The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-03-27
GEN. SHVHLb'S MEDAL.
Congress to Be Liberal to New
Jersey III the River and
Harbor Bill.

WASHINGTON, D.. c., March q, 1885,
Upon the desk Of Senator sewell today
lay a little leather case upon which the
Senator's eye rested with much satisfac-
ton. 1t contained a bronze medal, In
the shape df a fiye-pointed star. and
fastened with red, white and blue ribbon,
The inscription upon the medal bore the
story
THE Congress to Brev. Major Genera
VIM. J. Sewell. for gallantry at Chan
cellorsville. May 8. 1863.
In short. after many years. Genera
Seweli has received a Congressional
medal Of honor. and when he participates
on the 9th of next month in the reunion
of the Jersey brigade at Paterson he will
wear the medal which commentaries his
bravery.
Congressman Gardner seems to nave
originated the idea Of comforting the
medal on General Sewell. He wrote a
highly complimentary lettT to the Seere-
tary of War. suggesting the action. and
as soon as the movement was ~inaugurated
it found favor. Colonel Dickinson, who
was on General Hooker's staff, and who
is now III the Pension ONCE. urged the
comforting of the medal. and testified OF
his " knowledge to General Sewelfs
right to obtain it.
The circumstances which connect Gem
eral Sewell with the battle of Chancel-
l~orsville are SO we'll known that they
need only a brief menlion.. The Jersey
brigade had gone through the Wilderness
campaign with great credit and fnaiy
IN May, 1865. reached charlottesville. In
the progress OF the fight General Mott
was wounded and Colonel Seweil sue
ceeded to the of the brigade.
At a critical juncture, after The brigade
had CALAMITY charged. and had fallen
back because It's ammunition was ex-
the front Of the New Jersey line, Colonel
ssSsI. 5% Jersey en- f pillow me- e. They fol
lowed with 4 rush and a cheer and after
their colors upon the enemy's breast
works. The brave leadership of General
SeWell was complimented Upon the neid
and in the official reporfs and led to his
obtaining a promotion to Brevet Major
General.
II is said that the river and harbor bill
Congressman IoudensIager win get ss5.-
900 for Cooper's creek; 81. 1000 for Den
mis- creek, $1,000 for Holloway creek, and
s snfvf pivld fGr s sivens. c aaaass: oif HoMell
will get 81, 600 for the Raritan river; Con-
gresham Gardner will get s10,0 600 for At
lantic City. 49, 900 for Rancocas river. in
Guiding Lumberton Branch, 5000 for re-
moving Periwig bar from the Delaware
above Bordentown, $40. 600 for Absecon in
let and surveys for Barnegat and Wading
rivers. q
1t is expected that the other members
will fare equally as. well. Congressman
Fowler today introduced a number Of
charge to John ID. Long. late of Company
G.. Ninth New Jersey: to give the rank of
brigadier general to Hans G. Heg; to re-
imburse Bridget Lane, .postmistress at
Summit the amount Of s5.342. stolen from
her office whi1e postmistress: to remove
the charge Of desertion from the record Of
$50 for the Improvement of the Railway
river from its mouth to Main street
bridge, Railway, and to extend the time
for the construction of the bridge across
Newark bay to February Is, 1898.
Mr.. Gardner received an amusing letter
yesterday. a German in Auburn. Ind,
ton" and asked. tsWill you please send
me some garden seeds?"
Now this innocent German undoubtedly
meant his letter 70 60 to the Govern.
Agriculture, but the letter got into the
Jersey congressman's mail and if Mr..
Gardner can get the sseeds he will send
them to his Indiana correspondent.