The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-04-09

WAR TIMES REVIVED
Old Second Brigade Has a
Reunion and Fights Its
Battles Over Again.
A MAGNIFICENT RECORD
Engagements in Which These Jer-
sey Veterans Distinguished
Themselves.
special to the Jerseu oitu Ns,ps.

O&0 ofiSdAS <ASSOG4dllVu u NSW JStSSy
began its eighth annual reunion here tor
day. The proceedings began with a
business meeting In the rooms of Bayard
No. s. The annual address was delivered
by General James F.. Rushing on Camp
ing and Soldering After the business
meeting the brigade, headed by the Cit
zens' Committee and a band, marched
to Masonic Hall where a banquet was
served. Toasts were responded to by
Governor Werts. Generals Sickles, Sewell,
Stockton, Stryker. Donnelly, Robson,
Ramsay, James Buchanan, Senator w.
H. Skirm. Joseph L.. Naar, Congressman
John ]. Gardner and other distinguished
men.
THE SECOND BRIGADE.
The Second New. Jersey Brigade, COM
posed of the Fifth, Sixth. Seventh and
Eighth Regiments. was raised under a
requisition made by President Lincoln
On July "a, 1861, and reported at Wash
ington during the months of August,
September and October. going into camp
al Meridian Hill.
Early IN December of the same year,
the brigade, or as yet unorgan:zed, regi-
ments, were ordered to report, under
Colonel Starr. the senior officer. to GEN
- A4OSASls Ltd1 DuQQS FeTTyp lI1Iy-
land. AT that place the regiments were
bIigaded and known as the Third Bri-
gade, Hooker's Division, afaelrward as
the Third Brigade, Second Division, Third
Corps. AT Budd's Ferry the brigade re-
manned for several months engaged in
drill, and other duties incident to camp
life, General Hooker laboring with I'M
ceasing fidelity to promote its efficiency
and nreraapa. tk for aa+iva carrrtoa
The first affair of importance IN which
10. 1862.
During the month the rebels has erect
eo Formidable batteries ait Cockpit. Ship
ping and other points on the opposite side
of the Potomac, by means of which they
had etfectually blockaded that important
water approach to Washington. In con-
sequence OF The withdrawal of Beaure-
gard from Manassas. it became unneces-
sary for them to hold their positions
Longer. and so. after destroying some of
the guns and a portion of the stores,
they abandoned them. General HooAer
at once determined to occupy the ADAM
doled position. and so despatched Lieu
terant Colonel Nett with a detail of five
hundred men from the Fifth Regiment,
to eros the Potomac and seize upon the
TRANSFERRED TO THE PENINSULA
During the month of April the brigade
was tranSterred 70 the Peninsula, IN
Gillian in an offensive movement, Cen
eral F. E. Patterson being placed in
command.
On May 3. Yorktown was evacuated
by the enemy, and on the following
me rnang the arnny was ordered in pur-
suit: Rockers Division advanced on
Williamsburg. at which place the enemy
W1s expected to make a stan The
Jersey brigade. leaving Yorktown at two
O'Clock, pushed forward with all possible
raDddity until DIT bivouacked IN a swamp
about five miles from williamsburg. AT
two O'Clock ON the morning of May 5.
the brigade, being in the advance, re-
lof the enemy's works. After a careful
ISL yey- of the position General Hooker
fds4 lded TO ATTACK at once, and at half
past seven O'Clock advanced his Skin
Fhers on both sides of the road by
witch he had come up, at the same time
forward two battalions on the
saya as their support. Almost s1nlultane-
pusly the remaining regiments of the
oIITade-sixth, Seventh and Efghth-were
seEt into the left of the road.
1T this time the rain was falling in tor
reEts' and tne men stood knee,deep in
through the underbrush the gallant regi-
ma1ts soon came upon the enemy's
forces. and at once opened a vigorous
dra. Here for three hours the conflict
tbs ground at every point, the fire of the
enemy was pitilessly destructive. and
brave followers into whose forces 1T was
poured stood firmly and unflinchangly.
They held the enemy in check. frus-
ra5ed every attempt to flank our po-
but for this stubborn resistance, would
nave been swept in disaster from the
Vi on was pitted against nearly the
wf ole of the Rebel Army, and though it
70, GIT as oravely as amy command on
re ord: it could not accomplish the i'm
poTstble. The arrival of eKarny and
ots'e Ell commands soon changed the tide
OF BATTLE. and the battle was won. the
nj s1 h Fstrsatns under cover of the
But the victory was dearly purchased.
for OF ooker Division alone nearly one
Of these over five undred were in the
New Jersey Brigade.
among the KILLED was Lieutenant Col
Wilkes, Major Ryerson and others.
PAGES MIGHT BE WRITTEN.
At the other engagements in which the
might be written. OF the bravery and
hsrotsm which they displayed. Oh those
TEo fen fighhtang for the flag which they
the field crippled IN body, and who carry
the scars as mementoes of those BLOODY
e9,Aiicts. but space will not permit.
me brigade took a prominent partsand
dls played unauestioned bravery in The
battles Of Fair Oaks, Glendale, Malvern
III. bun U Fredericssburg. Chancel-
syivanaa Court House, Cold Harbor Pc
tessourg, ~Appoanattox and other minor
engagements Their last enlightenment
w$s at Appomattox Court House. after
watch battle the news Of General Lees
surrender reached them. and the cam
pg.gnang of the Second Brigade was
Marching to Burkesville Station II re-
m1lned there until May 2, when ii set
It's face homeward, marching through
Richmond, and arriving at Arlington on
May Is. On May % 1t participated in
The grand review of the victorious army
and early ias june the various REGIMENTS
reached Trenton.
They did their duty brayely. sfeadilv
rTfcon1plaaningiy; helped in MANY Of fHe
severest battles of the war, to flaantain
the Union and the proWess of our arms:
ard they deserve, in these wears of
pace. to be onore of all men. TO have
the memorials of their service proudly
cherished andtthe memories of their dead
comrades, whose eyes We're not permitted
tic. see the dawn of the day of peace, but
whose feet walked unfalteringly, treasur-
ed by them and by all men.
ASSOCIATION ORGANIZED.
The Second New Brigade Society was
brought into existence mainly through
the efforts of James F. Rushing. W. 81.
Lanndng and W. B. Titus. who on ,Jauu-
airy 28, 1888. issued a call to. the repre-
sentative officers and men of the Fifth.
Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and Eleventh
Regiments. New Jersey Volunteers, to
inset on Tuesday, February z, 1888, for
tba purpose of organizing a society and
holding a reunion of the brigade. Pur-
81 amt to this meeting. a reunion was
l,r1I ~. fbf, offxr cn rNsr q 1000 - - -