Veteran Reserve Corps.

Under the provisions of General Orders No. 105, dated War Department, Adjutant General’s Office, Washington, D. C., April 28, 1863, the organization of an Invalid Corps was authorized. The Corps was to consist of such Officers and enlisted Men of commands then in the field, as were unfit for active field service on account of wounds or disease contracted in the line of duty, as well as those who had been honorably discharged from the service by reason of wounds or disability contracted while in the line of duty; they being able and physically qualified for doing Garrison and other light Military duties away from actual field service. By virtue of the authority thus given, a large number of Officers and enlisted Men in the service, but absent from their commands, were transferred to and joined the Corps, and under the provisions of Circular No. 13, dated War Department, Provost Marshal General’s Office, Washington, D. C., May 25, 1863, the Acting Assistant Provost Marshal of each State was directed to open a Recruiting Rendezvous for the Corps at or in the immediate vicinity of his Head Quarters, for the enrollment of such honorbly discharged men who desired to re-enter the service; the term of enlistment was to be for three years or during the war. Under the provisions of Circular No. 15, dated War Department, Provost Marshal General’s Office, Washington, D. C., April 27, 1864, those who enlisted or re-enlisted in the Corps were to be credited upon the quota of the State, the same as other troops. The Corps was organized in Companies of two classes or Battalions – the men enlisted in or transferred to the Corps who were most efficient and able-bodied, capable of using the musket, performing Guard duty, or making light marches were assigned to Companies of the First Battalion, and were to be employed as Provost Guards, Guards in cities, &c., and were not liable to active campaigns with the Army in the field; those of a minor degree of physical efficiency by reason of the loss of a hand or arm, foot or leg, were assigned to Companies of the Second Battalion, to be armed with side arms only, and were to be employed in Hospitals as Cooks, Nurses, Clerks, Orderlies, &c., and as Guards to Hospitals or other Public Buildings. Officers desiring to re-enter the service in this branch, received their appointment and were commissioned direct from the War Department. Under the provisions of General Orders No. 111, dated War Department, Adjutant General’s Office, Washington, D. C., March 18, 1864, the name of the organization was changed from Invalid Corps to Veteran Reserve Corps.

The following list shows the Officers and enlisted Men who re-enlisted for the Corps, and were placed to the credit of this State, (those who were transferred to the Corps from New Jersey Regiments in the field to serve the remainder of their term of service, are accounted for on the rolls of their original Company and Regiment). They continued in service until after the close of the war, when they were discharged at different times and places as the War Department directed.

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