33rd Regiment, New Jersey Volunteer Infantry

Organized at Newark, N.J., and mustered in September 3, 1863. Left State for Washington, D.C., September 8, 1863, thence moved to Warrenton, Va., September 13-19. Attached to 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 11th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to October, 1863, and Army of the Cumberland to April, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 20th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland and Georgia, to July, 1865.

SERVICE

·    Movement to Bridgeport, Ala., September 26-30, 1863, thence moved to mouth of Battle Creek, October 18, and duty there guarding bridges till November 4.

·    Moved to Lookout Valley, Tenn., November 4-6.

·    Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign November 23-27.

·    Orchard Knob November 23.

·    Tunnel Hill November 24-25.

·    Mission Ridge November 25.

·    March to relief of Knoxville November 28-December 17.

·    Duty in Alabama till May, 1864.

·    Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign May 1-September 8.

·    Demonstration on Rocky Faced Ridge May 8-11.

·    Dug Gap or Mill Creek May 8.

·    Battle of Resaca May 14-15.

·    Near Cassville May 19.

·    Advance on Dallas May 22-25.

·    New Hope Church May 25.

·    Battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May 26-June 5.

·    Operations about Marietta and against Kennesaw Mountain June 10-July 2.

·    Pine Hill June 11-14.

·    Lost Mountain June 15-17.

·    Gilgal or Golgotha Church June 15.

·    Muddy Creek June 17.

·    Noyes Creek June 19.

·    Kolb's Farm June 22.

·    Assault on Kennesaw June 27.

·    Ruff's Station, Smyrna Camp Ground, July 4.

·    Chattahoochee River July 5-17.

·    Peach Tree Creek July 19-20.

·    Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25.

·    Operations at Chattahoochee River Bridge August 26-September 2.

·    Occupation of Atlanta September 2-November 15.

·    Expedition to Tuckum's Cross Roads October 26-29.

·    Near Atlanta November 9.

·    March to the sea November 15-December 10.

·    Montieth Swamp December 9.

·    Siege of Savannah December 10-21.

·    Campaign of the Carolinas January to April, 1865.

·    Averysboro, N. C., March 16.

·    Battle of Bentonville March 19-21.

·    Occupation of Goldsboro March 24.

·    Advance on Raleigh April 10-14.

·    Smithfield, N. C., April 11.

·    Occupation of Raleigh April 14.

·    Bennett's House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army.

·    March to Washington, D.C., via Richmond, Va., April 29-May 19.

·    Grand Review May 23-24.

·    Mustered out at Washington, D.C., July 17, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 6 Officers and 72 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 85 Enlisted men by disease. Total 163.

Battle Report Filed By Col. G. W. Mindil, Commander of the

33rd Regiment, NJVI

HDQRS. THIRTY-THIRD NEW JERSEY VOLUNTEERS,
FIRST BRIGADE, SECOND DIVISION, ELEVENTH CORPS,
Lookout Valley, Tenn., December 18, 1863.

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following report of the movements of the Thirty-third Regiment New Jersey Volunteers from the time of its departure from camp in Lookout Valley at 3 p.m. on the 22d of November last:

In connection with the rest of the Eleventh Corps the regiment moved on the afternoon of that day in heavy marching order, crossed the Tennessee at Brown's Ferry, and bivouacked for the night on the plain beyond Chattanooga, about 200 yards to the right of Fort Wood.  

On the afternoon of the following day (23d), skirmishing was commenced between the armies in our front, and at about 3 p.m. the corps proceeded to move toward the position assigned it, the First Brigade, Second Division, of which my command forms part, being arranged in two lines, the outer consisting of the One hundred and Thirty-fourth New York on the right and the Thirty-third New Jersey on the left in deployed order, with skirmishers about 150 paces in advance; the second comprising the Seventy-third and Twenty-seventh Pennsylvania and One hundred and fifty-fourth New York in columns en masse at supporting distance. These dispositions were made in an open field about 500 yards from Fort Wood, fronting Citico Creek, with the left flank protected by a railroad embankment. The order to forward was given, and the regiment proceeded to advance. Hardly had the line of skirmishers gained 10 paces ere it was fired upon from the woods skirting the creek, from behind the railroad bridge and from under cover of several buildings. The enemy being well protected at short range and in considerable force, fired very destructively, and Captain Boggs, of Company A, fell wounded at the first discharge while gallantly advancing his deployed line. Notwithstanding the severity of the fire the advance was continued, and Captain O'Connor, with his company, was sent to re-enforce the line in front. This additional force compelled the enemy to leave their position on this side, and to retire beyond the Creek. My line of skirmishers had now reached the Creek, and on its bank a very hot and lively contest ensued, the contending parties being but 10 yards apart. Both having availed themselves of the shelter of the trees, but little loss was inflicted.

In the absence of orders, and believing it was the intention to advance until the field was entirely won, I moved forward Company E, Captain Field commanding, and ordered Captain O'Connor to cross the creek at all hazards, his force now amounting to about 160 men, at the same time charging forward with the rest of the regiment under a heavy fire to within 50 yards of the enemy behind the walls of the bridge, so as to give him support. Simultaneously I sent the major to acquaint the brigade commander with our position and for further orders. The order came to merely hold the bridge, but it was not received in time to check the onward progress of our skirmishers, who dashed into the stream regardless of depth, with water to the waist, moving on in spite of the determined resistance offered, thus gaining foothold on the opposite bank. In obedience to instructions received, I ordered Captain O'Connor to hold this side of the creek, and to prevent the enemy from crossing in turn. Night soon ended the firing, and at about 8 p.m. the regiment was relieved by the Twenty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, bivouacking for the night about 300 yards in rear.

Accompanying you will find a list(*) of the names of the killed and wounded. The loss in officers was unusually severe. Captain Waldron, Company I, was instantly killed at the head of his company-while the regiment was charging in line. A soldier by profession, and a veteran of former fights, he yielded his life in defense of the flag he had sworn to support. I sympathize with Captain Boggs, Lieutenant Toffey, and the rest of the wounded. It is consoling to know they were injured in a righteous cause with face to the foe.

As for the officers and men, all performed their duty unflinchingly, and where all act well it is impossible to discriminate. For a regiment but of three months' creation, without much drill and discipline, the Thirty-third did remarkably well. I feel confident that the regiment can now be relied upon for any emergency, as the men will perform their whole duty.

I would bear testimony to the efficiency and gallantry of the staff. Lieutenant Lambert, adjutant, for promptness displayed in conveying my orders to the most exposed positions, to Chaplain John Faull my thanks as well as those of the command are due for the fearlessness manifested in relieving the wounded, by personally removing them, with the aid of the drum corps, to the surgeon in rear. Dr. Stiger remained with the regiment, at all times performing his operations under the fire of the enemy.

On the following day the regiment moved and connected with Sherman's corps, and a report has already been furnished of the part it sustained in the assault on Tunnel Hill. Following with the rest of the corps the flying enemy to Parker's Gap, and taking a northeast direction thence to Louisville, Tenn., the regiment returned to its camp yesterday afternoon after nearly a month's campaign. Considering the severity of the weather, often exceedingly cold and stormy, the absence of blankets and tents, the miserable condition of the shoes of a large portion of the command, scores being barefooted, and the insufficient and poor rations furnished, the troops have withstood the hardships of this severe but glorious campaign with firm determination and remarkably good cheer.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

 G. W. MINDIL,

Colonel, Comdg. Thirty-third New Jersey Volunteers.

 Capt. C. C. BROWN,

A. A. A. G., Hdqrs. 1st Brig., 2d Div., 11th Corps.