General George W. Taylor
George William Taylor of Clinton was commissioned Colonel, Third NJ Volunteer Infantry Regiment on 4 June 1861. The Third Regiment was part of the NJ First Brigade (1,1,V1) under the command of General Phil Kearny. Taylor succeeded Kearny as commander of the First Brigade and was commissioned Brigadier General on 9 May 1862. On 27 August 1862 he led the Brigade across the Orange & Alexandria Railroad Bridge over Bull Run to attack Confederate forces near Manassas Junction. Overwhelmed by the more numerous Confederate forces of General "Stonewall" Jackson, the brigade retreated back across the bridge. General Taylor was wounded in the leg and had to be evacuated to a hospital in Alexandria, Viginia, where he died on 1 September 1862. His body was returned to Clinton and buried here in the family plot. Taylor's contact with Jackson provided vital intelligence on Jackson's strength and whereabouts for the Second Battle of Manassas (Second Bull Run) on 28-30 August 1862. Jackson personnally complimented Taylor and his brigade for fighting bravely against great odds.
Marker is on Center Street, on the right when traveling west.
Courtesy hmdb.org
