by: Dr. J. A. Wamsley

Company A, Third Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, Is one of the recollections of a boy, then young in years. Organized at Woodbury, April Nineteenth, 1861 Just then Sumter was fired upon, and the war was just begun. When war clouds gathered high, in those secession days, And the call for a hundred thousand troops by Uncle Abe. Gloucester county’s farmer boys, and the boy mechanics, too Tramped with patriotic impulse, that was nobly true. To defend their country’s honor, Gloucester county may be proud- Many of her soldiers sleep in Southern soil without a shroud. No truer type of an American soldier, ever heard the cannon’s roar, Than the noble, patriotic volunteers, from Gloucester county’s shore. When Company A was mustered in, Captain Brown, he in command; No nobler looking soldiers, the enemy could withstand. Clad first in gray uniform, these noble soldier boys Marched to martial music to share each others grief and joys. Then to the front these boys in gray, came marching so true, And soon to don the suit of gray, for the coat of blue. Never faced the enemy, a truer set of men And fought their first battle, at Springfield there and then. At Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Antietam, and all these great fights; At Gettysburg and Spotsylvania, and the Third Regiment was always in sight At the bugle’s call, these volunteers, of Gen. Kearny’s Brigade, Distinguished themselves for valor, and greatly pleased Uncle Abe. At Mullica Hill in ’61, in this staid old Quaker town- Front of the school house, near by the old church renowned; Miss Lucretia Stratton presented to Co. A, these volunteers, The flag, “old glory” which was received with cheers. Nobly on the bore the banner, to the front ranks of the war; Nobly on they led the charges, and the emblem it did soar. Among the din and clash of battle on old Potomac’s shore, No flag e’er floated more boldly, and the rebels at it swore Keep the dear old flag as a trophy, it is but just: For with Company A it never went, trailing in the dust. Your children’s children, will touchingly allude with cheers, To this great memento, of Gloucester county’s volunteers. The grand old war songs, how we sang them with a will; “Tramp! Tramp! The Boys are Marching,” how our hearts would thrill. We sang them at our firesides, on the trains, and at the drill, And under the branches of the old oak, at Mullica Hill. “Away Down South in Dixie,” how often we have sand the song; And then “John Brown’s body Goes Marching On.” “Rally Around the Flag,” and “Johnny Comes Marching Home,” Are inspirations of patriotism that are well known. What glad, fond, and sad recollections will abound, When singing “Tenting To-night on the Old Camp Ground;” “Many a Wife and Mother Waiting for the War to Cease,” Are cherished recollections before the time of peace. We bow our heads in memory, to those who have passed away, From the plains of Manassas to Appomattox, surrender day. They were comrades, Pedrick, Watts, Downs, Scott, Butler, and Haggerty; Boyce, Clark, Gibson, Zane, Wamsley, and Beatty. There were also Ostertag, Caffrey, Donnell, and Jackson, too; McClure, Morris, Adams, and many more, that’s true The names of Wilson, Elkinton, and Picken we now record; Ashton, Shute, Franklin- pleasant memories their names afford. In gratitude we bend low our heads, to the memory of these men. And a grateful county erect a monument to them. Many names of brave men are recorded thereon, And many were the battles, these volunteers fought and won. With saddened hearts we have referred, to comrades gone; Let the living members cling together, as the years roll on. All honor due the living heroes, and those who’ve passed away; May they all meet in grand reunion, on resurrection day. Let the roll be called of Co. A, who will the call respond? Roberts, Wilson, Means, Davis. Allen, Burt, Ecritt, and Grubbon; Sharp, Ridgway, Frampus, Jaggard, Cunningham, Jones and Fox. Eslow, Hemphill, Parker, Taylor, Clayton, Chester and Abbott. Now a word for the living comrades, who fought this civil war; We have them, too, in Capts. Wentz, Snowden, Vickers; Lieut. Coles and Corp. Ore. Then there’s the Cattells, Clayton, Craig, Alexander, and that’s not all; here am I sir, Dan Sullivan, Williams, Stratton, Kershaw, Joe Cunnard, French and Ben Maull. Then there’s Frank Ridgway, a prominent comrade of Co. A, Who, too, marched to the front, in General Phil Kearney’s Brigade. His country’s gratitude to this son, and soldier in blue;br> Was chosen to the high office of Sheriff- to his trust was true. God bless Company A, 3d Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers; May He bless and crown with happiness your yet remaining years. And may the Recording Angel , when you all arrive at home, Blot out the bad, and record with smiles the good that you have done.