Civil War Era Notes on the Jersey Settlement, Prince William County, Va.

Researched and written by Jeff Irwin.

In the late 1840s, a number of families from the vicinity of Warren and Hunterdon Counties, New Jersey, moved south to Virginia. They formed a dispersed rural enclave in Prince William County and even established their own Presbyterian Church, one of the earliest in the area. By the Civil War, this group of Yankees found themselves behind enemy lines. The colony is mentioned in Union Army scouting reports from the Brentsville area. Multiple Union soldier accounts refer to an apparently well known “Jersey settlement”, located between Nokesville and Aden.

March 1864

MARCH 8, 1864-Scout from Bristoe Station to Brenstville, Va.

Report of Captain Andrew H. McHenry, Thirteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.

CAMP NEAR BRISTOE STATION

I have the honor to report that in compliance with your order (verbal) I proceeded from this camp at 6.40, instant, with a detail of forty mounted cavalry from various companies of this (Thirteenth) regiment, with one sergeant from Company H. Proceeded about south by southeast to and through a part of improved country that is known as the Jersey Settlement; then moved eastward by private roads over plantations, crossing Kettle and Cedar Runs. The latter is a large stream. After crossing two or more roads, public, leading northward, at about nine miles by route came in a public road. At about ten miles came a place called Cole's Store. The improvements here are two dwellings, one small store-house, a shop, and small church contiguous. The country so far is comparatively open, but few if any places in which an ambuscade could be formed or a surprise made by an enemy. The country has about 95 per cent. of the whole area cleared and the greater part grown up with pine, red, and black oak. Searched the houses generally so far, but found nothing deemed contraband. Mr. Cole and one very aged man reside here. Mr. Cole informed me that some three days prior a number of rebel cavalry passed there in squads, the whole amounting to 200 or 300. From this took the public road leading northwestward in the direction of Manassas. At about one mile on this road, at a house said to be occupied by a Union man, was informed that the rebels had maintained a picket-post for about one day and a half. Along this road to near Cedar Run bridge is skirted with small second-growth pines on either side, generally favorable for bushwhackers to carry out their mode of warfare. Approached the Cedar Run with caution, reconnoitered the position, then crossed by twos. Came to Brentsville, examined the place, found five houses occupied, including the jail. But two men reside in this town; the court-house has but a part of the roof remaining on; the houses are generally in ruins. The town stands on an elevation, said to be five miles from Cole's Store, nineteen miles to Potomac via Dumfries. From this came to the Jersey Settlement, from thence to camp, not having met or seen any enemy in arms.

Respectfully submitted. A. H. McHENRY,
Captain Company G, Thirteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.

February 1865

FEBRUARY 8, 1865—Scout in Vicinity of Brentsville, Va.

Report of Lt. George Maguire, Thirteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.

HEADQUARTERS, FAIRFAX COURTHOUSE

Colonel: I have the honor to report the result of the scout made in the vicinity of Brentsville, Va., on the night of the 6th instant. Pursuant to orders received from you, 125 men and 2 officers of the Eighth Illinois Cavalry, under the guidance of a Mr. Jacob Kline, of the Jersey Settlement near Brentsville, Va., left camp at Fairfax Court-House at 6 p. m. and proceeded, via Centerville and Manassas, to Brentsville. From Brentsville the column moved in the direction of Cole’s Store, distant some fifteen miles from Brentsville. After marching two miles crossed Broad Run and Kettle Run and moved in the direction of the Jersey Settlement; arrived there at 3 a. m.; went into camp and fed and cooked breakfast. At 5 a. m. remounted and moved back toward camp as we supposed, but, owing to the ignorance of the guide (Mr. Kline), we moved off in the direction of Dumfries and arrived within five miles of that place before we were made aware of our error. We retraced our steps and moved toward Broad Run and crossed at Bland’s Ford; from thence toward Bull Run, which we crossed at Union Mills. Bull Run River was covered with ice and we experienced great difficulty in crossing. We moved in the direction of Fairfax Station and arrived in camp at the Court-House at 3 p. m. On the road a number of houses were searched, but nothing resulted from it. No enemy was found, nor were there any traces of any having been there during the last six months. Three colts, the property of Mr. Kline, were brought in, and in my opinion to obtain possession of the said colts was the only object Mr. Kline had in starting the expedition. To Captain Jones and Lieutenant Fowler, both of the Eighth Illinois Cavalry, great praise is due for the manner in which they arranged and carried out the programme submitted by me upon reports based upon Kline’s statement. I am, very respectfully, yours, GEO. R. MAGUIRE, Lieutenant and Provost-Marshal. Colonel WILLIAM GAMBLE, Commanding First Separate Brigade.

May 1865

APRIL 10-MAY 29, 1865-Campaign from Goldsborough, N.C. to Bladensburg, Md.

Report of Colonel Samuel M. Zulich, Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania Infantry.

HEADQUARTERS, BLADENSBURG, MD

In compliance with orders from headquarters Third Brigade, Second Division, Twentieth Army Corps, I have the honor to submit the annexed report of the operations of this regiment during the campaign from Goldsborough, N. C., to this point...

...May 15, marched at 5 a. m.; crossed the Po and Ny Rivers, the two remaining branches of the Mattapony River; passed though Spotsylvania Court-House and through the Wilderness and over the battle-field of May, 1863; many of the bodies of our war comrades still lay upon the field of battle; crossed the Rappahannock at United States Ford, and bivouacked one mile from the ford, having marched twenty-five miles. May 16, broke camp at 4 a. m. and passed Hartwood Church; took a northeasterly direction; struck the Washington road and marched within five miles of Catlett's Station; marched twenty-two miles and bivouacked. May 17, took up the line of march at 5 a. m.; marched to Brentsville, passing through the Jersey Settlement; reached Brentsville at 2 p. m. and halted for the day; marched seventeen miles.

May 18, broke camp at 7.30 a. m.; took the road toward Fairfax Station; crossed Bull Run Creek and bivouacked for the night; marched sixteen miles. May 19, took up the line of march at 6 a.m.; passed Fairfax, and near Burke's Station struck the Gordonsville, Winchester and Alexandria pike, and encamped near Cloud's Mills, four miles from the city of Alexandria; at this point remained until Wednesday, the 24th, when we broke camp, and in connection with the corps passed through Washington, D. C., in review, on the grand review of the armies of Maj.-Gen. Sherman, after which we marched to our camp, four miles from the city of Washington, at which point we are awaiting further orders.

Yours, respectfully,

SAMUEL M. ZULICH,
Col., Cmdg. Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers.

Capt. WHEELOCK, Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.

Table 1. Heads of household from New Jersey, living in Prince William Co., 1850.

Sources:
Report of Lt. George Maguire, 13th Pennsylvania Cavalry, U.S. War Dept., The War of the Rebellion, Series 1, Vol. 51, Chap. LXIII, p216 and Vol. 46, Chap. LVIII, p.457­8, http://ehistory.osu.edu.     

Report of Cpt. Andrew H. McHenry, 13th Pennsylvania Cavalry, U.S. War Dept., The War of the Rebellion, Series 1, Vol. 51, Chap. LXIII, p.216, http://ehistory.osu.edu.

Report of Col. Samuel M. Zulich, 29th Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers, U.S. War Dept., The War of the Rebellion, Series 1, Vol. 47, Chap. LIX, p.772-98, http://ehistory.osu.edu. 

United States Corps Of Topographical Engineers, Irvin McDowell, and J Schedler. Map of n. eastern Virginia and vicinity of Washington. [Washington, D.C.?: s.n, 1862], https://www.loc.gov/item/91685687.

U.S. Census of 1850 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009.