The Monocacy Regiment

The 14th Regiment New Jersey Volunteer Infantry was recruited in the summer of 1862 in response to President Lincoln's call for 300,000 volunteers. Under the command of Colonel William S. Truex, the regiment was mustered into federal service for three years on August 26th. It trained at Camp Vredenburgh near Freehold, New Jersey on the grounds of the Monmouth battlefield of 1778. Its companies came mostly from central New Jersey and were a good mix in origin. Four companies were from urban Trenton and Elizabeth and six from rural Monmouth, Ocean, and Middlesex counties. The men of the 14th New Jersey proudly boasted to be neither draftees nor bounty men, but freely enlisted patriots.

The regiment played a major role in saving our nation's capitol, Washington, D.C. For its steadfast defense and fighting withdrawal in the face of numerically superior Confederate forces at the Battle of Monocacy near Frederick, Maryland, the regiment became known as the "Monocacy Regiment." It, along with other regiments of the 3rd Division of the 6th Corps, received the salute of Major General Philip Sheridan for exemplary conduct and fighting qualities in the Union victory at Cedar Creek, Virginia. During the war the total combat fatalities of the 14th Regiment New Jersey Volunteers ranks fourth among New Jersey Regiments. No one can say that the Jersey boys had not done their part.

Thirty-four months of continuous campaigning thinned the regiment's ranks from 950 to 230 men. A total of 1384 officers and men served in the 14th at various times, of whom 345 were either killed, wounded, or missing in action. Its bravery and casualties won the regiment the honor of being included in William Fox's list of "300 Fighting Regiments." During its service the 14th New Jersey covered over 1000 miles by rail, over 600 miles by ship, and over 2000 by foot.

The 14th fought in many major engagements including the Battle of Locust Grove, The Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Monocacy, Cedar Creek, Opequon, Petersburg, and Saylor's Creek. The regiment was also present at Lee's surrender at the Appomatox Court House and participated in the Grand Army Review held on June 8, 1865 in Washington. The 14th was subsequently mustered out of the United States service on June 19th and returned to Trenton.

In 1907 the deeds of the 14th were commemorated by the State of New Jersey with the erection of a large monument (pictured, left) on the Monocacy battlefield. The monument is located near the spot where the regiment fought so bravely on July 9, 1864.

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