5th New Jersey Infantry
Posted to the Project on 02 Jan 08
The 5th New Jersey Infantry was raised from the counties of Burlington, Essex, Hudson, Passaic, Monmouth, and Salem in August 1861.
Although a small regiment, it was hotly engaged in an attempt to hold the Emmitsburg Road on July 2. It went through several commanders. The first was Col. William J. Sewell (1835-1901), a native of Ireland. Sewell would be awarded the Medal of Honor for valor at Chancellorsville prior to Gettysburg; he later became a U.S. senator. When Sewell was wounded, Capt. Thomas C. Godfrey (1835-1867) took command temporarily. The final commander was Capt. Henry H. Woolsey (1832-1864), who was returning to command on July 3 following a slight wound on July 2 was a lawyer from Trenton. Woolsey was mortally wounded in one of the first assaults on Petersburg and died the next day. His final words were “I die in a glorious cause.”
The regimental monument is located on the Emmitsburg Road. It marks the main line of battle.
5th New Jersey Infantry
3rd Corps, 2nd Division, 3rd Brigade
Col. William J. Sewell (1835-1901)
Engaged: 221; 13 killed, 65 wounded, 16 missing
Monument: Emmitsburg Road