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 6
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" In a letter to the Executive, referring to the exertions of this State in aid of the General Government, the Secretary of War used the following language: "For your prompt and patriotic response to the call of the General Government, I tender to your. self and the people of New Jersey my sincere and heartfelt thanks ;" and in a subse- quent letter he says : " Allow me to tender you the thanks of this department for the very prompt and efficient manner in which you, and the people of your State, have responded to the requisition made upon yon."
8 "This afternoon (May 7), at short notice, the whole New Jersey Brigade was pal- raded and marched to the White House, where we were reviewed by the President, General Scott, and members of the Cabinet. It is seldom that four regiments of soldiers have appeared on parade together in this country, and it was a novel sight to the citizens of Washington. Some thought the whole foree here was out, so large ap- peared the numbers under arms, and they were incredulous when informed that they were all Jerseymen. The troops all behaved well, and made a creditable appearance. All along the route they were cheered by the citizens, who lined the streets to witness the spectacle. I heard a great many compliments passed on their appearance, drill, equipments, &c., and all agreed that New Jersey had done nobly. It appears that most of the troops that have been sent here were without uniforms and other equip- ments, and in some cases were without arms-as one gentleman remarked, they looked more like a mob than like soldiers. The contrast, therefore, between them and the Jerseymen, was very great."-Major Yard's Journal.
9 " May 12, 1861 .- This morning, Captain George B. Raymond reported himself with a commission from the Governor of New Jersey as Brigade Quartermaster."-Extract from Journal of the New Jersey Brigade. Captain Raymond had been engaged for ten 6
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among the men as to the quality of their arms, but the Government as rapidly as possible supplied them with percussion muskets, and deficiencies in clothing and equipments were also met by supplies forwarded by the State authorities. On the 9th, the Fourth Regi- ment was ordered to go into camp at Meridian Hill, and within a few days the entire Brigade was encamped at that point, where, on the 12th, it was honored by a visit from the President, who warmly complimented the appearance of the troops.10 At this point, the army life of the volunteers commenced in earnest, the utmost ex- actness being required in all points of discipline. All the hard routine of camp duties was daily observed. The work of the sol- dier was found to be something more than mere festival employ- ment. It demanded every energy, the fullest devotion, the loftiest self-sacrifice.
The Brigade remained at Camp Monmouth, perfecting its drill and general soldierly accomplishments, until May 22d, when an order was received from General Mansfield, commanding the De- partment of Washington, directing that immediate preparations be made for a movement, The day following definite orders from the same authority supplied the needed information as to the objective of the proposed movement, and the camp was accordingly aban-
days previous to this time in superintending the forwarding of supplies, and other simi- lar service, and was ordered to do duty as Brigade Quartermaster, at the request of General Runyon, with a view of organizing and giving efficiency to that department of the service. Colonel Joseph W. Allen, afterwards connected with the Ninth Regiment, was employed in the same service, as was also General N. N. Halsted, who was among the Governor's most valuable assistants in the organization of the early regiments, superintending the transportation of nearly all of them, and laboring incessantly for nearly two years without any compensation whatever, and to the neglect of his own interests.
10 " During the afternoon, while busy in arranging the camp, we were surprised by a visit from Mr. Lincoln, Secretaries Chase and Seward, and C. M. Clay, of Kentucky. The party was recognized by the soldiers, the news spread, and they crowded eagerly around; directly they burst into three cheers for President Lincoln. He bowed in acknowledgment of the compliment, and then in a free-and-easy way waved his hand toward Mr. Seward, saying: 'This is the Secretary of State-give him three cheers.' It was done, and he then turned towards Mr. Chase, saying : 'This is the paymaster, who gives you your pay-three cheers for him;' and again turning, pointed to Mr. Clay, saying : ' And now three cheers for Old Kentuck.' The boys responded heartily, and the President and his party seemed to enjoy it highly. After a few words of com- pliment, and interchange of bows, they walked off as unceremoniously as they came." -Journal of Major Yard.
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doned. In order that this movement may be understood, reference must be had to events and operations elsewhere.
From the outset of the rebellion, its chiefs had regarded the capture of Washington as of the highest importance, and had accordingly directed all their preparations to that end. By the tenth of May, some eighteen thousand troops, more or less effi- ciently equipped, were moving toward Virginia. As rapidly as possible, these troops were hurried to Manassas Junction, a point of great strategic importance, commanding the grand Southern rail- way route connecting Washington and Richmond, and also the road leading to the Shenandoah Valley beyond the Blue Ridge. Being thirty miles distant in a direct line from the National Capi- tal, it had been foreseen by many Federal officers that the occupa- tion of this point was of the utmost consequence to us, as a key to our whole system of defence, but in the tardiness, amounting almost to paralysis, which characterized the movements of the Commander-in-Chief, the position was not seized, but left to be occupied by the enemy, who in after days was only dislodged at the cost of thousands of precious lives. Nor did the rebels stop here. Moving expeditiously and quickly, they pushed their lines almost to the border of the Potomac, and even sought to fortify Arlington Heights, whence heavy guns would command the cities of Washington and Georgetown. Had they succeeded in this purpose, it is not too much to say that the most fatal consequences must have followed. The Capital must have fallen into their hands, and the whole character of the war. with all the archives and property of the Government in their possession, would have been changed. Fortunately, however, their design was detected in time to prevent its consummation. The discovery showed, with startling clearness, the grave mistake of the purely defensive policy which General Scott had hitherto pursucd, and he was at last induced to consent to an immediate advance into Virginia. There were then in and around Washington some 13,000 national troops, under command of General Mansfield, and to him, on the 22d of May, orders were issued for the occupation of the Virginia shore of the Potomac, and also of the city of Alexandria, nine
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miles below. It was to participate in this movement that the New Jersey troops, on the 23d of May, struck their tents and abandoned their camp on Meridian Hill.
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The order issued to General Runyon required him to have his brigade at the Long Bridge at 2 o'clock on the morning of the 24th. Accordingly, at the evening parade, the Second, Third and Fourth Regiments11 were paraded in heavy marching order, and being supplied with one day's rations, at about midnight took up the line of march in silence for the bridge, which was reached at the hour appointed. The invading column at this point numbered six regiments, with several companies of local militia, to whom was assigned the work of driving the insurgent pickets from the route over which the main body was to pass. The passage of the bridge was effected in silence, only the muffled tread of the troops disturbing the slumberous night.12 The bridge being crossed, the Second Regiment was posted at Roach's Spring, and the Third and Fourth about half a mile beyond on the Alexandria road-the Third being located near Abingdon House, the mansion of Bushrod W. Hunter, formerly a Lieutenant in the United States Navy. Immediately upon the arrival of the brigade, details were made to construct a fortification which had been staked out by Government engineers at the junction of the Columbia and Alexandria roads- the remainder of the troops remaining under arms until daylight. The brigade headquarters were established near Columbia Springs, and tents being supplied by the Government, the troops went into
11 The First Regiment did not cross until the following day.
13 " At twelve and a quarter o'clock, the regiment was formed on the parade ground, in silence. The moon was shining brightly, and there was not a cloud in the sky. At twelve and three-quarters the order to march was given. The long lines filed slowly out of camp and down the road, their bayonets gleaming in the moonlight, and no sound save the measured tramp of nearly a thousand fect. * ** Through the city, past Willard's Hotel, tramp, tramp we went, and scarcely a soul to be seen outside of our dark column. As we left the encampment, the Second and Fourth Regiments fell in behind us. After passing Willard's, we found the Seventh New York Regiment, standing in line in the street; we passed them, and presently passed a battery of flying artillery, and then a troop of cavalry, and then we came to the bridge over the Potomac. On we went, tramp, tramp, over the bridge. At ten minutes before three o'clock our fect struck the soil of old Virginia. The whole length of the bridge was guarded by armed men, and troops lined both sides of the road for some distance after we crossed. After proceeding along the line of a railroad about two miles, we took possession of a hill, and came to a halt."-Major Yard's Letters.
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camp along the Heights which had been, by this movement, saved from the rebel clutch.
Thus at last a secure lodgment of national troops was effected on the soil of Virginia. Alexandria had been captured, and the enemy, for the time being, was driven from the line of the Poto- mac. No point occupied by our troops was of greater strategic importance than that held by the New Jersey Brigade, and this fact, while illustrating the confidence of the Commander-in-Chief in their trustworthiness, also imposed extraordinary responsibility as well as unexpected labors. Immediately upon the establish- ment of the lines on the 24th, details from all the regiments were put to work in constructing entrenchments and redoubts,13 and it is among the chief honors of this brigade that the first regular work constructed by the national troops at the beginning of the war, and the first over which the nation's flag was flung out, was completed by the brawny arms of Jerseymen, many of whom were altogether unaccustomed to manual labor, but all of whom worked with un- flagging vigor and industry with the tools at their command.14 During the whole period of the war, these works stood as monu- ments of the muscular activity and vigor of our volunteers ; and it was only just that the principal fortification, having been built exclusively by Jerseymen, should be named, as it was, Fort Runyon, and so known ever after. 15
13 These defences extended from Roach's Spring, on the Washington and Alexandria road, across Arlington Heights.
14 " The whole of the New Jersey Brigade have been actively employed upon the fortifications ; their labors have been unceasing from six a. m. to seven p. m. every day since the work began. The men work three hours at a time, and every company in the brigade has to do its share of the labor, besides its other duties of guard, &c. There is very little, if any, complaint of the labor; as far as I can learn, the men do it cheer- fully. It is a work of considerable magnitude, and covers many acres of ground. It will command all the approaches to Washington from this quarter."-Extract from a letter dated June 1.
A subsequent letter by the same writer, dated June 10th, says :
"The work on the fortifications is rapidly approaching completion. Several magazines for ammunition have been constructed during the past week." Five days later the same person writes: "Seventeen guns have been mounted at the fortifications, and several more are on the ground."
15 This name was selected by the troops under authority of a letter from E. D. Town- send, Assistant Adjutant-General of the army, directing that the troops employed on the entrenchments be permitted to name them.
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Being now, so to speak, in an enemy's country, extraordinary vigilance was at all points necessary, and General Runyon prompt- ly put his command in trim for any emergency that might arise. The issue of passes was strictly forbidden, the discharge of fire-arms prohibited, and stated drills, with special reference to loadings and firings, bayonet practice, and resistance to cavalry, required of all the troops not otherwise employed. Orders looking to the prevention of pillage and violence were also issued, and the invio- lability of private property was sacredly maintained.16 Attention was also given to the matter of sanitary police, and in other re- spects the exactest discipline and attention to soldierly duties was enforced. The result of this vigorous enforcement of military law was soon apparent in the improvement of the brigade in all the features of proficiency. Nor were the morals of the men overlook- ed. Religious services were frequently held, and care was taken to exclude from the camps everything calculated to lead the men
16 HEADQUARTERS NEW JERSEY BRIGADE, CAMP PRINCETON, June 2d, 1861.
General Order No. 25.
The peculiar character of the present serviee renders it proper that the attention of officers and men be directed to the necessity of observing, with the most serupulous exactness, the rights of private property of the people of the States in which the troops may be. Our errand and purpose is to liberate the loyal from a reign of terror, and to restore to the Government that property which, belonging to the whole people of the United States, has been wrested from them by the traitorous hand of lawless and reckless violence. We are not in an enemy's country. We are bound by every consid- eration to regard the rights of persons and property here as elsewhere. There must be no plundering, pillage or wanton destruction. When discovered, it shall not go unpun- ished. Any interference with private property will be visited with speedy and exem- plary severity upon the offender, and it is especially enjoined upon all officers to report with the utmost dispatch all cases of illegal interference by persons belonging to their commands with the property of citizens of States where the force may be located.
By command of
Brigadier-General THEODORE RUNYON."
Subsequently, a board was constituted to estimate and report the amount, kind and value of all private property taken and used, and of the damage done in any way to such property by reason of the occupation of that section of country by New Jersey troops. All persons whose property had been occupied were notified to present their claims, when the board made a persona! inspection of the damage done. One man handed in a claim for $1,900 for damages to his fences and erops, whose whole property, houses, lands and stock, was not found worth that amount. Attempts at imposition, of this nature, were frequent during the early stages of the war, and there was for a time a disposition to liberality in the estimate of damages, but this feeling in due time gave way for the rule that disloyal owners had no right to claim damages at the hands of a Government which they were endeavoring to destroy.
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astray-a notable act of the commanding General in this direction being the destruction of all the liquor-shops within his reach.17
On the 18th of June an order was received from General Mc- Dowell (who on May 27th had notified General Runyon that he had taken command of that department), directing that the head- quarters of the brigade be changed, and two regiments moved to a new position about three miles from Camp Princeton. According- ly, the First and Third Regiments were advanced to a point near Roach's Mill, on the line of the Alexandria and Loudon railway, leaving, the fortifications and Arlington Heights in the rear, and within five miles of the picket-guard of the enemy. On the 20th, a further order from General McDowell directed the command to be held in readiness to march. An engagement having occurred a few days before at Vienna, (June 17th) and the enemy being known to be in considerable force in front, this order was generally accept- ed as indicating an advance of our army, and the excitement among the troops was consequently great, all manifesting the utmost eagerness to march. But this expectation was not immediately realized. The brigade remained in the same position as before un- til July 16th, when the First Regiment was advanced to a point three miles beyond Springfield, and detachments from other Regi- ments were detailed for duty at other points in advance of the line then occupied. The first grand advance of the Army of the Potomac had commenced.
We have seen that the insurgents, among their earliest offensive measures, took possession of Manassas Junction, with a view of
17 Extracts from General Order No. 41 :
"It is meet that we who come forth to battle in the name of civil and religious liber- ty, should acknowledge by external acts of devotion our dependence upon the Lord of Hosts. If He be with us, who can be against us? The General commanding this brigade takes this occasion to express his deep gratification at the cheerful attention given to this matter by officers and men of the command."
Meetings for prayer, as well as the regular Sabbath service, were held in all the regi- ments, the effect being most salutary. The Chaplains of the regiments were the follow- ing : Rev. A. St. John Chambre, appointed by the Colonel of the First Regiment ; Rev. Matthew B. Riddle, appointed by the Colonel of the Second Regiment; Rev. Jolm L. Janeway, appointed by the Colonel of the Third Regiment; Rev. Martin E. Harmstead, appointed by the Colonel of the Fourth Regiment; Rev. George H. Doane, appointed by the Governor. These appointments were made immediately upon the passage of an act authorizing the same, and the reverend gentlemen joined the brigade in Virginia.
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moving thence upon Washington. Disappointed in that design, they nevertheless held tenaciously to their position, and by the first of June had thirty thousand troops gathered at that point, or rather at Bull Run. Considerable bodies of troops had also been concentrated in the Shenandoah Valley, having fallen back from Harper's Ferry and vicinity before an advancing column of Union troops under Major-General Patterson. Along Bull Run the lines of the enemy occupied a front of about eight miles, extending from Union Mill to the stone bridge of the Warrentown turnpike. This position was admirable for defence, the rocky, wooded and precipitous banks of the stream, with its deep bed, forming-ex- cept at the fords, which were long distances apart-an almost im- passable barrier for troops. Ten miles in advance of this main line, the enemy had strong pickets and slight fortifications at the village of Fairfax Court House, while at Centreville, a village on the west side of a ridge running nearly parallel with the general course of Bull Run, and some five or six miles east of that stream, they had constructed strong earth-works, which were occu- pied by a brigade of South Carolina troops. Thus the insurgents commanded a superior position, and were in sufficient force to dispute the advance of any force not their equal in numbers or judiciously handled.
But while the enemy was thus marshalling his forces and pre- paring for decisive movements, the Government and loyal people had not been idle. The obstinate incredulity as to the imminence of civil war, which had at first prevailed, had been entirely dissi- pated by actual collisions at various points in the field, and from all the Northern and Eastern States troops had been rapidly poured into Washington and organized for actual service. By the middle of July, an army of at least fifty thousand men had been gathered in the vicinity of the Capital. Unfortunately, however, many of these troops had enlisted only for three months, and had but a week or two to serve at the date when it was determined to ad- vance. The regiments composed of volunteers for "three years or the war," were for the most part without discipline, having but recently arrived, and some of them being not even brigaded. There
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was, moreover, a lamentable deficiency in cavalry, and the regular troops, who had seen service, numbered less than one thousand. Thus, the only safe reliance of the Commanding General was the three months' contingent. But the exigency was pressing-the necessity for a movement imperative, and on the 15th of July, the order for an advance was given.
It is safe to say that no army of modern times has marched afield with higher hopes or more lofty purpose than this. It was animated throughout by the truest spirit of patriotism. It rejoiced, with an almost romantic eagerness, in the opportunity to defend the flag ; rejoiced, as a child rejoices to do kindly offices for the mother whose love blesses and enriches it. It represented the in- stinct of national unity glowing in the hearts of the people, and longed to interpret into deeds the emotions of loyalty and pride which beat in the pulses of all true men and women everywhere. It meant to decorate death, if need be, in the Nation's defence, by the " braveries of faith" in that Nation's cause. It saluted the royal occasion which came to it, first of all our armies, with jubi- lant welcomes. It followed with undoubting confidence the stand- ards which led the way to the scene of conflict. This much the historian must, in the merest justice, say of this army of volun- teers, not a few of whom in that beginning of the strife sealed with their blood their devotion to the cause, and thousands of whom, in later days, displayed in the white battle-heats a heroism which has nowhere been matched. But with all this, that young army was not prepared for battle. Its spirit was noble; but its organization was crude, lacking homogeneity-the one grand and essential requisite of all armies-and neither in its arms nor capacity for their use was it in any respect qualified for the work to which it was called. It was, as to organization, a great mob, and that it failed, in the crucial moment, was a misfortune, indeed, but hardly a dishonor.18
18 " This army was composed of excellent material, in a very crude state. With the exception of the regulars, the men were instructed in only the rudiments of military tactics and discipline, and a large portion of their officers were no wiser than they. The cardinal virtue of a thorough soldier, obedience, had yet to be acquired. Officers and men, in many cases, had been social companions, and the latter were restive under 7
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The forces engaged in the advance were organized in five divi- sions. The first, under General Daniel Tyler, consisted of four brigades and four batteries ; the second, under Colonel David Hun- ter, consisted of two brigades and two cight-pounder batteries ; the third under Colonel S. P. Heintzelman, of three brigades and two batteries. The fourth and fifth divisions constituted the re- serve, and were commanded respectively by Brigadier-General Runyon and Colonel Dixon S. Miles. The first of these reserve divisions consisted, originally, of the four New Jersey three months' regiments, and of the First, Second and Third three years' regi- ments, which had reached the field a few days previous to the movement. Being in the reserve, these troops were not expected to participate in active fighting unless the necessities of the case should require it, but were to be employed in other important ser- vices, such as guarding lines of communication and protecting am- munition and provision trains-services almost as hazardous, under some circumstances, as actual engagement. The advance having been ordered on the 15th, Tyler's Division moved forward, on the day following, to Vienna, where it encamped for the night, and on the 17th was followed by the whole army, marching in four columns, all having Fairfax Court House as their objective. This point was reached about noon, when Tyler's Division advanced
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