Pair of Gloves

Period1860 - 1863

Place MadePossibly New Jersey, U.S.A.

MediumLeather

Dimensions2.75 × 7 in. (7 × 17.8 cm)

ClassificationsCostume, Men's

Credit LineGift of Joseph Ashton Yard, 2022

Object number2022.526

DescriptionA pair of man's military uniform gloves, constructed of yellow leather. The gloves include brown contrast machine stitching and gauntlet style cuffs stiffend wtih additional panels of dark brown leather applied as linings.
Curatorial RemarksThe 14th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment was active between August of 1862 and August of 1865. They were organized at Camp Vredenburgh, Freehold, Monmouth County, located on present-day Monmouth Battlefield State Park. The 14th earned the nickname "Monocacy Regiment" thanks to their heroic efforts at the Battle of Monocacy in 1864, where they slowed Confederate troops advancing towards Washington D.C. Other notable engagements include the Battles of Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, and Cedar Creek. Colonel William Snyder Truex commanded the 14th Regiment.NotesJames Sterling Yard was born on 20 April 1826 in Trenton, New Jersey. His grandfather, Benjamin Yard (1769 - 1832) was a carpenter, who built the triumphal archway in Trenton under which George Washington rode in 1789 on his way to his inauguration as first president of the United States. James Yard's father, Joseph Ashton Yard (1802 - 1878) was a lifelong Trenton resident, serving as the Keeper and Warden of the State Prison there. Joseph Yard served as a Captain in the Tenth U.S. Infantry during the Mexican War. James Yard began his career as a reporter and editor at Trenton's "True Republican" newspaper. Yard also served as editor for a number of New Jersey papers including the Long Branch News, Hightstown Gazette, and The Ocean County Courier. James Yard's name first appeared on the banner of The Monmouth Democrat on January 12, 1854, as the paper's new owner and editor. Yard would operate the paper until 1899, when failing health had him turn the operation of his beloved newspaper over to his son Joseph Ashton Yard (1866 - 1939). At the start of the Civil War, James S. Yard turned over daily operations of the Monmouth Democrat to colleagues in order to serve as a Major in the 3rd Regiment, a three months' regiment. The men of the 3rd, under Major Yard, were part of the defensive position formed around Washington, D.C. in the early days of the war. After returning to Freehold in August of 1861, Yard took up his editorial duties at the Democrat once again. Governor Charles Olden appointed Yard with the task of raising and assembling Monmouth companies for the Union Army. Yard also served as commander of Camp Vredenburgh, where the men of Monmouth trained in the summer of 1862 as part of the New Jersey 14th Regiment. James S. Yard married Adaline Clark Swift (1837 - 1912) in 1856. The couple had seven children, all born in Freehold. Yard's son Joseph (1866 - 1939) and daughter Adeline (1868 - 1942) both worked with their father at the Monmouth Democrat, writing articles and reporting on Monmouth's news. By the mid to late 1890s, James Yard turned over much of the daily operations of the newspaper to Joseph and Adeline. When Joseph enlisted to fight during the Spanish American War in 1898, Adeline served as editor-in-chief and ran the paper herself. James Sterling yard died on April 29, 1900, at the age of 74. His obituary in the newspaper he ran for almost fifty years was accompanied with numerous tributes, letters and comments celebrating the his life, career, and achievements. The Historical Association has numerous Yard family-related items in its collection, including one of the printing presses from the Monmouth Democrat and James Sterling Yard's officer's dress sword.

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