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 13
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This company had five men wounded and one man missing (supposed killed) at the tuttle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1832; also one corporal and one private rounded at Suffolk, Va., May 3, 1863.
COMPANY G.
This company was raised in the following places : Upper. Township, Cape May County, 39; Weymouth, Atlantic County, 23; Camden, Camden County, 25; Morris River, Cumberland County, 9. Commissioned Officers-Captain, Charles R. Powell, blacksmith ; First Lieutenant, Ewing W. Tibbles, painter; Second Lieutenant, Nicholas Corson, school teacher.
Von-commissioned Officers and Privates-Bricklayers, 2; blacksmith 1; carpenters, 2; clerks, 3; cigar maker, 1; sheet iron worker, 1; seamen, 2; watermen, 12; carriage trimmer, 1; dentist, 1; masons, 1; machinist, 1; moulder, 1; shoemaker, 1; school teacher, 1; farmers, 5; millwright 1; miller, 1; printer, 1; harness makers, 2; paint- crs, 2; laborers, 50; glass cutter, 1; glass blower, 1; total 98.
This company had eight men wounded and one man missing (since died at Rich - mond) at the battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. Captain C. Force, wounded at the battle of Suffolk, May 3d, 1863. (Columbus Force, First Lieutenant Company ", promoted Captain of Company G.)
COMPANY H.
This company was raised in Paterson, Passaic County. Commissioned Officers- Captain, Harvey Beyea, machinist; First Lieutenant, Abraham Vanderbilt, carpenter ; Second Lieutenant, Cornelius Van Wagoner, merchant.
Non-commissioned Officers and Privates-Artists, 3; carpenters, 13; box makers, 2; Butchers, 3; belt maker, 1; bleacher, 1; barber, 1; elerks, 13; cooper, 1; copper- smith, 1; blacksmiths, 4; daguerrean, 1; engineer, 1; farmers, 5; gold beater, 1; lawyers, 2; laborers, 10; machinists, 8; mill wrights, 2; moulder, 1; printers, 2; painters, 3; plumber, 1; shoemakers, 4; sawyer, 1; silk spinner, 1; sheet iron work- cry, 2; type makers, 2; tinkers, 2; sash and blind maker, 1; silver plater, 1; tin- smiths, 2; weaver, 1; warper, 1; total, 101.
This company had two men wounded (one having died and the other discharged, by reason of their wounds,) at the battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862; also To inen wounded at the battle of Suffolk, Va., May 3, 1863.
COMPANY I.
This company was raised in the following counties : Cape May County, 69; Atlantic County, 5; Cumberland County, 1; Camden County, 25. Commissioned Officers-Captain, P. A. Stevens, farmer ; First Lieutenant, J. F. Tomlin, farmer ; Second Lieutenant, Samuel T. Douglass, farmer.
Von-commissioned Officers and Privates-Blacksmith, 1; butchers, 3; carpenters, "; formers, 30; huckster, 1; cotton-spinner, 1; mason, 1; painters, 2; moulders, 2; sailor, ! ; shoemaker's, 4; sheet and iron workers, 2; watermen, 36 ; total, 100.
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NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
This company had five men wounded and one man killed at the Battle of Fredericks- burg, Virginia, December 13, 1862; also, two men wounded at Suffolk, Virginia, May S, 1863.
COMPANY K.
This Company was raised in Acquackaponk Township, Passaic County. Commissioned Officers-Captain, Edward R. Spear, carriage maker; First Lieutenant, Lewis A. Piagot, watch maker ; Second Lieutenant, George M. Post, farmer.
Non-commissioned Officers and Privates-Bricklayers, 4; boiler makers, 2; blacksmiths, 5; butchers, 2; cooks, 8; charcoal burners, 14; hatters, 2; weavers, 2; bakers, 2; car- penters, 4; cotton spinner, 1; clerks, 4; huckster, 1; masons, 2; machinists, 2; watch- maker, 1; millers, 2; mill wright, 1; farmers, 24; painters, 2; plumber, 1; shoemakers, 6 ; sailors, 5; tailors, 1; total, 101.
This company had one Corporal killed and one private wounded, and one missing at the Battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862.
CHAPTER XX.
THE TWENTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.
THE Twenty-sixth, like all the nine months' regiments, was hasti- ly formed. It was composed of men from Newark and the adjoin- ing towns-Orange, South Orange, Bloomfield and Caldwell-each furnishing one company, while Newark filled the remaining six. The regiment was mustered into the State service at Camp Freling- huysen on September 3, 1862, and some three weeks later, (Sep- tember 26th,) being officered and equipped,1 proceeded to Washing- ton, arriving there the day following and going into camp on Capi- tal Hill. Here, being assigned to General Briggs's Brigade, Sum- ner's Corps, it remained until October 1st, when it was ordered to Frederick, Maryland, making the journey in open cars on which any degree of comfort was altogether impossible. On the 11th, the regiment started on its first march, proceeding to Hagerstown, where it was attached to the brigade of which it formed a part, until
I The original roster of the regiment was as follows :
Colonel, Andrew J. Morrison ; Lieutenant-Colonel, L -; Major, William
W. Morris ; Adjutant, John C. White; Quartermaster, Jolin H. Bailey ; Surgeon, Luther G. Thomas ; Chaplain, D. T. Morrill. Company A-Captain, Stephen C. Ford- ham ; First Lieutenant, Roelius Heinisch, Jr. ; Second Lieutenant, William H. Meldrum. Company B-Captain, William II. Halsey ; First Lieutenant, Mark Sears ; Second Lieu- tenant, James A. Linen. Company C-Captain, Samuel H. Pemberton; First Lieuten- ant, Cornelius MeCleese; Second Lieutenant, George Hogan. Company D-Captain, Henry M. Bush ; First Lieutenant, -; Second Lieutenant, Moses A.
Hoage. Company E-Captain, John Hunkle; First Lieutenent, Henry C. Terhune ; second Lieutenant, Ira Meeker. Company F-Captain, Walter II. Dodd; First Lieu- tenant, Robert J. Beach; Second Lieutenant, William R. Taylor. Company G-Cap- tuin, George W. Harrison ; First Lieutenant, George W. Nixon ; Second Lieutenant, Joseph A. Dunnell. Company HI-Captain, Samuel U. Dodd ; First Lieutenant, Brit- tain Haines ; Second Lieutenant, John I. King. Company I-Captain, John MeIntee ; First Lieutenant, -; Second Lieutenant, Albert Allen. Company HI-Cap- tain, Thaddeus Smith ; First Lieutenant, Peter F. Rogers; Second Lieutenant,
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the expiration of its term of service. This brigade was composed of the Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Vermont regiments, commanded by General Brooks, and formed part of Smith's Division, Franklin's Corps. General Brooks being soon after assigned to the command of a division, Colonel Whiting took command of the brigade." Leaving Hagerstown on the 31st, the regiment proceeded to Berlin, on the Potomac, where it crossed into Virginia, marching .to New Baltimore, and thence to a point on Aquia Creek, where it remained until, Burnside having com- pleted his preparations for a movement against Fredericksburg, it advanced with its division to Falmouth, going into camp on the 6th of December, in the midst of a cold and pitiless storm-the men pitching their tents in the frozen snow. So severe was the cold that the night after the arrival of the regiment, the water froze in the canteens.
On the 11th, marching orders came again. " Two days before "- we quote the narrative of one who participated in all the experi- ences of the regiment-"at evening dress parade, the Colonel had told the men that they would soon go into battle. He expressed himself pleased with the conduct of the regiment thus far, and
2 " At this time the regiment was over a thousand strong. We were fully and well equipped, with the important exception, however, of our guns, which were old, altered muskets, and totally unfit for active service. In respect to men, the regiment was composed of the flower of Essex County. True we had been hastily brought together, and some had been enlisted who were too old or too young or otherwise unfit for ser- vice, but the number of these was not large, and the great body of the regiment was composed of young active men, mechanics and farmers, men of character and intelli- gence for the most part. Out of such material the very best soldiers might have been made. Of our officers, Colonel Morrison was almost the only one who had seen ser- vice, and he had been a cavalry officer, so that his duties as commander of an infantry regiment were new to him. Many of the officers were, up to the time of their appoint- ment, unacquainted even with the company drill, and it was inevitable from the way in which they were chosen that some of them should prove untit for the positions which they occupied. We had to go through that weeding-out process which all our volunteer regiments went through with; but for us the process was a costly one, for we went through it, not in a winter camp, but during an active and trying campaign. when good officers would have been everything to us. We were emphatically a green regiment when we entered upon active service, and we learned our drill, not on the parade ground, but by long marches and finally on the battle field. We had one great advantage. We were brigaded with veterans, and with veterans, too, who had won a high reputation in the Peninsula and Maryland campaigns. Their example was our real teacher in the school of war. Such was our condition and situation when we crossed into Virginia."-Notes of an Oficer.
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THE TWENTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.
exhorted all to keep cool and obey orders when they came into danger. We started early in the morning and took the road towards the Rappahannock. After going a short distance, we were ordered for the first time to load. We were scarcely on the way again before cannonading commenced, and as we drew near the river it became more and more distinct, until we could hear the howling of the shells following the reports. On we went, until reaching the brow of a hill, the valley of the Rappahannock burst upon our sight. At our feet lay an extensive plain, through the midst of which we could trace the course of the river. In the back-ground, the Heights of Fredericksburg stood out against the horizon. To our right, the plain narrowed, and just where the hills met the river, lay the little, quaint old city. That view would have been remarkable at any time, but as we saw it, it was more than remarkable. The hills over which we were passing were grim with batteries, while on the plain beneath, the long dark lines of the Union army stretched for miles away into the distance. On the opposite bank we could catch glimpses of the rebel host, and from the hills directly in front of us their batteries peered out, half masked by the trees. To the right, the cannon- ading was becoming more and more terrible, and the smoke from the rebel guns hung like a pall over the devoted city. We soon had descended into the plain, and taking our place in the line, lay waiting on our arms. Presently the battery on the hill behind us commenced firing, sending the shells wizzing over our heads. The day passed on. Sometimes the firing almost ceased for a little while, and then was renewed with redoubled vigor. At sundown, a detachment attempted to cross the pontoon bridge which had been laid in front of us. As they went down the river bank, the sharpshooters on the other side opened on them. Then a battery, dashing down to the river bank, opened on the sharpshooters, and the flashing guns and shells bursting in the gathering darkness, made the scene indescribably grand. Soon all was quiet, and we moved back a short distance into the woods to pass the night. The following morning we crossed the pontoon bridge without opposition, and formed in line of battle on the opposite side of the
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river. Soon the rebel batteries opened, and then, for the first time we felt that we were under fire, for their shells, flying over our heads, frequently burst just above us, though too high to do any carnage. That night we slept on our arms. The next day was the memorable 13th of December. During the morning everything was comparatively quiet, but in the afternoon the firing became general and heavy all along the line. Around us the shells flew thickly, and two of our men were wounded. Column after column filed past us on the way to the front, and one regiment after another of our own brigade fell quietly into their ranks and moved off to battle, until we were left alone. We awaited our turn, a little nervously, perhaps, but still quietly and hopefully. We knew that we were not in fighting trim. Our Colonel was away sick, and Major Morris, our only field officer, had as yet had no opportunity to prove himself the brave officer we afterwards found him. Our muskets were useless, and our drill, as yet, was very imperfect. But every one seemed to feel that we could fight in spite of all this, and we felt half anxious to be led to the front. At last the order came, and the regiment never moved off in finer style or kept a better line; but we had not gone two hundred yards before the order was countermanded, and we marched quietly back to our former position. Why we went no further we never cer- tainly knew, but it was reported that Colonel Whiting, who com- manded our brigade, protested against sending us in, saying that it would be murder to do so with only one field officer and our useless arms. Night came on and the firing ceased. We lay down to rest, not knowing how the fight had gone. Little did we dream that the night had closed on one of the darkest days of our nation's history. The next morning was the Sabbath ; but no Sabbath rest came to the Army of the Potomac, except to those who slept their last long sleep under the shadow of those bloody hills. We were soon ordered up and moved to the front under a heavy artillery fire, which, however, did us no damage. We took our position along a road beyond which was the skirmish line. The skirmish- ers kept up a brisk fire all the morning, and the stretcher-bearers passed us with their mournful burdens; but towards afternoon all
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THE TWENTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.
became quiet, and we passed the night as best we could in the muddy road-the next morning falling back near the river. Lieu- tenant-Colonel Seaver, of the Third Vermont Regiment, now took command of the Twenty-sixth. We lay quietly all day, but at night silently crossed the pontoon bridge and in a little while were camped again in the woods on the north side of the Rappahannock -soon after going into winter-quarters near Belle Plain.
The regiment now entered fairly on the routine of camp duty, and under Colonel Seaver's command rapidly improved in drill and discipline. In January, when Colonel Morrison had resumed command, and Captain Martindale, of General Howe's staff, had been appointed Lieutenant-Colonel, the regiment participated in the " Mud March," suffering greatly and becoming so disheartened that only twenty or thirty men, on the return march, came in with the colors.3 At length the spring dawned, and the army again struck
' From the notes of an officer of the regiment, we gather the following in reference to this famous campaign :
"We moved off at a rapid rate, and as we had lately drawn our winter clothing, our knapsacks were unusually heavy. On we went for about four miles. Then a short halt to rest; and then on again, across the railroad, through wood and valley, up hill and down, past many a deserted camp the column moved, until at last it halted ina corn field to allow the stragglers to catch up, for the rapid pace and their heavy loads had began to tell on the men. Soon we started again at a more rapid rate than before, and now the regiments began to dwindle away and every deserted camp was filled with those who had fallen out of the ranks, utterly unable to keep up. We finally camped in a thick woods near Banks' Ford. It had been somewhat cloudy all day, but for weeks there had been no storms and the roads were in splendid condition, but scarcely had we set up our shelter tents before it commeneed to rain, and by morning the treacherous soil was like the "Slough of Despond." The storm, a cold north-caster. continued to rage during the day, and about one o'clock we were ordered to strike tents and mareh. We moved about half a mile in the direction of the river, when we halted and stacked arms. Here any doubts that we might have had respecting our destination were solved, for there, on a little rise of ground before us, a number of pontoon wagons were drawn up, while others were being dragged through the mud to that position. It was certain that we were to attempt the passage of the Rappahan- nock once more. Presently we were ordered to take off our equipments and were marched a little way back into the woods, where was a pontoon train stuek fast in the mud. Long ropes were rigged to the wagons and the Twenty-sixth took hold, one company to cach boat, to help the train through. We floundered away, some pulling by the ropes, others pushing, and after a good deal of hard work we dragged the boat> out of the woods on, or rather into, open ground; for in the woods there had been degrees of muddiness. Sometimes the wheels would go down to the hubs in some awful mud hole, then the ground would be comparatively hard for a little way, and we would have to draw the wagons over stumps instead of through the mud. But once out of the woods, our position was like that of liliputians in a great mud pie. The wheels went down actually over the hubs, and those of us were fortunate who did not get in over our knees. Some actually went down up to the middle. The horses, poor
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its tents and prepared once more to measure strength with the foc. Meanwhile, the Twenty-sixth had been supplied with new rifles and greatly improved in morale as well as drill. "The men," accord ing to the testimony of the writer already quoted, "were in the best of health and spirits, and if not anxious for the fray, were still ready for it." On the 28th of April, orders for an advance were received, and the Twenty-sixth once more moved towards the Rappahannock, bivouacking at night about a mile from the river, and early the next morning marching out to almost precisely the spot where it stood in line in December. Here it remained during
beasts, could of course do no nothing to help us, and the train was literally stuck. Another regiment was sent to our aid, and with their assistance we dragged the pon- toons almost over the horses' backs through the field to the hill where the others were drawn up. We were then ordered back to the place where our arms were stacked. By this time it was dark. We were wet to the skin with the rain, covered with mud and chilled through and through by the cold storm. There was nothing at hand of which to make fires except green serub pines, yet the men actually did make miserable smoky little fires with these, in spite of the rain, but to get warm by one of them was an im- possibility, much less to cook our suppers. We remained for some time in this misera- ble plight, when the Colonel rode up and said : 'Boys, take off your equipments ; there are forty more of these boats to be got through to-night and this brigade must do it ; so prepare for work!' This was adding misery to misery, but we waited and no orders to grapple the pontoons came, but presently the Colonel rode up again and told us to fall in, as we were going back to our camp. This news was received joyfully enough, and after stumbling along through the mud and darkness for about a mile, we found ourselves at the place from which we started in the morning. Soon rousing fires were going, by which we dried ourselves and cooked our coffee. We then pitched our tents on the cold, wet ground, and slept as soundly as if we had been in comfortable beds at home. Once during the next day we were ordered to prepare to march, but the order was countermanded. The opinion, however, was general that the intended movement had been given up. The day after, this opinion was confirmed, for at seven o'clock we started baek towards our old camps. The march soon degenerated into a grand straggle, for the men were literally worn out by the three days of terrible work which they had been through. The Twenty-sixth kept together very well until we reached Falmouth. There rations were served out; among them, as an extra favor, a whiskey ration, which did more harm than good. After leaving Falmouth, the regi- ment dwindled rapidly away, one after another falling out of the ranks, until a mere handful was left. The whole army straggled; here you could see a group of men from two or three different regiments cooly making coffee around a fire, while others were plodding leisurely along, some in groups, some singly. Now and then there would be a wagon stuck so that ten mules could not pull it out, or perhaps a knot of wagons, ambulances and artillery so entangled that it seemed as if they could never be separa: ted. Many a poor fellow lay down by the roadside utterly exhausted and helpless, and the army seemed totally demoralized. Only twenty or thirty of the Twenty-sixth came Into camp with the colors. For the next two or three days the stragglers kept coming in singly or in groups, and order was finally brought out of confusion. Though no notice was ever taken of those who fell out on the way home, a number of non- - commissioned officers were reduced to the ranks for straggling on the outward march, but most of them were soon restored."
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THE TWENTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.
the day, fighting meanwhile being in progress at Chancellorsville. The next day, it moved its line back to the side of the hills, but at night was detailed to escort a pontoon train to Banks' Ford, whence it returned to its position on the following morning. That day the men were permitted to rest, but on the next night, the brigade crossed the river, and with the dawn of the eventful 3d of May, moved up into the road in which it lay four months before, but in a position nearer the city than at that time. "The batteries on both sides now opened with tremendous fury"-we again quote from the narrative of a participant-" but behind the bank against which the Twenty-sixth was lying, the men were better protected from the rebel fire than from our own-several being hurt by fragments of shells from the guns just behind us. This state of things continued until about noon, when we were suddenly ordered to take off knapsacks and haversacks and pile them up in the road. Then, 'Forward, double-quick, march !' and forward we went over the bank, out into the open field, where we were fully exposed to the enemy's fire. On we went, now by the front, now by the right flank, until the rapid pace and frequent changes had thrown the line into considerable disorder. Colonel Morrison, riding far ahead of us on his white-footed charger, urged us forward, but Lieutenant-Colonel Martindale with better judgment, begged him, 'For God's sake, Colonel, halt your regiment and dress it up ;' and tben himself gave the order and posted the guides. No old regi- ment could have been cooler. There we were, half way across the field from the hills, on one side of which a perfect storm of shell and shrapnel was sweeping, but at the command the men halted and dressed up the line, not as accurately, perhaps, as we would have done on the parade ground, but still, well. Then we rushed forward again, and as we approached the foot of the hills, we could see the rebel gunners limbering up their lighter pieces. The Sec- ond Vermont, which had got a little ahead of us, were now moving up the steep slope on our right, in beautiful line, and presently we also commenced the ascent. A terrible volley thinned the ranks of the Vermonters, but they pressed on and the enemy began to give way. As we neared the earthwork, we expected to receive
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our share of the musketry fire, but none came, and when at last we came within a few yards of it, we saw that it was deserted and that the enemy had left in it a fine brass field-piece. As we reached the top of the hill we could see the flying foe crossing through a gully and ascending the rise of ground opposite us. We gave them a few shots and they were soon lost to view, but they rallied a little further on, supported by a light battery, and as we came up gave us a volley or two of grape, and then continued their flight. We were wild with delight. The terrible Fredericksburg heights had been captured, and we now stood victors on those dreaded hills which. we had so often gazed upon from the other side. The Twenty-sixth had fought its first battle, and had done well and courageously. We could now go home proudly, with an honora- bly-scarred flag. Our loss had been light in spite of the fire to which we had been exposed and we hardly gave it a thought as. yet. Such were our feelings as we marched back to the place where we had left our knapsacks. In the road we made our coffee and ate a few hard tack, which was about all the refreshments we had that day, and then, falling in once more, started towards the city. Now we turned up the road towards the works which the light division had taken that morning, and every now and then, passed the ghastly corpses of those who had fallen in the morning's charge. On up the turnpike and over the works we passed, on beyond the hills; and in the front where the First Division now was, we began to hear skirmish firing, soon followed by the ' growling of the bull dogs.' We moved up in the direction of the firing and away from the heights; pushed on a little further and then halted to replenish our ammunition. While we were doing so, the artillery fire suddenly ceased, and the low, sharp musketry rattle began. When we moved off again, we met wounded men coming to the rear. First, one here and there; then they grew thicker and thicker, until the road-side was lined with them. These, of course, were only those who could walk, or be helped on by comrades who were able. That dismal procession was poor cheer for us as we neared the front. However, before we came up with the firing, darkness came on and it ceased. We found that
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