10th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry

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10th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry
Active	October 1, 1861 to June 22, 1865
Country	United States
Allegiance	Union
Branch	Infantry
Equipment	Enfield/Springfield rifles
Battles/wars	Battle of the Wilderness Battle of Spotsylvania Battle of Cold Harbor Battle of Strasburg Battle of Fisher Hill Battle of Opequon Battle of Cedar Creek Battle of Petersburg III

The 10th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry was originally known as "Olden Legion" after New Jersey Governor Charles Olden. The regiment was organized under the provisions of an act of Congress approved July 22, 1861, and by authority issued by the War Department. It was directed to private residents of the state of New Jersey, and not in any way under the control or supervision of the state authorities. When the organization of the regiment was completed with nine companies of infantry and one company of cavalry, it proceeded to Camp Beverly, New Jersey. Then from there went to Washington, D.C., on December 26, 1861, with 35 officers, 883 non-commissioned officers and privates, for a total of 918 men. After they marched to Camp Clay on the Bladensburg Turnpike a mile from Washington, they were reorganized and designated the 10th New Jersey Infantry. Soon after being reorganized the cavalry company which was company D of that regiment was discharged and a new company was raised that April. For the next year, the regiment served under the command of Brig. Gen. James Wadsworth in the defenses of Washington before being assigned to field service in the XXII Corps until April 1863.

The regiment was then shifted around to various commands — beginning with the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, VII Corps, Department of Virginia, until July 1863, when it was sent to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, after the Gettysburg Campaign and assigned to Darius Couch and the Department of the Susquehanna. It served in the defenses of Philadelphia until September 1863, when it moved to Pottsville, Pennsylvania. The regiment remained in the Department of the Susquehanna through April 1864. Since over 50% of the men re-enlisted the regiment became known as the 10th New Jersey Veteran Infantry. The regimetn joined the First New Jersey Brigade in the 1st Division, 6th Corps, in the Army of the Potomac on April 19, 1864, and sent to Virginia for the Overland Campaign. During that campaign the regiment notably participated in the Battle of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor lossing 250 men. In late summer, the 10th was assigned to the Army of the Shenandoah, serving in the Shenandoah Valley under Philip H. Sheridan. While with the army the regiment a long with the First New Jersey Brigade participated in Strasburg, Point Pleasant, Fisher Hill, Third Winchester and Cedar Creek losing another 200 men. After returning to Virginia for the fall of Petersburg and the surrender of Robert E. Lee's Confederate army at Appomattox Court House in April 1865. The 10th served as an occupation force at Danville, Virginia until June 1865 when it was mustered out and returned home to New Jersey and a hero's welcome. Many veterans of the 10th New Jersey joined the Grand Army of the Republic and attended several reunions over the succeeding years.

[edit] Battle Statistics

skirmish at Edenton Road April 24, 1863.......(Lost 1 man)

incident at Carriville May 17, 1863..............(Lost 1 man)

Battle of the Wilderness May 5-6, 1864.........(Lost 38 men)

Battle of Spotsylvania May 7-21, 1864..........(Lost 149 men)

Battle of Anna River May 23-26, 1864...........(Lost 5 men)

Battle of Cold Harbor June 1-12, 1864...........(Lost 80 men)

trenches of Petersburg June 22, 1864...........(Lost 5 men)

skirmish at Snicker's Ferry July 18, 1864......(Lost 4 men)

skirmish at Snicker's Gap July 21, 1864........(Lost 4 men)

engagement at Strasburg August 17, 1864.....(Lost 165 men)

skirmish at Point Pleasant August 21, 1864...(Lost 9 men)

Battle of Fisher Hill September 19, 1864........(Lost 2 men)

Battle of Opequon September 21, 1864.........(Lost 16 men)

Battle of Cedar CreekOctober 19, 1864.........(Lost 45 men)

Fall of Petersburg April 2, 1865.....................(Lost 9 men)

[edit] References

Baquet, Camille, "History of the First Brigade, New Jersey Volunteers (Kearny's First New Jersey Brigade) from 1861 to 1865", 1910.

Bilby, Joseph G. and Goble, William C., "Remember You Are Jerseymen: A Military History of Jersey's Troops in the Civil War", Longstreet House, Hightstown, June 1998. ISBN 0-944413-54-4.

Foster, John Y., "New Jersey and the Rebellion: History of the Services of the Troops and People of New Jersey in Aid of the Union Cause", Newark, New Jersey 1868.

Gottfried, Bradley M., "Kearny's Own: The History of the First New Jersey Brigade in the Civil War", Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick, September 2005.