The New Jersey Brigade

This monument honors the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 15th New Jersey Regiments together. These regiments made up Torbert’s Brigade, also known (not surprisingly!) as the New Jersey Brigade. The monument is located on a wooded knoll overlooking the George Weikert Farm off of Sedgwick Avenue. The Brigade actually purchased the entire Weikert Farm to preserve the position it held during the battle (this was, of course, later incorporated into the Park). Consisting of Gettysburg, Quincy, and Hallowell granite, it was dedicated on June 30, 1888 at a cost of $5,700.00. Seven feet in diameter, the tall column rises 40 feet.

It is designed to appear like a tower and is located at the approximate center of the brigade battle line. Bronze medallions of General Philip Kearny (the original organizer) and Alfred T.A. Torbert appear on the monument. There are also small individual markers to each unit.

The 1st came from Camden, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Union, and Warren counties and was commanded by Lt. Col. William Henry, Jr. (1836-1889) a clerk from Oxford Furnance.

The 2nd was from the counties of Essex, Passaic, Sussex, and Union. It was commanded by Lt. Col. Charles Wiebecke (1827-1864), a Prussian-born barber from Newark killed at Spotsylvania. The 3d was from the counties of Burlington, Cumberland, Camden,Gloucester, Somerset, Susex, and Union. It was under the command of Col. Henry W. Brown (1816-1892).

The 4th, which was guarding the artillery reserve trains, was from the counties of Burlington, Camden, Salem, and Union. It was commanded by Maj. Charles Ewing (1841-1872), a ship’s officer.  A small marker is located to the 4th off of Granite Schoolhouse Lane.
These were the original regiments of the brigade, mustered in during the summer of 1861.

Added later was the 15th New Jersey. From the counties of Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren, it was raised in the summer of 1862. It was under the command of Col. William H. Penrose (1832-1903), a civil engineer.

The brigade only suffered minor casualties at Gettysburg.

The New Jersey Brigade (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 15th Regiments)

6th Corps, 1st Division, 1st Brigade and Artillery Reserve Guard

Engaged: 1st, 292; no loss / 2nd, 405; 6 wounded / 3rd, 325; 2 wounded / 4th, 386; no loss / 15th, 441; 3 wounded

Monument: New Jersey Brigade Monument, knoll near the G. Weikert Farm off of Sedgwick Avenue

Tags: Gettysburg, Monument Project, new jersey, VI Corps, Weikert Farm