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 35
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DR. ADDISON W. WOODHULL
Was born in Manalapan, Monmouth county, New Jersey, August thirteenth, 1831. Believing it to be his duty to serve his country in the field, he offered himself to Governor Olden as an assistant surgeon, and was commissioned as such in the Fifth New Jersey volunteers, with which he remained until February, 1862, when he was promoted to fill the vacancy in the surgeoncy of the Ninth regiment. He reached the scene of his new labors two days after the battle of Newbern, and immediately proceeded upon a performance of the multifarious duties of his office. He was untiring in his labors, and exceedingly kind and anxious in the care of the sufferers, who demanded his constant atten- tion for some weeks. These qualities, together with his skill, soon gave him deserved popularity and placed him in the front rank of his pro- fession.
During the summer of 1862, Dr. Woodhill, who always accompanied
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the intrepid Heckman, had his horse shot from under him. in the en- gagement at Young's Crossroads, and was himself wounded. In the fail he was appointed surgeon in charge of the Hammond general hospital, at Beaufort-a position held by him until the departure of Generals Foster and Heckman for South Carolina. On taking the field Dr. Woodhull was made surgeon of Heckman's Star brigade, in which capacity he faithfully served for a long time. In the summer of 1863, in addition to his other duties, he superintended the erection of the Mansfield general hospital, at Morehead City, which was pronounced a model affair. Time would fail us to closely follow the doctor through the several campaigns in the Carolinas and the bloody fields of Virginia, where the Star brigade won never-dying laurels. Upon returning to North Carolina, in the autumn of 1864, when the yellow fever was raging at Newbern, Surgeon A. W. Woodhull at once offered to assist in subduing the terrible enemy, and through the whole course of the deadly epidemic was found ever faithful, constant at his post. But it is to the medical statistics of the regiment that he can refer with the greatest pride, and these are the best witnesses of his diligence and skill. These show that during each of the three years that he was con- nected with the regiment but three men died in camp or regimental hospital during each year, making nine in all, and this, too, when but few were sent to general hospital. This is doubtless due to the great care with which he looked after the habits of the men, the condition of their quarters-the injunctions he always gave the soldiers to attend early to any indisposition they might feel-and the pertinacity with which he insisted upon daily inspecting the processes for preparing food. These, after all, seem to be the great duties of a regimental surgeon.
Dr. Woodhull died at his home in Newark, May fourteenth, 1876, and after impressive services in the Presbyterian church his remains were conveyed to Manalapan, and interred in the old Tennent churchyard.
SURGEON FIDELIO BUCKINGHAM GILLETTE
Was born in Allegany county, New York, October thirty-first, 1833. His father, Rev. Walter Bloomfield Gillette, D. D., was a Baptist clergy- man at Shiloh, Cumberland county, New Jersey, when the war broke out. The subject of our sketch was graduated an M. D. from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, in 1856, when he located at Belleville, New Jersey, where he remained long enough, as he says, to use up what money he took with him to that place, and to learn " that most people are not anxious to employ young doctors." Procuring an appointment as surgeon of a steamship plying between New York and
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Liverpool, Dr. Gillette made one round trip, when he was appointed apothecary of the marine hospital at Quarantine, Staten Island. When the yellow fever prevailed there, Dr. Gillette was made assistant deputy health officer, with a salary of two thousand dollars per year. After the destruction of the quarantine buildings by a mob he removed to Daretown, Salem county, New Jersey, where he established a lucrative business. He offered his medical services to Governor Olden, who in- formed him that there was no vacancy for surgeon. "I do not want to be a surgeon, governor, until I am capable," replied the doctor. "Don't want to be a surgeon ?" exclaimed the governor ; " why, every applicant wants to be a full surgeon, with a double row of buttons on his coat." "A single row is all I ask at this time," continued Dr. Gil- lette. " Well, go back home, assured you will hear from me very soon," said the patriotic executive. Ten days afterwards Dr. Gillette received orders to report to Colonel Heckman, commanding the Ninth New Jersey, at Beaufort, North Carolina. He joined the regiment in Sep- tember, 1862, and was heartily welcomed by Surgeon Woodhull and all the officers and men, with whom he speedily became very popular. Dr. Gillette never wearied in well doing, but devoted his skill and best efforts to his multifarious duties. It made no difference to him whether the man who needed his services was of high or low rank-he was just as faithfully attended to. The six days fighting which the Ninth had in going to Goldsboro in December following, afforded Dr. Gillette an abundance of labor, and endeared him to all-his kind greeting and wonderful fund of wit restoring many to health and strength. In February, 1865, Dr. Woodhull having resigned, Dr. Gillette was ap- pointed surgeon, returning to New Jersey in July, wearing the " double row of buttons " he had long merited. No doctor in the army was more beloved than Surgeon Gillette, who still lives (1888) to serve suffering humanity, as well as his surviving comrades of the Ninth, many of whom have been enabled through his certificates to draw pensions for disabilities incurred during their four years' service. Dr. Gillette, for a number of years after the war, served as post surgeon in the United States army, where he gained additional experience and honors.
CAPTAIN BENJAMIN W. HOPPER,
Who left New Jersey in December, 1861, with the Ninth regiment, as a sergeant of Company E, returned to the state with it in July, 1865, as commandant of that company, and senior officer of the line. Captain Hopper was born near Hackensack, Bergen county, New Jersey, May fifteenth, 1839. When one year old, his parents removed to Newfound- land, Morris county, where he remained until sixteen years of age,
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when he removed to Newark, where he learned the trade of a carpenter, becoming a skillful workman. In the spring of 1861, he arranged to go to Macon, Georgia, having received a good offer from a prominent -
builder there, but the attack upon Sumter changed his plans and the course of his life. He enlisted in Company E, in September, 1861, and was immediately made a sergeant, distinguishing himself in the battles of Roanoke Island and Newbern. His gallantry attracted the attention of General Heckman (then colonel), who promptly promoted him to a lieutenancy, and subsequently to a captaincy, in which position he served with great acceptability and faithfulness, until the last shot had been fired, when he returned to New Jersey with the regiment, suffering from wounds he had received. Captain Hopper was wounded in his sword hand while in the abattis fronting Fort Darling, May fourteenth, 1864, and two days later, in the terrible conflict at Drewry's Bluff, he was wounded in breast and arm, and although ordered to the rear by Dr. Gillette, he persisted in remaining with his company, which he did -- supporting his bleeding arm in a sling which the surgeon extem- porized, and only proceeding to the hospital when, with a wreck of his command, he was able after the conflict to retire to a position of comparative safety. Captain Hopper's company was well drilled, highly efficient and ever to be relied upon for any duty, however dangerous. The captain enjoyed the respect of his men, who often- times performed prodigies of valor, simply to win a smile from his intelligent yet usually stern face. After Captain Hopper had led his men into Goldsboro, North Carolina, in March, 1865, and the Ninth, in recognition of its valor and dash in capturing the city, had been detailed as provost guard, Captain Hopper was appointed inspector- general of the Twenty-third corps, the onerous duties of which position he performed in a masterly manner, receiving encomiums from Generals Sherman, Cox and Schofield. Upon his return home, Captain Hopper, through the kind offices of his old friend, General Heckman, was appointed a conductor on the Central railroad of New Jersey. For fifteen years past, he has had charge of the company's interests at Newark, where he has displayed indomitable energy and executive ability of a high order. He possesses the confidence of his superiors in civil life as he did while serving bis country on fifty fields of battle.
LIEUTENANT HENRY HOPPER
Was born at Newfoundland, Morris county, New Jersey, August thirtieth, 1843, but hearing the toesin of war, left the plow he was following in his father's field, and hastened to enroll Iumself among his country's de- fenders, attaching himself to Company E, Ninth Regiment, for which
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his brother, Sergeant Benjamin W. Hopper, was recruiting vigorous young men. The subject of our sketch was one of the brave fellows detailed at Hatteras for the gunboats, on one of which he did valiant service during the bombardment of the forts on Roanoke Island, but in the afternoon, when the launches were lowered to go ashore with the howitzers, he begged so hard to go along that permission was granted, and in both battles-Roanoke and Newbern-Lieutenant Hopper, then a private, assisted in dragging and firing the howitzers, the only artillery we had ashore, until victory had been won. After Newbern, seeing no probability of further fighting on the boats, he procured his discharge from the naval service, and from that time until the end of the war re- mained with his company, with which he proudly returned to his native state in July, 1865. Like Cincinnatus, he promptly beat his sword into a pruning hook, and resumed the quiet life of a farmer, which he pursued until 1873, when he removed to Newark. In 1878 he was appointed a patrolman on the police force of that city, and performing his duties so well was promoted to the captaincy of a precinct, from which it was a speedy and easy step to the position of chief, the responsible and arduous duties of which he is performing (in 1889) to the satisfaction of all good citizens and great credit to himself.
CAPTAIN THOMAS BURNETT
Acted as drill-sergeant at Camp Olden, and to him the sergeants (many of whom subsequently became officers,) were greatly indebted for the pro- ficiency they rapidly acquired. Captain Burnett was a thorough soldier, who never failed where success was possible. Notwithstanding his mar- tinetism, he possessed the respect of his men, who never failed to follow him. It was Sergeant Burnett, who, while the brig " Dragoon " was thumping on the bar at Hatteras, and all hope of safety seemed lost, formed his company-B-upon the forward upper deck, and by firing volleys, attracted the attention of General Burnside, who hastened to the rescue, effecting a deliverance from the manifold dangers sur- rounding the five companies on board. After the war, Captain Burnett, who burned to be of assistance to Ireland, participated in the Fenian invasion of Canada, going there as lieutenant-colonel of the New Jersey regiment. He departed this life in 1874, dying at his home in New Brunswick.
CAPTAIN JOSEPH. JAMES HENRY
Of Company H, was born at Oxford Furnace. Warren county, New Jersey, December fifteenth, 1834. He was graduated from the Pough-
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keepsie law school, and commenced the practice of law in New York city. Some time afterwards he went to Washington, and acted as private secretary for his friend, Colonel Scranton, member of the house of representatives. While there he joined the regiment organized by General Lane, of Kansas, which patrolled the capital until the arrival of troops from the north. In October, 1861, Captain Henry was authorized to raise a company for the Ninth regiment, which task he speedily accomplished-the young men who followed him to camp being the best Warren county afforded. His gentle and unassuming manners, his pleasing address and benign disposition, his conciliatory action, and unusual candor, made him popular with all with whom he came in contact. He was robbed of life by the concussion of a ruthless shot at Roanoke Island-no mark being visible upon his person after he fell. Captain Henry was the first man in a New Jersey regiment to fall in battle for the preservation of the Union. Death loves a shining mark.
CAPTAIN EDWARD STEVENS HARRIS.
This gallant officer entered the service October twenty-second, 1861, as first lieutenant of Company C. Edwin S. Harris, a son of Rev. N. Sayre Harris, of Hoboken, New Jersey, was born in the city of Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania. He graduated at St. Timothy's Hall, Maryland, where he received the rudiments of an education which fitted him for military service. With the Ninth regiment he accompanied the Burn- side expedition to North Carolina, and in the battles of Roanoke Island and Newbern led his command with skill and daring. Captain Harris received his baptismal fire in the swamps of Roanoke, where under a terrific fire to which the Ninth was subjected he acted with the same coolness as if on dress parade. He was present with his command, and participated in the sieges of Fort Macon and Charleston, and battles of Southwest Creek, Kinston, Whitehall, Goldsboro, Young's Cross Roads, Free Bridge, Hillsbridge and a score of minor engagements in the Carolinas.
On the seventeenth day of March, 1863, he was promoted to be cap- tain of his company, but shortly afterward resigned with a view of taking command of a light battery. In this, however, he was anticipated, so Governor Parker reappointed him to his old command in the Ninth, and on receiving his commission lost no time in returning to the scenes of his former labors and triumphs.
Captain Harris led his command in the campaign inaugurated on Bermuda Hundred, May sixth, 1864, and took an active part in the series of battles fought daily, almost hourly, till the morning of May sixteenth, when, at Drewry's Bluff, Virginia, an unerring bullet put au
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end to his usefulness. Thus did he die at the age of twenty-two. While being carried off the sanguinary field, and while taking a last survey of the line, he called out to his men to " stand firm"-not to give way. His body was never recovered-in fact, his fate was unknown to his wife and family, who (until the return of the writer from the prison pens) had fondly but vainly imagined him to be a prisoner of war.
Captain Harris was one of the bravest officers in the Ninth. He never knew fear-never heeded danger .. He was possessed of a generous and sympathetic nature, and was admired by officers and men for his manly traits.
"Soldier, rest ! thy warfare o'er, Dream of fighting fields no more; Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking, Morn of toil, nor night of waking."
LIEUTENANT WILLIAM E. TOWNLEY,
A resident of Elizabeth, was one of the first to enlist in the Ninth regiment. Notwithstanding a delicate state of health, his ardent desire to serve his country in its peril induced him to forsake the mercantile life he had entered upon, and become one of its defenders. His devotion to duty, with his quiet Christian character and unceasing efforts to contribute to the comfort and happiness of his comrades, gained him the respect of all with whom he came in contact. His faithfulness and ability brought its reward, as he rose, step by step, until in 1865, he was commissioned first lieutenant of Company K, with which he started in 1861. Few men were more respected than Lieutenant Townley, and when after the lapse of nearly a quarter of a century his companions of old made him the custodian of their funds, they did so with absolute confidence, as his integrity was beyond question. Upon his return home after the war, he engaged successfully m the dry-goods business in Elizabeth.
CAPTAIN J. PETER RITTER
Was born at Billigheim, Bavaria, Germany, July sixteenth, 1806. He settled in Elizabeth, New Jersey, in 1836, and at once engaged in business, in which he prospered. He was connected with the militia for many years before the war, and in 1861 raised a company, chiefly Germans, for the Ninth regiment. It was denominated " G," and he commanded it in all the engagements in which it participated until April fourth, 1864, when, owing to ill-health, and his inability to sustain the fatigues of a great campaign, he was compelled to resign, which he did, greatly to the regret, not only of the officers of the regiment, but
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also of the men. Notwithstanding his age and obesity, Captain Ritter never flagged on a march, nor hesitated in doing his full duty in a fight. After his return home from the army, he was chosen overseer of the poor in Elizabeth, which position he held at the time of his death- October twenty-seventh, 1872.
CAPTAIN EDWARD S. MOFFAT
Left Princeton college, and enlisted as a private in Company K, Ninth New Jersey volunteers, in October, 1861, soon after being appointed first sergeant ; promoted second lieutenant March ninth, 1862, but de- clined ; reappointed May sixteenth, 1862 ; detailed as an acting signal officer September twenty-eighth, 1862; commissioned in the signal corps, United States army, March third, 1863 ; breveted captain United States volunteers and mustered out of the service August, 1865.
Captain Moffat accompanied the Ninth on the Burnside expedition, and participated in the capture of Roanoke Island, the battle of New- bern, and the investment of Fort Macon. On General Foster's Goldsboro expedition he acted as a signal officer, and accompanied General Heckman on Foster's expedition to South Carolina, returning to North Carolina with Heckman's brigade, when it was called to the relief of General Foster at Washington, North Carolina.
In July, 1863, he accompanied General Edward E. Potter's cavalry raid upon the Weldon railroad, and in November, 1863, was placed in command of the outpost line of signal stations in North Carolina, with headquarters at Bachelor's creek, where on the first of February, 1864, five hundred Union soldiers belonging to the One Hundred and Thirty- second New York volunteers resisted General Pickett with seven thousand men and several batteries of artillery, and thus saved New- bern. During the engagement, Captain Moffat, who was ever without fear, unwittingly rode into a regiment of reb Is, but escaped amid a shower of bullets. He was officially thanked for his valuable services in this battle. September tenth, 1864, he was called to Newbern to act as chief signal officer of the department of North Carolina, and while at Newbern was attacked with yellow fever. In February, 1865, he was stationed as signal officer at General Meade's headquarters before Petersburg, Virginia, and was actively employed during Lee's attack on Fort Steadman, in the Hatcher Run fight, the capture of Petersburg, in the line of battle at Sailor's Creek, April sixth, and was present with the army of the Potomac at Appomattox, at the time of Lee's surrender.
Captain Moffat, in all the positions he occupied, was without ostenta- tion. As first sergeant and second lieutenant, although as mild in his ways as a school miss, he possessed the respect of all with whom he
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came in contact. He never had to repeat a command-the men appear- ing to anticipate his desires. He was noted for his graceful bearing and courtly manners, which gamed for him the sobriquet of the Chesterfield of the regiment, and when he left it to take a position on the signal corps, wherein he rose to prominence, his loss was keenly felt by all. In battle he was entirely self-possessed-on a march capable of great fatigue. Upon leaving the army in 1865, after a three years' course of study at the Columbia College School of Mines, Captain Moffat grad- uated with the degree of " Engineer of Mines." He held a professorship of mining and metalurgy for two years at Lafayette college, Easton, Pennsylvania, when his health failing, he took the active management of iron works in northern New Jersey, until in 1882, when he removed to Scranton, Pennsylvania, to accept the position of general manager of the Lackawanna Iron and Coal Company, which he holds at this date.
CAPTAIN CHARLES HUFTY
Was born in Philadelphia, July twenty-fourth, 1839, in which city he resided during the early days of his life. He passed his school life with high honors, and was noted for his probity, intelligence and high moral character. The family having removed to Camden, New Jersey, he resided with them, and was engaged in the hardware business in Philadelphia until the sound to battle, which roused the nation to unbrotherly strife ; when, impelled by a patriotic love of country, he at once hastened to join the conflict for the restoration and perpetuation of our glorious Union. When the call came for volunteers for three months' service, he responded at once, and enlisted in the Philadelphia Grays, First regiment artillery, Pennsylvania volunteers, and left with them for the seat of war in April, 1861. Having served out his three months term, he entered the ranks of the Ninth New Jersey, then just forming. He participated in all the campaigns and battles in which that regiment was engaged, and was promoted to the captaincy of Company I, July twenty-fifth, 1864. For nearly two years he acted as quartermaster of the Ninth. Having passed unharmed through many battles until almost the close of the war, Captain Hufty was at last fatally wounded at the head of his company in the skirmish at South- west Creek. North Carolina, March seventh, 1865. He died at the officer's hospital, Newbern, where he received every attention, and had every care that kind-hearted women could give him, but passed away from this life on the fourteenth, regretted by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance, and beloved by his numerous friends for his many virtues and gentle disposition. His remains were interred at Mount Vernon cemetery, Philadelphia, April tenth, 1865.
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(From the North Carolina Times, March 17, 1865.)
Captain Charles Hufty of the Ninth New Jersey volunteers, who was wounded near Kinston, in this state, on the eighth instant, died at the officer's hospital, in this city, on Tuesday morning last, keenly regretted by all who had the privilege of his acquaintance. Captain Hufty was a young man of sound moral principles, and high-toned honor ; he has offered up his life to the cause of liberty, and is numbered in the long roll of martyrs who are mourned by the people. His life was blame- less, and his friends have the sweet consolation of believing that he will meet his reward in heaven. J.
CAPTAIN JOSEPH B. LAWRENCE
Was born at Pennington, New Jersey, February fourth, 1828. His parents died when he was five years of age, leaving him alone to battle with the world. When old enough he apprenticed himself to a carriage- maker, and acquired that trade. Subsequently he entered the service of the Belvidere and Delaware railroad company, and was stationed at Belvidere, where in the fall of 1861 he attached himself to Company H, Ninth regiment, with which he proceeded to the front as second lieutenant. Upon the promotion of Captain James Stewart, Jr., to the field, Lieutenant Lawrence was made captain, which position he held with great credit until his death-May thirtieth, 1864. His remains repose in the cemetery at Belvidere, New Jersey. Captain Lawrence was a gallant soldier and earnest Christian-a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His heroism at Drewry's Bluff, where he received his fatal wound, is to this day a theme of pleasant converse among the survivors of the regiment he did so much to honor.
REV. JOHN J. CARRELL,
Father of Captain Edward S. Carrell, was born at Tinicum, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, March twentieth, 1812. He was graduated from Lafayette college and the Princeton Theological seminary, and first preached in the Presbyterian church at Harmony, New Jersey, and subsequently at Groveland, Livingston county, New York, where he remained until the latter part of December, 1862, when he accepted the chaplaincy of the Ninth regiment, to the duties of which he gave ardent devotion. Chaplain Carrell was an able theologian, a facile writer, and an earnest worker in his Master's vineyard. He entered into rest, June twenty-first, 1877, at Easton, Pennsylvania.
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