August 27, 1862: the False Report of the Death of Major William Henry, Jr.

Major William Henry , Jr., of Oxford Furnace, was the brother of Captain Jospeh Henry, of the 9th NJ Volunteer Infantry Regiment - the first New Jersey officer killed in the war at Roanoke Island in 1861.  Major Henry was the adjutant of the 1st NJ Volunteer Infantry Regiment.  On August 12, 1862 - two weeks before the 2nd Battle of Manassas - Henry was promoted to Major. 

 

During the battle, he was wounded.  Major Henry's uniform and hat were riddled with bullet holes.  By early September, Warren County, NJ newspapers were erroneously reporting Henry's death.  The Belvidere Intelligencer reported in the September 12th edition, "MAJOR HENRY HAS FALLEN - The Scranton Republican of last week says, 'This is the second sacrifice made by the Henry family on the altar of their country - Joseph fell gallantly at the head of his company at Roanoke, - his elder brother was killed in the last fights in Virginia.  Entering the store of the Coal and Iron Company at an early age, he gradually rose to be confidential clerk of the concern until 1857, when he left for Oxford Furnace in company with Seldon T. Scranton, who could not dispense with his services.  Of pleasing address, generous temper, and high toned character, he made friends wherever he was known.  He took a deep interest in this war, was active in furthering enlistments at the inset and was tendered the Adjutancy of the First New Jersey Regiment, which position he held with great credit and acceptability, and was promoted to the Majority.  We have not heard the particulars of his death, but he was doubtless found at his post manfully doing his duty.  He leaves two brothers, two sisters, an aged father and a host of friends to mourn his untimely end.'"

 

Major Henry, however, did not die until March 16, 1889 in Fort Worth, Texas - of old age.  Henry's hat and clothes were riddled with bullets, but he survived with slight injury.

 

Copyright 1997-2012: Jay C. Richards

August 27, 1862: Theodore Carhart at 2nd Battle of Manassas [Bull Run]

In August, units of the Army of the Potomac had moved between Manassas and Fairfax Court House, Virginia.  Theodore Carhart, of the 1st NJ Volunteer Infantry Regiment, wrote to his brother,

 

"In one week, from Sunday night, the 24th, up to Sunday, the 31st, we have been up to Manassas and back, and to Fairfax Court House and back, making 90 miles all told.  When we were moving up to Fairfax the last time, Friday, the 29th, General Slocum, our Division General, headed our Brigade and encamped us for the night about eight miles away from Alexandria.  He made us quite a speech, complimenting us very highly for holding up so nobly under the severe difficulties that we had contended with.  He said he knew, and so did all other officers, that when we left the Seminary last spring that we were one of the finest brigades in the whole army, and that to be reduced to such a number, it must be discouraging both to men and officers.  He also said that he would like to have the name of every man and officer, for by his presence he knew him to be a good soldier, a true patriot, and men that could be relied upon; that we should keep a stiff upper lip, for it was always the darkest just before day.  After he got thro' with his speech, the boys gave him six hearty cheers and then we pitched our tents for the night, and he went on with the other two brigades of the division.  On Saturday morning, we struck tents and moved on to Fairfax and guarded that place and the different roads leading to it while the battle was going on at Manassas.  The guerrillas think nothing of making dashes at our trains as they pass backward   and forward with ammunition and provisions.

 

"At Manassas on Wednesday [August 27], we lost 163 men; the 2nd Regiment, about 175; I have not learned other losses.  Suffice it to say the Brigade today only numbers about 800 men; out of that the 1st has only 257 men all told.  It is the smallest regiment in the brigade...At any rate, we are all right so far.  Captain [Edward] Campbell [Company E, 3rd NJ Regiment] and Captain [John] Wildrick [Company B, 2nd NJ Regiment] are all right - they made their escape from the rebels."

 

Copyright 1997-2012: Jay C. Richards

August 1, 1862: DeWitt C. Blair's Letter to John I. Blair

On August 1, 1862, Private DeWitt Clinton Blair, wealthy attorney from Belvidere, wrote to his father, railroad owner and financier John I. Blair, from Camp Aspinnall near Harper's Ferry, Virginia.  Blair was serving in the 22nd New York National Guard Regiment, "The New York Greys." 

"My Dear Father, I have received two letters from you & have read them with great interest.  I knew you were about to be taking a trip West & I have delayed answering until your return.  I take great pleasure in watching the progress of Rail Road matters.  I have examined portions of the Baltimore & Ohio R.R. & also the Winchester Road.  The track of the former is in a miserable condition.  The transportation is very great at this time.  When I awake from my slumbers at midnight, I can still hear the rattling sound of car wheels as train after train travels along, long down with grain & cattle destined I presume for Washington to feed the Army of the Potomac.  The Winchester Road passes along the flank of our Camp - between us & the Shenandoah River.  It is a small affair, the track consists of flat iron spiked to pieces of timber.  The Road has had more business than it could since the beginning of the War.  The 9th Vermont Regiment passed over the road a few days since on their way to Winchester I suppose.  We gave them three hearty cheers & they responded with a will.  Vermont deserves the praise of being the first in the field.

"Business of every character in this section of the country, except that which pertains to war, is dispensed with.  Mills are stopped & private dwellings lay in one mass of ruins.  You can form but a faint idea of the devastating affect of war, unless you are on the ground & witness the results.  It would be a sight for a stranger to visit this place.  The routine of every day life is interrupted by the sound of Martial Music & the tramp of armed men.  Our duties are various and often very laborious.  Our Company has charge of a Battery behind a line of entrenchments which we have just finished.  It was a very amusing sight at times for a looker-on to witness the degree of spirit manifested by Broadway Gents, as they tugged away with the shovel & the hoe.  Some of them were honest enough to admit that they would know how to make a living by the time they get home, a thing which before appeared very strange & unnatural.

"Our Regiment marches out to Bolivar Heights every afternoon through the hot sun & dust & these, with some three thousand other troops, go through a Brigade drill conducted by Brigadier General [Nelson] Miles.  We have Company drills in the morning & after that we are assigned to various other duties & so kept busy the whole day.  Rebel Cavalry still infest this part of the Valley & ram around in small bodies watching our movements & gaining all the information possible & stealing everything valuable they can lay their hands on.  Now & then a Rebel scout is caught within our lines & brought to headquarters.  Such specimens of living humanity is a rare sight.

"We had a lively time at two o'clock last night.  We were awakened out of our dreams by the roar of heavy Artillery & the whistling sound of shells as they passed over our Camp & exploded in the opposite side of the Shenandoah River near the foot of the Mountain.  It seems that our Battery in Maryland Heights discovered the Rebels playing their old game of displaying signal lights, so they opened fire just to remind them of the fact that we were wide awake.  That battery is a very important one.  It is just the key to this Valley.  It was that which stopped Stonewall Jackson from crossing here into Maryland.  It is held by one Company of the 5th N.Y. Infantry ["Duryea's Zouaves"].  If the Rebels should ever    succeed in getting hold of that, we would have to get out of this place in a hurray, as their Guns will carry more than a mile beyond our Camp.

"The line of earthworks which we have assisted in constructing in the rear of our Camp will extend, when completed, a quarter of a mile.  If our Troops are defeated in any part of the Valley, they can fall back to this point with safety.  The place where we are encamped is called Bolivar.  But we call it all Harper's Ferry, although the Ferry itself & the Village proper lies some two miles East of us.  The two places are so connected that a stranger could scarcely notice the difference.  Bolivar is considered healthy & I can see no reason why it should not be so, as it is situated on high ground.  But we have an unusual amount of sickness in the Regiment during our stay here.  The Doctors I understand have not succeeded in detecting the cause.  My own opinion is that the Limestone Water has as much to do with it as anything.  Most of the Regiment are accustomed to use Cistern Water & they don't seem to get used to this.  We have just met with a great loss.  Our Colonel (Monroe) is dead.  His disease was one that is very prevalent in the Army at this time, the Congestive Fever.  He was first taken when we were in Baltimore.  But he rallied & came over here some two weeks after we arrived.  He was a Noble Colonel, beloved by the whole Regiment.  We all felt that he was our mainstay in case of danger.  We have no confidence whatsoever in our Lieutenant Colonel (Aspinnall).  He is simply a Broadway Colonel, without knowledge or experience in the art of war.

"Our time of enlistment expires on the 1st of September [1862].  I suppose we shall be ordered home soon after that, unless the Government desires our services for a longer time or compels us to serve until such time as it may deem proper.  I have read your last letter with much care & notice particularly what you say about your business matters & the assistance which I may be to you in the future.  I have not enlisted for the whole war.  Three months experience as a common soldier will do for the moment.  When my time expires, I shall come home & take a rest.  If I ever go again, I should prefer going as an Officer.  I think I am as well qualified for it as some in our Regiment & that is not saying much in their favor.  I hope the people will respond willingly to the last call of the President.  If they don't, this Government will soon come to an end.  If the ranks are not soon filled by volunteers, I hope drafting will commence immediately, the sooner the better.  I get letters from A_____ & Mr. S_____ frequently [the two names were not legible].  I am glad to hear they are all well.  I wrote Marcus last week to send me a box of eatables.  I am expecting it this week.  Tell Charlie Vail to write to me often.  I always feel grateful for letters, however short.  Give my love to Mother & Marcus & all the Folks. I remain your affectionate son, D. C. Blair."

Private D. C. Blair returned to Belvidere when his enlistment expired in September 1862.  He missed being captured with other New York units when Harper's Ferry fell to General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's Virginians.  Some of the 1880s biographies stated Blair fought the Irish rioters during the New York City Draft Riots, but the riots occurred in 1863.  Blair's law library in New York City was ransacked during the riots so one can guess that Blair might have fought the rioters as a civilian protecting his offices.  There is no record that he ever re-enlisted.

Copyright 1999-2012: Jay C. Richards