NEW JERSEY FIRST REGIMENT MILITIA (also known as NJ 17th Inf)

First Regiment--Militia.--Col., Adolphus J. Johnson; Lieut.-Col., James Peckwell; Maj., William W. Michels. This regiment was mustered into the U. S. service at Trenton, April 30, 1861, to serve for three months, and left the state for Washington, D. C., on May 3, with 37 commissioned officers and 736 non-commissioned officers and privates; total, 773. The arrival of the brigade of which the regiment was a part, at Annapolis, Md., was at once reported to Gen. Butler, who, after some ceremony, ordered its advance to Washington, and on May 5 the 1st regiment, with six companies of the 2nd and nine companies of the 3d started forward in two trains of cars. On June 18 the 1st and 3d were advanced to a point near Roach's mill, on the line of the Alexandria & Loudoun railway, leaving the fortifications and Arlington Heights in the rear, and within 5 miles of the picket-guard of the enemy. The regiment remained in this position until July 16, when it was advanced to a point 3 miles beyond Springfield and detachments from other regiments were detailed for duty at other points in advance of the line then occupied. In the movement that resulted in the first battle of Bull Run the first of the reserve divisions consisted, originally, in part of the 1st regiment. On July 21, the day on which the army advanced to the attack, Gen. Runyon forwarded the DeKalb regiment--part of whom were Jerseymen--together with the 1st, 2nd, and 3d (three years') N. J. and the 1st (three months') regiment to Centerville, in obedience to orders from Gen. McDowell. After that disastrous conflict, the term of service of the men of the 1st having expired, they returned to New Jersey and were mustered out at Newark on July 31, 1861, having lost 2 men, 1 by discharge and 1 by death.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 3

New Jersey 17th Volunteer Infantry (Union)

4/30/61

Organized - New Jersey 17th Volunteer Infantry - New Jersey

7/21/61

Battle - First Bull Run - Fairfax County, Virginia; Prince William County, Virginia

7/31/61

Mustered Out - New Jersey 17th Volunteer Infantry - New Jersey

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