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 39
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Quite a large number of Jerseymen were identified with Penn- sylvania Regiments. A company raised at Belvidere by Charles W. Butz, who upon finding our quota filled, proceeded to Phila- delphia, and on the 13th of September, 1861, was mustered in as Company I, of Harlan's Independent Cavalry, afterwards designated as the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry.
Many individuals from this State served in organizations of other States, or in the field at large, and there were many of them who achieved distinction. There are, however, only a few of whom we have any account, and can render them justice. Among these we mention Captain William E. Sturges, of Newark, who entered the service as Quartermaster of the Second Regi- ment, but developing superior executive qualities, was early advanced to a position on the staff of General Kearny. At Williamsburg, as well as other places, in subsequent engage- ments, he nobly sustained his reputation as a true soldier.
Captain George B. Halsted, also of Newark, was among the earliest volunteers in the National service. On the 16th of April, 1861, he was made Secretary of Commodore Stringham, com.nanding the Home Squadron, and subsequently of that of his successor, Commodore Goldsborough, with whom he remained until November 9th. On the 3Ist of August, General Kearny offered him a staff appointment as First Lieutenant, and he reported to that officer on the 11th of November for duty as Aid-de-camp, and remained with him until appointed by Gene-
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ral C. C. Augur to the position of Assistant Adjutant-General on his staff, with the rank of Captain of Calvary ; he joined General Augur at Upton Hill, Virginia, in January, 1862. In July, 1863, he was assigned to duty as Assistant Adjutant-General of the Corps d'Afrique, Brigadier-General George L. Andrews com- manding, with headquarters at Port Hudson. He remained here until the spring of 1864, when he was ordered North, and assigned to duty in Tennessee with Brigadier-General Augustus L. Chetlain, with headquarters at Memphis. Captain Halsted remained in this department, engaged in organizing colored troops, until late in the summer, when he was ordered to Wash- ington, and subsequently to his home in New Jersey to await orders. He was next assigned to duty with Major-General G. K. Warren, commanding the Fifth. Corps, Army of the Potomac, then actively besieging Petersburg. Here he remained until the close of the war, participating in all the movements of the corps, and sharing in the battles of Quaker Road, White Oak Road (where he was wounded, but remained on the field), Five Forks and Appomattox Court House. After the dissolution of the armies he was ordered to duty with Brigadier-General John Ely, at Trenton, where he remained until he received his honorable discharge, March 12, 1864, having been in the nation's service, on sea and land, for a period of nearly five years. He was breveted Major, April 9, 1865, for gallant and meritorious ser- vices.
George Arrowsmith, a native of Middletown, Monmouth County, entered the service as Captain of the Twenty-sixth New York Regiment, May 26, 1861. This regiment was assigned to Brigadier-General McDowell's Division, where, in a short time, the intrepidity of Arrowsmith soon procured him universal favor. In the fight at Culpepper, his gallantry was so conspicuous as to lead to his promotion by General Towers, to be Assistant Adju- tant-General of his brigade. In the second battle of Bull Run he again distinguished himself, and when General Towers was wounded, led his command. He was afterwards made Lieuten- ant-Colonel, in which capacity he distinguished himself at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg.
Company A, National Guard, of Trenton, then under com-
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mand of Captain William R. Murphy, was, as previously stated, the first to offer their services to the Governor.
The Adjutant-General in his report to the Legislature, says of this company : " Company A, National Guard, of Trenton, was organized November 30, 1860, and at the time the war broke out was in a fine state of discipline. It had in its ranks the best young men of the city. It was the first company under arms in the North, and it is claimed, as I think with truth, that Captain Murphy issued the first military order which was pro- mulgated after the publication of the President's proclamation. From the hour when the company was detailed for service at the State Arsenal, the most vigorous discipline commenced, and Captain Murphy became the great drill-master of the organiza- tion. Of the fifty-six men on constant duty there, forty-five enlisted in the army, or received commissions therein. The company boasts to-day, with none to challenge it, that it sent, for its size, more men to the war than any organization in the North. On the 19th of June, 1863, having recruited their depleted ranks, under the call of Governor Curtin "for the emergency," they hurried to Harrisburg, passing on the route Pennsylvania companies organizing, and were the first to report to Governor Curtin for assignment to duty. As men of another State they were warmly complimented by him for their alacrity and splendid discipline .*
* The main facts connected with the above are taken from Foster's "New Jersey Rebellion," published by authority of the State.
From the Roll of Honor of Company A we have been permitted to make the following extracts of the subsequent career of some of the men connected with their organization :
Captain William R. Murphy, Colonel Tenth Regiment, New Jersey Vol- unteers. Corporal George Heisler, Second Lieutenant United States Marines, afterward First Lieutenant of same; injured by concussion of a shell at the attack on New Orleans, assisted for two hours on flag-ship Hartford in the bombardment of Vicksburg, and afterward died in the hospital at Memphis, Tennessee. Corporal James W. Mc Neely, First Lieutenant Company G, Tenth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers; Captain Company G; Major Second New Jersey Volunteers; Lieutenant-Colonel of the Second and af- terward Colonel. Corporal Henry R. Clark, Second Lieutenant Company A, Fifth Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers; killed at the battle of Gettys-
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During the entire war, New Jersey had ample reason to be proud of her citizen soldiery, for on every battle-field that their services were called into requisition, they acquitted themselves
burg. Joseph Abbott, Jr., First Lieutenant Company B., Seventh Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers; aid to General Hooker; Provost-Marshal of Hook- er's Division, with the rank of Captain ; Captain Company B, Seventh Regi- ment, and killed at the second battle of Bull Run. Caldwell K. Hall, Ad- jutant Fifth Regiment; Chief of Ordnance, General Hooker's Staff; aid to General Patterson; wounded at the battle of Williamsburg; Major, Four- teenth Regiment; Lieutenant-Colonel of the Fourteenth; Brevet Brigadier- General United States Volunteers. James C. Hunt, First Lieutenant Com. pany I, First New Jersey Cavalry; Second Lieutenant Second Cavalry (Reg- ulars) ; Adjutant Second Cavalry ; First Lieutenant Second Cavalry ; Captain Second Cavalry ; Brevet Major. De Klyn Lalor, First Lieutenant Company E, Fifth New Jersey; killed at the battle of Williamsburg. Daniel Lodor, Jr., First Lieutenant Company A, Sixth New Jersey; aid to General Peck ; Major Tenth New Jersey. William C. McCall, First Lieutenant Company B, Sixth Regiment; Captain Fourteenth Infantry (Regulars). Charles J. McConnell, Third Assistant Engineer, United States Navy; Second Assist- ant Engineer, United States Navy, and First Assistant Engineer. John C. McLaughlin, enlisted in Company K, Twenty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers ; Fourth Sergeant in the same; Third Sergeant in same; taken prisoner in hospital at Savage's Station, Virginia; released, and died soon after in the hospital at Philadelphia. Charles V. C. Murphy, First Lieutenant Company A, Tenth Regiment; Provost Marshal of Washington ; aid to General Wads- worth ; prisoner at Richmond. T. Malcolm Murphy, Sergeant-Major Second New Jersey Cavalry; Captain Company A, Third Cavalry; Major Third Cavalry .. William Sloan, Sergeant Company A, Fifteenth New Jersey ; Cap- tain United States Colored Troops; Second Lieutenant Eleventh United States Infantry. John Steele, enlisted in Company K, Twenty-third Penn- sylvania Volunteers; Second Sergeant of Twenty-third; First Sergeant of same; First Lieutenant Company K, Third New Jersey Cavalry. William S. Stryker, private in three months' militia; Paymaster Uniled States Army; aid to General Gillmore, with the rank of Major, in the siege of Charleston ; breveted Lieutenant-Colonel, and at present Adjutant-General of the State. Caleb C. Van Syckel, enlisted in Company G, Fourth Regiment; First Ser- geant Company C, same regiment; Second Lieutenant Company C : prisoner at Richmond; First Lieutenant Company F; Captain Company H. Peter D. Vroom, Jr., Adjutant First Regiment; wounded in the battle at South Mountain ; Major Second Cavalry ; First Lieutenant, Third United States Cavalry (Regulars) ; breveted Captain and Major. Edgar Whitaker, en- listed in Company C, Fourth Regiment ; Second Sergeant Company C; First Sergeant; Second Lieutenant; Adjutant Twenty-ninth Regiment; aid-de-
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nobly, and ably sustained the reputation of Jersey Blues. In some of the most difficult enterprises of the war, the Jersey troops occupied a prominent position, and from the first battle at Bull Run to the final surrender at Appomattox, they were constantly in service, and in almost all engagements were com- plimented for their bravery and valor by their general officers.
We have always felt justly proud of them, for no troops could have behaved better when their services were called into requisi- tion than they did, and the State owes them a debt of gratitude they can never pay. The best provision within the power of the State was made for them, and their families during their absence, all of which was highly appreciated by the men them- selves, who felt while they were absent fighting their country's battles, their wives and little ones at home were well cared for by the munificence of a State that well appreciated their services and the hardships endured in the camp and on the field of battle, and used every means in their power to add to their comfort.
And when, by reason of their time of service having expired, or the war had closed and they returned to their homes, they were received with every demonstration within the power of their fellow citizens to bestow upon them, in which all. classes joined to do them honor and show their appreciation of their noble services.
On the 9th of March, 1869, the Legislature passed the Na- tional Guard Law, enrolling the militia of the State under said law. The act specifies that the " National Guard of the State of New Jersey " shall consist of not more than sixty companies of infantry,* and such batteries not more than two, and such cavalry companies not more than six, as may be authorized by the commander-in-chief, to be organized into brigades, in num-
camp to General G. B. Paul. John J. Willis, Captain Company C, Eleventh Regiment; Aaron Wilks, Second Lieutenant Company B, Sixth Regiment ; First Lieutenant Company B; Adjutant Sixth Regiment; killed at the battle of Williamsburg. Samuel K. Wilson, Jr., Captain Company I, Twenty- eighth Regiment; Major of same. James C. Hillman, Third Assistant En- gineer, United States Navy. Frank V. Paxson, Assistant Surgeon, Seventh Regiment New Jersey Volunteers.
* Amended March 21, 1872, allowing ten additional companies of colored infantry. This was repealed by act of March 9, 1877, and the number re- duced to forty-eight companies of infantry and one battery of artillery.
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ber not more than three, and to be comprised in one division. The officers to be as follows : the Governor to be commander- in chief, with the following staff : four aides-de-camp, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, whose term of office should expire with that of the Governor ; one adjutant-general, and one quartermas- ter-general, with the rank of brigadier-general ; one surgeon- general, with the rank of brigadier-general ; one inspector-gene- ral, one judge-advocate general, one assistant adjutant-general, with the rank of colonel of cavalry ; the quartermaster-general to be acting commissary-general, and the inspector-general to be acting paymaster-general.
The division was to be officered by one major-general, with the following staff: three aides-de-camp, with the rank of major ; one inspector, one assistant adjutant-general, and one surgeon, with the rank of colonel; one paymaster, and one quartermaster, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. There was also to be one brigadier-general to each brigade, with the fol- lowing staff: one inspector and one assistant adjutant-general, . with the rank of lieutenant-colonel ; one quartermaster, one surgeon, and one paymaster, with the rank of major ; two aides- de-camp, with the rank of captain. To each regiment, one . colonel, one lieutenant-colonel, and one major; to each bat- talion, one major ; the regiment or battalion staff to consist of one adjutant, one quartermaster, and one paymaster, with the rank of first lieutenant ; one surgeon, with the rank of major ; one assistant surgeon, with the rank of first lieutenant ; one chaplain, to rank as captain ; one sergeant-major, one quarter- master-sergeant, one commissary-sergeant, and one principal musician ; and to each company there shall be one captain, one first, and one second lieutenant, five sergeants, five corporals, two musicians, and not less than forty nor more than eighty privates.
That part of the act of 1869 empowering the Governor to order an encampment of all the National Guard once in three years was repealed in 1877, except in cases where it was neces- sary to, repel invasion, or subdue insurrection or riot, or when called to aid the civil authority in the preservation of the public peace or the enforcement of law, or when called into active service by the President of the United States.
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CHAPTER XXXIX.
18-0-1876.
Centennial Exhibition-Appropriations-State Centennial Board -Cooperation of the women of the State-Individual subscrip- tions-State Buildings-State days-Governor Bedle's reception by New Jersey residents of Philadelphia-Address of welcome by E. C. Knight-Address of Hon. Abram Browning- Number of exhibits from New Jersey-Agricultural exhibits -Geological-Educational-Awards for exhibits.
A S early as 1870 the American people seemed to demand that some public exhibition of the growth and prosperity of our country should be made, at the close of the Centennial year of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
At this early day no definite plan had been fixed upon, and it was undetermined as to whether it should be a national exhibition of the products of the country or an international one, many of our people advocating the former, but still more the latter.
After having determined to make it an international exhibi- tion, in which all nations could compete in their arts and manufactures, all eyes seemed instinctively to turn to Phila- delphia, the place where the Declaration of Independence was considered and adopted, and where, from Independence Hall, it was proclaimed, the place where Washington received his commission as Commander-in-Chief of the American army ; the place in which the articles of confederation and perpetual union were agreed to in Congress, November 15th, 1777; and from which they were declared adopted, July 9th, 1778; in it the Constitution of the United States was formed, September 17th, 1787. In this edifice, and in this city, almost every name and every incident connected with the birth of the nation is asso- ciated. In Carpenters' Hall the first Congress assembled Sep- tember 5th, 1774, and in it Patrick Henry poured forth his passionate appeals for liberty which so electrified the colonies.
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The place around which so many associations of Revolutionary history clustered, seemed to be the most appropriate and fitting in which to hold the greatest exhibition of modern times; added to this, they had one of the handsomest parks for the purpose, a thing that no other city could present within their corporate limits. All these things combined rendered Philadelphia the most appropriate place for the Exhibition.
Congress taking these things in view, passed an act, which was approved by the President of the United States on the 3d of March, 1871, entitled " An act to provide for celebrating the One Hundredth Anniversary of American Independence, by holding an International Exhibition of Arts, Manufactures, and Products of the Soil and Mine, in the City of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, in the vear Eighteen Hundred and Seventy-six."
And on the Ist of June, 1872, " An act relative to the Cen- tennial International Exhibition to be held in the City of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, in the year Eighteen Hundred and Seventy-six," was approved. This act created a body corporate, to be known as the Centennial Board of Finance, and named the corporators from the several States ; those from New Jersey were: At large, Joel Parker, Charles S. Olden, Marcus L. Ward, Theodore F. Randolph. First District : Thomas H. Whitney, Thomas R. McKeen. Second District : Charles Hewitt, Gershom Mott. Third District : James Bishop, Amos Clark, Jr. Fourth District: William Cowen, Charles Sitgreaves. Fifth District : Louis B. Cobb, Abram S. Hewitt. Sixth District: Thomas B. Peddie, George Peters. Seventh District : Benjamin G. Clark, Aeneas Fitzpatrick.
On the 5th of June, 1875, an act was approved authorizing the President of the United States to extend a cordial invitation to the Governments of other nations to be represented and take part in the International Exposition to be held at Philadelphia, under the auspices of the Government of the United States.
On the 4th of March, 1874, "An act relating to the Cen- tennial Celebration of American Independence " was approved. This act authorized the Governor, Comptroller and Treasurer to subscribe on behalf of and in the name of the State of New
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Jersey, for ten thousand shares of the Centennial stock, at the . par value of ten dollars each, making the sum of one hundred thousand dollars, to aid in the erection of the buildings and for other general purposes incident to the Exhibition.
On the 8th of April, 1875, the act authorizing the Governor to nominate, to be confirmed by the Senate, seven persons, residents of the State, to constitute "The New Jersey State Centennial Board," to cooperate with the United States Cen- tennial Commissioner and Alternate Commissioners, was ap- proved. The duty of this board was to cooperate with the United States Centennial Commission in encouraging and for- warding the objects of the International Exhibition, and especially to organize, prepare, superintend and have the general manage- ment of the New Jersey department of the Centennial Exhibi- tion ; to disseminate throughout this State information regarding said proposed Exhibition; to take measures to secure the co- operation of scientific, agricultural, mechanical, manufacturing and other associations in the several counties; to appoint cooperative local committees (where the people of the locality do not appoint), representing the respective industries of the State; to stimulate local action designed to make the New Jersey department of the Exhibition worthy of the State ; to encourage the production of articles suitable for the Exhibition ; to render assistance in furthering the finance and other interests of the Exhibition, and furnish information to the United States Cen- tennial Commission, and to the people of the State, on all subjects connected with the success thereof.
The board was to be continued until such time after the close of the Exhibition as would be necessary to complete and settle the business connected therewith, not later than the Ist day of January, 1877.
The services of this board were to be rendered gratuitously, but their necessary expenses attending and consequent upon the discharge of their duties, were to be paid.
That to pay the necessary expenses attending and consequent upon.the discharge of their duties, and to enable the State Geol- ogist to prepare and arrange for exhibition specimens of the minerals of the State and other articles belonging to his depart-
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ment ; and for such aid and assistance as shall be necessary to carry out the objects of the act, the sum of ten thousand dollars was appropriated.
By a supplementary act approved February 15, 1876, the fur- ther sum of ten thousand dollars was appropriated, and by art approved March 15, 1876, in order to enable the State Board of Education to secure a proper exhibit of the educational interests of the State, the sum of four thousand dollars was appropriated, making in all the sum of one hundred and twenty-four thousand dollars. This was more than was appropriated by any other State except Pennsylvania.
Governor Parker was from the first an unwavering friend and efficient advocate of the Centennial celebration. He briefly referred to it in his message of 1873, and in 1874 very forcibly and at considerable length urged the Legislature and citizens of New Jersey to prompt and vigorous measures in the interest of the Exhibition.
"The members of both Houses in 1874 were largely in accord . with the Governor, and the people generally throughout the State, upon that subject. At this juncture, however, there was not entire unanimity evinced in reference to the propriety of a legislative appropriation in behalf of the enterprise. But the conviction was becoming daily more universal that, as a State, we were not at liberty to withhold our approval of the scheme, nor our hearty and substantial cooperation in the patriotic endeavor to render the Centennial year conspicuous and memor- able for all time.
" The proposed Philadelphia jubilee was now everywhere the topic of thought and conversation, and was to take prominence in all legislative deliberations that winter, with the view to secure donations or some other form of State aid to the undertaking.
"The Governor's spirited utterances to the two Houses were responded to with encouraging promptness. A bill was intro- duced as soon as the two Houses were ready for work, author :... ing an appropriation of one hundred thousand dollars, to be invested in Centennial stock. Ours being the pioneer State to proffer aid in this way and for this purpose, the amount proposed was thought by some to be too large, and by others at least
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wholly inexpedient or unconstitutional. There were honest differences of opinion upon the subject which did not necessarily betoken an unfriendly feeling towards the celebration."*
Governor Bedle, in his Inaugural Message, in speaking of the approaching Centennial, referred to it in the following language: "The people ought not to overlook the importance of securing to our State a representation in the National Centennial com- mensurate with her dignity, her history and growth, and to encourage and arrange for it. It is desirable that provision be made at this session for the appointment of a suitable commis- sion."
As a committee on Centennial Celebration, the Senate ap- pointed William J. Sewell, of Camden; Samuel Hopkins, of Gloucester, and George Dayton, of Bergen, and the House of Assembly appointed Levi French, of Burlington; William W. Gill, of Union ; George W. Patterson, of Monmouth ; Josephus Shann, of Middlesex, and John J. Toffey, of Hudson.
On the 8th of April, 1875, the Governor gave his approval to the bill entitled " An act to authorize the appointment of a Centennial Board for this State, and to define its duties." The bill provided that the Governor should appoint seven persons, residents of the State, to be confirmed by the Senate, and on the 9th he nominated Thomas H. Whitney, First Congressional District ; Samuel C. Brown, Second District ; Henry L. Jane- way, Third District; John T. Bird, Fourth District; Thomas N. Dale, Fifth District ; Sanford B. Hunt, Sixth District; Nathan W. Condict, Seventh District.
The above-named persons were duly confirmed. Subse- quently, Edward N. Bettle was appointed for the First Con- gressional District, in the place of Thomas H. Whitney, who declined to serve.
Governor Bedle was earnest and anxious to have our State, and every interest connected with it, well displayed in the Exhibition, and in his annual message of 1876, he again urged the attention of the Legislature to the subject, that ample pro- vision might be made to complete the preparations in a proper manner. He said : . " The Commissioners have been very dili-
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