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34th New Jersey Infantry

Regimental History
Thirty-fourth Infantry. — Cols., William H. Lawrence, Timothy C. Moore; Lieut.-Col., Robert M. Ekings; Majs., Gustavus N. Abeel, Henry P. Reed. This regiment was raised during the summer and autumn of 1863, principally from the counties of Mercer, Salem, Burlington and Camden, with numerous recruits from all parts of the state, and a plentiful addition from the neighboring cities of New York and Philadelphia of men attracted by the large bounties then being paid. The term of enlistment was for three years. The first place of rendezvous was Beverly, where the regiment was under the command of Col. E. B. Grubb, formerly of the 23d. About Oct. 25 the regiment was removed to Camp Parker, near Trenton, where the complement of men was obtained and mustered in. The colonel, William Hudson Lawrence, was a captain in the 14th regular infantry, who had obtained leave of absence from the secretary of war to take a volunteer command ; the lieutenant-colonel was Timothy C. Moore, formerly of the 5th N. J. ; and the major was Gustavus N. Abeel, of the 1st N. J. infantry, who had been serving for a year before on the staff of Gen Torbert, then commanding the 1st brigade. After unavailing efforts on the part of Col. Lawrence to have the regiment attached to the Army of the Potomac, it was ordered to Eastport, Miss., to report to Gen. W. T. Sherman, and in pursuance of that order, left Trenton on the morning of Nov. 16, 1863, for Philadelphia, its strength for duty being 800. Finally being placed as a permanent garrison at Columbus, Ky., on April 13, 1864, a desultory skirmish was had for some hours, when the enemy withdrew, foiled in his purpose to carry the position. During the month of June a spirited engagement took place at Hickman, Ky., between a detachment of the 34th and some Confederate cavalry. The enemy was encountered in force near Clinton, Ky., on July 10, and after a sharp action of 2 hours he was defeated with a loss of 5 killed, 30 wounded and 17 prisoners, including the notorious Capt. Kesterson, who was executed shortly afterward. Being transferred to the Department of the Gulf, in April, 1865, it took part in the assault and capture of Spanish Fort, Batteries Huger, Iracey and Fort Blakely, in which action it lost 3 killed and 15 wounded. The regiment remained in service until April 30, 1866.

Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 3

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