October 29-November 1862: 27th NJ Regiment On The Move

Colonel George Washington Mindil's 27th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry regiment had originally set up camp on East Capitol Hill in Washington, District of Columbia in October 1862.  Mindil had ordered all his officers, without exception, to attend schools of instruction in tactics and the practical duties of soldiers .  Mindil wanted to make sure his officers could lead their men into battle and keep as many alive as possible.Mindil had seen the effects of good and bad leadership during the battles at Williamsburg, Fair Oaks and at Manassas during the second battle of Bull Run.

On October 29, 1862, the Regiment set up camp near Fort Albany, Virginia.  After a few days of rest the Regiment was ordered to march to Alexandria, Virginia.  A camp was set up on a hillside outside of the town. Mindil named his new encampment site Camp Philip Kearney in honor of the first commanding general of the First New Jersey Brigade. 

Mindil drilled and trained his men at Camp Philip Kearney.  The regiment would remain in Alexandria until December 1, 1862, when the regiment was ordered to march to Fredericksburg, Virginia to join the 25th NJ Regiment, the 13th New Hampshire Regiment, and the 15th Connecticut Regiment as part of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division of the 9th Army Corps.  The troops were sent to reinforce General Ambrose Burnside's Army of the Potomac for the attack on Fredericksburg. 

Copyright 1999-2012: Jay C. Richards

October 5, 1862: Conrad Miller - first to die in the 31st NJ Regiment

In October 1862, the men of the 31st New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment left Camp Belvidere, in Flemington, NJ, and traveled to Washington, D.C.  The 31st was joined by the 30th NJ Volunteer Infantry Regiment, which also contained some Warren County volunteers.  Under the guns of Fort DeRussy, the 31st NJ Regiment established Camp Warren on October 6.  The 30th NJ Regiment was sent to Fort Baker on the Potomac River.

 

William H. H. Warman, of the Belvidere Company [Company I], wrote a letter to The Belvidere Intelligencer to report the regiment's first death.  "Our regiment has enjoyed tolerably good health - have but one death among us, and that, perhaps, was occasioned by improper indulgences in eating and drinking stuff containing poison.  The person referred to was Conrad Miller, a married man from Blairstown, in Comp. G, who was suddenly attacked on Friday, p.m., the 3rd instant [October 3, 1862], and died on Sunday about 10 o'clock a.m.  The Doctors say it was a case of poisoning.  He was embalmed and sent home.  Our regiment is much saddened by this occurrence, and I hope it will be a two-fold warning to others of the 31st and may it extend and have good influence in other regiments.  It seemed like a warning from God."

 

Conrad Miller, of Blairstown, enlisted in Company G of the 31st NJV on September 3, 1862 at 33 years of age as a Drummer.   According to regimental records, Miller died on October 5, 1862 at East Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. of cholera morbus.

 

Copyright 1997-2012: Jay C. Richards  

 

October 1, 1862: Lt. Charles Butts at the Blackwater River

On October 1, 1862, Lieutenant Charles W. Butts and the Belvidere boys of Company I, 11th Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, went into their first battle. 

 

The company adjutant sent the following dispatch to The Belvidere Intelligencer, "On the first instant, company I was sent out on a scout toward the Blackwater River, it having been rumored that the enemy was crossing in strong force.  As the company neared Carrsville, a little village about half way between Suffolk and Franklin, on the Blackwater, Lieut. C. W. Butts was ordered to proceed with the advance guard through Carrsville. On doing so, he came up on the enemy's pickets in the village, who fired upon Lieut. Butts and his men and then fled; Lieut. charged upon them, wounding several, when he found himself in front of two or three hundred cavalry drawn up in a line of battle. He wheeled his men as soon as possible, and retraced his steps at full speed but not until the rebels had fired a volley into his ranks.  The balls whizzed over and through them, but fortunately not one was struck.  Lieut. Butts hurried back to the main body of the Company, informed the captain of the strength of the enemy, and erelong all were safely out of the reach of the rebel force.  But their retreat was ascertained afterward to have been necessary, for the rebels as soon as they recovered from their surprise at the approach of Lieut. Butts, started off toward Franklin as fast as their horses could carry them.

 

"Captain [John] Herr, commanding the company, dispatched a message immediately to camp, with the facts, and awaited further orders. Colonel [Samuel Perkins] Spear, on receiving the message, ordered Lt. Colonel Stetzel to take three companies, overtake Company I, and then proceed, if possible, to the Blackwater, and find out the strength of the enemy and then learn his intentions.  He proceeded as far as the Sommerton Creek, about three miles this side of the Blackwater, and on learning from the contrabands [slaves] that the enemy had crossed it the night previous and afterward destroyed the bridge; he sent Lieut. Basset, of Company A, to ascertain if the report was true, and if so, whether it would be possible to ford the creek.  Lieut. Basset found the enemy's pickets on the other side, in pretty large numbers, and soon returned with the report of one    of his horses killed and exhibited a wound in his waist.  Lt. Col. Stetzel then came forward himself, with a body of troops under his command, and satisfied himself the rebels were too strong for him to attempt to cross.   He, therefore, fell back to within ten miles of Suffolk and sent information to Col. Spear of the strength of the enemy, and waited further orders.  On reception of the dispatch, Col. Spear referred the matter to Major General [John James] Peck, commanding this post, who immediately ordered out three regiments of infantry, the remainder of the 11th Penna. Cavalry, and a section of Captain [Frederick M.] Follett's battery.  Thus with seven companies of cavalry, two howitzers, two rifled cannon, and three regiments of infantry, all under the command of Col. Spear, acting Brigadier, we felt strong enough to drive the enemy before us and over the Blackwater, should he make a stand on this side.

 

"We marched all of Thursday night and reached Franklin about 3 o'clock P.M. the next day.  On nearing it, Lieut. Butts was sent out to reconnoiter and see what had become of the enemy, whose pickets had been driven in at our approach.  He was found posted in a pretty strong force, on both sides of the river; and as we neared it, he soon let us know where he was posted by firing a few shells, which fell in the woods on our right.  No sooner was the challenge given that it was accepted by our Colonel, or rather acting General.  He immediately assigned the battery and howitzers their positions, overlooking the river, supported them by the regiments of infantry, and drew up the cavalry on the edge of the woods, on the right, to be in readiness to co-operate at a moment's notice.  We did not have to wait long to ascertain the strength and position of the enemy.  The balls and shells soon began to whiz and buzz around and over us, here and there cutting down the infantry and frequently making the cavalry change their positions.  We drove him over the river, and then our little howitzers and pet rifled cannon got their range, grape and shells poured profusely into their midst.  We riddled all the buildings in the village, which they were going to occupy as winter quarters, and must have scattered death and destruction far and wide.  The shore was shelled for a mile up and down, with terrible effect.  After having pretty well silenced their guns and accomplished our object, we calmly withdrew, bringing our dead and wounded with us.  WE lost one killed from the 13th Indiana, two wounded from the 103rd Penna., and one from the 9th New York.  We heard the next day that the enemy had lost 30 killed and 60 wounded.  Our boys behaved in a most soldierly-like manner.  They rushed into the engagement with a simultaneous yell...I take pleasure in speaking of the conduct of the Belvidere boys.  All were intent on the great object of their visit to the place, namely: cleaning this side of the Blackwater of the foe, who had been pestering us day and night, ever since we occupied Suffolk.  I cannot speak too highly of the valor of Lieut, Butts, who was  in command of Company I.  The utmost confidence is placed in him by his superior officers, and was evinced particularly on this occasion by the hazardous duties assigned to him, at three different times, in finding out the strength and position of the enemy.  We have not a cooler officer and one of better judgement in our ranks than Lieut. Charles W. Butts."

 

Copyright 1997-2012: Jay C. Richards  

September 1862: George Mindil's 27th NJ Infantry Regiment

In September 1862, recruiters in Sussex and Morris Counties were signing up volunteers for a nine months   infantry regiment, the 27th NJ Volunteer Infantry Regiment.  The 27th NJV was the last of the nine months units created in New Jersey so it was divided into 11 companies instead of 10, which gave the regiment an extra 160 men.  This made the 27th NJV one of the largest regiments in service, totaling 1,088 officers and men.

 

The officers could decide on a commanding colonel.  Attorney Cortland Parker, a friend of the late General Philip Kearney of the 1st NJ Brigade, the officers elected 19-year old Captain George W. Mindil as the colonel commanding the new regiment.  Mindil had been the general's Inspector of the 1st Division.

 

Mindil was commissioned a 1st Lieutenant of Company B, 23rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment in July 1861.  By October 1861, he had been promoted to Captain.  In March 1862, Captain Mindil was appointed to the staff of Brigadier General David B. Birney, commander of the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Division in the 3rd Army Corps.  Mindil was in General George B. McClellan's staff after General Kearney was killed.  Mindil was cited for gallantry at Williamsburg and had received testimonials from Generals Kearney, McClellan, Nathaniel Banks, Samuel Heintzelman, and Birney.  During the  Battle of Williamsburg, Mindil led the decisive charge.  He distinguished himself again at the Battle of Fair Oaks and during Kearney's retreat from Richmond.  During the Second Battle of Manassas, Mindil was the only member of Kearney's staff present on the battlefield.

 

The following Warren County men enlisted in the 27th NJV:

 

COMPANY A: Henry D. Fields, of Frelinghuysen; George Hendershot, of Washington; Andrew G. Hill, of Marksboro; Corporal Thomas Potter, of Frelinghuysen; Fred H. Wildrick, of Phillipsburg; and Bartley VanCampen, of Pahaquarry;

 

COMPANY B: Joseph S. Hart, of Mount Bethel, and Sergeant Theodore McEachron, of Rockport;

 

COMPANY C: Theodore Neighbor, of Hackettstown, and Jacob W. Yauger, of Port Murray;

 

COMPANY E: Ezra P. Gulick, of Vienna;

 

COMPANY G: Samuel Reeves, of Belvidere; Peter Bird, Jr., George Morgan, and John Morgan, of Port Murray; and John R. Taylor and Thompson Taylor, of Oxford;

 

COMPANY H: George W. Hoyt, of Phillipsburg; and Corporal Fletcher B. Longcor and John Longcor, of Washington;

 

COMPANY I: Peter Carroll, of Vienna; William K. Hoffman and Tobias Lyon, of Hackettstown; and Aaron Rolph;

 

COMPANY K: Wagoner Charles Kennybrooke, of Washington; and

 

COMPANY L:  Corporal  Jacob Switzer, of Buttzville; and Corporal David DeGraw, Lemuel DeGraw, and Joseph DeGraw, of Hackettstown.

 

Copyright 1999-2012: Jay C. Richards  

September 1862: Warren County & the 31st NJ Infantry Regiment

The 31st New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment was created in August 1862 as a nine months enlistment unit.  In September, recruiting was filling the ranks.  The 31st was Warren County's regiment and was comprised of more Warren County men than any other regiment. It's first commanding officer was Washington Borough attorney Colonel Alexander P. Berthoud, a political officer with little or no military experience.

 

The following Warren County men joined the 31st NJV:
 

COMPANY A: Captain Samuel Carhart, of Phillipsburg; Hulet Apgar, John R. Apgar,  Wesley L. Apgar, and Corporal Francis A. Gulick, of Washington;

 

COMPANY B: Benjamin Ward, of Belvidere; Corporal Jacob W. Baker, Lewis [Bergenbach] Balkenberg, Robert M. Bodine, Whitfield W. Bowlby, James L. Boyd, John W. Bray, Samuel A. Bristol, Corporal Robert A. Brown, Edward Bryan,  Joseph G. Bryan, Joseph S. Carter, 1st Sergeant Westley W. Castner, Isaac Cole, Sergeant Henry C. Cotton, George R. Creveling, Alpheus Cyphers, Charles Cyphers, John Davison, William Doolittle, Clark Felver, Peter C. Felver, 1st Lieutenant Joseph C. Felver, George Fennel, Joseph H. Force, Daniel Gardner, Oscar Godley, George W. Hansler, Newbold J. W. Hess, Caleb H. Hollingshead, Charles K. Hornbaker, William Hornbaker, Philip C. Hutchings, James Irwin, John Keldron, James Kelly, James W. Kemmerer, Jeremiah Kiefer, Samuel Lambert, Sergeant Charles E. Lancaster, Nathaniel Libby, Corporal James Lillie, William Lillie, Corporal Charles R. McFern, John H. Nightingale, Thomas L. Norton, Corporal Benjamin Opdyke, Samuel R. Opdyke, William S. Opdyke, Christopher F. Petty, Morgan Petty, Seth Petty, William I. Powers, Andrew J. Price, Fanton Quigley, Morris Scott, Elias Slack, James M. Smith, John S. Smith, John W. Smith Jr., Jacob Stone, Sergeant Washington Stout, Sergeant Jacob T. Thompson, William C. Thompson, Lewis Troester, William C. VanDoren, George C. Wandling, Henry B. Wandling, Jacob C. Wandling, Jacob S. Warne, James S. Warne, Peter B. Weller, Andrew J. Wiley, Peter R. Winter, Anthony O. Wintermute, Jacob Woolston, William C. Yard, John Youmans, of Washington; Justin P. Egarton, of Hardwick; Henry S. Pence, of Mansfield; Philip Deremer, James Dugan, William Dugan, Isaiah W. Emans [Emmons], James C. Hummer, Peter Hummer, David Kreis, Richard Mackler, George J. Maxwell, Andrew J. Raymond, Edward Taylor, William H. Thompson, Lawrence L. Weller, Mathias B. Wilson, Corporal William Wilson, Peter C. Woodruff, of Franklin; and Henry R. Woolverton, of Lebanon;

 

COMPANY C: Captain Andrew Jackson Raub, of Phillipsburg; Christopher S. Sellers, of Belvidere; Andrew Abel, Thomas Abel, Edward Butler, Sergeant Robert C. Carpenter, John T. Case, James A. Creveling, Martin Foose, William L. Foose, Lafayette Gardner, Corporal John B. Hand, Philip C. Hartung, John S. Hawk, Sergeant Abraham E. Hinley, Sergeant Abram C. S. Hulsizer, 2nd Lieutenant Silas Hulsizer, William W. Inscho, Aaron Keichline, Henry Lehn, Henry W. Long, John Loudenberry, William S. Mettler, Jacob F. Parker, James Parker, John Parker, Willis Pearson, Josiah P. Plattenberg, Corporal William M. Plummer, Albert Powelson, Corporal Daniel Purcell, Drummer Peter Purcell, George W. Schooley, Isaac Schooley, Henry W. Siders, Corporal David Stamets, 1st Lieutenant Thomas T. Stewart, Isaac B. Thatcher, John T. Thatcher, William K. Wallace, Henry Warman, William Wheelan, John Wheeler, Isaac L. Wyant, Robert Wyant, of Greenwich; Drummer Jacob A. Allshouse, John M. Benward, Joseph M. Benward, John Dilts, John S. Gardner, John Hager, Peter H. Hager, Thomas W. Kitchen, Simon A. Leibelsperger, John H. Melick, Samuel Sickles, and Peter S. Sickles, of Harmony; William H. Bachman, Abram O. S. Carpenter, William Cease, William Crace, Edward Deremer, Corporal Lewis Diesle, Zealous Donaho, Jacob M. Fisher, Robert W. Fisher, Martin Fisher Jr., Jacob S. Iliff, William Koose, Corporal Charles Pardoe, Wagoner Hugh R. Person, Patrick Rodgers, Edwin Roath, Christopher T. Staats, John Y. Stevenson, William H. Weldon, Andrew Young, and Jacob F. Young, of Phillipsburg; James Barber, James Bell, Joseph Y. Housel, John S. Lott, John Mettler, and George M. Young, of Franklin; Jacob Osmun and William C. Osmun, of Rockport; Henry E. Butler and Jonathan G. Robbins, of Washington; Corporal John R. Cyphers, James T. Dalrymple, Sebastian Meyers, Joseph H. Searfoss, and William S. Searfoss, of Pohatcong; and William Hagerman; 

 

COMPANY D: William Cronce, of Phillipsburg; and Elias M. Rake, of Harmony;

 

COMPANY E: 1st Lieutenant William Rodenbaugh, of Phillipsburg; Henry L. Cummings and Bennett Gano, of Belvidere; Peter Y. Chandler and Corporal Sylvester Groff, of Washington; George W. Creager, Elias Lewis, James M. Lewis, and Alexander Mulligan, of Franklin; Henry P. Ely, Samuel Hoppock, and Aaron H. Lanning, of Mansfield; John Robbins, of Buttzville; John W. Smith, of Frelinghuysen; and Samuel Wagner, of Greenwich;

 

COMPANY F: Captain Joseph McLaughlin, of Phillipsburg; Robert Gano and Augustus Shaw, of Belvidere; Wagoner Godfrey Bellis, Christian Brotzman, John Dalton, Sheridan W. Dean, Elias Deemer, Phillip Dilgart, Henry Edinger, Francis Eisle, Corporal Joseph W. Fackenthall, Charles Hartman, Samuel Leidy, William W. Lockenour, William G. Melick, Aaron Miller, William Moore, Wilson Moore, Isaiah W. Piatt, Jacob H. Piatt, William Piatt, Benjamin Franklin Sailor, Jacob Sailor Jr., Quintus Seip, Jacob E. Seylor, Isaac H. Smith, Jacob Super, John Super, Hugh Thorn, George VanNess, Barry Wetzell, Solomon Woolfinger, and Corporal George L. Yard, of Greenwich; Hugh H. Harrison, Skidmur W. Mettler, Hugh Thompson, Corporal Dervillious Vanderbelt, and Furman Vanderbelt, of Pohatcong; John Carling, James Devins, Drummer John Duckworth, John W. Harrison, Joseph L. Lesher, James Rouke, George Snyder, Stewart C. Warman, and Daniel M. Young, of Phillipsburg; and 2nd Lieutenant Frank P. Weymouth, of Washington; 

 

COMPANY G: Captain Benjamin Franklin Howey, of Knowlton; George Harris, and Theodore Harris, of Belvidere; Emellious Able, Escularius Able, Jacob J. Angle, Alfred Aten, Sergeant William C. Bloom, 1st Sergeant William Bowers, Peter Carey, John W. Case, Jonas Case, Corporal Martin L. Chambers, Wagoner Elisha H, Christian, Jabez G. Cowell, Peter Dennis, Edward Freer, David X. Gardner, Drummer Robert L. Gibbs, Abraham Gilbert, Ephraim Gilbert, 2nd Lieutenant James F. Green, George Harris, Isaac Harris, Ogden Harris, Theodore Harris, Charles E. Hartung, David M. Kitchen, Jesse Kitchen, Corporal David R. Kunkle, Andrew D. Litts, Samuel Litts, Benjamin Franklin McCormick, John Adams McCormick, George D. Nixon, Owen Phillips, Cornelius S. Robbins, Jacob Winemaker, and William B. Winemaker, of Knowlton;  Sergeant Theodore H. Andress and  Drummer Embla D. Mann, of Marksboro; Marshall J. Koyt, Isaac L. Lanterman, 1st Lieutenant William C. Larzelier, Drummer Conrad Miller, Henry Oberkrick, William Parr, George Quick, Abram Rice, Nathan H. Rice, Austin Stile, Uriah Stiles, Abraham K. Wintermute, and George M. Wintermute, of Blairstown; Austin Emmons, David M. Emmons, William H. Emmons, Elijah S. Snover, Corporal John Snover, Manuel C. Snover, and Nathaniel C. Snover, of Hardwick; Samuel Babcock, James L. Berry, Samuel Brittenheimer, William S. Burdge, Corporal John B. Corwin, Jacob Cruser, William Cyphers, Sergeant Aaron W. Davis, George W. Dell [Mt. Lake], Jacob Gunderman, George Hays, William Lusk [Mt. Lake], Theodore Maines, Daniel P. Matlock, Thomas B. Matlock, George W. McKnight, Corporal Amos H. Merrill, John W. Millburn, Aaron Pool,  Charles W. Poyer, Henry R. Poyer, Daniel V. Poyer, Abraham S. Price, Nelson R. Shotwell, John Smith, Oscar Smith, Philo Story, Samuel Stout, Henry Sutton, Joseph Sutton, Andrew R. Wildrick, and John B. Wolf, of Hope; Alfred S. Henry, of Danville [Great Meadows], Lewis P. Creamer, Sergeant William K. Evans, and Charles A. Hall, of Delaware Water Gap;

 

COMPANY H [Hackettstown Company]: Captain David M. Trimmer, of Hackettstown; William L. Shipps, of Belvidere; Edward H. Albertson, of Hope; Conrad P. Anderson, Daniel H. Anderson, Nicholas S. Bilby, Henry J. Bird, Samuel Carhart, William R. Carpenter, George B. Cole, Lawrence Culver, Phillips W. Emmons, John W. Gruver, and David Hart, of Mansfield; John Applegate, Sergeant Talmage L. Bell, Henry D. Bilby, Thomas S. Bird, William D. Coleman, company clerk Aaron Cramer Jr., Corporal Frederick L. Crammer, Lawrence H. Dilley, Drummer Jacob N. Downs, William Efnor, Ordinance Sergeant Charles Freeman, Wagoner Cornelius Gulick, Charles H. Haywood, Edward Heid, Ezra Marlatt, William H. Marlatt, Andrew J. Mattison, Amos McLean, Charles Parson, Daniel S. Rice, William R. Stewart, Adolphus Stillwell, Michael Verden, Corporal Marshall L. Ward, Jacob Wiley, Samuel Wire, and Stewart Wire, of Hackettstown; James E. Ayres, George Best, Moses Gray, 2nd Lieutenant Henry Hance, Edmond Hogan, John H. Mott, William Staples, and Philip G. Vroom, of Independence; Drummer Samuel B. Hartpence, of Washington; David B. Ball, Azel Edgarton, John Hogan, and John D. Staples, of Hardwick; Andrew Beam, Benjamin Felver, Mahlon Force, Alfred Humler, Isaac Lee, William H. Marlatt Jr., Joseph C. Ruppell, Sergeant John O. Schomp, William Sowers, William H. H. Stires, William P. Turner, Aaron Washburn, and Andrew M. White, of Port Murray; Thomas Karr and Corporal George T. Nunn, of Karrsville; George Mowrey, William Mowrey, and Corporal William H. Nunn, of Mount Bethel; Andrew J. Dennis, of Townsbury; Charles France, George W. Frazier, Musician Isaac Givens, John N. Givens, John O. Griggs, John M. Gulick, Alexander Hardin, David Hardin, Andrew H. Hibler, David Hill, Silvester Koyt, Henry Losey, William McClain, William L. Shipps, Jacob Smith, William C. Staples, Alexander Stine, Tobias S. VanHorn, Robert Wallace, Isaac L. Willet, and Roderick B. Willet, of Frelinghuysen; Levi H. Newman, of Hope; and James M. Staples, of Allamuchy;

 

COMPANY I [Belvidere Infantry Company]: Captain Calvin T. James, Elias W. Allegar, Corporal Hiram W. Allegar, Robert Bishop; Corporal Samuel Braider, Daniel Butts [Buttz], William Crammer, John Diesel, David H. Drake, 1st Lieutenant Richard T. Drake, John H. Eilenberg, Phineas K. Haze, William H. Hetfield, Seneca B. Kitchen, James G. Mace, George W. S. Norton, John A. Person, 2nd Lieutenant James Prall, Drummer William Ripple, William S. Robeson, John Rowe, Corporal William Penn Salmon, Roderick B. Stephens, Augustus Struble, Joseph C. Titus, John G. Twining, Sergeant Matthew VanScoten, William H. H. Warman, Wagoner John T. Widenor, and Thomas M. Williams, of Belvidere; Sergeant Derrick Albertson, Samuel Bachman, John V. Crutz, John M. Dalrymple, Peter A. Frye, James G. Galloway, Reuben Glass, Morgan L. Hineline, Michael Houseman, Theodore Meddock, Elijah Melroy, John Melroy, Robert Miller, Burris Osborn, William Pelts, Timothy Rake, George W. Rush, Isaac D. Rush, John Smith, John Sowders, and John M. Young, of Harmony; John H. Beschever, Sergeant Israel Swayze, John Folkner, Phillip Hopkins [Mt. Lake], James Slack, Dennis Titus, and Wesley R. VanGilder, of Hope; Henry J. Burd, of Bridgeville; John S. Banghart, George A. Bemler, Charles Flatt, and Thomas Shafer, of Buttzville;   Elijah C. Burd, Sergeant George Fox, Christopher J. Cole, Wagoner James Pittenger, and John Rasely, of Hazen; Musician Joseph N. Bogart and Corporal Charles Johnson, of Knowlton; William Boofman, Irvine Rodenbaugh, and William E. Stiles, of Phillipsburg; Corporal John Fallon, Charles Lanning, Corporal James L. Pierson, and Alden Wilkinson, of Washington; George A. Gray, Henry F. Luse, and George S. Osmun, of Frelinghuysen; John Deremer, John Fagan, George Ganoe, Corporal David C. Gardner, James Goodison, Mathias P. Hart, Aaron V. Hulsizer, Stephen D. Lanning, Baltzer T. Laycock, Jesse V. Lomason, Marshall T. Lomason, Thomas Lomason, David Lomerson, James A. Lukens, Aaron Mershon, Miller Mershon, Thomas L. Randall, Augustus Struble, Lafinis Wambold, and Benjamin Warner, of Oxford [including White Twp.];

 

COMPANY K: John M. Bryan and John O. Shay, of Belvidere; Samuel S. Allen, Frederick H. Apgar, Christopher Bryan, John M. Bryan, William H. Conover, Godfrey H. Hardy, James Horning, Joseph Leigh, Henry McClary, John Nier, John Snyder, Joseph Snyder, Stephen W. Whitbeck, and George F. Woolston, of Washington;  William Bodine, of Knowlton; Samuel Comer and John McNear, of Oxford; Mathias J. Crammer, of Hackettstown; Moses F. Hann and William S. Mitchell, of Greenwich; Enoch Hartpence, of Franklin; Sergeant James McBurth and Corporal George Walters, of Phillipsburg; James Gary, James Hand, Benhart Krouse, William H. Petty, and William F. Thompson, of Mansfield;  Phillip Smith, of Hope; and Warren Hagerty, of Independence; and

 

REGIMENTAL STAFF: Lt. Colonel William Holt, of Hackettstown; Adjutant Martin Wyckoff, of Asbury; Dr. Robert Browne, of Franklin, Surgeon; Dr. Joseph S. Cook, of Washington, Assistant Surgeon; and Dr. Nathaniel Jennings, of Washington, Assistant Surgeon.

 

Copyright 1999-2012: Jay C. Richards

September 17, 1862: Battle of Antietam [Sharpsburg]

It was the bloodiest one-day battle of the war of the rebellion. The southern troops called it the Battle of Sharpsburg, Maryland, and the northern troops called it the Battle of Antietam Creek.  The battle began at daybreak on September 17.  The Federal 1st Corps fought the Confederate troops alone from dawn until 9:00 a.m. 

Fifteen-year old Jacob Cole, of Paterson, of Company A, 57th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment had been a veteran since the war began, when he joined Colonel Elmer Ellsworth's 1st New York City Fire Zouaves [11th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment]  and survived the First Battle of Manassas [Bull Run] in July 1861.  After the Zouave unit's three months enlistment expired, he joined the 57th NY. 

Cole wrote, "General [Joseph King Fenno] Mansfield  had been killed, and General [Joseph] Hooker disabled."  Cole's regiment was in the 2nd Corps, which crossed Antietam Creek at 9:30 a.m., with the Irish Brigade in the lead, and took a hill overlooking the Piper House and the sunken road filled with Confederates.  "We are lying behind the hill that overlooks the field of action, every moment expecting to be ordered into action.  The bullets are whistling over our heads, and our hearts are beating as fast as the lead is flying.  Whose head will be first to come off, we are asking each other, when shall we rise  and move forward?  The worst of a battle is this waiting to go in.  'Fall in!' The word has come at last.  We jump up, get into line and march steadily in battalion front to the brow of the hill.  Now we are in it, and the minnies are plenty!  As we pass the 69th [NY Irish Regiment], or what is left of them (about a hundred men) with colors in tatters, they cheer and we return it.  Down the side of the hill toward the sunken road, the 67th and 66th [NY regiments] charge together, and over the ditch they go, stepping on bodies of the rebel dead.  Yet another charge and we have taken the Piper House and are in the cornfield beyond.  All along the path of this charge, our men have fallen, killed or wounded, but victory is ours. 

"Earlier in the day, several attacks have been made upon the sunken road, but without success.  It afforded great protection for the enemy, and to take it was like taking a fort.  In charging forward, we captured several prisoners and stand of colors belonging to the 12th Alabama [Infantry Regiment].  It was said that the words 'Captured by the Fifty-Seventh New York Volunteers at Antietam, September 17th' would be painted on the flag, and that it would be deposited with the War Department for safe keeping."

There was a brief lull in fighting around the Piper House area of the cornfield, and Cole and his buddies "charged" a pile of potatoes in the corner of a fence, and "every potato was captured."  As they ate the raw potatoes, Cole and his unit watched the rebel guns destroy battery after battery of Federal guns.  

 

Corporal Andrew Neal, of Belvidere, in the 4th Pennsylvania Veteran Reserve Infantry Regiment, had returned to his unit after the prisoner exchange in Ohio.  He reported, "I have been on the field in the advance, with our army, for the last three days, and I saw the hardest fought battles ever fought on this Continent.  The fight commenced about four miles southwest of Boonsboro, on a long range of hills, which the rebels held.  We drove them from there to Keetsville with but little loss.  Our army pushed forward about two miles, when our whole force was engaged.  The rebels fought desperately and determined, and contested the ground inch by inch.  There we lost a great many men.  They were mowed down by whole regiments.  The enemy turned our left, at this point, by sharp maneuvering.  We formed again, but it was with great difficulty, to hold the ground as there were a great many new troops at this point.  The 13th New York Volunteers broke twice but was rallied with considerable loss.  On farther to the right, in a thick woods and cornfield, the battle raged with the greatest fury: artillery against artillery, here was the greatest slaughter."

 

Theodore Carhart and the 1st NJ Volunteers had been burying the dead at Crampton's Pass when the battle near Sharpsburg began.  "Dora" wrote to his brother, "We were ordered to the battlefield on a forced march, and we arrived about one o'clock; then were sent to the extreme front to hold the position until other points were gained on the left, and we did do it in noble style.  It was a very remarkable thing - we were there under fire for four hours, and of our regiment, we never lost a man.  Our Regiment and the 2nd were the extreme front line.  The 2nd, 3rd and 7th [NJ Regiments] lost about 25 men in all, and the most of them were killed.  The firing ceased about five o'clock on both sides, but we never left our position until Thursday night, when we were relieved by a New York regiment for us to get a little something to eat."

 

After the battle Neal wrote, "I was over the field this afternoon, for five miles, and I saw not less than 1,500 dead rebels  and as many wounded.  The slaughter was so great that not one fourth of our men are buried yet, nor will not be for three days; they are all turning black and smell dreadfully.  The battle commenced on Wednesday, and I arrived on the field in the afternoon  where our men were fighting, and this afternoon [Friday, the 19th], on my return over the same ground, I saw wounded rebels wallowing in their own blood, the poor creatures, some of them had wheat grains  for eating - that was all they had to eat.  It was enough to make one's blood run cold.  I saw one whole division of rebels, or nearly so, cut down with grape and canister, and they lay just as they fell, and if I am not mistaken, will lay there and rot for they never can be buried for the smell.

 

"I have a number of rebel trophies - some fancy uniforms and caps, and a fine rebel rifle.  I saw Hooker before he was wounded, if he was wounded at all.  I was at the mill where he was, or reported to be, under Surgical attention but could not see him.  This country, for fifteen miles, is one Hospital - every house and barn is filled with our own and the rebel wounded.  I suppose you know more about killed and wounded than I do, for there are scores of reporters taking names and sending them on."

 

Cole recalled, "On that morning [September 18], men were detailed to go out under the flag of truce to bring in our wounded and bury the dead, but the rebels did not honor our flag of truce, but at every opportunity fired upon our men.  To those who do not know how the dead are buried upon a battlefield, I will explain by saying that we would dig a trench about twenty feet in length, seven feet wide and about six feet deep.  In this we laid them, one on top of the other until the trench was nearly full, and then we would cover them over with the dirt. We buried as many as possible, and brought in all the wounded we could, but as the rebel sharpshooters continued to fire on our flag of truce, it was impossible to bury all our dead or get all the wounded."

 

On September 18, Corporal Isaiah Nelson Albertson, of Hope, in Company D, 11th NJ Volunteer Infantry Regiment, wrote to his sister Ella and brother Jay, "This is for Jay.  Let him read it first. Brother Jay, You must not spose I have forgot you, not a bit of it.  I think think of you often and I spect you think of me.  Well, bub, I feel bully ceptin [except] a little lameness in a leg and I hope this letter will find you perfectly well.  I spect you work pretty hard now, but this fall I spect you will hunt the quails and cottontails with old London and Turk.  How does Turk look? Is he a good sized dog?  Have you seen any pigeons yet this fall?  I have seen some but I will hunt bigger game pretty soon.  Jay, I would like to see you and talk with you but az I can't you must write and tell me all about things around home.  How many pigs and how many turkeys and how the corn looks, weather there is many pumpkins and any thing you have a mind to write about.  I think you have plenty of apples and very likely peaches.  Well eat a few for me will you?     Virginia has a good many peach orchards, but peaches don't stay on long unless guarded.  There is some for sale here but they want as much money a peach nearly so I say let them keep them.  I say our living does pretty well.  We get fresh beef once a week, coffee twice a day, boiled rice or bean soup once and the rest of the time is made up with crackers and bread, salt pork, beef or 'hoss' as we call it.

 

"There has been fighting all of this week near Sharps ferry and our men have thrashed them pretty decently, but the exact truth I can not tell now.  I guess I will stop writing for I think that I have done pretty well for one day.  Jay, you must certainly write soon and then Old Nels will write again.  So be a good boy.  Good By, I. N. A."

 

Copyright 1997-2012: Jay C. Richards 

September 14, 1862: Battle of Crampton's Pass

On September 14, 1862, the Southern forces were fighting Federal troops at Turner's Gap, Fox Gap and Crampton's Pass in South Mountain in Maryland.  Jacob Cole, of Company A in the 57th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, the 15-year old battle veteran from Paterson, felt he was marching in the most beautiful part of Maryland.  Cole and his unit marched through flower decorated hills toward Crampton's Pass, but as they reached South Mountain, the reality of war returned. 

 

Cole wrote, "Singular experiences come to a soldier sometimes from what to him is usually ordinary causes, to see men lying around dead in every shape and in every degree of repulsiveness, torn to pieces, black and bloated, is nothing to a man of battle.  Yet, such a sight coming in an unexpected manner or out of time has all the shock natural to such an experience.  The soldier will sleep soundly amid the dead and the groans of the wounded and dying companions.  It will not keep him awake on the battlefield, but let him lay down among the dead at the hospital, and he is likely to feel cold chills creeping over him.  He will be restless, will rise and seek companionship.  So at South Mountain.  A soldier is climbing through the woods with head down, slowly dragging his weary limbs after him, when suddenly his thoughtless sight rests upon the form of a dead soldier with bulging eyes and swollen face lying directly at his feet. The shock stuns him, the blood rushes to his heart, and his lip quivers.  When he turns out and goes on, he instinctively looks back to see if the man has moved.  Of such stuff are mortals made." 

 

A special correspondent of the Philadelphia Press filed this report, "Col. [Joseph Jackson]Bartlett's Brigade first attacked the enemy, and, after expending all its ammunition, was relieved by the First New Jersey, under the command of Col. [Alfred T. A.] Torbert.  Perceiving that no impression was being made on the enemy, who largely outnumbered us, and were pouring grape and canister into our ranks, Col. Torbert ordered a charge, which was promptly responded to by the 4th [NJ Regiment] under Col. [William B.] Hatch, in a splendid manner; they charged across a ploughed field at least 500 yards, in the face of heavy enemy fire, and drove the enemy back into the woods to the entrance of the pass.  The other regiments of the brigade followed closely with them; the enemy were completely routed and fell back to the top of the mountain, where there was a heavy reserve of them, five to ten thousand, under the command of Gen. Thomas Cobb.  The Jersey troops continued in their pursuit up the steep slope of the mountain, killing large numbers of the enemy, including many general and field officers, among whom were Gen. [Paul J.] Semmes and Lt. Col. Lamar.  The charge was one of the most brilliant of the war, maintained against an enemy outnumbering us five to one, and in a position almost impregnable by nature...Gen. [Henry Warner] Slocum, who commands our division, was ever in the thickest of the fight, waving his cap and cheering the men on.  Col. Torbert, who commands the New Jersey Brigade, distinguished himself upon the occasion for  his skill and bravery, and the courage with which he led the brigade into action."

[According to the Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army 1789-1903 by Francis Heitman, Brigadier General Paul J. Semmes, Confederate States Army, did not die at Crampton's Pass.  He died on July 10, 1863 from wounds received in battle at Gettysburg, PA.]

 

Theodore Carhart, of Warren County, NJ, of Company D, 1st NJ Regiment, wrote to his brother, "At Crampton's Pass, on the 14th of September, we had six men wounded, and I think the loss in the Brigade was about 100, all wounded more or less.  That was one of the grandest affairs we have ever been in.  Our Brigade was brought up to support [Brigadier General John] Newton's Brigade of our Division, which was about breaking or falling back.  The rebels were on one side of stone fence, and they were on the other, and both at the foot of a large and steep mountain.  Well, when we came up, we charged over the fence, up the mountain and above them, entirely from their whole position.  They had a whole battery on the top of the hill playing down on us as hard as they could all the time, until they saw that they could not break our lines, then they up and got out of that.  We killed and wounded about 500 and captured over 1,000 prisoners.  The war cry was 'REVENGE FOR KEARNY.'  They said they thought we were perfect fiends, and bullet proof at that, the way we came hooting and hollering, and so few falling.  They did not know either that we had been marching all day before we made the charge."  

 

The 1st NJ Regiment stayed at the pass to bury the dead, until ordered to join in a new battle near Antietam Creek at Sharpsburg, Maryland.

 

Copyright 1997-2012: Jay C. Richards