John J Trimble--12th New Jersey Infantry

The Beverly Squad (nine) came on the 9th of August. The last muster was made August 22d. George W. Crumback was transferred to Company D. September 2d, Corporal John J. Trimble, Ninety-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, was made First Lieutenant, at the request of Dr. Trimble (his father), supported by Governor Olden. Joseph Pierson was commissioned Second Lieutenant.

As the history of Company F, at Gettysburg, was made on the third day of the fight, also the third of July, I will relate the part we took on that day: The morning was clear and warm, everything in our front was quiet, except an occasional picket shot. This continued until about nine o'clock, when there was an artillery duel between batteries posted in Ziegler's Grove, on our right, and some rebel gunds in front. It was about this time that Major Hill received an order for some troops to drive the rebels out of the Bliss barn. Captain Thompson was detailed to command the detachment, comprising Companies F, A, C and K; they were formed in the order named, in column by companies, just beyond the Emmittsburg road. Where we formed the column we were protected by a slight rise in the surface of the ground, but as we moved forward over this rise, Company F, being the lead company, was exposed to the concentrated fire of the whole rebel picket line. Here Lieutenant Trimble was slightly wounded, and W. H. H. Stratton, G. W. Adams and W. H. Johnson were mortally wounded; all were hit so near the same [page 40] time that I am unable to tell which was wounded first. Henry, when hit, sprang to the front and ran to the right, out of the way of the advancing column, and lay down: George ran by the rear of the company, the same way, and lay down also: Will ran out to the left, quite a distance, and lay down along the fence. We were at a double-quick, and did not stop to see how badly they were hurt, but continued on to the barn. The barn was built with an overshoot, projecting toward us, which we ran under and then climbed up through the stables to the main floor; the door was open to the rear, and here was where A. K. Shute was wounded, through this door by some one concealed in the orchard in the rear of the barn. How long we remained there I am unable to tell, but think it was about one-half hour, when, taking our wounded, we started back for the main line; not, however, just on the same line we came, but near to the fence. After we got a short distance from the barn the rebels opened on us with their artillery, the shot and shell fell thick and fast for a while, but I do not think anyone was hurt. When we got near where we left our wounded, I ran out to them; George was already dead. Henry was able to stand with my assistance, but could not walk: I called to the boys, and three or four ran to my assistance, and we carried him back with us: others carried Will Johnson, but George was left on the field. Henry died on the way to the hospital, and Will died the same day. Did we go to the barn to burn it, or did we go to drive out the sharpshooters, as a part of our regiment did the day before? I am positive that none of our company knew of any orders to burn it, or it would have been done, but as soon as we got back the question was asked, "Why didn't you burn the barn?"

Was a sergeant [actually a corporal, according to the records I have] in the Ninety-first Pennsylvania, but through the influence of his father he was discharged to accept a commission as First Lieutenant of Company F. He was wounded in the boot-leg [sic] at Gettysburg, and permitted to resign for the good of the service on October 31, 1863. He was a clerk in Chicago in 1892.