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. 2 > Part 11
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" This camp was named "Camp Nixon," in honor of Hon. John T. Nixon, of Bridgeton.
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"Camp Cumberland." On the 27th, the regiment was reviewed by Brigadier General Abercrombie, after which the command remained comparatively idle until General Burnside assumed command of the Army of the Potomac, when it, in common with all other regi- ments in the vicinity, received marching orders. Shelter tents were drawn, and with five days' rations, the regiment on the 1st of December set out for its destination. Lieutenant James J. Reeves. of Company H, was detached from the regiment to take charge of the camp, including the sick, having instructions to turn over the Sibley and other tents to the Quartermaster-General in Washington and to find transportation for the company books, cooking utensils and the necessary baggage of the officers. Passing through Wash- ington, the regiment crossed the east bank of the Potomac and encamped the first night in the woods, four miles from the Capital. On the 2d, after another march of fifteen miles, it encamped near Piscataway, Saint George's County, Maryland. On the 3d, the supply of rations failed, and after the regiment had halted for the night, foraging parties sallied out on an expedition, returning with a good supply of confiscated property with which to appease their hunger. On the 4th the brigade, led by the Twenty-fourth, passed through Port Tobacco and encamped in the woods two or three miles from the village ; the next day about noon, reaching Liverpool . Point in the midst of a cold, dismal, drenching rain-storm. Here part of the troops found passage across Aquia Creek to the landing, in the steamer Saint Nicholas (the boat captured by Thomas, the "French Lady,") and part on canal boats. The storm now in- creased in violence and intensity ; rain was succeeded by snow and sleet ; but the men still struggled on, and at length cold, wet and hungry, encamped for the night, making themselves as comfortable as possible with no other bed than the slush and mud, and no bet- ter protection from the cold and storm than a single blanket and the half of a shelter tent above them. Sunday (the 8th,) passed with but little improvement in the situation. On Monday, the regiment marched some eight or ten miles, and on Tuesday, after a further march, encamped upon a high hill not over a mile from the village of Falmouth. Here it was permanently brigaded with the
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THE TWENTY-FOURTH REGIMENT.
Fourth and Eighth Ohio, Fourteenth Indiana, Seventh Virginia and Twenty-eighth New Jersey Regiments under the charge of Brigadier-General Kimball, in French's Division, Couch's (Second) Corps. On Wednesday the arms were inspected, sixty rounds of cartridges supplied and three days' rations issued to each man. On Thursday morning at four o'clock, orders were received to strike tents, roll them up with blankets, leave knapsacks and stand in readiness to march at a moment's notice. Burnside was ready to strike. Long before day-break the booming of the heavy artillery from our batteries which had opened upon Fredericksburg signaled :bat the work had commenced, and without delay the brigade marched towards the point of assault-halting at length in a deep ravine, a mile from the city, where, listening to the noise of the combat as it grew louder and wilder, it remained until sunset. Then it was marched down to a plain opposite the city, but was soon, on account of the storm of shells, forced to fall back to the side of a hill in a strip of woods, where it encamped for the night. The next morning at sunrise, the enemy having evacuated the town, the brigade crossed the Rappahannock on the pontoon bridges at double-quick, marched into the main street, and there, stacking . arms, spent the day and night awaiting orders. Early on Friday morning, the 12th, preparations for an assault were ordered, and the men being drawn up in line, were addressed by General Kim- ball. "Boys," he said, "we are the attacking brigade. I shall expect you to go ahead and open the fight. Keep steady, aim low, and let every man do his duty. Remember you are Jerseymen." The attack, however, was not then made, as anticipated, being for some reason postponed until the following day. In the evening, two companies, F and G, were sent out as picket on the outskirts of the town, but were called in at eight o'clock on Saturday morn- ing, when preparations were at once made for the attack. The Fourth and Eighth Ohio were deployed as skirmishers to drive in the rebel pickets, when Kimball's Brigade, headed by the Twenty- fourth, marched in column at double-quick out of the streets of Fredericksburg into the fields in the rear of the city. Here another order was given to the men to relieve themselves of blankets and
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tents, which being done, and the brigade coming into position, the whole division charged at double-quick across a ditch and over a muddy corn-field against the rebel works, with a view of taking their batteries at the point of the bayonet. But the assault, though gallantly made, was a costly one; from the rifle-pits in front came the murderously-aimed bullets of the sharpshooters, and from the stone walls the unceasing firing of the infantry, while from the heavy batteries, tier above tier, planted behind strong field-works on the top of the hill, a furious storm of shot, shell and shrapnel poured into the advancing ranks. One by one the brave boys of the Twenty-fourth, fell wounded and dead; but still the line swept on, the men now loading and firing as they went, picking off here and there a rebel as he showed himself above the works. But in a contest so unequal, success was impossible, and bravely as the assailants pushed the assault, they could not carry the works. No troops, indeed, advanced nearer to the defences at that point-save the Irish regiments-than Kimball's Brigade, and for that they received the thanks and applause of the Commanding General ; but gallantry such as theirs deserved a more complete success than this. They did not, however, abandon the ground, but held it tenaciously until relieved. Even then, the men could not withdraw to the rear, being compelled to seek refuge in and about the neighboring buildings or lie down at full length upon the ground, still exposed to the deadly bullets or the burning fragments of bursting shells. Here the regiment remained, unable to soothe the wounded or com. fort the dying, until darkness curtained the scene of carnage. The loss of the regiment, which behaved admirably throughout, was severe, amounting in all to one hundred and sixty, as follows:
Company A, 2 killed, 13 wounded; Company B, 3 killed, 15 wounded; Company (". 16 wounded, 5 missing ; Company D, 3 killed, 12 wounded, 3 missing ; Company E. 2 killed, 4 wounded, 7 missing; Company F, 1 killed, 6 wounded, 5 missing; Com- pany G, 2 killed, 20 wounded, 3 missing; Company H, 1 killed, 5 wounded, 2 missin. : Company I, 2 killed, 16 wounded, 1 missing; Company K, 8 wounded, 3 missing. (1 those reported as wounded a number subsequently died, while many of those reported missing have never been heard from.
The instances of special gallantry in the regiment in this memora. ble engagement, were numerous, but cannot, obviously, be men- tioned in detail here. Sergeant Henry S. Spaulding, Company B.
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THE TWENTY-FOURTH REGIMENT.
afterwards promoted to the Second Lieutenancy of Company I. received a musket ball in his shoulder ; Captain Aaron Ward, Company D, a ball through his left lung; Second Lieutenant George D. Brittain, Company D, and Captain Samuel Harris, Company F. were shocked by explosions of shells; Second Lieutenant Wil- Liam Pepper, Company F, was wounded in leg and head; Sergeant II. R. Pierson, Company G, afterwards promoted to Second Lieu- tenant, Company F, was wounded in the side; Sergeant John Springer, Company B, afterwards Second Lieutenant of Company B, wounded in the hip; Second Lieutenant James J. Reeves, Com- pany H, wounded in the left arm above the elbow ; and Captain Wil- liam C. Shinn, Company I, was wounded in the right eye, the sight of which is lost. Second Lieutenant R. B. Potter, Company G, narrowly escaped-a ball having struck his watch, glanced off, and wadded itself in a glove in his pocket. First Lieutenant John O. Crowell, who had for several weeks acted as Adjutant of the regiment, carly in the engagement received a severe wound in his arm, but brave to the last, still rallied forward his men until a fatal bullet prostrated him instantly to the ground. The regiment sus- tained a heavy loss in the death of this young and gallant Lieute- nant. Few men possessed in a greater degree the requisite qualifi- cations of a good soldier and popular officer. Energetic and prompt, cordial yet dignified, kind-hearted and complacent but always decided-he exhibited at the same time an unflinching patriotism that nothing could appal or turn from the path of duty. The officers of the regiment, at a meeting held soon after the battle, passed appropriate resolutions concerning his death, which were duly published and forwarded to his afflicted family.
The firing of the enemy ceased at nightfall, and not until then could any assistance be afforded the wounded or any attempt made to ascertain the number of the dead. And even then, though the night was spent in diligent search for friends supposed to be among the wounded or killed, many remained from whom no tidings could be obtained, and of whom it only could be said that they were " missing." Among those who were thus recorded was Lieutenant Alexander L. Robeson. Having the charge of his company in the
66
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NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION
Captain's absence, he bravely led them forward never to return. Though a faithful and often-repeated search was made for him, as long as such search could be allowed, no tidings were received, nor has any positive intelligence since been obtained concerning him. The members of his company loved him as a brother, and his men were equally dear to him. He looked faithfully after all their wants and sympathized with them unfailingly in all their sufferings. He was especially endeared to his fellow officers, who esteemed him for his intelligence and excellent judgment, and loved him for his virtues and exemplary Christian character.3
On Monday following the engagement the regiment re-crossed the river, and returned to Camp Knight, with but few blankets and still fewer shelter tents, having lost nearly all in the engagement. The fatigue and exposure naturally occasioned much sickness, and on the 30th of December, the entire regiment reported for duty only thirteen officers and two hundred and seventy men.
During the month of January, the regiment remained in camp, engaged in various routine duties-not participating in the "Mud March" projected and undertaken by General Burnside. On the 20th of February it removed to a new and more comfortable camp, named "Camp Robertson" in honor of the Colonel, and for some weeks subsequently performed picket-duty along the Rappaban- nock opposite Fredericksburg, having headquarters at the Lacy House. This fine old mansion, whose owner was a Colonel in the Rebel Army, was also the headquarters of the United States Sani- tary Commission. Throughout the winter, the excellent ladies connected with this and the Christian Commission, prominent among whom was Mrs. Mary Harris, of Philadelphia, in addition to administering to the temporal wants of the cold and hungry soldiers, held daily evening prayer-meetings in a spacious room a: the west end of the building, which were attended by crowds of
3 A note from an officer of the regiment says :
" Among the most indefatigable in looking after and administering to the wants . ! the sick and wounded of the regiment after the battle was our faithful Chaplain . Rev. William C. Stockton. Nor can too much commendation be awarded to !! Surgeon, Doctor W. S. Newell and his assistants, Doctors Williams and Rowand, a! 1 likewise to Doctor Jesse B. McBride, who was detached from Company F to ac: = > Hospital-Steward, and who was engaged all day Sunday in attending to the wounded
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THE TWENTY-FOURTH REGIMENT.
soldiers from the humblest private to the Division and Corps Com- manders. More frequent in attendance than any other officer of rank was Major-General Howard, the Christian patriot and soldicr.
A limited number of visitors were now allowed in camp and furloughs for ten days granted with moderation. Boxes containing necessaries and luxuries from home were daily received, much to the delight of the men.4 On the 27th of February dress-parade was resumed, and a few days after General Hooker reviewed his Grand Division. On the 10th of March, an attack being antici-
. The following from the diary of a member of the regiment gives a glimpse of the daily life of the regiment during this period :
"January 2d. Detail for pieket-duty from our regiment two officers and thirty-one men. Stationed about two miles westward from camp.
"January 6th. Major Fithian arrived in camp after a long absenec in Washington, casioned by sickness. Warm days and cold, frosty nights prove prejudicial to the health of the soldiers, and a large number continue to report daily on the sick list.
"January 9th. Regiment was out on battalion drill for the first time since we left Camp Cumberland ; numbered about three hundred men.
"Sunday, January 11th. Prayer-meeting held in the wagoner's tent, conducted by the Chaplain.
"January 13th. Robert Du Bois, Esq., of Bridgeton, arrived in eamp about mid- night, bringing with him two large boxes and a barrel containing articles for the regi- ment from the Ladies' Aid Society of Bridgeton, and many other things marked for private individuals. The following morning, 14th, the boxes were taken to the hos- pital tent and opened. Besides articles of clothing and delicacies for the sick, consist- ing of blankets, pillows, sheets, drawers, mittens, stockings, &c., cakes, crackers, :ellies, preserves, pickles, eanned fruits, meats, &e., for the hospital, there were many ther valuable articles from friends at home, principaliy for the Cumberland County trys. Mr. Du Bois, also, out of the overflowing generosity of his heart, distributed among the boys a barrel of apples, besides a quantity of tobacco, cigars and other use- fal articles, for which and many other aets of kindness he received the merited name of . the soldier's friend.' To the Ladies' Aid Society of Bridgeton, who at another Ume previous to this forwarded a similar supply to our regiment, which were made use of in Washington, the especial thanks of the regiment are due.
"January 16th. Orders received in camp to be in readiness to move the following morning.
" January 17th. The marching orders proved to be orders to prepare for a grand r.view of the Second Army Corps by Major-General Burnside, which took place on the common near General Hancock's headquarters.
" Sunday, January 1Sth. The funeral of private W. J. Richards, of Company F, took place this afternoon. He was buried with the usual military honors in a pleasant evt selected as the burial-ground of the regiment, on the top of the adjacent hill. The companies assembled at the hospital tent and slowly wound their way to the spot which was to be the last resting place of the departed soldier. A few appropriate remarks were made by Rev. Mr. Tallis, a minister visiting one of the camps in the ucichborhood, and a prayer offered by our Chaplain. This was followed by the volley of musketry fired over the grave, when the companies were conducted back to their arters. The deecased was personally unknown to me; I can only record that he was & faithful soldier.
"January 19th. Orders to move were repeated. Part of Franklin's and Hooker's
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pated, the regiment was placed under arms, but was not called into action. On the 14th, the men were supplied with Springfield
forces moved forward towards the river on the right of us, passing our encampment in the front and rear.
"January 20th. Sergeant Rounds, of Company B, died in the regimental hospital, and was buried at night by the side of private Richards, of Company F.
"January 21st. Dreary day. Roads almost impassable, yet thousands of troops have been passing beyond us from the front and rear all day. The pontoons arrived on the road near our camp last night, but could go no further. The batteries also moved towards the river with great difficulty. Commeneed raining in the afternoon and continues with vehemenee.
" January 22d. Rain continues. Roads in a terrible condition. Little hope of progressing with the vast army over the Rappahannock. The river has risen, and the troops are falling baek.
"January 23d. Cleared away beautifully about noon, but alas ! what quantities of mud. The entire army fell back to its original position. The boys are singing ' Burn- side's army lies floundering in the mud,' to the tune of 'Glory Hallelujah.' The troops in the retreat scattered like sheep over the hills and valleys, and many poor fellows, weary from marching and exposure, and soaked through with rain, lagged behind their regiments, only to be overtaken and hurried on their march by Rush's troop of lancers.
"Sunday, January 25th. The sick in our hospital, thirty in number, were removed in ambulances to the general hospital, at Windmill Point, near Aquia Creek Landing. The funeral of Hugh White, of Company C, who died of typhoid pneumonia, took place to-day.
" January 26th. General Burnside turned over the command of the army to General Hooker. Alexander Ryan, of Company H, died at Windmill Point Hospital, to which he was removed yesterday-an aggravated case of typhoid fever.
"January 20th. Snow on the ground a foot in depth. A romantic wedding was cele- brated at an old house on our picket-line, between the Drum-Major of the Fifty-third Pennsylvania Regiment and a simple-minded, pretty young Southern girl, about seventeen. I have sinee learned-be it said to his everlasting shame and disgraec-that he is already married at home. Corporal James Elwell, of Company H, died at Wind. mill Point Hospital. He was a good officer, and faithful soldier and friend.
" January 31st. Paymaster made his appearance in camp. Great rejoicing among the boys. Regiment received pay for two months, lacking a day. From the amount pabi to Company H, the boys sent home over one thousand dollars. Company B, being next highest on the list, sent home nine hundred and fifty-five dollars. Colonel Cook, of Trenton, carried home the money for them.
"February 3d. Order received that two out of every one hundred men reporting f .: duty should have a furlough for ten days, which created much joy throughout t !! regiment.
"February 4th. Regiment resumed company and battalion drills. Last night was considered, without exception, the coldest of the campaign.
" February 7th. The boys of the various companies visited the new camping ground. afterwards known as ' Camp Robertson,' bearing that name in honor of our excelle !! Colonel.
" February 8th. Major General Couch, commanding our corps, visited the regime :: ' Came to examine the hospital and visit the sick. William Tinker, of Company B, " ... buried at our regimental burying-ground to-day.
"February 10til. Colonel Robertson having been assigned to the command of : brigade, Major Fithian commanded the regiment.
"February 12th. Order read on dress-parade, furnishing soft bread four timer. weck."
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rifled muskets, and a week later the following promotions were announced : First Lieutenant Simpkins, of Company A, to be Cap- tain of the same company ; Second Lieutenant Hancock, of Com- pany A, to be First Lieutenant of Company I; Sergeant-Major Thompson, to be Second Lieutenant of Company A; Orderly-Ser- geant Barracliff of Company F, to be Sergeant-Major.5
At length spring opened, and with it active service was resumed. On the 28th of April, the Twenty-fourth Regiment, with the rest of the brigade, broke camp, and on the following day, crossed the Rappahannock at United States Ford, where it remained until the afternoon of the 30th, when, after a march of six hours, it halted in a corn-field near Chancellorsville. At this time, our army was rapidly concentrating at this point, and General Hooker already congratulated himself as having the enemy within his clutch, prematurely issuing an order in which he announced that " certain destruction " awaited the army of Lee. But while the combatants were marshaling their forces, and now and then coming in col- lision, the Twenty-fourth Regiment remained inactive, Kimball's (now Carroll's) Brigade being held in reserve, and it was not until Sunday, the 3d of May, that the command became actually en- gaged. On that day, heavy firing commenced at an early hour all along our lines, and for hours the Twenty-fourth was exposed to the incessant shelling of the enemy, who, having the advantage of our forces, approached its position nearer and nearer. At
" About this time an order was issued for the honorable discharge of Captain Gar- wood, of Company A. The following notes relates to a memorable incident of the regimental experience about this time :
"Thursday, April 2d, was an eventful day in camp. Copies of the infamous 'Peace Resolutions,' passed by the New Jersey Legislature, having been received and pretty generally read, the soldiers of the Twenty-fourth assembled in convention and unani- iously passed a series of resolutions severely condemning the action of the Legisla- ture. Speeches were made by Colonel W. B. Robertson, Chaplain Stockton, Surgeon W. S. Newell, Captain R. S. Thompson and Lieutenant W. E. Potter, of the Twelfth New Jersey, and Lieutenants C. W. Wilkins, D. W. Bartine and J. J. Reeves. This was one of the finest meetings ever held in the Army of the Potomac, &c.
"Sunday, April 19th. Funeral services of Private Chamberlain, of Company I, con- ducted by the Chaplain.
" Monday, 20th. Captain Sailer detailed to sit as a member, and Lieutenant Reeves as Judge Advocate, of Brigade Court-Martial. The charges preferred during this session were all against members of other regiments. Major Wilson, of the Twenty- eighth New Jersey, acted as President."-Votes of an officer.
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length, a flank movement being attempted by a part of Stonewall Jackson's forces, Carroll's Brigade was ordered into a dense thicket to relieve another command which had been sent in to repulse the foe-the men being directed to lie down with muskets half-cocked, in readiness to fire as occasion might demand. The enemy, how- cver, being in superior force, and having a more accurate knowl- edge of the ground, suddenly assailed the brigade with great violence, both on the front and flank, compelling it, after firing but a few rounds, to retreat to the open ground, where it found pro- tection from further assault, our heavy guns opening vigorously upon the rebels, and preventing their advance. In this affair, Colonel Robertson was in command of the regiment, and acted with great steadiness. Major Fithian, who had been detached from the regiment to act as aid to General French, manifested much gallantry, and received merited praise from the Commanding General. The loss in killed and wounded in the regiment was comparatively small. Lieutenant John Springer, of Company B, (but recently promoted,) received a severe wound in his right thigh, from the effects of which he died. Corporal John Chapman, of Company A, also received a ball in his thigh. Sergeant Heritage, of Company B, was killed. Captain James Smith, of the same company, received a ball in his left leg, Lieutenant James J. Reeves, of Company II, a ball in the left hand and wrist, and . Sergeant Carll, of the same company, a ball in the right leg. The losses did not exceed forty, all told, in killed, wounded and missing.
The withdrawal of the army having been determined upon, the Twenty-fourth, with the rest of the brigade, made its way back to the United States Ford, whence, having crossed on the 6th, it pro- ceeded to its old camp, where it continued to do picket-duty until ordered to Washington. Proceeding thence to Beverly, in due time the regiment was mustered out of service, and the men, as they were paid off, returned to their homes. At Bridgeton, Salem, Millville and elsewhere, public receptions were tendered to the home-coming companies; and so, amid the salutations and re- joicings of friends and kindred, the soldiers of the Twenty-fourth. having faithfully discharged their duty on every field to which
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THE TWENTY-FOURTH REGIMENT.
they were called, dropped contentedly into the old paths, and occupied once more the places they had filled before their feet turned battle-ward. The losses of the command had been severe, but the dead had fallen in a holy cause, and from their ashes, and those of all our martyred ones, a rich crop of blessings shall yet spring up, enriching generations to come.
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