Civil War Union Army Officer. Commissioned as 1st Lieutenant of Company E, 2nd New Jersey Militia on May 1, 1861, he was promoted to Captain and commander of the unit on July 7, 1861 when his first cousin, Captain John J. Van Buskirk, was promoted to Major. He was present with his regiment during the First Battle of Bull Run (July 21, 1861), where it was held in reserve, and was mustered out of the militia on July 31, 1861. His experience as a militia officer helped over a year later, when he was commissioned Major of the 21st New Jersey Volunteer Infantry on September 6, 1861. He fought with the regiment at the Battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. On May 4, 1863 at Chancellorsville, he assumed command of the 21st New Jersey when its Colonel, Gilliam Van Houten, received as mortal leg wound, and its Lieutenant Colonel, Isaac Mettler, was absent. He rallied his broken regiment and led it in a fighting withdraw, which lasted until the fighting ended late in the day. Major Van Buskirk's command lost 211 casualties in the Battle. He was mustered out with the survivors of his regiment on June 19, 1863. Originally interred in the family plot in Bayonne, New Jersey's Constable Hook Cemetery, in 1899 he was re-interred in Staten Island's Moravian Cemetery.
Civil War Union Army Officer. Commissioned as 1st Lieutenant of Company E, 2nd New Jersey Militia on May 1, 1861, he was promoted to Captain and commander of the unit on July 7, 1861 when his first cousin, Captain John J. Van Buskirk, was promoted to Major. He was present with his regiment during the First Battle of Bull Run (July 21, 1861), where it was held in reserve, and was mustered out of the militia on July 31, 1861. His experience as a militia officer helped over a year later, when he was commissioned Major of the 21st New Jersey Volunteer Infantry on September 6, 1861. He fought with the regiment at the Battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. On May 4, 1863 at Chancellorsville, he assumed command of the 21st New Jersey when its Colonel, Gilliam Van Houten, received as mortal leg wound, and its Lieutenant Colonel, Isaac Mettler, was absent. He rallied his broken regiment and led it in a fighting withdraw, which lasted until the fighting ended late in the day. Major Van Buskirk's command lost 211 casualties in the Battle. He was mustered out with the survivors of his regiment on June 19, 1863. Originally interred in the family plot in Bayonne, New Jersey's Constable Hook Cemetery, in 1899 he was re-interred in Staten Island's Moravian Cemetery.
Bio by: RPD2
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