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 36
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THE TWELFTH REGIMENT.
engagement, which lasted three or four hours, several men of the Twelfth were wounded, Lieutenant Lowe, of Company G, being among the number.3 Colonel Davis had command of the regi- ment during the movement, and afterwards until his death. Major Hill was absent sick, about this time, and after an examination by a commission, was mustered out on account of permanent disability. The rebels having withdrawn, the march towards Bull Run was re- sumed, that place being reached on the following morning. The rebel cavalry continued to hover upon the flanks of our army for several days, but finding no point in our line which invited attack, they finally retired, followed in turn by our troops-the pursued taking a position on the Rappahannock, and the pursuers going into camp at Warrenton and vicinity. While lying at this place, Captain Chase, of Company A, (Twelfth,) left the regiment, his strength having broken down under the fatiguing marches of the summer and fall campaign.
On the 7th of November, the army was again put in motion, crossing the Rappahannock at Rappahannock Station, and at Kel- ley's ford, the Sixth Corps having a severe engagement, but routing the enemy at the former point, and the Third at the latter; but neither the Twelfth Regiment nor the Second Corps was engaged. This movement gave us complete command of the fords, and Lee at once fell back to Culpepper, and thence across the Rapidan. Our railroad was then rebuilt down to and across the Rappahannock, and re-opened to Brandy Station, which thus became our depot of sup- plies-our army encamping in close proximity thereto. On the 23d, the troops were again ordered to be ready for a movement, but a heavy storm coming on, they did not actually get into motion until the 26th, when the Rapidan was crossed at the different fords. This movement was that known as the "Mine Run campaign," which, on our part, proved a miserable failure. After six days of marching and countermarching, a retreat was ordered, and the old camps were re-occupied, but only for a few days, when a new posi- tion was selected at and around Stephensburg, the rebel cavalry and pickets having been driven across the river some two miles
$ This officer subsequently died from the effects of his wounds.
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NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
further south. In the skirmishes at Mine Run, the Twelfth Regi- ment did not, fortunately, sustain any casualties, although under fire on several occasions. One man, however, was taken prisoner, who subsequently died in one of the death-pens at Richmond.
The work of erecting winter-quarters now commenced, and the regiment had just made itself cosy and comfortable, when (Decem- ber 27th) an order came for it to move (with the brigade) to a new position. No order, perhaps, was ever more unwelcome than this, but it was promptly obeyed-the regiment marching some two miles, and establishing a camp at a place called Stony Mountain, near the river and much in advance of the infantry picket line. The object of this change appeared to be to give a support to the cav- alry picket-line, which had been greatly weakened by the withdrawal of a large number of men who, having re-enlisted, were entitled to a veteran furlough of thirty days. On the 16th of February, 1864, the regiment was again ordered to move, and participated in the advance which proved to be a reconnoissance in force, made for the purpose of diverting the attention of the enemy from the operations of our cavalry under Kilpatrick, who started on an expedition towards Richmond. In this reconnoissance, the entire Second Corps was moved to the river, but only the Third Division crossed. The pontoon train having been delayed, the river-which was about three feet deep-had to be forded, and this being done, the men were obliged to cross a ravine, exposed to the fire of rebel batteries. This was gallantly accomplished, the troops crossing the ravine, and getting into position behind a slight embankment, where they were comparatively secure from artillery. Even here, however, it was necessary to lie flat on the ground, or keep very low, in order to escape the enemy's sharpshooters ; and this it was almost impos- sible to do, owing to the severe cold, and the prevalence of a chilly northeast storm, which caused the clothing of the men to stiffen, and rendered bodily action necessary to keep them from freezing. During the afternoon, several small fires were built, but these, while affording some little warmth, also attracted the aim of the sharpshooters, and Jesse Osborn, of Company A, in this way received a wound through the head, which caused his death on the
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THE TWELFTH REGIMENT.
following day. Darkness having come on, a detachment of the enemy endeavored to get into the rear of our troops, hoping to cut off their retreat ; but, being detected, were repulsed with loss after a spirited engagement, whereupon the division, having accom- plished the work assigned to it, re-crossed the river, and returned gladly to camp. In this affair, some ten men of the Twelfth Regi- ment were wounded, but only one fatally.
During the winter, a chapel was built in the camp of the bri- gade by the One Hundred and Eighth New York Regiment, at which members of the Twelfth were regular attendants on all occasions when religious services were held. In the re-organization of the army, upon Grant's accesssion to the supreme command, the regiment (with the brigade,) was placed in the Second Division, Second Corps, and consolidated with Carroll's Brigade, (First Bri- gade, Third Division,) with Colonel Carroll in command.‘ At length, spring dawned-as well over the tented-field as upon the peaceful homesteads where no sound of war had ever disturbed the familiar calm; and the notes of preparation for active cam- paigning were once more heard. On the night of the 3d of May, all being in readiness, the Army of the Potomac moved from its camp to grapple once more with the enemy. The Third Brigade, of which the Twelfth Regiment now formed a part, reached the Chancellorsville battle-field on the 4th, moving, the next day, in a southerly direction towards Shady Grove Church. Meanwhile, the enemy, ever on the alert, had vigorously attacked the Fifth Corps, while moving into position at Parker's Store, and the Sixth becoming also engaged, the Second was hurriedly countermarched
" The regiments in the brigade with the Twelfth were the Fourth and Eighth Ohio, Seventh West Virginia, Fourteenth Indiana, First Delaware, One Hundred and Eighth New York, battalion of Tenth New York and Fourteenth Connecticut. The regi- ment was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas H. Davis, and the companies were commanded as follows : Company A, by Captain Phipps ; Company B, by Captain Williams; Company C, by Captain Brooks ; Company D, by Captain McCoomb ; Com- pany E, by Captain Dare ; Company F, by Captain Acton; Company G, by Captain Potter; Company HI, by First Lieutenant Fogg, (Captain Mattison being detached as a Brigade Inspector in the First Division of the corps ;) Company I, by Captain Chew, and Company K, by First Lieutenant Frank M. Riley (Captain Thompson being detached on recruiting service.) The regiment numbered about four hundred and twenty-five muskets.
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NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
to a point where the road from Germania Ford crosses the Fredericksburg and Orange Court House plank road, where, facing westward, it swung in on Warren's left, and became hotly engaged. The 'Twelfth Regiment was promptly formed in line, but only a portion of the command participated in the engagement, being detailed to advance to the brow of a hill in front, which was com- manded by the enemy's fire. The regiment, however, although not engaged as a whole, suffered considerably-Lieutenant Jobn M. Fogg, of Company H, being killed, while Lieutenant Frank M. Riley, of Company K, and several others, were wounded." During the day, Captain H. A. Mattison, of Company H, serving on the staff of the Irish Brigade, was wounded and taken prisoner, and subsequently was one of the officers who were placed, by the rebels, under the fire of our batteries in Charleston, South Carolina. At five o'clock on the morning of the 6th, the Second Corps once more pushed forward, crowding back the enemy and taking many prisoners, advancing nearly two miles, across the Brock road, on the way to Parker's Store-the point at which it anxiously aimed. Here, however, the enemy was reinforced, and the fight became stubborn and murderous. The Twelfth Regiment-in the second line-was soon advanced to relieve the troops in front, and imme- diately became actively engaged, though the undergrowth in front rendered accuracy of fire impossible, and, in fact, prevented either belligerent seeing the other face to face. It soon became evident, however, that a force greatly superior to our own had been thrown forward at this point, and a flank as well as a galling front fire caused the line to fall back a short distance, where it could avail itself of the support of the third line. Thus the battle continued, raging with great fury, until eleven o'clock, when, effecting a breach in our lines on the left, the rebels hurled in an overwhelm- ing force, and caused a stampede of our advanced troops some half a mile to the rear, where breastworks, hastily thrown up, enabled
6 " Lieutenant Fogg, at the time of his death, was about twenty-three years of age, and few nobler or more promising youths fell during the war. Pure in character, of heroic courage, ardent and self-sacrificing in the performance of his duty, he entered, the service from purely patriotic motives, and bravely died in the dawn of the campaign which was to witness the overthrow of the enemy."-Letter to the author.
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THE TWELFTH REGIMENT.
them to re-form. Subsequently, being strengthened by Burnside's Corps, the line was again advanced, but Hill and Longstreet falling furiously upon our left and left center, we were once more pushed back. At this moment, however, the Third Brigade, under Colonel Carroll, struck the advancing foe in flank, and he, in turn, was driven with heavy loss, our troops regaining their former position, and holding it during the night. During t. is engagement, the Twelfth lost heavily, Lieutenant-Colonel Davis, Captains Chew and Potter being among the wounded.6 On the three subsequent days the regiment was not engaged, but on the 10th, participated in a charge of the corps against the position of the enemy, being exposed to a heavy fire which placed a number of men hors du combat. On the night of the 11th, silently moving by the left flank from its position in front of Hill, the corps took post between the Sixth and Ninth Corps, where, at daylight on the morning of the 12th, it assailed the salient angle of earthworks, held by John- son's Division, of Ewell's Corps. In this magnificent assault, which resulted in the capture of over three thousand prisoners and some thirty guns, the Twelfth again suffered severely, Lieutenant-Colonel Davis being instantly killed while bravely leading the regiment; Captain H. M. Brooks and Lieutenant E. P. Phipps were severely wounded, and were obliged to quit the service in consequence.1
6 A note from an officer says :
"The Twelfth, in this severe action, lost about two hundred men, or nearly one-half of its numbers, and Lieutenant-Colonel Davis, Captains Chew and Potter were wounded. Captain Mattison was missing for some weeks and supposed to be killed, but tinally turned up a prisoner. Here also fell Color-Sergeant Charles H. Cheeseman, Company E, of Camden, who had borne the colors of the regiment with great bravery through all its battles."
7 "Here its thinned line was terribly shattered. Captains Phipps, Williams and Brooks and Lieutenant Lippincott were wounded and Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas H. Davis was killed. Colonel Davis, at the time of his death, was about twenty-seven years of age, tall and commanding in his appearance, active in his movements. Prompt to think and to act, he was a fine example of the American Volunteer Soldier. Warm and genial in his impulses, kind and geuerons in all his actions, brave and dashing to a fault when under fire, he had knit to him the affeetions of his men as by hooks of steel, so that wherever he led, none hesitated to follow. Knocked down and badly abused by a frag- ment of shell on the 6th, he still persisted in leading his regiment through the cam- paign, and the last words he said to the writer were: "That he could not think of leaving his regiment so long as he could sit his horse, knowing that they were to fight again soon." While the line shook under the territie fire which met it, as it crowned the enemy's works,-he sprang in front of the colors, and was cheering on his
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From this time until the 18th, both armies continued to manœuvre for position, the Second Corps gradually moving to the left. On the evening of the 19th, the wagon train was attacked by the enemy, and the brigade, to which the regiment was attached, was hurried forward, but being some distance from the scene of action, did not arrive in time to participate in the engagement.
On the night of the 20th, orders for a new movement were issued, and these being executed, the army, on the 1st of June, came into position in front of Cold Harbor, the Second Corps being placed on the left, with the Sixth on its right. Here, on the morning of the 3d, an assault was made along the center line of the enemy, the Second Corps pushing the enemy out of his works, and capturing several hundred prisoners. Rallying, however, on their second line, the rebels threw in a fearful enfilading fire upon our advance, and in turn drove it out to seek shelter from the leaden storm. In this assault, the loss of the Twelfth was severe, Captain McCoomb, commanding the regiment, being mortally wounded by the explo- sion of a shell, which also killed and wounded several privates. Withdrawing a short distance, a line was formed and hastily forti- fied with breastworks, which proved of great service, the enemy
men with animated words and gestures when the fatal bullet struek him and he fell dead on the blood-stained slopes.
"After leaving Spottsylvania, the regiment was commanded by Captain "James McCoomb, of Camden, was engaged in various skirmishes, and at the North Anna deployed in one rank, made a charge, which General Thomas H. Smythe pronounced the finest he ever saw. Lieutenant Franklin, the Adjutant of the regiment, was wounded in this action.
"Colonel Carroll being wounded at Spottsylvania, Colonel Smythe was assigned to command the brigade, and with him the regiment joined in the attack at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864, where its losses were so heavy that it was reduced to ninety muskets. Here Captain MeCoomb, commanding the regiment, an excellent and deserving offieer, lost his leg, and after amputation, died in Washington. The regiment lay for nearly two weeks under fire at Cold Harbor, losing some men every day, and moved thence June 13th, under command of Captain Dare. The line officers present here were Captains Dare, Acton, and Potter, (who had returned, having recovered from his wound,) and Lieutenant Rich, Acting Adjutant, Lieutenant Stratton (who had returned from recruiting service, ) and Lieutenant Lippincott (who had returned recovered from his wound). The regiment marehed via Charles City Court House to Wilcox's Landing, on the James, which it crossed on steamboats on the 15th, and on the 16th, about nine o'clock, p. m., was in position in the entrenchments before Petersburg, and on the right of the Second Corps, relieving the Eighteenth Corps, which had previously captured the works. The regiment was engaged on the 18th and 19th of June, and also on the 22d. Here it was joined by Major (formerly Captain) Thompson, who returned from recruiting service and assumed command."-Note from an officer.
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THE TWELFTH REGIMENT.
charging, some hours later, with a determination that, but for this defence, might have resulted most disastrously to our arms. On the night of the 4th, a second attack was made, but feebler than that of the 3d, being repulsed without loss to our side. On the 7th, the Second Corps was extended to the Chickahominy (Joseph Bur- roughs, of the Twelfth, being on this day wounded by a sharp- shooter ;) and on the 12th and 13th, the entire army, Grant having again resolved upon a flanking movement, crossed that stream, on Lee's right. Pushing to the James, that river was also crossed, and on the 16th, the advance went into position before Petersburg, against which, operations were already in progress. Up to this time, the total loss of the Twelfth Regiment, in this memorable campaign, had been some two hundred and fifty killed, wounded and missing-a large proportion of the wounded being officers.
From this time forward, the regiment was in position at various points on the line, and participated in the movement and affair at Strawberry Plains and Deep Bottom, on the north side of the James, on the 26th of July. Thence, by a forced march, it returned to the Petersburg front, arriving in time to support the assault at the explosion of the mine, July 30th, though not actually engaged. It participated in the second movement to Deep Bottom, charging the enemy's picket line under Captains Chew and Acton, August 16th, and returning, marched to the extreme left flank of the Army of the Potomac, whence, on the 23d of August, it was marched to Ream's Station, on the Weldon Railroad, where the First Division of the corps had preceded it. It arrived at Ream's Station on the morning of the 24th, and during that day was engaged in destroy- ing the track of the railroad. On the morning of the 25th, the division moved out to proceed with the work of destruction, but were met in such force that General Hancock deemed it prudent to retire them to the Station, where a slight line of breastworks was thrown up. Here, about five o'clock, p. m., Hill's (rebel) Corps, which had been repulsed in the previous assaults, succeeded in breaking the lines of the First Division, and by command of Gen- rral Gibbon, the Twelfth was ordered up to its support. It moved gallantly forward, and succeeded in retaking a portion of the cap-
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NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
tured works, with McKnight's (Twelfth New York) Battery, which was in possession of the enemy. In this severe action, Lieutenant- Colonel R. S. Thompson, commanding the regiment, was severely wounded, and Lieutenants Rich and Stratton were killed. After the action at Ream's Station, the Twelfth was in various positions . along the Petersburg front,-in Fort Hell, on the Jerusalem plank road, in Fort Morton and at other points, until October 27th, when it moved out and participated in the action known as the battle of the Boydton road, where it lost four killed and nine wounded- including Captain T. O. Slater. In the winter of 1864-63, it took part in the various actions at Hatcher's Run, where, in one instance, it charged across the run, which was waist deep, and took the enemy's works, upon which its color-bearer, Ellwood Griscom, was the first to plant the national colors. The regiment was at this time under command of Major H. F. Chew. It was present in the movements of the army preceding the main assault on the Peters- burg defences," took part in the assault, under the command of Major Chew, and aided in the various actions during Lee's retreat. until his surrender, April 9th, 1865. At Farmville, April 7th, General Thomas H. Smythe, commanding the brigade, to whom the regiment was greatly attached, was killed while deploying it as skirmishers. At Burkesville, on its way back from Appomattox Court House, it received about three hundred recruits, the first ever sent it (save about thirty). It returned, via Richmond, to Bailey's
9 " In December, we occupied different positions along the works in front of Peters- burg; on February 6th, the Twelfth participated in the action at Dabney's Mills. On the 25th of March, Fort Steadman was taken by the rebels, which brought on an action along different portions of the line. The Twelfth was engaged in one action at Hatch- er's Run, where it charged the works, along with other troops, and succeeded in cap- turing them, with about one hundred prisoners. This charge was made under a great many difficulties. The run being deep, the men had to cross one by one on fallen trees, in the face of a galling fire. March 29th, the Twelfth, with other troops, moved out of camp towards the Boydton road, and took a position in the woods, where it laid during the night. April 1st, were engaged in building a corduroy road, so that the artillery could be brought up in position. April 2d, charged the works, together with other troops, and marched on to Petersburg. Reached the Southside Railroad and moved down it for some miles and remained during the night ; marched back to Peters- burg on the morning of the 3d. Left there again about noon, and marched on towards Burkesville. The Twelfth was engaged nearly every day in skirmishing with the rebels during the retreat of Lee, and was present at the surrender on the 9th of April."-Voies of an officer.
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THE TWELTFH REGIMENT.
Cross Roads, in front of Washington, where, in June, 1865, the old battalion of the regiment was mustered out of service, and later in July, 1865, the remainder of the regiment. Towards the end of its term of service, Lieutenant-Colonel Willian, Eighth New Jer . sey Volunteers, was mustered in as its Colonel, and First Lieutenant E. M. DuBois, as its Major.
It is the boast of the Twelfth, as it is that of most of the New Jersey Regiments, that it was always in the post of danger, that it suffered, in action, most severely, and that it could always be relied on for perilous duty. Major-General French regarded the Twelfth as one of the finest regiments in the army ; and the commanding officers of the brigade were always unanimous in its praise. Its losses were very severe in men and officers, and were never supplied by the State, no recruits (except about thirty) having been sent it until after the surrender of Lee. It never lost a color in action, and had very few prisoners taken. It never was broken, and never retreated, until the whole line was broken, or ordered back. It was composed of the flower and strength of the rural population of South Jersey, and on every field in Virginia, they bravely main- tained the honor of their flag and State.
CHAPTER XI.
THE THIRTEENTH REGIMENT.
THE Thirteenth Regiment was mustered in at Camp Frelinghuy - sen, near Newark, on the 25th of August, 1862, with Ezra A. Carman, formerly of the Seventh Regiment, as Colonel; Robert S. Swords as Lieutenant-Colonel; Samuel Chadwick, who raised Company A, as Major; Charles A. Hopkins as Adjutant ; Doctor John J. H. Love, as Surgeon ; Doctor J. H. Freeman, as Assistant. Surgeon ; Garret S. Byrne, as Quartermaster; and Rev. T. Romeyn . Beck as Chaplain.1 The regiment remained in camp until the 31st, when it started for Washington, reaching that city on Septem- ber 2d, and being at once sent into camp near Fort Richardson, Arlington Heights. At this time the enemy was moving in strong force towards Harper's Ferry and the Upper Potomac, and the Thirteenth was at once set to work in building lines of earthworks
1 The roster of the regiment was as follows :
Company A-Captain, S. V. C. Van Rensselaer; First Lieutenant, C. H. Bliven ; Second Lieutenant, George MI. Hard. Company B-Captain, John Grimes; First Lieutenant, Robert Bumstead; Second Lieutenant, J. L. Carman. Company C- Captain, David A. Ryerson ; First Lieutenant, W. A. Bueklish; Second Lieutenant, Peter Field. Company D-Captain, George A. Beardsley; First Lieutenant, T. B. Smith; Second Lieutenant, C. H. Canfield. Company E-Captain, Frederick HI. Harris; First Lieutenant, E. D. Pierson; Second Lieutenant, Ambrose Matthews. Company F-Captain, Alexander Vreeland ; First Lieutenant, F. W. Sullivan; Second Lieutenant, Charles Guyer. Company G-Captain, John H. Arcy ; First Lieutenant, Thomas C. Chandler; Second Lieutenant, HI. F. Nichols. Company H-Captain, James Branin; First Lieutenant, James Henry; Second Lieutenant, Robert G. Wilson. Company I-Captain, Charles Mackey; First Lieutenant, Henry Reynolds. Company K-Captain, HI. C. Irish ; First Lieutenant, J. W. Scott.
Of the above, the following resigned before the close of the year: Captain Alexander Vreeland, Company F, resigned October 24, 1862; Captain James Branin, Company HI, resigned October 24, 1802; Captain Charles Mackey, Company I. resigned October 24, 1862: First Lieutenant William Bueklish, Company C, resigned October 9, 1862; First Lieutenant Flavel W. Sullivan, Company F, resigned October 24, 1862; First Lieutenant Thomas C. Chandler, Company G, resigned December 3. 1862; First Lieutenant Henry Reynolds, Company I, resigned October 24, 1862.
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