The biographical encyclopaedia of New Jersey of the nineteenth century, Part 3

Author: Robson, Charles, ed; Galaxy Publishing Company, publisher
Publication date: 1877
Publisher: Philadelphia, Galaxy publishing company
Number of Pages: 924

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march to the capital until they appeared in sight of the goal toward which they had been pressing for so many months. It was at Cherubusco, however, that their leader was en- abled to bring them into action, as the commanding general temporarily relinquished his military escort. The Mexicans, being on the retreat, were pursued by the American cavalry along the narrow causeway which spanned the marsh, the causeway being protected by a battery in front of one of the city gates. Kearny seized the opportunity and pressed forward to prevent the enemy gaining possession of this shelter, and rallying for its and their defence. Though re- called by an officer despatched for that purpose, he hastily made known the situation and was allowed to continue the course he had taken, and reached the Cherubusco gate of the capital, killing all who resisted. On rejoining the American army he was wounded by a shower of grape, losing his left arm. He was highly complimented by his superiors in command for this dangerous and gallant ex- ploit, and was promoted to the rank of Major. After the close of that war he returned with the army to the United States, and was ordered to the Pacific coast, where he was em- ployed in operations against the Indian tribes. He resigned his commission about 1852, and being a man of fortune, he travelled throughout Europe and the East, and finally estab- lished himself in Paris, occasionally visiting the United States, where he remained each time only for a brief period. He served with the French army in 1859, being an aide-de- camp on the staff of General Meurice, commanding the cavalry of the guard, and was present at the battle of Sol- ferino. For the bravery and gallantry he displayed in that campaign, he received from the Emperor Napoleon III. the Cross of the Legion of Honor. When the great Southern rebellion broke out, he abandoned his Parisian life, and, hastening home, offered his services to the Union govern- ment. After his arrival, early in 1861, he applied to General Scott, who referred him to the governor of his native State. But he failed to receive any commission from the New York State authorities, and desiring impatiently an oppor- tunity to enter the volunteer service, he was finally commis- sioned by the Governor of New Jersey, Brigadier-General of Volunteers. This was after the disaster at the first Bull Run, and he immediately entered upon his duties with ex- traordinary ardor. He made the First Brigade of New Jersey the flower of the troops of that State. His organiza- tion was thoroughly disciplined, for he was remarkably strict on that point, and from the outset of his campaign until he fell on the field of battle, he was ever the forcmost in main- taining his command in a degree of the highest excellence and standing. He was attached to the Army of the Poto- mac, under General Mcclellan, and viewed with disgust the halting and hesitating course of that officer. He saw opportunity after opportunity of reaching Richmond slip by, and he could scarcely conceal his opinion of the vacillation and incompetency of his superior general. The change of

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base which McClellan advised and subsequently adopted was severely criticised by him in confidential letters ad- dressed to his friends, and he emphatically condemned the course pursued as a great mistake. In March, 1862, he was tendered the command of a division ; but as he was un. willing to leave the brigade of Jerseymen, he declined the same. When he arrived at this decision, and returned to camp, his appearance there was the occasion of an ovation spontaneously tendered him by his command. But he was obliged during the Peninsular campaign, in an emergency, to assume command of a division of Heintzleman's corps, and he relinquished his favorite troops, not without a sigh. He participated in the battle of- Williamsburg, May 5th, 1862, and arrived in time to support Hooker and his New Jersey troops at a most critical period, thus avoiding what would have proved an irremediable disaster. The bravery he displayed on this occasion won for him the admiration of all beholders. He marched far ahead of his column and hurried them on at the double-quick, driving the enemy before him. So also, at the battle of Fair Oaks, May 31st, he arrived on the scene immediately after the flight of Casey's division, and turned the tide of battle. Again supporting Hooker, he drove hack the rebels, who believed themselves victorious until now, and both he and his brother officers desired permission to follow the enemy into Rich- mond, which might then easily have been captured, but were refused by the hesitating course pursued by the general- in-chief. He foresaw the disasters which afterwards befel the Army of the Potomac ; the " change of base," as it was termed, he really called a retreat, and during the whole week which was thus occupied in transferring the immense army to the James river, he was conspicuously engaged in every skirmish which transpired. Particularly was this the case in the battle of White Oak Swamp, June 30th ; wherever danger was the greatest he was to be found, rally- ing his men and inspiring confidence when all seemed disaster and despair. So, likewise, at Malvern Hill, July Ist, he displayed the same undaunted courage and bravery which had made his name renowned as a Bayard, " without fear and reproach." When McClellan again failed to order an advance on Richmond, and commanded the army to retreat to Harrison's Landing, his indignation knew no bounds, and he publicly protested, in the presence of many officers, against so fatal a course being adopted, saying that " such an order can only be prompted by cowardice or treason." He had now received promotion to the rank of Major-General of Volunteers, though he had been for three months in command of a division. His predictions that Pope would be crushed by the rebels were fulfilled by the events that took place at and after the second Bull Run, August 30th. On September Ist was fought the battle of Chantilly, where General Pope, in order to save his army, looked for aid from Generals Kearny, Reno and Stevens, who promptly came to the rescue. The two latter attacked the enemy, but were compelled to retire by an

overwhelming force. At this juncture Kearny placed him- self at the head of General Birney's brigade, broke the rebel centre, causing them to retreat in great disorder, thus saving Pope's army and the city of Washington. At sunset on that day, while reconnoitring the enemy's position, he suddenly came upon their lines, and his surrender being demanded, he refused. As he turned to fly, he was shot dead, his body falling into the hands of the rebels. The tidings of this fatal event flew far and fast throughout the country on the wings of the lightning, and everywhere a wail went up for the brave man thus sacrificed : he was mourned alike by President and peasant.

OUTHARD, HON. SAMUEL L., LL.D., Lawyer and Statesman, late of Jersey City, was born, June 7th, 1787, at Baskingridge, New Jersey, and was the son of Hon. Henry Southard, formerly of Long Island, but who had removed to New Jer- sey while a youth, where by his industry he pur- chased a farm, became a justice of the peace, then a member of the legislature, and for sixteen years represented his dis- trict in the lower house of Congress. Samuel was educated in a classical school in his native town, where he had as classmates the late Theodore Frelinghuysen and Joseph R. Ingersoll, of Philadelphia, who were also with him at Princeton College, where he graduated in 1804, being then barely seventeen years of age. After leaving college he began teaching school at Mendham, in Morris county, and subsequently went to Washington, where his father was then occupied with his congressional duties, and who introduced him to Colonel John Taliaferro, a member from Virginia. The latter forthwith tendered him a position in his family as tutor to his sons and nephews, which he accepted ; and in the autumn of 1805 he became a resident of Hagley, King George's county, Virginia, that being the name of Colonel Taliaferro's plantation. This country-seat was within a short distance of Fredericksburg; and here he passed five years in instructing his pupils. His leisure hours were de- voted to the study of law, under the preceptorship of Judges Green and Brooks, of Fredericksburg; and after due ex- amination was admitted, in 1809, to practise at the bar. He remained in Virginia until 1811, when he returned to New Jersey, and settled at Flemington ; and being licensed by the Supreme Court of the State, opened his office, and soon obtained a fair and remunerative practice, eventually attaining a high rank at the bar. His first public position was as Prosecuting Attorney of Hunterdon county; and in 1814 he was appointed State Law Reporter. In 1815 he was elected a member of the General Assembly, having pre- viously attracted great attention in that body, by an argu- ment in opposition to a petition for the repeal of a law granting to Aaron Ogden and Daniel Dod the exclusive right of using steamboats plying between New Jersey and New York, in the waters of New Jersey. After taking his

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seat in the Legislature he remained but a very brief period, to re-elect him to his old position of United States Senator; when those opposed to his nomination advanced the singu- lar objection that he was not a resident of the State, such as her constitution implied; and a resolution was actually passed declaring him ineligible, when Senator Dickerson was chosen. A month later Theodore Frelinghuysen, then Attorney-General of the State, was also chosen as United States Senator, and Southard was elected to the vacancy in the attorney-generalship thus created. He returned to Trenton with his family, which city again became his resi- dence, and there resumed the practice of his profession. In the autumn of 1832 his partisans eontrolled the Legislature, and elected him Governor of the State. He held this po- sition but three months, when he was chosen United States Senator. During his occupancy of the gubernatorial office but one term of the Court of Chancery was held. His only message to the Legislature was addressed to them in Janu- ary, 1833, relative to the Nullification acts of South Caro- lina, and transmitting to those bodies copies of the samc, which he had received from the governor of that State. IIe also took occasion to concur in the views entertained by President Jackson in his celebrated proclamation issued on the occasion, and which for the time united all parties at the North in one solid column to the support of the man who declared that the " Union must and shall be preserved." From the day he took his seat in the Senate until the close of his life he took a very active part in all the proceedings of that body, although his party were in the minority and in opposition to the government up to 1841. In the autumn of 1838 he was re-elected United States Senator for the full term of six years; and in 1841 was elected President pro tem. of that body. After the death of President Harrison, in April, 1841, Vice-President Tyler succeeded to the Chief Magistracy, when Southard filled the position of prc- siding officer continuously during life; and he was rccog- nized by all parties as most faithful, impartial and able in that high office. When first elected to the General Assembly of his native State, he was elected as a Democrat, in which organization he continued down to the elose of his career of a cabinet officer under President Adams. Meanwhile the political creeds or parties had materially changed, and so likewise did their names; and great confusion existed in 1824-25, when both Jackson and Adams were classcd as members of the Democratie party, although they were strongly opposed to each other. After the latter had been clected President by the House of Representatives the Jack- son party manifested great hostility to him and to his ad- ministration ; and when General Jackson succeeded him, in 1829, the party in opposition to the Democracy of those days was termed "Anti-Jackson." With the latter Senator Sonthard affiliated ; and when, at the close of the second term of General Jackson's administration, Mr. Van Buren was placed in nomination by the Democracy, and the Whig party was formed, he (Southard) gave in his adhesion to the as he was chosen a Judge of the Supreme Court, to fill a vacancy occasioned by the election of Mahlon Dickerson- one of the judges-to the gubernatorial chair of the State. He removed his residence to Trenton, and passed five years on the bench, being also selected as reporter of the decisions of his court. In 1820 he was engaged, in connection with Charles Ewing, to attend to the preparation of the "Revised Statutes of the State," and to superintend their publication. In the autumn of the same year he was elected by the Legislature (as was then the custom) a member of the Electoral College of New Jersey, and cast his vote for that sterling patriot James Monroe, who was also his warm personal friend. In 1821 he was elected United States Senator, and thereupon resigned his position as Judge. He took his seat in that body in February, 1821, having been also selected to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resigna- tion of James J. Wilson, whose term would have expired March 3d, 1821. It was a period of intense political ex- citement, growing out of the question of the admission of Missouri into the Union, which was opposed by reason of two clauses in her constitution, one being that the Legis- lature should prohibit the immigration of free negroes, and the other forbidding the abolition of slavery. The House of Representatives had voted against admitting the State, when Henry Clay moved that a joint committee of the House and Scnate should be appointed to consider the subject in its various bearings. This course was adopted, and, strange to say, the father, Hon. Henry Southard, of the House-at that time approaching very nearly the close of his Congressional career-met his son, Samuel, of the Senate, then at the very commencement of his high position, to confer together as to the best means to pursue. Samuel L. Southard had prepared resolutions-the identical ones which were afterwards introduced and passed. These he showed to his political friends, among them Mr. Clay ; they were approved, and it was understood that they should be presented in the Senate by their author. Mr. Clay subse- quently obtained possession of the resolutions by saying that it would be better if something of that nature should first emanate from the lower House. But the verbiage of the resolutions was unaltered; and they were carried in both IIouses, thus ending the struggle. From that time Mr. Clay had all the merit of settling the question, while the real originator and author of the measure was quietly ignored. He remained a member of the Senate until 1823, when he succeeded Hon. Smith Thompson as Secretary of the Navy. He remained in this position throughout the remainder of President Monroe's term, and upon the acces- sion of President John Quincy Adams the latter continued him in the same high office, heing unwilling to make a change. During these years he also filled for short periods the additional positions of Acting Secretary of the Treasury and Acting Secretary of the War Departments. Early in 1829 a movement was made in the New Jersey Legislature | new organization, which was in effect the same as had

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opposed the measures of the Jackson dynasty. In 1840 the | a master of invective and retort, and crushing in sarcasm. Whigs succeeded in electing General Harrison to the Presidency by a sweeping majority, and thenceforward for thirteen years were a power in the country, until dissolved by the advent of the Free-soil or Republican organization. In 1838 Mr. Southard was appointed President of the Morris Canal and Banking Company, and thenceforward look up his residence in Jersey City. In religious belief he was a Presbyterian ; although not a communicant member, yet he was strongly attached to its principles. He was an earnest advocate for temperance principles, even to the degree of total abstinence. As a counsellor and attorney- at law he was regarded as skilful and preparing his cases thoroughly; and as a statesman, the high positions he at- tained is a sufficient proof of his abilities in that direction. While a resident at Hagley, in Virginia, he was married, in June, 1812, to Rebecca Harrow, daughter of an Episco- pal clergyman (then deceased) ; and thirty years after, June 26th, 1842, he died at the house of his wife's brother, in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

His addresses to juries were magnificent specimens of legal oratory, and have rarely been equalled. Of his efforts scarcely any remain in enduring form beyond an able argu- ment in favor of the New Jersey claims to the waters of the Hudson, appended to the report of a commission, pub- lished by order of the Legislature in 1828. In politics he was a decided Federalist of the Hamilton school. As such he sat in the United States Senate, being elected thereto by the Legislature in joint session, to fill a vacancy. He held his seat until 1799. His party losing power, he figured very little in politics for some years thereafter. But when war was declared against Great Britain, and it obtained a temporary majority in the State, providing for the election of Congressmen by districts, he was chosen, in January, 1813, a member of the Thirteenth Congress. Therein he took a leading part, proving himself a worthy contemporary of such men as Webster, Calhoun and Clay. In the affairs of his Alma Mater, Princeton College, he always mani- fested an earnest interest, and from 1791 was one of its Trustees. From Rutgers and Union Colleges he received the honorary degree of LL. D. When a vacancy occurred on the bench of the United States District Court, in 1826, through the death of Judge Pennington, general expectation turned to Mr. Stockton as his most fitting successor. It was known to the President, John Quincy Adams, and Mr. Southard, a member of the Cabinet, that he would accept the nomination, and his fitness was conspicuous. But the administration deemed it inconsistent with their prospects to appoint so pronounced a Federalist, and Mr. Stockton would not permit his friends to bring the least pressure to bear in his favor. The nomination therefore went else- where. A man of most imposing personal appearance, and singularly polished address, he came to be known among the junior members of the bar as " the old duke." And, indeed, he was a nobleman in the truest sense. ITis whole bearing, while free from self-consciousness, was that of a man of the highest distinction. Yet he was very affable and easy of access, but none could approach him without yield- ing a tribute of respect. He died in 1828.

TOCKTON, HON. RICHARD, Lawyer and United States Senator, late of Princeton, New Jersey, was born in that place in the year 1764. Coming from one of the ancient and distin- guished families of the State, he may be said to have inherited, with a noble name, the qualities which won him fame; his father, named also Richard Stockton, having been an eminent lawyer, one of the justices of the Supreme Court before the Revolution, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. On the mater- nal side also his lineage was notable, his mother being a Boudinot, and a woman of superior and highly cultivated mind and literary taste. His classical education he com- pleted at Princeton, from which he graduated before his seventeenth year. Determining to follow his father's pro- fession, he entered the office of his uncle, Elisha Boudinot, at Newark, and after the usual course of study was ad- mitted to the bar as attorney in 1784, when only about twenty years old. In due time he was licensed as coun- sellor, and was called as sergeant-at-law in 1792. At first his progress at the bar was somewhat slow, but in a few TOCKTON, ROBERT FIELD, late Commodore United States Navy, and Senator of the United States, was born, 1796, in Princeton, and was a son of the late Hon. Richard Stockton, whose biographical sketch precedes. He was partly educated at the College of New Jersey, in his native town, and while a student the war with Great Britain commenced. He at once left college to enter the navy as a midshipman, and made his first cruise in the frigate " President," commanded by Commodore Rodgers. He participated in several engagements while serving on years he had made his quality so manifest that he stood among the first. His practice grew to very large propor- tions, and no name for many years was so familiar in im- portant causes as his. From the year 1818 until his death he was generally recognized as the leader of the bar, and this distinction was deserved. During his time he was almost the only New Jersey lawyer who argued causes before the Supreme Court at Washington, and these were cases not originating in the State. A well-read lawyer and a diligent student, he was also an eloquent and forcible speaker. He had great power in denunciation, being alike | board that vessel, and bore himself with such bravery and

Engraved, by H.B.Hallfrom a Painting on Ivory by NewtonLondon. 1840

you

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gallantry as to receive honorable mention in the despatches forwarded by his commander. For these tokens of appro- bation he was rewarded by receiving, in December, 1814, his commission as a lieutenant. After peace had been de- clared with England, the United States became involved in war with the Algerine government, and the frigate "Guerriere" was despatched to the Mediterranean, to which ship he had been previously ordered. Shortly after reaching that station he was transferred to the " Spitfire," as First-Lieutenant of that vessel. He soon furnished another example of coolness and bravery by attacking an Algerine man-of-war, aided by a single boat's crew from his own ship, boarding the enemy and capturing their vessel. Early in 1816 he was transferred to the ship-of-the- line " Washington," at that time the flag-ship of Commo- dore Chauncey, commanding the Mediterranean Squadron, where he remained for some time, being eventually ordered to command the sloop of war " Erie," in which latter vessel he returned home in 1821. After a short stay in the United States he was sent to the coast of Africa, and was permitted to aid the American Colonization Society in their endeavors to secure a site for their proposed colony. His associate was Dr. Ayres, the society's agent, and after con- siderable delay he succeeded in making a treaty with the natives by which a large tract of land was ceded, and which constituted at one period the original territory of the Republic of Liberia. After this important step had been accomplished he cruised on the coast, overhauling and cap- turing many slavers, including a Portuguese privateer called the " Marianna Flora," mounting twenty-two guns. This last vessel had commenced the conflict which resulted in her capture ; he placed a prize crew on board and sent her to the United States. On her arrival much litigation ensued in the Admiralty courts, it being contended by the counsel for the Portuguese government that Lieutenant Stockton had exceeded his authority in capturing the privateer. A decision, however, was finally reached, by which he was fully exonerated for the course pursued, but the vessel was delivered over to the Portuguese government. On his re- ing steam power to vessels of war, and also to the more effective armament of naval vesseis. Up to 1841 the United States navy did not possess a single steam man-of-war, the " Fulton " having exploded some years previously; while the " Mississippi " and " Missouri " steam frigates were still on the stocks. These latter were powerful side-wheelers of 2,500 tons, and were pierced for ten guns of heavy calibre; but, in his opinion, they possessed one fatal mis- take, in having the motive power exposed to the chance shot of an enemy. He accordingly submitted to the Navy Department some plans which he had prepared, substitut- ing the screw for the paddle, and locating the boiler and engines below the load or water-line. After much per- suasion, notwithstanding that naval constructors had con- demned his theories, he received permission from the authorities to build an experimental steam sloop of war. The keel was laid, 1842, in his presence, in the large ship- house at the navy yard, Philadelphia, and he placed a golden eagle at the intersection of the stern post. The vessel, which was of only 700 tons burthen, old measure- ment, was launched in 1843 and was named the " Prince- ton." Her engine and boilers were placed below the water-line, in accordance with his plans, the former being of 175 horse-power and consuming sixteen tons of coal in twenty-four hours. The armament consisted of twelve guns, forty-two-pounders, and two large wrought-iron can- non carrying shot of 225 pounds. These latter were named the "Oregon " and the " Peacemaker." The trial trip ( f the vessel occurred towards the close of 1843, when she made the run from the capes of the Delaware to the east- ward, sighting Madeira in eight days and a few hours. Returning home she ascended the Potomac river and reached Washington, where she remained for some time. It was during her stay that the terrible accident occurred, February 28th, 1844, when the great gun called the " Peacemaker" exploded, killing five persons, including the Secretaries of War and of the Navy, besides wounding many others, including the Commodore himself. A court of inquiry subsequently convened, which fully acquitted turn home he was next assigned to duty in the West India him of all blame or want of precaution either in the manu- islands, and assisted in rooting out and breaking the numerous gangs of freebooters and pirates who had long

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The biographical encyclopaedia of New Jersey of the nineteenth century, Part 3

Author: Robson, Charles, ed; Galaxy Publishing Company, publisher Publication date: 1877 Publisher: Philadelphia, Galaxy publishing company Number of Pages: 924

Author: Robson, Charles, ed; Galaxy Publishing Company, publisher
Publication date: 1877
Publisher: Philadelphia, Galaxy publishing company
Number of Pages: 924