26th Regiment, New Jersey Infantry

Brief History
26th Regiment, New Jersey Infantry was organized at Camp Frelinghuysen, Newark, New Jersey, and mustered in September 18, 1862. Primarily saw action during the Battle of Fredericksburg and Chancerlorville. Also involved in the first action of the Gettysburg Campaign during the Battle of Franklin's Crossing. Arriving in Stafford, Va., the 26th was notorious as the only Union unit still shooting musket ball weapons.

Assigned to the IX Corps with various Vermont Regiments, the 26th became fierce rivals with their Yankee mates resulting in a few memorable stories. At one point the 5th Vermont suspected the 26th of stealing meat from their butchery so the 5th Vermont laid a trap. The General's recently deceased Newfoundland dog was skinned for taxidermy and the 5th Vermont hung the carcass in their butchery. The next morning the carcass was gone and (apparently) the 26th NJ was well fed on dog meat. For the next few weeks each time the 26th marched by the 5th Vermont, the Vermonters would "bark". This eventually led to a large brawl near the White Oak Church. For additional information visit the White Oak Museum in Stafford, Va.

The 26th fought two major engagements: During the Battle of Chancerlorville they were responsible for taking the area known as Marye's Heights and the Sunken Road. After subduing the Confederate resistance, they marched westward only to be further engaged during the Battle of Salem's Church.

Just prior to their 9 month enlistment ending the 26th NJ and 5th Vermont were called upon to spearhead the crossing of the Rappahanock at Franklin's Crossing. Under immense fire the units rowed pontoon bridges into position and overtook the Confederate rifle pits at great cost in both killed and wounded.

They mustered out at Newark,New Jersey, June 27, 1863.

For more information on the history of this unit, see:


 * The Civil War Archive section, 26th Regiment Infantry, (accessed 20 July 2012).

Companies in this Regiment with the Counties of Origin
The New Jersey 26th was primarily composed of men from northern New Jersey. Company E was primarily German immigrants from Newark. Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded. However if you are unsure which company your ancestor was in, try the company recruited in his county first.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 1,222 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

For more information on 26th New Jersey Infantry (accessed 8 March 2013) see also New Jersey Infantry 26th

Other Sources

 * Beginning United States Civil War Research gives steps for finding information about a Civil War soldier. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in ‘New Jersey in the Civil War’ and ‘United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865’ (see below).


 * National Park Service, The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, is searchable by soldier's name and state. It contains basic facts about soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, a list of regiments, descriptions of significant battles, sources of the information, and suggestions for where to find additional information.


 * New Jersey in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for New Jersey, and how to find them.. These include compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865 describes and explains United States and Confederate States records, rather than state records, and how to find them. These include veterans’ censuses, compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * Dodd, Ira Seymour.The song of the Rappahannock : sketches of the Civil War. (Bethesda, Maryland : University Publications of America, c1992)