Episode 35: 2LT Camille Baquet and the 1st New Jersey at the Battle of the Wilderness

At the Battle of the Wilderness, 5-7 May 1864, 2LT Camille Baquet and the 1st New Jersey marched to the aid of the V Corps which discovered the Confederate 2nd Corps along the Orange Turnpike. The thick vegetation of the Wilderness meant the Jerseymen fought blind, unable to see the Confederate lines in front of them or in some cases the lines of adjacent Union regiments.

Sources used for this episode:

Camille, Baquet. History of the First Brigade, New Jersey Volunteers, from 1861 to 1865. Trenton: MacCrellish & Quigley, State Printers, 1910. https://www.loc.gov/item/13009241/.

Scott, Robert N. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. ser. 1, vol. 36, pt: 1: Reports. Washington: Government Printing Press, 1891. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924097311744&view=1up&seq=3.

Transcript

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Hello, everyone. My name is bill Conklin. And welcome to first person civil war podcast. Which retails the stories of the soldiers and officers on the ground, in the battles of the civil war. Episode 35 is entitled. Second Lieutenant Camille back a and the first New Jersey at the battle of the wilderness. And relies on his book. History of the first brigade, New Jersey volunteers. From 1861 to 1865. Which he published in 1910. Camille Archibald Baca was born in Burlington, New Jersey in 1842 and was about 18 years old. When the civil war began unable to join a New Jersey regiment, Camille back, a traveled to Philadelphia where he enlisted into company. I have the 16th Pennsylvania cavalry on 13, September, 1862. Private backache and the regiment, man, the defenses around Washington DC. When in April of 1863, now Sergeant Bacca. I received a promotion to second Lieutenant and company a of the first New Jersey. The first, second and third New Jersey volunteers mustered into service in may of 1861 and formed the core of what became the first New Jersey brigade. Present at first bull run. The brigade continued at service within the army of the Potomac at the seven days battles, Antietam and Fredericksburg. With second Lieutenant Baca and the ranks of the first New Jersey at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. As the years passed and the casualties mounted the first New Jersey brigade maintained state identity. And by may of 1864, it consisted of the first second. Third fourth. 10th. And 15th, New Jersey volunteers. And was the first brigade. I commanded by Colonel Henry W. Brown. In Brigadier general ratio rights, first division of major general John Sedgwick's sixth core of the army of the Potomac. Commanded by major general George Meade. Lieutenant general Ulysses S grant. Now commander of all union armies in the field plan to advance against the Confederacy and several places in 1864, which included a multi-pronged advance into Virginia. The army of the Potomac part in this plan was to fight general Robert E. Lee and his army of Northern Virginia, wherever it may be and destroy it. Given the importance of this assignment, Lieutenant general grant accompanied the army at the Potomac from the spring of 1864 until the end of the war. Which meant he was in tactical command. The army of the Potomac began its March in early may. And second Lieutenant Baca provided insights on how permanent this departure was not only to the first New Jersey, but the entire sixth core. The exacting inspections, issuing of supplies to the rank and file and review of the troops gave the assurance of the near-miss of the expected campaign. On the 3rd of May orders were issued to the Corps commanders to break up camp at midnight and to have the troops ready to move before the Dawn of the fourth. Long before daylight, the bugle sounded to Reveley and soon after the call to pack up was blown. In a few minutes, thousands of small fires where a glow. The fuel made up of the bedding and discarded accumulations of winter quarters by the light of their fires knapsacks were packed, overcoats and blankets rolled and coffee made. The sixth core cross the rapid Dan river at your man of Ford. And entered a region west of the town of Fredericksburg known as the wilderness. Characterized by dense woods and undergrowth, the wilderness was already seen to the battle of Chancellorsville fought exactly one year prior. By the night of the fourth, second Lieutenant backache and the first New Jersey camped about one mile south of the Ford in vicinity of Lieutenant general Grant's headquarters, having just completed a long March. The men of the regiment were tense. Little sleep visited the men who sat around their small campfires and groups talking in low tones, smoking some writing letters by the lights of campfires And to many repacking their knapsacks. The next morning, a collection of rejected luxuries and even comforts were scattered over the campground that would have filled two or three wagons. Every conceivable thing used by soldiers was to be found there. The men were reluctant to sacrifice their treasures. But one day's March satisfied them. Breakfast was hurried for the roar of musketry in front, told the men that the campaign was opened. And that they would be called upon to do their share. On the morning of five May, 1864 elements of the fifth core departed the wilderness Tavern. Their camp for the night and marched west down the orange turnpike. Approximately two miles down the road, the fifth core, discover the Confederate second core and immediately engaged. The battle of the wilderness had begun. The sixth core minus its third division, which still guarded German of Ford marched down the Spotswood road intending to form on the fifth. Core's right. Flank. As the first New Jersey formed in line of battle. Second Lieutenant Baca noted how difficult it was to move the regiment through the dense foliage. The order to move forward as quickly as possible was passed down the line. Uh, charge could not have been made as the undergrowth was so dense and the trees so close together that it was impossible to keep formation. The regiments of the brigade had difficulty in keeping in touch with each other. And the fourth regiment was entirely separated from it. The brigade advanced several hundred yards when it encountered Confederate sharpshooters, which forced the first New Jersey brigade to lay on the ground. The firing from the sharp shooters eventually died down and the brigade continued its advance at around noon, the sixth core finally located the fifth core and extended the line of battle north. Though, within range of the Confederates. Second Lieutenant Baca noted that the visibility of the enemy was limited to his immediate front. Some firing was done by the brigade. But as no enemy could be seen, it died down to now and then a shot as the men fancy, they saw moving objects or caught sight of sharp shooters. The line was advanced several times during the day to not only keep the lines intact, but to take advantage of the enemy, retiring, to secure the abandoned positions. It was only after advancing several hundred paces that dead Confederates were found. Indicating where their line had been. During the afternoon. A fresh brigade, arrived and relieved the Jersey men. Who took up a reserve position, just 30 paces in the rear. Though by second Lieutenant Baquets account fighting was rather sparse. But constant. And the first New Jersey alongside the entire brigade ran low on ammunition. Orders from Colonel brown to be saving of their cartridges, gave the men some uneasiness as they immediately concluded that reserve ammunition was not at hand. At five o'clock. Uh, charge was made by the enemy. Not long after the first New Jersey brigade had been relieved. The Confederates came on with great dash in spirit. Charging right up to the low breast works that the Jersey men had thrown up. And which were on fire in several places. The first line stood their ground firmly and poured a hot fire into the rebel ranks causing great confusion and disabling. Many of them. The deadly fight lasted 20 minutes or more when the enemy seeing so many of their men killed in wounded. Gave way and retired. Disappearing in the thicket of the undergrowth. The Jerseymen stood in line, ready to make a rush forward as soon as called upon. Though it held firm, there was an air of tension in the union. Mine. During the battle of Chancellorsville the sixth core to not fight in the wilderness as they were further east around Fredericksburg. But they were fully aware of how the Confederates emerged from the woods on the 11th chorus, right. Flank and routed them. Second Lieutenant backache already gave us one clue to the mood of the men the night prior. And on the night of five may, it was much worse. At night, it seems as if every twig held a whipped, poor will a kind of bird. And as if one vied with all the rest in the rapidity of their peculiar call. At three o'clock in the morning while the men were asleep, lying on their arms. Something caused a part of the line to rise up as one man and rush for the rear. They went 10 or 15 steps and then stopped. They returned immediately to the line and laid down again. No one could explain what caused the stampede. But it was noticed that every man had his rifle while he left his overcoat blankets and knapsack behind. Knight combat was rare during the civil war, but if a regimen stayed on or near the front line, sleeping on your arms was a normal act for soldiers. One must remember that these men just fought for almost an entire day without seeing the lines of the enemy, not to mention the entirety of their own lines. It is no wonder that several men became skiddish as night fell. The near zero visibility during the day. Now turn tonight. If the Confederacy chose to attack in the dark. They could also rely on the constant call of hundreds of whipped, poor wills to mask their movements through the dense undergrowth. Given the low visibility of the wilderness and the fact that second Lieutenant Baca witnessed this at all meant that the skiddish men probably belonged to the regiment, which replaced them during the fights of the day before. It is also assumed that the leadership of this unidentified group of men brought them to a halt. Calm them down and got them back into the line. Ready for the second day of fighting. On six may the third division, which consisted of just two brigades. Rejoined the sixth core after completing its task of guarding German, a Ford. This division second brigade reinforced the brigade north of second Lieutenant backache and the first New Jersey. Alongside these men came much needed ammunition, wagons. And the Jerseymen fully replenished their cartridge boxes and knapsacks with approximately 90 rounds per man. Both sides skirmished for most of the day. And it was the sharpshooters that became the most deadly men on the battlefield. Second Lieutenant back a remained with the main line the entire day. And by that evening, the union skirmishers finally returned to their lines with the reports of mass Confederates. The brigade was ready to repel the charge. And we're looking ahead to fire at the first enemy to come and site. When a tremendous discharge of musketry on the rights of the brigade, drew their attention. The weird rebel yell, accompany the discharge and the men of the first brigade saw vast crowd of Confederates pouring over the half built breast works in front of Seymour's brigade. On which they were at work when the enemy charged. It was sad afterward that the pickets were, but a few yards in front of their line and that the brigade had stacked arms and Nutriments to be able to work more effectively on their entrenchments. Brigadier general John B. Gordon managed to scout the right flank of the union mind during the day. And he correctly deduce that his brigade rested on the sixth course. Right. Flank. He reported this to his division commander. And receive permission to advance on this flank with another per gate and support. Until he called the halt at dusk A line of skirmishers covering this flank of the enemy readily gave way and surprised by this sudden and figure us attack the troops on his right deserted their trenches and fled. Repeated efforts were made by brigade commanders to change front and check our advance. These commands were rapidly broken and scattered. The advance of my brigade was steady and uninterrupted until the approach of darkness. Caught up in this Confederate flank attack and unable to stop. It was second Lieutenant backache and the first New Jersey. A wild scramble for the rear and sued and the rebels pursuing kept up a fierce fire upon the retreating troops. Shalers brigade was struck by the flanking force of Gordon's Confederate brigade and doubled up on the mass of disorganized regiments of Seymour's brigade. The right to the Jersey brigade was broken. And forest back by the stampede and the men backed off towards the left and rear. So as to present as decent, a front to the enemy as possible,. This line stopped the further advance of Gordon's men who probably thought they had done enough in capturing two union generals and about 600 men from Seymour's Shalers and the first Jersey brigades. The sixth core formed a new line, further down the orange turnpike And then second Lieutenant backache in the first New Jersey reached this line, the fighting on the second day ceased. The regimen served on the skirmish line the next day and saw a little fighting on this final day of the battle of the wilderness. But they had already suffered greatly. Of the total casualties sustained by the New Jersey brigade. The first New Jersey accounted for almost one half. 17 officers and men died. 106 wounded. And 39 captured. Though, not explicitly stated by second Lieutenant Baca. This means that his regiment was on the right flank of the brigade. Which broke and fled to the rear before reforming, but the rest of the sixth core. The battle of the wilderness was inconclusive. And instead of withdrawing his army to rest and refit, Lieutenant general grant opted to marches, army, south and east, and continued to hammer away at the army of Northern Virginia. Second Lieutenant back a remained with the first New Jersey through Spotsylvania courthouse and called Harbor. Went on 23, June, 1864. Just one day prior to the official end of the Overland campaign around Petersburg. His term of enlistment expired. And he returned to New Jersey. Before ending this episode, I would like to touch on an unintended legacy of the Overland campaign. After the civil war, the us government published the multi-volume series. The war of the rebellion, a compilation of the official records of the union and Confederate armies. Which has proved one of the most influential sources for historians as it contains reports, not just from the generals after a battle. But all the way down to regimental hand artillery, battery commanders. But with the Overland campaign, the reports are sparse and heavily summarized. With each episode, I incorporate a report from the opposing side that mostly corroborates what a soldier or officer wrote in his own book. But these reports require downtime for leadership to gather their thoughts and put pen to paper. This important time after the battle of the wilderness. And most of the battles of the Overland campaign was absent. As from four may the 24, June, 1864. There was constant fighting or marching and therefore, no time to write. This meant that the only source that mentioned the first New Jersey was from the division commander, which heavily summarized the fighting. While the only useful Confederate report was that of Brigadier general Gordon and his flank attack. This is why personal accounts like second Lieutenant Baquets are important to understanding how the battle of the wilderness or any battle of the civil war unfolded. Second Lieutenant Baquets book history of the first brigade, New Jersey volunteers from 1861 to 1865. Incorporated multiple first person accounts on the battlefield. As well as the history of all eight regiments of the brigade. Published in 1910. It was the first comprehensive book about this brigade. The work here presented is intended to fill a space in the history of new Jersey's soldier, sons here too for neglected. That's so long, a time has elapsed since the deeds recorded were performed to before any record of them was attempted, must be attributed to the modesty of the men who made that record on the battlefields of Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. This unfortunate modesty has lost the Raiders of this work. Many incidents of personal bravery and sacrifice that would have given both interest and charm to it. Thank you for listening to the 35th episode, the link to second Lieutenant Baquets book is now available on the podcast website. First person, civil war, podcast.com. On Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn. This week, you will find a picture of Camille backache and the colors of the first New Jersey. Alongside other colors from the first New Jersey brigade. In two weeks time, cadet Frank Preston. Cadet captain of company B. Virginia military Institute infantry, battalion. Provides next episodes. First person account. At the battle of new market. My name is bill Coughlin. And thank you for listening to first person civil war podcast.