The First Jersey Brigade at Cedar Creek
By: Walt Barger
Source: Baquet; "History of Kearney's First New Jersey Brigade", 1910 (reprinted 1988)
In the summer of 1864, Confederate General Jebual Early was threatening the defenses of Washington D.C. In an attempt to ward off the attacks, Union General U.S. Grant detached the Sixth Corps from the Army of the Potomac to aid in the defenses of the capital. This move proved to be successful.
On August 7, 1864, an order was received by the Sixth Corps commander which gave command of all troops in the Washington area to General P.H. Sheridan. This new command was designated the Army of the Shenandoah, and included the 6th and 19th Corps of the Army of the Potomac, the Army of West Virgina and a division of calvary under the command of General Torbert (who was a former commander of the First New Jersey Brigade).
At this time the New Jersey Brigade consisted of the Fourth, Tenth and Fifteenth New Jersey Regiments. (Where were the 1st, 2nd and 3rd?) There was much manuevering and fighting from the end of August through September. By October, it appeared that Sheridan had Early's confederate forces on the run and on the 6th of October, General Torbert's calvary had the confederate forces routed and captured almost all of their artillery. Torbert then drove the confederate forces over a mountain pass in Mount Jackson.
October 10th 1864, General Sheridan released the Sixth Corps from the Army of the Shenandoah, with orders to return to the Army of the Potomac. On the 12th, Sheridan was informed that Early's Confederates were again returning and sent orders for the Sixth Corps to countermarch and rejoin the Army of the Shenandoah. On the 15th, Sheridan left for business in Washington D.C., when he was informed by a courier that a message from Early was intercepted and Early was planning an attack on the Army of the Shenandoah. Sheridan sent all his calvary escort forces back to join the army and continued to Washington. He left the capital at noon on the 17th and headed for his troops. On the 19th Early attacked the Army of the Shenandoah as their commander was still en-route from Washington.
During Sheridan's absence, Early had gathered his strength and moved from Fisher's Hill to Front Royal and crossed the river at Bowman's Ford. By the morning of October 19th the Confederates were in position. The assualt on the Army of the Shenandoah began at dawn, routing the Eigth Corps. As the Confederates rushed through the camps they came upon the left rear of the Nineteenth Corps, scattering the men and capturing both their artillery and camps. Some of the Nineteenth Corps who were armed for an early morning reconnaissance and getting into line were able to slow the advance. Early's men continued their flanking movements and attacks forcing the Union men to Corps to fall back.
As the Nineteenth Corps was attacked from the left, the Sixth Corps was under attack as well on the right.(Detail from 15th NJ) The 1st and 3rd Divisions were placed in a battle line with the 2nd Division to the front behind a small breastwork of earth and rails. The Nineteenth Corps formed again behind the Sixth Corps. Early's Confederates were scattered through the captured camps and in a disorganized state. Sheridan arrived on the battlefield between 10 and 11 o'clock and rallied his startled Army. The 1st and 3rd Divisions of the Sixth Corps were brought up along the right of the 2nd Division, and the reformed Nineteenth Corps moved in to the right of the Sixth. An attack was made on the Nineteenth Corps by the Confederates and repulsed easily.
About 4 o'clock PM Sheridan felt comfortable enough with the dispositions of his army, and confident that there was no Confederate support beyond those on the battlefield. He ordered an advance, a left wheel of the battle line, which would drive the Confederates off the main road, cutting off their line of retreat. The Jersey Brigade and the rest of the 1st Division of the Sixth Corps moved forward quickly. As the movement developed, the Confederates charged the right side of the Union line, but a countercharge by a brigade of the Nineteenth Corps was enough to halt the charging Confederates. General Custer and his calvary swooped down on these defeated rebels, driving them back and capturing some. When the men of the Sixth Corps on the left saw the results of these movements on the right, they continued forward more quickly and the enemy broke and ran for the rear. The Jersey Brigade continued the pursuit of Early's forces back to Cedar Creek.
As the calvary continued the pursuit across Cedar Creek, they were successful in recapturing all that was lost in the morning attack as well as 24 Confederate cannon.
The First Jersey Brigade entered the battle of Cedar Creek with 28 officers and 598 enlisted men. They lost in that single day 11 officers and 154 enlisted.
Where were the 1st, 2nd and 3rd NJ?
