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 43
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vance, and so suddenly did he pounce upon our sleeping camps, that the men were in many cases prisoners before they were awakened. The Eighth Corps, which met the first onset of the enemy, fled in utter rout with scarcely an attempt at resistance, hundreds being shot down and captured; but the Sixth Corps, more accustomed to desperate fighting, promptly rallied, and for a time held the rebels in check. It soon became apparent, however, that it was impossible to hold our position, and ? general retreat was accordingly ordered. Up to this time the ba. le had been utterly disastrous ; our army was practically broken in pieces ; and worse than all, was disheartened and spiritless. Finally, after falling back some five miles, the line was partially re-formed by General Wright, and fortunately was just then reinforced by Sheridan, who, hearing the sound of battle, had ridden at a thundering pace from Win- chester, to see what was going on. He saw only too soon the wreck and disaster of the day, and instantly set about the work of repair- ing the mischief. Riding along the lines and speaking inspiringly to the men, he stimulated them to new endeavor, revived their hopes, and prepared them for a fresh encounter-meanwhile, also. strengthening his formations, studying the ground and gathering every item of information necessary to his purposes. At length everything was complete. " We are going to lick them out of their boots," said Sheridan, and the men, with the words ringing in their ears, once more assumed the offensive. After considerable ma- nœuvering, a charge was ordered, and soon the enemy in turn was driven back with great slaughter, with the loss of his trains and artillery, and all the trophies captured from us in the morning-our cavalry pursuing rapidly and cutting down the fugitives without mercy.9 In this fight the Fourteenth Regiment, which was com- manded by Captain Janeway, again lost heavily-Adjutant Ross being killed. This officer had been promoted from the ranks for gallant conduct, and was held in high estimation by the regiment.
The Sixth Corps was not again engaged in the Valley, the cavalry
9 The rebel loss included one thousand five hundred prisoners, twenty-three gun- (not counting the twenty-four lost by us in the morning and recovered at night,) a: least one thousand five hundred small arms, besides most of their caissons, wagous, &c.
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THE FOURTEENTH REGIMENT.
carrying forward the campaign in that quarter until the enemy was everywhere driven out. The Fourteenth remained in the vicinity of Winchester, engaged in various duties, until the 3d of December, when (with its division) it proceeded to Washington, and thence by transport to City Point, whence it advanced and occupied the position on the Weldon Railroad, which had been seized and held by the Fifth Corps. Here the Fourteenth was re-organized, having received recruits to the number of two hundred. Captain Janeway, for bravery and meritorious conduct, was promoted to the Colonelcy of the regiment, he and Lieutenant Bailey being the only officers remaining of all those who were identified with it from the outset.10
The division remained in winter-quarters, with only an occasional demonstration against the enemy, until late in March, when orders for a general movement of the armies operating against Richmond were issued. At this time the Sixth Corps numbered nearly twenty thousand men, and was in the best possible condition. The rebels, greatly weakened by desertions, were everywhere growing restive, and at length, on the 25th of March, assaulted our lines in front of the Ninth Corps with great violence, gaining important advantages, but being subsequently repulsed with heavy loss in killed and wounded and some two thousand prisoners. General Meade, con- vinced that the enemy's lines generally must have been depleted to strengthen this assault, at once ordered an advance along the front of the Sixth and Second Corps, holding our works before Peters- burg to the left of Fort Steedman, and this was promptly made with the utmost spirit, the entrenched picket-line of the rebels being seized and held, every attempt to re-take it failing utterly, with loss to the enemy. Thus the last grand advance of the Army of the Potomac was commenced, and henceforth there was to be no cessa- tion of hostilities until the rebel flag went down in irretrievable humiliation and defeat.
10 Sergeant Terrill's history says : "The officers were now mostly enlisted men, and by their conduet had won for themselves a lasting reputation. Among those that dis- tingnished themselves and in every action were at their posts, were men that entered the ranks as privates ; the most conspicuous were Captains Wanser, Manning and Marsh ; Lieutenants Foster, Barkelew, Fletcher, Hanning, White and Manderville. Each one had entered the ranks, and had won for himself his position. Colonel Truex was still in command of the brigade, Acting Brigadier-General."
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NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
In this movement the Fourteenth Regiment was, as usual, in the advance. When the advance was ordered, that regiment, with the Tenth Vermont, then holding the picket-line, supported by two Ohio regiments, moved forward gallantly to the assault, carrying the enemy's line. Reinforcements coming up another assault was ordered, and again the men advanced, rushing, in the face of a withering fire, straight into the outer works of the enemy, hundreds of whom were captured with their arms in their hands. The captured works were at once occupied in force, when the Four- teenth, which had fought with great bravery, was again placed on picket-the corps remaining in position, awaiting orders to move forward to the assistance of other parts of the army, already actively engaged at other points on the extended line. At length, on the night of April 2d, Sheridan having driven the rebels from their works at Five Forks, substantially demolishing that (the right) wing of Lee's army, Grant ordered the three corps holding our entrenchments to assault along the entire line, which was done at daybreak, the Sixth driving everything before them up to the Boydton road-on which, wheeling to the left, towards Hatcher's Run, it swept down the rear of the rebel entrenchments, captur- ing many guns and several thousand prisoners, the other corps meanwhile carrying the main defences of Petersburg on the south, and rendering its evacuation immediately necessary. In this grand movement of the "fighting Sixth," of which a fuller description is subjoined, the battle-scarred Third Division was ever fore- most and ever victorious. The brigade of Colonel Truex at this time consisted of five regiments, and in the formation for assault, the Fourteenth was placed in the second line of battle, the brigade having the extreme left of the corps. In forming the line, it was General Wright's intention to attack in such overwhelming force that failure would be impossible; and orders were given that when the column had made good its entrance into the rebel works, the divisions on the right and left should deploy, it being hoped in this way to drive the enemy from his works as effectually as if a fresh corps had attacked. To co-operate with this attacking column. General Park with the Ninth Corps was held in reserve, while
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Sheridan far away to the left was thundering on their flank. Just before the attack, General Wright and staff rode up to the picket- line; a match was struck, and the time ascertained. It wanted just fifteen minutes of four o'clock. An officer was at once sent back to Fort Fisher with orders to fire a signal gun exactly at four o'clock. A few shots were fired by the enemy as the match was struck, and then all was still; no object was visible at a distance of a few yards, and of the thousands of men massed, not one could be seen by the enemy's line.
Suddenly a bright flash leaped out into the darkness, and a loud report from a twelve-pounder rolled in the air; a minute elapsed, and a similar sound came from the left some ten miles away, telling that the signal was understood. The veterans of the different divisions were now pushed forward, and the dull crash of musketry and the flash of artillery told that the battle had begun. The enemy was surprised but soon rallied, and a terrific strife ensued. The entire line from right to left became heavily engaged. But victory came with the dawn. General Wright's assertion that he would go through them like a knife was fulfilled. Their entire line was captured, together with thousands of prisoners, numerous pieces of artillery and many battle-flags. But to retain what we had gained it was necessary to gain still more; and for this pur- pose, the Third Division was deployed to the left to drive the enemy from forts on other parts of the line. The two brigades under command of Colonels Truex and Keifer pushed gallantly forward, taking possession of a portion of the rebel lines, and soon struck the Southside Railroad, destroying it for over ten miles. Later in the day, when our men had completely cleared the rebels out of that part of the line, the work of destroying the road was resumed. The division still pushed towards the rebel left, and at one point had as severe a fight as any which occurred during the day. The rebels had a battery of six guns, which they served in magnificent style, but our line was rapidly advanced and the guns were added to the number already captured. From this point the progress to the left was comparatively easy, the enemy being in full retreat. From first to last the Fourteenth fought with the greatest bravery,
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and to it, equally with the most efficient regiment of the corps, belongs the credit of the magnificent success of that glorious day.11 i
11 The following is an extraet from Colonel Truex's report :
"I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of this brigade at the assault on the works in front of Petersburg, April 2, 1865, which resulted in the capture of the entire line and evacuation of the above-mentioned city. In accordance with instructions received from Brigadier-General Seymour, commanding the division, I moved the brigade at twelve o'clock, p. m., April 1, 1865, to the position which had previously been designated for it to occupy, viz: In the rear of our picket-line in front of Fort Weleh, and on the extreme left of this eorps. At about half-past twelve o'clock, m., I reached the ground and formed my brigade in three lines of battle, as follows : Left line, composed of the Tenth Vermont Volunteers, Lieutenant-Colonel George B. Damon commanding, on the right, and the One Hundred and Sixth New York Volunteers, Lieutenant-Colonel Aival W. Briggs commanding, on the left, distant about twenty paees from the picket-line. Second line, composed of the Fourteenth New Jersey Volunteers, Lieutenant-Colonel J. J. Janeway commanding, on the right, and the One Hundred and Fifty-first New York Volunteers, Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Bogardus commanding, on the left. Third line, the Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, Captain James Tearney commanding. This latter regiment was composed almost entirely of raw troops, five companies having joined it within two weeks of this movement, and most of whom had never before been under fire. The troops were placed in position without attracting the attention of the enemy, although within one hundred and fifty yards of his picket line. About half an hour after, the enemy on their extreme left opened, suddenly, a very severe and galling pieket fire, which ran down the line to my front, which continued for nearly one hour. Under this fire my brigade remained quiet, not answering with a single shot or otherwise betraying onr presence to the enemy, although a number were killed and wounded. Too much praise cannot be given to my officers for the splendid manner in which they moved their men into position, and afterwards controlling their commands under this severe picket fire. At about half-past four o'clock, a. m., the signal gun to advanec was fired from Fort Fisher, when I ordered the brigade to advance. Instantly a terrible fire of musketry and artillery was opened upon us by the enemy, but my men gallantly and bravely advaneed at a double-quick and in a few moments scaled the breastworks. which at this place were from twelve to fifteen feet high; driving the enemy before them and holding the position. I must here state that when the order to advance was given and the enemy opened on ns, the Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers broke to the front, passing through the second and first lines and becoming temporarily the first line. The first colors inside the works were those of the Tenth Vermont Vohm- teers, followed immediately by those of the One Hundred and Sixth New York Volun. teers and Fourteenth New Jersey Volunteers. We here captured three hundred pri -- oners and either five or six guns. The first line, composed of the Tenth Vermont and One Hundred and Sixth New York Volunteers, were instantly re-formed inside the works, wheeled to the left and charged down the line at a double-quiek, the balance of the command following as they entered the works, driving and doubling up the enemy as they advanced. The next fort was seized with but little opposition, my troops cap. turing abo it one hundred and fifty prisoners and two guns. Again advancing. 1 ordered the brigade to charge on the next fort. The enemy here endeavored to make a stand, but my command pushed forward and compelled him to evaenate it. when the fort was instantly occupied by my brigade, the first colors to enter being those of the Fourteenth New Jersey Volunteers. Here my command was joined by small portion of the Second Brigade, which remained with me until I fell back tempo rarily to the second fort, where they were ordered to the right and joined to their
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THE FOURTEENTH REGIMENT.
Early on the 3d, being informed that Petersburg was evacuated, and that the pickets of the Twenty-fourth Corps had advanced into the city, the Fourteenth, after returning to its former camp, joined in the pursuit of the enemy, bivouacking for the night near Suther- land Station, and thence pushing forward to Sailor's Creek. Here the brigade assailed the enemy's flank, doubling it up and driving him for a distance of a mile. Upon reaching the hill directly in front of the creek, however, the rebels were found strongly posted in the rear of some works; and an assault was consequently neces- sary. The stream in front of the brigade was some seventy-five yards wide, but the command moved bravely forward, advancing
proper commands. We here captured about one hundred prisoners and seized twenty guns. This fort we held abont twenty-five minutes, when the enemy advanced in two lines of battle, one in front of the fort and the other from the woods on the right, compelling us to fall back temporarily to the second fort above-mentioned. On this charge of the enemy we lost heavily in killed and wounded, besides many prisoners, my men falling back reluctantly and contesting the ground inch by inel ; but were overpowered by superior numbers. The enemy was enabled to hold this fort for some length of time, and it was not until the arrival of a battery to our aid that we were successful in dislodging him, capturing forty prisoners and two pieces of cannon. In the capture of this fort the sharpshooters of the brigade deserve especial mention in silencing the rebel guns by picking off. the gunners wherever they made their appear- ance. For this purpose a number of them were deployed on the left of the works in the direction of a house facing the fort.
"The brigade was formed in column of regiment and advancing on the left flank of the fort, compelled its surrender. Without halting, we advanced on the next fort, which was evacuated almost without a struggle, leaving in our possession four guns. caissons and horses. Still pressing on about half a mile, we met the Twenty-fourth Corps, when a halt was ordered.
"At this point I was ordered to countermarch my brigade and proceed in the direc- tion of Petersburg.
"At the 'Brick Chimneys,' in front of Petersburg, and on the extreme left of the Ninth Corps, we remained until four o'clock, p. m., when I was ordered to move my brigade and occupy a line which in the morning had been occupied by the enemy's pickets. Earthworks were thrown up, a pieket-line established and the troops biv- ouacked for the night. The result of the day's operations may be summed up as fol- lows : Five hundred and ninety prisoners and fifteen eannon.
"I have every reason to be proud of the regiments composing iny brigade, the Tentli Vermont, One Hundred and Sixth New York, Fourteenth New Jersey, Fifteenth New York and Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, and the coolness, judgment and gallantry of their commanding officers, Lientenant-Colonel George B. Damon, Lieu- tenant-Colonel A. W. Briggs, Lieutenant-Colonel J. J. Janeway, Lientenant-Colonel Charles Bogardus and Captain James Tearney. My thanks are also dne to the field and line officers for the efficient manner in which they discharged their duties during the eventful day. I also mention with pleasure members of my staff, who were through- out the whole day conspicnous for promp action, courage and personal exposure :
"Captain and Brevet-Major Charles K. Leonard, A. A. G. ; Captain and Brevet- Major Hiram W. Day, Brigade Inspector; Captain and Brevet-Major Charles M. Bart- ruff, A. A. D. C .; Captain Benjamin F. Miller, A. A. D. C."
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through mud and water to their hips, and under a severe fire from the enemy. Immediately upon reaching the opposite side of the stream, the line was re-formed and advanced to the crest of the hill, driving the enemy from his works. Then, wheeling to the left, Truex pushed his column against the left flank of the enemy, pouring in a rapid and concentrated fire, which was continued until a flag of truce was displayed, when the firing ceased. Upon mov- ing forward, however, to gain information, a severe fire from the enemy some distance to the right was again opened, when the brigade was once more ordered forward. But at this moment, an officer rode up with Major Pegram, Inspector-General upon the staff of General Ewell. Major Pegram was the bearer of the flag of truce, and said to Colonel Truex, "I surrender Lieutenant General Ewell and staff and his command." Up to this moment the firing on our left was kept up by our troops, but it now imme- diately ceased. With Major Pegram were about thirty officers and enlisted men.
This was the last engagement in which the Fourteenth, now re- duced to about one hundred men, participated. Proceeding to Barks- dale, the command remained in camp until the 24th, when it moved to Danville, arriving four days later, the movement looking to a co- operation with Sherman against the rebel General Johnston. Almost simultaneously, however, with the arrival at that place, news of Johnston's surrender was received; and the war was at an end.
The regiment remained at Danville until the 16th of May, when it proceeded by rail to Richmond, whence, on the 24th, it marched to Washington, reaching Bailey's Cross-Roads, eight miles from the Capital, on the 2d of June. Here the men detached from the regi- ment were ordered back, and the new recruits transferred to the Second New Jersey with two hundred and thirty men. On the Sth, the corps was reviewed at Washington, and on the 19th, the Fourteenth was formally mustered out of service, proceeding on the following day to Trenton, where, on the 29th, having received their final payment, the men who had shared so many perils together, and for nearly three years had "endured hardness like good soldiers" for the Nation's sake, exchanged farewells and sepa-
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rated into the old familiar paths of peace, wherefrom their feet had been lured only at the call of solemn and imperious duty.12
12 " The regiment had been gone nearly three years, leaving New Jersey with nine hundred and fifty active men, two hundred and thirty returned; during that time, having participated in numerous battles and skirmishes, fighting each time with that bravery which the New Jersey troops were noted for. In that time the regiment had traveled by rail one thousand and fifty-one miles, by water six hundred and twenty- eight miles, and on foot two thousand and fifteen miles."-Sergeant Terrill's History.
The following, copied from a descriptive list of a soldier of the Fourteenth, shows of what stuff that regiment was composed:
"Sergeant John Grover, Jr., Company F, Fourteenth New Jersey Volunteers: This soldier has proved himself wanting in none of the things that go to make up the per- feet soldier. Whether in camp, on the march, or before the enemy, he has always developed the noblest characteristics and the most consummate worth. Never out of the ranks, never complaining, never lacking in obedience or in knowledge, he has been a model worthy of imitation by inferiors and superiors. He has been in every engage- ment in which the regiment has participated, and was recommended for a medal of honor for consummate bravery at Cold Harbor and Monocacy. He was wounded at the engagement in front of Petersburg on the 2d of April, 1865. After entering the enemy's works, he was captured by reason of the overwhelming numbers of the foc. and when they were compelled to evacuate the works on a second charge of our forces. his dastardly captors deliberately shot him, which necessitated the amputation of his arm. He deserves honorable and lasting mention and remembranec.
"VINCENT R. MARSH, Captain."
CHAPTER XIII. THE FIFTEENTH REGIMENT.
THE Fifteenth Regiment was organized at Flemington in July and August, 1862. Three companies were recruited in Sussex County, two in Warren, two in Hunterdon, two in Morris and one in Somerset, and all were composed of men of superior physical strength and capacities of endurance. The regiment was mustered into the United States service on the 25th of August, and on the 27th left for Washington, numbering nine hundred and twenty-five officers and men, Colonel Samuel Fowler commanding.1 Reaching
1 The roster of the regiment was as follows :
Colonel, Samuel Fowler; Lieutenant-Colonel, Edward L. Campbell; Major, James M. Brown; Adjutant, William P. Seymour; Quartermaster, Lowe Emerson; Surgeon, Redford Sharp; Assistant-Surgeons, George R. Sullivan, George Trumpore; Chaplain, Alanson A. Haines. Company A-Captain, Lambert Boeman; First Lieutenant, Thomas · P. Stout; Second Lieutenant. John R. Emery. Company B-Captain, Alfred S. Burt : First Lieutenant, Charles M. Fairclo; Second Lientenant, Charles R. Paul. Company C-Captain, Ira J. Lindsley ; First Lieutenant, Erastns H. Taylor; Second Lieutenant, Samuel R. Connett. Company D-Captain, James Walker; First Lieutenant, Lewi- Van Blarcom ; Second Lieutenant, James S. McDanolds. Company E-Captain, John H. Vanderveer; First Lieutenant, Stephen II. Bogardus ; Second Lieutenant, Elli- Hamilton. Company F-Captain, George C. King; First Lieutenant, Owen H. Day ; Second Lieutenant, John H. Vanderveer, Jr. Company G-Captain, William II. Slater : First Lieutenant, - -; Second Lieutenant, John D. Trimmer. Company HI -Captain, Andrew J. Wight; First Lieutenant, William D. Cornish; Second Liente- nant, James Bentley. Company I-Captain, -; First Lieutenant, Corneliu- C. Shimer; Second Lieutenant, William W. Van Voy. Company K-Captain,
-; First Lieutenant, William H. Edsall; Second Lieutenant, Jolm Fowler.
Samuel Fowler, Colonel of the Fifteenth Regiment, was a man of great force of character, of fine abilities, and withal a patriot of the very purest order. Descended from a loyal ancestry, educated in the school of Jackson democracy, hating seccs-jon and nullification, and holding fealty to the Union to be a paramount duty-he wa- among the first to take an advanced position in support of the Government in it- struggle with treason, and, though violently assailed by some of his own party friends. whose sympathies with the loyal cause were less active than his own, steruly and uncompromisingly held the ground he had assumed-laboring with untiring vigilant" to facilitate the enlistment of troops, build up confidence in the Government, and in every possible manner promote a right determination of the contest. His influence.
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the Capital, it encamped at Tennallytown, where it remained for about a month, engaged in drill and acquiring discipline for future service. While here, the men were also employed upon the defences of Washington, slashing timber, making military roads, and throwing up earthworks-Fort Kearney being constructed entirely by their labor.
On the 30th of September, the regiment proceeded by rail to Frederick, Maryland, and thence marched across to Bakersville, passing the battle-field of Antietam and Sharpsburg. At Bakers- ville, it was assigned to the First (Jersey) Brigade, First Division, Sixth Army Corps, and henceforth participated in the hardships, battles and triumphs of the Army of the Potomac. The month of delay which followed was diligently improved by the regiment, field-exercise and drill being practiced daily ; and when, at last, the army moved across the Potomac, the new recruits had been trans- formed into soldiers who were worthy to march with the veterans whose deeds had already covered our arms with undying glory.
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