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 4
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Promptly upon our withdrawal, the rebels made an effort to occupy the wood and to debouch through it into the road to pursue our men ; but the reserve which Janeway had persisted in retaining unbroken, in spite of every apparent crisis, now justified the wisdom of his action. Galled for hours by a fire which it had been unable to return, it now opened upon the advancing enemy with such vindictive energy as to force him back behind the cover, incapable of another movement to the front.6 Falling back to the height beyond, Malsbury again drew up his men, prepared to resist any attempt of the rebels ; but the column moved off the field without
6 " It was now after sunset, and our skirmishers had been for a long time warmly engaged with the skirmishers of the rebel infantry. Perceiving that there was serions danger to be apprehended upon my flanks, I slowly fell back into the woods, followed by the rebels. Still contesting the ground, it was not until darkness had thoroughly set in that I withdrew from the woods, and allowed the enemy to enter them. They made an attempt to advance beyond them, but the steady fire of Captain Malsbury's squadron, though composed largely of recruits, completely frustrated their attempt." Major Janeway's Report.
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THE SIXTEENTH REGIMENT-(FIRST CAVALRY).
molestation, and he fell into his place in the rear without firing another shot. For half an hour after the retreat, the ground was left unoccupied by the enemy, and even then, he advanced against the deserted position with skirmishers deployed and a long line of battle formed. In an hour from that time, the whole of Ewell's Corps was camped upon the field of battle, having been detained by the First New Jersey until it was too late to close upon the flanks of the Union army.
The First New Jersey came out of this remarkable contest with the loss, wonderfully small under the circumstances, of four officers and thirty men ; but seven officers and one hundred and thirty men had their horses killed and wounded, so that the casualties amounted to nearly one-half of the force engaged. The only prisoner lost was Lieutenant Kinsley, who was missing by accident."
Re-joining the brigade the regiment proceeded to Fayetteville, in the vicinity of which it encamped for the night. The next day it was ordered to accompany the division train, which it did, escorting it towards Catlett's Station. On the 14th, orders were received to re-join the division at Auburn, and the command at once started for that place. Shortly after passing the headquarters of the army, it ran into the pickets of a rebel brigade, driving them into the advance of the Second Corps, by whom they were cap-
: The following is an extract from Major Janeway's report :
" Captain Hick, of Company L, was wounded in the thigh almost immediately on reaching the seene of action. Lieutenant Rodgers, of Company C, while gallantly fighting in the front, received a ball through his arm. Lieutenant Kinsley, of Com- juiny F, commanding Company H, was shot in his shoulder and completely disabled, as the tight was coneluding, and in the darkness his fall was unnoticed. Lieutenants Mckinstry (Adjutant), Jamison, Lane, Craig, Hughes and Dye, had their horses shot under them. The valuable services rendered by the squadron commanders have been mentioned in the body of the report, and every officer in the regiment so gallantly performed his duty that it is impossible to single out any for special commendation. Chaplain H. R. Pyne rendered me great assistance by his cool and gallant bearing, and by aiding to re-form men who had fallen back as their ammunition was exhausted. I cannot speak too highly of the steadiness and enthusiasm of the enlisted men, among whom I have yet to learn of an instance of misbehavior or a case of faltering."
Major Janeway's report has the following endorsement :
" This report having been referred to me, I take great pleasure in bringing to your notice the gallantry of both officers and men of this command. The conduct of Major Hugh H. Janeway upon three several occasions was commendable in the highest de- gree, and reflected great credit upon himself and the regiment.
"JOHN W. KESTER, Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding."
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tured. Waiting until that corps had passed, the regiment proceeded to re-join the brigade, being ordered to form part of the rear-guard of the army, still in retreat before the enemy. As the brigade fell slowly back, Janeway was directed to remain with the First Jersey to hold a hill from which the column might otherwise be annoyed by artillery. Taking command in person of the line of skirmish- ers, the Major strengthened it by seven companies of his own regi- ment, turning over the command of the rest to Captain Gray, and then proceeded to make the best possible disposition of the sixteen companies placed at his disposal. The enemy, however, beyond throwing a few shells, made no assault, and the force was finally withdrawn, proceeding towards Bristow Station, where Heath's Division of Hill's Corps, having succeeded in marching around us, had fallen upon the Second Corps. Hurrying his men into posi- tion, Janeway held the rebel advance until night, when he pro- ceeded to Brentsville and thence marched with the train to Fairfax Station, where the men were permitted to rest until the 19th. Then, the army having again taken up its advance in pursuit of the now retiring enemy, the cavalry resumed its marched on the 21st, re-occupying the camps which had been left ten days before the fight at Sulphur Springs. Here Lieutenant-Colonel Kester was relieved from duty on the staff of General Gregg, and for the first time assumed command of the regiment which had long been expecting him.
From this time forward until late in November, the regiment was employed in picket-duty, once escorting a body of prisoners to Washington; but being called upon to do no more arduous service- much to the satisfaction, probably, of the battle-beaten and ex- hausted troopers.
IX-ACROSS THE RAPIDAN.
On the 26th of November, General Meade having determined upon a movement across the Rapidan, Gregg's Division of cavalry surprised the rebel pickets at Ely's Ford, and throwing itself across the river, took position on our extreme left, halting for the night on a narrow byc-road through the Wilderness, leading across from
السيدد. طابعـ
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THE SIXTEENTH REGIMENT-(FIRST CAVALRY).
Culpepper turnpike to the main road from Fredericksburg to Richmond. Sykes' infantry column being on the right, the First Jersey was placed on picket to connect with his line, but the fol- lowing morning was advanced to the front, emerging upon the plank-road from Fredericksburg to Orange Court House. The country traversed was intersected by but very few roads, and was entirely impracticable except in the woods themselves, thus com- pelling the troops to move in narrow columns, and delaying the promptness of necessary evolutions. After some difficulty, how- ever, the column reached a position near Hope Church, but here they found a body of rebel cavalry who disputed their advance. All around this position stretched a wilderness of woods, under cover of which the enemy had posted his infantry, who soon advanced upon our skirmishers. The fire growing gradually sharper, the First Jersey was promptly dismounted, and with the First Pennsylvania on its left, plunged into the thicket. Then with a cheer that rolled all along the line, the men dashed straight against the enemy, causing his skirmishers to fall back with a loss of forty prisoners, including several officers. But the gallant troopers did not pause with this handsome success. With succes- sive rushes, the line advanced full three-quarters of a mile, the bullets flying so fiercely that between the charges the men had to lie close to the ground. At last came a period of desperate strug- gle. Though every man hugged the earth as closely as he could, in the short period during which the contest lasted, twenty-seven officers and men were either killed or so wounded as to disable them. Jamison was shot through the heart, Gray had his hand shattered, Lane was almost stunned, and Hobensack was struck so violently by a piece of shell that for some minutes he was crazed. All the while the artillery was in full play, the rebels firing at our guns, and our missiles plunging into their line of battle. At last, after a vigorous rally on the part of the enemy, our men raised a cheer that rang far away over the field ; and with one tremendous rush, they swept skirmish-line, battle-line and all before them for a quarter of a mile, when, the Fifth Corps having come up and deployed, the fighting cavalrymen were withdrawn without loss.
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NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
Few conflicts of the war were more desperate than this; and the men of the First Jersey never fought with grander courage or more abounding faith in themselves. The loss of the regiment was more severe than that of any other engaged ; and in Lieutenant Jamison it gave to the country one of the most zealous and efficient officers in the service.º
The next afternoon, leaving part of the brigade on duty at Parker's Store, the First Jersey with the rest crossed by a difficult road to the Wilderness Tavern upon the other plank road to Cul- pepper, but the enemy moving against the force at that point, the regiment on the following day returned to the menaced point, but without becoming engaged, the rebels having been driven off before their arrival. On the 1st of December, our army having again commenced a retrograde movement, the cavalry followed in the rear, and crossing the Rapidan and Rappahannock, some days after
8 The following is the official report of this engagement, as made to the Governor of the State :
" I have the honor to submit to your notice the part which the First New Jersey Cavalry took in the action of Friday, November 27, 1863, in the Wilderness, near Mountain Run, south of the Rapidan. The position assigned us that day was in the rear of the First Brigade, the advance of which engaged the enemy's cavalry near Hope Church, driving him towards Orange Court House; and when near Mountain Run the enemy withdrew his cavalry and advanced a division of infantry, which brought our advance to a check. I was then ordered forward with the regiment. As I moved on to the field, the lines began to waver under a vigorous shelling and a hail of rifle- balls from the enemy's infantry. I was ordered to take in my regiment and hold the ground. I dismounted the whole regiment and pressed forward with a cheer that sounded above the din of battle, and I was just in time, as I met fragments of broken regiments falling baek ; as we passed them they took up the chcer and followed. We then charged the 'enemy's infantry, driving him half a mile and capturing thirty-one prisoners, and holding the ground until relieved by the Fifth Corps of infantry.
"I cannot speak too highly of the gallantry of both officers and men of the com- mand. They did honor to their State and country. It is almost impossible for me to speak of individual aets of gallantry, as all acted with such bravery as to call forth the admiration of all who saw them. Captain Robbins, Company G, and Sergeants Mich- enor and Scott, Company A, were particularly noticed for their activity in securing and bringing off the field a number of prisoners. Great credit is due to Major Janeway, Captain Hart and Captain Gray, for the steady manner in which they handled their battalions, and all honor is due to the brave but unfortunate Jamison, who lived and died a soldier, and his brave comrades who fell upon that field, nobly contesting for their country's honor.
" My Adjutant and other members of my staff acted with intrepid zeal, and were of the utmost importance to me, and I trust that the doings of the regiment may meet your approval.
" The following is a list of casualties : Killed 9; wounded 18.
"JOHN W. KESTER, Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding New Jersey Cavalry."
THE SIXTEENTH REGIMENT-(FIRST CAVALRY). 457
went into winter-quarters on familiar ground at Warrenton. Dur- ing the winter months," the men were comfortably housed, but were not left in idleness. In addition to arduous picket-duty, many were employed in scouting,10 and all were kept in some way em- ployed, until spring at last opened, and Grant prepared to strike his ponderous blows against the tottering fabric of the rebellion.
X-THE BATTLES OF THE WILDERNESS.
At two o'clock on the morning of the 4th of May, 1864, after a night of marching and open bivouac, the First Jersey, leading the column of Gregg's Division, crossed the Rapidan at Ely's Ford, capturing a portion of the rebel pickets, and taking position, beyond Chancellorsville, on the road leading to Fredericksburg and Todd's Tavern, to which place it moved early on the 5th. Here, about noon, the Third Cavalry Division having been attacked by the enemy and given way, General Gregg drew up the First Regiment and ordered a squadron to be sent in to cover the retiring column and repel the enemy. Captain Hart was, accordingly, at
9 On the 21st of January, 1864, Lieutenant-Colonel Kester issued the following : [Regimental Order, No. 1.]
"HEADQUARTERS FIRST NEW JERSEY CAVALRY, } January 21, 1864.
" Officers and Soldiers of this Regiment :
"The Lieutenant-Colonel commanding takes this opportunity to thank you in the name of our country for your undaunted courage, impetuous bravery and patient en- durance shown upon so many bloody fields and under circumstances that try men's souls.
"The commanding officer of the regiment may well feel just cause for being proud of a command who have never ceased to reflect luster upon our arms, and who through the many conflicts in which you have been engaged, have always taken a conspicuous part and called forth the thanks and gratitude of your commanding officers.
"He also thanks the regiment, and more especially those who have re-enlisted, for their patriotie zeal and firm determination to serve in the army until this unholy rebel- lion be crushed, when those who survive will look back upon their course with satis- faction and pride, and will have won laurels that will ensure thein the homage of a grateful country to heroes who have taken part in a hundred fiercely-contested fields, hobly fighting in the defense of their country's honor; and also the thanks of the com- manding officer is due to Lieutenant Hobensack for the prompt manner in which he rave chase and re-captured men captured by guerrillas on the 16th instant.
" By Order, JOHN W. KESTER, Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding. "C. MCKINSTRY, Adjutant."
1º One of the exploits of the winter is thus detailed in an official report of Lieutenant- Colonel Kester to Governor Parker:
" I have the honor to report that on the 17th instant, (February, 1864,) I was ordered
58
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NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
.
once advanced, and soon came upon the enemy, rushing down upon the fugitives and startlingly near to our position. Without a mo- ment's hesitation, Hart charged into the advancing column, and then, breaking it in pieces, pushed on through the woods towards the main body of the rebels, only halting as the supporting column of the latter came into view. Then, being joined by Colonel Kester heading the regiment, the troopers once more advanced, the enemy again giving ground before the impetuous attack. Still advancing, the assailants presently came upon a line of mounted men, who, rushing out with a cheer, compelled Kester to halt, then turn and rapidly retire, followed by the charging enemy, until Captain Malsbury, throwing his squadron into line by the side of the road, met the charge by a close volley from his carbines. At the same moment the retreating column rallying, once more dashed against the foe; but now the main body of the latter was moved rapidly up, and at length Kester gave way, falling slowly back until the supports were reached. Then, once more, his skirmishers wheeled with one accord, and with a wild cheer the whole body made a
to take three hundred and fifty men, (comprising one hundred and fifty of the First New Jersey Cavalry, under command of Captain Hart, and two hundred men of the First Pennsylvania, First Massachusetts and Third Pennsylvania, ) and attempt the cap- ture of Mosby's guerrillas. We started from Warrenton at ten o'clock on the even- ing of the 1Sth instant, and marched rapidly, it being very cold, to Salem. At thet point, I detached fifty men to meet me at Paris and at Piedmont. I sent Captain Hart with one hundred and fifty First New Jersey to pass through Piedmont Valley and join me at Paris in Ashby's Gap, and with one hundred and fifty men I started for Mark- ham Station, in Manassas Gap. The party offifty men reached Paris without capturing any guerrillas. The party under Captain Hart passed through Piedmont Valley to Pari- capturing fifteen guerrillas and a large number of horses, arms and equipments. The party with myself passed through Manassas Gap to Markham, and from that point cross- ing the mountains to Paris, in Ashby's Gap. We captured thirteen 'guerrillas and : large number of horses, arms and equipments, and some medical stores. It was twelve o'clock before I reached Paris, at which place I halted one hour to feed. At one o'clock I started to return. In the meantime the guerrillas had collected to the number of nearly one hundred, and attempted to capture my rear-guard, which was under the command of Captain Hart. The enemy charged several times, but was repulsed with loss. The casualties on our side were, Captain Hart wounded, and two horses killed Captain Hart was wounded at Upperville, aud traveled with the column to Warrenton without complaint, a distance of twenty-six miles. The distance marched by us was seventy-four miles in twenty-two hours. Great credit is due to Capt. Hart; also to Lieutenant Lame, Dye and Cause."
Major-General Pleasanton, in a General Order, dated February 20th, " comuneuds the zeal and activity displayed by Lieutenant-Colonel Kester, and the officers and men of his command, in the late scout, in which twenty-eight of Mosby's guerrillas, and fifty arms, horses, &e., were captured."
THE SIXTEENTH REGIMENT-(FIRST CAVALRY). 459
simultaneous and resistless charge. Without a halt or check they swept on over the ground once occupied, over the rude barricade, behind which had been planted the artillery now in rapid retreat, through woods and over fields, until at last the rebels hurried across the Po and made the line of that river their defense. The ground was ours, and the position saved. Then, the grand work being fully accomplished, Captain Hart inquired for the Regimental Sur- geon, and it was learned that a bullet had passed through his thigh early in the engagement. Fearing that he might not be permitted to share in the glory of the fight, if the fact that he was hurt should be known, he had with shut lips remained in the saddle, doing his duty to the last, and now only, when the day was won, sought relief for his injuries. The entire loss of the regiment in this brilliant affair was six men killed, and two officers and forty- one men wounded.
During the following day, the First New Jersey was not en- gaged, but on the 7th, the whole of the rebel cavalry having been thrown across the Po, the hostile forces became fiercely engaged- Hobensack having the honor of receiving the first attack of the enemy. Gaining, however, an important position, he succeeded in holding it until relieved by the First Pennsylvania, when, all the available forces uniting in a charge of the Sixth Ohio, which had also come up, the rebels were swept clear out of a line of breastworks which they had expended a day and night in con- structing, and that part of the field was our own. Meanwhile, to the right of this front, the First and Second Cavalry Divisions were meeting the massed forces of the enemy ; but the latter were no match for these veteran soldiers, and here, too, the field was won, the enemy losing some five hundred wounded, while the number of killed was correspondingly large. After this disastrous failure, he did not care to renew the contest, and the Union cavalry had done its last fighting in the Wilderness.
XI-SHERIDAN'S RAID TO RICHMOND.
On the 9th of May, separating temporarily from the Army of the Potomac, the whole cavalry corps moved south in the direction
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NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
of Richmond, the First New Jersey having the rear of the column. Lee, supposing that the force consisted of but a couple of brigades on a marauding expedition, had detached a corresponding body to cut off the retreat ; and while Stuart, with a large force of cavalry, tried to gain our front, this body, under Wickham and Lennox, attempted to strike our rear, their skirmisher's exchanging flying shots with our line of flankers, but not venturing an attack until towards evening. This, however, was repulsed, as was also an assault upon Captain Robbins, who had been sent out to picket a cross-road, though Lennox continued to annoy the column until silenced by our artillery. It was by this time very dark, and the rest of the corps going into camp, the First New Jersey and First Massachusetts barricaded the road, after which they also sought a hurried rest. Early on the morrow, the rebels again assaulted our line, but were held in check by the First New Jersey, and the whole force crossed the North Anna. Thence, the First Division advanced towards Hanover Junction, while the Second moved directly to the South Anna, which it crossed unmolested and halted for the night, starting the next morning to perform its share in the work of destruction. General Davies, with the First Brigade. pushed across to Ashland Station and Court House, where, while the First Massachusetts, after destroying the public buildings and storehouses, fought hotly with the enemy, the rest of the brigade occupied themselves with the destruction of miles of railroad. Then, hurrying back by narrow and tortuous, woodland roads, the command came out upon the Mountain turnpike, where it re- . joined the corps. From this time forward, the First New Jersey. while participating otherwise in all the fatigues and hardships of this memorable "raid," was not engaged with the enemy. Re-join- ing the army on the 25th, it encamped in its rear, and for one night slept soundly under the friendly shelter of its own tents.
XI-TURNING LEE'S RIGHT.
But its season of repose was brief. On the 26th it was moved down to the Pamunkey on a reconnaissance, and during the early hours of the following morning crossed at Hanover Town, with the First
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and Second Cavalry Divisions, supported by a part of the Sixth Corps-advancing upon Lee's right wing. On the 28th, having ad- vanced several miles on the direct road. to Richmond, Gregg took up a position near Hawes' Shop, to cover the crossing and move- ments of our infantry. Here, during the day, he was fiercely attacked by the enemy, and the First Jersey once more became engaged. One company being sent on each flank, mounted, Captain Robbins with four companies, dismounted, moved forward and occupied a position on the right of the road, opening a rapid fire from their carbines on the line of the enemy which was forming for attack. The remainder of the regiment was moved to the left of the road, and having been dismounted, was ordered to the sup- port of the First Pennsylvania, which was hotly engaged. Robbins, as usual, moved with a rush to the assault, and soon cleared his immediate front of the rebels, chasing them across the open ground beyond the wood in which they had taken cover. In this field there was a double ditch, lined by fencing, with another of the same character facing it, only forty or fifty paces distant. As Captain Beekman, heading his men, sprang across the first fence, at charging speed, they were met by a desperate volley from the second line of the rebels lying in the other cover. Instinctively, as they saw the flash, the men threw themselves upon the ground, and now Beekman, rolling into the ditch, called his troops there beside him. From the two covers there was kept up a tremendous fire-our men sometimes charging towards the hostile ditch, but in each case falling back, and the fight going on, both parties holding their own, but neither gaining ground upon the other. Meanwhile, Captain Robbins, on the right of the road, was being sorely pressed. Major Janeway was sent with two squadrons to his relief and the tight re-doubled in intensity. The ammunition of the men giving out, a supply was brought from the rear and distributed along the line itself by the officers, several of whom fell while engaged in the service. Captain Beekman was shot through both hands as he stretched them forth full of ammunition. Lieutenant Bellis was almost at the same moment mortally wounded, as was also Lieu- tenant Stewart. Captain Robbins was wounded severely in the
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