This summer, Bordentown Historical Society co-president, Bonnie Goldman received a donation in the mail: a beautifully cared for, red leather bible that dated back to the Civil War.
The donor, a Civil War enthusiast from North Carolina, had purchased the bible on eBay. Inside the front cover, the owner’s name was written in beautiful script: James B. Scott, Co. G, 4th Reg., NJ Volunteers, April 1861. Also included with the bible were many detailed documents, including a picture of Scott and information the donor researched telling the story of this Union soldier and the bible’s journey. Scott was born in New York, but lived in Bordentown.
James Byron Scott had answered President Lincoln’s call to arms for 75,000 soldiers in April 1861. Each northern state was assigned a quota to fill, and for some unknown reason — whether driven by patriotism, sense of adventure, or perhaps it had something to do with faith (clearly this small bible was important enough to him that it survived in relatively good condition) — a soon-to-be 36-year-old Scott joined the New Jersey militia, leaving his 4-year-old son, Edwin, and year-old son, William, at home with their mother, Josephine.
The American Bible Society and other religious-based organizations began to distribute these pocket bibles to both Confederate and Union soldiers. By December 1861, the ABS was printing and distributing approximately 7,000 New Testament bibles a day to soldiers in both armies.
This particular Bible was given to New Jersey Volunteers in April 1861, a group that enlisted for only three months. During Pvt. Scott’s service, the bible travelled with the unit south from New Jersey to Annapolis and then to Washington. His unit helped occupy the portions of Northern Virginia just across the Potomac River from Washington, and they helped build Fort Runyon, the largest of the Civil War forts around Washington.
The 4th New Jersey protected a major railroad line in the area until July, when they marched to Manassas and were in the Union reserves during the First Battle of Bull Run, although they never saw action. Just 10 days after the battle, on July 31, 1861, the three-month enlistments were up, and the unit was mustered out. James Byron presumably returned home to New Jersey.
However, he re-enlisted in 1862, this time with a three-year unit, the 6th New Jersey volunteers. The 6th NJ participated in some of the most famous engagements of the war, including the Peninsula campaign, the Second Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of Fredericksburg, the Battle of Chancellorsville, and the Battle of Gettysburg.
Following Gettysburg, they pursued Lee’s army back into northern Virginia. Around this same time, James Byron is listed as having been discharged due to a disability at Hampton, Virginia on Aug. 8, 1863, presumably at the major Union stronghold located there at Fort Monroe.
After the war, Pvt. Scott returned to New Jersey and moved back to Bordentown around 1890. He was employed as a weighmaster on the Delaware and Raritan Canal. He had five children and died at the age of 80 years old. He is buried in the Bordentown (Veteran’s) Cemetery.
This interested volunteer from BHS located James’ living relative through Ancestry.com: his great-great-great grandson, Eric Luedtke. Permission was given from the donor to send the bible to the Scott family. Luedtke and his son were very excited to see the bible in person and, in addition to the research he himself had done, he was very interested to read the new research that had been sent along with the bible.
This treasured bible had traveled many miles with its owner, present at war torn battlefields; witnessing the violence and destruction of the Civil War. Its journey has come full circle, finding its home with soldier James Scott’s family.
Grace Cooper, Bordentown Historical Society volunteer, wrote this story based on the compilation of research done by an anonymous North Carolina Civil War enthusiast who found and donated the Bible, and Eric Luedtke, James Byron Scott’s great-great-great grandson.
