Tabernacle Historical Society

I am speaking for Private Amos Alloway

My name is Amos Alloway. I was born in 1841 and died in 1909. From 1865 to 1870 I lived in Shamong, NJ with my mother and siblings.  I worked as a farm laborer. I was mustered into Company F of the 23^rd New Jersey Volunteer Infantry on August 27^th, 1862. I served my nine-month enlistment in the Union Army and was mustered out on June 27, 1863. 

My regiment trained at Camp Cadwalader located in Beverly, NJ. We then joined the Army of the Potomac, which was commanded by Major George B. McClellan, who commanded both the Army of the Potomac and the Division of the Potomac until November 1862. My regiment fought in the Battle of Fredericksburg Virginia in December of 1862 and in May 1863. I fought in the Battle of Salem Church, which was 4 miles west of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Salem Church was used as a hospital for both Union and Confederate soldiers. In 1906 a monument was erected by the State of New Jersey under the authority of an act passed at the session of 1906. I am proud to say that this is the only monument ever erected for a nine-month New Jersey unit.

After serving our nine-month enlistment, the regiment was mustered out in June 1863. Many of my fellow soldiers of the 23rd New Jersey went on to serve in other regiments; however, I went home to live with my family. I was told that my Regiment lost 4 Officers and 31 Enlisted men during service and 1 Officer and 54 Enlisted men were lost to disease.

I became a member of the Sons of Temperance and served as Chaplin in 1876. In 1880 at the age of 39, I moved to Neptune, New Jersey, and later to Asbury Park.  As the years progressed physical labor proved difficult for me, I applied for an Invalid Pension in 1890. I died in 1909 at the age of 68.