May 16, 1864, would be the darkest day in the military history of Ocean County since the burning of Toms River in the American Revolution. Most of the county’s men belonged to the 9th New Jersey Veteran Volunteers, nicknamed “Jersey Muskrats” for their fame in fighting in the swamps of North Carolina and their outstanding marksmanship. The day had started with the regiment less than 10 miles from the Confederate capital, Richmond, Va. As part of Gen. Ulysses S.
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