The Civil War in the East

1st New Jersey Cavalry Regiment

 

The First New Jersey Cavalry Regiment lost 12 officers and 116 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 4 officers and 185 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War.

The regiment is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.

 

From the monument:

"Organized September 1861, and served to the end of the war. Participated in 97 engagements.
Losses: Killed in action, 79; Died of wounds, etc., 170; Prisoners of war, 34; Missing, supposed dead, 12. Officers killed in battle during the war. Col. Hugh H. Janeway, Lt. Col. Virgil Broderick, Maj. John H. Shellmire, Maj. James H. Hart, Maj. John H. Lucas, Capt. Thomas R. Haines, Capt. Moses H. Malesbury, Lieut. Alexander Stewart, Lieut Edward E. Jemison, Lieut. John W. Bellis, Lieut Voorhees Dye, Lieut. Alanson Austin"

1861

August 14

Organized at Trenton, N. J. by authority of the War Department as "Halsted's Cavalry" under Colonel William Halstead, Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Karge and Major Myron Beaumont.

August 24

Four Companies left State for Washington, D.C.

August 31

Six Companies left State for Washington, D.C.

September

Attached to Heintzelman's Division, Army of the Potomac. Duty in the Defenses of Washington

December 18

Reconnaissance to Pohick Church, Va. (1 Company). Lieutenant Hugh Janeway of Company L wounded.

1862

January

Lieutenant Colonel Karge and Major Beaumont placed under arrest by Colonel Halstead, but they were reased after a short period.

January 29

Lee's House, Occoquan Bridge (Detachment)

February 18

Colonel Halstead discharged due to "adverse report of a "Board of Examination"

February 19

Transferred to State of New Jersey and designated 1st Cavalry Regiment. Colonel Percy Wyndham appointed to command of regiment. Lieutenant Janeway of Company L promoted to captain.

March

Attached to Wadsworth's Command, Military District of Washington

May 13

Rappahannock River

May

Attached to Bayard's Cavalry Brigade, Dept. of the Rappahannock

June 1-2

Staunton and Strasburg Road

June 2

Woodstock

June 6

Harrisonburg. Colonel Wyndham taken prisoner.

June

Attached to Bayard's Cavalry Brigade, 3rd Corps, Pope's Army of Virginia

June 8

Battle of Cross Keys

July 22-24

Reconnaissance to James City

July 29

Operations about Orange Court House

August 1

Barnett's Ford

August 8

Slaughter House

August 9

Battle of Cedar Mountain

August 16

Pope's Campaign in Northern Virginia

August 17

Colonel Wyndham paroled.

August 19

Rappahannock Station

August 20

Brandy Station, Stevensburg and Raccoon Ford

August 21-23

Fords of the Rappahannock

August 26

Warrenton

August 27

Faquier White Sulphur Springs

August 28

Thoroughfare Gap

August 30

Bull Run

August 31

Germantown and Centreville, Chantilly

September

In Defenses of Washington attached to Bayard's Cavalry Brigade, Army of the Potomac

September 16-18

Reconnaissance from Upton's Hill to Leesburg (2 Companies)

September 29

Expedition from Centreville to Warrenton (Detachment)

October

Attached to 1st Brigade, Cavalry Division. Army of the Potomac

October 11

Colonel Wyndham takes command of the brigade as senior colonel until February 15

October 17-18

Expedition to Thoroughfare Gap

October 29

Near Upperville (Detachment)

October 31

Aldie and Mountsville

November 4

Salem, New Baltimore and Thoroughfare Gap

November 7- 9

Rappahannock Station

November 30

Snicker's Ferry, Berryville

December 11

Near Dumfries

December 12-15

Battle of Fredericksburg

December 29

Near Chantilly

1863

January 26

Near Fairfax Court House and Middleburg

January 27

Captain Janeway of company L promoted to major

February

Attached to 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac

February 16

Colonel Wyndham assigned to command of the brigade as senior colonel but resigned due to "being placed under the command of an officer who, in my opinion, is incompetent and for whom I cannot feel the proper respect."

February 28

Acceptance of Colonel Wyndham's resignation revoked and he resumed command of the brigade.

April 27-May 6

Chancellorsville Campaign

April 29-May 8

Stoneman's Raid

June 9

Brandy Station and Beverly Ford. Colonel Wyndham wounded in the leg.

Attached to 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, Cavalry Corps.

June 17

Aldie

June 19

Middleburg

June 21

Upperville

June 22

Dover

July 1-3

Battle of Gettysburg

The regiment was commanded by Major Myron H. Beaumont. It brought 269 men to the field, losing nine wounded.

 

From the monument:

"Fought here July 3, 1863, both mounted and dismounted, holding this position several hours. Assisted in repelling the charges of the enemy's cavalry."

July 4

Emmettsburg, Md.

July 10

Old Antietam Forge, near Leitersburg

July 11-14

Reconnaissance to Ashby's Gap

July 12

Ashby's Gap

July 14

Near Harper's Ferry

July 14-16

Shephardstown

July 25-27

Scout to Goose Creek

August 5

Rixeyville Ford

September 13-17

Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan

September 13

Culpeper Court House

September 21

Captain John W. Kester promoted to lieutenant colonel

October 2

Colonel Wyndham returned almost a month late from a leave of absence. He was charged with being absent without leave, was relieved from regimental and brigade command and ordered to Washington "but not in arrest." Wyndham never returned to the regiment, being prohibited from coming within the lines of the army due to allegations of his being connected with a plot to kidnap Lincoln. He was eventually discharged in the summer of 1864.

October 8-22

Bristoe Campaign

October 8-10

Skirmishes at James City

October 11

Near Warrenton

October 12-13

Warrenton or White Sulphur Springs. Lieutenant Colonel Kester wounded.

October 14

Brentsville and Auburn and Bristoe

November 7-8

Advance to line of the Rappahannock

November 11

Near Warrenton

November 26-December 2

Mine Run Campaign

November 27

New Hope Church

November 29

Parker's Store

1864

January 1-4

Reconnaissance from Bealeton and Front Royal

February 17-18

Scout from Warrenton to Piedmont

February 18

Near Piedmont (Detachment)

February 28-
March 1

Custer's Raid into Albemarle County

February 29

Near Charlottesville

March 1

Stannardsville

May 3-June 15

Campaign from the Rapidan to the James

May 5-6

Todd's Tavern

May 6-7

Wilderness

May 7-8

Todd's Tavern

May 8

Corbin's Bridge

May 9-24

Sheridan's Raid

May 9

Davenport and Childsburg

May 9-10

North Anna River

May 11

Ground Squirrel Church and Yellow Tavern, Ashland

May 12

Brooks' Church or fortifications of Richmond

May 26-28

Line of the Pamunkey

May 28

Hawes' Shop. Major Janeway wounded.

May 28-31

Totopotomoy

May 31-June 1

Cold Harbor

June 7-24

Sumner's Upper Bridge, Sheridan's Trevillian Raid

June 11-12

Trevillian Station

June 12

Newark or Mallory's Cross Roads

June 21

Black Creek or Tunstall Station, White House of St. Peter's Church

June 24

St. Mary's Church

June 29-July 12

Near Petersburg

July 5

Colonel Wyndham was discharged

July 6

Lieutenant Colonel John W. Kester promoted to colonel. Major Janeway promoted to lieutenant colonel.

July 12

Lee's Mills, Warwick Swamp

July 27-29

Demonstration north of the James

July 27-28

Deep Bottom

July 28

Malvern Hill

August 8

Ream's Station

August 13-20

Demonstration north of the James

August 14-18

Strawberry Plains

August 14

Gravel Hill. Lieutenant Colonel Janeway wounded in the finger.

August 18-21

Weldon Railroad

August 23

Dinwiddie Road, near Ream's Station

August 25

Ream's Station

September 16

Old members mustered out at Trenton, N. J.

September 17

Belcher's Mills

September 25

Colonel Kester mustered out with old members

September 29-October 2

Poplar Springs Church

September 30-October 1

Arthur's Swamp

October 1

Vaughan Road

October 11

Lieutenant Colonel Hugh H. Janeway promoted to colonel

October 27-28

Boydton Plank Road or Hatcher's Run

November 7

Reconnaissance to Stony Creek

November 11

Major Beaumont promoted to lieutenant colonel

December 7-12

Warren's Raid on Weldon Railroad

December 9-10

Bellefield Station

December 22 -
January 12

Colonel Janeway took temporary command of the brigade as senior colonel

1865

January 25-
March 27

Colonel Janeway took temporary command of the brigade as senior colonel

February 5-7

Dabney's Mills, Hatcher's Run. Colonel Janeway and Lieutenant Colonel Beaumont wounded.

March 28-April 9

Appomattox Campaign

March 30-31

Dinwiddie Court House

April 1

Five Forks

April 5

Payne's Cross Roads and Amelia Springs. Colonel Janeway killed.

April 6

Sailor's Creek

April 7

Farmville

April 9

Appomattox Court House. Surrender of Lee and his army.

April 23-27

Expedition from Burkesville to Danville and South Boston

May 2-12

Moved to Washington, D.C. Attached to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Dept. of Washington

May 4

Lieutenant Colonel Myron H. Beaumont promoted to colonel

May 23

Grand Review

May 25

Company F mustered out at Washington

July 24

Remainder of regiment mustered out at Cloud's Hills, Va. under Colonel Beaumont.