USA > New Jersey > The history of the Ninth New Jersey Veteran Vols. A record of its service from Sept. 13th, 1861, to July 12th, 1865, with a complete official roster, and sketches of prominent members > Part 15
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It has been rumored in camp that we are to leave shortly for duty elsewhere. From the source by which it has reached us, there is probably truth in it. If so, considerable suffering will necessarily connect with the moving of our quarters, as it is in the dead of winter and extremely cold.
Wishing yourself, and all my old friends, long life and every needful good,
I remain your obedient servant,
J. J. CARRELL.
January 13 .- The gallant fellows who had re-enlisted for the war went off to-day to spend thirty days with their friends at home. Many of the men who remained behind rather envied
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them their good fortune, and another party of patriotic cap- italists from New Jersey arriving in camp, the re-enlisting fever set in badly. It was contagious. Nothing else was talked of among the men.
January 16 .- General Heckman rode through the camps this forenoon, and it being known that he had been ordered elsewhere, the men cheered his heart by making the welkin ring, as they often had when following him in battle. At dress parade the following orders were read :
HEADQUARTERS, NEWPORT NEWS, VA., January 12th, 1864.
General Orders, No. 2.
Having been relieved from the command of this brigade, by special orders, No. 12, from Headquarters, Department of Virginia and North Carolina, I therefore bid farewell to the officers and men comprising this command. The intercourse, both official and personal, between myself and those serving in the command, has been highly satisfactory, and will always be remembered with pleasure. To those troops which formed a part of my old command, I bid an affectionate farewell. From my first association with them at Trenton, through the perils and affliction at Hatteras, the gallant charges at Roanoke and Newbern, the noble, daring and brilliant deeds at White Oak, Southwest Creek, Kinston, Whitehall and Goldsboro, my feeling toward them has been one of affection and pride.
Called to another command, I will continue to watch over you with unabated interest, feeling confident that your future history will be equally brilliant as in the past. By command of
BRIGADIER GENERAL C. A. HECKMAN. W. H. ABEL, Captain and A. A. G.
January 17 .- The men, with visions of a good time at home, even though for a brief period, continue to talk of re-enlisting, and the line officers are waited upon and asked if they will remain until the end. This action on their part show how much the officers of the Ninth are respected. Before night nearly all the men had expressed a desire to re-enlist, providing Colonel Zabriskie would stand by them. This fact was com- municated to the colonel, who was much affected by the responsibility thus imposed upon him. The men expected he would say something on the subject at dress-parade in the evening, but his mind had been so much disturbed by the
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confidence reposed in him, that he did not dare trust himself before the men, without a deliberate consideration of the important subject, and Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart commanded in his stead.
January 18 .- Colonel Zabriskie was ordered to command the troops at the execution of H. C. Fuller, of Company C, One Hundred and Eighteenth New York volunteers, convicted of desertion. A reprieve was granted at the last moment, the courier arriving with the paper as the troops marched out to the spot designated.
January 21 .- The men are in a high state of excitement to-day, it being understood that Colonel Zabriskie will appear on dress-parade this evening and give his decision. The regiment being formed by Adjutant Carrell, the usual ceremony was gone through with, at the conclusion of which a few movements were made-the last formation being three sides of a square-in the centre of which stood Colonel Zabriskie, Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart, Major Curlis and the staff. Among the six hundred men-all that now remained out of the twelve hundred who had started from Trenton with the regiment over two years previous-not the slightest movement was made. Each man stood there like a statue, prepared to listen to whatever the colonel, in his wisdom, might say to them. In silver tones he said :
MEN-I have delayed answering your question until now, for various reasons. In the first place, I wanted you to have time to fully consider the matter, which is so important. It is easy for me to say that I shall remain in the service of my country, as I have no one dependent upon me; but to those of you who have wives and little ones, or aged parents, at home, it is different. I appreciate your motives in asking me to remain with you as long as I may be able, and if it is possible for me to serve you as well as any one else, and you think you will never regret my answer, I cheerfully give it-yes, we will continue to serve our country together.
Five hundred men, on hearing this, shouted themselves hoarse, to the great joy of Mr. Crane, of Essex county, who thus saved that number of his friends and neighbors from being drafted into the army. The parade being dismissed the men began to make plans for the immediate future, retiring early to
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dream of pockets stuffed with crisp greenbacks and loved ones from whom they had long been parted.
January 22 .- Those who declined to re-enlist, believing they would be able to do their full share of duty within the term of their original enlistment-three years-were sent off to-day to Portsmouth, in charge of Major Curlis. Company officers were kept busy in making out muster-rolls, descriptive lists, etc.
January 23 .- The ladies who had spent a season in camp very pleasantly, left for home to-day, in the joyous expectation of an early meeting with their husbands in New Jersey.
January 31 .- Instead of the customary Sunday morning inspection, the Ninth, with knapsacks well packed, marched to the wharf, and embarked on two steamers-seven companies -two hundred and fifty-eight men-on the " Virginia," and three companies - one hundred and twelve men -on the " Montauk." With the one hundred and ten who had pre- viously re-enlisted and now at home, this footed up a grand total of four hundred and eighty men, which made the Ninth New Jersey a veteran regiment, and as such it was to be forever after known and designated.
February 1 .- Paymaster H. L. King came on board and paid each man, besides the sum due him for services already rendered, as follows : One hundred dollars, thirteen dollars (one month in advance), and sixty dollars --- first instalment of government bounty.
February 2 .- The paymaster having concluded his task, the two vessels steamed away at noon, and an hour afterwards were ploughing their way through the perturbed waters of the Atlantic ocean-the men in most joyous spirits, eagerly antici- pating pleasure in meeting those from whom they had been so long and painfully separated.
February 3 .- Entered the " narrows " at about eight o'clock in the evening, and two hours later anchored in the Hudson river-within stone's throw of the railroad pier at Jersey City.
February 4 .- Flags could be seen floating over many build- ings in Jersey City-the home of Colonel Zabriskie-in honor of the arrival of the Ninth, while the docks were thronged with men, women and children, who had gathered to do
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LIEUT. RICHARD E. COGAN, COMPANY B.
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honor to the only regiment from New Jersey which, notwith- standing its hard service, had enlisted for the war. About eleven o'clock the Ninth filed off the steamers upon the wharf, amid the enthusiastic cheers of the populace. At the city hall the regiment wheeled into line and was formally welcomed by the mayor, who was surrounded by the members of the city council and many prominent citizens-Colonel Zabriskie responding in a modest manner.
After a short march, passing en route the mansion of Chan- cellor Zabriskie, father of the colonel, the Ninth entered Taylor's hotel and partook of a banquet, prepared by the city. At five o'clock the regiment proceeded to a train in waiting, and at eight o'clock was marching through the streets of Trenton, amid hearty applause from the people who lined the sidewalks. The night was spent at the camp near the arsenal.
February 5 .- Governor Joel Parker visited the Ninth bright and early, and on being presented to it, made an eloquent speech, thanking it for its great services on many fields of battle. The men, being given furloughs, dated the sixth, with orders to report for duty on the seventh of March, stored their arins and accoutrements, and with faces beaming with pleasure hurried away to their homes.
February 12 .- The detachment of one hundred and ten men, who had re-enlisted January 13, reported for duty at camp in Trenton to-day, but, owing to unavoidable delays in transpor- tation, did not get back to Getty's station, beyond Norfolk, until noon of the twenty-second. Forty-one recruits returned with the detachment-this number being all that the veterans could find while at home. "The Ninth has too much fighting to do," said the stay-at-homes, when approached on the subject of enlistment, "and we will join some command that prefers eating to fighting and marching."
February 29 .- The Ninth's detachment at Getty's station, if it flattered itself to escape hard duty during the absence of the major part of the command, was doomed to disappointment, as on this day a detail of one hundred men and a lieutenant were called for to report to Colonel Smith of the Eighth Connecticut, commanding piquet post at Deep creek. Lieutenant Thomas
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Burnett was the officer selected to command the detachment, which reached the place of danger at four o'clock in the afternoon.
March 1 .- Lieutenant Burnett, who never fancied idleness, whenever anything could be found to keep his men busy, suggested to the commanding officer of the post the propriety of making a reconnoissance in order to obtain a better knowledge of the country. The commandant falling in with his views, directed the lieutenant to take his detachment and move forward. Burnett was given twenty-five men-the remainder forming a reserve, followed along under command of Colonel Smith. Burnett, after marching seven miles, discovered evidences of the enemy's presence, and cautioned his men. Corporal Thomas MacQuaide, of Company K, and two men, were con- siderably in advance, keeping their rifles in readiness for instant use, when, accidentally looking into the dense swamp on the right of the narrow road upon which they were marching, Mac- Quaide saw a line of bright barreled rifles leveled upon him at point-blank range. He dropped as if he had been shot, telling his comrades to do the same thing, but before they could com- prehend his meaning, the volley had done its fatal work, and two brave members of Company D-Albert S. Nutt and Joel Hulse-had fallen for their country. Nutt received six bullets in his body, and when found on the following day it was in a nude condition, and horribly mutilated. Six bullets had passed through Hulse's clothing, one through his right arm, and another in his left side. Corporal MacQuaide, finding resistance on his past futile, sprang to his feet, and ran with the fleetness of a deer towards Lieutenant Burnett and his party- the Confederates sending a volley after him in his flight.
Lieutenant Burnett opened upon the enemy, and continued a well-directed fire until the Confederates, about five hundred in number, attempted to flank him, when he slowly fell back to the cross-roads, half a mile distant, where Colonel Smith awaited him. The Confederates charged upon the band of heroes at this point, but were repulsed with severe loss. The Ninth's detachment, notwithstanding its loss of two brave men, held its ground till reinforcements came up-two hours afterwards.
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March 2 .- General Heckman, who was at Getty's station when intelligence of the fight reached him, late in the evening, selected a couple of regiments and a battery, and when the sun appeared this morning, was on the ground ready to avenge the deaths of men who had often followed him in battle, and whom he had looked upon as his own children. About noon he came upon the Confederates, consisting of three regiments of infantry, one regiment of cavalry, and two batteries of artillery, under General Ransom, and after an engagement which was short, sharp and decisive, drove them from their chosen position and pursued the force beyond the North Carolina line.
March 3 .-- A number of prominent citizens assembled at the home of Colonel Zabriskie in Jersey City this afternoon, and presented him with a magnificent sword, belt, gloves and aiguillette, when Hon. Isaac W. Scudder made the following address :
COLONEL ZABRISKIE-To be held in high appreciation by one's friends and neighbors is one of the greatest charms of life. Your friends and neighbors have come together to testify their warm admiration for your patriotism and courage. Nurtured in ease and affluence; sur- rounded by those incidents which make life pleasant and agreeable ; preparing for a profession which rewards those who labor in it with assiduity with high honors, you could not remain at case when your country called. The roar of the cannon aimed at the government erected by your fathers-which has brought peace and prosperity to so many millions of people-aroused you to energy and action, and you joined that illustrious band of patriots and heroes who were determined not to survive the destruction of the Union.
With deep solicitude we have watched your course ; we observed the coolness and courage which marked your conduct when a noble-hearted Jerseyman, Colonel Allen, was overwhelmed in the waves ; Roanoke Island, Goldsboro, Kinston and Whitehall attest your valor.
We found you, at the commencement of your military career a first lieutenant and adjutant, now we hail you as a leader of a gallant regiment. and on the honorable road to promotion.
It has been boastfully said that the south gave to their cause the best blood of their sons. We, too, have sent from the ranks of ease and elegance in social life, those who preferred freedom and constitutional government to arbitrary power. We feel that freedom and constitu- tional government ought to command as much of sacrifice and devotion as treason and tyranny.
While we look to the great north : full of trade, business and enter- prise ; engaged in great schemes of improvement; in commerce and
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manufactures ; where the harvests are sown and reaped in security and plenteousness ; where the cataract, which leaps from the mountain-side, and coursing through the valleys, turns the wheels of successful. business ; where there is an undoubted confidence in public security ; and ask ourselves from whence spring all these happy results in the midst of civil war? the answer is, We owe these blessings to the valor of our armies and the skill of our officers; we owe these triumphs to such men as you.
The north has, with undoubted confidence, trusted their fate to the army, and the very peace and security in which we live is the most flattering eulogium that can be bestowed on those who carry the bayonet and wield the sword. Should our army return with defeat and disaster, then discord, anarchy and confusion would prevail here. Successful war in the south is peace in the north, and friendship in Europe. If we succeed, non-intervention will be the watchword of European politics, and, above and beyond all, it will produce here a triumph of freedom, union and constitutional government. You and your compatriots are battling for peace here, the restoration for the Union, and a proud position for our own nation among the people of the earth. We, there- fore, hail you on this occasion as a representative of that grand army which has made its triumphant march along the banks of the Mississippi ; which has stormed the heights of Vicksburg ; which has raised the"no standard of the Union at New Orleans ; which thunders ai the gates of Charleston ; which has penetrated North Carolina, rescued Kentucky and Tennessee, and which will not stay its victorious march until it shall reach the Gulf of Mexico.
New Jersey is proud of her gallant sons, and your name will be recorded among the illustrious men who have taken up arms in defence of that right which is most inestimable, the right of self-government.
In presenting to you this emblem of professional pride, I have no special charge to make. It has been won by your skill and valor, and whenever you shall wield it, we know it will be in the thickest of the fight, and our prayer to God is that it may always flash with the beams of victory.
Colonel Abram Zabriskie made the following modest, manly, and dignified response :
MR. SCUDDER-I accept, with feelings of gratitude and pride, the beautiful present you have tendered me in the name of many citizen- friends in New Jersey. I thank you, gentlemen, for the gift of this sword ; I thank you, even more, for the feelings that prompted it ; and I thank you, sir, for the words of compliment and encouragement with which it was presented.
The soldier, gentlemen, vahies a testimonial of this kind far more than you can think. Separated, as he necessarily is, from all the former associations of his life : separated from all the amenities and comforts of his home ; undergoing many hardships, and encountering many
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dangers, it excites his patriotic zeal, enlarges his pride in his profession, and incites him to a more earnest performance of his duties as a soldier, to know that he is not forgotten by his friends, to know that his fellow- citizens are watching his course with interest; that they are ever willing to offer him their encouragement and assistance, and will do him justice according to his deserts. This smooths the roughness of his path of duty, and teaches him that his conduct is not unregarded, and will not be unrewarded.
1 accept this sword, gentlemen, as a New Jersey soldier, and I accept it with the proud boast that I am one of a band of volunteers that have never, on any occasion, dishonored themselves, their state, the uniform they wear, or the flag under whose folds they fight. The history of many a battle proves their efficiency, and the bodies of New Jersey's dead, now mouldering in munberless unknown graves, and the soil of almost every rebel state, testify to their unflinching execution of their dangerous and bloody duties ; almost every military department has felt the benefit of their services, and every army has acknowledged its indebtedness to the soldiers of New Jersey, from the Mississippi to the Atlantic, from Roanoke Island, first, until Chattanooga last, in many a battle. The soldiers of New Jersey have never fought but to fight well, and while doing their duty to the common country, have always reflected honor on their state and on themselves, and in every hard-fought field, bloodily won, or still more bloodily lost, the banner of New Jersey, floating in unison with the sacred emblem of the nation, has ever marked the spot where brave men were fighting, and where brave men were falling ; and as one of New Jersey's volunteer soldiery, as one whom she has honored with an important trust, I accept from you, my fellow- citizens, and I accept with feelings of grateful pride, this testimonial of your confidence and regard.
March 7 .-- Lieutenant J. Madison Drake, who had been in command of Company D for many months, and who resided in Trenton, was first to report at the barracks-his veteran furlough having expired. Colonel Zabriskie arrived at an early hour, and arranged for the accommodation of his men, who reached the capital by every incoming train. With very few exceptions the men reported for duty before sun-down, which was highly gratifying to the officers, who had ever reposed confidence in them.
March 8 .- Owing to a failure in securing transportation, the return of the Ninth to Virginia was postponed-officers and men being allowed to look about the city.
March 9 .- The colonel, to-day, wishing to give his men all the pleasure possible, ordered them to be in camp on the
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morning of the fourteenth, and in the interim they could go where inclination led them.
March 15 .- The Ninth, with a number of recruits, embarked on cars at eight o'clock this morning, and at noon partook of a substantial dinner at the Cooper refreshment saloon in Phila- delphia. At midnight it reached Baltimore, and quartered at the "Soldier's Home."
March 16 .- Embarked at nine o'clock on steamer "John Tucker."
March 17 .- Arrived at Fortress Monroe at noon, and two hours later disembarked at Portsmouth, when a train of cars conveyed the regiment to Getty's station, from which point it marched to Julian's creek, where "Auld Lang Syne" was sung by the detachment, which had anxiously awaited its coming. The command had hardly been dismissed when the men rushed forward and warmly embraced each other, and yet they had been separated but little over one month. Fraternity always existed in the Ninth among those who had so often stood shoulder to shoulder in battle, the love of these veterans being considered by the men of other commands as " passing strange."
March 19 .- General Heckman's cominand now consisted of the Eighty-first, Ninety-sixth, Ninety-eighth, and One Hundred and Thirty-ninth New York-First brigade: Ninth New Jersey, Twenty-third, Twenty-fifth and Twenty-seventh Massa- chusetts-Second brigade : Fourth Rhode Island, One Hundred and Eighteenth New York, Eighth Connecticut, Tenth and Thirteenth New Hampshire-Third brigade; with nine field batteries and thirty-two pieces of heavy artillery on the long line of fortifications.
March 17 .- Dress-parade-first ceremony of the kind since the Ninth re-enlisted.
March 28 .- Disagreeable wind from the north-east, with heavy fall of snow during afternoon and night.
March 29 .- Snow continued to fall until noon to-day, when it had reached a depth of two feet on a level, with big drifts, which put a stop to all work except necessary guard duty. Those regiments which had failed to provide themselves with an abundance of fire-wood suffered considerably, as the teams
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could not go into the woods. In some commands the men con- sumed the floors in the tents, and I know of instances where bunks were torn down and used for fuel.
April I .-- The genial sun disposed of most of the snow to-day, leaving the ground thoroughly soaked, which, for a few days, rendered drilling impossible.
April 13 .- The Ninth this forenoon marched over to the railroad (where General Heckman had his headquarters) to witness the execution of Charles Crampton of Company F, Tenth New Hampshire regiment, who had been convicted of desertion. The poor fellow was sitting upon his coffin-a rudely constructed pine box, momentarily expecting to receive the fatal bullet, when all further proceedings were stopped, and the troops returned to their various cantonments with lively music, instead of a mournful dirge.
At noon the Ninth, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart, Colonel Zabriskie being on detached service, received orders to prepare for a march, carrying three days rations, and at half-past four o'clock it took cars for Portsmouth, where it arrived two hours later, immediately going on board the steamer "John Tucker," which steamed away, anchoring off Newport News at midnight.
April 14 .-- Were steaming up the James river at daylight, and an hour afterwards entered the Chuckatuck river, up which tortuous stream we proceeded for several miles, disem- barking at what was known as Cherry Grove plantation, at half-past seven o'clock. The Ninth, in the advance, as it had ever been where danger lurked, moved forward for a mile, when it halted and awaited the arrival of the remainder of the " Red Star brigade." Companies A (Captain Appleget), C (Captain Harris), and D (Lieutenant Drake), were deployed at nine o'clock, and after advancing a short distance, discovered the enemy in the edge of a heavy woods skirting a broad plantation over which it was then advancing. An officer on a white horse seeming to covet the glory of a soldier's death, Private Jesse Wilkins, of Company D, kneeled upon one knee, and uttering a silent prayer for the horse took good aim, and discharged his rifle, the bullet doing its work effectually, as the
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man fell from the animal, which galloped madly away. Com- pany I (Captain Hufty) being deployed, now took the lead- supported by Companies D, K and C.
The Confederates, who distinctly saw our large force approach- ing, deeming discretion the better part of valor, retreated into the recesses of the woods, leaving the road to Smithfield, the objective point of the expedition, open to the brigade, which took peaceable possession of the place at four o'clock in the afternoon-none of the inhabitants having thought it worth while to remain and give us a welcome, or care for their property. The Ninth found comfortable quarters for the night in the vacant dwelling-houses. In an old building on the main street, near the steamboat landing, occupied by one company, were many books belonging to Hon. Leopold C. P. Cooper. As the men were illy provided with light, and unable to read the interesting volumes, owing to their limited sojourn in the place, a number of the more valuable volumes speedily found their way into knapsacks, and ultimately into camp. Colonel Stewart, on learning of this, issued an order that all books thus taken be at once sent to his headquarters, and this being complied with, he boxed them up, and forwarded the package to the distinguished owner.
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