---

New Jersey Monuments at Antietam

---

The State of New Jersey Monument on the Antietam battlefield is on the corner of Hagerstown Turnpike and Cornfield Avenue. (Hagerstown Pike tour map) It was dedicated on September 17, 1903.

The figure atop the monument represents Captain Hugh C. Irish of the 13th New Jersey Infantry Regiment, who was killed not far from the monument’s location.

Text from the six panels circling the lower monument:

1st New Jersey Infantry

Lieut. Col. Mark W. Collett, Commanding
First Brigade, First Division Sixth Corps

The 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th New Jersey Infantry and Hexamer’s Battery A, were known as the “First New Jersey Brigade”. These were the first three year Volunteers from the State. After serving through the peninsula campaign the Brigade on Sept. 14, 1862 performed such gallant service at Crampton’s Pass as to call forth the High Commendation reproduced on the next tablets.

2nd New Jersey Infantry

Colonel Samuel L. Buck, Commanding
First Brigade, First Division Sixth Corps

Headquarters, 1st, Brigade, 1st Division Sixth Corps,
Camp in Crampton’s Pass Maryland Sept. 15, 1862.
General Orders

Soldiers of the first New Jersey Brigade. The 14th of September, 1862, is one long to be remembered, for on that day you dashingly met and drove the enemy at every point, your advance in line of battle, under a galling Artillery fire was a feat seldom if ever surpassed. The Heights you took show plainly what determined and well disciplined soldiers can do.

3rd New Jersey Infantry

Colonel Henry W. Brown, Commanding,
First Brigade, First Division Sixth Corps

“You have sustained the reputation of your state and done credit to your officers and yourselves. While we lament the death of our brave comrades who have fallen so gloriously we can only command their souls to GOD and their sorrowing friend to his sure protection. May you go from Victory to Victory, is the hope and wish of the Colonel commanding Brigade”. A.T.A. Tolbert Colonel Commanding.

4th New Jersey Infantry

Colonel William B. Hatch, Commanding
First Brigade, First Division, Sixth Corps

From its Bivouac at Crampton’s Pass the first New Jersey Brigade marched to the field on the morning of September 17, 1862, and took position 600 yards, easterly of this point near the Dunkard Church, where it remained until Sept. 19. It supported the sixth Corps Artillery and for six hours was under severe Artillery fire by which several men were killed or wounded.

Thirteenth New Jersey Infantry

Colonel Ezra A. Carman, Commanding
Third Brigade, First Division Twelfth Corps

Here this Regiment, seventeen days after leaving home, met “its Baptism of fire”, September 17, 1862. The first to fall was Captain Hugh C. Irish, later in the day the regiment was heavily engaged in rear of the Dunkard Church, its loss during the day was 102, in the Army of the Potomac, and afterwards with General Sherman’s Army, the Regiment served until the close of the war.

Battery A. First New Jersey Artillery

Captain William Hexamer, Commanding
First Brigade, First Division Sixth Corp

After engagement at Crampton’s Pass Sept. 14, 1862, the Battery was engaged on Sept. 17, at three different points on this field. From three to six o’clock the Battery fired 280 shells, 200 shrapnel and 15 canisters, forcing out of position two Confederate Batteries and repelling an Infantry force.

Text from the dedication plaque located underneath the 13th New Jersey panel:

Erected by the State of New Jersey in grateful rememberance of her gallant sons who fought on this field Sept. 17, 1862

Dedicated Sept. 17, 1903

Governor Franklin Murphey (13th N.J. Inf.)

Commissioners
James O. Smith (13th N.J. Inf.)
Joseph E. Crowell (13th N.J. Inf.)
John J. Toffey (33rd N.J. Inf.)

Location of the State of New Jersey Monument

The State of New Jersey monument is north of Sharpsburg at the corner of the old Hagerstown Turnpike and Starke Avenue/Cornfield Avenue. (39°28’51.1″N 77°44’53.7″W)

See the monuments for each New Jersey unit at Antietam:

See the their individual unit histories: