USA > New Jersey > The history of New Jersey : from its earliest settlement to the present time : including a brief historical account of the first discoveries and settlement of the country, Vol. II > Part 36
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* New Jersey excepted, for theirs were manumitted.
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HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY.
the rights of the owners of slaves in the Southern States, was in- augurated and gradually extended, in violation of the com- promises of the Constitution, as well as of the honor and good faith tacitlv pledged to the South, by the manner in which the North disposed of her slaves."
On the 20th of December, 1860, a convention of delegates elected under authority of the Legislature of South Carolina, adopted an ordinance of secession declaring the "Union then subsisting between South Carolina and other States, under the name of the United States of America," to be finally and forever dissolved. Soon others of the slave States followed, and the entire South rang with appeals to arms. The conven- tions of six seceding States formed an assembly in February, 1861, and without the consent or sanction of the people, formed a Confederacy called the "Confederate States of America."
On the 29th of January, 1861, the Legislature passed a series of joint resolutions, which set forth that it was the duty of every good citizen, in all suitable and proper ways, to stand by and sustain the Union of the States as transmitted to us by our fathers.
That the Government of the United States is a national Government, and the Union it was designed to perfect is not a mere compact or league; and that the Constitution was adopted in a spirit of mutual compromise and concession by the people of the United States, and can only be preserved by the constant recognition of that spirit.
In these resolutions they recommend the resolutions and propositions submitted to the Senate of the United States by the Honorable John J. Crittenden, of Kentucky, for the com- promise of the questions in dispute between the people of the Northern and Southern States, or any other constitutional method that will permanently settle the question of slavery, as being acceptable to the people of New Jersey, and requested their Senators and Representatives in Congress to earnestly urge and support those resolutions and propositions.
They also recommended the calling of a convention of the States to propose amendments to the Constitution, as a last resort to preserve the Union of the States.
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HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY.
They urged States that have obnoxious laws in force, which interfere with the constitutional rights of citizens of the other States, either in regard to their persons or property, to repeal the same.
They appointed Charles S. Olden, Peter D. Vroom, Robert F. Stockton, Benjamin Williamson, Frederick T. Frelinghuysen, Rodman M. Price, William C. Alexander and Thomas J. Stryker, commissioners to confer with Congress and our sister States, and urge upon them the importance of carrying the principles and objects of the resolutions into effect.
The commissioners above named, in addition to their other powers, were authorized to meet with those now or hereafter to be appointed by our sister State of Virginia, and such commis- sioners of other States as have been or may be hereafter ap- pointed, to meet at Washington on the following fourth day of February.
They resolved that however undoubted may be the right of the General Government to maintain its authority and enforce its laws over all parts of the country, it is equally certain that forbearance and compromise are indispensable at this crisis to the perpetuity of the Union, and that it is the dictate of reason, wisdom and patriotism peacefully to adjust whatever differences exist between the different sections of our country.
On the 12th of April the chivalry of South Carolina made an attack on Fort Sumpter, then garrisoned by Major Robert Anderson, himself a Kentuckian, and his little band of troops, and on the following day it was compelled to capitulate, and the Confederate flag was raised over its shattered walls. This cowardly and treacherous act fired the entire North, and every one capable of bearing arms was ready to fly to the defence of the old flag.
On the 15th of April President Lincoln issued his first pro- clamation for troops to quell the rebellion. The number called for was seventy-five thousand men for three months' service, the quota of New Jersey being four regiments of seven hundred and eighty men each, or an aggregate of three thousand one hundred and twenty men.
Governor Olden was at once notified that a call would be made on the State for her quota, and on the 17th he received
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the requisition from the War Department, and at once issued his proclamation, directing all individuals or organizations who were willing to respond to report themselves within twenty days, and orders were issued to the several generals of divisions to furnish each one regiment, and that they fill the regiments severally required to be furnished, so far as practicable, with volunteers; the regiments to be completed by draft from the reserved militia. On the same day that the requisition was received, he notified the War Department that measures would be immediately taken to comply with their request, and that but a few days would be necessary to ascertain when the men would probably be at the place of rendezvous, of which information would be sent as early as possible.
Immediately after the receipt of the President's proclamation, the telegraph line to Cape May (abandoned by the Company) was put in working order at the expense of the State; ammu- nition was ordered to be placed at the disposal of the generals of the various brigades; a maritime guard was established along .the line of the coast, consisting of patriotic citizens living adjacent thereto; and vigorous measures were taken to put the whole State in immediate condition for defence. A com- pany of New Jersey troops, accepted for that duty by Major- General Wool, United States Army, was ordered to garrison Fort Delaware, but the General Government having previously provided for the safety of that fort, their services were not needed, and the order was countermanded.
The first company received under the requisition for the militia was the " Olden Guards." Captain Joseph A. Yard, of Trenton, a veteran of the Mexican War, who raised and equipped a company for that service in 1846 (subsequently Company A of the Third Regiment, Trenton), reported and was mustered into the service of the United States on the 23d day of April, and a sufficient number of companies to compose the four regiments reported and were mustered in, in quick succession, until the 30th of April, on which day the brigade was complete.
From the report of Quartermaster-General Lewis Perrine, we quote the following :
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HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY.
" Very few military companies existed," at the date of the proclamation of the President, "and our armies were limited and mostly inferior to the improvements of the present day. This was our condition at the date of your Excellency's procla- mation of the seventeenth day of April last. On account of the agitated state of the public mind, and the extent and ramifications of a rebellion, the magnitude of which history does not furnish a parallel, and the exposed situation of the Arsenal, the following order was issued to one of the military companies of this city :*
' STATE OF NEW JERSEY, Office of the Adjutant- General, Trenton, April 16th, 1861.
Capt. William R. Murphy, Capt. Co. A, National Guard, Ist Regt. Mercer Brigade.
SIR: You will consider yourself, and company under your . command, detailed for special service. You will report forth- with to the Quartermaster-General of the State, and act under his orders until otherwise directed.
By order of the Commander-in-Chief. R. F. STOCKTON, Adjutant-General.'
"In obedience to this order, Captain Murphy reported him- self and command for immediate service. On the same day I directed him to take military possession of the Arsenal, with special instructions to perform guard duty, and to allow no one within the Arsenal walls without special permission.
"The manner in which this corps performed the duties assigned them reflects great credit upon its officers and men. The Arsenal had now become the depot for all of our military operations. The young gentlemen composing this company performed all the duties of a military garrison, and, at the same time, rendered important service in arming and equipping the troops for the field for the period of three months' service, from the 16th of April to the 16th of July, in which seven regiments,
* Company A, City Battalion, Captain William R. Murphy, afterwards Colonel of the Tenth Regiment.
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four of militia and three of volunteer, were fully armed and equipped.
" When the requisition was made for troops, our militia was without a proper practical organization, without suitable arms or equipments, and although the Treasury of the State was by no means embarrassed, it was only in a condition to meet the demands of peace. After the first requisition had been filled the indications were so clear to the mind of the Governor that New Jersey was ready for the emergency, and such was the demand throughout the State for the privilege of serving the Government, and such the indisposition of some of the Southern border States to meet the requisition made on them, that the Governor made the offer of two additional regiments.
"The population of New Jersey in the spring of 1861, amounted to six hundred and seventy-six thousand. Of this number ninety-eight thousand eight hundred and six were liable to military duty, though without military experience, and to a great extent ignorant of the use of arms. But when the call came for men to defend the nation's capital, great as had been the popular reluctance to believe that war was possible, and all- pervading as was the decay of the martial spirit, there was no hesitation or delay in the people's response. The whole North rose with glorious unanimity to vindicate the majesty of insulted law. New Jersey, from her Revolutionary battle fields, answered the nation's call with eager pledges of help. The old flag, dis- played aforetime only on fair holidays when no storms beat, flung out its folds in every town and hamlet, and over secluded country homes, and became a perpetual sign of covenant-keep- ing faithfulness-a pledge to all the world that the cause it symbolized should be maintained at whatever cost. It had gone down, torn and soiled at Sumpter, but it should be raised again some day, triumphant and with new stars shining in its azure field. In every town and village the people, assembling in public meeetings, pledged their utmost resources in behalf of the imperiled Government."*
The Governor called an extra session of the Legislature to meet at Trenton on the 30th of April, 1861, who authorized a
* Foster's " New Jersey Rebellion," page 25.
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HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY.
loan of $2,000,000, to furnish the necessary supplies for troops to aid in quelling the rebellion.
On the 28th day of May bids were invited for $500,000 of the State loan of $2,000,000 authorized May 10th, and made payable in from four to eight years. At the same time a circular was sent to each bank in the State inviting them to subscribe to the loan ; many of the banks responded liberally, as will be seen by the annexed list :
Newark Banking Company . $50,000
State Bank, Newark 50,000
Mechanics' Bank, Newark 25,000
Newark City Bank . 25,000
Essex County Bank . 20,000
State Bank, Elizabeth .
20,000 Mechanics' and Traders' Bank, Jersey City 25,000
Bank of Jersey City . 10,000
Hoboken City Bank 11,000
Sussex Bank, Newton .
20,000
Union Bank, Dover
10,000
Farmers' Bank, Wantage 8,000
State Bank, New Brunswick
25,000
Trenton Banking Company .
35,000
Mechanics' and Manufacturers' Bank, Trenton
35,000
Bordentown Banking Company . 5,000
Mechanics' Bank, Burlington .
5,000
Farmers' Bank of New Jersey, Mount Holly
10,000
Burlington County Bank, Medford .
5,000
State Bank, Camden
26,000
Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank, Camden
10,000
Gloucester County Bank, Woodbury
5,000
Salem Banking Company . 10,000
Cumberland Bank, Bridgeton
5,000
Lambertville Bank . 5,000
Total $455,000
Besides this, offers from individuals amounting to $76,Soo were received and taken, and the Treasurer in August effected temporary loans from banks in Newark of $150,000, and from the Trenton Banking Company the sum of $100,000, payable in sixty days, making in all the sum of $781,800.
The four regiments having completed their organizations were now ready for the seat of war. At this time the com-
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HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY.
munication with Washington by the Baltimore route having been cut off by the burning of the bridges and the destruction of the railroad by the rebels, it became necessary that the New Jersey troops should proceed thither by way of Annapolis. The brigade, fully uniformed, armed and equipped and accompanied by a State battery of four brass pieces, was accordingly des- patched by that route on the 3d of May, 1861, on board of fourteen propellers, sailing down the Delaware and Raritan Canal to Bordentown, thence down the Delaware River .*
This was designated the First New Jersey Brigade, and con- tained an aggregate of three thousand and seventy-five men, including officers and musicians.
At the time the troops reached the Capital of the State to be mustered in, the small-pox prevailed there, and great care had
* The following were the officers of these regiments : Brigadier-Genera!, Theodore Runyon ; Brigade Inspector (Major), Alexander V. Bonnell ; Aid- de-Camp (Captain), James B. Mulligan.
First Regiment : Colonel, Adolphus J. Johnson; Lieutenant-Colonel, James Peckwell; Major, William W. Michels; Adjutant, Joseph Trawin; Quartermaster, Theodore F. Ketchum; Surgeon, John J. Craven; Surgeon's Mate, Edward A. Pearson; Sergeant-Major, George H. Johnson; Drum- Major, Nathan P. Morris; Fife-Major, Elijah F. Lathrop, and fourteen musicians, with an aggregate of seven hundred and seventy-three men.
Second Regiment : Colonel, Henry M. Baker; Lieutenant-Colonel, Abra- ham Speer; Major, John J. Van Buskirk; Adjutant, Cornelius G. Van Reiper; Quartermaster, Henry H. Brinkerhoff; Surgeon, John C. Quidor; Surgeon's Mate, John Longstaff; Sergeant-Major, Noah D. Taylor; Drum-Major, Ed- ward C. Woodruff; Fife-Major, William K. Van Reiper; nineteen musicians, and an aggregate of seven hundred and forty-five men.
Third Regiment : Colonel, William Napton; Lieutenant-Colonel, Stephen Moore; Major, James S. Yard; Adjutant, J. Dallas McIntosh; Surgeon, Edward F. Taylor; Surgeon's Mate, Elias J. Marsh; Quartermaster, Myron H. Beaumont; Sergeant-Major, James Anderson ; Drum-Major, Joseph M. Lewis; Fife-Major, Charles A. Anderson; ten musicians, and an aggregate · of seven hundred and eighty men.
Fourth Regiment : Colonel, Matthew Miller, Jr .; Lieutenant-Colonel, Simpson R. Stroud; Major, Robert C. Johnson; Adjutant, William B. Hatch; Quartermaster, John L. Linton; Surgeon, Elijah B. Woolston ; Surgeon's Mate, Alvin Satterthwaite; Sergeant-Major, Samuel Keys; Drum-Major, John V. Johnson; Fife-Major, David S. Bender; seventeen musicians, and an aggregate of seven hundred and seventy-seven men.
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HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY.
to be manifested to prevent the disease from reaching them. They were therefore disembarked above and below the city, and the members of each company vaccinated upon their arrival. But one case occurred in any of the regiments, a young man attached to the Stockton Cadets, Captain Edmund G. Jackson (subsequently Company C, Fourth Regiment), who ultimately recovered and joined his regiment in Washington.
Information having been previously received that the War Department was unable at the time to furnish accoutrements and ammunition, and on that account the New Jersey troops must not yet be moved, it had been determined on account of the exigencies of the case, and the dangers threatening the national capital, that the necessary accoutrements should be furnished at the expense of the State. Efforts were made to procure the requisite ammunition from Major-General Patterson, in com- mand of this department, and from Major-General Wool, then in command at New York. These efforts proving unsuccessful, application was made to Simeon Draper, Esq., Chairman of the Union Defence Committee of New York, who replied that it could be furnished. Captain Charles P. Smith, of Trenton, Clerk of the Supreme Court, was despatched to New York to procure it, who was successful, though at great risk, as it was forbidden to ship any ammunition from the city, and much care had to be manifested in carting it through the city to the dock. It was, however, shipped from New York to Camden, after the brigade had left Trenton, and one of the vessels carrying the troops being detailed to receive it at Camden, it was taken on board and distributed to the troops on the other vessels as they passed down the bay. The State also furnished rifles, with which the flank companies of the several regiments were armed.
The troops reached Annapolis on the 5th of May, and pro- ceeded thence to Washington, where they arrived on the 6th, and reported at once to the President and the War Department for duty.
In a letter to the Executive, referring to the exertions of this State, in aid of the General Government, the Secretary of War used the following language: "For your prompt and patriotic response to the call of the General Government, I tender to
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HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY.
yourself and the people of New Jersey my sincere and heartfelt thanks;" and in a subsequent letter he says : "Allow me to tender you the thanks of this department for the very prompt and efficient manner in which you, and the people of your State, have responded to the requisitions made upon you."
New Jersey, desirous of caring for the spiritual as well as the temporal concerns of her brave soldiers in the field, and away from the privileges and influences of home, appointed a chaplain for each regiment. Revs. A. St. John Chambre, was appointed for the First Regiment ; Matthew B. Ribble, for the Second ; John L. Janeway, for the Third ; Martin E. Harmsted, for the Fourth, were appointed by the Colonels of the several regiments, and the Governor subsequently appointed Rev. George H. Doane, all of whom joined the brigade in Virginia.
The New Jersey troops being among the earliest to reach the seat of war, and being the only fully organized brigade there,. were at once assigned to the important and urgent duty of strengthening the defences of the National Capital, at that time seriously threatened and supposed to be in imminent danger, and their timely services have been repeatedly acknowledged. Upon the expiration of their term of service, the Third and Fourth Regiments were mustered out on the 24th of July, and and the First and Second on the 25th.
On the 31st of July General Runyon reported the return to the State of this brigade, and added: " It is but just to officers and men to say that they performed with alacrity and efficiency every duty to which they were assigned while in the service of the United States, and distinguished the command by their patriotic zeal and assiduity. Much of the service required of them was of acknowledged importance to the nation. Arriving at the capital at an early day, they were employed in protecting its communications with the people and in adding to its defences, in which latter work their industry and devotion reflected espe- cial credit upon the State. The brigade lost by death, from all causes, during its absence from New Jersey, but four men ; two of whom were of the First Regiment, and the others of the Fourth."
"General Runyon, before quitting the field, received the
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HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY.
thanks of the President, tendered in the presence of the Cabinet, for his services in connection with the New Jersey Brigade. Subsequently, resolutions complimentary to his patriotism and efficiency as a soldier were passed by the Legislature of this State, and he was made Brevet Major-General of Militia, by appointment of Governor Olden."*
On the 18th of March, 1869, upon the passage of the " Na- tional Guard Law," he was appointed by Governor Randolph, Commander of the entire Division of the State, with the rank of Major-General, and upon his appointment of Chancellor, Gershom Mott was appointed Major-General.
The First Regiment was clothed at Newark, by authority from the Quartermaster-General ; the Second was mostly clothed at Jersey City, by means advanced by a committee of gentlemen of that city, and which was afterwards reimbursed by the State ; the Third and Fourth Regiments were clothed entirely by the State ; the entire Brigade was armed and equipped at the Arsenal.
The entire force under General Runyon was recruited, clothed, fully armed, equipped, and transported to Washington within the short space of twenty days from the date of the Governor's proclamation, at an entire expense of one hundred and ninety- two thousand two hundred and thirty-three dollars and fifteen cents.
In a short time after the first call of the President for military aid, the rapidly increasing proportions of the rebellion rendered it apparent that a greater number of troops, and enlisted for a longer period than than those embraced in that call, would be required. Accordingly, on the 3d of May, 1861, the President's proclamation to the effect was issued, and on the 17th the requi- sition and general order for three regiments of volunteers for three years or during the war was received, in addition to the four regiments already in the field.
The first regiments were raised under the act of Congress of 1795, and were denominated foot militia, to distinguish them from those who were also numbered First, Second, and Third Regiments, of First Brigade, New Jersey Volunteers. t
* Foster's " Rebellion," page 62.
t The organization of these regiments were as follows :
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HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY.
The first company of this call was mustered in on the 21st day of May, 1861, under command of Captain David Hatfield, of Elizabeth City, who received the appointment of Major of the First Regiment upon its organization. These went into camp at Camp Olden, near Trenton, where the various companies comprising these three regiments were also encamped upon being mustered in.
They were uniformed, clothed, equipped, and furnished with camp and garrison equipage by the State, and with arms by the United States Government. They remained in camp until the 28th of June, for instruction in drill and discipline, when they were, in response to an order from Lieutenant-General Scott, despatched to Washington by rail, where they reported at once for duty, and became a part of the army of the republic.
First Regiment : Colonel, William R. Montgomery, afterwards promoted to Brigadier-General, and appointed Governor of Alexandria, Virginia; Lieu- 'tenant-Colonel, Robert McAllister ; Major, David Hatfield; Adjutant, Wil- liam Henry, Jr .; Quartermaster, Samuel Read; Surgeon, Edward F. Taylor ; Assistant Surgeon, Charles C. Gordon; Chaplain, Robert B. Yard; Sergeant- Major, Henry C. Warner; Quartermaster-Sergeant, Joseph H. Painter; Com- missary-Sergeant, Smith C. Blythe; Hospital Steward, Redford Sharp ; Prin- cipal musician, Edwin Higginbotham; and twenty privates as musicians, with an aggregate of one thousand and thirty-four men.
Second Regiment : Colonel, George W. McLean; Lieutenant-Colonel; Isaac M. Tucker; Major, Samuel L. Buck; Adjutant, Joseph W. Plume; Quartermaster, William E. Sturgis; Surgeon, Gabriel Grant; Assistant-Sur- geon Lewis W. Oakley; Chaplain, Robert R. Proudfit; Sergeant-Major, Isaac H. Plume ; Quartermaster-Sergeant, John Whitehead; Commissary- Sergeant, Abram N. Mockridge; Hospital Steward, Luther G. Thomas ; Principal Musician, John A. Reinhart; Assistant Musician, John Lescher ; and twenty privates as musicians, and an aggregate of one thousand and forty- four men.
Third Regiment : Colonel, George W. Taylor; Lieutenant-Colonel, Henry W. Brown; Major, Mark W. Collet ; Adjutant, Robert T. Dunham; Quarter- master, Francis Sayre; Surgeon, Lorenzo Lewis Coxe; Assistant Surgeon, Edward L. Welling; Chaplain, George R. Darrow; Sergeant-Major, Jehu Evans; Quartermaster-Sergeant, William W. Miller; Commissary-Sergeant, Nelson S. Easton; Hospital Steward, William Chard; Principal Musician, William.R. Bailey ; and twenty-four privates as musicians, and an aggregate of one thousand and forty-two, making a total in the three regiments, of otfi- cers and men, of three thousand one hundred and twenty.
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HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY.
These regiments were furnished the necessary clothing, camp and garrison equipage by the State, made under contract with the lowest bidders, and within twenty days the necessary supplies were furnished and delivered to the State Arsenal ; and on the 28th of June, the troops were forwarded by rail to Washington, amply provided with everything necessary for service in the field.
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