Tabernacle Historical Society

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I was born in 1829. I served as a Private in Company E of the NJ 23rd Infantry Regiment. The enlistment time for the 23rd Infantry was only nine months, so at the end of my service with the 23rd, I joined Company A of the New Jersey 10th Infantry Regiment. My rank with the 10th was also that of a private.

The 10th Infantry Regiment was originally known as the “Olden Legion” after New Jersey Governor Charles Olden. My company was one of nine companies of infantry and one company of cavalry. The 10th Infantry was raised by individuals and was not authorized by the state at that time. Eventually, we were accepted by the War Department as an independent organization in the fall of 1861. The 10th was not known by the state authorities until it was placed under their care on January 29, 1862, and reorganized.

Our regiment was organized with nine infantry and one company of cavalry. Unfortunately, the regiment was not very battle ready by February 1862, when many of the cavalry company were under arrest for refusing to do infantry duties. Our regiment was said to have 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 our problematic regiment. In the end, however, the state accepted responsibility, reorganized the regiment again, and assigned a new Colonel. The regiment moved between various commands. During 1863, my regiment participated in the defenses of Washington before being assigned to field service in the XXII Corps until April 1863. We fought in the Gettysburg Campaign, the Overland Campaign, as well as the Battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor, losing 250 men. In addition to losing men in battle, we also lost hundreds to disease. In late summer of 1864, we were assigned to the Army of the Shenandoah. While with the Army of the Shenandoah, the regiment, along with the First New Jersey Brigade, participated in the battles of Strasburg, Point Pleasant, Fisher’s Hill, Third Winchester, and Cedar Creek, losing another 200 men. After returning to Virginia for the fall of Petersburg and the surrender of Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House in April 1865, my regiment served as an occupation force at Danville, Virginia, until June 1865, when the regiment was mustered out. We returned home to New Jersey to a hero’s welcome. Many of my fellow veterans of the 10th New Jersey joined the Grand Army of the Republic and attended several reunions over the succeeding years. I died in 1897 in Southampton, NJ.

John Wesley Budden

 ( Old Tabernacle Cemetery Row 53 Lot 6 )

Timeline

• 1829: Born.

• Civil War: Served as a Private in Company E, 23rd New Jersey Infantry.

• After his nine-month enlistment: Joined Company A, 10th New Jersey Infantry as a Private.

• 1863: Served with the 10th during the defenses of Washington and the Gettysburg Campaign.

• 1864: Served during the Overland Campaign and the Army of the Shenandoah operations.

• 1865: Regiment participated in operations through Petersburg and Appomattox and later occupation duty at Danville.

• June 1865: The 10th New Jersey was mustered out and returned home.

• 1897: Died in Southampton, NJ.