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2nd_new_jersey_militia_sources

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Primary Sources for the 2nd New Jersey Militia


Evening Star, May 13, 1861

AFFAIRS AT THE RELAY HOUSE AND ALONG THE ROAD
[…]
Going out on a trip to the Relay House yesterday we found four companies of the second New Jersey regiment at Beltsville, where they have been stationed for the last week, killing time the best way they can, and quite unmolested by the redoubtable “Vansville Rangers.”

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Binghamton (NY) Broome Republican, May 29, 1861

Letter from a New Jersey Volunteer, to a Friend in Binghamton.

BELTSVILLE, Md., May 16, 1861.

FRIEND JONY: Though you are indebted to me for about a dozen or less letters, I thought I would drop you a line from this part of the World. This is a place on the Washington Junction of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, 28 miles from Baltimore,and 12 from Washington. Our business here is to protect the Railroad and Telegraph, and not allow them to be torn up by the Secessionists. Our labor here is very severe, and our fare very bad. We sleep in cedar huts, of our own construction, which are not very comfortable, as the nights are cold. When it rains, we wear our wet clothes until the sun comes out and dries them. Its real fun, aint it? Our food consists of beans, pork and coffee, with bread or crackers. Lately, however, when we have crackers, we have nothing else; and when we have meat, there is nothing with it. We do our own cooking, when we have anything to cook, and have but one kettle which is used for everything.

The Bible tells us that the “Foxes have holes;” but if you were to see the number that prowl about our camp-fires at night, you would think they did not know where their holes were. Our hardest duty is at night, when we are required to patrol the Railroad, with our loaded muskets and revolver. There a Company of Secession Light Horse drilling near here, but they have given us a wide berth as yet.— There are 10,000 Southern troops reported at Harper's Ferry this morning, and an attack is expected at the Relay House, to which we are directed to repair on signal. The nights here are rendered brilliant by the signals of enemies from neighboring hills; they are wasting any quantity of blue lights and rockets.

Our hearts are in the work before us, and we are not only ready but serious to meet the foes of our country, face to face; and leave the issue to the God of Battles.

The land about here looks like Jersey; and I had a glass of cider the other day, that came near making me homesick. Excuse penmanship, &c., as I write under and apple tree, with my knapsack for a writing-desk. The bugle sounds for drill, and I must close.
Your friend, J. C. B.
Co. K, 2d Regiment N. J. M.

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The Daily Exchange, June 19, 1861

A SOLDIER SHOOTS HIMSELF..—From a private source we last evening learned that a soldier attached to a New Jersey regiment in the vicinity of Laurel, Prince George's county, had accidentally shot himself, the ball passing through his heart. The circumstances of the case we were unable to learn.

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2nd_new_jersey_militia_sources.txt · Last modified: 2019/06/12 11:15 by admin