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 33
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44
---
-
744
NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
to take the chances of reaching Williamsburg, and the command, carefully avoiding unnecessary fighting, hurried on towards the Williamsburg road. A little charge was sufficient to clear the cross roads, and Kilpatrick's broad trail was discovered. Gladly following the burning fences-set on fire by Kilpatrick in order that if any of Dahlgren's party should get on this road they might know unmistakably that he was near by-the command marched rapidly down the road. In the afternoon, when it was hoped momentarily to overtake Kilpatrick's rear guard, a new danger suddenly appeared. Bradley Johnson's rebel legion, following Kilpatrick, had discovered Mitchell's party, and as it entered a dense woods, opened a heavy volley upon it. Recoiling from this unexpected shock, the situation was soon comprehended. The party determined to make one more effort, and closing up together dashed against the woods as fast as their jaded horses could go. The rebels were broken and fled, carrying away twenty-one of the party, however, who had been unhorsed in the charge. An hour later the party reached Kilpatrick, having marched two hundred and twenty-five miles in three days. Of five hundred and fifty men who went with Dahlgren, but two hundred and thirty rejoined Kilpatrick.
Kilpatrick with the main column having waited in vain to hear Dahlgren in Richmond, attacked the city on Tuesday, but as troops were constantly arriving to defend the place, he at midnight aban- doned the project and marched down the Peninsula. He was much affected upon learning of Dahlgren's death and of Cooke's capture. Cooke having been his chief-of-staff for a long time, was much missed by him. To revenge the cruelty practiced by the rebels upon this party, he took his freshest horses, crossed the York river and moved into King and Queen, laying waste the country which had so unmercifully tortured his men.
Every Jersey soldier remembers with indignation the cruel imprisonment of Cooke, confined in a dark dungeon, into which "Butler's negroes" were thrust to keep him company, and his high- toned declaration that he "infinitely preferred the company of loyal negroes to that of white traitors." His patient suffering, with
745
JERSEYMEN IN OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
scarcely sufficient food to keep life in him; his brave-hearted endurance of all his trials in that filthy cell, won the admiration of all who knew of his sufferings. Once escaping while on the way to another prison, he wandered through North Carolina, almost starving, for days, until, hunted down again with blood-hounds, he yielded to his tormentors and was taken to Charleston and placed under the fire of the Union batteries. Released from his captivity after a year's confinement, he returned home, just in time to witness the death of his young wife, for whom he had borne up so hope- fully through every torture to which his proud spirit was subjected. Completely broken in health, he accompanied General Kilpatrick to Chili as Secretary of Legation when that officer was appointed Minister, but died within a year or so after his arrival. The Gov- ernment conferred upon him a brevet of Brigadier-General, as an acknowledgment of his faithful services to his country.
This raid ended Kilpatrick's connection with the Army of the Potomac. When Grant came to that army, Kilpatrick was sent to General Sherman to command his cavalry, and the Third Division saw him no more. He was the soul of the division, and when he was gone all the " vim" and fire seemed to have left it. General Wilson, Kilpatrick's successor, could not gain the love of this divi- sion, for Kilpatrick had borne away its heart. The men fought as hard as ever, but accomplished but little. Not until Sheridan's electric presence had warmed the hearts of these men did they again put on their proud looks and gallant bearing. The great Wilson Raid on the Danville Road was not participated in with the enthu- siasm necessary to success, which may, perhaps, account for some of our losses on that expedition. When Sheridan was sent to the Valley, both the First and Third Divisions were embarked on transports and sent to Washington, whence they marched to Win- chester. In the changes that had been made in the spring, Colonel John B. McIntosh, of New Jersey, had been assigned to the com- mand of the First Brigade, of the Third Division, embracing now the Third New Jersey (a new regiment), the Harris Light, and several other regiments. About the last of May, this officer with three regiments and a battery, became surrounded at Ashland Sta-
94
746
NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
tion by the two rebel divisions of Hampton and Fitz Hugh Lee, and alone and unaided, fought. from noon until dark, with a nerve and energy unsurpassed in the history of war-marching away at nightfall in the face of the enemy, who was afraid to come too close to him in the dark. On the Wilson Raid, this officer showed such splendid gallantry and ability, in the darkest and most trying emergencies, as well as in the flush of victory, that he was at once made a full Brigadier General. Still retaining his brigade, he reached Winchester on the day that Sheridan's troops fell back from that city towards Harper's Ferry, about the middle of August, and his brigade was at once detailed as rear-guard for the army. In the performance of this duty only the Third New Jersey was brought prominently into action. Two of the battalions of this regiment behaved like veterans, and repulsed several determined assaults with great gallantry. .
At Kearneysville, late in August, McIntosh was at first repulsed, but rallying his brigade, and sending the horses to the rear, he led his men, dismounted, up to the enemy's infantry, and fought for an hour with great pluck, holding the enemy in check until the corps was withdrawn.
When left to himself, McIntosh displayed wonderful skill and tact, combined with an audacious style of fighting that astonished both friends and enemies. A few days before the Battle of Win- chester, he dashed across the Opequan with three regiments, and forming his command into three columns, charged into the camp of the enemy, at mid-day, picked up a regiment of South Carolina Infantry and marched it away-Colonel, colors and all-before the astounded division of Kershaw had time to recover its presence of mind. This brilliant manceuver enabled him to make a full report of the enemy's position to General Sheridan, and upon that same ground, a few days after, the Battle of Winchester was fought.
.
About one o'clock, a. m., September 19th, MeIntosh again moved up the Winchester road from Berryville, apparently on another similar expedition. The great masses of infantry in the road soon indicated more serious work. Passing all troops, McIntosh divided the Harris Light, then only one battalion of two large squadrons,
.
747
JERSEYMEN IN OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
placing a squadron well out into the fields on both sides of the main column. One squadron (Mattison's) marched a mile to the right of the road, the other a little to the left, all moving on the same align- ment with the head of column in the road, and sweeping up any scouts or stragglers that might have otherwise watched Sheridan's movements. The left squadron, unable to cross the Opequan, had to come back to the road; but the right squadron crossed a mile above, simultaneously with the head of the brigade, which imme- diately after fell in with the enemy, who was driven back over the hills.
McIntosh immediately deployed his brigade into line, and sending word to the squadron on the right to " pitch in," he threw his whole command upon the rebels, soon clearing the hills, upon which the army slowly formed its lines of battle, completely concealed from the view of the enemy by McIntosh's furious charges. All that morning this brigade persistently beat back the rebels and daringly held them off our ground while our infantry massed just under the crest of these hills, stealthily keeping out of sight. Just as a divi- sion of the enemy charged the heights held by the left squadron of the Harris Light, an order was passed along the line for the cavalry to fall back. This squadron slipped out and left the enemy face to face with Russell's Division of the Sixth Corps. Five minutes after both sides were locked in deadly conflict, and the shot and shell of the enemy raked the ground for miles around.
As the thin veil of cavalry was withdrawn, displaying to the astonished view of the rebels the splendid masses of the Sixth and Nineteenth Corps, Sheridan rode up to McIntosh, and in the most affectionate manner expressed his gratitude to that delighted officer for having fought the army into such an excellent position. And now the battle of Winchester was fairly begun. Merritt's and Averill's Cavalry Divisions, away around on the Martinsburg pike, had struck the rebels and doubled them up on Winchester, while the Eighth Corps, going in to the right of the Nineteenth, com- pleted our long line and wrapped almost around the ancient city. Wilson's cavalry moved to the left, and Chapman's Brigade went in handsomely, driving away a brigade of rebel cavalry and laying
748
NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
up close on to the right flank of Early's infantry, which, thus uncovered, presented such an opportunity for our artillery as was seldom offered. McIntosh (whose brigade was resting from its labors of the morning) could not be a silent looker on. Spurring his horse, he dashed down into Chapman's line, and in a little while rode back out of the woods, with his leg mangled and bleed- ing from the rebel balls. The bright, glowing future as a cavalry leader, to which he had looked, was gone-and yet he rode back proudly and calmly, and heard without a murmur the sentence of the Surgeon, that the limb must come off immediately. Heroically submitting to the dangerous amputation, he asked to be taken home at once, was placed in an ambulance, taken to Harper's Ferry-twenty miles away-and the same night started homeward, his energy remaining unbroken throughout the entire journey.
Exposed to the terrible fire of the infantry in front and the des- perate onslaughts of the cavalry on both flanks, Early's beaten army finally crumbled up and gave way, the remorseless cavalry riding over the frightened masses until the retreat became a general stampede. The Third New Jersey galloped off to the left, turned and charged into the road just at dusk. The enemy perceiving the exposed position of the little regiment, turned upon it with a terrible fire, from which it managed, however, to get away, and hostilities ceased for the night.
In all the skirmishes and battles which followed, as the army marched up the Valley, the Third Division bore an important part. Wilson, whose perfect conduct began to be duly appreciated by the soldiers of the division, was promoted to the full rank of Major-General and sent to the Southwest, and his place supplied by General George A. Custer. Captain A. C. M. Pennington, of the regular artillery, was appointed Colonel of the Third New Jersey, and being the only officer of that rank in the brigade, took the place of McIntosh. Many of the old men of the Harris Light had gone home, their term of service having expired, and their places were soon filled by strange recruits. Yet a few of the Sussex men who had re-enlisted remained, and with these we hasten on to the end.
749
JERSEYMEN IN OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
The Battle of Cedar Creek, on the 19th of October, made Cus- ter's Division famous almost throughout the world. Undisturbed by the disaster in the morning, this division moved from the ex- treme right of the line, and went into position on the left of the Sixth Corps, near Newtown. By the aid of the cavalry, the Sixth Corps held that position until the arrival of Sheridan. The presence of the First and Third Divisions of Cavalry had as much to do with checking the rebels as did the pillaging of our camps, to which is generally ascribed Early's failure to follow up his successes. When Sheridan had fully completed his prepara- tions for attack, Custer's and Merritt's Divisions moved back to the right, and the whole army dashed forward against the rebels with irresistible force, breaking their lines and compelling them again to fly. Then the cavalry surpassed itself. Like a wild tor- nado it burst upon the bewildered foe, and rode down regiment after regiment, until thousands of rebels were left wandering in the rear, while battery after battery was overtaken and brought back to the delighted General. Custer's Division alone took twenty-six pieces of artillery, and pursued the enemy far beyond Fisher's Hill without halting. Custer's memorable address to his soldiers at the close of this fight, expresses his own proud admira- tion of their gallantry :
"The history of this war, when truthfully written, will contain no brighter page than that upon which is recorded the chivalrous deeds and the glorious triumphs of the soldiers of the Third Division."-Extract from General Orders, 19th of October, Cedar Creck.
On the 28th of February, 1865-just one year after the Kilpat- rick raid upon Richmond- the Third Division, enlarged by the addi- tion of Capehart's splendid brigade of loyal West Virginians, and the First New York Cavalry, marched through Winchester and took the broad Staunton Turnpike up the Valley, followed by the First Division, making in all a " column of fours" twelve miles long. Behind this column came a pontoon and wagon train, the latter carrying only ammunition, coffee, sugar and salt-an indica- tion that the troops were to live upon the country, and do their own fighting. Sheridan rode with this column, leaving his " army" behind. The cavalry were now the army.
.
750
NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
For twenty days this column marched over Virginia at will, cap- turing the remnants of Early's Army at Waynesboro', destroying railroad bridges, track, depots, &c., and almost demolishing the Richmond and Kanawha Canal. Not having sufficient pontoons to bridge the James, Sheridan, after menacing Lynchburg, marched down the river, circled around Richmond, and made a demonstra- tion with Custer's Division upon the city, from the direction of Ashland Station, which drew out Pickett's Division of infantry. Custer baving orders not to bring on an engagement, let the enemy play with the Harris Light, while he prepared to fall back. A battalion of the regiment, well out on the old telegraph road, first received the enemy and fought him persistently until completely out- flanked by a whole brigade, when it retired down the road, the enemy following through the pines in line of battle. In the meantime, two companies with Spencer carbines were dismounted by Colonel Randal, and concealed behind a little hedge or fence, in the midst of the pine thicket. As still as death these men lay, flat on the ground, as the rebels came on, cursing and swearing at having to march in line through such a thicket. Lieutenant-Colonel Birds- eye, behind a pine bush, kept watch. Close up to the hedge came the enemy-almost upon it. Then from behind the bush came the order, clear and sharp, " Fire !" Rising in one mass, the squad- ron delivered each man his seven bullets right into the face of the astounded brigade. Back flew the rebels without firing a shot; and at Five Forks many of them asked for the men who fought them at Ashland. Amidst the cheers of the regiment, the gallant squadron-all new men-mounted their horses and rode off as coolly as veterans.
Late in March, in presence of Abraham Lincoln and General Grant, Sheridan's Cavalry marched across Grant's pontoons and joined the Army of the Potomac, south of the James, and again was united with the old Second Division.
The Third Division entered the fight at Dinwiddie Court House late on the 31st, and decided the action of that day. At daylight the next morning, 1st of April, Pennington's and Capehart's Bri- . gades, dismounted, began to skirmish for position. Lying close up
751
JERSEYMEN IN OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
to the enemy these brigades marched by the right flank, in single file, along the enemy's line, until near Five Forks, when the skir- mishing became very hot. Capeheart's Brigade was drawn out and mounted, leaving Pennington's alone on foot. The latter closed up directly and formed line just in front of Five Forks, a portion of the First Division, Fitzhugh's Brigade, on its right, and Custer's two mounted brigades on the left, lapping the right flank of the enemy's works. The Fifth Corps was further to the right, beyond the First Division. Pennington's Brigade unquestionably was the forlorn hope of that battle. Directly in front of the strongest point of the enemy's huge works covering the Five Forks, the little brigade advanced, at a given signal, cut into the open ground, when it was met with a terrible, withering fire of musketry and artillery, too hot for mortal to stand. In vain our men essayed to reach the works. Our Spencers could not penetrate great logs. Amidst curses and groans and the yells of the enemy, the baffled brigade reeled back into the woods, where the rebel shot and shell crashed among the trees and tore men to atoms. Again the bugle sounded the charge, and away dashed the brigade. Again was the open field strewn with its dead. Regiments crumbled up and shrank back into the woods. This was slaughter. One-fourth of the brigade was lying on the ground, dead or dying. The shot and shell flew through the woods, even cutting down the trees. In this tempest of death a young boy attached to Pennington's headquarters rode gayly along the line with a large box of cartridges, which he threw out by handfulls to the men, who seized them as they would have seized golden coin. This was continued by the little hero until all were supplied. Once more the bugles sounded. Less confidently, but more angrily and sternly, the brigade advanced into the open ground, and Spencers and muskets rattled away furiously. "For- ward ! Forward !" the bugles rang out unceasingly ; a terrible roar and yell came from the right as the Fifth Corps this time charged with the cavalry. Sheridan and his flag went over the works, fol- lowed by Pennington's men and all the rest. The day closed on a great victory, won as much by Pennington's Brigade as by any troops engaged. Custer passing over the ground occupied by this
.
752
NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
brigade, expressed surprise. He had not known how hard his brigade had fought until then. Major O'Keefe-who left Sheri- dan's staff and took service in the Harris Light, in order to gain experience in active fighting-had fallen in the first charge, far in advance of his battalion. Four or five noble men went out amidst a shower of cowardly bullets and brought him in. Profusely bleeding from five wounds, he was finally taken to the rear just as a courier rushed back with the news of our victory. . Faint from pain and loss of blood, O'Keefe raised up and gave three cheers, and sank back exhausted. He lived a month, and died universally mourned by a large circle of friends, from General Sheridan down to the private soldier. On his death bed, Sheridan handed him an appointment upon his staff, with the rank of Brevet Lieutenant- Colonel. That was the only inscription upon his coffin. The Government sent a regiment of cavalry to escort his remains to the express office, whence they were forwarded to Canada. He was of a noble Irish family, and came here at the first outbreak of the war to offer his services to our Government. Though but twenty-three years of age at the time of his death, he had with a few friends raised a regiment and taken it into the Pope's army in Italy, where he had won considerable distinction before our war broke out. This man, so brave, so passionate, yet so gentle, so manly and generous, deserves more than passing mention, and we gladly name him here. because-almost a stranger in our land- there are few who know of the great sacrifices he made for the cause he had espoused.
On the 3d of April, the Third New Jersey and Harris Light fought the remnants of Pickett's and Johnson's Divisions at Sweat- house Creek, losing both together about forty men, and inflicting a much greater loss on the enemy, who finally shook off the two regiments, and continued his retreat. In this fight, among the killed was Sergeant J. Nelden Probasco, a promising young Jer- seymen. On the 6th, Pennington's Brigade, after much fighting during the day, helped to capture Ewell's Corps towards night, the Harris Light taking one thousand and five hundred prisoners and the brigade nearly three thousand, with many flags and guns. On
753
JERSEYMEN IN OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
the 8th, the Harris Light came first upon the head of Lee's Army at Appomattox Station, and in the confusion of the rebels, ran off three trains of cars loaded with army stores, before Lee's troops could get any rations from them. This precipitated the regiment into a hot fight, the Third New Jersey coming to the rescue. The fight grew larger as more troops arrived, and Custer eventually had to ask for assistance from the First Division. The action closed about midnight with the capture of a battery and the abandonment of the position held by the enemy. The guns were divided be- tween the Harris Light and Third New Jersey.
The next morning closed the fighting of the Cavalry Corps. When the flag of truce was discovered, Custer's and Davies' Divi- sions were on a charge around the enemy's front, and would have been upon the rebels in less than a minute. After the surrender, the cavalry marched nearly to North Carolina, when, receiving news of Johnston's capitulation, it turned and marched back to Peters- burg, and thence across the country to Washington, where it took part in the Grand Review, and leaving its laurels at the feet of the Nation's representatives, and bidding good-bye to war, it turned Northward and disappeared as a body forever.
The number of Jerseymen who served in other organizations credited to New York, cannot be precisely ascertained. It is known that Company A, of the Twentieth New York Volunteers, was composed of citizens of this State, who served with eminent distinction. A company of men from Rahway also formed the nucleus of Bramhall's Battery. Originally going out as Company K, of the Ninth New York State Militia, the men were subse- quently sent to Poolesville, and there organized as a six-gun bat- . tery, receiving recruits from New Jersey and New York. The battery participated in Mcclellan's campaign, being attached to Hooker's Division, of Heintzleman's Corps. Subsequently it was formed into flying artillery, and attached to Gregg's Cavalry Divi- sion, with which it remained until May, 1864, when it was sent to Washington, and thence into the Shenandoah. The battery was
95
754
NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
distinguished as one of the best in the service. The Jerseymen connected with it as officers were: Walter M. Bramhall, First Lieutenant; Joseph Martin, Second Lieutenant ; Moses P. Clark, Second Lieutenant. Bramhall subsequently became Captain, Mar- tin, First Lieutenant, and George W. Brown, Second Lieuten- ant. Bramhall afterwards resigning, Martin was promoted to Cap- tain, Clark to First Lieutenant, and Wade Wilson to Second Lieu- tenant.
There were also two companies of Jerseymen in Serrell's Engi- neers, both of which achieved distinction by their gallant and faith- ful services, though they never received the credit to which they were entitled at the hands of superiors.
The Forty-eighth New York Regiment had two companies of Jerseymen-D and H. This regiment was raised by Reverend James Perry, D. D., pastor of the Pacific Street M. E. Church, in Brooklyn, who was a graduate of West Point, and had served in the Mexican War. The regiment was mustered at Camp Wyman, near Fort Hamilton, Long Island, in the summer of 1861, and was known as the Continental Guards. The moral character of the regiment was not surpassed, perhaps, by that of any regi- ment in the army, for in addition to undergoing the severe physi- cal examination, each man was required to furnish evidence of his moral standing, and none were received who could not satisfy the commandant upon this point. Company D, recruited mainly in Trenton, was commanded by Captain D. C. Knowles, professor in Pennington Seminary, with James O. Paxson as First, and John Bodine as Second Lieutenants. Before leaving for Washington (on the 16th of September, 1861), the regiment was attached to Briga- dier-General E. T. Viele's Brigade. On the 5th of October, leav-
ing Washington, the command proceeded to Annapolis, Maryland, where it joined General Sherman's Expeditionary Corps, subse- quently called the Tenth Corps. While there, a detail from Com- pany D, acted as provost-guard, the city having been put under martial law. The expedition left Annapolis on the 21st, and after a stormy and perilous voyage, reached Port Royal, which was attacked and taken-the Forty-eighth Regiment landing in South
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.