William J. Sewell

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"Senator Sewell" redirects here. For similarly named officials, see Senator Sewall (disambiguation).

William J. Sewell
SEWELL, William J (BEP engraved portrait).jpg
Medal of Honor recipient
United States Senator
from New Jersey
In office
March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1887
Preceded byTheodore F. Randolph
Succeeded byRufus Blodgett
In office
March 4, 1895 – December 27, 1901
Preceded byJohn R. McPherson
Succeeded byJohn F. Dryden
President of the New Jersey Senate
In office
1876
Preceded byJohn W. Taylor
Succeeded byLeon Abbett
In office
1879–1880
Preceded byGeorge C. Ludlow
Succeeded byGarret Hobart
Member of the New Jersey Senate from Camden County
In office
1872 – March 4, 1881
Preceded byEdward Bettle
Succeeded byAlbert Merritt
Personal details
Born(1835-12-06)December 6, 1835
5th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War
*Battle of Chancellorsville
*Battle of Gettysburg

William Joyce Sewell (December 6, 1835 – December 27, 1901) was an American

Republican Party
politician, merchant, and military officer who served as a U.S. Senator from New Jersey for two non-consecutive terms from 1881 to 1887 and 1895 until his death in 1901.

Sewell was born in

Reconstruction Era state senator and U.S. Senator. The community of Sewell, New Jersey, is named for him.[1]

Personal details

He was married with four children, two daughters and two sons. He immigrated from Ireland when he was a young boy.[2]

Civil War

Sewell began his Civil War service as a

5th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry on August 28, 1861.[3] He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on July 7, 1862 and colonel on January 6, 1863. Sewell commanded a brigade at the Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia, where he was wounded.[3] He was awarded the Medal of Honor
in 1896 for his actions. Sewell was the only officer to be awarded the Medal of Honor while in command of a New Jersey regiment.

Sewell was severely wounded again at the

Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, while commanding his unit along Emmitsburg Road on the second day of the battle, July 2, 1863. His wounds forced him from the field for a significant period. He resigned on July 6, 1863 and returned on October 1, 1864.[3][4] On his return he was given command of the 38th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, but his wounds eventually caused him to end his Civil War field service. He was reassigned as commander of Fort Powhatan in the Department of Virginia from January to April 1865. Sewell was mustered out of the volunteers on June 30, 1865.[3]

In recognition of Sewell's service, on January 13, 1866,

U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on March 12, 1866.[5] On July 18, 1868, President Andrew Johnson nominated Sewell for appointment to the brevet grade of major general of volunteers for "gallant and meritorious services during the war," to rank from March 13, 1865 and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on July 23, 1868.[6]

Politics

After the war, Sewell worked in the railroad industry in New Jersey before being elected to the

chaired
the
Forty-eighth Congress
), the
Forty-ninth Congress
), and the
Forty-ninth Congress
).

He held the post as chairman of the New Jersey delegation at the Republican National Convention five times. He also was President of the West Jersey & Seashore Rail road Company, a post he held until his death.

Sewell Monument (1901), Harleigh Cemetery, Camden, New Jersey, Alexander Stirling Calder, sculptor

Sewell served as one of the national commissioners for New Jersey to the

Fifty-seventh Congress
).

Death

Sewell died of complications from heart disease and

Prudential Insurance founder John F. Dryden. Sewell received full Military Honors at the funeral by both State National Guard and Federal Military. During the funeral, official state business was suspended in Camden as a token of respect for his service. He was buried in Harleigh Cemetery, in Camden, New Jersey,[3] in the Spring Grove Section, Lot 75. His grave is marked by a cross designed by sculptor Alexander Stirling Calder
.

Legacy

In 2005 a government issue

34th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry
.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and Organization:

Colonel, 5th New Jersey Infantry. Place and Date: At Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863. Entered Service At: Camden, N.J. Born: December 6, 1835, Castlebar, Ireland. Date of Issue: March 25, 1896.

Citation:

Assuming command of a brigade, he rallied around his colors a mass of men from other regiments and fought these troops with great brilliancy through several hours of desperate conflict, remaining in command though wounded and inspiring them by his presence and the gallantry of his personal example.[7][8]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "Kelly Roncace: What's in name? Sewell", South Jersey Times, January 4, 2012. Accessed via www.nj.com, April 5, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 23, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^
    ISBN 0-8047-3641-3
    . p. 479
  4. ^ The Eichers give the date as July 6, 1864 but this is an evident typographical error.
  5. ^ Eicher, 2001, p. 757
  6. ^ Eicher, 2001, p. 714
  7. ^ ""Civil War Medal of Honor citations" (S-Z): Sewell, William J." AmericanCivilWar.com. Retrieved November 9, 2007.
  8. ^ "Medal of Honor website (M-Z): Sewell, William J." United States Army Center of Military History. Archived from the original on February 23, 2009. Retrieved November 9, 2007.

References

External links

U.S. Senate
Preceded by
Theodore F. Randolph
 U.S. senator (Class 1) from New Jersey
1881–1887
Served alongside: John R. McPherson 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
John Kean
 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by President of the New Jersey Senate
1876 		Succeeded by
Preceded by President of the New Jersey Senate
1879–1880 		Succeeded by
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