34th Regiment, New Jersey Volunteer Infantry

    

Organization commenced at Beverly, N.J. Company "A" mustered in September 3; Company "C" September 21, and Company "G" September 23, 1863. Transferred to Trenton, N.J., October 3, 1863, and Company "B" organized October 15; Company "D" October 6; Company "E" October 26; Company "F" October 8; Company "H" October 6; Company "I" October 20, and Company "K" November 9, 1863. Left State for Eastport, Miss., November 16. 1863. Attached to District of Columbus, Ky., 6th Division, 16th Army Corps, Dept. of the Tennessee, to August, 1864. District of Paducah, Ky., Dept. of the Ohio, to February, 1865. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 16th Army Corps (New) Military Division West Mississippi, to August, 1865. District of Alabama, Dept. of the Gulf, to April, 1866.

 

SERVICE

·    Moved from Eastport, Miss., to Columbus, Ky., December 12-20, 1863, thence to Union City, Tenn., December 20.

·    Expedition to Huntington, Tenn., in pursuit of Forest December 22, 1863, to January 21, 1864.

·    Garrison duty at Columbus, Ky., January 21 to August 28.

·   Expedition to Riley's Landing February 17.

·    Near Island No. 10 March 6.

·    Scout from Island No. 10 to New Madrid March 18 (Co. "C").

·    Skirmishes at Columbus, Ky.. March 27 and April 11-13.

·    Hickman June 10.

·    Expedition into the interior July 9-12. (Co. "C" on duty at Island No. 10 July and August.)

·    Clinton July 10.

·    Expedition to Uniontown, Ky., against Johnston and Adams August 15-25.

·    Moved to Mayfield, Ky., August 28.

·    Duty there and at Paducah, Ky., till December

·    Moved to Nashville, Tenn., December 25, thence to Eastport, Miss., January 11, 1865, and duty there till February 7.

·    Moved to New Orleans, La., February 7-22.

·    Campaign against Mobile, Ala., and its defenses March 17-April 12.

·    Siege of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely March 26-April 8.

·    Assault and capture of Fort Blakely April 9.

·    Occupation of Mobile April 12, March to Montgomery April 13-25, and provost duty there, at Montevallo, Talladega, Gainesville, Tuscaloosa and other points in Alabama till April. 1866.

·    Mustered out April 10, 1866.

·    Discharged at Trenton, N.J., April 30, 1866.

 

Regiment lost during service 3 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 3 Officers and 164 Enlisted men by disease. Total 170.

 

 

Battle Report Filed By Capt. R. M. Ekings, Company C,

34rd Regiment, NJVI

 

HEADQUARTERS U.S. FORCES,
Island No. 10, Tenn., February 18, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to report that, having received information that 4 deserters from the Union army were secreted near Tiptonville, Tenn., I with 40 men of my command embarked on a steamer at 2 a.m. of February 17, and proceeded down the river to Riley's Landing, 6 miles below Tiptonville.

At Riley's house we seized a small amount of Government ammunition and several guns. Being unable to carry away these guns we destroyed them.

We then proceeded to the house of one Lewis, where we succeeded in capturing 5 of the gang of guerrillas which has infested the bend for five months past. Together with them we captured their arms and their horses. These men were in bed, having their pistols under their heads, but being completely surprised offered no resistance.

From this point we marched to the place where the deserters were said to be employed, but could find no traces of them. Seeing no chance of effecting any further captures we got on board a boat at Tiptonville and returned to this post.

One of these prisoners, Owen Edwards, is a quasi lieutenant in Meriwether's company of bushwhackers, and is reported to have been in command of the party which fired into a Government boat below Tiptonville about three months ago. Another, Lewis, claims to belong to Faulkner's command. Gregg says he was a private in Meriwether's gang, but that he deserted when Meriwether proceeded south. George Moore, formerly of the rebel army, now horse thief and scoundrel in general, is the fourth person captured; and lastly Clayton, about whom I have no particular information except his being found with the rest at Lewis' house. Lewis is a paroled prisoner. He was formerly a captain in the Fifteenth Regiment Tennessee Volunteers, rebel army. He stated that the guerrillas have eaten over $200 worth of provisions at his house within six months. He has a parole from General Quinby, formerly commanding this district.

Of the captured horses three have been sent to Columbus. The prisoners will be examined and sent to Capt. I. H. Williams, district provost-marshal.

 R. M. EKINGS,

Capt. Company C, 34th New Jersey Infantry, Comdg. Post.

 Capt. J. H. ODLIN,

 Asst. Adjt. Gen.