New Jersey in the American Civil War

Though no major battles were fought in New Jersey, soldiers and volunteers from New Jersey played an important part in the war, including Philip Kearny and George B. McClellan, who led the Army of the Potomac early in the Civil War and unsuccessfully ran for President of the United States in 1864 against his former commander-in-chief, Abraham Lincoln.

However, it ended up becoming the last northern state to abolish slavery, enforcing a period of indentured service in advance of full liberation.

On May 4, 1861, in a response to President Abraham Lincoln's call to arms the U.S. War Department directed New Jersey to fill a quota of three infantry regiments to serve a three-year term of enlistment.

Philip Kearny, an officer from the Mexican–American War, led a brigade of New Jersey regiments under Brigadier General William B. Franklin.

He infamously fought in the Battle of Gettysburg and served as Sherman's cavalry leader in the Atlanta Campaign.

He served to great success in Florida and initially commanded the defences during the New York Draft Riots.

Some of the aspects were:[3] Against proclamations from any source by which, under the plea of "military necessity," persons in states and territories sustaining the federal government, and beyond necessary military lines, are held liable to the rigor and severity of military law Against all arrests without warrant—against the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus in states and territories sustaining the federal government, "where the public safety does not require it"—and against the assumption of power by any person to suspend such writ, except under the express authority of Congress