Research
		New Jersey Governor Charles Smith Olden

Charles Smith Olden, governor of New Jersey (January 15, 1860 to January 20, 1863), born in Princeton, New Jersey, 19 February, 1799; died there, 7 April, 1876. He was educated at Lawrenceville, New Jersey, left, school early to work in his father's store, entered a merchantmen house in Philadelphia in 1823, and in 1826 went to New Orleans, where he became a successful merchant, retiring from business in 1834 and returning to Princeton. As treasurer of Princeton college, he aided in extricating it from financial embarrassment after the destruction of Nassau hall by fire. He represented his county in the state senate from 1844 till 1850. In 1859 he was elected by the Republicans governor of New Jersey, and was efficient in organizing and equipping the state's quota of troops. He attended the Peace congress in 1861. His service as governor ended in 1863, and he subsequently filled the offices of judge of the court of errors and appeals, member of the court of pardons, riparian commissioner, and presidential elector.

Final Resting place of Governor Olden: Stoney Brook Burial Ground (Princeton, NJ) Image provided by Bruce Sirak

The Swamp Angel

On Monday, August 17, 1863, a 16,500-lb. iron Parrott Rifle was wrestled by 450 men into the Union's Marsh Battery in the spongy marshes of Morris Island, 7,000 yards away from Charleston, South Carolina. It was dubbed the "Swamp Angel". This eight-inch Parrott rifle, or 200-pounder, used 16-lb. charges, 150-lb. projectiles, had a maximum elevation of 35 degrees and set its sites an unprecedented 8,000 yards away on the steeple of St. Michael's Church in Charleston. On August 21st, a message was sent to Confederate commander P.G.T. Beauregard from Major General Quincy Gillmore demanding the immediate surrender of Ft. Sumter and the Charleston defenses. Before the message was acknowledged, and contrary to conventions of war then in effect, the Swamp Angel opened fire at 1:30 a.m. on August 22, 1863. After an angry exchange between the commanders, the Swamp Angel suspended fire until midnight on August 23, when it roared to life again. About 1 a.m. on the 36th salvo, the Swamp Angel's breech exploded directly behind the vent, dismounting the cannon from its carriage and throwing it into the parapet. Prior to the rupture, six incendiary shells had exploded prematurely in the gun, adding to the stress caused by the long-range firing. Following the war, the cannon was purchased for scrap iron by the Phoenix Iron Works in Trenton, N.J. Before it could be melted down, it was recognized and saved. In February of 1871, it was erected on a fieldstone plinth at the corner of North Clinton Avenue and Perry Street. Due to road changes, it was moved and re-dedicated at Cadwalader Park on April 12, 1961, the 100th anniversary of the start of the Civil War. Following greatly needed restoration and preservation by the Camp Olden Civil War Round Table, the Swamp Angel was again rededicated on October 8, 1994. To visit: take Route 29 north past Trenton, exit right onto Parkside Avenue exit. Go to 2nd traffic light and turn left into Cadwalader Park. The Swamp Angel is straight ahead. Also note the Soldiers and Sailors monument just to the left of the Swamp Angel. Park is open free and during daylight hours only. The dedication of the Swamp Angel monument was documented in a 1876 New York Times article.

Information on the original location of Camp Olden

The book, "The Search for Camp Olden, Hamilton Township" was written by Joseph Francis Seliga and published on May 20, 1995, the day of the dedication of Camp Olden Park. This park was renamed because research by the author showed that it was across the street from the Camp. Signed copies can be purchased at the Camp Olden Civil War and Indian Museum located in Veterans Park, in Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey

The location of Camp Olden in Hamilton Township was apparently so well known to the citizens of Hamilton Township, Trenton and the rest of the state of New Jersey that no specific directions to it were needed. There are hundreds of letters and articles written by soldiers, newspaper editors and others that make note of and describe the activities, past and forthcoming, at Camp Olden. However, a specific reference to a plot of ground has not been found to date.

The Search for Camp Olden in Hamilton Township began and is continuing with three questions as a guide:

1. Who would be interested in knowing where Camp Olden was located?
2. Why would it be important for them to know where Camp Olden was located?
3. Where would they be likely to write the information down?

While no definitive, unequivocal location has yet been found and corroborated, there is a growing body of circumstantial evidence which points to the farm of Charles C. Skirm.

We do know quite a bit about Camp Olden; who selected the location, what units were assembled, organized and trained there, how long each unit was there, what the camp looked like and some of what took place there. All of these are discussed in the introduction and the eight chapters of this booklet.

Chapter 1 - Camp Olden Springs to Life, sets the scene, The calls for three-year volunteers from the Secretary of War established the need for a larger assembly, organization and training camp for the troops of New Jersey. The site for Camp Olden in Hamilton Township was selected by Major Theodore T. S. Laidley, regular U.S. Army officer, seconded to New Jersey to officially muster-in the New Jersey troops.

Chapter 2 - Camp Olden at Pond Run, will take you, step by step, through my sources and enumerate my reasons for identifying part of the farm of Charles C. Skirm as the most probable location of Camp Olden, Hamilton Township.

Chapter 3 - The Regiments at Camp Olden, identifies the regiments that were assembled, organized and trained at Camp Olden, Hamilton Township, when each regiment was organized and mustered into Federal Service and how many men were in each unit. Nine regiments of infantry and company B of the First Regiment of Artillery were organized in and trained at Camp Olden in Hamilton Township.

Chapter 4 - Camp Olden, Hamilton Township in Operation, tells you when and how long Camp Olden, Hamilton Township was in operation, how long each unit was there, and when they left for the seat of war.

Chapter 5 - Introduction to the Army at Camp Olden, discusses the introduction of these men to guard duty, marching in formation, pitching tents, pulling stumps, digging ditches, cooking their food, shooting their muskets, being equipped and outfitted in uniforms, the use of the bayonet, being paid for their soldiering, witnessing punishments and religious services in the Army.

Chapter 6 - The Appearance of Camp Olden, shows you that Camp Olden, Hamilton Township was an orderly, well kept camp, with tents arrayed in streets. It had an entrance, Sibley tents for the men, wall tents for the officers, a hospital tent, a guard house, wooden cook sheds for each company, a firing range, company drill fields and a parade ground. There was room on the camp grounds for horses, wagons and ambulances.

Chapter 7 - What Did the Camp Olden Boys Do in The War? The men from Camp Olden, Hamilton Township fought and died in twenty-seven battles and participated in more than 90 different battles, skirmishes and fights. Seven of the nine Camp Olden infantry regiments are included in Fox's three hundred fighting regiments of the Civil War.

Chapter 8 - You Can Help, is about the unresolved questions that arose during this search. If you can provide the answers to any one of the twenty-three questions included there, please contact the author.

Three appendices are also a part of this publication. They include the premise used to develop the search plan, the outline developed to focus the work, the text on the monument at Camp Olden Park at the intersection of Hamilton Avenue and Liberty Street, and biographical information about Charles C. Skirm.

Two maps and five tables are included. Figure 1 shows the location of Camp Olden, Hamilton Township. Figure 2 is a map of sections of Hamilton Township near Camp Olden, Hamilton Township and sections of Trenton, showing the buildings and streets identified in the referenced documents. Table 1 lists the regiments at Camp Olden, Hamilton Township. Table 2 provides you with a picture of the troop density at various times when it was in operation. Table 3 tabulates the number of days that each spent at Camp Olden, Hamilton Township. Table 4 lists the battle participation by the troops from Camp Olden, Hamilton. Table 5 identifies who needed to know where Camp Olden was located and why they needed to know.

submitted by: Joseph Francis Seliga

Camp Olden Member Presentations

Vicksburg - part 1 and part 2 (John F. Allen, Jr.)

 


You can contact us by:

E-mail: Camp Olden Civil War Round Table

or by snail mail:

Camp Olden Civil War Round Table
c/o Kim Daly
3865 Crosswicks Hamilton Square Rd.
Robbinsville, NJ 08691