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Battery A
New Jersey Artillery
| Regimental History |
| Battery A. — Capts., William Hexamer, Augustine N. Parsons; First
Lieuts., John Fingerlin, Christian Woerner, John J. Hoff, Joseph W. B. Wright, William
Jaegel, Robert Fairchild, Wilhelm O. Bonin ; Second Lieuts., Adolph Valois, Louis W.
Hausemann, Philip Phildius, Samuel F. Wheeler, Owen C. Looker, John Carrigan. This battery
was mustered into service on Aug. 12, 1861, at Hoboken, which place it left on the 20th
for Washington, where it arrived the next day and after being filled up and supplied with
the necessary horses, equipments and arms, it proceeded to Fairfax seminary, where it was
attached to Kearny's brigade. The first battle in which it was engaged was that of West
Point, where it displayed great gallantry and won the highest encomiums. It was next
engaged at Mechanicsville ; participated in the severe engagement at Gaines' mill, having
reported to Col. Taylor, commanding the 1st N. J. brigade, and being by him placed on the
right of the brigade, Prince de Joinville, of Gen. McClellan's staff, accompanying the
command to its position, which was in an open field some 200 yards from the woods occupied
by the Confederates and in which an infantry fight was in progress. At Chantilly the
battery was posted on the road between that place and Fairfax Court House on the right of
Gen. Kearny's division. Thence it followed the retiring Confederates through Burkettsville
to Crampton's gap, participating in the attack upon the enemy at that point and winning
fresh honors by its gallantry. It then proceeded to Antietam, where it again performed
distinguished service. During the three days' battle of Fredericksburg the battery
remained in one position, doing effective service and finally withdrawing with the rest of
the army. In the several engagements incident to the Chancellorsville campaign the battery
fired about 1,200 rounds and fully sustained its reputation. It also did valiant service
at the battle of Gettysburg and subsequently it participated in the Mine Run
demonstration, returning to camp at Brandy Station, where it remained during the winter,
receiving before the spring campaign some 80 recruits. On May 4, 1864, Gen. Grant having
matured his plans for an advance against the enemy, the battery marched to
Chancellorsville, moving on the following morning to the right of that point, passing
Robertson's tavern. It was moved on the 7th to Piney Branch Church, where it remained in
reserve until the 10th, when it marched to Tabernacle Church and thence to Fredericksburg,
returning to the 6th corps. On the 18th it again advanced and on the 19th reached the Po
river, where it participated in a heavy fight. In the advance from that point it covered
the rear of the 6th corps ; crossed the North Anna on the 24th, the Pamunkey on the 28th,
and reached Cold Harbor shortly after noon on June 1. There it remained until the 12th,
partaking of heavy fighting, and then marched with the army to the James river, crossing
on the morning of the 15th and reaching the front at Petersburg on the night of the 16th.
In that position it remained, firing from time to time, until the night of the 21st, when
it marched to the left of Petersburg and went into camp. On July 31 the battery was
ordered to return to Trenton for muster out, its term of service having expired, but
enough remained to continue the organization until the close of the war, when it was
finally mustered out at Trenton on June 22, 1865. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 3
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