Civil War Union Army Officer. A prominent Camden, New Jersey physician who served for a time in the Imperial Army of Czarist Russia, he was commissioned as Major of the 3rd New Jersey Volunteer Infantry on May 28, 1861. He served in this capacity until May 16, 1862, when he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, filling a vacancy caused when Henry W. Brown was advanced to Colonel. He served as second in command of the 3rd New Jersey through its participation in the June Battle of Gaines Mill and the August Battle of Second Bull Run. When Brigadier General George W. Taylor, commander of the 3rd New Jersey's brigade, fell mortally wounded at 2nd Bull Run, the commander of the 1st New Jersey Infantry, Colonel Alfred T.A. Torbert, was promoted to Brigadier General and was assigned to lead the brigade. Lieutenant Colonel Collet was transferred to the 1st New Jersey Infantry on September 14, 1862, and assumed command of the regiment, being the highest ranked regimental officer (the unit's previous Lieutenant Colonel, Robert McAllister, had been commissioned as Colonel and commander of the newly organized 11th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry in June 1862). He led his new command in the September 1862 Battle of South Mountain, where it participated in the First New Jersey Brigade's triumphant charge at Crampton's Gap. Promoted to Colonel on November 29, 1862, he commanded the regiment in the subsequent battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. In the last named battle, the 1st New Jersey was part of the May 3, 1863 VI Corps attack on Salem Church, Virginia. The regiment, along with the rest of the brigade, assaulted and was repulsed by a brigade of Alabamans, and Colonel Collet was killed while directing the withdrawl of his unit.
Civil War Union Army Officer. A prominent Camden, New Jersey physician who served for a time in the Imperial Army of Czarist Russia, he was commissioned as Major of the 3rd New Jersey Volunteer Infantry on May 28, 1861. He served in this capacity until May 16, 1862, when he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, filling a vacancy caused when Henry W. Brown was advanced to Colonel. He served as second in command of the 3rd New Jersey through its participation in the June Battle of Gaines Mill and the August Battle of Second Bull Run. When Brigadier General George W. Taylor, commander of the 3rd New Jersey's brigade, fell mortally wounded at 2nd Bull Run, the commander of the 1st New Jersey Infantry, Colonel Alfred T.A. Torbert, was promoted to Brigadier General and was assigned to lead the brigade. Lieutenant Colonel Collet was transferred to the 1st New Jersey Infantry on September 14, 1862, and assumed command of the regiment, being the highest ranked regimental officer (the unit's previous Lieutenant Colonel, Robert McAllister, had been commissioned as Colonel and commander of the newly organized 11th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry in June 1862). He led his new command in the September 1862 Battle of South Mountain, where it participated in the First New Jersey Brigade's triumphant charge at Crampton's Gap. Promoted to Colonel on November 29, 1862, he commanded the regiment in the subsequent battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. In the last named battle, the 1st New Jersey was part of the May 3, 1863 VI Corps attack on Salem Church, Virginia. The regiment, along with the rest of the brigade, assaulted and was repulsed by a brigade of Alabamans, and Colonel Collet was killed while directing the withdrawl of his unit.
Bio by: RPD2
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