Transcriber's Note:
The large table at the end of this book has been split for presentation.An image of the original table has been provided for the interest of the reader.
Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.For a complete list, please see the end of this document.
HISTORICAL SKETCH
OF THE
FIFTEENTH REGIMENT
NEW JERSEY VOLUNTEERS.
FIRST BRIGADE, FIRST DIVISION, SIXTH CORPS.
TRENTON, N.J.:
Wm. S. Sharp, Printer and Stereotyper.
1880.
SKETCH.
Every regiment of soldiers has a character of its own. This"character" is the sum of the elements of individual character, andthe circumstances affecting its organization and management.
The Fifteenth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers was organized atFlemington. It was recruited in the "hill country" of the State—threecompanies from Sussex, two each from Warren, Hunterdon and Morris, andone from Somerset. There being no large cities in this district, itwas composed almost wholly of "freeholders" or the sons offreeholders—young men who were well known in the communities fromwhich they came, who had a good name at home to adorn or lose, andfriends at home to feel a pride in their good behavior or suffer shameat the reverse. They were an educated and intelligent class of men,many of them of liberal education and in course of training for thehigher walks of business or professional life. They were men of a hightone of moral character and of that sturdy and tenacious patriotismwhich the history of every country, and especially of our own, showsto reside more especially in the fixed population connected with thesoil as its owners or tillers. Reared in the mountain air they weregenerally of vigorous and healthy physique. The writer saw much ofUnion soldiers during four years of service—regulars, volunteers andmilitia—and hopes he may be permitted to say, without invidiouscomparison, that this regiment was marked for the high intellectualand moral character of its enlisted men. Those accustomed to themanagement and handling of troops know what this means on the battlefield and in active campaign. It was largely officered with men whohad already seen a year of active service, and who subjected it atonce to a rigid discipline.
It was mustered into service on the 25th of August, 1862. Two dayslater it moved to "the front," at the perilous moment when Pope andLee were in their death-grapple about Bull Run. Pope being defeated,and the rebels marching for Pennsylvania, the capital was to be morecompletely fortified on the west and north, and prepared for possibleattack. The first duty assigned the regiment was to erectfortifications at Tenallytown, Md., at which they toiled day and[6]night for about one month. On the 30th of September it proceeded tojoin the victorious Army of the Potomac on the battle-field ofAntietam, and, by special request of the corps, division and brigadecommanders, was assigned to the First Brigade, First Division, SixthCorps