New Jersey Answers The Call
(The parts that pertain to James Hummer are in red)


The patriotism of the citizens of New Jersey during the stormy period of 1861-65, was attested on many occasions, not alone by the valor of her soldiery on scores of battle-fields, but by the promptness with which the people responded to the call of the National Government for troops, and the thorough manner in which the several organizations were armed and equiped before leaving the State.

Governor Olden cooperated heartlidly and cordially with the President and Secretary of War in all their efforts to suppress the rebellion in its infancy. With the outbreak of hostilities, New Jersey sent to Washington a brigade a four regiments, aggregating three thousand men, for three months service. This brigade was under the command of General Theodore Runyon and was fully armed and equipped at the expense of the State. This brigade was the first completely equipped troops to make its appearance at the National Capital.

The theory entertained by the National authorities that the rebellion would be crushed out within the three month period was short-lived. The National Government then called for thirty-nine regiments of infantry and one of cavalry to serve for a three year period or until the end of the war. The quota for New Jersey being three regiments of infantry. Before a month passed by, a second call was issued for the State to raise an additional five regiments of infantry for the same period of time. By an Act of the Legislature, May 11, 1861, the payment of State pay was authorized, of two dollars per month for single men and six dollars per month to the families of volunteers in the service. This was disbursed through county, township and city officials. The sum expended during the War to discharged soldiers and families of deceased soldiers, amounted to five hundred and fifty-five thousand eight hundred and forty dollars and sixty-three cents ($555,840 63), and to families and dependent mothers, one million seven hundred and sixty-one thousand five hundred and thirty-three dollars and ninety-five cents ($1,761,533.95), total, two millions three hundred and seventeen thousand three hundred and seventy-four dollars and fifty-eight cents ($2,317,374.58). State pay was allowed, A system was adopted for the transmission of money through this office, from the troops in the field to their families at home, and in this manner a total disbursement was made of two millions two hundred and seventy-five thousand nine hundred and eighty-nine dollars ($2,275,989). The State paid no bounties for Recruits, but bounties were offered by county, township and ward authorities on certificate of muster in to the United States service. It is estimated, that in this way, local bounties were paid in New Jersey, of more than twenty-three millions of dollars ($23,000,000). Following are the regiments organized and their commanders forming the First New Jersey Brigade under the command of General Philip Kearny and assigned to Franklins Division: First Regiment: Colonel William R. Montgomery
Second Regiment: Colonel George W. McLean
Third Regiment: Colonel George W. Taylor
Fourth Regiment: Colonel James H. Simpson Battery A
First New Jersey Artillery: Captain William Hexamer

The Second New Jersey Brigade was composed of: Fifth Regiment: Colonel Samuel H. Starr
Sixth Regiment: Colonel James T. Hatfield
Seventh Regiment: Colonel Joseph W. Revere
Eighth Regiment: Colonel Adolphus J. Johnson Battery B
First New Jersey Artillery: Captain John E. Beam

This brigade was assigned to Hookers Division and was more well known as Hookers Old Guard. It formed the Third Brigade of the Second Division, Third Army Corps, under the command of Colonel Starr of the Fifth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers.

Rapidly, as these organizations were formed the opportunities presented for enlistment were not sufficient to satisfy the desires of a great many who were anxious to go to war. Thousands of Jerseymen enlisted in the regiments of other States, and whole companies left Newark, Rahway, Orange and other places and were incorporated with New York and Pennsylvania regiments and credited to those States.

The Ninth Regiment was specially authorized by the War Department as a rifle regiment, and in short time its ranks were full. Under the command of Colonel Joseph W. Allen it proceeded to North Carolina as part of the Burnside Expedition, gaining immediate reknown at the Battle of Roanoke Island.

In 1861, a regiment of cavalry known as "Halstead's Horse" was ordered to be recruited in the State by the direct authority of President Lincoln, and the companies as sonn as formed were forwarded to Washington. Likethe Tenth Infantry, dissatisfaction, wrangling and vexation ensued, and finally the State authorities were prevailed upon to accept it, when it became the First New Jersey Cavalry with Sir Percy Wyndham as its Colonel.

On July 7, 1862, a call was issued for three hundred thousand men to serve for three years or during the war. The following New Jersey regiments were formed and forwarded to Washington:

Eleventh Regiment: Colonel Robert McAlister
Twelfth Regiment: Colonel Robert C. Johnson
Thirteenth Regiment: Colonel Ezra A. Carman
Fourteenth Regiment: Colonel William S. Truex
Fifteenth Regiment: Colonel Samuel Fowler

Upon their forming, these new regiments were not brigaded together due to the necessity of their need in Washington. The Eleventh was assigned to Carr's Brigade, Sickles Division, Third Army Corps; the Twelfth was assigned to the Second Brigade, Third Division, Second Army Corps; the Thirteenth was assigned to Gordon's Brigade, William's Division, Banks' Corps; the Fourteenth to a Provisional Brigade, Middle Division, Eighth Army Corps; and the Fifteenth to the First New Jersey Brigade, First Division, Sixth Army Corps.

New Jersey had shown comendable promptness in the forwarding of her troops to Washington. The total number of three year troops furnished to the Government by New Jersey up to this period amounted to six hundred and twenty-eight officers and fifteen thousand two hundred and seventy-seven enlisted men; totaling fifteen thousand nine hundred and five men.

On August 4, 1862, the President called for three hundred thousand men for nine months service, a draft being ordered to take place on September 1st ensuing, if the number required were not sooner furnished by volunteers. New Jersey's quota under this call was ten thousand four hundred and seventy-eight men.

On the third day of September the Adjutant-General announced the formation of eleven regiments for nine months service, with a aggregate of ten thousand seven hundred and fourteen men, all volunteers, and being an excess of two hundred and thirty-six over the number called for. These regiments were numbered, officered and assigned to duty as follows:


Twenty-First Regiment: Colonel Gillian Van Houten
Third Brigade, Second Division, Sixth Army Corps

Twenty-Second Regiment: Colonel Cornelius Fornet
Defenses of Washington - Third Brigade, First Division, First Army Corps

Twenty-Third Regiment: Colonel John S. Cox
First New Jersey Brigade, First Division, Sixth Army Corps

Twenty-Fourth Regiment: Colonel William B. Robertson
Defenses of Washington - Kimball's Brigade, French's Division, Couch's (Second) Corps

Twenty-Fifth Regiment: Colonel Andrew Dermon
Second Brigade of Casey's Division, and afterward to First Brigade, Third Division, Ninth Army Corps

Twenty-Sixth Regiment: Colonel A.J. Morrison
Brigg's Brigade, Sumner's Corps and next to First Vermont Brigade (General Brooks), Second Division, Sixth Army Corps

Twenty-Seventh Regiment: Colonel George W. Mindil
Casey's Division and next to Second Brigade, First Division, Ninth Army Corps

Twenty-Eighth Regiment: Colonel Moses N, Wisewell
First Brigade, Third Division, Second Army Corps

Twenty-Ninth Regiment: Colonel Edwin F. Applegate
various duties around Washington and finally to the third Brigade, First Division, First Army Corps

Thirtieth Regiment: Colonel Alexander E. Donaldson
Thirty-First Regiment: Colonel A.P. Berthoud
Brigaded with the Twenty-Second and Twenty-Ninth Regiments
Third Brigade, first Division, First Army Corps

With the addition of these troops the number of men contributed to the Government reached the very respectable figure of twenty-five thousand two hundred and fifty-seven, all volunteers, of whom twenty-three thousand one hundred and sixteen were accredited to the Army of the Potomac.
April 17, 1861 to April 20, 1865
Number of Men furnished for four years, 155
Number of Men furnished for three years, 42,573
Number of Men furnished for two years, 2,243
Number of Men furnished for one year, 16,812
Number of Men furnished for nine months, 10,787
Number of Men furnished for three months, 3,105
Number of Men furnished for one hundred days, 700
Number of Men furnished not classified, 2,973
Credited to State, 79,348
Furnished but not credited, 8,957
Total, 88,305
Total number of Men called for, 78,248
Surplus over all calls, 10,057


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