The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-04-21
At BULL RUN.
A Veteran Of the Second
Regiment ofNeW Jersey
Tells of It's Early
Days.
IN THE CIVIL WAR
Crossed the Potomac Into
Virginia July IA, 1861
Covering Retreat.
IN THE CIVIL WAR

SlAtH corps, ARMY Oh the IOioildc, WHITES
an interesting letter to the Newark sun
day Call" He says
In you issue of April 2, Veteran asks
on what date did the First Regiment of
three years men cross the Potomac River
into Virginia. Let me give a little history
of the Second, and l guess it will answer
for the First. Second and Third, the
Fourth not coming to US until two months
later; from then on the poor Fourth had a
hard time of it, as all will remember.
On April is, 1861, President Lincoln called
for $4,000 three months men. and on May
3 called for 1900 men for three years. We
could not get on the three months call
(by 'we' the writer probably means the
City Battalion.-Ed.), SO we agreed, With
a very few exceptions, to enlist for three
years. 1t was only a slight difference of
thirty-three months. AS our companies
numbered only 80 men they had to be re-
cruited up to the full strength of 100. We
were in Camp Perrine from May u, ultii
Monday, May q. when we went to the
State House and were sworn in for three
years. From the State Hous we Went to
Camp Olden, neal Trenton, remaining
there drilling and performing all the du-
ties of regular, soldiers until Friday, June
2S, when we took cattle cars mot Pull
mans) for Washington. We had a great
sendoff; reached Philadelphia same after
noon. In the latter city we had refresh
ments in a large dining room near the de-
pot, and, in fact, nothing was too good for
us. The girls gave US lots of handker-
chiefs, fruit, candy, cake and even kisses
1--WE were none of us Hobsons, although
we all expected to be). They also cried
over us, and had to wipe their eyes On
their sleeves. It was strange to see SO
many who had lately been singing "The
Girl I Left Behind Me-" accept all these
attentions; but, then, we were young,
pretty good looking and had a comrade
called Sugar Day" and that made us all
sweet.
We took the train toward evening, and
started for Baltimore. On reaching Bal
timore Saturday morning, June 20, we re-
ceived orders to load, but not to put
caps on our guns (but I think some dis
obeyed orders in that respect), and then
came our march through the streets from
one depot to the other, over the route
that the Sixth Massachusetts, regiment
passed on hat memorable day, August
10, 81. No waving of flags, 10 smiles, no
tears; but plenty of black looks.
We arrived safely at Washington the
same afternoon at 8 o'clock, slept any
where that night, and the next morning,
Sunday, June 80, went to Camp Penning-
ton and put up tents. On Saturday, July
6, we had a little trouble with one of
the companies, on account of food and
other matters (not embalmed beef,
which soon passed over. Our Colonel
made a speech, and one portion I remem-
Der: when we meet the rebels we will
pick them up on our bayonets like pickles
on a fork We often saw the time when
we would rather have. the pickles than
tho rebels.
On Sunday, July IA Gam I right, COM
rades0 we crossed the Long Bridge into
Virginia, and Joined General Theodore
Runyon's brigade of three months men.
went over the bridge, all keeping
step, and all who are living will remem-
Der how the bridge swayed. 1 10 be-
lieve it would have fallen if the order
to Route step" had not been given.
Our camp in Virginia was called Camp
We were ordered to break
camp on Wednesday. July II, at 4 A. M.
Ga good many of us a few months pre-
vious used to arise at 8, 9, 10, or any old
time). We took cars ON the Alexandria
and Loudon Railroad to Falls Church, and
then marched the rest of the way, with
skirmishers thrown out in front, to VII
emma, where a train of Ohio troops had
been fired on from ambush and a num-
Der killed only a few days previous. We
held that place until Sunday, July q,
when we were ordered to Bull Run. We
kept going that afternoon toward the
field in columns of tours, when every
body seemed to be coming from it, wound
ed men and civilians on foot. The sol
diers took possession of the carriages. l
saw one or two carriages that contained
more than they ever had carried before.
three on the box seat and six inside
the men making a support with their
guns for the roof, which had two or
three ID.
There were members of Congress, team
sters and artillerymen, and further on
the road was covered with bags of oats,
corn, picks. shovels and other things that
had been thrown away to tighten the load
on the trip to Washington of those who
had started ION to Richmond" Talk of
the haste OF a newly erected pOullcldn TO
get there, why, he could not be in it!
Our regiments being in good shape, COW
cred the retreat. We about-faced to the
left to resist the Black Horse Cavalry at
one time. We slept in Vienna that night,
and talk about rain! Say boys, didn't it
pour? BY the way, I think our uniforms
must have saved us from attack on that
retreat ,as well as in the streets of Balti-
more. We looked like regulars, with our
high, black Kossuth hats, turned up on
one side and fastened with a brass eagle
with outstretchebd wings, and a feather
on the other side; monkey jackets, with
big brass epaulettes with fringe on each
shoulder; bigger shoulder straps than
generals wore, but they were soon re-
placed by the more servicable blouse, and
fatigue caps.
The next morning, July q, Monday, we
went back in our camp and in a few
DAYS we were reinforced from Washing
ton. The rolls were called, and Bull Run
Of Sunday, July q, 1861, was a thing OF
the past, to be recorded in history as the
battle where the contending forces ran in
opposite directions after the fight was
over.
calls to mind the delegation of Maryland
protested against the troops passing
through. Lincoln summed up the situa-
ton by saying:-.I must have troops for
the defense of the capital. The Caro-
linians are marching. across Virginia to
seize the capital and hang me. What am