10th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry

10th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry
Flag of New Jersey
Active	October 1, 1861, to June 22, 1865
Country	United States of America
Allegiance	Union
Branch	Union Army
Type	Infantry
Equipment	Enfield/Springfield rifles
Engagements	Battle of the Wilderness, Battle of Spotsylvania, Battle of Cold Harbor, Battle of Strasburg, Battle of Fisher's Hill, Battle of Opequon, Battle of Cedar Creek and Battle of Petersburg III

The 10th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry was a regiment was organized under the provisions of an Act of Congress approved July 22, 1861, and by authority issued by the War Department. It was created to recruit from residents of the State of New Jersey, but was not under the control or supervision of the State authorities. It was originally known as "Olden Legion" after New Jersey Governor Charles Olden.

William Bryan of Beverly, New Jersey, recruited and organized the regiment. According to Foster, On the first roster of the regiment, after being placed in State service, is this endorsement: "This regiment was raised by individuals, not authorized by the State, and accepted by the War Department as an independent organization, some time in the fall of 1861, and was not known by the State authorities until it was placed under their care, January 29, 1862."

When the organization of the regiment was completed with nine companies of infantry and one company of cavalry, it was established at Camp Beverly, New Jersey, where William Bryan lived. The unit proceeded to Washington, D.C., on December 26, 1861, with 35 officers, 883 non-commissioned officers and privates, for a total of 918 men.

After they marched to Camp Clay on the Bladensburg Turnpike, a location approximately one mile from Washington, they were reorganized and designated the 10th New Jersey Infantry. Soon after being reorganized the cavalry company, Company D, was discharged and a new company was raised that April. In fact, the regiment was not very effective by February 1862 when many of the cavalry company were under arrest for refusing to do infantry duties.

For the next year, the regiment served under the command of Brig. Gen. James Wadsworth in the defenses of Washington before being assigned to field service in the XXII Corps until April 1863.

According to Foster this regiment suffered from defective organization and the absence of discipline soon after arriving in Washington. The War Department turned to Governor Olden who did not want responsibility for this problem regiment. In the end, however, the State accepted responsibility after reorganizing the regiment and assigning a new Colonel, William R. Murphy.

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Wikipedia