The Last Soldier of Atlantic County, N.J.

By Frank Tomasello · Originally published May 2020 · p. 15

On November 2, 2019, the Col. Louis R. Francine Camp #7, Department of N.J., Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, placed and dedicated a “Last Soldier” marker for Atlantic County’s last Civil War veteran, Samuel Morey. The Francine Camp was assisted in the grave side ceremony by Beck’s Philadelphia Brigade Band a/k/a James S. Stratton Camp #82, Department of N.J., SUVCW, which provided a fine program of period martial music. Commander of the Francine Camp, Frank Tomasello, and Tom Burke, representing N.J. Department Commander Robert Meyer, welcomed the approximately 60 attendees. Samuel Morey was born December 27, 1839, at Bass River, Ocean County, N.J., to John C. and Rachel Camp Morey. He was the second youngest of 11 children and lost his father when he was 7 years old. He started to work after his father died, doing mostly farm labor, to help support the large Morey clan. On Aug. 14, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company I, 13th Pennsylvania Cavalry. The regiment was raised to be a part of the famed Irish Brigade. For that reason, the 13th was nicknamed the “Irish Dragoons.” The 13th saw extensive action during the war and fought in 14 engagements, the more notable being: Second Winchester, The Wilderness, Spotsylvania Courthouse, Trevilian Station, Malvern Hill, and Boydon Plank Road. The 13th completed their service in North Carolina at the surrender of the Confederate Army of the Tennessee. At the end of the war, Pvt. Morey and the 13th were treated to a train ride home to Philadelphia and mustered out on July 14, 1865. Morey returned home and made his living as a lumberjack and collier in the pine barrens of southern New Jersey. In 1868 he married Mary Newman and together they had seven children. Morey died on Feb. 20, 1943, at the age of 103, after suffering a fall. He had been a widower for 28 years, blind for approximately seven, and bed ridden at the home of his daughter for three. When he passed away, he was survived by four daughters. Even at such an advanced age, he was keenly aware of world events and kept up with news by radio. He expressed the hope that he would live long enough to know the outcome of World War II. Sadly, that was not to be. When he died, his obituary was carried by several major newspapers as it was mistakenly thought that he was the last N.J. Civil War veteran. It is clear however that Samuel was the last Civil War veteran from Atlantic County, and the last member of the General William J. Sewell Post #47, of the Grand Army of the Republic. Pvt. Morey was buried in Union cemetery, Mays Landing, N.J., with full military honors. Special guests included 3rd generation Morey descendants Andrew Megill and Patricia Morey, as well as 4th generation descendant Elizabeth Megill (who ironically shares her birthday with Morey). Andrew Megill spoke and also read remarks from Harold “Sonny” Hand the 3rd great grandson and author of Morey’s regimental history, “One Good Regiment.” The Francine Camp dedicated Morey’s marker in accordance with the prescribed SUVCW ritual. The Morey descendants were then afforded the honor of unveiling the last soldier marker which had been shrouded in a Civil War era national flag. A musket salute was fired by Company A, 7th N.J. Sons of Veterans Reserve. Those in attendance were treated to a luncheon provided by the Francine Camp after the ceremony.