Camden People - John Breyer

JOHN BREYER was born June 3, 1836 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living in South Camden by 1850 when, at the time the Census was taken, he was living with his mother Martha and older brother Lawrence at the home of William Figner, a printer who had married John Breyer's sister. Martha and John Breyer were still living with the Figner family in 1860. By this time John Breyer, now 24, was working as a tinsmith. William Figner later served as president of Camden's city council. John Breyer eventually married Mary Shinn.

John Breyer served with Company H, 10th New Jersey Infantry during the Civil War. He enlisted as a Private on March 8, 1862 in Company H, 10th Infantry Regiment New Jersey. He re-enlisted in the same unit on January 3, 1864. Private Breyer mustered out on July 1, 1865 at Hall's Hill, VA. He later became a member of the William B. Hatch Post No. 37, Grand Army of the Republic, which was instituted and chartered November 25, 1879 in Camden.

John Breyer was also a volunteer fireman. In the years before 1869, when the paid fire department was organized, John Breyer served with the Independent Fire Company at Pine Street above Fourth, with Robert Bender, who later became chief of the Camden City Fire Department.

By 1870 John Breyer had married, a daughter, Sarah was born on October 5, 1868. John Breyer received his invalids pension as a Civil War vet on October 3, 1872. Sadly, Sarah Breyer died on July 27, 1871.

The 1880 Census shows the Breyers with three children, all born after 1870, daughters Martha and Emma, and son Lawrence. The family lived in the 200 block of Hartman Street, which was renamed Clinton Street shortly afterward. The Breyers lived at 209 Royden Street in the late 1880s, as evidenced by the 1887-1888 and 1888-1889 Camden City Directories. They had moved to 237 Berkley Street by the time the 1890-1891 Directory was compiled. John and Mary Breyer moved in with their daughter Emma and husband William Watts in the 1890s. The 1900 Census shows them living at 428 Clinton Street. John Breyer was still following the tinsmith's trade at this time. By 1910 the entire family moved to 608 South 4th Street, and he had retired from full-time work.

John Breyer and his wife Mary were living with their daughter Emma Breyer Watts and family Emma at 608 South 4th Street in South Camden in January of 1920 when the Census was enumerated. He passed away later that year. John Breyer passed away at the South 4th Street address on September 20, 1920. He was buried at Harleigh Cemetery in Highlawn Lawn Section, Lot 386, Grave Number 4.

Mary E. Breyer received her widow's pension on October 9, 1920. She passed away on April 1, 1928, and, after services at the Wiley M.E. Church, of which she was a charter member and which she and her husband were devoted members, was buried at Harleigh Cemetery.

Regimental History
NEW JERSEY TENTH INFANTRY
(Three Years)

Tenth Infantry.--
Cols., William Bryan, William R. Murphy, Henry O. Ryerson;
Lieut.-Cols., John W. Wright, William S. Truex, Charles H. Tay, John D. Johnson;
Majors, Mathew W. Berriman, Daniel Lodor, Jr., Henry A. Perrine, James W. McNeely.

This regiment was organized under the provisions of an act of Congress, approved July 22, 1861, and by authority issued by the war department direct to private individuals resident of the state, and not in any way under the control or supervision of the state authorities. Under the authority thus given, recruiting was commenced and the organization soon completed. It was then accepted by the war department as an independent organization, having been designated the "Olden Legion." The regiment went into camp at Beverly, N. J., and from thence proceeded to Washington on Dec. 26, 1861, with 35 officers, 883 non-commissioned officers and privates, a total of 918. It went into camp at Camp Clay on the Bladensburg turnpike, a mile from Washington. On Jan. 29, 1862, the regiment was transferred to the state authorities and it was then thoroughly reorganized and designated the 10th regiment.

The greater part of its early service was performed in and around Washington, having been assigned there for provost duty. On April 12, 1863, it was detached and proceeded to Suffolk,
Va., to assist in repelling a demonstration by the enemy at that point. Coming up with the enemy at Carrsville, near the Blackwater, the 10th speedily became engaged, capturing some
prisoners and inflicting considerable loss on the retreating foe, the regiment losing several men in killed and wounded.

During the following winter, which was spent in the mining regions of Pennsylvania, many of the organization reenlisted and the regiment was otherwise recruited, but to such an extent
were desertions instigated by the people of that section, that the colonel, who was anxious to be united with the Army of the Potomac, urged the department to place his command in the
field. It shared in all the battles of the Wilderness campaign all the way to Petersburg, on every field displaying conspicuous gallantry. In the battle of the Wilderness it suffered severely, especially in the assault of the Confederate Gen. Gordon late on May 6. In the engagement resulting from this assault, the regiment lost nearly one entire company in prisoners alone. On the evening of the 8th it again met the foe, when the regiment on its left became in some way separated from it and the two being thus isolated, were pounced upon by the enemy with great force, compelling them to give way, with heavy loss--the 10th having 80 men and several officers captured, including Col. Tay, the prisoners being taken to the rear and the next day started for Richmond, but were fortunately on the same day rescued from the hands of their
guards by Gen. Sheridan, at Beaver Dam Station. The total loss of the regiment up to this time, aside from prisoners, had been 113--18 killed and 95 wounded. In the fighting along the Po
river the 10th shared with the brigade, and at Cold Harbor again suffered largely, being in the first day's engagement in the third line of battle, and losing some 70 in killed and wounded. In the assault upon the enemy's position the regiment charged alone at a peculiarly exposed point and sustained heavy loss, amounting in all to some 65 in killed and wounded. On August 15 it participated in a sharp picket skirmish near Strasburg, and two days afterward took part in the battle of Winchester, assisting to hold the whole of Early's army in check for a period of six hours. The regiment not only lost considerably in killed and wounded, but also in prisoners, Col. Tay being again captured, with 115 men of the brigade. At the close of this affair, the 10th, which crossed the Rapidan in May with 600 men, had only 80 men left for duty--a fact which
exhibits more forcibly than any words the severity of the experience which it had been called upon to undergo. In the subsequent battles in the Shenandoah Valley the regiment, feeble as it was, bravely maintained its reputation. During the winter of 1864-65, having with the brigade rejoined the army before Petersburg and being largely recruited, it participated in the various movements which resulted so detrimentally to the enemy and in the grand assault of April 2
rendered distinguished service. When the Confederate flag went down at Appomattox, the regiment turned its face homeward, reaching the vicinity of Washington, 450 strong, on June 2, and was mustered out of service at Hall's hill, Va., June 22, 1865.

The total strength of the regiment was 2,584, and it lost, by resignation 20; by discharge 293; by promotion 69; by transfer 162; by death 274; by desertion 748; by dismissal 1; not
accounted for 138; mustered out 879.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 3

Battles Fought

Fought on 19 May 1863 at Carrsville, VA.
Fought on 06 May 1864 at Wilderness, VA.
Fought on 07 May 1864 at Wilderness, VA.
Fought on 08 May 1864 at Spotsylvania Court House, VA.
Fought on 11 May 1864 at Spotsylvania Court House, VA.
Fought on 12 May 1864 at Spotsylvania Court House, VA.
Fought on 14 May 1864 at Galt House, VA.
Fought on 14 May 1864 at Spotsylvania Court House, VA.
Fought on 29 May 1864 at Hanover Court House, VA.
Fought on 01 June 1864 at Cold Harbor, VA.
Fought on 02 June 1864 at Cold Harbor, VA.
Fought on 03 June 1864 at Cold Harbor, VA.
Fought on 04 June 1864 at Cold Harbor, VA.
Fought on 08 June 1864 at Cold Harbor, VA.
Fought on 12 June 1864.
Fought on 09 July 1864 at Monocacy, MD.
Fought on 13 July 1864 at Washington, DC.
Fought on 18 July 1864 at Snicker's Ford, VA.
Fought on 26 July 1864 at Harper's Ferry, WV.
Fought on 26 July 1864 at March From Washington To Harpers Ferry.
Fought on 17 August 1864 at Winchester, VA.
Fought on 21 August 1864 at Charles Town, VA.
Fought on 19 September 1864 at Opequan, VA.
Fought on 19 October 1864 at Cedar Creek, VA.
Fought on 01 December 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 02 April 1865 at Petersburg, VA.