This pocket Bible contains both the Old and New Testaments and was printed in 1838 by Hogan and Thompson of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The front cover and spine are made of black leather. Front cover and first few pages are hanging on by a thread while the spine is chipped but does have “HOLY BIBLE” in worn gold ink. There are a few loose pages as well. The back cover is missing as well as the back portion of the book. The last page is Chapter 12 of the book of Hebrews.

The inside of the front cover is lined with yellow paper that has chipped over the years. There is a period ink inscription that reads in part “CORPORAL J. H. BR—Co F. 22D REG- -- S. V.” above “FATHER, REV. W. A. BROOKS M.E.C. CAPE MAY CO. NEW JERSEY.”

The next blank page has a period ink inscription “THIS BOOK I CARRIED DURING THE TIME OF MY SERVICE (NINE MONTHS) FROM SEPT. 1862 TO JULY 1863 AND IS ABOUT THE ONLY ARTICLE LEFT AS A MOMENTO – IT WAS GENERALLY CARRIED IN THE BREAST POCKET AND AGAIN AND AGAIN HAS BEEN SOAKED WITH STORM AND SWEAT. THANK GOD FOR PRESERVED LIFE AND PRSERVED COUNTRY. J. H. BROOKS, ST. PAUL NEBRASKA MARCH 20, 1886.”

The next blank page has a period pencil inscription of two Bible verses “MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR THEE.” and “FEAR NOT I AM WITH THEE BE NOT DISMAYED. I AM THY GOD.”

A few pages further along is another period ink inscription. “THE WRITING ON TITLE PAGE - ??? WAS MADE SOMETIME IN 1862 – PROBABLY JUST BEFORE STARTING FROM TRENTON N.J. TO GO TO WASHINGTON.”

The very next page reads “OUR REG WITH SEVERAL OTHER N. J. 9 MONTH REGIMENTS WERE AT CHAIN BRIDGE JUST ABOVE WASHINGTON MAKING ROADS BETWEEN FORTS UNTIL ABOUT DEC. 1^ST 62- THENCE WE MARCHED DOWN THE POTOMAC, CROSSED TO AQUIA CREEK LANDING. ACTED AS RESERVES AT TIME OF BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG THENCE TO PT. PLEASANT AS 3^RD BRIGADE, 1^ST DIVISION, 1^ST CORPS (THE IRON BRIGADE BEING 2^ND BRIGADE.) TOOK PART IN BURNSIDES MUD MARCH OR 2^ND ATTEMPT AT FREDERICKSBURG. IN HOOKER’S CHANCELLORSVILLE ENGAGEMENT – MARCHED WITH ARMY TOWARD WASHINGTON. MUSTERED OUT REASON OF EXPIRATION OF TERM OF SERVICE AT FAIRFAX C. H. AFTER WE WERE MARCHED OFF TOWARDS WASHINGTON A FEW WEEKS BEFORE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG PA. THENCE TO TRENTON, N.J. AND HOME.” Notation continues one page later “IN THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG A FEW DAYS AFTER OUR LEAVING, THE CORPS COMMANDER GENL. REYNOLDS WAS KILLED. THE DIV. COMMANDER WADSWORTH AND THE REGIMENTS OF THAT DIVISION SUFFERED TERRIBLE LOSS.”

John H. Brooks was born in New Jersey on December 15, 1842. He enlisted as a corporal in Company F, 22^nd New Jersey on September 22, 1862 and mustered out at Trenton, N.J. on June 25, 1863.

After his service he married Elizabth McCoullough and had two children. He eventually moved to Omaha, Nebraska where he died on April 25, 1910. He is buried there in Forest Lawn Memorial Park.  [ad][ph:L]

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