Every artifact has a story. This Carte de visite of Captain Garrett Brady, of the 2nd New Jersey Infantry is no different. Brady was born in Ballykilageer, Wicklow, Ireland on March 9th, 1836.[1] His parents were Bryan Brady and Lucy Graham. He would live in Ireland, working on the family farm till 1860. That is the year when he boarded the Prinz Albert in Galway enroute to America. Brady would arrive in New York City on April 16th of that year. [2] By June of 1860 he would be living in Newark New Jersey working as a Morroco Dresser.[3]
Shortly after the bombardment of Fort Sumter Brady would answer the call, enlisting on May 27th, 1861. He would be commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant, in “C” Co. 2nd New Jersey Volunteer Infantry that same day.[4] Brady and the 2nd N.J.V.I were held in reserve at Bull Run, before heading to Washington D.C to support its defense. 1st Lieutenant Brady was promoted to Captain during The Seven days before Richmond. He would fight at Second Battle of Bull Run, and the Battle of South Mountain, where he and his regiment…
“Advanced from the fields north and west of Burkittsville, charged up the mountain, carried this point, and followed the enemy to the west foot of the mountain.”[5]
A few days later Brady would be involved in The Battle of Antietam. Here he and the second…
“Arrived upon the field from Crampton’s Pass about noon, and was formed for a charge upon the Confederate line just North of the Dunkard Church. The order for the charge was countermanded, and the brigade took position across this road, in support of the 6rh Corps Artillery, the right of the brigade in woods North of the road, the left in the open field South, where it remained, under artillery fire, until the morning of the 19th.”[6]
The next engagements Captain Brady would be involved in were the Battles Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, and the battle of the Wilderness. During the heat of the fight at the Wilderness the Confederates mounted a large attack…
“The attack spread east into the New Jersey Brigade and south toward the right flank of Morris’ brigade. It caught the 2nd New Jersey at its coffee fires. The veterans leaped to their feet and fell in across the paths of the retreating soldiers. “Back! Back! You cowards,” the Jerseymen shouted at the refugees who were breaking through their ranks. Captain Garrett Brady (Company C) drew his sword and vainly tried slapping frightened soldiers back into the ranks. Sedgwick dismounted, sword in one hand, stood on a log near the Culpeper Mine Road, and screamed, “For God’s sake, hold it.”[7]
On May 12th, 1864, during The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, Captain Brady lead Company “C” in the assault on the Salient, “Bloody Angle”. Here he was wounded in the thigh and taken prisoner. He was imprisoned at Camp Oglethorpe, Camp Sorghum, and the infamous Libby Prison before being released. Captain Brady would be discharged on January 1st, 1865.[8]
After the war Brady returned to Newark and resumed his career as a Morocco Manufacture. According to the 1870 United States Federal Census Brady was married to Mary A Brady. They had four children, James, Joseph, John, and Mary.
Brady died on July 18th, 1886, from “Chronic Phthisis Pulmonalis”.[9] He is interred at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery East Orange, Essex County, New Jersey.
[1] “Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1655-1915,” Ancestry, accessed June 11, 2022, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/7206245:61039?ssrc=pt&tid=83040556&pid=202067016551.
[2] “New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (Including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957,” Ancestry, accessed June 11, 2022, https://tinyurl.com/534n88b3.
[3] “1860 United States Federal Census for Garrett Brady,” Ancestry, accessed June 11, 2022, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/54161188:7667?ssrc=pt&tid=83040556&pid=202067016551.
[4] “Garrett Brady,” American Civil War Research Database, accessed June 12, 2022, http://www.civilwardata.com/active/index.html.
[5] “2nd New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment,” The Civil War in the East, May 23, 2019, https://civilwarintheeast.com/us-regiments-batteries/new-jersey/2nd-new-jersey/.
[6] Ibid
[7] John M. Priest, in Victory without Triumph: The Wilderness, May 6th & 7th, 1864 (Shippensburg, PA: White Mane Pub. Co., 1996), pp. 201-202.
[8] “Garrett Brady,” American Civil War Research Database, accessed June 12, 2022, http://www.civilwardata.com/active/index.html.
[9] “1886 Garrett Brady, Newark NJ, Death Certificate,” Ancestry, accessed June 13, 2022, https://tinyurl.com/2bp35x8t.
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