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New Jersey's
Last Civil War Soldier Project
William Perrine – 1st NJ Cavalry
Last New Jersey G.A.R. Member
On December 11, 1945 taps sounded in early afternoon for New Jersey's last Civil War veteran William Perrine.
He went down fighting.
After demonstrating a determined will to live
in his 101st year. William Perrine knew he was dying and frequently tried to get out of bed where he would have a "better chance" to live through another day. When he made these efforts it took two persons to restrain him. Doctors and nurses declared he was "an amazing fighter". He died in the home of a daughter with whom he lived, Mrs. Robert W. Van Nest,
who lived at 75 Grove Street. Mr. Perrine was confined to bed for five previous days, the aged Civil War veteran had
taken a turn for the worse on that Monday. His death was attributed to the complications of old age.
Except for the two years he served in the Union Army in the Civil War, Mr. Perrine had always lived in the state of New Jersey. He was born on April 14, 1845, near Chimney Rock, to a family which traced its ancestors in New Jersey back to pre-Revolutionary War days. He came to Plainfield as a youth living on a farm which is now the busy corner of Madison Avenue and West Front Street. At the age of 19, Mr. Perrine joined the lst New Jersey Cavalry, with which he served
for two years and four months. He suffered a sabre wound in a battle shortly before the end of hostilities, but soon
recovered. The scar from his wound however remained, and the war also impaired his hearing.
Mr. Perrine shook hands with President Abraham Lincoln, as did other members of his company when it was called for
a review before the White House. Mr. Perrine also had the privilege to witness the surrender of Confederate General
Robert E. Lee, to Union General Ulysses S. Grant, at the McLean home in Appomattox, Virginia. Mr. Perrine kept a
truckful of Civil War Memorabilia and its times. Among the items in his collection was a rare silk flag, which
was issued as a souvenir of the election of Ulysses S. Grant, as the 18th President. Mr. Perrine upon his
return from the Civil War became a landscape gardener and was employed by one prominent family in
Plainfield for 45
years. Mr. Perrine married the former Mary Frances Staats of South Bound
Brook. Mary died in 1925.
He was the last surviving member of that post.
Mr. Perrine attended many veterans
conventions and GAR encampments, and traditionally
was a prominent figure in Plainfield, and attended North Plainfield's Memorial Day Parade for many years.
On the eve of his 100th birthday, he was the guest of honor at a reception held by the Winfield Scott Women's
Relief Corp #10. On his final day, he was visited by representatives of the New Jersey Women's Relief Corps,
the Auxiliary to the Sons of Union Veterans of the State Department, along with members of the Ball-Kirch Post
of the American Legion, and Mayor Thomas E. Beatty of North Plainfield. Although Mr. Perrine's eyesight and
hearing were impaired, he remained interested in the news, especially the progress of World War II. When the
news of Japan's surrender was relayed to him. He sat on his front porch "ringing in" the victory celebration
with an old family dinner bell. At that time he expressed the hope he would see his own relatives who had
served in the armed forces return home.
A full military service was held at 2 p.m. that Friday at the Memorial Funeral Home, with the Rev. Paul G.
Dennis, pastor of the First Methodist Church of which Mr. Perrine was a member. The Rev. John Y. Broek of
the
Trinity Reformed Church assisted. The Central Board of War
Veterans of Plainfield including
Donnelly Post; Spanish-American War Veterans, The Louis Rothberg Post; the
Ball-Kirch American Legion Post and the New Jersey Auxiliary to the Sons of
Union Veterans, along with the Women's Relief Corps paid their respects.
Mr. Perrine
Besides the daughter with whom he resided, Mr. Perrine was survived by three other daughters, Mrs. Florence Pangborn,
of 57 Grandview Avenue., Mrs. Sadie Bicknell, 3l Linden Avenue., and Mrs. Richard F. Sutton, 75 Manning Avenue. He
also had one son Mr. Robert A. Perrine of South Plainfield. He had two brothers Hiram Perrine, of Newark, and Lee
Perrine of New Market. Mr. Perrine had 34 grandchildren, 27 great grand children, and 10 great great grand children.
Mr. William Perrine Grand Army of the Republic Veteran died fighting to his last day. Brother Frank McGonigle, of the
George A. Custer Camp #17 Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War had his tombstone replaced so that it would indicate
the right Cavalry division that Mr. Perrine had
served in during his service to the Union Army.
End
(more to
follow)
Last New Jersey Civil War Veteran
(Non G.A.R. member)
George Ashby of Allentown, New Jersey
Sgt. 45th NJ Vols., Co. H
Born - Jan. 25, 1844
Died - April 26, 1946
Age 102
On April 26, 1946, George Ashby died in Allentown. He was buried in the Hamilton Street Cemetery. George
was 102 years old when he departed this world. George Ashby, a black free man, was born on January 25, 1844,
in Virginia. He volunteered on August 5, 1864, in Trenton, NJ. At the time of his enlistment, he was a farmer
and
lived in Crosswicks, NJ.
At age 20 he accepted an installment bounty of $100 for a 3 year enlistment in
the 22nd Regiment, U.S.C.T. He
was later assigned to H-CO., 45th Regiment, U.S.C.T. The 45th was part of the 25th Army Corp., the only all
black Army Corp. in U.S. history. George Ashby’s regiment took part in the following battles: Chapin’s Farm,
New
Market Heights, Darby Town, Fair Oaks, Appomattox, Hatcher’s Run, Petersburg,
and in minor skirmishes.
The regiment was entrenched before Petersburg from June 1864 to April 1865, and
took part in the pursuit of
General Lee and his army of northern Virginia in 1865. Ashby’s regiment was then transferred to the Mexican
frontier because of the encroachment of Maximillian’s Mexican and French troops. There he received a promotion
to Sergeant for gallant and meritorious service. He was discharged in November, 1865, in Brownville, Texas. After
the war, he resumed farming and married Phoebe Cole of Crosswicks. The couple moved to Waker Ave.,
Allentown,
where they raised their children. Mrs. Phoebe Ashby died at the Waker Ave. home.
George spent his last years residing on Pearl Street. George had 9 children, 16
grandchildren, 14 great
grandchildren and 7 great great grandchildren. One of his grandchildren, Harold James Ashby, became a member
of the Newark Board of Education and became president of that board. He also served as a Deputy Attorney
General for the state of NJ, and chairman of the NJ State Parole Board.
Mr. Ashby is Buried in the Hamilton Street Cemetery, Allentown, Monmouth County, New Jersey.
INTERESTING
FACTS ABOUT THE TOMB OF THE UNKNOWNS
1 How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the tomb of the
Unknowns
and why? 21 steps. It alludes to the twenty-one gun salute, which is the highest honor
given
any military or foreign dignitary.
2. How long does he hesitate after his about face to begin his return walk
and why?
21
seconds for the same reason as answer number 1.
3. Why are his gloves wet? His gloves are moistened to prevent his losing his
grip on the rifle.
4. Does he carry his rifle on the same shoulder all the time, and if not, why
not? He carries the
rifle on the shoulder away from the tomb. After his march across the path, he executes an about
face, and moves the rifle to the outside shoulder.
5. How often are the guards changed? Guards are changed every thirty minutes,
twenty-four
hours
a day, 365 days a year.
6. What are the physical traits of the guard limited to? For a person to
apply for guard duty at the
tomb,
he must be between 5’ 10” and 6’ 2” tall and his waist size cannot
exceed 30”.
Other requirements of the Guard:
They must commit 2 years of life to guard the tomb, live in a barracks
under the tomb, and
cannot drink any alcohol on or off duty for the rest of their lives. They cannot swear in public for
the
rest of their lives and cannot disgrace the uniform {fighting} or the tomb
in any way.
After two years, the guard is given a wreath pin that is worn on their lapel
signifying they served as
guard of the tomb. There are only 400 presently worn. The guard must obey these rules for the rest
of
their lives or give up the wreath pin.
The shoes are specially made with very thick soles to keep the heat and cold
from their feet There
are metal heel plates that extend to the top of the shoe in order to make the loud click as they
come to a halt. There are no wrinkles, folds or lint on the uniform. Guards dress for duty in front
of
a full-length mirror.
The first six months of duty a guard cannot talk to anyone, nor watch TV.
All off duty time is spent
studying the 175 notable people laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. A guard must memorize
who they are and where they are interred. Among the notables are: President Taft, Joe E. Lewis
{the boxer} and Medal of Honor winner Audie Murphy, {the most decorated soldier of WWII} of
Hollywood
fame. Every guard spends five hours a day getting his uniforms ready for guard
duty.
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