Camden People - Michael Devinney

MICHAEL E. DEVINNEY was appointed to the Camden Fire Department as an extra man with the Hook and Ladder Company, taking the place of John Hibbs. Michael Devinney served for one year. He was replaced when John Gray was reappointed 1884.

Michael Devinney saw considerable service during the Civil War. On May 27, 1861 he enlisted for three years as a First Sergeant and on June 1 he was assigned to Company H, Third New Jersey Infantry Regiment.

The Third New Jersey Infantry was raised under authority of General Orders No. 15 of May 4, 1861, was fully organized, equipped and officered by May 18, and on June 4 was duly mustered into the U. S. service for three years, at Camp Olden, Trenton. It left the state on June 28, with a full complement of men--38 officers, 1,013 non-commissioned officers and privates, total, 1,051. It was assigned to Gen. Kearny's brigade, with the 1st, 2nd and 4th N. J., composing the 1st New Jersey brigade. Immediately after the first battle of Bull Run it joined the 1st and 2nd regiments near Alexandria, having been stationed at Fairfax during the engagement. It was among the first to come into direct collision with the pickets of the enemy and to suffer loss in its ranks from Confederate bullets at Munson's hill. On March 9, 1862, the 2nd and 3d, with a squadron of the Lincoln cavalry, occupied Sangster's Station, on the Orange & Alexandria railroad, the 4th acting as a support to the advance. On the following day the brigade moved cautiously forward and at 10 o'clock in the morning entered the abandoned works at Manassas Junction- eight companies of the Third being the first to take possession and hoist the regimental flag. At West Point, Virginia, the brigade relieved the troops in advance on the evening of May 6, 1862, and the men lay on their arms in line of battle until daylight, when they were ordered forward, the Third regiment being on the skirmish line. At Gaines' mill the brigade was formed in two lines, the Third and Fourth in front, and in that order advanced to the brow of a hill, where the Third, under Lieutenant Colonel Henry W. Brown, was ordered into the woods to relieve Newton's brigade, which was sorely pressed by the enemy. The gallant regiment stood its ground, opening a galling fire on the enemy and remaining in the woods until the close of the action, with a loss of 34 killed, 136 wounded and 45 missing. The regiment participated in the battles of Charles City Crossroads, Malvern Hill, Manassas, Chantilly,
Crampton's gap and Antietam,

First Sergeant Devinney was wounded in the side and in the arm during these campaigns and was discharged due to disability from Company H, Third New Jersey Infantry Regiment on November 14, 1862 at Fort Hamilton, New York.

By the spring of 1864 Michael Devinney was sufficiently recovered as to be able to go back to war. He enlisted as a captain on June 23, 1864 after accepting a commission with Company D, 37th New Jersey Infantry Regiment.

On May 16, 1864, New Jersey Governor Parker issued a proclamation calling, "by desire of the president," the militia of the state into active service for the period of 100 days, to date from muster into the United States service, to be armed, equipped, and paid as other
United States volunteers, "to serve in fortifications or wherever their services may be required, within or without the state." No bounty was to be given, nor were even their services to be credited upon any draft. These troops were to be infantry exclusively, and the governor urged that at least five regiments might be raised and forwarded with all
convenient speed.

In accordance with this proclamation, recruiting began without delay, and the nuclei of two regiments were speedily established- one in the southern part of the state to be called the 37th, to be commanded by Colonel E. Burd Grubb, of Burlington, a gallant and dashing soldier. It was thought advisable that the different militia and rifle corps regiments should, if possible, embrace this opportunity to go into the movement in a body, thus preserving their regimental organizations and preventing the many delays incident to and consequent upon the organization and officering of new regiments.

This expectation, however, was not realized. Recruiting becoming languid, local bounties were offered by different cities, but notwithstanding that, and every other inducement offered, it began to be apparent that neither of the two regiments would be enabled to fill its ranks, and consolidation must be effected. This was accordingly done at Camp Delaware, Trenton, and on June 23 the consolidated regiment, under the name of the 37th N. J. volunteers, was mustered into the service of the United States. It left Trenton on June 28, 700 strong, direct for Baltimore, where steamer was taken for City Point. It furnished detachments for fatigue duty of various kinds such as unloading vessels, working on fortifications, etc., being assigned to Berry's brigade, 3d division, 10th army corps, and brigaded with other 100-days regiments from Ohio. The regiment took an active part in the operations before Petersburg from August 28 to September 26, and was mustered out October 1, 1864.

Captain Devinney was among those who mustered out at Trenton on October 1, 1864.

Michael Devinney appears in the 1870 Census with his wife Emma in Camden, where he was in business as a saloonkeeper. There were no children at the time of the Census. He left the bar business in the 1870s and worked the rest of his days as a carpenter and millwright. The 1878-1879 City Directory shows him residing at 13 Pearl Street, most likely 113 as there was no house 13 Pearl Street. He was listed at 113 Pearl Street by the next year, and was living at 106 Pearl by 1881. Michael and Emma Devinney remained at this address as late as 1885. They lived at 410 North Front Street into 1890. The 1892-1893 Camden City Directory shows Michael and Emma Devinney at 136 Arch Street.

The Devinneys parted company prior to the compilation of the 1894-1895 Camden City Directory. Michael Devinney "removed to Williamstown", while Emma Devinney stayed in Camden at 334 Bridge Avenue. She had been working as a dressmaker for over a decade and continued in this trade for several years thereafter, at 403 Bridge Avenue from 1895 through 1897, and at 224 Washington Street in 1898 and 1899.

What became of Michael Devinney after he moved to Moorestown is not known.

Before Michael Devinney left Camden he had been a member of the William B. Hatch Post No. 37, Grand Army of the Republic. His wife Emma was a member of Hatch Post No. 2, Loyal Ladies League, the female auxiliary of the G.A.R.

The following is derived from
George Reeser Prowell's
History of Camden County, N.J.
published in 1886

WILLIAM B. HATCH POST No. 37, of Camden, was instituted and chartered November 25, 1879, with eighty-one members and the following named Post officers:

Post Commander, John E. Grubb ; Senior Vice-Commander, Richard J. Robertson; Junior Vice-Commander, Daniel J. Fullen ; Surgeon, Thomas G. Rowand, M.D.; Chaplain, John Quick ; Officer of the Day, John A. Dall; Officer of the Guard, Edmund G. Jackson, Jr.; Quartermaster, Christopher J. Mines, Jr.; Adjutant, Benjamin J. Pierce; Sergeant-Major, William A.Tattern; Quartermaster-Sergeant, William B. E. Miller.

At the first meeting of the Post it was decided by a unanimous vote to name it in honor of the late Colonel William B. Hatch, of the Fourth Regiment. When Mrs. C. Hatch, the mother of the colonel was informed that the post had honored the memory of her son by naming it after him, she sent to the Post the following response :

Camden N. J.,
November 26th, 1879

John E. Grubb, Post Commander

Dear Sir,
It will afford me much pleasure to be identified with Post 37, G. A. E., named in honor of my son, William B. Hatch, by allowing me to present to the same its colors. The memory of my son is ever dear to me, and, while at the same moment I may have thought the sacrifice too great an affliction, yet I was consoled by the fact that I gave him up that this Union might be preserved. It was duty and patriotism that called him, and while I mourn him as a mother for a well-beloved son, yet I would not have stayed him, for the love of country and the upholding of this glorious Republic is what every mother should instill into her sons, as the purest and holiest spirit.

Yours truly,

C. Hatch

The following is a complete roster of this post for 1886 :

Post Commander, Benjamin H. Connelly; Senior Vice-Commander, Adam C. Smith ; Junior Vice-Commander, William Haegele; Surgeon, George Pfau ; Chaplain, Samuel Gaul; Officer of the Day, Robert Crawford ; Officer of the Guard, John D. Cooper; Quartermaster, Samuel J. Fenner; Adjutant, William B. Summers; Sergeant-Major, Stacy H. Bassett; Quartermaster-Sergeant, Otto K. Lockhart.

Comrades: Philip Achenbach, George L. Allchin, Isaac Albertson, Joseph Applegate, John W. Barclay, Martin M. Barney, Joseph Baxter, William W. Bennett, Charles L. Bennett, Henry Bickering, Abel Biddle, George K. Biddle, John Bieri, Robert M. Bingham, Socrates T. Bittle, George W. Bittle, Benjamin F. Blizzard, Joseph Borton, Frederick Bowers, Benjamin M. Braker, John Breyer, William H. Brians, Wm. J. Broadwater, William Broadwater, John Brown, Harris Brooks, William H. Brooks, Joseph F. Bryan, Joseph Buddew, J. Q. Burniston, George Burton, Frederick Buser, Thomas L. Bush, William Butcher, Isaac B. Buzby, Edward C. Cattell, Joseph Cameron, James H. Carey, William Carey, James Chadwick, James Chafey, George M. Chester, James D. Chester, Lewis L. Chew, Henry S. Chew, John W. Churn, Andrew B. Cline, Charles Clarke, Samuel J. Cook, Levi E. Cole, John J. Collins, John C. Cooper, John W. Cotner, Thomas L. Conly, Harvey M. Cox, Jason S. Cox, Harris Crane, Charles Cress, Joel G. Cross, O. C. Cunningham, John A. Dall, John Dalby, John H. Damon, Westley Dare, John E. Dawson, Adam T. Dawson, James L. Davis, William Davis, Amos R. Dease, Henry Deford, Lewis F. Derousse, Michael Devinney, Glendora Devo, John Digney, Joseph Dilks, William A. Dobbins, George W. Dunlap, Aaron B. Eacritt, John J. Early, Christopher Ebele, Godfrey Eisenhart, John Elberson, Charles Elwell, Charles Eminecker, John Esler, John H. Evans, Charles S. Fackler, James Fanington, James A. Farraday, John H. Farry, John Faughey, Wm. H. Fenlin, George G. Felton, George W. Ferguson, Charles W. Fish, Israel L. Fish, James Finnan, Samuel B. Fisher, Edward L. Fisher, Ephraim B. Fithian, Jacob T. Fisher, Edward Fitzer, Samuel Flock, Leonard Flor, John Fox, John S. Fox, H. H. Franks, Chas. B. Frazer, Thomas J. Francis, Samuel W. Gahan, Chas. H. Gale, James Galbraith, Thomas Garman, Harry Garren, John W. Garwood, Josiah Garrison, John B. Gaskill, Richard Gaunt, Wm. German, Christopher Getsinger, Christopher Gifney, Jacob Giffens, Albert Gilbert, James Gillen, Wm. Giffins, C. C. Greany, Charles Green, W. H. Griffin, Louis Grosskops, William Grindrod, John B. Grubb, Mark H. Guest, John Guice, Alfred Haines, Charles G. Haines, Japhet Haines, George F. Hammond, Charles Hall, Solon B. Hankinson, Samuel P. Hankinson, James Hanson, Charles Hannans, H. A. Hartranft, Mahlon E. Harden, William F. Harper, George W. Hayter, Samuel B. Harbeson, J. T. Hazleton, H. Heinman, James Henderson, William H. Heward, Franklin Hewitt, James T. Hemmingway, Charles Hewitt, Edward K. Hess, Samuel B. Hickman, George Higgens, Ephraim Hillman, C. M. Hoagland, Guadaloupe Holl, William A. Holland, Isaac K. Horner, Count D. G. Hogan, William H. Howard, Baxter Howe, Alien Hubbs, Charles G. Hunsinger, Presmel D. Hughes, I. N. Hugg, Sebastian Hummell, Edward Hutchinson, C. Innes, Alfred Ivins, Benjamin Ivins, E. G. Jackson Sr., E. G. Jackson Jr., Thomas Jameson, George Jauss, William P. Jenkins, James L. Johnson, Alfred Jones, B. F. Jones, William Joline, Charles Joseph, Charles Justice, C. H. Kain, E. E. Kates, Benjamin Kebler, Frank Kebler, Peter Keen, Henry N. Killian, J. W. Kinsey, C. H. Knowlton, Thomas W. Krips, Joseph H. Large, John E. Leake, John Lecroy, Charles Leonhart, George W. Locke, E. J. Long, Charles L. Lukens, J. H. Lupton, Valentine Machemer, Edward Macloskey, Edward A. Martin, William P. Marsh, John Mapes, William Mead, William Metcalf, E. A. Meyer, C. Meyers, George Meilor, C. A. Michener, William B. E. Miller, Jacob Miller, W. D. Miller, Samuel Mills, William W. Mines, Christopher J. Mines, George Molesbury, William. Moran, Edward More, Richard Morgan, John F. Moore, S. H. Moyer, Jacob L. Morton, John Muir, John J. Murphy, Isaac Murray, Charles Myers, W. H. McAllister, James McCracken, Edward C. McDowell, Hugh McGrogan, H. M. Mcllvaine, W. F. McKillip, W.J.McNeir, Lewis McPherson, E. McPherson, Jacob Naglee, William Naphas, Antonio Nosardi, Robert O'Keefe, John S. Owens, Robert Owens, Edward H. Pancoast, James Pancoast, Robert B. Patterson, William Patterson, E. W. Pease, John B. Pepper, Joel Perrine, John Peterson, D. E. Peugh, Frederick Phile, Samuel B. Pine, William M. Pine, Adon Powell, John Powell, John Portz, J. B. Prucelle, John Quick, S. E. Radcliffe, Isaac C. Randolph, James A. Regens, Philip Reilly, Charles P. Reynolds, Alexander Rhodes, Benjamin F. Richard, Andrew Ridgway, Benjamin Robbins, Edward C. Roberts, James Roberts, Richard J. Robertson, William B. Robertson, Isaac Rogers, John Rogers, William H. Rogers, Thomas G. Rowand, Sebastian Schaub, Maurice Schmidt, Christian K. Schallers, James Schofield, George W. Scott, John E. Scott, John M. Shemelia, Edward M. Siemers, John Simmons, Benjamin F. Shinn, Thomas Sheeran, James Shield, Charles Smith, George H. Smith, William W. Smith, Charles S. Small, Adolph Snow, W. Souder, Francis Senders, Robert Sparks, David C. Sprowl, Alfred L. Sparks, Abraham Springer, George W. Stewart, William L. Stevenson, Thomas G. Stephenson, Samuel R. Stockton, Thomas Stockton, Thomas H. Stone, Henry Strick, E. J. Strickland, Charles String, George F. Stull, George W. Swaney, Crosby Sweeten, William F. Tarr, William A. Tatem, Thomas S. Tanier, George Rudolph Tenner, Charles L. Test, Leonard Thomas, Benjamin Thomas, Henry C. Thomas, George F. Thorne, Wesley Thorn, Thomas W. Thornley, Alexander W. Titus, Joseph Tompkins, J. E. Troth, Isaac C. Toone, Samuel Tyier, Jacob M. Van Nest, Albert Vansciver, Joseph Wakeman, Theodore F. Walker, Charles Walton, George Walton, Joseph Welsh, David Watson, George W. Wentling, Edward West, Elmer M. West, George Weyman, Wilmer Whillden, James Whittaker, Samuel Wickward, Calvin T. Williams, George W. Williams, William H. Williams, John Williams, Samuel Winner, Amos P. Wilson, D.H. Wilson, G.A. Wilson, Richard Wilson, George Wispert, John W. Wood, Joseph Woodfield, Walter Wolfkill, E. W. Wolverton, Elijah Worthington, C. M. Wright, George B. Wright, Henry S. Wright, Wesley T. Wright, William Zane.

As of 1886, the Hatch Post met every Thursday evening in their own G. A. R. Hall, on Stevens Street, below Fifth Street. This same building had been used in the late 1870s as the original home of the congregation that formed the Tabernacle Baptist Church. The Hatch Post was affiliated with Hatch League No. 2, of the Loyal Ladies League, their auxiliary, which met at the Post Hall.