Sergeant Gco. Bryan, Company I; Sergeants Chas. W. Arnett and Sam'l Mustard, Company A; First Sergeant Robt. H. Bancroft, Sergeants Jolin N. Flannigan and Archibald M. Kaig, Corporals Jas. McConnell and David Miller, privates Patrick Kane and John Irving, Company G ; First Sergeant Jno. K. Simonds, and Corporal I. Z. Taylor, Company D; First Sergeant F. A. Brill, Ser- geants F. Clure and J. Hable, and Corporal Wm. M. Blaise, privates Chas. Dally, G. W. Dally, Chas. Richter, Dallas Noc, John Johnson and others, of Company H.
"It will give me pleasure to do justice to other gallant men in a subsequent report, whose names are omitted here for want of space or information. It would be a gross neglect on my part were I to omit to mention in this place the names of the Rev. Thos. Sovereign and Assistant-Surgeon Henry F. Vanderveer, whose indefatigable labor> and untiring zeal in attending the wounded and ministering to their comfort, merit higher-commendation than I can bestow. The names of the gallant dead of the regi- ment will be cherished in the history of their country and State.
" The casualties were, killed 10; wounded 65; missing 28.
"S. H. STARR,
"Colonel Fifth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers."
The following is the report of the Seventh Regiment :
"SIR : I have the honor to report our loss in killed, wounded and missing, in the late engagement with the enemy. Lieutenant-Colonel E. A. Carman wounded ; killed, ": wounded, 86; missing, 10. Where all behaved gallantly, it is very difficult to make distinction, but I cannot but notice the coolness and bravery of Captain II. C. Bartlett, Company C, Captain S. D. Sims, Company I, Captain James M. Brown, Com- jany K, Lieutenant Witherall, Company F, Lieutenant Thompson, Company A, Lien- tenant Hart, Company E, Lieutenant Harrison, Company C, Sergeant Crane, Company C. (Acting Sergeant-Major, ) Sergeant Mallory, Company C, Acting Color-Sergeant Onslow, Company F, and private Jno. Taylor; who; all displayed unflinching courage, coupled with remarkable coolness, under the heavy fire to which they were exposed.
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