Tabernacle Historical Society

Hear My Story

[AUDIO PLACEHOLDER: Add Harry Myers’s audio story and replace the links on the icon and “Hear My Story” heading.]

Read My Story

My name is Harry Myers. I was born in 1848. I was mustered into the Third New Jersey Volunteer Infantry in 1861. I served as a Private. On June 4th, the 3rd New Jersey Volunteer Infantry was duly mustered into the service of the United States for three years at Fort Olden, Trenton, NJ. The regiment left the state on June 28, 1861, with a full complement of men, which included 38 officers, 1,013 non-commissioned officers and privates, totaling 1,051. Our regiment had representatives from nearly every county in New Jersey. The Third New Jersey Volunteer Infantry was one of the regiments that comprised what was known as the First New Jersey Brigade. When we weren’t drilling, drilling, drilling, or campaigning, we engaged in many diversions that offered a break from the dullness of camp and the terror of battle.

Many of our favorite pastimes included calling guys names and teasing them, such as the guy who had to get up in the middle of the night to relieve himself. I won’t share any of the vulgar words used. In addition to name-calling, we played lots of poker and dice games. Some of us were able to get hold of some paint, so we would decorate the ground by painting chess and checkers games. We even did some boxing and wrestling. Some of my fellow soldiers would read anything they could get their hands on, such as pocket Bibles, religious tracts and hymnals, and newspapers. Sometimes a guy would get a box from home containing “dime store” novels, and often they would share their books with other soldiers. The best thing to get from home was a letter. Since some of the guys in my regiment were recruited from the same town, we knew each other’s families and often shared news from home.

A lot of drinking took place, and some of the guys made their own home brew, which we gave some colorful names to, such as “tanglefoot,” “oh be joyful,” and “knock ‘em stiff.” We didn’t have any money, so we did a lot of trading for tobacco, coffee, canteens, pocketknives, sugar, sardines, soap, whiskey, and playing cards. We also used postage stamps to trade with.

My regiment participated in every major action with the Army of the Potomac. Some of our major campaigns and battles included the battles of Charles City Cross-Roads, Malvern Hill, Manassas, and Antietam, and also in the movement against Fredericksburg. We also participated in the final operations of the war until the surrender of Lee, when the regiment was assigned to what was known as the Provisional Corps, the Army of the Potomac.

The regiment was mustered out on June 29, 1865. I returned home and lived in Southampton Township with my wife Sarah. We had six children. I worked as a farmer until I died in 1903. I was 55 years old.

In 1890 I assisted with the will probate of Asher Longstreet. For my services I was paid $12.00.

Harry Myers (Old Tabernacle Cemetery Row 34 Lot 3)

(1898 accident New Jersey Mirror August 31, 1898)

Timeline

• 1848 (narrative): Birth year reported in the story; the gravestone’s age conflicts with it.

• 1861: The booklet reports that he joined the 3rd New Jersey Volunteer Infantry as a Private.

• June 29, 1865: The booklet gives this as the regiment’s muster-out date; it does not separately specify his discharge date.

• After the war: Lived in Southampton with his wife Sarah and six children; worked as a farmer.

• 1890: Received $12 for assisting with Asher Longstreet’s probate.

• 1898: An accident involving Harry is described in the August 31 New Jersey Mirror clipping.

• 1903: Died; the narrative says age 55, while the gravestone reads 73.