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 8
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NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
road by which the enemy's advance was expected. The line being reformed, silence again fell upon the scene-Colonel Montgomery meanwhile proceeding to General McDowell's headquarters, some two miles distant, for the purpose of receiving further orders. Mc- Dowell, however, could not be found, and finally, Blenker's troops having retreated, it was decided that there was no alternative but to fall back, and directions accordingly were at once given.2G
--
Slowly and not without regret, dangerous as their position un- questionably was, the men of the First marched away from the field where they had hoped to strike a telling blow in the nation's behalf. They had, indeed, performed bravely and well the duty assigned them; the first to reach the heights. whose defence was deemed important, they were the last, by several hours, to leave the position; but they had hoped that they might do something more-something that should brighten and redeem, in the eye of the world, the shameful record of a shameful day. After march- ing several miles, the regiment came up with the rear of the re- treating columns, and this afforded them a protection not before enjoyed. At two o'clock on the afternoon of Monday, the 22d, the command reached Fort Albany, near Alexandria, having been on duty for thirty hours, without provisions and exposed during a portion of the time to the blistering rays of a pitiless and burning sun. It was no wonder that many of the men dropped, exhausted, in the shelter of fences and friendly trees, and that when at last a refuge was reached, it was hailed with eager delight."
The battle of Bull Run was lost. To the enemy, however, the
26 " Before we moved off, I sent a messenger to inform Dr. Taylor, our Surgeon, of our orders to retreat. The Doctor came to me and asked permission to remain with the wounded, as all other surgeons had left with the retreating forces. I told him I knew not the moment we would want his services ourselves, but was willing to grant his request if the Colonel would agree to it. The Colonel did agree, and this is the last we have seen of that noble-hearted man."-Letter of' General McAllister, July 25, 1861. Taylor was subsequently taken prisoner.
" Colonel McAllister, in a letter dated July 25, 1861, says of the performances of the First Regiment : "Had it not been for our regiment, an immense number of wagons would have been left along the road, and would now be in the hands of the enemy with all the stores they contained. We saved the Government, too, a large amount of
61
HOSTILITIES COMMENCED-BULL RUN.
victory was by no means as complete as was supposed. It was, in point of fact, altogether destitute of substantial fruit. So severely did the confederates suffer, that their pursuit was not continued be- yond Centreville, and had our troops made a stand at that point, much of the disaster of the day might have been retrieved. Upon this point, the testimony of the confederate officers is conclusive. 28 But this was unknown to our troops at the time, and to them the reverse seemed overwhelming. Upon the loyal people at large,
other property. When we went up, parts of the road were literally covered with picks and shovels-in a word, with articles of every description usually belonging to an army. When we came back, nearly all was picked up, owing to our having stopped the retreat, and so given the fugitives confidence and inspired them with some sense of discipline."
In the same letter, General MeAllister establishes clearly the claim of the First Regiment to the honor of having been the last to quit the point of danger: "A great many claim the credit of protecting the retreat, and being the last to leave the field; but it is all in the imagination. We were the very last to leave Centreville. We remained two hours after Colonel Blenker left, and we would have been left to be cut to pieces had we not accidentally discovered that his command was retreating."
28 General Joseph E. Johnston in a letter published in the winter of 1866-7, designed to correct certain statements in reference to Bull Run, made in a Life of Stonewall Jackson shows conclusively that the enemy did not dare to pursue even as far as Cen- treville, on account of our strong reserve, and the inference from what he says plainly is that had McDowell made a stand, the fortunes of the day might have been retrieved. General Johnston says :
"The pursuit of the enemy was not continued, because our cavalry (a very small force) was driven back by the " solid resistance" of the United States infantry. Its rear guard was an entire division, which had not been engaged, and was twelve or fifteen times more numerous than our two little bodies of cavalry. The infantry was not re- quired to continue the pursuit because it would have been harrassing it to no purpose."
Referring to a statement that "it was expected that the confederate commanders would at least pursue the enemy to the gates of their entrenehments before Alexandria and Washington," &e., General Johnston says : "Such a pursuit would have been fruit- less. We could not have carried the intrenehments named by assault, and had none of the means to besiege them. Our assault would have been repulsed, and the enemy, then become the victorious party, would have resumed their march to Richmond. But if we had captured the intrenchments, a river a mile wide lay between them and Wash- ington, commanded by the heavy guns of a Federal fleet. If we had taken Alexandria, which stands on low and level ground, those guns would have driven us out in a few hours, at the same time killing our friends, the inhabitants. We could not cross the Potomae, and therefore it was impracticable to 'conquer the hostile capital' or 'eman- cipate oppressed Maryland.' "
Here we have a candid confession of the weakness of the enemy, and a recognition of the fact that, with Runyon's reserve in his path, pursuit was fruitless. Indeed, General Johnston says in so many words that " Mansfield's, Miles's and Runyon's divi- sions, a larger forec than we could have brought against them, had not been beaten nor engaged-and the reports of the commanders of the brigades engaged, show that they entered the intrenehments organized, except those who fled individually from the field." After these admissions it is hardly worth while for any one to say that the New Jersey regiments failed to render most important service on that bloody day.
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NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
after the first effects of the stunning blow had disappeared, its in- fluence was eminently salutary. It quickened everywhere the sen- timent of patriotic devotion to the Union, showed the importance of enlarged measures of defence, and, dissipating the last lingering hope of peace, brought the nation to an appreciation of the great work to which it was called. Thus, when the clouds of battle had cleared away, and the field once more appeared in view, the people arose as one man and embraced with a renewed consecration the solemn responsibilities which one day's disaster laid upon them.
Meanwhile, the troops of the First (three months') Brigade, having faithfully discharged all the duties assigned them, prepared, their term of enlistment having expired, to return to their homes. On the 24th of July, the Third and Fourth Regiments were order- ed to report to General Mansfield for muster-out, and on the 25th similar orders were issued to the First and Second. Proceeding immediately to Washington, they delivered to the Government the arms received in exchange for those furnished originally by the State, and the usual formalities of discharge from the service having been had, departed by rail for the State from which, at the first call of the National Executive, they had eagerly gone to the na- tion's help. Their reception, upon their return, was most cordial and enthusiastic, and hundreds of the men, eager to serve the country still more efficiently, at once re-enlisted, and soon returned to the field, where many of them fell, in after days, bravely fight- ing, with their faces to the foe .??
29 General Runyon, before quitting the field, received the thanks of the President, tendered in the presence of the Cabinet, for his services in connexion with the New Jersey Brigade. Subsequently, resolutions complimentary to his patriotism and effi- ciency as a soldier were passed by the Legislature of the State, and he was made Brevet Major-General of Militia, by appointment of Governor Olden.
CHAPTER V.
THE FIRST BRIGADE.
We have seen that the people of New Jersey responded with the most eager alacrity to the first call for troops to defend the nation. So numerous, indeed, were the volunteers for active ser- vice that, within a fortnight after the proclamation of April 15, several additional regiments might have been furnished. The re- peated refusals, however, to allow the State to furnish more troops, and the urgent requests that the number already accepted should, if possible, be reduced, rendered it imperatively necessary to de- cline the patriotic offers so freely made, and as a result hundreds of young men, eager to participate in the public defence, hurried to other States and there enlisted in forming regiments.1 In some cases, whole companies which had been recruited under the first call, finding that there was no probability of acceptance as part of the quota of New Jersey, were transferred to New York, and there became identified with the Excelsior Brigade and other or- ganizations which subsequently achieved great celebrity. The total number who were thus obliged to seek service elsewhere is stated by the Adjutant General to have reached nearly five thou- sand men. The State authorities were naturally impatient under
1 " The State was thus deprived of the valuable services of many officers and men, Prominent among the former was Colonel Bayard, a graduate of West Point, from New Jersey, who offered his services to his native State to command a regiment of cavalry." -Adjutant-General's Report.
The Adjutant-General, in his report for 1863, adds upon this point: "Large numbers of our citizens were obliged to seek service elsewhere, because the Governor could not accept them from this State: they may be found by companies in the Excelsior Bri. gade, in the Irish Brigade and other New York organizations, some in the Anderson Troop, and in other organizations from Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia. These men preferred to enlist in New Jersey Regiments, but the General Government positively refused to accept them from this State."
64
NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
the restraints thus laid upon the patriotism of the people and their own ability to preserve to the State the benefit of its own military resources; and Governor Olden steadily persisted, notwithstanding refusals and rebuffs, in imploring the Government to permit him to place additional regiments in the field .? At length these impor- tunities were successful. Warned by the rapidly increasing pro- portions of the rebellion that a greater number of troops would be required, and for a longer period of service, than were at first called for, the President on the 3d of May, 1861, called for thirty- nine regiments of infantry and one of cavalry, to serve for three years or during the war, and on the 17th of the month a requi- sition was received for three regiments from New Jersey. This requisition was granted at the special request of Governor Olden, with the command that the number should in no case be exceeded.3 This number of over three thousand men was easily furnished-a sufficient number of companies to complete the regiments being already organized, waiting to be mustered into service. The first company mustered in under this call (May 21st) was from Elizabeth.
2 "The Governor from time to time importuned the War Department to receive more troops from this State."-Report of Adjutant-General.
$ The following reply to the requisition was immediately made :
" TRENTON, May 18, 1861.
"Hon. SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War:
"DEAR SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 16th inst., enclosing plan of organization of the volunteers for three years or during the war, and assigning three regiments to this State.
" The three regiments are now ready, and only await orders to the mustering officer, Major Laidley, who is now here awaiting orders, to be mustered into the service. I have not called out more than the three regiments, because I have not been authorized to do so by you-but if the occasion required their services, this State would willingly furnish twice as many regiments to serve during the war.
"I have consulted the mustering officer, Major Laidley, and it is our intention to en- camp these regiments here at Trenton as soon as they are mustered in, and I shall then procced at once to furnish them with clothing, camp and garrison equipage, pursuant to the contract I have recently entered into with the Quartermaster-General of the United States.
"Permit mne to hope that the mustering officer will receive immediate orders to muster these regiments into service, that they may at once be daily and systematically drilled. It is my intention to officer these regiments with skillful and competent ofli- cers; the colonels will probably all be retired officers of the regular army, and I believe I shall be able to find experienced gentlemen to fill all the field appointments. It is my desire, and shall be my care, to make these regiments fit to take and keep the field against any enemy.
"Your obedient servant,
CHARLES S. OLDEN."
65
THE FIRST BRIGADE.
It went immediately into camp at Camp Olden, near Trenton, where the various other companies of the respective regiments were also encamped upon formally entering the service. The material of these regiments was excellent, many companies being almost entirely composed of men who had been identified with some of the best militia organizations of the State. This was especially the case with the Second Regiment, which included in its ranks a large proportion of the members of the City Battalion of Newark-an organization which had a wide reputation for superiority of drill and general soldierly proficiency. All the regiments were well officered, and all furnished in after years in- stances of the rarest gallantry in the field. The regiments were uniformed, clothed, equipped and furnished with camp and garri- son equipage by the State, and were furnished with arms by the General Government, from which source it was arranged that they should also receive their baggage-wagons and ambulances upon their arrival in Washington. The regiments left Trenton on the 28th of June, and reported to General Scott at Washington on the following day. One month later, another call for five addi- tional regiments was received,4 and these also were promptly fur-
4 The following is the correspondence in reference to this call :
" WASHINGTON, D. C., July 24, 1861.
" The Governor of New Jersey, Trenton :
"SIR: Together with the regiments of three years' volunteers which the Government already has in service from your State, enough to make cight in all, if tendered in a reasonable time, will be accepted ; the new regiments to be taken, as far as convenient from the three months' men and officers just discharged; and to be organized, equip. ped and sent forward as fast as single regiments are ready, on the same terms as were those already in service from that State.
"Your obedient servant,
"A LINCOLN."
Upon this letter was endorsed :
" This order is entered in the War Department, and the Governor of New Jersey is authorized to furnish the regiments with wagons and horses.
SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War.
The letter of the President was replied to as follows :
"STATE OF NEW JERSEY, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, } " TRENTON, August 3, 1861. 1
" To his Excellency, HON. ABRAHAM LINCOLN :
"SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 2ith ultimo.
"The State of New Jersey will respond with as much promptness as possible to the
9
66
NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
nished-the regiments being numbered respectively, Fourth, Fifth. Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Regiments of New Jersey volunteers. The Fourth Regiment reached Washington August 21st, being ac- companied by a battery of six pieces, furnished by the State and commanded by Captain William Hexamer, who had been waiting for six months for an opportunity to enter the service. This regi- ment was assigned to the brigade of Brigadier-General Kearney, and with the First, Second and Third Regiments, composed the First Brigade of New Jersey Volunteers. The Fifth Regiment left Trenton on the 29th of August, and reported for duty in Washing- ton on the day following. The Sixth Regiment reached Washing - ton on the 11th of September, and was followed, on the 20th, by seven companies of the Seventh Regiment, the three remaining companies of which reported on October 4th. The Eighth Regi-
requisition for five additional regiments for the war ; and will send each regiment for - ward as soon as equipped.
"This State will at all times be ready to support to the extent of its power, the Gen- eral Government in its noble effort to maintain our priceless institutions. We confi- .dently trust, that by the blessing of a protecting Providence, the labors of your administration, now attended with so much anxiety and care, will result in firmly establishing the Union.
" With sentiments of great respect, I remain your obedient servant,
"CHARLES S. OLDEN."
" WAR DEPARTMENT, July 29, 1861.
The President's letter, as above, (received July 30th) was enclosed in the following, from the Secretary of War:
"GOVERNOR OLDEN, Trenton, N. J.
" I have the honor to transmit herewith a letter from the President, with the endorse- ment of the Secretary of War.
"This department will accept from you, in addition to the three years' regiments now in the field, five new regiments, if tendered within a reasonable time. I do not doubt that your patriotic State will promptly furnish the men. * * %
* "I trust you will lose no time in equipping and forwarding these regiments, as the Government needs them at the earliest moment.
" I have the honor to be, dear sir, respectfully,
"SIMON CAMERON, Sceretary of War."
To this letter the following reply was made :
"TRENTON, August 3, 1861.
"HON. SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War :
"SIR: The State of New Jersey will furnish, equip and forward, as soon as possible, five additional regiments of infantry, to serve in accordance with the request of the President and your instructions. The regiments will be reported separately, as each is equipped and ready to be moved.
"Your obedient servant,
"CHARLES S. OLDEN."
67
THE FIRST BRIGADE.
ment arrived on the second day of that month. To this regiment was attached a battery of six pieces, with one hundred and fifty . nine non-commissioned officers and privates. These four regiments
formed the Second Brigade of New Jersey Volunteers, and were commanded by Colonel Samuel H. Starr of the Fifth, he being senior Colonel .*
* The regiments were organized and composed as follows :
FIRST REGIMENT .- Colonel, William R. Montgomery; Lieutenant-Colonel, Robert McAllister; Major, David Hatfield; Adjutant, William Henry, Jr .; Quartermaster, Samuel Read; Surgeon, Edward F. Taylor; Assistant Surgeon, Charles C. Gordon; Chaplain, Robert B. Yard. Company A-Captain, John W. Brown; First Lieutenant, Thomas T. Tillou; Second Lieutenant, Luther Martin. Company B-Captain, Sylves- ter Van Siekell; First Lieutenant, William H. Tantum; Second Lieutenant, Jolin Parker. Company C-Captain, William Birney; First Lieutenant, Samuel H. Parisen ; Second Lieutenant, Ephraim G. Brewster. Company D-Captain, Valentine Mutehler; First Lieutenant, Henry A. MeLaughlin; Second Lieutenant, Charles Sitgreaves, Jr Company E-Captain, Charles N. Pelouze ; First Lieutenant, James B. Shields; Second Lieutenant, Francis B. Holt. Company F-Captain, Enos Fouratt; First Lieutenant, David Thompson; Second Lieutenant, Jolin H. Voorhies. Company G-Captain, Alexander M. Way; First Lieutenant, Robert Boggs; Second Lieutenant, Jacob D Wycoff. Company H-Captain, Isaac H. Baker; First Lieutenant, Edward C. Page; Second Lieutenant, Joseph B. Eltringham. Company I-Captain, John D. P. Mount ; First Lieutenant, Augustus O. Evans; Second Lieutenant, Edward G. Brown. Com- pany K-Captain, Charles Consmiller; First Lieutenant, William R. Harrison; Second Lieutenant, Anthony C. Demling.
SECOND REGIMENT .- Colonel, George W. MeLean; Lientenant-Colonel, Isaac M. Tucker; Major, Samuel L. Buck; Adjutant, Joseph W. Plume; Quartermaster, William E. Sturges; Surgeon, Gabriel Grant; Assistant Surgeon, Lewis W. Oakley; Chaplain, Robert R. Proudtit. Company A-Captain, James Wilson; First Lieutenant, Bradbury C. Chetwood; Second Lieutenant, Williani J. Cree. Company B-Captain, Henry O. Ryerson ; First Lieutenant, John A. Wildrick; Second Lieutenant, Jacob H. Hoffman. Company C-Captain, James N. Duffy; First Lieutenant, Garret Brady ; Second Lieu tenant, David Duffy. Company D-Captain, Albert Sigel; First Lieutenant, Edward Schmidt; Second Lieutenant, Louis Helmner. Company E-Captain, Charles Wiebecke ; First Lieutenant, Ferdinand Stoll; Second Lieutenant, Albert Frank. Company F- Captain, Aaron Young; First Lieutenant, Henry Vreeland; Second Lieutenant, Wil- liam E. Blewitt. Company G-Captain, James H. Close; First 'Lieutenant, Horatio Leonard ; Second Lieutenant, "Sargent E. Leonard. Company H-Captain, Edwin Bishop; First Lieutenant, John F. W. Crane; Second Lieutenant, John W. Root. Company I-Captain, George Griffith; First Lieutenant, John Allen; Second Lieuten- ant, Charles Danforth, Jr. Company K-Captain, Charles H. Tay; First Lieutenant, Richard Hopwood; Second Lieutenant, Jacob Bogert.
THIRD REGIMENT .- Colonel, George W. Taylor; Lieutenant-Colonel, Henry W. Brown; Major, Mark W. Collett; Adjutant, Robert T. Dunham ; Quartermaster, Fran- cis Sayre ; Surgeon, Lorenzo Lewis Cox; Assistant-Surgeon, Edward L. Welling ; Chaplain, George R. Darrow. Company A-Captain, David Vickers, Jr .; First Lieu- tenant, John Roberts; Second Lieutenant, Charles Wilson. Company P-Captain, Henry C. Gibson; First Lieutenant, Franklin L. Knight; Second Lieutenant, William N. Evans. Company C-Captain, Joseph F. Rowand; First Lieutenant, Daniel P. Buckley; Second Lieutanant, E. Burd Grubb. Company D-Captain, James G. Fitts ; First Lieutenant, John J. Jones; Second Lieutenant, Hubert S. Linn. Company E-
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NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
It has already been seen, in another place, that three of the regiments of the First Brigade entered, almost immediately on their arrival in Virginia, upon the active duties of the soldier, forming part of General Runyon's Division of Reserves in the battle of Bull Run, and aiding materially in arresting the retreat of our forces on that fateful day. Immediately subsequent to that battle, the First and Second Regiments went into camp near Alexandria, and here also the Third, which was stationed at Fairfax during the engagement, took position; the Fourth, upon its arrival, being or- dered to the same vicinity. On the 25th of July, Major Philip Kearney, who had greatly distinguished himself in the Mexican war, was appointed a Brigadier-General of volunteers," and carly in August he was assigned to the command of the New Jersey troops, who were attached to Franklin's Division, the brigade headquarters being established at St. John's Seminary, some three
Captain, Edward L. Campbell; First Lieutenant, William P. Robeson, Jr .; Second Lieutanant, George P. Sannders. Company F-Captain, James W. H. Stickney; First Lientenant, Sammel T. Dubois ; Second Lieutenant, George Woodruff. Company G- Captain, Peter F. Rogers; First Lieutenant, Richard D. Cook; Second Lieutenant, Arthur S. Hardcastle. Company HI-Captain, William E. Bryan; First Lieutenant, Wil- liam Spence; Second Lieutenant, Jolm Frautz. Company I-Captain, Leonard H. Regur; First Lieutenant, Archy S. Taylor; Second Lieutenant, Lewis C. Spencer. Company K-Captain, John H. Whelan; First Lieutenant, John B. Lutz; Second Lieu- tenant, David Fairly.
FOURTH REGIMENT .- Colonel, James II. Simpson ; Lieutenant-Colonel, J. L. Kirby Smith ; Major, William B. Hatch; Adjutant, Josiah S. Studdiford; Surgeon, Alexander V. Dougherty; Assistant-Surgeon, Joseph D. Osborne; Quartermaster, Samuel C. Har- bert; Chaplain, Rev. Norman W. Camp, D. D. Company A-Captain, Charles Meves; First Lieutenant, Charles Meyer; Second Lieutenant, Charles Linsenbarth. Company E-Captain, William Seddon ; First Lieutenant, Robert S. Johnston; Second Lieuten- ant, John B. Warner. Company C-Captain, Heathcote J. Disbrow; First Lieutenant, Calvin T. Speer; Second Lienteuant, Robert W. Roberts. Company D-Captain, Sam- uel Mulford; First Lientenant, Barzillai Ridgway; Second Lieutenant, John M. Pear- son. Company E-Captain, Charles Hall; First Lieutenant, William H. Eldridge; Second Lieutenant, Samuel H. Ellis. Company F-Captain, Napoleon B. Aaronson ; First Lieutenant, Thomas M. Fetter; Second Lieutenant, Frederick G. Aaronson. Company G-Captain, Henry M. Jewett ; First Lieutenant, Samuel M. Gaul; Second Lieutenant, Elias Wright. Company HI-Captain, John Reynolds; First Lieutenant, Thomas P. Grapewine; Second Lieutenant, James T. Lowe. Company I-Captain, William Nippins; First Lieutenant, John L. Ridgway; Second Lieutenant, Howard King. Company K-Captain, J. W. Lumley; First Lieutenant, William Stillings ; Second Lieutenant, Charles W. Johnson.
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