The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-08-17
z M.ToWKNAS

CAPSULE NO. r.
7oa NewarRer fell the honor Of becoming bhsader-seneral n command of
the New Jersey Brigade. Theodore Runyon was selected for the post by
the Governor. This Jersey contingent was a pato the army corps which vas
sent to occupy the Virginia shore Of the Potomac when it va believed Wash
mgton vas seriously threatened. The Confederate army was then but thirty
miles from thu national capital TO the Jersey regiments, which included the
First from Newark, fell the task exclusively of throwing up the first entrench-
nd redoubts They are said to have accomplished this task with great
skill and dispatch. The dream of m who would be a soldier bold seldom jim
cludes the digging of bitches and he plng u of embankmnts. That phase Of
wal is not one upon which the mind oft the prospective warrior dwels with any
degree IF satisfaction. And yet it is a very important part of the business of a
fighting man. When the atmosphere is c1ogged with missiles which a at
tanned a high degree of velocity, hen here is n more comfortable place in te
world for a soldier than in these same trenches n behind these banks of earth.
1t is a position greatly to b. preferred to the open plain at such a time. This
first fertilization built by Northern troops was called Fort Rnyon after the New
ark commander of the New Jersey Brigade.
1t is toe often a fact afhr a certain set of soldiers have bunt the incest
safest sort of foriheatons imaginable, they are forced to abandon then before
they get any good ut If them. This lamentable thing overtookt the Jersey soldiers
They had 20 more than turned down their sleeves dturned in their hovAs
when his Forward, marcht" order was given. That was on July 1. Mean
time other New Jersey regiments enlisted on the second call for troops fol three
years had reached the from, and they toe were put under the command of
General Runyon. His fore them numbered $4,000 thousand men. 1t constituted
the reserve. While the main body Of the army was hurryng toward the dis
at Bull Run it fell 20 the lot of hi Newark and other Jersey regiments to
keep open the lines of communication and guard the ammunition provision
trains The battle occurred Oh the 2st of July. The Federal army metw with
crushing defeat The retreat from the field vas turned into a rout The entire
army vas threatened with humiliation: General Runyon ws ordered Ito stop
this paniostricken mob which the day before had been an army. He acted
promptly. Bridges were ismanthd, roads we're chaineda n the Jersey roops
thrown across the highways When the first of the fugfuves appeared it was
to threaten them with death before they could be stopped Gradually
the fleeing squads were slowed down N order brought out of chaos. The Fed
era" arm vas again aMe to present a front to the pursuing army. It vs freely
hat General Runyon n his Jersey regiments had saved the army.
1t had been pleasing to neither officers nor men to be placed in thu reserve
when he first battle of te val "a t0 be fought Yet the day had so turned
out that most of the honor garnered by Northern troops in the sorry exhibition
came to the Newarkers and the members of other Jersey regiments.
Many years afer the wal General Joseph E. Johnston, who "a associated
with General Beauregard in command of the Confederate forces at he first
battle of Bull Run, admitted that the Jersey regiments ave h Fedora army
by stopping the rut after the battle. A few months after the battle he term
of enlistment of the Jersey regiments expired The "ninety-day campaign" was
over The var had Just begun. Thena most significant thing happened. 1t is
worth remembering. The Newark r@tment-the Fnst-through its mmande
Colonel Johnson, rendered a Offer rectt to the General Government at Wash
ington 10 reenHst undo the second call for troops for three years. They asked
tina they might go home to recruit to their full quota. II accepting
this offer, the Secretary of War declared that it furnished the only nstance at
thai time of a regiment in the field volunteering for the long term of enlistment
Immediately afer their shortt term nae expired. $685. e&s~l.