Perth Amboy evening news., 1907-02-28
"Reminiscences = =
= y Of the Civil War


Charles Crowell, of 26 Pitmar
avenue, Ocean Grove, who is wei
known here, a member Of c. X. Hal
Post, G. A. R., of Asbury Park, has
written volume of "reminiscences OF
the Civil War In which he participat.
ed, giving In detail his experiences
from the time of his enlistment in
April, 1861, until he was mustered
out of the service in August, 1865. In
the opening paragraphs the writer
tells of the firing upon Fort Sumter,
the surrender of Major Anderson and
his troops and the subsequent call
TO arms. This follows his enlistment
and brief resume of his war expert
ences, relating without detail the
number of battles in which he fought,
where they were fought and the gem
erals under whom he fought, conclud-
ing with the surrender of General
Robert e. Lee and the Army of
Nor lern Virginia at Appomatox
Court House, April 8, 1865.
On April IL, 1861, writes Mr..
Crowell, Governor Pickens, of South
Carolina, demanded the surrender OF
Fort Sumter, which was declined by
Major Anderson, commanding the
United States forces. On April 10
the bombardment began. Our flag
was shot down and Anderson surren-
dered the garrison. marching out with
honors of war. This news came like
a bugle call to arms" The spirit of
Nnf ri hA
north began to rise Among the
many who caught this spirit was
Charles Crowell of Perth Amboy
n. ].
1t was thought at our capital that
our forts, already unlawfully taken
possession Of by the states in seces-
sion would be repossessed in three
months. ~ Under this assumption
President Lincoln issued a call for
rs, 900 men to enter the United States
army service for three months. Un-
der this call Charles Croweil enlisted
in a company raised at Perth and
South Amboy.
On the arrival of this company az
Trenton, the state capital it was
foursd that, the quota for New Jersey
had been spontane onsly filled. The
most of the companies had been as
signed to regiments or had proceed
ed to Washington. Charles Crowell
was like a colt in harness fol the
first time, chatting at the bit. He, with
seventeen others, returned home.
Those remaining enlisted under a
later call for volunteers to serve three
years. They served gallantly until
the end of hostilities. Charles Crow
ell proceeded to Brooklyn, N. y, and
enlisted in what was then known as
the Brooklyn Phalanx," or First
Long Island Volunteers" later as the
''Sixty-seventh Regiment, New York
State Volunteers"
This regiment was raised under
the auspices Of the Plymouth Church
of Brooklyn, Henry Ward Beecher,
pastor, without a dollar of expense
to the state Of New York. We were
virtually independent AS the Unit
ed States government would not rec
ognize independent regiments we
took the state number allotted to us,
tho eth. This regiment was mus
tered into the United States service
on June 20, 1861, for three years.
Charles Crowell held the position of
first sergeant of Company A, (first
company, and that of regimental
quartermaster' sergeant in the 9th
New York Volunteers.
He having raised a commission
from Horatio Seymour, governor of
the state of New York, as first lieu
tenant IN the 65th regiment of New
York formerly commander) and
raised in New York city by Brigadier
General Alexander Shaler) he was
transferred on Nov 81, 1864. He al
SO received commission as captain
from Reuben e. Fenton, governor of
the state of New York, on June 30,
1866. ea
Charles Crowell participated in 90