Documents (5) Related to the Battle of Gettysburg From the Papers of Union Officer John Willian.... (Total: 5 Items)

Description

6th Regiment New Jersey Volunteers reports its losses at Gettysburg

Willian served in four different Union regiments, and on the staff of three separate Union Generals. Willian's military service began right after the bombardment of Fort Sumter, when he served as a Second Lieutenant in the 4th New Jersey Militia. When the regiment was mustered out at the end of July 1861, he received a commission as Captain in the newly-raised 6th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry. In August 1863 he was assigned to the staff of Brigadier General Henry Price as his Assistant Commissary of Musters. After returning to his unit, Willian was promoted to the rank of Major in April 1864 before being transferred to the staff of Brigadier General Gershom Mott (who had been a colonel in the 6th New Jersey Infantry). He served as General Mott's acting Assistant Inspector General before being transferred to the 8th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, becoming its Lieutenant Colonel in October 1864. Willian was then again assigned as an Assistant Inspector General, this time on the staff of Army of the Potomac II Corps Commander Major General Andrew A. Humphreys. Finally, in January 1865 he was promoted to Colonel, and was given command of the remnants of the 12th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, a unit that had fought continuously since the Battle of Chancellorsville in May 1863, and had been reduced to only a fraction of its original size. Even though he was the unit's Colonel, John Willian did not serve much time in that capacity, being assigned to brigade command soon after his appointment. He was breveted Brigadier General, U.S. Volunteers on April 9, 1865.