Monument at Salem Heights

[Pvt. Shattuck]

My GG grandfather Willis Shattuck, a soldier in the 16th NYVI, was captured at the Battle of Salem Church. According to the report of Colonel Seaver http://www.oocities.org/mdaubrey/or050963.html , the regiment was ordered to attack the Confederate position immediately to the right of the Plank (Orange) Rd. The
23rd NJ "Yahoos" were positioned on the regiment's left flank, on the other side of the road. There was no one to their right. The 23rd retired "precipitately", exposing their left flank. The 16th was forced to withdraw and the Rebels then attacked in force. The 16th took many casualties, and two CMOH were awarded for valor in the engagement, including the a very unusual one to the unit Chaplain.
'Precipitately" means "acting with or marked by excessive haste and lack of due deliberation. Impetuous, reckless." The Yahoos were so named for their lack of military appearance and discipline. They were a 9 month regiment whose first Colonel was cashiered for drunkeness. Salem Church was their first and only battle ( they were present but not engaged at Fredericksburg).
The 16th on the other hand, had seen two years of service, including Bull Run, Peninsular Campaign (huge losses at Gaines Mill), South Mountain, and Antietam. The famous photograph of wounded after Savage Station shows the 16th in their distinctivestraw hats. I mention all this because while commanders would sometimes fudge their reports to shift blame, it is very unlikely that happened here.
There is a large monument to the 23rd NJ facing what is today Rt. 3, erected by the regiment's veterans in the 1890s. On the other side of the road where the brave soldiers of the 16th sacrificed so much, their is a commercial strip center parking lot.
Prior to the battle, the 16th NY was given the option for duty in the rear because of their meritorious service, decimated ranks, and expiration of their two year term of enlistment in less than two weeks. Colonel Seaver, in true volunteer tradition, put it to the officers, who voted unanimously to participate in the attack. But first they agreed to put the question to the men, who also voted unanimously to remain. This extraordinary regiment deserves recognition at Salem Church.
Bill Slavin

[23rdYahoos]

Re: Monument at Salem Heights

My GG Uncle, John Cliver was in Company A of the 23rd NJ 'Yahoo's' and was killed in action at Salem Church. His brother, my GG Grandfather also served in the 23rd, Co A, but had been discharged due to illness a few months earlier. There is not much left of the field at Salem Church, but the church and the monuments remain there as testimony to what occured.

Here is a picture of the battle flag of the 23rd Yahoos!



Brian Mackay
Private
97th PVI Co B

[Silas]

Re: Monument at Salem Heights

Still waiting to hear about how the 23d NJ, instead of mustering out of service, responded to the plea of Pennsylvania's Gov. Curtin and volunteered to a man to remain in service beyond their term of enlistment. This happened during the Gettysburg campaign. It's an uncommon story.

The story about how the 23d got it's name is partially true, but not entirely accurate. There's more to the story than just what is included above. They espoused what started as a derogatory word. They saw themselves more as the roughnecks and goons from Gulliver's Travels aka the Yahoos.

The book on the First New Jersey Brigade mentions both accounts. (Some of the book is available on Google books.) I know a little about the unit because the CHAPs portrayed them at a Pacific Nor'west reenactment several years ago. We raised a small amount of money and turned it over to the NPS at Chatham. The money was earmarked for preservation of the 23d's statute along the highway near Salem Church.

It's hard not to like the 23d with a colonel named Burd Grubb.

[Pvt. Shattuck]

Re: Monument at Salem Heights

The 16th NY was one of the first volunteer regiments who answered the call. They were organized in April 1861 and mustered in the following month. They were rushed south to help defend a highly vulnerable Washington, DC. Marching through Baltimore , scene of recent violence against Federal troops, they were met by a sullen mob. The 16th had not yet recruited musicians and marched in silence. The mob ringleader jeered " where is thy music?''. Colonel Davies, West point Class of 1829 (with Robert E Lee) answered " in our cartridge boxes". There was no further incident.
The 23rd NJ, on the other hand, was organized to meet New Jersey's unfilled quota and avoid a three year enlistment under the draft. As you say, they took pride in being known as roughnecks and goons, which speaks for itself.
Bill Slavin

[Pvt. Shattuck]

Re: Monument at Salem Heights

I have not found any record of the 23rd NJ at Gettysburg- records indicate the regiment mustered out on June 27, 1863. Perhaps some individuals joined other units?

[Silas]

Re: Monument at Salem Heights

First, you need to sign your posts. In this thread, I've dinged both you and Mr. Mackay with infractions. I don't really want to do it again. Check your settings. There is a method of having your signature included automatically.

Second, I'm having trouble with your dissing of the 23d because they were a nine month's regiment especially since many of its members reupped and were folded primarily into two other New Jersey regiments after mustering out of the 23d. The swipe works better against those who did not volunteer at all.

Third, who said the 23d was at Gettysburg? The campaign went much longer than those three days in July. Juble Early's division went through Gettysburg on 26 June and proceeded north and east. In early June, the 23d was sent home from Virginia to muster out. There were some delays at the place where the mustering out was scheduled to occur. I do not recall the reasons. At this time, Lee was on the move. Gov. Curtin scrambled. At one point, he made an appeal to the three or four regiments about to leave service. He asked them to remain a little longer in defense of their country. No promises made. He appealed to their patriotism. Only one of these regiments answered his call. That's the 23d. With no more ammunition than contained in their boxes and with their smoothbore muskets, they took the only transportation available - coal cars - to Harrisburg. They dug trenches, sent patrols and established pickets. They also gave a measure of assurance to the town.

Did they fight? No. They didn't know what they were getting themselves into. They could have gone home. They didn't. They answered their country's call in time of need. What more can be asked of a soldier? They were one regiment of many, including home guard, who sought to slow down Lee's advance and allow the Army of the Potomac to arrive. The record of home guard and nine month's regiments is very under appreciated in this hobby.

[Pvt. Shattuck]

Re: Monument at Salem Heights

Sorry for the infraction and thanks for the tip- I have fixed my profile setting.
My point was this, and I stand by it. Frequently, the historical record is distorted by participants with an agenda. Is there not great irony that a regiment who fought only one battle and fled (apparently) memorialized themselves, while the battle tested regiment on their right fought so bravely, was forced to withdraw at great cost, has no marker whatever? Their field of valor is paved over, hence my post in Civil War Preservation. For heaven sakes, two CMOH were won where a StellarOne Bank now stands.
When the enlistment of my ancestor's second regiment, the 73rd OVI, expired, the great majority of officers and men chose to re-enlist after a short furlough. They became the 73rd Ohio Volunteer Veterans- did the Yahoos do this?
I'm not really dissing them, just trying to start an argument so I can have 10 posts and put my picture on the avatar.

[Pvt_Sullivan]

Re: Monument at Salem Heights

The 16th NY was one of the first volunteer regiments who answered the call. They were organized in April 1861 and mustered in the following month. They were rushed south to help defend a highly vulnerable Washington, DC. Marching through Baltimore , scene of recent violence against Federal troops, they were met by a sullen mob. The 16th had not yet recruited musicians and marched in silence. The mob ringleader jeered " where is thy music?''. Colonel Davies, West point Class of 1829 (with Robert E Lee) answered " in our cartridge boxes". There was no further incident.
The 23rd NJ, on the other hand, was organized to meet New Jersey's unfilled quota and avoid a three year enlistment under the draft. As you say, they took pride in being known as roughnecks and goons, which speaks for itself.
Bill Slavin

WOW!... so Bill the New Campaigner jumps on the AC and just has to spend his first three posts denigrating the original cast from the unit next to his GGGDaddy's unit in the big battle. I guess I yearn for the bad old days when that would have been roundly and immediately ridiculed.

Before typing away, a good plan would be to remember this week of Veteran's Day that ALL those who have put on their nation's uniform are due respect for their sacrifice. If you feel there is need for recognition to the 16th NY, you should put your energy into raising funds and gettting a marker or monument emplaced. Bloviating on an internet board and insulting the memory of the men who fought there is pointless and insulting.

The descendents of the Virginia, Alabama and Mississippi troops in Mahone's, Semme's and Wilcox's brigades have the best opinion of the relative fighting abilities of the Federal units of Brooks' and Newton's brigades that attacked them. One of the men leading in that assault was Emory Upton. The result of which was an idea that later developed into the Tactics Manual he wrote for the post Civil War U.S. Army.

[Pvt_Sullivan]

Re: Monument at Salem Heights

not really dissing them, just trying to start an argument so I can have 10 posts and put my picture on the avatar.

That says it all.

You need to grow up some and pull your brain housing group out of your lower gastro-intestinal track.

[Coatsy]

Re: Monument at Salem Heights

And this thread is closed for some great rules viloations. Folks, be nice, cite your sources, and don't use the forum to increase your post count/get an avatar picture... That doesn't add much to the website

[dusty27]

Re: Monument at Salem Heights

Thanks Herb for covering for me