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units:12th_new_jersey_infantry_sources
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Back to 12th New Jersey Infantry
Primary Sources for the 12th New Jersey Infantry
Figure 1: glc04189.01
West-Jersey Pioneer, September 13, 1862
The Twelfth N J. at the Post of Danger.
The Baltimore American, of yesterday, says that on the previous afternoon the Twelfth New Jersey Volunteers, commanded by Col. Johnson, and mustering one thousand men, left the Camden Station, Baltimore, in a special train, for the Relay House, in the vicinity of which they will be stationed. Colonel William D. Whipple, chief of Gen. Wool’s staff, accompanied the command for the purpose of selecting a good place of defence for them. This position is very near the scene of the impending battle, and within fifteen miles of the rebel pickets.
west-jersey_pioneer_september_13_1862.jpg
Figure 2: the_philadelphia_inquirer_mon_sep_15_1862
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/1862-ellicotts-mills-md-camp-johnson-520881591
Ira C. Hall. The dateline is Camp Johnson, Ellicotts mills, Sept the 15 / 62.
Some abstracts: “Dear sister Ida, you must not think hard of me for not riting soon for i have benn very busy … had to go out on pickett and did not git back untill last night and i was to tird to rite then …”
“I was out on pickyet and i liked it first rate i had all the milk and peaches and roasted chicken that we could eat.” “thir was 2 of us at or post and we tooked 5 prizners thir is plenty of Slaves hear out where i was on pickyet is a man ho has 75 slaves he ses that he rais 5000 bus of wheat last yar and that he has got 600 acers this year redy to sow i seen his corn and it looks nice the country around hear looks about as hilly as it does in luzern.” “Thir has benn a big fite at fredickburg that is about 20 miles fro hear i was out on pickyet about 5 miels and we cood fiel the ground shake quite hard and the cannons roar as plain as i wanted to bee.” “I got a letter from on of Ellas baughs [i.e. beaus] and he said that thay was all well.” “tell Clark that i will rite to him soon and tell Edwin Hall that i will rite to him as soon as i can but …” “Thir is sum new york Regments around hear and the next time that you rite to me tell boath the regment thay ar in [???] it may bee that i may see them no more …”
The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 16, 1862
FROM THE TWELFTH NEW JERSEY.
Correspondence of the Inquirer. ELLICOTT'S MILLS, Md., Sept. 11, 1862.
Our regiment, Twelfth New Jersey, has been here Nearly a week, and since that time it has had some active service. On Monday the “boys” scouted through the village, properly known as Ellicott's Mills, deriving its name from the large number of cloth mills, flour mills, &c., owned by the family of the above name. It is a pretty village, of the ancient order, comprising some five thousand inhabitants. While scouting around, some Union men pointed out a rebellious F, F. M., in the shape of a decrepid, miserable form of humanity. Naturally a break was made for said Secesh's house, and the “old flag” soon floated, fanned by the mountain breeze, over his domicile.
On Wednesday our boys captured from a Secessionist sixty bags of salt, besides some horses and wagons. Secesh looked downcast, and saluted us soldiers with the popular epithet used by refined Southern chivalry, “—— Yankees.”
Our regiment is now on detached service, some companies being on picket six miles from camp; others are guarding bridges, railroads, &c. This kind of service does not appear agreeable to us, for we expected to go into more active service, but, “there is a time for all things.”
the_philadelphia_inquirer_tue_sep_16_1862.jpg
The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 18, 1862
OUR FREDERICK CORRESPONDENCE.
Seventeen Hundred Rebel Prisoners sent to Baltimore—Reception of our Paroled Soldiers - Animated Appearance of Frederick.
Special Correspondence of the Inquirer. FREDERICK, MD., Sept. 17, 1862.
Frederick, this morning, presented such a sight as has probably not been witnessed by any place since the breaking out of this infernal Rebellion. Seven- teen hundred Rebel prisoners, under charge of four companies of the Twelfth New Jersey, commanded by Lieut.-Col. J. HOWARD WILLETS, were collected from their different places of confinement in the town, and were started for Baltimore.
Their Insolence and Abuse of the Yankees.
As they passed through the streets, I think I never witnessed a more forlorn or dirtier-looking set of humanity. Boldly and defiantly, however, they marched on, whistling 'Dixie' and making use of some of the vilest and most abusive epithets against the Yankees.
the_philadelphia_inquirer_thu_sep_18_1862.jpg
The Baltimore Sun, September 19 1862
Departure of Confederate Prisoners —About 6 o'clock yesterday morning the Confederate prisoners, whose arrival at Camden street depot the night previous was mentioned in yesterday’s edition of The Sun, were trans- erred from the depot to the Boston steamship wharf, and there placed upon two of the Ericsson line of steamboats. The four companies of the Twelfth New Jersey Volunteers, under command of Lieut, Col. Welles, accompanied them. The boats left about 7 o'clock, and it was understood that their destination was Fort Delaware, where the prisoners are to be kept until paroled.
the_baltimore_sun_fri_sep_19_1862.jpg
Figure 3: west_jersey_pioneer_october_4_1862
West-Jersey Pioneer, October 18, 1862
Company K, 12th Regiment, N. J. V.
ELLICOTT'S MILLS,
MARYLAND, Oct. 5th, 1862
FRIEND FERGUSON:—We, Co. K, having been detailed for picket duty, and being comfortably quartered at our post, I thought I could not employ the time better than by having a few words with you. As we are not supposed to be so vigillant in the daytime as at night, and having but one post to guard, it leaves us plenty time to look around. We are posted some two miles from camp, at a place called Helltown, (nice name that,) consisting of a blacksmith and wheelwright shop, and two dwelling houses, with several farm houses in sight; one of the farm houses belonging to Mason, one of the commissioners to Europe for the Southern Confederacy. After his leaving here for the South, his slaves burned down the house. The ruins indicating it to have been a very fine residence, the gasometer still standing showing it to have been fitted up in first style for convenience and comfort. The dairy farm adjoining, is occupied by an Englishman, who gave us all our information concerning the estate, &c. All the wealthy people around here are the strongest kind of secesh. A mistake in our commissary department being made, we were furnished with grub foe only nine men when it should have been enough for ten, consequently we had to forage, or in other words do a little of soldier stealing. One of the boys succeeded in driving a good big chicken into the @inner pot, while others went in another direction and procured some ham, and our vegetables being in to low a state to correspond with our appetites, two was appointed to see to procuring some—they started forth, but soon returning and reporting that nary potato could be found in any of the fields; we were at a loss to know how to get some, but our pockets not being entirely dried up we raised a half of a peck. Some we fried with ham, which we made a supper off of. Having rigged a shelter by placing some rails up against the fence, and covering the top, jade and one end with cornstalks, we made right comfortable quarters. The pickets, three in number, having been posted the ballance of us, having built a good fire in the road, spent the rest of the evening in spinning yarns, smoking, &. The fire having burnt out the next move was under the cornstalks. It having become so cold towards morning we were compelled to turn out; but, however, our old friend fire was resorted to for the ballance of the long cold night. About daylight we were again in motion, the chicken and potatoes being converted into a stew, and served up hot, with coffee and bread, we had as nice a breakfast as anybody could ask for. During the evening one of the party had gone to a farm house and bought some pies as a desert for breakfast. Having washed up the dishes and packed up our traps, we waited the arrival of the Company that was to release us. During the time we captured a hard looking subject, (no doubt one of Jackson’s men,) who tried to play crazy on us, but the boys couldn’t see it. Upon our arrival at camp we handed him over to our worthy Captain Thompson. More anon, 12TH REG., N. J. V.
west-jersey_pioneer._october_18_1862.jpg
Figure 4: the_methodist._oct._25_1862
Figure 5: the_baltimore_sun_tue_nov_4_1862.jpg
Figure 6: book_letters_and_diary
units/12th_new_jersey_infantry_sources.1558710560.txt.gz · Last modified: 2019/05/24 15:09 by admin