cavalry, with yards of gold braid and orange piping and an odd hat choice, which appears to be a standard kepi with the bill removed and worn sideways. Enlistees were issued hooded talmas instead of overcoats. Recruits were asked to contribute three dollars of their own money to cover the cost of the unique uniforms. Since they were receiving high bounties to enlist, this was not a serious impediment. Morrison’s pitch seemed at least somewhat effective, sinc one lieutenant later complained that while he spoke English, the men in his company only spoke German. There was another more problematic aspect of the Third’s leadership. Colonel Morrison had more prewar military experience, albeit erratic, than most Civil War officers. He ran away to become an officer’s servant in the Mexican War, was hauled off a ship of filibusterer headed for Latin America, met Italian Revolutionary Giuseppe Garibaldi in New York, and served under him as a cavalry officer in Italy, among other things. There was, however, one unfortunate incident. He had been relieved of command of the 26th New Jersey Infantry when he led it in the wrong direction while inebriated during the 1863 Chancellorsville Campaign. Although he explained to the governor of New Jersey that he failed at leading
the infantry regiment because his experience as a mercenary in Europe was with cavalry, his recommissioning was no doubt due to political connections Colonel Morrison also requested that the regiment be equipped only with sabers, no doubt dreaming of leading the American equiv alent of the charge of the Light Brigade against Confederates. In addition to the sabers, the Third was initially issued some Whitney revolvers as well. By the second quarter of 1864, the Third was carrying a hodgepodge of firearms, including revolvers by Whitney and Remington, a few Sharps carbines, and even a few obsolete .69 caliber musketoons. The issue pattern, revealed in th quarterly ordnance report, seems sketchy. The bulk of the 3rd New Jersey Cavalry was mustered into service on Feb. 10, 1864, in Trenton The Third was initially assigned as support for General Ambrose Burnside’s IX Army Corps but later transferred to General Phil Sheridan’s Cavalry Corps. Colonel Morrison was relieved again due to drunkenness, but his regiment, dubbed the “Butterflies due to their unconventional
came a hard-hitting combat outfit, even with its sorry weapons issues. It was mustered out of se vice in July and August of 1865, and maintained a viable veterans organization into the twentieth century.
Joseph G. Bilby received his BA and MA degrees in history from Seton Hall University and served as a lieutenant in the 1st Infantry Division in 1966–1967. H is Assistant Curator of the New Jersey National Guard and Militia Museum, a freelance writer and historical consultant and author or editor of 21 books and over 40 articles on N.J. and military his and firearms. He is also publications editor fo the N.J. Civil War 150 Committee and edited the award winning New Jersey Goes to War. His latest book, New Jersey: A Military History, was published b Westholme Publishing in 2017. He has received an award for contributions to Monmouth County (N.J.) history and an Award of Merit from the N.J. Historical Commission for contributions to the state’s military history.
