Skip to main content
Advanced Search
New Jersey Civil War Veteran Medal
New Jersey Civil War Veteran Medal
New Jersey Civil War Veteran Medal

New Jersey Civil War Veteran Medal

PeriodCirca 1908
Place MadeU.S.A.
MediumBronze
Dimensions2.25 × 1.63 × 0.5 in. (5.7 × 4.1 × 1.3 cm)
ClassificationsBadges, Buttons, Medals, & Ribbons
Credit LineGift of Donald T. Little, Great Great Grandson of Chaplain Frank B. Rose, 14th NJ Volunteers, 2023
Object number2023.15
DescriptionA commemorative war award medal of dark bronze, comprised of an upper bar with a finely cast New Jersey state seal within a laurel wreath, flanked by a bar on either side with "1861" on the left and "1865" on the right. A pair of short bronze link chains attach to a lower circular panel, also finely cast, depicting a standing Civil War Union soldier holding a rifle with musket, standing in front of a cannon, with an American flag at right. Encircling the central image are the words "READY TO DIE FOR THE HONOR OF OUR COUNTRY." On the reverse, the upper panel is stamped "544," denoting the register number of the medal to its recipient, and "The Mayes Bros. Co." below. On the lower circular panel, the words "presented by the state of New Jersey to Veteran of the Union Forces in the Civil War 1861-1865." A space in the center of the plaque was left, most likely to include the recipient's name to be engraved.
Curatorial RemarksThis small bronze medal was awarded to New Jersey veterans who had fought in the Civil War. First issued in 1901, a second issue of medals was produced in 1904. Ultimately, a 1909 resolution authorized the state governor to award the veteran medal to any person who had fought during the Civil War provided that the veteran had been honorably discharged. The New Jersey State Archives has a ledger kept between 1907 and 1923 of all soldiers who received the medal. (Accession 1968.002). The number "544" on the back of the bar portion of the medal indicates that Reverend Frank Rose was the 544th veteran to receive the award.NotesFrancis Bramwell Rose was born on April 5, 1836, in Tuckerton, Ocean County, NJ. Francis, or Frank as he was known throughout his life, was the son of Francis Bodine Rose and Sarah Early Stiles, one of four children. His father drowned in July of 1854 while on a vacation at Long Branch. After graduating from Central High School in Philadelphia, Rose entered the seminary. In 1857, Frank Rose married Mary Anna King (1841-1914). The couple had seven children: May (1858), Almira (1860), Malvine (1863), Wilbur (1865), Sarah (1868), Flora (1875), and Frances (1877). One of his first positions was at the Freehold Methodist Episcopal Church in Freehold, where he worked from 1861 to 1862. In September of 1862, Rose enlisted in the Union Army and was appointed chaplain of the New Jersey 14th Regiment, the majority of whom were Freehold and other Monmouth residents. Rose saw brutal fighting in 33 engagements including Monocacy, Cedar Creeek, Winchester, The Wilderness, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg. During the war, Rose sent letters to the Monmouth Democrat newspaper. In 1864, one of his letters acknowledged the receipt of hymn books and candles for the Regimental chapel. Rose noted that "we thank our loved ones for their kind and generous devotion to us." Rose was mentioned in surviving letters of other soldiers from the 14th. Red Bank resident Albert C. Harrison wrote his mother in late September of 1862 that "there was a happy time last night among us for our chaplain had just arrived, a finer young man you don't often crop or a smarter one." During the war, there was an unpleasant incident when rumors began to circulate that Rose was stealing liquor and other supplies sent to the Regiment's sick soldiers by family members and that he was drinking heavily. Outraged, Rose received permission from his Company commander and returned to Freehold to find out where the rumors had started. Rose learned that fellow officer Lt. George Patterson had started the rumors, most likely as revenge. Patterson had approached Rose on several occasions asking for liquor, which Rose "refused politely." Rose confronted Patterson, who denied everything. Rose then filed formal charges against him. Regimental commander General William S. Truex gave Patterson a choice of a court martial or writing a letter confessing to spreading the rumors about Rose. Patterson finally chose the latter, admitting the derogatory statements. After the war, Patterson ran for local office in Freehold in 1881. His wartime behavior against Rose resurfaced, and Monmouth Democrat newspaper editor and owner James S. Yard, himself a member of the 14th Regiment, published Patterson's original confession letter in the papers as well as an additional 6,000 copies of the issue which he distributed throughout the county. Patterson lost the election. Almost immediately after mustering out of the 14th in June of 1865, Rose served as pastor for the First Baptist Congregation in Camden for a brief period. He then took up a postion as Chaplain for the United States Navy. Rose served on numerous warships and sailed in European waters as well as the Atlantic and Pacific. He retired in 1898 at the age of 62. In 1898 at the outbreak of the Spanish American War, Rose volunteered for and was accepted as a chaplain in the Army. In 1906, the United States Congress conferred the rank of Rear Admiral on Reverend Rose in recognition for his service in both the Civil War and the Spanish American War. He lived with his wife in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, where he died of pneumonia on March 23, 1910. He was buried at West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. An article published about his death noted that "his personality is affectionately remembered. His courage and fidelity to principle were marked...he has left for his family a rich heritage in the record of faithful, efficient, and honorable service to God, his Church, and his Nation."
Collections