Camden People - Samuel M. Gaul

SAMUEL M. GAUL was born in Philadelphia on June 2, 1822. After learning the shoemaker's trade, he came to Camden, in 1858. When the Civil War broke out, Samuel Gaul enlisted as a First Lieutenant of Company G, Fourth New Jersey Volunteers. In 1862 he was promoted to Captain, and commanded Company F of the Fourth New Jersey for the duration of the war.

Returning to Camden after the war, Samuel Gaul involved himself in politics, as a Republican. He was elected Assessor of the South Ward in 1870. In 1871, Samuel M. Gaul was the first mayor to be elected under the Charter of 1871. He served a three year term, and was succeeded by John H. Jones in 1874.

At the time of the 1880 census Samuel Gaul, wife Louis, and children Sarah, Daniel, and Henry, lived at 310 Walnut Street in Camden. He was then working as an agent selling steamboat tickets. By 1887 the family had moved to 422 Royden Street. Samuel Gaul was then working as a claims adjuster for Civil War soldiers. A member of William B. Hatch Post No. 37 of the Grand Army of the Republic, he served as chaplain in the 1880s. Samuel Gaul later moved to Palmyra NJ, where he died of pneumonia on August 26, 1895.

Regimental History
NEW JERSEY
FOURTH INFANTRY
(Three Years)

Fourth Infantry.--Cols., James H. Simpson, William B. Hatch, William Birney, Edward L. Campbell; Lieut.-Cols., J. L. Kirby Smith, Barzilla Ridgway, Charles Ewing, Baldwin Hufty; Majs., Samuel Mulford, David Vickers.

The 4th was organized under the provisions of an act of Congress, approved July 22, 1861. It was fully organized, equipped and officered by Aug. 19, at which time it was mustered into the U. S. service for three years, at Camp Olden, Trenton. It left the state the next day with 38 officers, 871 non-commissioned officers and privates, a total of 909. It reached Washington on Aug. 21, accompanied by a battery of 6 pieces, furnished by the state and commanded by Capt. William Hexamer, who had been waiting for six months for an opportunity to enter the service. It was
assigned to the brigade of Gen. Kearney, then consisting of the 1st, 2nd and 3d N. J. regiments.

Immediately after the first battle of Bull Run it joined the brigade near Alexandria, and in the operations along the line of the Orange & Alexandria railroad acted as a support to the advance. Just before the battle of West Point, Va., the brigade relieved the troops in advance and the men lay on their arms in line of battle until daylight, when they were ordered forward, the 4th being held as
a reserve. At the battle at Gaines' Mill the brigade was formed in two lines, the 4th being in the front, and advanced to the brow of a hill, where the 4th was sent into the woods by order of an aid of Gen. McClellan, all the brigade being engaged at the most dangerous and difficult parts of the field,
until at last, wearied, bleeding, ammunition exhausted, the brigade slowly retired and crossing the bridge at 11 o'clock, reached its old camp about midnight, having sustained a total loss of over 1,000 men in killed and wounded, of whom some 500, belonging to the 4th were captured in a body, having refused to retreat from the woods when they might have done so, and continuing to fight until completely surrounded. Besides this loss in prisoners the regiment lost 38 killed and 111 wounded.
The regiment participated in the battles of Charles City cross-roads, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, Manassas, Chantilly and Crampton's Gap, the total loss of the brigade during the latter
engagement being 174 in killed and wounded, Adjt. Studdiford being among the slain.

It took part in the movement against Fredericksburg, but in the Gettysburg campaign the 4th was
detailed for provost duty in Washington. It was back with the brigade again in time for the spring campaign of 1864. At the battle of the Wilderness the 1st, 4th and 10th regiments, lying on the left, were several times attacked with great ferocity by the Confederates, but at nightfall still held substantially the ground occupied by them in the morning--a heavy assault by the Confederate Gen. Gordon just at dusk being repulsed with heroic Gallantry. Among the wounded in that engagement was Lieut.-Col. Van Syckel of the 4th. At the battle of Spottsylvania the regiment participated in the charge upon the "bloody angle," winning its share of the glory and sustaining its share of casualties. During the first eleven days of Grant's campaign against Richmond the regiment lost 26 killed, 126 wounded and 42 missing. The 4th fought at the North Anna river, Hanover Court House, Totopotomoy creek, Cold Harbor, Weldon railroad, Snicker's gap, Strasburg, Winchester and Charlestown. At the battle of the Opequan the 4th was with the troops that pressed forward, swept up the opposite hill and forced back the Confederate line, obtaining permanent possession of the hill
and holding it, though constantly exposed to a fire which inflicted severe loss, the 4th having 2 killed, 18 wounded and 1 missing. At Fisher's hill a private of the 4th named Beach compelled a Confederate lieutenant-colonel to surrender his sword, and there were other instances of daring no less noteworthy.

After Lee's surrender the regiment was assigned to what was known as the provisional corps, Army of the Potomac, until mustered out on July 9, 1865. The total strength of the regiment was 2,036, and it lost during service 29 by resignation, 319 by discharge, 83 by promotion, 81 by transfer, 257 by death, 372 by desertion, 3 by dismissal, 109 not accounted for, mustered out 783.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 3

Battles Fought

Fought on 28 October 1861 at Mason's Hill, VA.
Fought on 27 June 1862 at Gaines Farm, VA.
Fought on 27 June 1862 at Gaines' Mill, VA.
Fought on 27 August 1862 at Manassas, VA.
Fought on 14 September 1862 at Crampton's Gap, MD.
Fought on 13 December 1862 at Fredericksburg, VA.
Fought on 05 May 1864 at Wilderness, VA.
Fought on 06 May 1864 at Wilderness, VA.
Fought on 11 May 1864 at Spotsylvania Court House, VA.
Fought on 12 May 1864 at Spotsylvania Court House, VA.
Fought on 18 May 1864.
Fought on 24 May 1864 at North Anna River, 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 13 June 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 18 July 1864 at Snicker's Ford, VA.
Fought on 17 August 1864 at Winchester, VA.
Fought on 19 September 1864 at Opequan, VA.
Fought on 19 September 1864 at Winchester, VA.
Fought on 19 October 1864 at Cedar Creek, VA.
Fought on 06 January 1865 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 31 March 1865 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 02 April 1865 at Petersburg, VA.