Civil War Union Army Officer. A native of Elizabeth, New Jersey, [sic--he was born in PA] he was a newspaper publisher in Plainfield, New Jersey when the Civil War began. He enlisted in the Union Army, and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in Company A, 1st New Jersey Volunteer Infantry on June 7, 1861. He served until November 28, 1861, when he resigned. He re-entered the Union Army in May 1862, when he was commissioned as Captain and commander of Company D, 11th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry. He was with the unit as it participated in the December 1862 Fredericksburg Campaign, and in the May 1863 Chancellorsville Campaign. In the July 1863 Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, his regiment was initially posted on Cemetery Ridge, but was moved out to Emmitsburg Road next to the Klingel Farmhouses along with the rest of the Army of the Potomac's III Corps on the Second Day of the engagement. He was in command of his company when the 11th New Jersey was positioned to resist the unrelenting assault of Barksdale's Brigade of Mississippians on the Peach Orchard. As the unit came under fire, its leaders, Colonel Robert McAllister and Major Philip Kearny, were both wounded and carried off the field. Captain Martin was then informed that he now commanded the regiment as senior Captain. He had time to give a single order to his men when he was shot and wounded. The fire endured by the regiment was such that, while he was being carried from the field, he was shot again and killed. After the battle, his body was interred on the battlefield near the Peter Frey House pump before his family came and retrieved it. They returned his remains home to be interred in the family plot in Evergreen Cemetery, Hillside, New Jersey.
Civil War Union Army Officer. A native of Elizabeth, New Jersey, [sic--he was born in PA] he was a newspaper publisher in Plainfield, New Jersey when the Civil War began. He enlisted in the Union Army, and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in Company A, 1st New Jersey Volunteer Infantry on June 7, 1861. He served until November 28, 1861, when he resigned. He re-entered the Union Army in May 1862, when he was commissioned as Captain and commander of Company D, 11th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry. He was with the unit as it participated in the December 1862 Fredericksburg Campaign, and in the May 1863 Chancellorsville Campaign. In the July 1863 Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, his regiment was initially posted on Cemetery Ridge, but was moved out to Emmitsburg Road next to the Klingel Farmhouses along with the rest of the Army of the Potomac's III Corps on the Second Day of the engagement. He was in command of his company when the 11th New Jersey was positioned to resist the unrelenting assault of Barksdale's Brigade of Mississippians on the Peach Orchard. As the unit came under fire, its leaders, Colonel Robert McAllister and Major Philip Kearny, were both wounded and carried off the field. Captain Martin was then informed that he now commanded the regiment as senior Captain. He had time to give a single order to his men when he was shot and wounded. The fire endured by the regiment was such that, while he was being carried from the field, he was shot again and killed. After the battle, his body was interred on the battlefield near the Peter Frey House pump before his family came and retrieved it. They returned his remains home to be interred in the family plot in Evergreen Cemetery, Hillside, New Jersey.
Bio by: RPD2
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