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3rd New
Jersey Cavalry
| Regimental History |
| Third Cavalry. — Cols., Andrew J. Morrison, Alexander C. M.
Pennington, Jr. ; Lieut.-Cols., Charles C. Suydam, William P. Robeson, Jr. ; Majs.,
Siegfried Von Forstner, S. V. C. Van Rensselaer, John V. Allstrom, Daniel R. Boice, Thomas
K. McClong, Ethan T. Harris. This regiment, also known as the 36th N. J. volunteers, was
recruited during the winter of 1863-64, and was mustered into the U. S. service on Feb.
10, 1864, as the "First United States Hussars," though the name was not long
retained. It left Trenton on March 29, 1,200 strong, marching by way of Philadelphia and
Wilmington to Perryville, Md., where it embarked on steamers and proceeded to Annapolis,
being there attached to the 9th army corps. The enemy being gradually compelled to fall
back before the operations of Grant, the regiment pushed forward with its brigade —
3d brigade, 1st division, Cavalry corps — sharing in the operations at Ashland, Old
Church and other points, and showing the highest soldierly qualities in all the combats in
which it participated. Up to the middle of July, its total losses in killed, wounded and
missing amounted to 76. On July 16, the command was transferred to Lighthouse Point, but
on the 25th it returned to its old position, and two days later lost several men from
guerrillas while on picket, 1 being killed, 2 wounded and 2 captured. At the battle of
Winchester its total loss was 130 men, the killed including 1 captain and 1 lieutenant. In
the operations at Summit Point the regiment lost 6 killed, 25 wounded and 14 missing. At
Kearneysville its loss in wounded and missing was 30 men, and in the affair on the
Berryville turnpike in September its loss was 1 killed. After this affair, the regiment
lay quiet until the 19th, when it participated in the battle of the Opequan, suffering
some loss, but not sufficient to disturb the elation over the grand achievements of the
day. It was again engaged at Front Royal, losing some men, and on the 28th, being in the
cavalry advance, it once more encountered the enemy at Waynesboro, where it suffered a
loss of 10 in killed and wounded, but fought with its accustomed gallantry. In the
retrograde movement which followed, a movement designed to draw the enemy once more within
effective striking distance, the regiment again proved its efficiency at Bridgewater,
losing 9 men ; at Brock's gap, and at Tom's brook, where it had a severe engagement with
the now pursuing foe, its loss in that affair being 8 men. Finally reaching Cedar creek,
it went on picket, where it remained until the 13th, when it had a sharp fight, losing 10
men. In the memorable battle of Cedar creek it was early placed in position, but was only
moderately engaged. In the subsequent operations in the Valley it had an honorable part,
being engaged on the Back road and at Mount Jackson, the loss of the command in the latter
affair being 10 men, killed and wounded. In the spring of 1865 it was variously employed
in the vicinity of Petersburg until the last grand assault upon the enemy, when at Five
Forks, fighting again with the scarred veterans who had swept Early from the Shenandoah
Valley, it displayed conspicuous gallantry, sharing in all the perils as well as the
splendid achievements of that memorable and glorious day, on which the power of the
Rebellion was finally and forever broken. The loss of the regiment was only 8 wounded,
including Lieut.-Col. Robeson. Joining in the pursuit of the flying foe, it had 2 officers
wounded in a skirmish on the 6th, but was not again heavily engaged. In due time Lee
surrendered and the Confederate armies dissolved, when the regiment proceeded to
Washington, and thence to Trenton, where it was mustered out. The total strength of the
regiment was 2,234, and it lost during its term of service by resignation 17, by discharge
83, by promotion 47, by transfer 276, by death 145, by desertion 439, by dismissal 8, not
accounted for 187, mustered out 1,032. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 3
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