The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-09-17
New Jersey Troops.


scriber to this paper, and an old Union
soldier, take the privilege of asking you the |
following questions, viz: Why is it that the
18th and 18th N. j. have never had their
records placed upon the famous Fox Roll OF !
Honor? These two regiments, in over 70 |
battles, by their noble, fearless and heroic
actions, by mighty deeds of valor, by un-
wavering loyalty to their country and nag,
have created such brilliant and glorious
records as seldom falls to the lot of single
regiment, yet through all these long years
these two regiments have received very little
recognition of their splendid services. For
some mysterious reason their unsurpassed
records have been tenaciously summed and
avoided by recognized authorities on war
records, notably the aforementioned FOX
Roll of Honor" Now, why, in the name OF
justice, is the memory and honor OF those
poor boys in blue whose blood-stained sacrl-
fees found elimination in the freedom OF
their country from injustice, degraded!
Why should their worth be reflected upon
Why stigma upon their bravery insinuated?
Why are those blue-clad warriors who long
have lain beneath the sod of sunny cline,
under the southern skies, robbed OF their
glory and honor?
So much Tor the dead. Let us turn to the
living remnant of those two regiments which
in '62 made such handsome and soldlerly
appearance, but, alas who returned nome
in '65 but ragged fragment of the splendid
complement of four years before, and IN the
interest of those few / lead up to the second
question, viz: Is there no way IN when
these regiments can receive Official recoghi-
ton Of their bravery as other regiments,
which have done no more than these two?
l understand that there is an act oil Con-
gress which awards medal OF honor 10
those who have performed special deeds OF
bravery. If such is the case, then every
member of these regiments deserves that
honor. In order not to weary you Will not
give you history OF those reglments, puC
will cite but one incident which will show
the worthness of honor every one OF them
| was deserving of.
In the Peach Orchard at the battle OF
Gettysburg, the 18th N. j., supporting the
4th U. S. Regular battery, stood, unprotected
| by any shelter whatever for two hours in the
| face of most Calling fire, which soon silenced
the batteries and left the gallant llth with
| but their small arms to meet the onc0ming
assault of the main body of the Confederate
| army; grape and canister, shell and mlnle-
| ball rained upon the devoted command with
| devilish furiousness, men fell like reeds In
| that leaden storm, officer after officer was
killed or carried off the field, until there was
not single field officer or Captain lett.
| Still, there was no confusion or thought OF
retreat among these veterans as they trleo
| to check that oncoming tide of gray, although
their numbers were growing frIghtfuiiy
smaller every moment, but they stayed until
relieved by the famous Bucktails OF Penn
sylvania and others. In days of the past
much has been said of the charge OF the
Light Brigade at Balaklava, lasting honor
has been theirs, upon them was showered the
applause of the whole world; but let us COM
pare the Light Brigade at Balaklava and the
18th N. J. at Gettysburg. AS every soldier
knows, it is easier to enter into the rush ana
pell-mell of the charge; as the excitement
often drives away the fear, than it IS to
calmly stand in an open field and get shot
down like dog. It takes courage to do the
latter, and nothing but true and tried vet
Grams could do it. Hence, while we would
| not take one iota from the honor of the heroes
of Balaklava, is it not very evident that our
| our bows are entitled at least to the same
honor, especially when it is understood that
| we lost 10 per cent. of our men, while the
| English lost but 35 or 40 per cent?
Now, Mr.. Editor it is with knowledge
of the love of justice and fair play which this
paper has for the old Union soldier; with the
| confidence that, no matter what section OF
the land he halls from, you will help him to
get his honest dues; with feeling OF the
mighty power your paper exerts Tor the good
of the old veteran, have dared to nope that
you will, in the interest of truth, give some
prominence to the above.-GEo. HIDDEN,
Sergeant, Co. H, 18th N. j., Newark, N. J.
The 23d n. j.
The ODD N. ]. was one of the nine-m0nths
regiments recruited in New Jersey in the
Fall of 1862. 1t was organized at Beverly,
Sept. IS, and served until June, 1863, when
it was mustered out on account OF expira-
ton of its term. Col John s. Cox resigned
Nov 10, 1862 Col. Henry O. Ryerson, who
succeeded Col. Cox, was transferred to the
10th N. J. April 8, 1863. He died May IL,
1864. of wounds received in action. Col. 4.
Burd Grubb commanded the 23d N. j. at
the time of its muster-out. -Four officers
and 81 men were killed and one officer and
81 men died of disease, accidents, in prison,
etc Its service was mostly In BroOkss Dl-
vision, Sixth Corps.
The 4th Ohio.
The 4th Ohio was a part of CarrolPs Bril-
gade. Third Division, Second Corps, and was
comnosed of 10 compan .es, enrolled at Mt.
Vernon, Delaware Marion, Kenton, Canton,
Wooster, between April Is and 10, 1861, at
President Lincoln's first call for troops.
April 20 the regiment first came to Column
bus, where President Lorin Andrews, Presi-
dent of Kenyon College, became its first
Colonel The regiment was one OF the
first to be ordered to Camp Dennison, and
was mustered into the United States service
May 4, 1861. In the latter part Of May the
regiment almost to a man enlisted in the
three-years' service, q month later received
marching orders, and was soon in active
service in Virginia, a part of the Army o.
the Potomac The regiment was mustered
out June 81, 1864, having marched oveI
5000 miles and taken part in SO days of bat
tie, the principal ones of which were Rich
Mountain, Petersburg, fredericksburg, Win
chester, Harrisons Landing, Leesburg, Fred
ericksburg, Charlottesville, Gettysburg
Wilderness, Spottsylvania, and Cold Har'
Dor. The loss during the three-years' serv.
ice in the 50 days battles and by sickness in
camp was as follows: Killed in action, 95
wounded, 255; died from wounds, 80; miss
, ing in action, never heard from, 6; died in
field from disease, 1913; prisoners, 81; dis
charged on account of disease and wounds
292.
Deserving Case.
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