August 11-September 1862: Edward Campbell & the 15th NJ Regt.

 

On August 11, 1862, Captain Edward L. Campbell, of Belvidere, left Company E of the 3rd NJ Volunteer Infantry Regiment to become the Lieutenant Colonel of the new 15th NJ Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

 

In August through September, a number of Warren County men joined Campbell's regiment:

COMPANY A: Color Sergeant David E. Hicks, of Asbury, and Lieutenant George C. Justice, of Phillipsburg; 

COMPANY B: Stephen I. Babbitt, William H. Barnett, Albert L. Drake, Owen Drake, Sergeant George F. Fritts, Henry J. V. Heed, & Henry L. Wiggins, of Belvidere;  John P. Brink, of Broadway; Captain Alfred S. Burtt, Lyman M. Parks, Jacob F. Reidinger, William A. Schrenck & Jacob Stutz, of Hackettstown; Henry W. Cole, Corporal Dayton E. Flint, George Vosler, & Oakley W. Vosler, of Washington;  Sergeant Samuel B. Danley, of Hazen; Sergeant Morris S. Hann, of Hope; James Hoffman, of Rockport; Lieutenant Francis Holmes & Richard Horn, of Phillipsburg; Samson O. Howell & Uzal O. Whitesell, of Vienna; Corporal John A. Wilson, of Johnsonburg; Andrew Yeomans, of Columbia; William Nearlatt, of Danville; and 1st Sergeant George Martin & John O. Martin, of Blairstown;

COMPANY C: Albert C. Dildine, of Belvidere; James H. Cyphers, of Phillipsburg; and Abraham Sawyer, of Oxford; 

COMPANY D: Jacob O. Burdett & Corporal Simon Shaw, of Belvidere; George W. Shipps, of Belvidere/Walnut Valley; John M. Burd, of Montana; and Charles Hawk, of Hackettstown;

COMPANY E: Sergeant James W. VanAntwerp, of Washington;

COMPANY F: Corporal Lewis H. Salmon, of Hackettstown;

COMPANY G: Sergeant Zephaniah Holcomb, William McKenzie Thompson, George D. Wagner & William H. Wyckoff, of Belvidere;

COMPANY H: Moore G. Coen, George C. Dereamer, Hospital Steward Dr. John Hilton, & Henry R. Merrill, of Belvidere; Isaac M. Andrews, William J. Bodine, William Brotzman, Sergeant Jesse S. Castner, Dennis Cole, Isaac B. Cole, Corporal Isaac R. Dereamer, William Dereamer, Corporal James Donnelly, Corporal William Forrester, Martin P. Geary, Sergeant William R. Melroy, Corporal Cornelius Slack, and Captain Andrew Jackson Wight, of Washington;  Benjamin Bates, William H. Chamberlain, Wagoner Henry Crotsley, William H. Howard, Samuel McCrea, & Isaac Medick, of Asbury; Gardner H. Dereamer, of Broadway; Justice L. Force, of Summerfield; David Hoffman, of Mt. Bethel; John B. Miller, of Port Colden; Corporal Moses H. Prall & Abraham F. Rush, of Montana; and Levi Rush, of Port Murray; 

COMPANY I: John C. Chamberlain, of Belvidere; Corporal William H. Decker, of Johnsonburg; and George V. Huff, of Vienna; and

COMPANY K: George O. Haynes, of Washington.

 

Copyright 1999-2012: Jay C. Richards    

August 7-September 4. 1862:Warren Men Join 12th NJ Regt.

Between August 7 and September 4, 1862, several Warren County, NJ men enlisted in the 12th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment for three years enlistment.

 

The men who enlisted in the 12th NJV Regiment were:

COMPANY A: David S. Ayers, of Danville [now Great Meadows];

COMPANY E: Wagoner John Bird, of Washington, and Ira C. Hall, of Phillipsburg;

COMPANY G: John Hall, and James M. Wilkens, both of Phillipsburg;

COMPANY I: William H. Allen, of Hainesburg;  and

COMPANY K: George S. Tindall, of Phillipsburg.

 

 

Copyright 1999-2012: Jay C. Richards

September 3, 1862: Creation of the 31st NJ Regiment & Camp Belvidere

After the Second Battle of Manassas [or Bull Run] in August 1862, President Abraham Lincoln called for the raising of 600,000 fresh troops.  These would be nine months militia units.  In Warren County, NJ, the Warren Brigade of Reserve Militia joined with Hunterdon County militia companies to form the 31st NJ Volunteer Infantry Regiment.  Warren County troops left Belvidere by train for South Flemington in Hunterdon County, where they established Camp Belvidere. 

 

William H. H. Warman, of Oxford Township [now White Township], was a member of the Belvidere Infantry Company. He enlisted in the 31st Regiment on September 3, 1862 at age 22 years.  He and his comrades were mustered into Federal Service on September 17.  The Belvidere Infantry Company members were redesignated as Company I, 31st NJV Infantry Regiment.  

 

Washington Borough attorney Alexander P. Berthoud had very little military experience but had political clout.  On September 11, he was commissioned colonel in command of the 31st NJV Regiment.  His lack of military experience caused problems in training and later in war.

 

Warman wrote to The Belvidere Intelligencer, "After being examined  and sworn in on Saturday, we marched to Camp Fair Oaks, now [Camp] Kearny, for dinner, or rather supper, if time be considered, where we remained 'till Monday, P.M. (1st instant), when we were transferred to Camp Belvidere, as it has been fitly appellated.  Our camp consists of the Brick Academy and play grounds, which is situated in the southeast part of the pleasant and healthy town of Flemington.  We have spread our ticks filled with straw  on the floor of the upper story: the desks and seats being removed, it affords us very comfortable sleeping quarters.  The lower school we use for an eating room: the writing desks being left, they serve the purpose of tables admirably; and the old play grounds, which contain about half a square acre, and which are enclosed by a fence, constitute our play and drill grounds.  We have some fine sport playing ball, &c.; have not had to drill but four hours a day yet, and during the day have been privileged to go and do as we chose, and in short, we have had good and pleasant  times thus far.  Nothing to do, plenty to eat, which is just the thing many like to do; alas too many.  Yet, I anticipate we will all soon have a change of life.  I think it will not be our good fortune to stay many weeks with the kind, hospitable and patriotic people of Flemington.

   

"We have a fine looking and generally well-behaved company, but too few of us are as good as we look, and too many much worse.  It appears that soldiering and profanity and many other vices are inherent.  I think I have heard more swearing since in camp than in all my life before, notwithstanding the camp regulations, which prohibit it.  Wherever you see a squad of soldiers, if you approach near enough to hear their conversation, it is universally contaminated by blasphemous oaths.  Oh, I would that the 22nd article of our regulations was constantly and strictly enforced.  I have talked with several of them, and those who are or have been in the habit of profanity, earnestly wish for the enforcement of this article, and they wish to quit it, and think this is the only way wholly and expeditiously to abolish it.  Men who are going forth to fight the battles of our country, and, as we think, the battles of God, and who are going directly into the face of death then go in such a spirit of prayer as this are surely going forth in a wrong way, and I do hope this liberty will be taken from our freemen soldiers.  May the Lord grant to us his Grace, that we may each become praying, valiant soldiers, that as we go forth to fight the battles of our Republic, it may not be in our own strength, but in the strength of the God of battles."

 

Copyright 1997-2012: Jay C. Richards

August 27, 1862: Andrew Neal captured at 2nd Battle of Manassas

 

Corporal Andrew Neal, of Belvidere, in Company F of the 4th Pennsylvania Veteran Reserve Regiment, returned to Manassas, Virginia to fight a second battle near Bull Run Creek.  He and his best friend Thomas A. H. Knox, of Belvidere, fought in the First Battle of Bull Run [or Manassas] in July 1861.  On August 27, 1862, Neal was fighting another battle near Manassas Junction, but this time without his friend Corporal Knox.  Knox had been killed in action near Charles City Crossroads, Virginia on June 30, 1862 at the Battle of Frazier's Farm.

 

In a letter to his father, Corporal Neal wrote, "We received marching orders to go to the Rappahannock, and from there to White Sulphur Springs, then to Warrenton, then to Catlett's Station, then to Manassas, where we were taken prisoners by the 16th Mississippi Regiment.  The last Bull Run battle was a harder one than the first.  After I was taken prisoner, I was marched under guard to Gainesville with 1,800 more who were taken at Manassas.  After being there two days without anything to eat, we were paroled and allowed to depart to our lines by a circuitous route of 90 miles, conducted by [J. E. B.] Stewart's rebel cavalry.  We had to march without anything to eat, except what we could pick up on the way, such as green corn, apples and peaches.  We arrived at Harper's Ferry after three days rapid march, and then were ordered to Cumberland, Maryland, where we had a camp for a day or two.  We were kindly treated by the citizens of Cumberland.  It is a place of 8,000 inhabitants, along the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, five miles from the Pennsylvania state line.  After the rebels crossed into Maryland, we were ordered to this camp [Camp Chase, Ohio].  There are some 4,000 paroled prisoners here altogether, and also about 1,000 rebel prisoners.  We are kindly treated here, have good rations, soft bread, and everything we need.  We lost our clothing; the trains that our knapsacks were on were burnt.

 

"I told you, after the retreat to Harrison's Landing, if reinforcements did not   soon arrive, Washington would be in danger; you can see it is so; even Pennsylvania is threatened.  I don't know how long we will be here.  We dare not do any military duty until we are regularly exchanged, when that will be I do not know.  There is some talk of sending us to our respective States.  I enjoy good health notwithstanding the hardships I have had to endure.  I am still living, and am among Union people, where we are provided with everything a soldier can expect."

 

Copyright 1997-2012: Jay C. Richards

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