"Hexamer's Battery"
North Bergen is home to a plethora of history, especially history that has been forgotten. I've previously discussed North Bergen's role in the American Revolution, but did you know there is also a unique link between not just North Bergen, but James J. Braddock Park as well? Believe it of not the area that would be come the park was once used as firing range and drill area for men heading of to fight the Civil War. Those preparing to fight for the continuity of the Union were look men organized out of Hoboken under the leadership of one William Hexamer. Offically known as Battery A, 1st Battery New Jersey Light Artillery, the unit would become known to locals as Hexamer's Battery.
Courtesy of the North Bergen Facebook page.
Seen in the above clipping is Battery A, 1st Battery New Jersey Light Artillery and yes that is what will become James J. Braddock Park, most likely somewhere along Bergenline Ave. Unfortunetly, it would be impossible to identify the men in this photo, but I will try to do them justice by retelling their story. The unit was mustered into service on August 12, 1861. However, the unit formed at the outbreak of the Civil War by Hexamer himself and dubbed. the Hudson County Artillery. It would take some time and the work of Governor Charles Smith Olden and the result of the Battle of Bull Run to get Hexamer and his gang the federal aid they'd need to be ready to hand the Rebals a good old fashion beating.
Who were these brave men willing to go down to the land of Dixie and take on their rebellious brothers? Let's start with Hexamer himself. William Hexamer was born in Koblenz Germany in 1825. He played a role in the 1848 Revolution which was a fail attempted to unify Germany and grant freedom of the press as well as freedom to asseblem, kind of makes sense why he'd fight for the Union. Hexamer would go into exile after the revolution and end up in Hoboken. There he was a corner stone of the German immigrant community. At the start of the Civil War, Hexamer had no issues recuiting men. His unit would be made up of roughly 100 men, mainly from Hoboken and mostly German immigrants. At the time the unit would be crossing the Mason Dixon Line it filled with men from Northern Hudson County.
The Washignton Post
Hexamer and his men would be under the direction of General Philip Kearny, yes as in Kearny. They'd see their first action during the Peninsula Campaign, then during the Antietam Campaign at Antietam, Crampton's Gap & Fredericksburg. They'd continue to fight Johnny Reb at the Second Battle of Fredericksburg and at the Battle of Salem Church. In 1863 they were called upon to lay down artillery fire at the Battle of Gettysburg, where they were a key component to stopping Pickett's Charge. After Gettysburg the unit fell into a reserve roll and saw action on their return to New Jersey at the Battle of Mine Run and Cold Harbor. Hexamer and his men were mustered out on August 18, 1864. They served their country during it's darkest time and at some of the bloodiest battles fought for three long years.
Courtesy of Anthony Defino
After the war the men of Hexamer's Battery rejoined civilian life and enjoyed the normalacy of peace time America. It wouldn't be until the turn of the century that Hudson County residents would recall the heroism of these men. In an 1903 article of the Jersey Journal, Hexamer and his men's service at Antietam was retold to the masses for the first time. Again, it wouldn't be until the centenial of the Civil War in 1960 that a amatuer historian from Hoboken would bring Hexamer and his men back into the light. The above photo from 1901 is a collection of Civil War veterans living in West New York, perhaps some of Hexamer's men themselves, the same men who would have used James J. Braddock Park as a preparation for the War Between the States. Today the service of these men is almost but forgotten. However, there is own piece of fokelore that may still pay homage to those from North Bergen and Hudson County and they are passed every day on Kennedy Blvd. According to a few old timer's stories those two cannons infront of Town Hall are actual artillary from Hexamer's Battery. Now is that true or just local legend?
Seen in the above clipping is Battery A, 1st Battery New Jersey Light Artillery and yes that is what will become James J. Braddock Park, most likely somewhere along Bergenline Ave. Unfortunetly, it would be impossible to identify the men in this photo, but I will try to do them justice by retelling their story. The unit was mustered into service on August 12, 1861. However, the unit formed at the outbreak of the Civil War by Hexamer himself and dubbed. the Hudson County Artillery. It would take some time and the work of Governor Charles Smith Olden and the result of the Battle of Bull Run to get Hexamer and his gang the federal aid they'd need to be ready to hand the Rebals a good old fashion beating.
Who were these brave men willing to go down to the land of Dixie and take on their rebellious brothers? Let's start with Hexamer himself. William Hexamer was born in Koblenz Germany in 1825. He played a role in the 1848 Revolution which was a fail attempted to unify Germany and grant freedom of the press as well as freedom to asseblem, kind of makes sense why he'd fight for the Union. Hexamer would go into exile after the revolution and end up in Hoboken. There he was a corner stone of the German immigrant community. At the start of the Civil War, Hexamer had no issues recuiting men. His unit would be made up of roughly 100 men, mainly from Hoboken and mostly German immigrants. At the time the unit would be crossing the Mason Dixon Line it filled with men from Northern Hudson County.
Hexamer and his men would be under the direction of General Philip Kearny, yes as in Kearny. They'd see their first action during the Peninsula Campaign, then during the Antietam Campaign at Antietam, Crampton's Gap & Fredericksburg. They'd continue to fight Johnny Reb at the Second Battle of Fredericksburg and at the Battle of Salem Church. In 1863 they were called upon to lay down artillery fire at the Battle of Gettysburg, where they were a key component to stopping Pickett's Charge. After Gettysburg the unit fell into a reserve roll and saw action on their return to New Jersey at the Battle of Mine Run and Cold Harbor. Hexamer and his men were mustered out on August 18, 1864. They served their country during it's darkest time and at some of the bloodiest battles fought for three long years.
After the war the men of Hexamer's Battery rejoined civilian life and enjoyed the normalacy of peace time America. It wouldn't be until the turn of the century that Hudson County residents would recall the heroism of these men. In an 1903 article of the Jersey Journal, Hexamer and his men's service at Antietam was retold to the masses for the first time. Again, it wouldn't be until the centenial of the Civil War in 1960 that a amatuer historian from Hoboken would bring Hexamer and his men back into the light. The above photo from 1901 is a collection of Civil War veterans living in West New York, perhaps some of Hexamer's men themselves, the same men who would have used James J. Braddock Park as a preparation for the War Between the States. Today the service of these men is almost but forgotten. However, there is own piece of fokelore that may still pay homage to those from North Bergen and Hudson County and they are passed every day on Kennedy Blvd. According to a few old timer's stories those two cannons infront of Town Hall are actual artillary from Hexamer's Battery. Now is that true or just local legend?
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