John Pugh Van Leer

Union Col John P. Van Leer grave monument

John Pugh Van Leer (February 27, 1825 – May 5, 1862) Married Annie J. Miller and is the grandson of Isaac Van Leer. John was an American military officer who served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He commanded the 6th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry regiment and was killed during the Battle of Williamsburg. At the outbreak of the Civil War Van Leer joined the Union Army at Newark, New Jersey with his family, and was commissioned as a Captain, promoted to Major and Lieutenant colonel of the 6th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry in 1861.He served under Brigadier General Francis E. Patterson and Joseph Hooker.^{[Ref: Wikipedia]} Van Leer’s regiment was the first fully equipped brigade to arrive in Washington, D.C. just before the First Battle of Bull Run. After his regiment built Fort Runyon, Van Leer lead 10 companies during Hooker’s Virginia campaigns. He was killed during the Battle of Williamsburg on May 5, 1862 and interred at Mount Vernon Cemetery in Philadelphia. The Colonelcy of the Regiment being vacant, the Governor of New Jersey. appreciating his soldierly qualities, commissioned him Colonel.