Carved Wooden Pipe of Henry A. Speeler 48th New York and 35th New Jersey Infantry
Folk art pipe carved by Henry A. Speeler, who enlisted in August 1861 as a private in the 48th New York Infantry. He was in action with the regiment when it suffered severe casualties in the assault on Fort Wagner near Charleston, South Carolina. In October 1863 he was commissioned as a 1st lieutenant in the 35th New Jersey infantry (Cladek’s Zouaves) and served with the regiment through the Atlanta Campaign and Sherman’s March to the Sea. The pipe has a wonderfully smooth finish and is engraved “LT. H.A. SPELER / Co.K / 35. N.J.V. / SAVANNAH / FELL THE / 21 OF DEC / 1864 / MILLEN. DEC. the 5 & 9 / OLIVER. STATION.” The bowl measures 2 ¼” in height and 1 3/8” wide at the mouth and is approximately 7 ½” from the base of the bowl to the tip of the mouthpiece. Formerly from the collection of Norm Flayderman. An attractive Civil War soldier’s carved pipe.
Henry A. Speeler - 18 years old. Enlisted on 8/9/1861 at Trenton, NJ as a Private. On 8/16/1861 he mustered into “H” Co. NY 48th Infantry. He was discharged for promotion on 10/4/1863. On 10/4/1863 he was commissioned into NJ 35th Infantry.
Promotions: Corpl. Sergt 8/22/1863. 1st Lieut 10/4/1863 (As of 35th NJ Inf in St. Augustine, FL) Intra Regimental Company Transfers: from company H to company D.
NEW YORK FORTY-EIGHTH INFANTRY (Three Years)
Forty-eighth Infantry.-Cols., James H. Perry, William B. Barton, William B. Coan; Lieut.-Cols., William B. Barton, Oliver F. Beard, James F. Green, Dudley W. Strickland, William B. Coan, Nere A. Elfwing; Majs., Oliver F. Beard, James F. Greene, Dudley W. Strickland, William B. Coan, Samuel M. Swartwout, Nere A. Elfwing, Albert F. Miller, James A. Barrett.
The 48th, the "Continental Guard," contained seven Brooklyn companies, one from New York, one from Monmouth county, N. J., and one from Brooklyn and Monmouth county. It was mustered into the U. S. service at Brooklyn Aug. 16 to Sept. 14, 1861, for three years; left the state for Washington Sept. 16; was attached to the 1st brigade of Gen. Sherman's force; embarked for Port Royal late in October, and was active in the capture of the fortifications of Port Royal ferry Jan. 1, 1862.
In the siege operations against Fort Pulaski, Ga., the 48th took a prominent part and after the fall of the fortress was assigned to garrison duty there with expeditions in September and October to Bluffton, Cranston's bluff and Mackay's point. In June, 1863, the regiment with the exception of Cos. G and I, left Fort Pulaski and proceeded to Hilton Head, where it was there attached to Strong's brigade, 10th corps, with which it participated in the movement against Fort Wagner in July.
In the assault of July 18, the loss of the 48th was 242 killed, wounded and missing, including Col. Barton wounded and Lieut.-Col. Green killed. The regiment received high praise from the commanding officers for its gallantry in this action. In August it formed a part of the Florida expedition; was posted for some time at St. Augustine; participated in the disastrous battle at Olustee, with a loss of 44 in killed, wounded and missing; then retired to Jacksonville; proceeded up the river to Palatka on March 10, 1864, remained there until April when it was transferred to the Army of the James at Bermuda Hundred, and was assigned to the 2nd brigade, 2nd division, 10th corps.
In the engagement at Port Walthall Junction the regiment again showed its mettle by heroic conduct inspite of severe loss. On May 30 it was assigned to the 1st brigade, 3d division, 18th corps, and on June 15, to the 2nd brigade, 2nd division, 10th corps. It took a prominent part in the battle of Cold Harbor; was in the first assault on Petersburg and in action at the explosion of the mine; and was engaged at Strawberry Plains and Fort Harrison.
The original members not reenlisted were mustered out at New York city on Sept. 24, 1864, but 350 members having reenlisted in Dec., 1863, the regiment retained its organization. In Dec., 1864, with the 2nd brigade, 2nd division, 24th corps, the 48th was ordered to Fort Fisher, N. C., was active in the capture of the fortifications there in Jan., 1865, and served for some months in that vicinity.
In March it was attached to the provisional corps, in April to the 10th corps and during the summer months performed various routine duties in the neighborhood of Raleigh, N. C., where it was finally mustered out on Sept. 1, 1865. During its term of service 2,173 members were enrolled, and of these 236 or over 10 per cent, were killed or mortally wounded in action, a loss exceeded among the regiments of the state only by the 69th and 40th.
It was 17th in the list of all of the regiments of the Union armies in total loss. In the battles of the regiment 868 men were reported killed, wounded or missing, and it earned by desperate fighting its right to be known as a crack fighting regiment.
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