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John
Carlin’s
Civil
War
August
5, 1861 to August 27, 1864
By
Harvey M. Green,
John Carlin’s
great-grandson
CIVIL WAR
MILITARY RECORDS,
COMPANY C, 1ST
REGIMENT, NEW JERSEY CAVALRY
August
5, 1861 to August 27, 1864
The Civil War was three months and 22 days old when 19 year old John
Carlin enlisted into the Union Army (Fort Sumter had been attacked by
Confederate forces at 4:20 a.m., on April 12, 1861). John had been born in New
York, N.Y. on November 11, 1844, and later moved to Trenton New Jersey, where he
enlisted in the Union Army as a Private in Company C, 1st Regiment, New Jersey
Cavalry.
John was described in the “Regimental Description Book” as follows:
Description:
Age 19 years: Height 5 feet
6-1/2 inches.
Complexion: Light;
Eyes: Blue; Hair:light.
Where Born: New York,
N.Y.
Occupation: Farmer.
Enlistment
When: August 5, 1861.
Where: Lumberton.
By Whom: J.D. Jones.
Term: 3 years.
It is interesting to note, that according to his birth date, John would
have been but 17 years of age at the time of his enlistment. I’m not sure if
he may have stretched his age a bit to enlist or if some other factors were
involved. Private John Carlin was now a member of Capt. J.D. Jones’ Company,
the basic unit of the Army. The Civil War Cavalry Company, or Troop, was
commanded by a Captain and at full compliment had 100 men arranged in: 2
platoons, 4 sections and 8 squads. The Company had the following officers and
noncoms: Captain (1), 1st Lieut. (1), 2nd Lieut. (1), 1st Sgt. (1), Sgts. (4)
and Corporals (8); John was one of the 84 privates of the Cavalry Company.
When the company was divided into platoons, the captain commanded one and
the 1st. Lt. the other. There was a sergeant for each section, and a corporal
for each squad. The 1st Sgt. “ran” the whole company. During most of the
Civil War the company units in the field were only at anywhere between 20% to
40% of their full strength. Thus, while in theory a company contained 100 men,
and would be recruited at that size, by the time they reached the army they’d
be down to 60% or so and after the first battle down to 40%.
If the troops dismounted for battle, 1 man in 4 would remain behind to
guard the horses.
John was pretty much an average soldier of his day. According to
available records, the physical characteristics of the common federal soldier,
were as follows:
Hair
Eyes
Black Hair =
13%
Blue Eyes = 45%
Dark Hair = 25%
Gray Eyes = 24%
Brown Hair = 30%
Hazel Eyes = 13%
Light Colored Hair = 24% Dark Eyes = 10%
Sandy Colored Hair = 4%
Black Eyes = 8%
Red Hair = 3%
Gray Hair = 1%
Average Height = 5 feet,
8-1/4 inch.
Federal Soldiers Prewar
Occupations
Farmers = 48%
Mechanics = 24%
Laborers = 16%
Commercial pursuits = 5%
Professional Men = 3%
Miss. Occupations = 4%
On March 22, 1997 (following a two month search of the National Archives)
I received a packet of 28 documents which is the sum-total of John
Carlin's Civil War Records. These records measured 3-1/3 by 8 inches, as though
they had been in tablet form for “field expedience.”
The documents were as follows:
Document
Pages
Muster-in Roll.
1 Company Muster Roll.
21
Special Muster Roll.
2
Release.
1
Carlin, John #718, 28 card number listing. 1
Company Muster-Our Roll.
1
In addition to the above documents, the following sources were used to
compile the ensuing account/history of John’s military service during the
Civil War:
Supplement
to the Official Records on the Union and Confederate Armies.
Compendium
of The War of the Rebellion (Vol. 3).
National
Archives and Records Administration.
National
Archives I Reference Branch.
Civil
War Center - Soldiers and Unit Information (Internet).
John
Carlin’s
Civil War
August 5, 1861 to
August 27, 1864
Although John Carlin had volunteered for Military Service with The U.S.
Cavalry on August 5, 1861, he did not appear on Capt. Ivan D. Jones’
“Company Muster-in Roll” until August 17, 1861. Only 3 days before John’s
appearance on the Company Muster-in Roll (August 14, 1861) the New Jersey unit
had been organized under authority of the War Department and was first known as,
“Capt. Jones' Co., New Jersey Mounted Volunteers.”
In the process of further reorganization, assimilation into larger
military units and its transfer to
“State Authority,” (on February
19, 1862) the unit became known as, “Co. C, 1st Regiment, New Jersey
Cavalry.” As often happened, units were known by their commander’s name and
they were no exception, and assumed the name, “Halsted’s Cavalry.”
With a compliment of 10 companies, the 1st Regiment was assigned to
defend Washington, D.C. as part of
Heintzelmas’s Division, Army of The Potomac, under Wadsworth’s Command,
Military District of Washington. The first 4 companies to leave Trenton,
New Jersey, saddled up on August 24, 1861, and the remaining 6 companies,
including Company C, departed Trenton on September 1, 1861, for Camp Mercer,
Virginia, where they remained through October 31, 1861.
John’s first Co. C, 1st
Regiment, New Jersey Cavalry, “Company Muster Roll” was dated, August 5,
1861 to August 31, 1861 and was somewhat confusing. Under remarks it stated:
“I hope from Gout, in Columbian Hospital.”
A second and even more confusing Company Muster Roll was dated, “July
27 to October 31” (their last day at Trenton), stating under remarks: “I
hope from Gout, in Columbian College Hospital.” Finally on October 1, 1861,
John appeared on The Columbian U.S.A. General Hospital, “Hospital Muster
Roll,” and under remarks it simply said, “Present.” The November and
December Co.C Company Muster Roll stated under “Present or Absent: not
stated.” In remarks it was written: “he gout I hope.”
By December 18, 1861, Company C participate in a reconnaissance sortie to
Pohick Church, Va. January 29, 1862, found them on detachment to Lee’s house
and the Occoquan Bridge, and now being stationed at Camp McDowell, Virginia
where they were to remain until April of 1862.
According to the March and April Company Muster Roll, John was
“Present.” John’s next Company Muster Roll, dated, April 30 to August 31,
1862 had him as “Present” and under remarks stated: Entitled to back pay
from August 5 to August 17, 1861. During May and June, John was stationed at
Camp McClellan, Manassas Junction, Virginia, where they were transferred to
Bayard’s Cavalry Brigade, Department of the Rapahanic, 3rd Corps, Pope’s
Army of Virginia. There they were to remained until September, 1862.
The Company Muster Roll, stated John as “present.”
While with John Pope’s Army, the company with the regiment was in
advance of the Army of Virginia performing a scout and picket duty between
Culpeper Court House and the Rapidam. During this period of time they were at
Rappahannock River on May 13, Staunton and Strasburg Road, June 1-2, Woodstock,
June 2, Harrisonburg June 6. They fought at “Battle of Cross Keys” on June
8. On July 22-24, they preformed a
reconnaissance mission to James City, and then on to operations in the area of
Orange Court house on July 29, 1862.
By August 1, they found themselves at Barnett’s Ford, August 8 at
Slaughter House, and after being forced back towards Culpeper Court-House, they
bivouacked near Cedar Mountain. During Pope’s August 16 - September 2 Campaign
in Northern Virginia, they remained stationed near Cedar Mountain, Virginia and
on August 9, they took part in the battle of Cedar Mountain. The Battle was a
Union victory, and along with the brigade won a commendation from Generals Pope
(Irwin), McDowell (Nathaniel Prentiss) Banks, and (George Dashiell) Bayard for
care and soldierly deportment. Company Muster Roll, stated John Carlin
“Present.” From the Northern
Virginia Campaign, they arrived at Rapahannock Station on August 19 and then on
to Brandy Station, Stevensburg and Raccoon Ford by August 20, 1862. Seemingly
ever on the move they were at Fords of the Rappahannock August 21-22, Faquier
White Sulphur Springs by August 27, Thoroughfare Gap August 28, Bull Run August
30th, Germantown and Centerville August 31 and recalled in the defense of
Washington, D.C. in early September of 1862., stationed at Centerville,
Virginia.
By September 16-18, there was a two company recon. from Upton’s hill to
Leesterville, and by September 29, an expedition form Centerville to Warrenton
(Detachment). On October 17-18,
1862, there was an expedition to Thoroughfare Gap, on to Upperville by October
29, Aldie and Mountanville by October 31. At this point John Carlin’s
“Company Muster Roll,” had him “Absent” from October 31, 1862 to April
of 1863, stating that he was at a, “Camp of Dismounted Men, Belle Plains.”
Although John was at “camp,” the Company Muster Roll reported him present
during November and December of 1862.
On April 10, 1863, John was listed in a “Special Muster Roll” as
present, and I must assume that he participated in the companies following
missions: Chancellorsville Campaign April 27 to May 6, Stoneman’s Raid April
29 - May 8. Brandy Station and Beverly Ford June 9 and Aldie June 17. On June
19th it was Middleburg, Upperville June 21, Dover June 22 and the Battle of
Gettysburg Penna., July 1-3, 1863.
It is here at the Battle of Gettysburg that I must pause for a moment. As
so often happened, both sides of my family had served in the Civil War. On my
mother’s side, John Carlin for the North, and my father’s side, Hugh Calvin
Green, for the South. On the Green side of the family, Hugh, the eldest son of
Garner Dawson and Allie Anne Green, my great-great grandparents, was born in
1843. He enlisted in the Confederate Army at the age of 19, serving under
General A.P. Hill in the 7th Virginia, Company G Infantry. During Larry
Green’s (my Third cousin) research on the Green family he found that Hugh had
fought in the following major battles: Yorktown, Williamsburg, 7 Pines, 2nd
Manassas, Sharpsburg, Md., Fredricksburg (Sunken Road), Pickets Charge at
Gettysburg, Chattanooga Tenn. (Lookout Mountain) and Appomattox. By one account,
Hugh died in the war, however in the second account, Hugh survived the war dying
from Typhoid Fever in 1867, at the age of 24 years.
Hugh’s younger brother, Walter Davis Green was reportedly a “drummer
boy” by one account, but in a second account, it was stated that he was born
on October 27, 1861, which may account for his middle name. Either the date of
birth is incorrect, or Walter was certainly the youngest drummer boy in the
Confederate Army.
Following the Battle of Gettysburg, the July and August Company Muster
Roll counted John “Absent,” and under remarks it was stated: “Detailed
orderly at Head Quarters.” By
August 8, 1863 the Company C “Appears on RETURNS as follows” document
stated: “Aug. 8, 63 Absent, Brigade Hd. Qts,” then in the Company Muster
Roll of September and October, 1863 John was reported as “Present.”
John was back in the field, with his Station not stated. By now, Company
C, 1st Regiment, New Jersey Cavalry, was a member of the 1st. Brigade, 1st
Division, Cavalry Corps, Department of Washington where he would serve the
remainder of his three year enlistment.
By September 12-17, they were advancing from the Rappahannock to Rapidan,
and on to Culpeper Court House by September 13th.
On October 8 to the10, they participated in skirmishes at James City, on
October 11 near Warrenton, on the 12th and
13th at Warrenton and White Sulphur
Springs. Their skirmishes
continued, Brentsville October 14, Auburn and Bristoe October 14th. They made a
quick advance to “line of the Rappahannoc” on November 7 and 8, and were
soon stationed at Warrenton Virginia. The Company Muster Roll, for November and
December 1863, confirmed that John Carlin was Present during these engagements.
Their action continued near Warrenton on November 11, and they
participated in the Mine Run Campaing from November 26 through December 2, 1863.
They had arrived at Hope Church on November 27th.,
Parker’s Store November 29. and did reconnaissance from Bealeton and
Fort Royal by January 1-4, 1864. February 18, found them near Piedmont, and by
February 28, through March 1, participated in “Custer’s Raid” into
Albemarle County, and on to Charlottesville on February 29, 1864.
By March 1, 1864, John’s company was “stationed in the field” near
Warrenton Junction, Va. and the March and April Company Muster Roll simply
stated John as, “Present.” As
the war continued into its third year, John’s Regiment found itself in the
campaign from the Rapidan to the James, during May 3 through June 15th.
Co. C, 1st Regiment, New Jersey Cavalry’s Company Muster Roll for May
and June counted John as, “Present.” This time period included, Todd’s
Tavern, Wilderness, back to Todd’s Tavern, Corbin’s Bridge and on May
9-24th, rode with “Sheridan’s Raid.”
On May 9 and 10 they
were at Davenport, Childsburg and North Anna River. By May 11, they had moved on
to Ground Squirrel Church, Yellow Tavern and Ashland, and the
next
day they were at Brooks’ Church or the fortifications of Richmond where they
remained on, “Line of the
Pamunkey” until May 28, 1864.
The last day of May and the first day of June, found them on the move
once more this time to Totopotomoy, Cold Harbor, and from June 7 to the 24th
they rode with Sheridan’s Trevellian Raid. This raid included, Trivillian
Station (June 11-12), Newark or Mallory’s Cross Road (June 12), Black Creek or
Tunstall Station (June 12), White House of St. Peter’s Church (June 12), St.
Mary’s Church (June 24). From June 29 to July 12, 1864 they were “near
Petersburg,” which included operations at Lee’s Mill, and Warwick Swamp.
Sometime during July of 1864, John Carlin left Company C, and the July
and August Company Muster Roll stated his absence. Under remarks it was stated:
“Dismounted Camp. Term of service expired August 27, 1864.” Here we loose
track of John, however Capt. D.J. Jones filed John’s final Company Muster Roll
for September and October of 1864, simply stating: “Discharged.”
Private John Carlin of Company C, 1st Regiment, New Jersey Cavalry, was
among the fortunate ones who had fought and survived. By the conclusion of the
Civil War, 620,000 members of the armed forces had not been so fortunate. The
Union Forces had sustained 360,000 casualties and the South 260,000.
At the time of John’s discharge, the Civil War was to continue for an
additional 7 months and 12 days before Generals Grant and Lee were to arrange
the terms of surrender at the small Virginia town of Appomattox Courthouse on
April 9, 1865.