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 17
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577
THE TWENTY-NINTH REGIMENT.
and shot, but to the perils of crumbling walls, falling about them as they paced their rounds. Here the detail remained until the stormy night of the 15th, when they were the last to withdraw, crossing upon the upper pontoons under a fierce cannonade from the enemy," which, however, did not inflict a single casualty.
From this time until the 10th of January the regiment was en- gaged in various duties. At that date, it was ordered to report to the Third Brigade, First Division, First Army Corps, for duty in the field, and at once marched to Belle Plain, being still brigaded with the Twenty-second, Thirtieth and Thirty-first Regiments. Here the regiment was first subjected to stated drills. On the 17th, Colonel Applegate tendered his resignation, which was accepted, and on the 20th, Burnside having determined on another campaign, the regiment moved out from its camp to participate in the move- ment, but soon returned, the campaign having terminated as speed- ily as it began. During the remainder of the winter, the Twenty- ninth remained in camp near Belle Plain, close attention being given to drills and preparation for the spring campaign.ยช On the 28th of April the long expected orders were received, and the regi- ment advanced, the division crossing the Rappahannock on the 29th on the extreme left of our lines, some five miles below Freder- icksburg, and taking position under a heavy fire from the enemy. The men of the Twenty-ninth, on this occasion behaved with great steadiness. The division held its position without drawing on a
: Chaplain Rogers, of this regiment, says of this withdrawal that it was conducted with the utmost coolness, and elicited the cordial encomiums of those who wit- nessed it.
3 Several vacancies having occurred in the field, line and staff officers, caused by the promotion of Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor to be Colonel, Major Davison to be Lieu- tenant-Colonel and Captain Field, of Company D, to be Major, the resignation of Cap- tain Green, of Company A, and First Lieutenant Smith, of Company I, and the selec- tion of Adjutant Whitaker to be Acting Assistant Adjutant-General of Brigade, regimental order No. 64 was issued, announcing First Lieutenant Sufburrow, of Com- pany D, to be Captain of Company D; Second Lieutenant White, of Company D, to be First Lieutenant of Company D, and Sergeant Taylor to be Second Lieutenant of Com- pany D; First Lieutenant Emmons, of Company A, to be Captain of Company A, Second Lientenant Inmach, to be First Lieutenant of Company A, and Sergeant Gill- son to be Second Lieutenant of Company A; Second Lieutenant Cottrell, of Company A, to be First Lieutenant of Company I; Quartermaster-Sergeant Schenck, to be Second Lieutenant of Company I; and T. Commerfort, Acting Adjutant.
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578
NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
serious engagement, though picket-firing was steadily maintained, and having accomplished its purpose in diverting the enemy's atten- tion from the right of Hooker's Army, re-crossed on the 2d of May under a heavy fire from the rebel batteries, the regiment losing seven men killed and wounded. Then, facing towards Chancel- lorsville, it made a forced march for the relief of the gallant army who were there maintaining the honor of the flag under circum- stances far from auspicious-reaching the part of the lines to which it had been ordered at sunrise on the 3d. But the regiment was not again called upon to grapple with the enemy. Sedgwick, meanwhile, fighting his desperate way over Saint Mary's Heights, was repulsed, and Hooker, thinking victory impossible, withdrew his forces and returned to his old position-the Twenty-ninth reaching its former camp on the 7th. Here it remained, engaged in picket and other duty until Lee started on his movement into Maryland and Pennsylvania, when it joined with the army in the pursuit, reaching Centerville on the 15th of June, where the brigade was relieved from duty in the corps, its term of service having expired. The regiment, with the brigade, continued its march to Washington, while the remainder of the Army pushed on to over- take and vanquish Lee in his forward movement, and leaving the Capital on the 17th, two days after reached Frechold, where, on the 28th, it was mustered out of service.
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CHAPTER XXIV.
THE THIRTIETH REGIMENT.
THE Thirtieth Regiment, mainly recruited in the county of Somerset, was mustered into service at Flemington on the 17th of September, 1862,1 and left for Washington, one thousand and six strong, on the 30th. Arrived at the Capital, it went into camp, but soon after proceeded to Tenallytown, Maryland, where it remained until the 30th of November, when it moved to Fort Car- roll, where it was brigaded with the Twenty-second, Twenty-ninth and Thirty-first New Jersey and One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Pennsylvania Regiments, and under orders proceeded to Liverpool
1 The original roster of the regiment was as follows :
Colonel, Alexander E. Donaldson; Lieutenant-Colonel, John J. Cladek; Major, Walter Camman ; Adjutant, John W. Mann; Quartermaster, Lemuel R. Young; Sur- geon, Joseph W. Wolverton ; Assistant-Surgeons, Alexander Barelay, Jr., George E. Summers ; Chaplain, Jolin S. Janeway. Company A-Captain, Arthur S. Ten Eyck ; First Lieutenant, James D. Vanderveer; Second Lieutenant, Joseph B. Smith. Com- pany B-Captain, -; First Lieutenant, Elias W. Brant; Second Lieutenant, Thomas Moore. Company C-Captain, Abraham Holland; First Lieutenant, Alexan- der Mills; Second Lieutenant, George W. Laing. Company D-Captain, Barelay S. . Vail; First Lieutenant, Edward S. Barnes; Second Lieutenant, Jesse Dalrymple. Company E-Captain, Cornelius T. Cox; First Lieutenant, James Bowman; Second Lieutenant, Garret B. Sanborn. Company F-Captain, Oliver A. Kibbe; First Lieu- tenant, Henry Lane ; Second Lieutenant, Charles W. Lanning. Company G-Captain, George W. Day; First Lieutenant, Clark T. Hunt; Second Lieutenant, Frederick S. Phillips. Company HI-Captain, James F. Hubbard ; First Lieutenant, Julius A. Fay, Jr. ; Second Lieutenant, James H. Parsell. Company I-Captain, John C. Bloom ; First Lieutenant, James S. Adams ; Second Lieutenant, Samuel A. Allen. Company K-Captain, Benjamin S. Totten; First Lieutenant, Theodore Strong, Jr. ; Second Lieutenant, Ira C. Carman, Jr.
Colonel Donaldson, commanding the regiment, at the time of his selection was Brigadier General of the Somerset Brigade of Militia, and the rapidity with which the regiment was recruited was largely owing to the confidence reposed in him by those who had been associated with him in military relations. He had been editor of the Somerset Messenger, and was widely known politically in his own and adjacent counties.
580
NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
Point, on the Lower Potomac, where it crossed to Aquia Creek on December 5th. Here the men were exposed to a severe storm, and being unaccustomed to the rigors of winter-life in the field, suffered greatly, though for the most part uncomplainingly. The storm abating, however, the regiment found comparative comfort, and shortly after, with the brigade, was transferred to the command of General Patrick, then commanding the Provost Guard of the Army of the Potomac, when it was employed in post duty, guarding the railroad, &c. Thence it was sent to Falmouth, but did not partici- pate in the battle of Fredericksburg, fought by General Burnside. On the 10th of January, 1863, the regiment was ordered to report to the Third Brigade, First Division, First Army Corps, and marched to Belle Plain, being still brigaded with the Twenty- second, Twenty ninth and Thirty-first New Jersey. Later in the month, the regiment participated in the " mud march," its experi- ences being essentially the same as those of the regiments just named. Returning to its camp at Belle Plain, it remained unem- ployed, except in the ordinary camp duties, until late in April, when, General Hooker having ordered a movement against the enemy, the Thirtieth, with its division, crossed the Rappahannock on the extreme left of our lines, some miles below Fredericksburg- the object of the movement being to divert the attention of the rebels while the main body of our army moved upon Chancellors- ville. Taking position at the point to which it was assigned, the regiment remained, with the brigade, without drawing on an engagement, until May 2d, when, Hooker being hard pressed, it moved to his relief, making a forced march to Chancellorsville, and . reaching its designated position in line early on the 3d. Here it was expected that it would be called into action, but, although fighting had not ceased, it escaped the perils of actual combat. The withdrawal of our army having been determined upon, the regiment returned to its old position, and soon after, its term of service having expired, marched to Washington, whence it pro- ceeded to New Jersey, and in due time was mustered out. Largely composed of men of superior physical qualities, and not deficient in soldierly spirit, the regiment, had it been at any time brought
581
THE THIRTIETH REGIMENT.
into actual collision with the foe, would doubtless have acquitted itself with credit, and added to the reputation achieved by the troops of New Jersey as stubborn, efficient fighters in the cause of Liberty and the Union. Not a few of its members subsequently became identified with other regiments, and acquitted themselves with credit on memorable fields.
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CHAPTER XXV
THE THIRTY -FIRST REGIMENT.
THE Thirty-first Regiment recruited in the counties of Warren and Hunterdon, was mustered into the service at Flemington on the 17th of September, 1862, and left that place for Washington on the 26th.1 Reaching its destination, it went into camp on East Capitol Hill, whence it moved into Maryland, October 6th, encamp- ing about a mile and a half from Tenallytown, where it was employed in fatigue and picket duty until the 1st of December, when it was ordered to the front. After marching through Mary- land to Liverpool Point and crossing to Aquia Creek, it was detached from the Provisional Brigade and sent to Belle Plain to do guard and provost duty. The weather at this time was extremly cold, and the men, unaccustomed to exposure and but poorly provided with shelter tents, suffered greatly. Fortunately, the log huts vacated a few months previously by the rebels were
1 The original roster of the regiment was as follows :
Colonel, Alexander P. Berthoud ; Lieutenant-Colonel, William Holt; Major, Robert R. Honeyman; Adjutant, Martin Wyckoff; Quartermaster, Israel Wells; Surgeon, Robert B. Browne; Assistant Surgeons, Joseph S. Cook, Nathaniel Jennings; Chap- lain, John MeNair. Company A-Captain, Samuel Carhart ; First Lieutenant, Leavitt Sanderson; Second Lieutenant, Andrew A. Thompson. Company E-Captain, Joseph W. Johnson ; First Lieutenant, John C. Felver; Second Lieutenant, Frank P. Wey- mouth. Company C-Captain, Andrew J. Raub; First Lieutenant, Thomas T. Stew- art; Second Lieutenant, Silas Hulsizer. Company D-Captain, Alexander V. Bonnell ; First Lieutenant, Jolin C. Coon ; Second Lieutenant, Andrew T. Conuett. Company E-Captain, Woodbury D. Holt; First Lieutenant, William L. Rodenburgh; Second
Lieutenant, . Company F-Captain, Peter Hart ; First Lieutenant, Joseph E. MeLaughilin ; Second Lieutenant, James I. Moore. Company G-Captain, Benjamin F. Howey; First Lieutenant, William C. Larzelier; Second Lieutenant, James F. Green. Company H-Captain, David M. Trimmer; First Lieutenant, John N. Givins ; Second Lieutenant, Henry Hance. Company I-Captain, Calvin T. James ; First Lieu- tenant, Richard T. Drake; Second Lieutenant, James Prall. Company K-Captain, Nelson Bennett ; First Lieutenant, Edson J. Rood.
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583
THE THIRTY-FIRST REGIMENT.
still standing, and at no great distance from the Plain. These being speedily put in repair, soldier fashion, made comfortable quarters .. This camp soon became quite noted on account of its peculiar appearance, its situation and perhaps its history. It was built and occupied by North Carolina troops, of which there were two regiments. The troublesome rebel batteries on the Potomac at this point were operated by these troops, who supposed their camp to be secure from the fire of the Federal gunboats. A few shells, however, dispelled that illusion, and a hasty departure fol- lowed.
There were no events of importance connected with the service of the Thirty-first at this time. The regiment occupied an isolated position, and as rebel scouts were known to be prowling in the vicinity, the necessary precautions were taken to guard against sur- prise. The principal work was picket and guard duty and the unloading of army supplies at the landing, about a mile distant. Unfortunately, no time was spent in drilling and preparing for the field, which gave color to the camp rumor that the regiment would be kept on fatigue duty during its entire term of service. This was an injury to the regiment and to its commandant, Colonel A. P. Berthoud, who, having little military taste, exhibited little military spirit. After the disastrous battle of Fredericksburg, the whole army seemed to fall back as if for permanent winter quarters, and the Thirty-first found itself occupying a detached position no longer. It was now in the Third Brigade-General G. R. Paul's- General Wadsworth's Division and Reynolds' Corps. On the 20th of January, it moved with the army in the famous "Mud Cam- paign" under command of Colonel Berthoud, and returned to camp on the 23d, the men utterly exhausted and almost starving. Later in the season the regiment was considerably thinned by sickness, but fortunately the deaths were comparatively few. The hospital accommodations were unusually good, and the management of the medical department could not be excelled. The Surgeon was Doc- tor Robert B. Browne, who became Brigade-Surgeon and after- wards was prominently connected with the service with the Twenty- fifth Corps.
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584
NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
About this time Lieutenant-Colonel Holt resigned, and Major R. R. Honeyman was appointed to fill the vacancy, being highly recommended by prominent officers of the brigade. A few weeks later the command of the brigade devolved upon Colonel Berthoud, owing to the expiration of General Paul's term of appointment. This placed Lieutenant-Colonel Honeyman in command of the regiment, which he happily retained until its service in the field was about concluded-Colonel Berthoud retiring sick on the rein- statement of General Paul. The officers of the brigade having unanimously petitioned for the re-appointment of their beloved commander, had scarcely welcomed his arrival when preparations were ordered for the coming march and battle of Chancellorsville. On the 29th of April, 1863, the Thirty-first moved forward to the Rappahannock, at a point some three miles below Fredericksburg, where the division was assembled, and crossing the pontoons with the brigade, bivouacked for the night under shelter of the south bank. On the morrow, late in the afternoon, the brigade was advanced to meet an approaching advance of rebel infantry, the Thirty-first forming the second line of battle, in support of the Twenty-ninth New Jersey. The line had scarcely been formed on the summit of the declivity forming the river bank, when the enemy quickly withdrew and opened a remorseless fire from his batteries, which no troops were able to stand. The Twenty-ninth, being most exposed, fell back, forming in the rear of the Thirty- first, all the troops protecting themselves by lying flat on the ground. There were no casualties in the Thirty-first, owing to its fortunate position, but the firing was terrific.2
About dusk the firing slackened and soon ceased, when the Thirty-first was ordered to advance, under cover of the darkness,
" A note from an officer of the regiment says of the vigor of the rebel fire: "The air seemed filled with missiles flying to and fro. Some of them seemed to move leisurely with a noise like that of a huge bird flapping wearily its ponderous wings. Others hissed and screamed like some enormous locomotive and train shot from some gun having the caliber of a railroad tunnel. Shells exploded at our feet, throwing up the ground as if there was an eruption from beneath. Shells exploded about our heads and sent their fragments skimming over us. Shells exploded in the river, as if for the admiration of the enthusiastic audience, which, strangely enough, did not applaud. Shells here, shells there, shells everywhere."
585
THE THIRTY-FIRST REGIMENT.
and complete and occupy some rifle-pits in close proximity to the rebel line, which was at once done-the men working in profound silence most of the night in strengthening their position. Company B, under command of its worthy officer, Lieutenant Felver, was detailed to prepare ground for a battery which was now placed on the left of the regiment, and which flanked the position. Day broke on the field, but passed, quite unexpectedly, as peacefully as if the foe had quit the scene. On the 2d, however, the batteries of the enemy opened with a terrible fire, compelling the division speedily to retire. The Thirty-first, however, maintained it posi- tion in comparative safety, relying upon its defences, which were so well constructed as to be highly complimented by Generals Wads- worth and Paul. The position of the regiment at this time was one of peculiar danger. The operations of the army at this point being no longer necessary-since the right had become endangered -the corps was ordered to reinforce the right which rested at Chancellorsville, several miles above. As it was necessary to exe- cute this movement without betraying it to the enemy, a few troops were left apparently to engage him-the last of which to recross the pontoons was the Thirty-first." The regiment had been ordered to evacuate its position and the order countermanded on the point
3 "The situation of the regiment at this time was most critical. The correspondent of the New York Times reported the Thirty-first as ' cut to pieces.' When he Jeft that portion of the field, the regiment was nearly surrounded, and the bridge in its rear partially destroyed. The whole corps was in motion, the Thirty-first alone excepted, it being left to hold the enemy at that point as long as possible, and to deceive him as to numbers. The men behaved admirably, marching firmly down to the bridge, where they were held until the battery had crossed, expecting every moment to be charged upon. After crossing, we were obliged to scatter, as the enemy had accurate range of us. The Colonel had previously designated a rallying point for the regiment which proved to be beyond his observation, and every man came to time in that race. We saved the battery, but came near losing the regiment."-Notes of an officer.
Colonel Honeyman, writing of this affair, incidentally says : "General Wadsworth was the bravest and most daring man I ever saw. He sent me orders to draw off my command and save the battery at all hazards. His messengers not making sufficient haste, and seeing the danger we were in, he came over himself, riding like the wind, without any of his staff, amid a storm of shells and other missiles. Just as I was about saluting him, a shell exploded about three feet from and directly over his head, stunning us both. I supposed at the moment that he was killed, but to my astonish- ment he raised his head, and never noticed by a remark or expression of countenance the startling ocenrrence. He afterwards remarked to me that it was a pretty hot place, or something to that effect."
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586
NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
of its execution. The enemy was now shelling the bridge to cut off its retreat, and capture seemed inevitable. At this juncture, as a rebel column was preparing to charge on the left and capture the battery, together with the regiment, General Wadsworth, unac- companied by his staff, rode up in the thickest of the fire, to retrieve, perhaps, his own error in countermanding the order for retreat. Ordering Colonel Honeyman to hold two companies at the pontoons until the battery could recross to prevent confusion, the field was soon cleared-the battery being brought over under the General's own superintendance. Being still exposed to a mer- ciless fire of shells and other missiles, the regiment was ordered to scatter and re-form under shelter of a neighboring ravine, which was quickly done. Up to this time but one man had been wounded, although the loss to the battery, whilst in the line, was considerable. The regiment was now ordered to make all haste in pushing forward to rejoin the brigade, and the whole corps being on a forced march, and the day excessively hot, the suffering of the men was extreme. After rejoining the brigade, the march was con- tinued, proving the most trying one the corps had ever experienced. At length, late in the night, United States Ford was reached, when a brief rest closed the day. Early on the morrow, the 3d, the Ford was crossed, and skirting the line of battle from the Chancel- lorsville House to the extreme right, the regiment was formed in line of battle at sunrise, and so continued during the day and night, awaiting the attack, which at times reached this portion of the line. The next day, being moved still further to the right, rifle-pits were thrown up and four companies (A, B, F and G) sent out on the skirmish line of the brigade; but neither of these com- panies nor the regiment became actively engaged. On the 5th, the army being ordered to withdraw-after marching all night through the " Wilderness" in various directions, owing to varying orders, the darkness and difficulty in finding the road, &c. - the regiment left the brigade to cross at United States Ford, which was safely effected on the morning of the 6th. The brigade was not rejoined, nor indeed reformed, until a day later, when it went into camp near
587
THE THIRTY-FIRST REGIMENT.
the Fitz-Hugh House, not far from the Rappahannock, two or three miles below Fredericksburg.4
The mettle of the regiment was thoroughly tested in this ordeal, and the Thirty-first was proven to be-like the rest of the New Jersey troops-equal to any in the field. The severe marching and exposure had its effect in filling the hospital, and deaths were for some time quite numerous.
No events of importance occurred from this time forth. The term of service soon expiring, the labors of the Thirty-first, as an organization, came to an end. Many officers and men, however, again entered the service, serving with marked distinction. The total loss of the regiment in men, during its term of service, was
4 The following is Lieutenant-Colonel Honeyman's report of the operations of the regiment :
" On Wednesday, April 29th, crossed the Rappahannock at a point about three miles below Fredericksburg, bivouacking at night on the bank. Thursday, the 30th, I mus- tered my command in compliance with orders ; towards evening formed line of battle to support the Twenty-ninth New Jersey, which was formed in advance, and moved forward to the brow of the bluff which had sheltered the brigade from the observa- tions of the enemy. The enemy's batteries now opening, continued firing until dark, but although the firing was elose, the bank in front afforded my command effectual protection. After the firing had ceased, in compliance with orders I advanced my command under cover of the night to occupy the rifle-pits which were being construc- ted in front. Owing to the imperfect chiaraeter of these works, I worked all night upon them, and furnished also a detail of nearly two companies to prepare the ground for a battery on my left. Friday, May 1st, occupied my position undisturbed. Sat- urday, 2d, firing commenced at eight o'clock a. m., from the enemy's batteries. Ser- geant Aaron W. Davis, Company G, was wounded-struck above the ear with a piece of shell. The firing was very heavy and was directed principally at the batteries. My position was held without difficulty until ordered to be evacuated. After all the troops had fallen back, the enemy's fire slackened, enabling me to bring over the river our batteries and to effect a crossing without loss. Rejoining the brigade near Fal- mouth Station, with scarcely any time for rest, we were pushed forward rapidly up the river throughout the remainder of this excessively warm day. The endurance of both officers and men was wonderful, although a number gave out. Late in the evening, encamped near United States Ford, crossing the river at this point at three o'clock a. m., Sunday, the 3d instant. At sunrise, having arrived at our position on the field, near the extreme right, I formed line of battle in support of an advanced line and remained here during the day and night, awaiting an attack-the firing part of the time being near and very heavy. Monday, p. m., 4th instant, moved half a mile further to the right, sent out four companies on picket under command of Captain B. F. Howey of Company G, and threw up rifle-pits. The enemy being reported near and in force, a general alarm was created soon after dark by the firing of one of the pickets, followed by the firing of the regiment next on my right. The firing immediately becoming general, part of the regiment which was formed in rear of my command as support, also fired. That none were killed seemed almost miraculous, the clothing of some being riddled with balls. Tuesday, the 5th, p. n., the enemy reported advancing upon
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