Battle of Salem Church • Tour the Battlefield


The monument to the 15th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment at Salem Church is on the north side of Plank Road (Virginia Route 3) 4 miles west of downtown Fredericksburg and 1.5 miles west of exit 130 on Interstate 95. (see map and directions below)

The monument consists of a circular pillar on a rectangular base topped with the statue of an infantryman shielding his eyes. Each side of the base has an etched rectangular panel of text, and the bottom of the front face of the base has a relief of two rifles with cartridge case. At the top of the base is a bronze medallion with the inscription of the regimental veterans association above the cross symbol of the Union Sixth Corps. The monument was erected in 1908 by the State of New Jersey. A small rededication tablet was placed at the base of the monument on its 100th anniversary.

Monument to the 15th New Jersey Volunter Infantry Regiment on the Salem Church battlefield near Fredericksburg, Virginia

The 15th New Jersey was commanded during the Chancellorsville Campaign by Colonel William H. Penrose, who took over the brigade as senior colonel on May 3, leaving Lieutenant Colonel Edward Campbell in command of the regiment during the fighting at Salem Church.

Front view of the base of the monument to the 15th New Jersey Volunter Infantry Regiment on the Salem Church battlefield

15th Reg’t. N. J. Vol’s

1861 – 1865
(South face): To commemorate the services of the 15th Regiment, New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Colonel William H. Penrose, U.S.A., engaged two hours on this line of battle on the Federal side.
May 3rd, 1863.

Loss:
41 killed, 109 wounded, 4 missing.

From the bronze medallion at the top of the base:

15th Rgt. N.J. Volunteer Veteran Association

Left side of the base of the monument to the 15th New Jersey Volunter Infantry Regiment on the Salem Church battlefield

From the east side of the monument:

The survivors of the
15th New Jersey Regiment
honor the memory of their comrades
who bore themselves bravely in this contest, and bear
witness to the valor of the men who opposed
them on this field.

Right rear view of the base of the monument to the 15th New Jersey Volunter Infantry Regiment on the Salem Church battlefield

From the rear (north side) of the monument:

Dedicated to
national unity
and
perpetual peace.

From the west side of the monument:

Erected by the
State of New Jersey,
under authority of an act of the legislature of 1908, introduced
by Senator Joseph S. Frelinghuyser.
——
Commissioners appointed by

Governor John Franklin Fort.
Honorable John F. Dryder, Chairman; Sergeant William H. Cawley;
General Joseph W. Plume; Private Albert W. Whitehead;
John S. Gibson. Private Henry H. Hoffman.
—————
Sergeant William N. H. Wyckoff, Treas.
Private Stephen W. Gordon, Sec’y.
—————
Thomas Manson and Son, Red Bank, N. J., Builders

Closeup rededication tablet on the monument to the 15th New Jersey Volunter Infantry Regiment on the Salem Church battlefield

Rededication tablet at the base of the monument

This site rededicated
May 16, 1864
Civil War Centennial Commission
State of New Jersey
Richard J. Hughes
Governor

See more on the history of the 15th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment in the Civil War

Monument to the 15th New Jersey Volunter Infantry Regiment on the Salem Church battlefield near Fredericksburg, Virginia

Map and directions to the monument

The monument to the 15th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment is on the north side of Plank Road (Virginia Route 3) 4 miles west of downtown Fredericksburg, Virginia and 1.5 miles west of exit 130 on Interstate 95. There is a small pull-off along Plank Road where it is safe to stop and view the monument. (38° 17.465′ N, 77° 31.667′ W; map)