USA > Delaware > History of Delaware : 1609-1888 > Part 83
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338
HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
For the defense of the city of Wilmington the "Wilmington Home Guard" was immediately organ- ized, with the following officers: Captain, F. B. Stmgis; First Lieutenant, Richard B. Duncan ; Second Lieu- tenant, Daniel La Motte, Jr ; Third Lientenant, John J. Toner; Fourth Lieutenant, J. E. Bailey. In a few hours the company numbered one hundred men, and was fully armed and equipped ready for service.1 From this time forward volunteering progressed rapidly. On April 25th a company of German Turners, numbering eighty men left Wilming- ton for Philadelphia, to unite with the Turner regi- ment then in process of formation in that city.
In April the " City Guard" was formed under the provisions of an ordinance of the Wilmington City Council. It was composed of the best men in the city, and had its armory at the corner of Front and Tatnall Streets. It was subject to the orders of the mayor, and was at all times prepared to give immediate re- sponse when its aid was required. About the latter part of April the ladies of the First Ward presented the "City Guard" with a handsome flag. The Guards were drilled every night by Instructor George Read Riddle. William T. Porter was chosen as the quartermaster. Ex-Mayor Wilson, Abraham Boys, Joshua and Bandny Simmons, John H. Price and many old and worthy citizens were honorary members. The Guards completed their organization on the 7th of May, by electing the following officers: Captain, George Read Riddle; First Lieutenant, William E. Highfield ; Second Lientenant, Henry Bleyer ; Third Lieutenant, Samuel D. Newlin ; Fourth Lieutenant, John Divine; Quartermaster, William T. Porter ; Ensign, George O'Neill.
Before May 1, 1861, military companies had been formed as follows :
Company A, Delaware Blues, Capt. R. S. La Motte, 100 men ; Com- pany B, Delaware Blues, Capt. C. E. La Motte, Ion men ; Company C. Delaware Blues, Capt. Thomas A. Smith, 100 men ; Columbia Bitles, Capt. Joseph 3. Barr, 100 men; Wilmington Ritles, Capt. R. Milhgan, 30 mem ; Middletown Company, Capt Frank Barr, 60 men ; Brandywine Company, Capt. C. Febiger, 50 mien ; New Castle Company, Capt. Ty- bont, 60 mien; Mill Creek Hundred Company, Capt. P. Wilson, 65 men : Christiana Hundred Company, 80 men.
the Central Church, on the " Trial of our Country." At the Second Baptist Church, Rev. James $ Dickerson, j.reached a sermon on " God's dealings with Nations." In the Hunover Church, Rev. Mr. Aikman preached a discourse on " lieverence for Law the only hope of a state." In St. Peter's R. C. Church, Rev. Mr. O'Brien in his thiscourse urged his congregation to sustain the government and upholl its free institutions in the present crisis of the country's history. At the conclusion of the services John F. Miller played on the organ the ". star Spangled Banner." Rev. Mr. Condron delivered a sermon in the Wilmington Institute to a large number of the Delaware regiment. On the Isth of May a br inti- ful tag was raised on st. Mary'sCollege. On Sunday, the 19th, A-hury M. E. Church contributed thirty-four dollars to purchase blankets for the soldiers, At the same time >t. Paul's M. E. Chnich. Rev. Mir. Murphy pastor, contributed sixty dollars for the same purpose. st. Mary's R. C. Church, Rev. Mr. Heilley jastor, also contributed forty. four dollars, which was handed to Mrs. Lee, Mrs. Canby and Mrs. La Motte. The ceremonies at the Central Presbyterian Church, on the morning of the 4th, of July, were attended by Company A, Captain Sturgis, fifty-two men ; City Guards, Captain Andrews, sixty-hvr mirn . Company B, Captain Wisdom, fifty twomen ; Brandywine Guide. ( ap- tun Felger, fifty two men. The while, under command of Captain Febiger, arrived in front of the church at 10 30, and having stacked their armis in the street, entered the church and filled the middle block of pews.
1 About the same time A. Sta its called for volunteers to form a com- pany, to be known as the " Old Delaware Guard."
Becoming impatient to enter the service, Captain Thomas A. Smith's company left Wilmington on the Both of April for Philadelphia, where it was mustered into service on the 7th of May, in the Twenty-fourth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, commanded by Colonel Owens, with the following officers: Captain, Thos, A. Smith; First Lieutenant, Francis McCloskey; Second Lieutenant, Neal Ward; First Sergeant, Michael Kirwin ; Second Sergeant, Daniel O'Neal; Third Sergeant, Daniel Meaney; Fourth Sergeant, W'm. Murphey ; First Corporal, Christopher Bechtle ; Second Corporal, David Smith; Third Corporal, John Cumming ; Fourth Corporal, James Rickards.
This company was the first to leave the State for the front and the first to return. After serving out the three months' term of enlistment, it returned to Wil- mington on July 30th. and received a hearty wel- come. The command to which it had belonged was attached to General Patterson's division on the Upper Potomac River.
In the latter part of April the McLane Rifles were organized in Wilmington, with the following officers: Captain, R. Milligan ; First Lieutenant, Benjamin Nields; Second Lieutenant, L. E. Wales; First Sergeant, J. Crozier ; Second Sergeant, J. B. Tanner ; Third Sergeant, W. W. Simmons; Fourth Sergeant, A. Gawthrop; First Corporal, C. B. Tanner, Second Corporal, R. Wisdom ; Third Corporal, G. B. Roberts ; Fourth Corporal, Fred. Sturges. This company was sworn into service on May 6, 1801.
Outside of Wilmington the excitement continued unabated, and at the various recruiting stations volunteers flocked to be enrolled in the various companies which were being organized. To stimu- late the enlistments Hon. S. M. Harrington and Hume Jenkins each contributed $1000 towards purchasing the uniforms of Captain Green's company that was organizing in Camden and others pledged themselves to support the families of the soldiers during their absence from home. The Red Lion Mounted Guards was formed in Red Lion Hundred on the 27th of April, for home protection, with the following officers: Captain, John Jefferson Henry ; First Lieutenant, Wm. M. Stuckert ; Second Lieu- tenant, Charles Corbit ; First Sergeant, Robert White; First Corporal, Win. Beck. The field of operations of this company embraced New Castle County.
Early in May the " Union Home Guard" was formed at Newport, the citizens of that town aiding in equipping it. A company from Georgetown, Sussex County, arrived in Wilmington on the 9th of May. It was commanded by Captain C. Rodney Layton; First Lieutenant, David W. Maull; Second Lieutenant, Wm. Y. swiggett. The "Dover Home Guards" were organized on the 9th of May, by the election of the following officers : Captain, Dr. Isaac Jump; First Lieutenant, Wm. Walker ; Second Lien- tenant, Dr. C. A. Cowgill; First Sergeant, J. R. Sweeney ; Second Sergeant, Charles MI. Justice ; Third Sergeant, A. B. Richardson ; Fourth Sergeant, Draper
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339
THE CIVIL WAR.
A. Dewees; First Corporal, John Costen; Second Corporal, Samuel MeGonigal; Third Corporal, Luif Lewis ; Fourth Corporal, Wm. Smallwood: Ensign, John W. Smith. The company had an enrollment of one hundred and ten men. It was mustered into service as Company "G." on May 16, 1861. About the same time the " Felton Home Guard, " were or- ganized with the following officers : Captain, Thomas Draper ; First Lieutenant, Richard B. Duncan ; Fec- ond Lieutenant, Daniel La Motte, Jr. ; Third Lieu- tenant, John J. Toner; Fourth Lieutenant, J. E. Bailey ; Surgeon, Joseph Simpson.
The "Governor's Guard," at Bridgeville and Green- wood, numbering one hundred men, organized in May by the election of the following officers : Captain, W. O. Redden ; First Lieutenant, Dr. Lawrence MI. Cahill ; Second Lieutenant, Simeon Penewell; First Sergeant, Wm. S. Cannon ; Second Sergeant, James P. Carpenter; Third Sergeant, George Perkinpine; Fourth Sergeant, Dr. H. Clay Johnson ; Fifth Ser- geant, John M. Manlove; First Corporal, John E. Sudler ; Second Corporal, John Heryes ; Third Cor- poral, John Satterfield; Fourth Corporal, Wm. E. Carpenter.
Company H, the second company from Dover, Cap- tain S. H. Jenkins, was mustered into service on May 16, 1861. The Smyrna Home Guards, with sixty- four muskets, were mustered in about the same time as were the Magnolia Home Guards with the follow- ing officers : Captain, Edward Stout; First Lieuten- ant, Mordecai Riekey, Jr .; Second Lieutenant, Wm. MeGonigal.
The work of swearing troops into the United States service was commenced at Wilmington, May 2, 1861, the oath being administered by Major Ruff, of the regular army. Dr. R. P. Johnson acted as medical examiner. The aggregate number of men thus sworn that day was three hundred and thirty-eight, all of whom were mustered into the service of the Union. These companies were raised at and near Wilmington and became Companies A, B, and C, of the First Regi- ment Delaware Volunteer Infantry.
On the 4th of May Capt. James Green's company, consisting of seventy-eight men, from the lower part of Kent County, was mustered into the service as Company D of the same regiment.
The Sussex County volunteers, Capt. C. Rodney Layton, were mustered into the same regiment on the 16th of May, as Company G. Capt. J. H. Jenkins' company from Dover, Kent County, was mustered in on the same day as Company H. On the 20th Company I, commanded by Captain Leonard, and Company K, under the command of Captain George F. Smith, were mustered into service, thus complet- ing the organization of the regiment.
The regiment was encamped at Camp Brandywine, on the grounds of the Agricultural Society, about one mile and a half from the city, where the members were constantly exercised in company and regimen- tal drill. On the 22d of May the commissioned
officers assembled and elected the following regimen- tal officers : Colonel Henry II. Lockwood, Lieutenant- Colonel John W. Andrews, Major Henry A. Dupont. The Governor appointed Dr. Robert P. Johnson sur- geon of the regiment, and James M. Knight assistant surgeon. Wm. P. Seville was adjutant, W. Hill Al- derdice quartermaster, Chaplain Rev. George M. Con- dron, Sergeant-Major John it. Saville.
On the Ilth of May, 1861, the Governor appointed and commissioned Henry Du Pont, of New Castle County, " Major-General of the forces raised and to be raised in the State of Delaware," vesting him with the full power of that office. Col. Jesse Sharpe was appointed brigadier-general.
On the same date Governor Burton, yielding to the entreaties of Union men, who feared that some of the Home Guards might not prove loyal, issued General Order No. 2, which was intended to prevent a possi- ble misuse of the arms of the State. This order, how- ever, met with so much opposition and was regarded by many as such a direct subversion of the rights of the State, that the Governor was prevailed on to rescind the first order. This he did by issuing Gene- ral Order No. 3, from his office, at Dover, May 14, 1861, as follows :
"Wherens I, William Burton, commander-in-chief of the Army and Militia of this State, on the Ilth day of May, inst., did issue my order, being No. 2, in the words following, to wit .- The arts and accontre- ments belonging to the State, and now in possession of any military or- ganz ition or company in this state, other than those companies mus- tered into the service of the United States, will, under the direction of M gor-General Du Pont, Le immediately delivered to such persons and at such points as the Major-General may conformably to law direct, to this end an accurate inventory will be immediately made out and transmit- ted to the Major-General by the commanders of all and every volunteer organization now existing in this state who may have such arms and arcoutrements in possession. Major-General Du Pont is charge 1 with the execution of this order, and a strict compliance with it is earnestly enjoined and confidently expectel ; and whereas as it seems meet and right ou to do, now therefore, 1, William Burton, Governor of the State of Delaware, and as commander-in-chief of the army of this State, do hereby countermand, revoke and declare null and void said orders is- sued by me as aforesaid.
"And I do hereby order and direct that the arms and accoutrements delivered to the different volunteer companies by my order, and not by me recalled, be and remain in the possession of and for the use of sand companies until further orders from me.
" WILLIAN BURTON, "Governor and Commander-in-chief."
Realizing the fact that the State was liable to incur- sions from the enemy, the organization of the Home Guards was actively prosecuted until most of the hundreds had men in military training. Of these Major-General Du Pont took command, and issued the following orders pertaining to them :
" HEADQUARTERS DELAWARE VOLUNTEER MILITIA, WILMINGTON, July 12, 1861. S " General Order No. 1.
"The commanders of all companies organized under the Volunteer Law, atl all other persons having in their pression arms and accoutre- ments belonging to the State of Delaware, are hereby required to report by letter to the Major-General without delay, the number and descrip- tion of aud arms and accoutrements, the title of the Company holding the saine, the Hundred and Connty in which it is organized and the number of men it musters for regular drill.
" By onler af " MAJOR-GENERAL DU PONT. " ALF. R. WOOTTEN, Avl-de-Camp."
"HEADQUARTERS DELAWARE VOLUNTEER MILITIA, } WILMINGTON, July 12, 1861. 5
" General Order No. 2.
" The following Companies formed under the Volunteer Law will
340
HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
constituto the First Regiment of Delaware Volunteer Militia, viv .: Delaware Guards, Capt. M. Chutock , Wilmington Home Guide, Capt Sturgis; City Guards, Capt. Andrews ; Union Gnards, Capt Wardem ; Brandy wine Vill ge Gaatds, Lapt. Feldiger ; Wilmington eny Gaard4, Capt. Riddle ; Brandywine Home Guards, Co. A. Capt. L De Pint ; Brandy wine Home Guards, Co. B. Capt. ( I. Du Pout, Jr .; Fust Troop Delaware Light Dragoons, Lieut, Gumnull."
The arms for this regiment were furnished by the City Council of Wilmington, Mayor Gilpin report- ing to that body, August 6, 1861, that he had supplied six hundred and thirty-six muskets, which had been purchased out of the eight thousand dollars appro- priated for the defense of the city.
On the 23d of May, 1861, Governor Burton issued a second proclamation reciting that the requisition of the President for a regiment of three months men hai been met, but as the State was now called on to fur- nish another regiment for a period of three years, un- less sooner discharged, he recommended that the work of organization be continued and advised that the army of the United States be sustained by volunteers from Delaware, who should report themselves to Cap- tain H. W. Wharton, of the United States army, at Wilmington, who was fully empowered to muster them into the service of the United States for the period required. This led to the organization of the Second and other Delaware regiments, whose history is given in the following pages. The Delaware troops now became an inseparable part of the Federal forces.
Late in April Lieutenant-General Winfield Scott appointed Major-General Robert Patterson to the command of the Military Department of Washington, which included the District of Columbia, Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania. General Patterson was instructed to post the Pennsylvania and Delaware volunteers, as fast as they were mustered into service, all along the railroad from Wilmington to Washing- ton, in sufficient numbers and in such proximity as would give reasonable protection to the lines of par- allel wires to the road, its rails, bridges, cars and stations. On the 13th of May the repairs to the bridges on the road were completed, and two passen- ger trains passed through from Philadelphia to Balti- more without delay.
On the 28th of May, Companies A, B, D and E, Captains Robert S. La Motte. Charles E. La Motte, James Green and R. B. Milligan, of the Delaware Regiment, stationed at Camp Brandywine,1 near Wil-
1 The following was the routine of duty at the soldiers' camp near Wilmington :
"ITFANQUARTERS IST REGMIT. DEL. VOLS., ?
" CAMP BRANDYWINE, JUNE 2, 1861. "Genmal Order No. 1.
"The following detail of duties will govern the camp from this date :
" Ist. Reveille at 5 A. M., when the companies will be assembled on the Company's putade by Ist Sergeants midler the Company Offirars.
" 20. Police call at 6 A.M., when the camp will be carefully policed.
" 3d. Breakfast roll-call at T A. w , when the Companies will be formed by Ist sergeants, and rulls called-afterwards the companies matched in order to their mir ssey.
"4th. Surgeon's call at 7.30 A st., when the sick will be marched to the Hospital tent by a corporal Ginand.
" 5th. Ist Sergeants' call at 7.15 A M.
" 6th. Cijupany assembly of Guard detail at 8. 15 A. M.
" 7th, Adjutant's call at 3, JO A.M.
" 8th. Squad drill from 0 to 10 30 A.M.
mington, receivedl orders to march A and B to Aber- deen, near Baltimore, an I D and E to Bush River, to be stationed along the line for the protection of the railroad. Instaily the camp assumed a busy aspect. Knapsacks were packed, tents struck and pre- pared for transportation.
All along the route of march to the depot the roads and sticets were thronged with enthusiastic people of both sexes, anxious to bid them good-by and cheer them on their mission. At the depot every avenne was densely crowded with a mass of human beings, and, as the train moved off, the soldiers were greetedl with cheer after cheer.
On the 9th of June the remaining companies com- prising the First Delaware Regiment of Volunteers, stationed at Camp Brandywine, received orders to relieve the Eleventh Pennsylvania Regiment, station- ed along the line of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad. between Wilmington and Baltimore, the Pennsylvania Regiment having been ordered to Washington. Under the command of Colonel Lockwood and Lieutenant-Colonel Andrews, the regiment proceeded by cars to its new field of duty. Before it left the city Captain R. S. La Motte was elected major of the regiment to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Major Henry Du Pont. Jr., who had entered the United States service.2
Evan S. Watson was chosen captain of Company A to fill the vacancy occasioned by the election of Captain La Motte as major, and Sergeant Ezekiel C. Alexander was elected first lieutenant in place of Watson, promoted to captain.
The companies were stationed along the railroad as follows: Company G at Elkion, MId., Company C at North East ; Companies C and H at Perryville ; Companies F and I at Havre de Grace. Regimental headquarters were established at Havre de Grace, whither Companies A and B were ordered after a short stay at Aberdeen.
Companies A, B, C, D and E, of the regi- ment, returned to Wilmington on August 3d, their term of service having expired, and were paid off and mustered out. They were commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Andrews.
Companies G, H, I and K returned home on the 14th, and on the following day were also mustered out of service.
Three years' regiments were now organized in the State, and most of the officers and men of old First Delaware Volunteers re-enlisted in the new regi-
" 9th. Dinner roll-call at 12 Mt.
" joth. (hifi ers' drill from 1 to 2 P.M.
" 11th. Company drill from 3. 30 to 5 r.M.
" 12th. First dress paraJe call at 3.50 p.M.
" 13th. Adjutant's call at & p.M.
" J4th. Sipper iminutiately after parade.
" 15th. First tattoo call at 9. 15 P.M.
" Juth. Heat off ut !. Pl P.M.
" 17th. Taps at 10 P.M.
" Isth. Field niusis will assemble for practice fromn 9 to 10.30 A.M., and at such other honis as the Adjutant miay dirrer."
2 Junies Montgomery, private, was the first man killed belonging to the regiment, being struck bya locomotive at Elkton, MId.
34 F
THE CIVIL WAR.
ments for "three years or the war." Col. Lockwood was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers.1
The Second Delaware (three years') Regiment was encamped at Camp Brandywine, near Wilmington. The field officers of this regiment on August 16, 1861, were : Colonel, H. II. Wharton, late captain Sixth Infantry, United States Army ; Lieutenant-Colonel, W. P. Bailey ; Major, R. Andrews. Staff officers- Adjutant, Samnel Canhy, Jr. ; Quartermaster. George Plunkett. Company officers,-Company A: Captain, D. L. Strieker ; First Lieutenant, Thoma- M. Wenie; Second Lieutenant, John Evans. Company B: Cap- tain, Charles II. Christman ; First Lieutenant, Theo. Geyer; Second Lientenant, W. F. Fennimore. Com- pany C : Captain, Benjamin Ricketts; First Lien- tenant, W. A. Torbert; Second Lieutenant, John Simpers. Company D: Captain, John M. Perry ; First Lieutenant, William IIembold ; Second Lientenant, A. J. Kranse.
Abont the middle of September, 1861, the regiment was sent to Cambridge, Dorchester County, MId. In February, 1862, the First Delaware Regiment was stationed at Camp Hamilton, Fortress Monroe. On the 8th of July in the same year the citizens of Wil- mington presented to the First, Second and Third Delaware Regiments beautiful flags in Institute Hall. Mayor Gilpin presided and Leonard E. Wales pre- sented the flags in an eloquent speech. Hon. George P. Fisher received the colors in the name of the re- spective regiments then in the field.
The Second Regiment of Volunteer Home Guards was organized in Sussex County, and elected its field officers, in the fall of 1861, at a meeting held at George- town in pursuance of Order No. 4, by Major-General Du Pont. Six companies were represented, and the officers chosen were: Colonel, William O. Redden ; Lieutenant-Colonel, John MI. Phillips; Major, Wm. H. Stayton ; Adjutant, Dr. William Marshall; Quar- termaster, Elisha Holland ; Surgeon, Dr. H. F. Hall ; Sergeant-Major, John Hickman.
1 Ilis officers presented him a sword on Sept. 9, 1861, in the Institute ITall, Wilmington. General Henry Hall Lockwood was born in Kent County, Aug. 17, 1814. He entered West Point Academy in Isse, amaralnaming m 1836, wasattached to the second Artillery as grond lieutenant, Heserved in the Seminole Indian War, and restzued his commission in 1- 6. In Jail he was appointed Professor of Mathemath . in the United States navy, and served until leol in this capacity, During this peruw, while at- tached to the frigate " United States, ' he was engaged at the capture of Monterey in leit, serving as adjutant of a land detachment from his vessel. At the breaking out of the late Civil War he Holt hai- instruc- tor's chair and attached tuintelf to the First Delaware Volunteers as colonel May 25, 18Gl. On August sth ot the same year he was commis- sioned brigaher-general of volunteers, and in November commanded the expedition to the Eastern Shore of Virgins, and in January to June, 1864, was appointed to commail the defense of the Lower Potomac. General Lockwood participated in the battle of Gettysburg July 1-4, 18 3, and subsequently was placed in command of Harper . Ferry, after- ward succeeding General schenck, at Baltimore, as commander of the Middle Department. In 18 + he participated in the campaign before Richmond, and was also in the engagement near Hanover Court-House. He commanded the provisional trompe at Baltimore in fast, when th it city was threatened with a raid ly General Early. On being minstered out of the volunteer service in August, 1-15, General Lockwood returned to the Naval Academy, and continued there until Is;1 as Professor of Nat- oral and Experimental Philosophy. In ISTI he was transferred to the Naval Observatory at Waslington, and femmined nutil Angst 11, 1578, when he was placed on the retired list. After his retirement, General Lock wood lived in Georgetown. Ilis wife was a daughter of Chief Jus- tice Booth, of Delaware.
The following companies in Kent County, formed under the Volunteer Militia Law, constituted the Third Regiment of Delaware Volunteer Militia in November, 1Gl : Dover Union Home Guards; Fel- ton Blues; MeClellan Home Guards, Smyrna ; Fred- erica Grays : Magnolia Home Guards ; Leipsic Home Gaards; Continental Rifle Guards, Camden; Diamond State Guard, Milford; Delaware Home Guard, Ha>let- ville; Mordington Mills Guard, Milford ; Delaware Union Home Guard, Whitely-burg; Little Creek Home Guard, Little Creek Landing.
Notwithstanding the measures adopted to support the Union, a portion of the people of the State were not disposed to sustain, by active efforts, the hostilities in which the Federal government had now become involved. They thought that the power of the North would be insufficient to bring the Southern States back into the Union ; and if they ever again became a part of it, they must come back voluntarily. As- suming this position, the views entertained under it were exceedingly various, and some pos-essed so great latitude as to embrace those who favored the cause of the Confederate States, To those even who honestly entertained these views, war held out no prospect but that of mutual destruction. A separation and ac- knowledgment of the Confederacy were regarded as the course of wisdom. Some believed that by peace and conciliation, the seceding States might finally be in- duced to return. The peace men in Delaware, Con- necticut and all the Northern States were thus actu- ated, although some carried their views to an extreme. As a general fact, they were men who loved the Union, and earnestly desired its restoration. They had no antipathy to the institutions of the Southern States, and were, in a manner, devoid of every feeling of interest or anxiety on the point concerning which those who elected the Federal administration and those who organized the Confederate States had for years been at issue. War with them, as with Senator Douglas, of Illinois, "was final, inevitable dissolu- tion."
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