First New Jersey Cavalry Regiment

United States Regiments & Batteries > New Jersey > First New Jersey Cavalry Regiment

The First New Jersey Cavalry Regiment lost 12 officers and 116 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 4 officers and 185 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War.

From the regiment’s monument at Gettysburg:

Organized September 1861, and served to the end of the war. Participated in 97 engagements.
Losses: Killed in action, 79; Died of wounds, etc., 170; Prisoners of war, 34; Missing, supposed dead, 12. Officers killed in battle during the war. Col. Hugh H. Janeway, Lt. Col. Virgil Broderick, Maj. John H. Shellmire, Maj. James H. Hart, Maj. John H. Lucas, Capt. Thomas R. Haines, Capt. Moses H. Malesbury, Lieut. Alexander Stewart, Lieut Edward E. Jemison, Lieut. John W. Bellis, Lieut Voorhees Dye, Lieut. Alanson Austin

1861
August 14 The regiment was organized at Trenton, New Jersey by authority of the War Department as “Halsted’s Cavalry Regiment” under the command of Colonel William Halstead, Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Karge and Major Myron Beaumont.
August 24 Four Companies left New Jersey for Washington, D.C.
August 31 Six Companies left the State for Washington, D.C.
September Attached to Heintzelman’s Division, Army of the Potomac. Duty in the Defenses of Washington
December 18 Reconnaissance to Pohick Church, Virginia. (1 Company). Lieutenant Hugh Janeway of Company L was wounded.
1862
January Lieutenant Colonel Karge and Major Beaumont were placed under arrest by Colonel Halstead, but they were released after a short period.
January 29 Lee’s House, Occoquan Bridge (Detachment)
February 18 Colonel Halstead was discharged due to “adverse report of a Board of Examination”
February 19 Transferred to the authority of the State of New Jersey and designated as First New Jersey Cavalry Regiment. Colonel Percy Wyndham, a British soldier of fortune, was appointed by Governor Charles S. Olden to take command. Lieutenant Janeway of Company L was promoted to captain.
March Attached to Wadsworth’s Command, Military District of Washington
May Attached to Bayard’s Cavalry Brigade, Department of the Rappahannock
May 13 Rappahannock River
June 1-2 Staunton and Strasburg Road
June 2 Woodstock
June 6

Harrisonburg

Colonel Wyndham was taken prisoner when his horse was shot during a charge.
June Attached to Bayard’s Cavalry Brigade, 3rd Corps, Pope’s Army of Virginia
June 8

Battle of Cross Keys
July 22-24 Reconnaissance to James City
July 29 Operations about Orange Court House
August 1 Barnett’s Ford
August 8 Slaughter House
August 9

Battle of Cedar Mountain
August 16

Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia
August 17 Colonel Wyndham was paroled and returned to the regiment.
August 19 Rappahannock Station
August 20 Brandy Station, Stevensburg and Raccoon Ford
August 21-23 Fords of the Rappahannock
August 26 Warrenton
August 27 Faquier White Sulphur Springs
August 28

Thoroughfare Gap
August 30

Second Bull Run (Second Manassas)
August 31

Germantown and Centreville, Chantilly
September In Defenses of Washington attached to Bayard’s Cavalry Brigade, Army of the Potomac
September 16-18 Reconnaissance from Upton’s Hill to Leesburg (2 Companies)
September 29 Expedition from Centreville to Warrenton (Detachment)
October Attached to 1st Brigade, Cavalry Division. Army of the Potomac
October 11 Colonel Wyndham took command of the brigade as senior colonel until February 15.
October 17-18 Expedition to Thoroughfare Gap
October 29 Near Upperville (Detachment)
October 31 Aldie and Mountsville
November 4 Salem, New Baltimore and Thoroughfare Gap
November 7- 9 Rappahannock Station
November 30 Snicker’s Ferry, Berryville
December 11 Near Dumfries
December 12-15

Battle of Fredericksburg
December 29 Near Chantilly
1863
January 26 Near Fairfax Court House and Middleburg
January 27 Captain Janeway of company L was promoted to major
February Attached to 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac
February 16 Colonel Wyndham was assigned to command of the brigade as senior colonel but resigned due to “being placed under the command of an officer who, in my opinion, is incompetent and for whom I cannot feel the proper respect.”
February 28 Acceptance of Colonel Wyndham’s resignation was revoked and he resumed command of the brigade.
April 27-May 6

Chancellorsville Campaign
April 29-May 8

Stoneman’s Raid
June 9

Battle of Brandy Station

Colonel Wyndham commanded the brigade until he was wounded in the leg. Lieutenant Colonel Virgil Brodrick then commanded the regiment until he was killed. Major John H. Shelmire took command until he, too, was killed. Major Myron H. Beaumont then took over.
June 17

Aldie

Attached to 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, Cavalry Corps.
June 19 Middleburg
June 21 Upperville
June 22 Dover
July 1-3

Battle of Gettysburg

The First New Jersey Cavalry Regiment was commanded by Major Myron H. Beaumont. It brought 269 men to the field, losing nine wounded.

From the monument on the East Cavalry Battlefield:

Fought here July 3, 1863, both mounted and dismounted, holding this position several hours. Assisted in repelling the charges of the enemy’s cavalry.
July 4 Emmettsburg, Maryland.
July 10 Old Antietam Forge, near Leitersburg
July 11-14 Reconnaissance to Ashby’s Gap
July 12 Ashby’s Gap
July 14 Near Harper’s Ferry
July 14-16 Shephardstown
July 25-27 Scout to Goose Creek
August 5 Rixeyville Ford
September 13-17 Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan
September 13 Culpeper Court House
September 21 Captain John W. Kester was promoted to lieutenant colonel
October 2 Colonel Wyndham returned almost a month late from a leave of absence. He was charged with being absent without leave and was relieved from regimental and brigade command and ordered to Washington “but not in arrest.” Wyndham never returned to the regiment, being prohibited from coming within the lines of the army due to allegations of his being connected with a plot to kidnap President Lincoln. He was eventually discharged in the summer of 1864.
October 8-22

Bristoe Campaign
October 8-10 Skirmishes at James City
October 11 Near Warrenton
October 12-13 Warrenton or White Sulphur Springs. Lieutenant Colonel Kester was wounded.
October 14 Brentsville and Auburn and Bristoe
November 7-8 Advance to line of the Rappahannock
November 11 Near Warrenton
November 26-December 2

Mine Run Campaign
November 27 New Hope Church
November 29 Parker’s Store
1864
January 1-4 Reconnaissance from Bealeton and Front Royal
February 17-18 Scout from Warrenton to Piedmont
February 18 Near Piedmont (Detachment)
February 28-
March 1		 Custer’s Raid into Albemarle County
February 29 Near Charlottesville
March 1 Stannardsville
May 3-June 15

Campaign from the Rapidan to the James
May 5-6 Todd’s Tavern
May 6-7

Battle of the Wilderness
May 7-8

Battle of Todd’s Tavern
May 8 Corbin’s Bridge
May 9-24

Sheridan’s Raid
May 9 Davenport and Childsburg
May 9-10

North Anna River
May 11

Ground Squirrel Church and Yellow Tavern, Ashland
May 12 Brooks’ Church or fortifications of Richmond
May 26-28 Line of the Pamunkey
May 28

Hawes’ Shop

Major Janeway was wounded.
May 28-31

Totopotomoy
May 31-June 1

Cold Harbor
June 7-24

Sumner’s Upper Bridge, Sheridan’s Trevillian Raid
June 11-12

Battle of Trevillian Station
June 12 Newark or Mallory’s Cross Roads
June 21 Black Creek or Tunstall Station, White House of St. Peter’s Church
June 24 St. Mary’s Church
June 29-July 12 Near Petersburg
July 5 Colonel Wyndham was discharged
July 6 Lieutenant Colonel John W. Kester was promoted to colonel. Major Janeway was promoted to lieutenant colonel.
July 12 Lee’s Mills, Warwick Swamp
July 27-29 Demonstration north of the James
July 27-28

Deep Bottom
July 28

Malvern Hill
August 8

Ream’s Station
August 13-20 Demonstration north of the James
August 14-18

Strawberry Plains
August 14 Gravel Hill. Lieutenant Colonel Janeway was wounded in the finger.
August 18-21

Weldon Railroad
August 23 Dinwiddie Road, near Ream’s Station
August 25

Ream’s Station
September 16 Old members were mustered out at Trenton, New Jersey.
September 17 Belcher’s Mills
September 25 Colonel Kester was mustered out with old members
September 29-October 2

Poplar Springs Church
September 30-October 1 Arthur’s Swamp
October 1 Vaughan Road
October 11 Lieutenant Colonel Hugh H. Janeway was promoted to colonel,
October 27-28

Boydton Plank Road or Hatcher’s Run
November 7 Reconnaissance to Stony Creek
November 11 Major Beaumont was promoted to lieutenant colonel
December 7-12

Warren’s Raid on Weldon Railroad
December 9-10 Bellefield Station
December 22 –
January 12		 Colonel Janeway took temporary command of the brigade as senior colonel
1865
January 25-
March 27		 Colonel Janeway again took temporary command of the brigade as senior colonel
February 5-7

Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run.

Colonel Janeway and Lieutenant Colonel Beaumont were wounded.
March 28-April 9

Appomattox Campaign
March 30-31

Dinwiddie Court House
April 1

Five Forks
April 5

Payne’s Cross Roads and Amelia Springs

Colonel Janeway was killed.
April 6

Sailor’s Creek
April 7

Farmville
April 9
Appomattox Court House

Surrender of Lee and his army.
April 23-27 Expedition from Burkesville to Danville and South Boston
May 2-12 Moved to Washington, D.C. Attached to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Dept. of Washington
May 4 Lieutenant Colonel Myron H. Beaumont was promoted to colonel
May 23 Grand Review
May 25 Company F was mustered out at Washington
July 24 The remainder of the First New Jersey Cavalry Regiment mustered out at Cloud’s Hills, Virginia under the command of Colonel Beaumont.