Stillwell, Symmes Henry, 1840-1934

Symmes H. Stillwell (1840-1934) of Cranbury, Middlesex County, New Jersey, served in the Union Army with the 9th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry from September 1861 until October 1864 during the American Civil War. Like other members of his family, Stillwell was very political; he was an active member and staunch supporter of the Republican Party and the war. One of the first to join the 9th, Stillwell initially served with Company M, and was then transferred to Company A. He was promoted from the rank of Corporal to Sergeant.

Stillwell participated in all of the battles with which the 9th was involved until April 1864 when he became very ill and was sent to Balfour General Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia. Once recovered, he worked at the hospital as a police-sergeant until October when he was discharged.

Known as the "Jersey Muskrats," the 9th New Jersey Volunteers received its nickname during the Battle of Roanoke Island, N.C.(February 7-8, 1862), the regiment's first engagement, as the men had waded through mud and waist deep water in order to successfully flank the Confederates and capture the island. Part of Burnside's North Carolina Expedition, the 9th saw a significant amount of action and was involved in numerous battles, including New Bern (March 14, 1862), Fort Macon (March 23- April 26, 1862), Drewry's Bluff (May 15, 1862), and Deep Creek, Kinston (December 14, 1862).

In January 1863, the regiment was moved to St. Helena Island, South Carolina, where they drilled for a couple of months before moving back to North Carolina. In August of that year, the 9th was sent to Carolina City as a considerable number of men were ill (including Symmes H. Stillwell); and were then stationed in Virginia until the end of the year.

When the first three-year term of enlistment expired in January 1864, two-thirds of the men decided to reenlist, and changed the regiment's name to the 9th New Jersey Volunteer Veteran Infantry. (Stillwell did not reenlist at the advice of his mother.) During its second deployment, the regiment was involved in several more battles, including Port Walthall Junction (May 6-7, 1864), Cold Harbor (May 31-June 12, 1864), and the Siege of St. Petersburg.

After the war, Stillwell worked for a joiner in Washington, D.C. for a brief time before moving to Princeton, New Jersey to work as a carpenter's assistant. He eventually established a construction company.

Stillwell married Matilda White Mershon in 1866 with whom he had a couple of children. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Elks, the Freemasons, and the Roanoake Associates, an organization for veterans of the Battle of Roanoke Island.