USA > New Jersey > Cape May County > The history of Cape May County, New Jersey : from the aboriginal times to the present day > Part 26
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In July, of 1862, he raised a company in Cumberland county, N. J., and enlisted as captain of Company K, Twelfth N. J. Vols. He was mustered with his regiment September 4. 1862. His regiment was shortly after stationed at Elli- cott's Mills. Md .. where he was appointed assistant provost- marshal under General Wool. In December, 1862, with his
330
HISTORY OF CAPE MAY COUNTY.
regiment, he joined the Army of the Potomac, and was placed in the Second Army Corps.
February 16, 1864, he was appointed judge advocate of a division court-martial. He remained with his regiment (excepting a few months in 1864, while he was on detached service) until August 25, 1864, when he was severely wouned in the battle of Ream's Station, Va. He com- manded his regiment as captain, major and lieutenant- colonel.
Among the general engagements in which he took part were 'Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Auburn Mills, Bristow Station, Robinson's Tavern, Mine Run, Deep Bottom and Ream's Station.
In December, 1864, while still on crutches, he was ap- pointed president of a general court-martial for trial of of- ficers in Philadelphia. February 17, 1865, he was honor- ably discharged on account of wounds received in battle. June 7, 1865, he married Miss Catherine Scovel, daughter of the Rev. Alden Scovel, of Bloomington, Ill.
In November, 1865, hie changed his residence from Cape May county to Chicago, where he entered upon the practice of his profession, in which he is still engaged.
In November, 1872, Colonel Thompson was elected Sen- ator of the Illinois General Assembly.
Albert Walker was enrolled for service on August 9, '62, and mustered into service (in Company K) on Septem- ber 4. He was promoted to corporal on June 4, '64, and served until mustered out, on June 15, '65.
On April 9, 1863, Richard Townsend, of Cape May, who was then a sergeant in Company B, Tenth Regiment, was commissioned second lieutenant of Company C, this regi- ment, and mustered into service on June 30, and on July 3, in the battle of Gettysburg, was killed. His remains were buried at the National Cemetery, Gettysburg, in Section A, Grave I. Samuel Tombs, in his work on Gettysburg, says:
"In the height of the fight Lieutenant Richard H. Town- send, of Cape May county, fell, shot through the heart. Pro- moted from the Tenth Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, he had been able to join his new command only three days before, and thus died in his first battle."
331
THE ENLISTMENTS OF 1862.
On the 28th of August the Board of Freeholders passed a resolution "That, for the purpose of filling the requisition made on the county of Cape May," under the call for the 300,000 volunteers, they would give to each volunteer who enlisted in the United States service the sum of fifty dollars. "The county collector. at the same time, was authorized to borrow on the credit of the county the sum of ten thousand dollars to pay this bounty, and Richard S. Leaming, of Dennisville, was authorized to go to Beverly, where the Twenty-fifth Regiment was being rendezvoused, to give the volunteers their orders.
The Twenty-fifth Regiment Infantry was organized un- der the provisions of an act of Congress, approved July 22, 1861. A draft for 10,478 men to serve for nine months, unless sooner discharged, had been made upon the Governor of this State by the President of the United States, August 4, 1862. and soon after full instructions for conducting it were received from the War Department. The draft so ordered, was not to interfere with orders governing recruit- ing, and all enlistments up to September 1, 1862, would be placed to the credit of the State. A general desire mani- fested and expressed by the State authorities, as well as by prominent citizens throughout the State, to avoid the draft, gave an enthusiasm to recruiting, which caused the entire ·quota to be raised by voluntary enlistment, and in camp, by the 3d day of September, 1862, the time appointed for com- mencing the draft. The organization of the regiment was immediately commenced, and soon after fully completed. officered and equipped. It was then duly mustered into the ·service of the United States for nine months. Companies F, G and I, composed principally of men from Cape May county, were mustered in at Beverly, N. J., September 26, 1862, by William B. Royall, captain Fifth Cavalry, U. S. Army. The headquarters of the regiment were established at Beverly, from which place it left the State October 10. 1862, en route to Washington, D. C. Upon arrival at Washington it was assigned to the Second Brigade, Casey's Division, defenses of Washington, and went into camp at East Capitol Hill, and immediately began to prepare for active service. It remained in this vicinity until the 30th
333
HISTORY OF CAPE MAY COUNTY.
day of November, when, under orders, it marched to the front and joined the Army of the Potomac, having been as- signed to the Ninth Army Corps. On the IIth of February, 1863, the regiment, in connection with the Ninth Corps,. was detached from the Army of the Potomac and proceeded to Newport News, Va. On the 13th of March it proceeded. to Suffolk, Va., to assist in repelling a threatened invasion by the enemy at this point. The regiment continued its. organization and remained in active service until the expira- tion of its term of service, when it was ordered to return to New Jersey for discharge. It was mustered out at Beverly. N. J., June 20, 1863. After leaving Casey's Division it was attached to the First Brigade, Third Division, Ninth- Army Corps. It took part in the engagements at Freder- icksburg, Va., December 13 and 14, '62, and at "Near Suf- folk," Va., May 3, '63.
Company F was composed entirely (excepting Captain Blenkow) of residents of Dennis and Lower townships and. Cape Island. All the members were enrolled for service on September I. '62, and mustered into service on September 26. When the company left with its regiment it was com- posed of the following officers and men:
Captain, David Blenkow, shoe dealer.
First lieutenant, Nicholas W. Godfrey, carpenter.
Second lieutenant, Henry Y. Willetts, carpenter.
First sergeant, Reuben Foster.
Sergeants, John F. Goff, Edwin Ludlam, J. Granville- Leach.
Corporals, Coleman F. Ludlam, William T. Stevens, Abijah D. Reeves, Joseph Garrison, Virgil D. Schellenger ..
Musician (drummer), George S. Cresse.
Privates-Charles Abrams, Skidmore Abrams, William- Armstrong, Jerome Bowker, Joseph Brewton, Elias Camp, Daniel Chambers, John Chambers, John W. Corson, Fred -- erick W. Cradol, Thomas M. Creamer, Anthony Cresse, Daniel F. Crowell, Samuel S. Cummings, Evan Edmunds, Jonathan H. Edwards, George H. Eldredge, James S. El -- dredge, Clark Elliott, Samuel R. Stites, Ezekiel Voss, Jo- seph Elliott, Owen Endicott, Seely Ernest, James Ewing,. Livingstone Ewing, Thomas S. Foster, Elbridge G. Goff,.
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THE ENLISTMENTS OF 1862.
Albert Grace, James S. Grace, Matthew W. Hall, Jeremiah Hampton, Philip Hand, Samuel Hand, Seth L. Hand, Thomas H. Hand, Charles Heisles, Joseph S. Higbee, John T. Hoffman, Samuel Honn, Joseph B. Hughes, Joshua Johnson, Alphonso A. Jones, James H. Kimsey, Henry Langley, Alphonso D. Lee, Richard F. Lloyd, Walter S. Peterson, Josiah Powell, William L. Pritchard, Charles P. Riel, William C. Rutherford, Charles T. Shaw, Francis W. Sheldon, William F. Smith, William Snyder, Israel S. Town- send, John Trout, Samuel F. Ware, Jr., Maurice V. Warner, Leaming Weatherby, George T. Weeks, John Weeks, Jere- miah Weldon, Eva E. Westcott, Joseph Whitaker, Josiah Whitaker, Thomas B. Williams, Stacy M. Wilson, Jonathan G. Fidler, Thomas Morton, Jesse S. Godfrey, Furman Bar- nett, Theodore Church, Elwood Devaul, John W. Reeves, John P. Sutton, David E. Swain, Albert S. Edmunds, Thomas Beckwith, Albert F. Brewton, Hugh Edmunds David E. Hand, Thomas P. Hand, John B. Robinson, Jere- miah F. Tyler and Daniel H. White. The occupations and professions of the company were as follows: Artists, 2 ;. car- penters, 8; clerks, 2; farmers, 40; laborers, 33; shoemaker, I; seamen, 9; miller, I, and printers, 2. This company had five men wounded and one (Albert S. Edmunds) killed in the battle of Fredericksburg, and two men wounded at Suf- folk.
Nicholas W. Godfrey resigned as first lieutenant on De- cember 22, and three days later Henry Y. Willetts was com- missioned and mustered into that position. On the same day Reuben Foster was commissioned second lieutenant, and on January 3, 63, mustered into the office. John F. Goff was made first sergeant January 3. Coleman F. Lud- lam and William T. Stevens were made sergeants January I. Samuel R. Stites was promoted to corporal December 29, '62, and to sergeant two days later. J. Granville Leach was promoted to sergeant-major of the regiment on January I, '63, and then commissioned second lieutenant of Company I March 20, '63. John Chambers was made corporal No- vember 15, while Ezekiel Voss, Anthony Cresse and John W. Corson were promoted to corporals on January 1, '63.
The records of the men who, owing to disability and other
334
HISTORY OF CAPE MAY COUNTY.
causes, did not stay with the company until the close of its; service, were:
Jonathan G. Fidler-Discharged at Suffolk, Va., April 15, '63; disability.
Thomas Morton-Discharged at camp near Falmouth, Va., December 29, '62; disability.
Jesse S. Godfrey-Discharged at Fortress Monroe, Va., April 9, '63; disability.
Furman Barnett-Discharged at Fifth Street U. S. Army Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa., February 4, '63; disability.
Theodore Church-Discharged at Convalescent Camp,. Alexandria, Va., February 4, '63; disability.
Elwood Devaul-Discharged at U. S. Army General Hos- pital, Philadelphia. February 23, '63: disability.
John W. Reeves-Discharged at Philadelphia, Pa., Feb- ruary 14, '63: disability.
John P. Sutton-Discharged U. S. Army General Hos- pital, Philadelphia, February 4, '63; disability.
David E. Swain-Discharged U. S. Army General Hos -- pital, Philadelphia. January 28, '63: disability.
Albert S. Edmunds-Killed in action at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, '62.
Thomas Beckwith-Died of measles at Emory U. S. Army Hospital, Washington, D. C., November 9, '62.
Albert S. Brewton-Died of typhoid fever at Regimental Hospital, near Suffolk, Va., April 15, '63; buried at National Cemetery, Hampton, Va .. Row 22, Section C, Grave 19.
Hugh Edmunds-Died of disease at Regimental Hos- pital, near Suffolk, Va., March 26, '63; buried at National Cemetery, Hampton, Va .. Row 21, Section B, Grave 5.
David E. Hand-Died of typhoid fever at U. S. Army General Hospital, Newark, N. J., January 27, '63.
Thomas P. Hand-Died of chronic diarrhoea at Hamp- ton U. S. Army General Hospital, Fortress Monroe, Va., May 3, '63.
John B. Robinson-Died of congestion of brain in camp near Suffolk, Va., March 19. '63: buried at National Ceme- tery, Hampton, Va., Row 19. Section B, Grave 26.
Jeremiah F. Tyler-Died at U. S. Army General Hospital, Newark, N. J., January 6, '63; wounds received in action at
335
THE ENLISTMENTS OF 1862.
Fredericksburg, Va .; buried at Fairmount Cemetery, New- ark, N. J.
Daniel H. White-Died at St. Elizabeth U. S. Army Gen- eral Hospital, Washinton, D. C., December 23, '62, of wounds received in action at Fredericksburg, Va .; buried at Military Asylum Cemetery, D. C.
The following remained in the service of the company until it was mustered out, on June 20, 1863: Henry Y. Willetts, Reuben Foster, John F. Goff, Coleman F. Ludlam, William T. Stevens, Edw.n Ludlam, Samuel R. Stites, Abi- jah D. Reeves, Joseph Garrison, Virgil D. Schellenger, John Chambers, Ezekiel Voss. Anthony Cresse. John W. Cor- son, George S. Cresse, Charles Abrams, Skidmore Abrams, William Armstrong, Jerome Bowker, Joseph Brewton, Elias Camp, Daniel Chambers, Frederick Crandol, Thomas M. Creamer, Daniel F. Crowell, Samuel S. Cummings, Evan Edmunds, Jonathan H. Edwards, George H. Eldridge, James S. Eldridge, Clark Elliott, Joseph Elliott. Owen Endi- cott, Seely Ernest, James Ewing, Livingstone Ewing, Thomas S. Foster, Elbridge G. Goff, Albert Grace, James S. Grace, Matthew WV. Hall, Jeremiah Hampton, Philip Hand, Samuel Hand, Seth L. Hand, Thomas H. Hand, Charles Heisler, Joseph S. Higbee, John T. Hoffman, Samuel Honn, Joseph B. Hughes. Joshua Johnson, Alphonso A. Jones, James H. Kinsey, Henry Langley, Alphonso D. Lee, Rich- ard F. Lloyd, Walter S. Peterson, Josiah Powell, William L. Pritchard, Charles P. Riel, William C. Rutherford, Charles T. Shaw, Francis W. Sheldon, William F. Smith, William Snyder, Israel S. Townsend, John Trout, Samuel F. Ware, Maurice V. Warner, Leaming Weatherby, George T. Weeks, John Weeks, Jeremiah Weldon, Elva E. West- cott, Joseph Whitaker, Josiah Whitaker, Thomas B. Wil- liams and Stacy M. Wilson.
Company G was made up mostly of upper Cape May county men and of men who lived at Tuckahoe, on the At- lantic county side, and men from Marshallville, in Cumber- lard county. since made a part of Cape May county. They enlisted on September 2, and were mustered into service cn the 26th of the month. When they left the State for service they held these ranks:
336
HISTORY OF CAPE MAY COUNTY.
Captain, Charles R. Powell, blacksmith.
First lieutenant, Ewing W. Tibbles, painter.
Second lieutenant, Nicholas Corson, school teacher.
Sergeants-Maurice B. Stites, John S. Cole, Enoch S. Willetts.
Corporals-John W. Shoemaker, Charles W. Corson, Benjamin Weatherby.
Musician (drummer), Lewis S. Williams.
Privates-Charles S. Corson, Matthew Hughes, George Baner, Samuel Barnes, Jonathan Borden, John L. Buzby, Aaron B. Clark, Jonathan Cliver, John Col- lins, Joseph Collins, Lucien B. Corson, Daniel Creamer, Reuben Creamer, Robert M. Dare, Jolin Dayton, Nicholas Frambers, Howard M. French, George E. Gandy, Thomas Garron, James H. Gifford, Abraham Hayes, Mahlon Hor- ton, David T. Ingersoll, Richard Ingersoll, Levi E. Lippin- cott, James Little, Charles Lloyd, John Lloyd, Leaming Lloyd, John Magee, Furman Mannery, Frederick Marshall, Hollis Mickel, Adam Moore, Samuel Morris, Thomas W. Pettitt, George M. Searse, Reuben Searse, Ezekiel Steven- son, Gabriel G. Surran, John Thornton, Richard S. Town- send, Stephen Williams, Townsend S. Williams, Evan Arm- strong, Thomas R. Gandy, William Gruff, Richard Jarman, Adam Kerrick, Mark Cook, William W. Cook, Charles H. Coombs, Frederick Creamer, Joseph W. Lee, Samuel T. Surran, Theophilus Vannaman, Hezekiel Veach, George Trader.
The occupations and professions of this company was ap- portioned as follows: Bricklayers, 2; blacksmith, I ; carpen- ters, 2; clerks, 3; cigarmaker, 1; sheetiron worker, I; sea- men, 14; carriage trimmer, I; mason, I; machinist, I; moulder, 1; shoemaker, I; school teacher, 1; farmers, 5; millwright, 1 ; miller, 1 ; printer, 1 ; harness makers, 2; paint- ers, 2; laborers, 50; glasscutter, I; glassblower, I.
Captain Powell resigned on December 22. Enoch S. Willetts was promoted to first sergeant on September 30. Charles H. Corson was promoted to corporal on October 16, and Matthew Hughes to the same rank on January I, 1863.
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THE ENLISTMENTS OF 1862.
Those who did not remain with the regiment until it was mustered outt and the reasons therefor were:
John S. Cole-Discharged at U. S. Army General Hos- pital, Philadelphia, Pa., January 24, '63; disability.
Evan Armstrong-Discharged at Washington, D. C., January 5, '63; disability.
Thomas R. Gandy-Discharged at Regimental Hospital, near Fairfax Seminary, Va., November 28, '62; disability.
William Gruff-Discharged at Regimental Hospital, near Fairfax Seminary, Va., November 28, '62: disability.
Richard Jarman-Discharged February 23, '63; wounds received in action at Fredericksburg, Va.
Adam Kerrick-Discharged at Newport News, Va., March 8, '63; disability.
Maurice B. Stites-Died of typhoid fever at Regimental Hospital, camp near Falmouth, Va., Febuary I, '63.
Mark Cook-Died of measles at Emory U. S. Army Gen- eral Hospital, Washington, D. C., November 5, '62; buried at Military Asylum Cemetery, D. C.
William W. Cook-Died of measles at Emory U. S. Army General Hospital, Washington, D. C., November 1, '62; buried at Military Asylum Cemetery, D. C.
Charles H. Coombs-Died at Richmond, Va., January 7, 163, of wounds received in action at Fredericksburg, Va .; prisoner of war.
Frederick Creamer-Died of typhoid fever at Chestnut Hill U. S. Army General Hospital, Philadelphia, March 2, '63.
John W. Lee-Died of measles at Emory U. S. Army General Hospital, Washington, D. C., November 28, '62; buried at Military Asylum Cemetery, D. C.
Samuel T. Surran-Died of heart disease at Harewood U. S. Army General Hospital, Washington, D. C., January II, '63; buried at Military Asylum Cemetery, D. C .; Tucka- hoe, Atlantic side.
Theophilus Vanneman-Died of typhoid fever at Regi- mental Hospital, camp near Suffolk, Va., March 28, '63.
Hezekiah Veach-Died of typhoid fever at Regimental Hospital, camp near Falmouth, Va., January 25, '63: buried
338
HISTORY OF CAPE MAY COUNTY.
at National Cemetery, Fredericksburg, Va., Division D, Section C. Grave 277.
George Trader-Absent, sick in U. S. Army General Hospital. Fairfax Seminary, Va., December 1, '62; final record unknown.
Those who remained to the end with the company and were mustered out, on June 20, 1863, were:
Ewing W. Tibbles, Nicholas Corson, Enoch S. Willetts, John W. Shoemaker, Charles W. Corson, Benjamin Weath- erby. Charles II. Corson. Matthew Hughes, Lewis S. Williams. George Baner. Samuel Barnes, Jonathan Borden, John L. Buzby, Aaron B. Clark, Jonathan Cliver, John Collins, Joseph Collins, Jolin Magee, Furman Mannery. Frederick Marshall. Lucien B. Corson. Daniel Creamer, Reuben Creamer. Robert M. Dare. John Dayton, Nicholas Frambes, Howard M. French, George E. Gandy. Thomas Garron, James H. Gifford. Abraham Haves, Mahlon Hor- ton. David T. Ingersoll, Richard Ingersoll. Levi E. Lippin- cott, James Little. Charles Lloyd, John Lloyd, Leaming Lloyd, Hollis Mickel, Adam Moore, Samuel Morris, Thomas W. Pettitt, George M. Searse, Reuben Searse, Eze- giel Stevenson, Gabriel G. Surrann. John Thornton, Richard S. Townsend, Ste hen Williams, Townsend S. Williams.
All but twenty-five of the men in Company I were Cape May men, and enlisted either from the county or Atlantic county. These men all enlisted on August 30, 1862, and were mustered into service on September 26. When they went to the front they ranked as follows:
First lieutenant, John F. Tomlin, farmer.
Second lieutenant. Samuel E. Douglass, farmer.
First sergeant. James Whitaker.
Seargeants-William Ogden. Enos R. Williams, John Spalding, Edward L. Townsend.
Corporals-David Hildreth, Joseph H. Holmes, Charles G. Mills, Willoby Snyder, Malachi High.
Privates-Elmer Edwards, Reuben Smith, Adam Abrams, Henry Bennett, Henry Brown, Daniel Chambers, James, F. Chambers, James Chester, George W. Corson, James Crandol, Page R. Crawford, Joseph E. Dickinson, William . Early, Joseph Elberson, Daniel Eldredge, Charles S. El-
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THE ENLISTMENTS OF 1862.
well, George Errickson, John Errickson. William Farrow, Joseph Foster, Jesse Grace, Elias Hand, Aaron Hewitt, Fre- ling F Hewitt, John Hewitt, Gabriel H. Holmes, Francis Katts, Aaron Leaming, John D. Leaming, Joseph McCarty, William H. McKeag, Richard Nott, Jonathan Rash, Clayton G. Sapp, Martin Selover. William Smith, Charles H. Ste- phens, Charles W. Townsend, Embury Townsend, James Weeks, Elmer Willetts, Jonathan Willetts, George L. Wil- liams, Enos R. Williams, John Spalding, Alexander Corson, Edmund Y. Godfrey, Thomas D. Sayers, Elmer Taylor, Alonzo Willis, Edward L. Townsend, David Hildreth, Henry Rudolph, John Russell, David Norton, Benjamin Conover.
The occupations and professions of the members of the company were apportioned as follows: Blacksmith, 1 ; butch- ers, 2; carpenters. 7; farmers, 36; hucksters, I; cotton spin- ner I ; mason, I ; painters, 2; moulders, 2; seamen, 37; shoe- makers, 4; sheetiron workers, 2.
John F. Tomlin was promoted to captain on March 20, '63, and at the same time Samuel E. Douglass was made first lieutenant and J. Granville Leach promoted from the non-commissioned staff (sergeant-major) to second lieuten- ant of the company. Joseph H. Holmes was promoted to sergeant on December 15, '62, and Charles G. Mills on April 15, '63. Elmer Edwards was made a corporal Janu- ary 29, '63, and Reuben Smith on April 15.
Those who did not remain in service with the company until it was mustered out and the causes therefor are as follows:
Enos R. Williams-Discharged at camp near Falmouth, Va., January 29, '63; disability.
Jolın Spalding-Discharged at camp near Suffolk, Va., April 15, '63; disability; corporal August 30, '62; sergeant October 2, '62.
Alexander Corson-Discharged at camp near Falmouth, Va., January 9, '63; disability.
Edmund Y. Godfrey-Discharged at U. S. Army General Hospital, Washington, D. C., April 12, '63; disability.
Thomas D. Sayers-Discharged at Summit House U. S.
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HISTORY OF CAPE MAY COUNTY.
Army General Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa., February 4, '63; disability.
Elmer Taylor-Discharged at U. S. Army General Hos- pital, Portsmouth Grove, R. I., June 26, '63; disability.
Alonzo Willis-Discharged at Ward U. S. Army Gen- eral Hospital, Newark, N. J., March 2, '63; disability.
Edward L. Townsend-Died at hospital, Fredericks- burg, Va., December 14, '62, of wounds received in action at Fredericksburg, Va .; buried at National Cemetery, Fred- ericksburg, Va., Division A, Section A, Grave 54.
David Hildreth-Died of typhoid fever at camp near Fal- mouth, Va., December 29, '62.
Those who remained in service until the regiment was mustered out, June 20, 1863, were:
John F. Tomlin Samuel E. Douglas, J. Granville Leach, James Whitaker, William Ogden, Joseph H. Holmes, Charles G. Mills, Willowby Souder, Malachi High, Elmer Edwards, Reuben Smith, Adam Abrams, Henry Bennett, Henry Brown, Henry Rudolph, John Russell, David Nor- ton, Benjamin Conover, Embury Townsend, James Weeks, Elmer Willetts, George L. Williams, Daniel Chambers, James F. Chambers, James Chester, George W. Corson, James Crandol, Page R. Crawford, Joseph E. Dickinson, William Early, Joseph Elberson, Daniel Eldridge, Charles S. Elwell, George Errickson, John Errickson, Wil- liam Farrow, Joseph Foster, Jesse Grace, Elias Hand, Aaron Hewitt, Freling F. Hewitt, George Hewitt, John Hewitt, Gabriel H. Holmes, Francis Katts, Aaron Leaming, John D. Leaming, Joseph McCarty, William H. McKeag. Richard Nott, Jonathan Rash, Clayton G. Sapp, Martin Selover, William Smith, Charles H. Stephen and Charles W. Townsend.
Josiah Granville Leach, eldest son of Joseph S. Leach, was born at Cape May Court House July 27, 1842. He re- ceived his education in our public schools, at the classical school of Rev. Mr. Julien, and under private tutors. In his eighteenth year he began writing for the newspapers, and continued to write largely until the summer of 1862, when he enlisted in the Twenty-fifth New Jersey Volunteers, where he served as sergeant, sergeant-major and second-
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THE ENLISTMENTS OF 1862.
liutenant, receiving his promotion at the hands of Colonel Derrom, to the sergeant-majorship, for gallant conduct at the battle of Fredericksburg. For some months previous to his military service he devoted much of his time in or- ganizing soldiers' aid societies, by which he was instru- mental in providing a large amount of clothing and hos- pital stores for the sick and wounded.
On leaving the army he removed to Philadelphia, and be- gan the study of law; was graduated LL. B. by the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, and in March, 1866, was admitted to the bar in Philadelphia, where he has since continued the practice of his profession. During the summer of 1865, at the instance of S. R. Magonagle, Esq., Colonel Leach or- ganized and edited the "Cape May Daily Wave."
He has ever taken a deep interest in public affairs, and has been active in almost every political campaign since his nineteenth year, when he took the stump in support of Lin- coln and Hamlin. He is said to have been the first to for- mally present Mr. Blaine's name for the Presidency. In the fall of 1875 he was elected to the Pennsylvania Legisla- ture from Philadelphia, and served in the House during the session of 1876. Declining a renomination, he became a candidate for the Senate, but failed of a nomination. In 1878 he was nominated for the Legislature by the Green- back-Labor party, but declined the honor. In April, 1887, Governor Beaver appointed him Commissary-General of the National Guard of Pennsylvania, with the rank of colonel, which position he retained until January, 1891.
At the beginning of President Harrison's administration a strong movement was on foot to secure the appointement of Colonel Leach as Minister Resident and Consul-General to Switzerland, but before his claims were presented to the President the mission was filled by the appointment of his kinsman, Colonel Washburne, of Massachusetts. A few days later (March 18) the President appointed him appraiser of the United States at the port of Philadelphia, this being the President's first apointment in Philadelphia. The office had not been sought, but was accepted, and filled for four years with marked ability.
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