6th Regiment, New Jersey Infantry

HISTORICAL NOTES: The 6th New Jersey Infantry Regiment was recruited in the counties of Burlington, Camden, Mercer, Hudson and Hunterdon, and was mustered into Federal service in August 1861. A good part of the men who made up the unit had previous field experience in the 4th New Jersey Militia, a three-month enlistment regiment that was disbanded in July 1861 (Company F, for example, was largely made up of men who served in the 4th NJ Militia's Company K). During its field service fighting against the Confederates, it took part in a number of engagements, such as the Battle of Williamsburg, the Battle of Chancellorsville, the Battle of Gettysburg, and the Battle of the Wilderness. On September 13, 1861, the Sixth was brigaded with the 55th New York, Gardes Lafayette, the 62d New York, Anderson Zouaves and the 102nd Pennsylvania (the Old 13th Pittsburgh Washington Infantry), under the command of General John J. Peck. However, the 6th was soon removed and placed in the "Second New Jersey Brigade" along with the 5th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, the 7th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, and the 8th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry. Despite its beginnings as an all-New Jersey unit, regiments from other states were eventually added to the brigade, starting in 1863. It fought as part of the Army of the Potomac's III Corps until the corps was disbanded in March 1864. From that point until its muster out it was part of the II Corps.

In September 1864, the original enlistments of the unit expired by law, and the men who served a full three years were mustered out of service. Men of the 6th New Jersey who had re-enlisted or were recruited after the regiment was formed were folded into the 8th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, with whom they served for the duration of the war.

According to the 1876 published work Record of Officers and Men of New Jersey in the Civil War by William S. Stryker (a Civil War veteran who was serving as New Jersey's Adjutant General at the time), a total of 1,434 men were listed as having served in the 6th New Jersey. Through its service in the field, the regiment lost 4 officers and 176 men killed, mortally wounded or died of disease, for a total of 180. However, Dyer's Compendium puts the number at 3 Officers and 124 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 71 Enlisted men by disease, for a total 199. OFFICERS: Mustered in at the end of August/beginning of September 1861 -

Colonel James T. Hatfield

Lieutenant Colonel Simpson R. Stroud

Major John P. Van Leer

Adjutant Leonard J. Gordon

Quartermaster Joseph Woodward

Surgeon John Wiley

Assistant Surgeon Redfield Sharp

Chaplain Samuel T. Moore

Sergeant Major Charles Merriam
Of the men who made up the 6th New Jersey's initial leadership, only Surgeon Wiley and Chaplain Moore would still serve in their duties when their three-year enlistments expired in September 1864. Colonel Hatfield resigned due to "disability" just prior to the 1862 Peninsular Campaign. Lieutenant Colonel Simpson Stroud died of disease in Camden, New Jersey, in November 1861, never seeing any field service. Major John P. Van Leer was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel to replace Stroud, and was killed in action at the Battle of Williamsburg (briefly leading the regiment before his demise). Adjutant Gordon resigned in January 1862 (his replacement, Lieutenant Aaron Wilkes of Company B, was also killed at the Battle of Williamsburg). Quartermaster Woodward resigned due to disability in April 1863. Assistant Surgeon Sharp was promoted to Surgeon of the 15th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry in July 1862. While Chaplain Moore continued to serve with the 8th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry after September 1864, Surgeon Wiley chose to not re-enlist after three full years, and was honorably mustered out. Sergeant Major Merriam was promoted to 1st Lieutenant of Company H before he resigned in January 1863.

ASSIGNMENTS: Organized at Camp Olden, Trenton, N.J., and mustered in August 19, 1861. Left State for Washington, D.C., September 10, 1861. Attached to Casey's Provisional Brigade, Division of the Potomac, to October, 1861. 3rd Brigade, Hooker's Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1864. 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 2nd Army Corps, to May, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 2nd Army Corps, to October, 1864. SERVICE: Expedition to Lower Maryland November 3-11, 1861. At Meridian Hill until December, 1861, and near Budd's Ferry, Md., until April, 1862. Moved to the Virginia Peninsula April 5-8. Siege of Yorktown April 10-May 4. Battle of Williamsburg May 5. Battle of Fair Oaks (or Seven Pines) May 31-June 1. Duty near Seven Pines until June 25. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Battles of Oak Grove, near Seven Pines, June 25. Savage Station June 29. Glendale June 30. Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison's Landing until August 15. Movement to Centreville August 15-26. Pope's Campaign in Northern Virginia August 26-September 2. Action at Bristoe Station (or Kettle Run) August 27. Battles of Groveton August 29. Bull Run August 30. Chantilly September 1. Duty in the Defenses of Washington until November 1. Movement to Falmouth, Va., November 1-28. Duty near Falmouth November 28-December 11. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. At Falmouth until April 27, 1863. "Mud March" January 20-24. Operations at Rappahannock Bridge and Grove Church February 5-7. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-5. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg July 1-3. Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap, Va., July 5-24. Wapping Heights July 23. Duty near Warrenton until October. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. McLean's Ford October 15. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Kelly's Ford November 7. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Payne's Farm November 27. Duty near Brandy Station until May, 1864. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7. Campaign from the Rapidan to the James May 3-June 15. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Spotsylvania May 8-12; Spotsylvania Court House May 12-21. Assault on the Salient ("Bloody Angle") May 12. Harris Farm (or Fredericksburg Road) May 19. North Anna River May 23-26. Ox Ford May 23-24. On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Before Petersburg June 16-18. Siege of Petersburg June 16 to October 12, 1864. Jerusalem Plank Road June 22-23. In trenches before Petersburg until July 12. In Reserve Camp until July 26. Demonstration on north side of the James July 27-29. Deep Bottom July 27-28. In trenches until August 12. Demonstration north of the James August 13-20. Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom. August 14-18. Ream's Station August 25. Before Petersburg until October 12. Non-Veterans mustered out at Trenton, N.J., September 7, 1864. Veteran Battalion consolidated with 8th New Jersey Infantry October 12, 1864. ROSTERS:
The composite rosters of this unit contains the names of 2508 men. BIBLIOGRAPHY: