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 25
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On the 23d, the enemy having withdrawn, the Thirty-fifth re- entered the town and intrenched, but on the day following moved to the front, taking position in the rifle-pits in front of Atlanta. Here the army was confronted by a strong line of rebel works, two miles
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THE THIRTY-FIFTH REGIMENT.
from the city, and heavy fighting had already taken place at various points in front of the position, resulting in a rebel loss of seven or eight thousand men. Sherman, resorting again to strategy, on the night of the 26th shifted one of his corps from our extreme left to the extreme right, initiating a general movement to flank Hood out of Atlanta by cutting the railroads in his rear. This move- ment, although detected by the enemy, was substantially accom- plished, and our men were hastily covering their new front with a wide breastwork when, on the 28th, Hood poured out in strong force on the west side of Atlanta, striking our right, held by Logan's (Fifteenth) Corps, with great violence. The Thirty-fifth regiment at this time, having the previous day driven in the rebel skirmish- ers, had taken position in the line to the left of the Fifteenth Corps ; but as the enemy, after a fierce cannonade, advanced on our right, it was moved forward to the support of Smith's Brigade of the corps assailed. The advance was made under a sharp fire from the rebel guns, but the men, cheering lustily, moved steadily into posi- tion and soon became hotly engaged. The regiment being posted in the edge of a woods and somewhat protected by a barricade of logs and rails, had an advantage in position, and it improved it fully. Seven distinct times the enemy advanced to the assault, and as often was bloodily repulsed. As the day waned, other regiments came to the support of the Thirty-fifth, but they were not needed, the position being held until the enemy, broken and vanquished, finally withdrew, leaving his dead upon the field. In this engage- ment, the flag of the regiment was riddled with bullets and the State standard was twice shot down but as many times replaced. The loss of the command was very slight, only five men being wounded.
This was the last serious engagement in which the regiment par- ticipated in this campaign. On the 1st of August, the Thirty-fifth advanced its position and took possession of a line of partially completed rifle-pits, which it held until the 11th, meanwhile assist- ing in the construction of works at the front. On the 10th, a shell from the enemy's guns exploded in the camp of the regiment, kill- ing one and wounding six men, two of whom subsequently died. On the 11th, being ordered on the skirmish line, the regiment drove
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NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
the enemy's pickets out of their pits and took possession, losing two men wounded in the movement. On the 25th, the regiment was detailed to guard the train of the Sixteenth Corps, and continued on this duty until September 8th. Atlanta meanwhile had been evacuated, and our forces were in possession, so that, the arduous work of the campaign having been completed, the Thirty-fifth, having reported for orders, was sent into camp near East Point- having fairly earned, by gallantry in action and endurance on the march and in the trenches, the rest which it was now to enjoy.5
5 The following is the official report of this campaign, dated "Near East Point, Georgia, September 11, 1864 :"
"In compliance with orders from brigade headquarters, I herewith submit a report of the part taken by this regiment in the campaign just brought to a close.
"On the 1st day of May, the regiment marched from Decatur, Alabama, to Wood- ville and thence by railroad to Chattanooga, Tennessee, whence it marched to Resaca, Georgia, and on the 9th advanced on that town and about six o'clock, p. m., marched to camp, where we arrived at ten o'clock, p. m., and on the 13th, 14th and 15th took part in the engagement before that town, losing two men killed, two officers and twenty men wounded and one missing.
" On the 16th we marched forward, and after several days marching arrived at Dallas on the evening of the 27th, and was engaged with the enemy on the 2Sth. Captain Charles A. Angel, in command of Companies E and I, advanced up the heights, and after holding it a short time was compelled to retire. The regiment took part in the line of skirmishers in all that occurred at Dallas, losing four men killed, eight wounded and one missing.
"On June 5th, we were ordered to the flank and intrenched ourselves, building a circular earthwork.
"On the 6th we were relieved and marched to Ackworth, from thenee we marched to Big Shanty and while on skirmish line on the 14th and 15th, lost seven men killed and eight wounded. We then marched to Kenesaw mountain and took part in the move- ments at that place, losing thirteen men wounded.
"On the morning of July 2d marched from Kenesaw, and on the 4th of July, while advancing on the enemy's works near Nickajack Creek, Captain and Acting Major Charles A. Angel was killed, thus losing to the service a valuable and accomplished officer. From thence we marched to the right, and on the Sth we marched to Marietta and from thenee to Chattahoochee river, which we forded on the 9th and intrenehed and rested for some days; we again marched, and on the 18th arrived at Decatur, and marched to the front the next day. The day following we returned to Decatur, and on the 22d took part in the engagement at that place. We lost one man killed and sixteen wounded, two officers and thirty-seven men missing. Companies I and D being on picket duty, were cut off and were nearly all captured.
"On the 23d we re-entered the town and went to "Camp Conseript," where we in- trenehed.
"On the 24th we marched to the front of Atlanta and took position in rifle-pits, and on the night of the 26th we were again on the march to the center, where we arrived on the evening of the 27th, and after skirmishing with the enemy took position. We lost on this occasion one man killed.
"On the 28th we were ordered to reinforce the Fifteenth Army Corps and arrived at scene of action about two o'clock, p. m., and at once became hotly engaged with the
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THE THIRTY-FIFTH REGIMENT.
During the month of October the Thirty-fifth participated in the movement of a portion of the army to Marietta, Big Shanty and other points menaced by the rebels under Hood, but was only once actively engaged, namely, at Resaca, on the 15th, where the regi- ment lost twenty-five killed and wounded. During the month, the regiment marched in all two hundred and twenty-one miles. In the early part of November, Sherman concentrated his forces around Rome and Kingston, Georgia, and on the 14th, having completed all his plans, cut loose from his base, and set out on his march to the sea. The Thirty-fifth, still attached to the Sixteenth Corps, broke camp on the 15th, and during a considerable portion of the march was employed in destroying railroads, guarding
enemy, who advanced upon us some seven times and each time was repulsed, owing no doubt to the fact that we were posted on the edge of the woods and intrenehed. behind logs and rails. Our loss was very light, having but one officer and four men wounded. After the fight we returned to our former encampment, and on the 1st of August advanced our position and finished rifle-pits, which we found partially com- pleted.
"On the night of the 8th we were ordered to the front to throw up works, and after working all night, were relieved and returned to camp.
"On the 10th, a shell from the enemy exploded in our camp, killing one and wound- ยท ing six men, two of whom have since died.
"On the 11th we were ordered on skirmish line, and also to advance the line, which we did, driving the enemy's pickets out of their pits easily. We lost ten men wounded.
"On the 25th we marched out in charge of the Sixteenth Army Corps wagon trains as guard. Owing to some mistake in orders, we found ourselves on the night of that day entirely outside of our extreme right flank pickets, where we eneamped with thirty wagons. I caused trees to be felled forming an abattis, and extra pickets to be posted, and otherwise taking all precautions that I deemed necessary to insure our safety.
"On the 26th, we retraced our steps and joined the main train with which we con- tinued to do duty until relieved September 8th, on which day I reported to brigade headquarters for duty.
"In conclusion, I would state that the conduct of the officers and men of this com- mand has been all that could be desired. In the hour of danger and battle they always have shown the most determined bravery and cheerful obedience to orders which is so necessary to insure success.
"Of Colonel Cladek (now absent on duty) in command of the regiment through most of the campaign, I must say that his good judgment, habits of discipline, cheerful attention to the wants of those under his command and his cool, determined bravery on the field of battle (thus giving a noble example to his officers and men), has proved him to be an efficient and accomplished offiecr, of whom his officers and inen will ever feel proud.
Recapitulation : Killed, seventeen ; wounded, eighty; missing, forty-one; one man killed on the 11th of August, not in body of report.
" Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
" WILLIAM A. HENRY,
"Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding Regiment."
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trains and foraging on the country-marching during the month two hundred and eighty-two miles in all. On the 2d of December the command struck the railroad at Millen, formerly a rebel prison camp, whence the prisoners had been removed on the approach of our cavalry. On the 5th, the regiment was engaged as a support to the cavalry advance, but suffered no casualties. On the 9th, the regiment again came up with the enemy, and being deployed as skirmishers advanced over very difficult ground, driving the rebels before them, and keeping up a running fight for a distance of four miles-our men passing through two lines of the enemy's works. During the day, Corporal Williams was killed by a torpedo, and three or four privates wounded. Only one member of the regiment was wounded during the skirmish. The road being found to be planted with torpedoes, a number of the rebels who were captured were compelled to dig them up, which they did with some reluctance. On the 10th, when within six miles of Savannah, the regiment was again formed in line of battle in front of the first line of the enemy's defensive works, but later in the evening breastworks were thrown up, and the men permitted to enjoy a brief rest. On the 11th, firing was kept up all day between the opposing forces, but the Thirty-fifth being moved to the rear, did not participate therein. On the 13th, Fort McAllister on our left was taken, and Sherman having got up heavy guns wherewith to bombard the city, on the 21st compelled its evacu- ation, our forces marching in on the following morning. While these operations were in progress, the Thirty-fifth remained on picket duty, but on the 3d of January, 1865,6 it moved through Savannah to the Savannah River, where it embarked on the steamer S. R. Spaulding and proceeded to Port Royal, whence, with other troops, it was pushed forward to Pocotaligo. At length, on the 1st of February, the floods which had for a time impeded operations having abated, the entire army again moved in a northerly direc- tion. In this advance, the troops were obliged to wade swamps several miles in width, often covered with water to the depth of
" During the month of December the regiment marched one hundred and nine miles.
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THE THIRTY-FIFTH REGIMENT.
three or four feet. In one case, the brigade to which the Thirty- fifth was attached, advanced through a deep morass, in the face of a terrific fire, driving the enemy from his works-the men of the Thirty-fifth being engaged during the fight in carrying ammunition through the swamp to the troops, who in some places fought up to their arm-pits in water. On the 12th, the regiment reached and passed through the town of Orangeburg, and four days after reached the city of Columbia, moving thence by way of Winns- boro to Cheraw, where it did provost duty for several days. Still moving forward, Fayetteville, North Carolina, was reached on the 11th of March, where a halt of two days was made. On the 13th, the army again moved forward, a part advancing towards Averys- boro, and the right wing marching towards Goldsboro. The Thirty-fifth, moving with the latter column, did not participate in the fighting at Bentonville, where the Thirteenth Regiment ren - dered such important service, but was not idle, being employed in guarding the wagon trains and caring for the sick and wounded- Colonel Cladek having command of the whole. Goldsboro being reached, and the enemy having retreated on Raleigh, the army again encamped, the men being reclothed and furnished other long- needed comforts. The march from Savannah had been one of great severity, and the suffering of the troops had been very great, but they had submitted to all without complaint. From first to last, the Thirty-fifth exhibited the hardiest endurance, with a com. mendable readiness for any duty which might be imposed ; and its reputation was deservedly high throughout the entire corps to which it belonged.
On the 3d of April, Captain Dusenberry, who had been taken prisoner on the 22d of June, rejoined the regiment with one hun- dred and twelve substitutes, and was heartily welcomed by officers and men. On the 10th, Richmond having fallen, Sherman impelled a determined advance against Johnston, who, with some forty thous- and men, still remained near Smithfield. This town was entered the following day, the enemy retreating to Raleigh, and thence towards Greensboro. The news of Lee's surrender being received, Johnston at once asked a suspension of hostilities, and this being
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NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
granted, negotiations were entered upon which, on the 26th, resulted in the surrender of his army upon the terms already accorded to Lee. The Thirty-fifth had fired its last gun in this grand contest for national unity, and all that now remained was to march home- ward, rich in the honors it had won.
On the 29th, the regiment moved out from its camp towards Petersburg, which was reached May 8th. Thence, passing through Richmond, it marched by the usual route to Washington, arriving in that vicinity on the 19th. Here the men were supplied with a new Zouave uniform, and some weeks later being mustered out, pro- ceeded to Trenton (July 22d), where their campaigns terminated in a cordial welcome from the populace.
CHAPTER XXX.
THE THIRTY-SIXTH REGIMENT-(Third Cavalry).
The Thirty-sixth Regiment (or Third Cavalry) was recruited dur- ing the winter of 1863-4, and mustered into the United States ser- vice February 10, 1864, as the " First United States Hussars"-a name, however, which was not long retained.1 The regiment left Trenton on the 29th of March, one thousand and two hundred strong, marching by way of Philadelphia and Wilmington to Per- ryville, Maryland, where it embarked on steamers and proceeded to Annapolis, being there attached to the Ninth Army Corps. Here it remained about a fortnight, when it marched to Alexandria, Vir- ginia, whence on the 27th of April, it moved with the corps in the direction of the field towards which Grant was preparing to advance. Reaching a point three miles south of Bristow Station on the night of the 29th, it was posted along the Orange and Alexandria Rail-
1 The original roster of the regiment was as follows :
Colonel, Andrew J. Morrison; Lieutenant-Colonel, Charles C. Suydam; Majors, Siegfried Von Forstner, William P. Robeson, jr., S. V. C. Van Rensalaer; Adjutant, William J. Starks ; Quartermaster, John H. Bailey; Commissary, George Patten ; Surgeon, William W. Bowlby ; Assistant Surgeons, Lawrence O. Morgan, Samuel A. Phillips ; Chaplain, John H. Frazee. Company A-Captain, T. Malcolm Murphy ; First Lieutenant, John S. Hough; Second Lieutenant, John T. Tomlin. Company B-Cap- tain, Albert S. Cloke; First. Lientenant, Alexander A. Yard; Second Lieutenant, Augustus C. Stickle. Company C-Captain, Jolm B. Hartman ; First Lieutenant, William Lechleider; Second Lieutenant, William Reeves. Company D-Captain, Michael Mitchell; First Lieutenant, James H. Donnelly ; Second Lieutenant, George R. Wadleigh. Company E-Captain, Daniel R. Boice; First Lieutenant, Daniel Buck- ley; Second Lieutenant, James O'Sullivan. Company F-Captain, Charles D. Morri- son ; First Lieutenant, Henry A. Vanness; Second Lieutenant, Michael T. Dwyer. Company G-Captain, Thomas R. MeClong ; First Lieutenant, William M. Scott; Sec- ond Lieutenant, Gilbert Tice. Company H-Captain, Ethan T. Harris; First Lieutenant, Barnet Birdsell; Second Lieutenant, John Bamford. Company I-Captain, Albert Hertzberg ; First Lieutenant, William Stulpnagel; Second Lieutenant, Oscar Kramer. Company K-Captain, Frederick W. Schafer; First Lieutenant, Otto Siebeth; Second Lieutenant, August Bulow. Company L-Captain, Frederick W. K. Knoblesdorf; First Lieutenant, Emil Walpel; Second Lieutenant, Adolph Bulow. Company M-Captain, John Stull; First Lieutenant, Henry S. Stull ; Second Lieutenant, James V. Gibson.
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NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
road, where it remained, engaged in scouting and guard duty, until the 5th of May, when, operations in the Wilderness having already commenced, it marched southward, crossing the Rappahannock and Rapidan, and bivouacking three miles beyond Germania Ford-on a line parallel with the battle-front along which the conflict was already fiercely raging. Later in the night, however, the regi- ment re-crossed the Rapidan, and encamped on a hill overlooking the ford on the north side of the river-performing, on the 6th, most important service by scouting that entire side of the Rapidan for many miles in either direction. This duty, which was of the most arduous character, having been performed to the satisfaction of the General commanding, the regiment, on the afternoon of the 7th, was ordered to move as a rear-guard to a pontoon train about to be transferred to a lower ford, and it accordingly marched to Richmond's Ford (on the Rappahannock), and thence crossing at United States Ford to Chancellorsville. Here it again found em- ployment in patrolling, watching fords, and bearing despatches. Two companies, under Captains Cloke and Boice, were detached from the command, and nearly one hundred of the men were detailed for duty as orderlies, some thirteen of whom were wounded at various times, but none seriously. On the 8th, when lying seven miles from Fredericksburg, a rumor reaching camp that our wounded who had been sent to that city were being arrested and sent off towards Richmond by the rebel citizens, Major Robeson with his battalion boldly dashed into the town, where, upon trustworthy information, he arrested a number of the citizens and at once put a stop to the proceedings complained of. On the following day the town was again visited with a stronger force, it being designed to arrest the Mayor, a notoriously odious secessionist ; but that offi- cial had fled. Two noted scouts, however, were secured, and other troops arriving, a provost marshal was appointed, and the necessary public and private buildings promptly seized for the accommoda- tion of the wounded, who now began to pour in by hundreds and thousands .?
2 The writer of these pages reached Fredericksburg, as an agent of the Christian Commission, on the 13th of May, 1864, and at that time there were from eight thousand
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THE THIRTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.
The enemy being gradually compelled to fall back before the opera- tions of Grant, the Third Cavalry pushed forward with its brigade- Third Brigade, First Division, Cavalry Corps-sharing in the opera- tions at Ashland, Old Church, and other points, and showing the highest soldierly qualities in all the combats in which it participated. Reaching the vicinity of City Point early in June, it was placed in position on the extreme left of the army, and for over a month was engaged in picketing, losing during the time two officers and ten privates by capture. Up to the middle of July, the total losses of the regiment in killed, wounded and missing, amounted to seventy-six. On July 16th, the command was transferred to Light- house Point, whence, on the 25th, it returned to its old position, where, on the 27th, it lost several men from guerillas while on picket-one being killed, two wounded and two captured. The men were ambuscaded while patrolling, and were all shot from behind, some of them being stripped of all their clothing and effects, and exposed to every possible indignity.
On the 5th of August, General Grant having determined to transfer two cavalry divisions to the Shenandoah Valley, to assist in checking the rebel operations in that quarter, the Third Jersey- now attached to the First Brigade, Third Cavalry Division-left its position in front of Petersburg and proceeded to Washington, whence-the men, numbering over four hundred, being supplied with new Spencer repeating carbines-it marched on the 12th in the direction of Winchester, which place it reached on the 17th, just in time to participate in an engagement with the enemy, who was vigorously pressing Sheridan's troops as they fell back towards Harper's Ferry. The Third Regiment was at once ordered to a
to nine thousand wounded accumulated in the town. Every church, store and other commodious building was occupied, and even the yards attached to private residences were in some cases crowded with the sufferers. The Surgeons established their ampu- tating tables in the basements of some of the churches, and there, for days and weeks the knife and saw did their ghastly work. Here and there, as we passed along the streets, rows of dead were found lying in dilapidated outhouses, and night and day, stretchers with dead and dying drifted to and fro along the streets. Among the first persons we met on reaching Fredericksburg were the Lieutenant-Colonel and Surgeon of the Third Cavalry, which regiment, as we have seen, was the first to enter the town and initiate measures for bringing order out of chaos.
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NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
hill south of the town, to act as support to a battery, and soon became hotly engaged, the first battalion,' under Major Robeson, being sent out as skirmishers on the right. The fight growing earnest, the third battalion. under Major Alstrom, was sent in to relieve the first, the remainder of the men (Companies A, B C and D) being soon after thrown in, dismounted, on the left, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Suydam. The position held by the command was a critical one ; occupying the advanced skirmish line, most of the heavy fighting fell to its share, but the men for the most part carried themselves with great gallantry, repelling desperate assaults, and only falling back, long after dark, when surrounded by an overwhelming force of the enemy, including some of Brecken- ridge's veteran troops. So impetuous was the final charge of the rebels, that for a time the assailed and assailants were mingled pro- miscuously, and the Jerseymen were obliged to suspend firing, lest they should injure their friends.3 The conduct of Lieutenant- Colonel Suydam, who led the reserve at a critical moment, and stubbornly resisted the rebel onslaught, taking up three positions during the fight, as well as of Majors Robeson and Alstrom, was especially commended as cool and courageous in the last degree. The total loss of the regiment was one hundred and thirty men, the killed including one Captain and one Lieutenant.1
After this engagement the command fell back, with the rest of the troops, on the 18th, to Summit Point. On the 21st, while on picket, it was again attacked by Breckenridge's Corps, which, advancing in strong force, struck the line front, right and left, sweeping it back to the regimental skirmish line. For three hours the latter steadily bore the pressure, gradually falling back until, the wagon trains having been safely forwarded, the worn and jaded men fell within the supporting lines of the Second Brigade, and the whole column continued its march to Charlestown. Here it lay
: At one time, so close were the combatants, that Lieutenant-Colonel Suydam, seeing a rebel capture and lead off one of our men, coolly seized a "grayback" and marched him to the rear, by way of exchange.
4 One report puts the casualties at three killed, nine wounded and forty-eight miss- ing, but we give the figures as recorded in the diary of the commanding officer.
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THE THIRTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.
in comparative quiet until the next morning, when the enemy opened along the lines with great energy, and the division fell back to Harper's Ferry, where, with ample infantry supports, it escaped further molestation. In these operations, the Third Jersey lost six killed, twenty-five wounded and fourteen missing. After falling back, the regiment was allowed two days to recruit, when, on the morning of the 25th, with the rest of the brigade, under General McIntosh, it again moved out, going westerly. After marching a few miles, it was joined by the entire cavalry force, and the whole moved cautiously forward. About ten o'clock, the Third Jersey was called upon for scouting parties, and these, deploying into the woods, soon discovered the enemy in force. The action which ensued was a spirited and stubborn one. The enemy lay in the rear of a piece of woods, strongly covered by a stone wall, and although at one time driven a little by our troopers, the latter, being without infantry supports, could not dislodge him from his position. Meanwhile, other regiments of the brigade had become engaged, but without any favorable result, and it being apparent that the enemy was in strong force, a general withdrawal was ordered, being effected in good order. In this engagement, as in many others, General McIntosh displayed the greatest gallantry, and the men of the Third Jersey fought with their accustomed bravery. The loss of the regiment in wounded and missing was thirty men.
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