General Charles Harker's Grave at Swedesboro New Jersey

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As every New Jersey school kid knows, the southern part of the state was part of a still-born Swedish Empire back in the 1600s. The Swedes founded two settlements, one on Tinicum Island on the Delaware River, and another at Swedesboro not far away on the Jersey side of the river. This two-settlement colony was called “New Sweden.” In 1655, the Dutch, rulers of what latter became New York, conquered New Sweden. While the Swedes and Finns remained on their land, title was transferred to Dutch rule.

Along the Racoon Creek, the Swedes erected a Swedish Lutheran Church in 1703. This was a log structure. In 1784 the church was replaced by a solid brick building. It stands today and is pictured in the photograph below. In the late 1700s, the Swedish language in New Jersey had fallen into disuse and by 1789 the church began offering Episcopal services. While the church is still called “Old Swedes Church” locally, it is under the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey. Next to the church there is a clearly visible cemetery, with the Mortonson Van Leer log cabin. The Swedes introduced log cabins into what would become the United States. However, if you go a block further north on Church St. past the Trinity Episcopal Church, you will come to the “New” Trinity Church Cemetery. Here you can see the grave of a Civil War general.

The graveyard is small, just one suburban block. Most of the graves are from the 19th Century. As you can see by the sign at the gate, this is a largely neglected cemetery.

I looked from the gate at the entryway and saw a large obelisk at the southeast side of the cemetery and knew that must be the grave I was looking for.

The grave contains the remains of Charles Garrison Harker. Harker was born in Swedesboro on December 2, 1837. He went to West Point and he graduated in 1858. He started his service at Governor’s Island in New York Harbor. When war broke out in 1861, Harker was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in the 15th United States Infantry. By November 11, 1861 he was giving command of the 65th Ohio Infantry Regiment and a Colonel’s commission. In 1862 he fought under Don Carlos Buell at the Battle of Shiloh.

In June of 1862 he took command of a brigade in the Army of the Ohio and later commanded a brigade in the Army of the Cumberland. With that command he won praise for his actions during the Battle of Stones River. After his courageous actions at the Battle of Chickamauga on Horseshoe Ridge, he was promoted to Brigadier General. He fought at Missionary Ridge and helped relieve the siege of Knoxville.

During the Atlanta Campaign, Harker commanded a brigade under O.O. Howard. When he found out that he was to lead an attack on Kennesaw Mountain he told an aide that “I shall not come out of the charge today alive”. He was shot through the chest in the attack and died the same day.

Howard wrote of that day:

“On June 27th (upon his horse) he led in that terrible assault on the enemy’s breastworks. We did not carry them, but part of his command reached the works. A sergeant bearing the colors was bayoneted as he was climbing over. Our beloved and trusted young general was close by, pressing forward with his column, when the fatal wound was received.”

Harker’s body was shipped back to Swedesboro where he was buried after only living twenty-eight years.

General Howard recalled of ‘Harker that “The only complaint I ever heard was that if Harker got started against the enemy, he could not be kept back… Whenever anything difficult was to be done, anything that required pluck and energy, we called on Gen. Harker.”

When I approached the grave I saw what I considered litter right next to it, an empty beer can. After a closer examination I found that the can had a label that identified the can as “Harker’s Glory” from the Swedesboro Brewing Company. Harker’s name is remembered in his native town even though he has been dead for 160 years. At least it is remembered among beer drinkers.