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11th New
Jersey Infantry
| Regimental History |
| Eleventh Infantry. — Col., Robert McAllister; Lieut. -Cols., Stephen
Moore, John Schoonover; Majs., Valentine Mutchler, Philip J. Kearny, Thomas J. Halsey.
This regiment, of which Robert McAllister was appointed colonel on June 30, 1862, left
Trenton on Aug 25, following, and reported at Washington at noon on the 26th. On the
morning of Dec. 12 the regiment was ordered to move by a circuitous route down to the
vicinity of Fredericksburg, for the purpose of guarding the pontoon bridge at Franklin's
crossing, where it remained until the morning of the 14th, when it crossed the river under
orders from Gen. Carr and took position in the second line of battle, being shortly
afterward sent forward to the front line to relieve the 26th Pa., two companies being
despatched to take the place of the pickets of the regiment thus relieved. While thus
engaged the regiment sustained a loss of 2 enlisted men killed, 4 wounded and 6 missing.
Towards daybreak on May 3, 1863, at Chancellorsville, under orders from Gen. Carr, the
11th formed in line of battle with its left resting on the plank road and the line at
right angles with it, the 11th Mass. taking position on the right. Subsequently an assault
caused the regiment's right to fall back, but the men were rallied and the 11th stoutly
held its position, forming a connecting link between the third line and the battery on the
road, as well as with Mott's brigade. Retiring slowly across the road, delivering a steady
fire as they went, they presently united with other Jersey troops and then, in a grand
burst of enthusiasm, charged upon the pursuing Confederates, driving them from the
trenches they had just taken. These could not be held, however, and the regiment slowly
retired to another line of defense near Gen. Hooker's headquarters, where it acted for a
time as a support to the artillery. At this point 3 men in one company were killed by a
shot from the enemy. The 11th reached its brigade and took position behind a fortified
line, where it remained, having several lines in its front, until the following day, the
enemy having abandoned his attempt in that part of the field, or rather failed to pursue.
The 11th had lost heavily — 20 killed and 113 wounded — but its heroic deeds had
made it a name which would be imperishable, and that thought lent a halo even to the hour
of disaster. At Gettysburg, on July 2, Col. McAllister was seriously wounded, Capts.
Kearney, Martin, Logan and Ackerman were killed, and nearly all the remaining officers
were either severely or slightly wounded, while the ranks were terribly thinned by the
fire of the enemy, the losses in the regiment being 3 commissioned officers killed and 10
wounded, 21 enlisted men killed and 120 wounded, making a total of 154. On July 17 the
regiment recrossed the Potomac at Harper's Ferry and took part in the engagement at
Wapping heights, but suffered no casualties. On Nov. 7, the corps crossed the Rappahannock
river at Kelly's ford and engaged the enemy, taking a considerable number of prisoners. At
Locust Grove the loss in the regiment was 6 killed, 20 wounded, 2 missing and 2 taken
prisoners. From the spring of 1864 forward the regiment shared in all of the engagements
in which the 2nd N. J. brigade participated, fully maintaining the high reputation it had
already achieved. In the terrible battle of Spottsylvania and the operations before
Petersburg it was ever conspicuous for bravery and all eminent soldierly qualities, never
turning its back upon the foe, always eager to vindicate the honor of the flag under which
it fought. Upon the termination of hostilities it marched to Washington, and on June 15,
1865, reached Trenton, where as an organization it ceased to exist. The total strength of
the regiment was 1,840, and it lost, by resignation 24, by discharge 230, by promotion 47,
by transfer 324, by death 233, by desertion 451, by dismissal 5, not accounted for 59,
mustered out, 467. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 3
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