USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > Gettysburg > A brief history of the Fourth Pennsylvania Veteran Cavalry, embracing organization, reunions, dedication of monument at Gettysburg and address of General W. E. Doster, Venango County Battalion, reminiscences, etc > Part 1
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Gc 973.74 P38pem 1757825
M. L
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
GC
E ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00825 0984
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012
http://archive.org/details/briefhistoryoffo00penn
A
(BRIEF HISTORY
OF THE 4th FOURTH
Pennsylvania Veteran Cavalry,
EMBRACING
ORGANIZATION, REUNIONS, DEDICATION OF MONUMENT AT GETTYSBURG AND ADDRESS OF GENERAL W. E. DOSTER, VENANGO COUNTY BATTALION, REMINISCENCES, ETC.
PUBLISHED AT PITTSBURGH, PA.
EWENS & EBERLE, BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS, COR. FOURTH AVENUE AND WOOD STREET. 1891.
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1757825
549 3249
Pennsylvania cavalry. 4th regt., 1861-1865.
A brief history of the Fourth Pennsylvania veteran cavalry, embracing organization, reunions, dedication of monument at Gettysburg and address of General W. E. Doster, Venango County battalion, reminiscences, etc. Pittsburgh, Pa., Ewens & Eberle, printers, 1891.
113 p. 233em.
SHELF CARC.
1. U. S .- Hist .- Civil war-Regimental histories-Pa. cav .-- 4th. I. Doster, William Emile, 1837-
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2-15692
Library of Congress
£527.6.4th ta21d1)
74424
FOURTH
UNSYLVANIA
CAVALRY
X
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"Fling out our Country's banner wide, Our emblematic, starry gem ; Our Union never shall divide, While floats the silken diadem. Year after year the brilliant stars Shall indicate the strength of all ; Let all beware of civil wars, Her patriot's wound, and traitor's fall." M.
71424 = 83 41. 8249
INTRODUCTION.
COMRADES : - A beginning has been made towards the accomplishment of the end sought, namely, a complete history of the regiment. This can only be done through your hearty co-operation-and not otherwise. The history of this grand organization is largely locked up in your memories, and we want the facts which you can furnish to make this enterprise a success. By publishing each year the proceedings of our reunions and making them replete with fact and incident of the part borne by you, and having access to all the records on file, we shall be able, in time, to commemorate in history the valor and patriotism of the men who gave themselves, unreservedly, to the cause of their country in its hour of peril. and perpetuated, one and indivisible, the Union of the States in a grand and glorious compact, which insures to all the most perfect freedom of conscience and action as good citizens of the grandest republic of the world. Trusting that this venture will be received in the spirit which has actuated the Commit- tee in its preparation, we send it forth as the first number of a history which will be continued as long as there are members of the Fourth Pennsylvania Veteran Cavalry left to compile and read it, and thus leave to our children something to inspire true loyalty in their hearts and the satisfaction of having the deeds of loved ones on record.
PUBLISHING COMMITTEE.
PROPOSED HISTORY OF FOURTH REGIMENT PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
The object of publishing such a work is to place on perm- anent record marches, battles and experiences of the officers and men who composed this regiment.
DEAR COMRADE :-
We have been employing some of our time in searching for matters and documents relating to the Fourth Regiment. We want a complete record of its progress from time of its organization to its muster out.
Will you answer the following questions ? sending same to J. B. MAITLAND, Historian, Oil City, Pa .:
When and where did you enlist ? When and where mustered out ?
Were you drafted or a substitute ?
Were you in any battles or skirmishes ; when and where ? Note any acts of bravery, wounds received, and where ?
Were you in any rebel prison ?
Where were you captured ?
Do you know of any comrades dying in prison ? Name place and date.
When and where were you paroled ?
Were you promoted while in the army ?
If you were promoted, to what position ? Were you on detailed duty ? If so, when and where ? What is your present address ?
We trust you will reply promptly and fully, so we can make a complete history. Now, don't lay this aside ; it is to your interest to attend to this at once.
Yours truly,
PUBLISHING COMMITTEE.
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HISTORY
OF THE
FOURTH PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
ORGANIZATION.
The Fourth Cavalry was recruited in compliance with authority granted by Governor Curtin, dated September 4th, 1861. Company A was recruited in Northampton County; B, E and G in Allegheny County; C and D in Westmoreland and Indiana Counties; H, I. K and L in Venango County; F in Lebanon County, and M in Luzerne County. The companies rendezvoused at Camp Curtin; were transferred from there to Camp Campbell, on Meridian Hill, Washington, D. C., where the men were mustered into the United States service, and were organized in three battalions of four companies each. The State colors were presented by Governor Curtin, in per- son, on the 20th of September, 1861, and were received on behalf of the Regiment by the Commading Officer, David Campbell.
Original enlistment (1861) 1,006
Re-enlisted and recruited 924
Total enrollment 1,930
Mustered in from August 15th to October 30th, 1861.
Mustered out July Ist, 1865.
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BATTLES
Participated in by the Fourth Pennsylvania Veteran Cavalry, as shown by the records of the War Department : -
MECHANICSVILLE.
NORTH ANNA.
GAINES' MILL.
GROUND SQUIRREL CHURCH. GLEN ALLEN STATION.
GLENDALE.
MALVERN HIL.L.
YELLOW TAVERN.
ANTIETAM.
BROOK CHURCH. HAWES' SHOP.
HEDGESVILLE. UNION.
OLD CHURCH.
UPPERVILLE, Nov. 3, 1862.
COLD HARBOR.
MANASSAS GAP.
TREVILIAN STATION.
MARKHAM STATION.
MACON'S HILL.
LITTLE WASHINGTON.
ST. MARY'S CHURCH.
GAINES' CROSS ROADS.
PETERSBURG.
WATERLOO. FREDERICKSBURG.
WARWICK SWAMP.
KELLY'S FORD.
LEE'S MILL.
RAPIDAN STATION.
DEEP BOTTOM.
CHANCELLORSVILLE.
REAM'S STATION.
STEVENSBURG.
POPLAR SPRING CHURCH.
MIDDLEBURG.
FALL'S CHURCH.
UPPERVILLE, June 21, 1863.
WYATT'S FARM.
GETTYSBURG.
BOYDTON ROAD.
GREEN OAK.
STONY CREEK STATION.
SHEPHERDSTOWN.
BELLEFIELD.
NEWBY'S CROSS ROADS.
HATCHER'S RUN.
MUDDY RUN.
DINWIDDIE COURT HOUSE.
CULPEPPER.
PAYNE'S CROSS ROADS.
SULPHUR SPRINGS.
AMELIA SPRINGS.
BRISTOE STATION.
SAILOR'S CREEK.
KILPATRICK'S RAID.
FARMVILLE.
WILDERNESS.
APPOMATTOX.
SPOTTSYLVANIA.
and 16 additional engagements, making a total of 77 battles and skirmishes, in which the Regiment lost in killed and wounded :
STRAWBERRY PLAIN.
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CASUALTIES.
Killed and died of wounds
Died of disease . 230
Died of other causes 25 Wounded 224
Captured or missing 271
Total casualties. 851
About 100 additional members were killed and wounded, of which no record is given.
FIRST REUNION.
Pursuant to a call made August 10th, 1875, members of the Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, residing in Allegheny County, convened and organized a society for the purpose of effecting a permanent organization of all the surviving mem- bers of the regiment.
The following officers were elected to serve until the first reunion would take place, and adopt a Constitution and By- Laws :
PRESIDENT, COL. A. P. DUNCAN,
VICE PRESIDENT,
- MAJ. D. C. PHILLIPS,
REC. SECRETARY,
C. P. SEIP, M. D.,
COR. SECRETARY, - J. J. GREEN, M. D.,
TREASURER, -
ALEX. MATCHETT, ESQ.
On September 17th, 1875, nearly two hundred members of the Regiment convened in Pittsburgh at the first reunion. The meeting was called to order by Col. A. P. Duncan ; the Constitution and By-Laws were then adopted, and the follow- ing officers were elected to serve during the ensuing year :
PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, REC. SECRETARY, COR. SECRETARY,
TREASURER, -
MAJ. W. N. BIDDLE,
MAJ. J. C. PAUL,
ISAAC MILLER, ESQ.,
- J. J. GREEN, M. D.,
W. H. COLLINGWOOD.
S
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE :
COL. A. P. DUNCAN, MAJ. D. C. PHILLIPS, CAPT. HUGHES.
HISTORIAN, C. P. SEIP, M. D.
Orations were then delivered by Col. J. S. Haymaker and others, in Turner Hall, from which the Regiment adjourned to the St. Charles Hotel, where a banquet was participated in by all concerned, after which the society adjourned to meet at the call of the Executive Committee.
CONSTITUTION.
ARTICLE I. S
TITLE.
The name and title of this association shall be the SOCIETY OF THE FOURTH PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
ARTICLE II. OBJECTS.
The objects of this society shall be to perpetuate the memory of the Fourth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry; it fortunes and achievements. To promote and maintain the kindly and cordial feelings which should exist between men who have faced dangers and hardships in the same cause, and to collect and preserve proper memorials of our fallen comrades.
ARTICLE III.
MEMBERS AND HONORARY MEMBERS.
Any officer or soldier who at any time served honorably in the Fourth Penn- sylvania Cavalry is entitled to membership.
Officers and soldiers who became distinguished in other regiments or com- mands, and distinguished citizens, may be elected to honorary membership.
ARTICLE IV. ORGANIZ .. TION.
This society shall be organized by the annual election of a President, a Vice- President, a Corresponding Secretary, a Recording Secretary, and a Treasurer.
ARTICLE V. MEETINGS.
The society shall meet once a year. The time and place of next meeting to be selected by ballot at each meeting.
All members unable to attend personally, at any meeting, are expected to notify the Corresponding Secretary, and to impart such information in regard to themselves as they may think proper, and as may be of interest to their brethren of the society.
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BY-LAWS.
I. All meetings of this society shall be opened by prayer.
II. Every officer and soldier desiring to become a member of this Association, shall pay to the Treasurer thereof an initiation fee of the sum of one dollar, and the sum of two dollars as yearly dues thereafter, by which he shall be presumed as subscribing his assent to the Constitution and By-Laws, and shall thereupon be entitled to a copy free of charge. Such dues to be payable at, or before each annual reunion.
III. Any member who shall be in arrears for dues for a period of two years, shall be dropped from the rolls.
IV. All moneys paid out by the Treasurer shall be on the written order of the Recording Secretary, endorsed by the President; and at each annual meeting the Treasurer shall make a full report of his receipts and expenditures.
V. At each annual meeting the President shall appoint a committee of three members, not officers of the society, to audit all claims against, and accounts of the society.
VI. When the place of the next annual meeting is fixed, the President shall appoint an Executive Committee of three ( 3 ) members, residing at or accessible to the place of meeting, whose duty it shall be to make all needful preparations and arrangements for such meeting.
VII. No member shall speak more than once on any matter of business, and no longer than five minutes without consent of the society first obtained.
VIII. At each annual meeting there shall be selected, in such manner as the society shall determine, a person to deliver an address at the next annual meeting.
IX. No petitions for the relief of members shall be circulated at the reunions. Such cases shall be reported to the society, and relief ordered out of any funds not otherwise appropriated.
X. ,At any annual reunion the Constitution or By- Laws may be amended by a vote of two-thirds the members present.
Our first General Order :
GENERAL ORDER No. 1.
MAJOR J. B. MAITLAND, EsQ. :
SIR :- You will please remit to W. H. Collingwood, Treasurer, No. 715 Liberty Street, Pittsburgh, Pa., the amount of enclosed bill, at your earliest convenience, as it is not only desirable, but necessary, that the Regimental Organ- ization be thus fortified and equipped as soon as practicable, in that it may imme- diately advance in good order to prepare for the forthcoming annual reunion. Where it may be possible to do so, remit by Post Office Order, Registered Letter. or by a Draft on a Pittsburgh Bank; and, on receipt of the amount of enclosed bill from all those who are not already members of the Association, their names will be immediately enrolled as such.
You will please forward to C. P. Seip, M. D., Historian, No. 636 Penn Ave- nue, Pittsburgh, Pa., a succinct statement of all historical events and incidents con-
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nected with the history of the Regiment, of which you may have some memoranda. or personal recollection-the object of which is to be able to compile, from the mass of information thus contributed by individual members, an elaborate, authentic, and complete History of the Regiment, ranging from its organization to its disbandment. All diaries, documents, or scraps of history in whatever shape. will again be returned to their owners, if by them desired.
You will please communicate to J. J. Green, M. D., Corresponding Secretary. No. 2530 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa., your own address in full, and in plain and legible handwriting, together with the addresses of all the members of the Regi- ment of which you may be cognizant, or which you may now, or hereafter obtain; and, when you, at any time, shall have changed your place of abode, you are requested to thereupon notify the Corresponding Secretary of the fact, and to again communicate to him your address in full as before.
By order of Executive Committee,
ISAAC MILLER, Rec. Secretary.
MAJ. W. N. BIDDLE, President.
PITTSBURGH, PA., September 25th, 1876.
SIR :- The Annual Reunion of the Fourth Pennsylvania Veteran Cavalry, will be held at Franklin, Venango County, Fa., on October 12th, 1876. The fare from Pittsburgh and intermediate points, as far as West Penn Junction to Franklin and return. will be only Four Dollars for the round trip. Train leaves Union Depot, Pittsburgh, at S:25, P. M., on October 11th, and returning arrives at Pitts- burgh at 6 o'clock, A. M., on Friday, October 13th, 1876.
Please notify Corresponding Secretary by return mail, if you will be present. Present this Card when you apply for ticket at R. R. Office.
Address,
By order of Executive Committee. DR. J. J. GREEN, Cor. Secretary, No. 2530 Penn Avenue, PITTSBURGH, PA.
PITTSBURGH, PA., September 28th, 1876
DEAR SIR :- The second Annual Reunion of the Fourth Pennsylvania Vet. Cavalry, will be held in Franklin, Venango County, Pa., Thursday, October 12, 1876. As a large delegation is expected from Pittsburgh, we earnestly request all the members of the Regiment in and about the Oil Regions to be in attendance.
By order of Executive Committee,
Address,
J. J. GREEN. M. D., Cor. Secretary, No. 2530 Penn Avenue, PITTSBURGH, PA.
II
SECOND REUNION.
The second reunion was held at Franklin, Pa., October 12th, 1876. The town was finely decorated for the occasion, and the display of bunting was large. Flags were waving from all the principal stores on Liberty Street, while a grand Centennial flag was stretched across the street near the Court House. In the profuse display of decorations on any patriotic occasion, Franklin leads all the towns in this section.
At an early hour the guests arrived and gathered in the rooms of the Sportsmen's Club. A business meeting was held here and the following officers elected for the coming year : President, Captain John P. Barr ; Vice President, Captain W. M. Shortts; Corresponding Secretary, Lieutenant L. D. Davis ; Recording Secretary, Captain J. R. Grant ; Treasurer, Lieu- tenant C. S. Mark. Post A. B. McCalmont, No. 160, G. A. R., from Oil City, was present and joined with the veterans in their reunion.
At the conclusion of the business meeting, the veterans, about eighty in number, and Post A. B. McCalmont, escorted by the Venango Greys and Greys' Band, proceeded to the Soldiers' Monument. The veterans presented a fine appear- ance with their soldierly bearing, and the Venango Greys, under the command of Captain Wiley, made a favorable impression. At the monument arms were presented, heads uncovered and a few moments passed in honor of the dead. when the procession returned to the Association rooms.
At 5 o'clock a grand banquet was given at the Exchange Hotel, at which many of the prominent citizens of Franklin were present. When each one had satisfied himself with the excellent spread an adjournment was made to the Association rooms. A business meeting was held, at which the following resolutions were passed :
Resolved, That the thanks of this association are hereby tendered to J. Mor- ton Hall, General Ticket Agent, and the officials of the Allegheny Valley Rail- road, for the favors shown the society at this reunion.
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Resolved, That we heartily thank the Venango Greys, the Venango Grey's Band and Post General A. B. McCalmont No. 160, G. A. R., of Oil City, for their courtesy and attention to this Association.
Resolved, That we return our thanks to the Sportsmen's Club of Franklin, for their kindness in allowing this Association the use of their rooms.
Resolved, That these resolutions be published in the Oil City Derrick and Franklin papers.
The following persons were also made honorary members of the Association : Captain James B. Clew, Pittsburgh ; John H. Covode, West Chester ; William Collingwood, Pitts- burgh ; E. M. Biddle, Pittsburgh ; Mrs. Jane Welton, Frank- lin ; Marshall Kerr, Kerrtown ; Capt. John A. Wiley, Frank- lin ; J. Morton Hall, Pittsburgh.
The Pittsburgh delegation consisted of Maj. W. N. Biddle, John T. Ewens, William H. Collingwood, Major J. C. Paul, Adjt. J. E. B. Dalzell, Capt. W. K. Gillespie and Isaac Miller.
At the conclusion of business the members marched to the Court House, escorted by the Venango Greys and Band .. While the veterans were passing through Liberty Street can- non were fired and loud cheers given. A good audience gath- ered at the Court House to listen to the address of Capt. C. E. Taylor. He spoke as a soldier to soldiers ; referring to the fitness of such reunions, and the memories they stirred in a soldier's heart. We give below the synopsis of his remarks :
ADDRESS OF CAPT. C. E. TAYLOR.
COMRADES OF THE FOURTH PENN'A CAVALRY :-
While I hardly know how to find words to express my gratitude to you for the honor you have done me in asking me to address you, I can, at the same time, truthfully say, I do not know when you could have called upon me that I could not more nearly have done justice to you and myself. My mind has been full of so many matters for the past month or two, that it seemed to me when you first asked me to address you, that I must peremptorily refuse. But my love for the old regiment got the better of my judgment, and I reluctantly consented to try and say something about our old associations ; for of all the associations of my life, none are dearer to me to-day than those formed during my connection
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with the noble old Fourth. Looking away back so many years, I can hardly remember of a single man in that whole command, that I could not have taken by the hand and called him my friend and brother-all bound together by the most sacred ties-ties woven by mutual hardships, dangers and privations, into the most tender and affectionate relations pos- sible for man to form. Yes, the associations formed by us at a time when all the restraints of home were taken off, though rude and unpolished in many respects, were associations of the heart-associations which only death can obliterate, and even after death, in that bright world beyond the stars, I firmly believe that the associations formed at Gaines' Mill, Antietam, Gettysburg and other fields where death, in its most horrid form became your comrade, will be renewed again, and that when renewed they will continue throughout the countless cycles of eternity. You may think this an extravagant thought ; but it is a most beautiful one to contemplate, and I believe that our anticipation of such a happy reunion, will not only be fully realized in that far off and unknown land, but will make us purer and better here. There are no friends like those who have faced death together, and no associations like those formed in the " imminent deadly breach." * *
The lights and shadows, joys and sorrows, trials and dis- appointments of more than fifteen years have glided past, since our first Colonel, David Campbell, received authority from the Governor of the State to recruit and organize the regiment, afterwards known as the Fourth Pennsylvania Cav- alry. This was the formation of our union. To create that union its very basis was necessarily disunion, and every department, every relation of life was ruthlessly invaded. Long years of union in the varied pursuits of life were dissolved; business ruined, and fortunes wrecked ; political ties and life- long friendships like gossamer threads were snapped asunder; even the sacred precincts of the altar were no protection, and consequently the church dissolved the union of nearly half her members. The domestic circle was also invaded, and in the severing of that union of the family at home was felt the sharpest, keenest pang-the very agony of despair. The
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father bade his boy a long good-by ; sister from her brother parted, maiden from her lover, the wife gave up her husband, and with the severing of these ties, years of bright hopes and happy anticipations were blasted into life-long misery and sorrow. The gray haired mother sank upon her knees, as from her very soul in agony was wrung the prayer :- " If it be possible let this cup pass from me ; if not, Oh, God of battles, protect Thou my pride, my darling boy." Truly, our Union was born in sorrow, baptized in tears, cemented with blood ; and from the very depths of human suffering and woe, it gathered strength for its many fearful struggles and sacrifices. Under such circumstances was the union of our regiment formed. Its object I will not dwell upon. Suffice it to say, it was not that we might learn the art of war, and surely it was not a mercenary object. Thirteen dollars a month for being made a target was not a luxury sought by any. Oh, no; it was an object, grand, noble and worthy of our loftiest aspira- tions and most costly sacrifices. It dealt with the vital inter- ests of the whole human race, for all time to come, and stamped its impress upon the records of eternity.
But this union has left its impress upon us all. Yet, who among us, if he could, would exchange for a King's ransom, or for aught that wealth could purchase, the experience and knowledge, that brings to each, the heartfelt satisfaction of knowing the fact, that he was one who in some measure helped to bring about the grand result. Nay, I tell you there was more of duty well performed, more of sacrifice, more of life, more of death, and more of grand results crowded into that four years of our union, than seldom falls to the lot of man, in thrice the three score years and ten. During these fifteen years that have elapsed since the union of our regiment was formed, what a wonderful transformation has been wrought ! What changes have come over our country, our homes, our- selves. Many who, at the breaking out of the war, were in the first years of young manhood, are now in the full prime of their strength, and many of us who were then at the zenith of ripe manhood are now beyond the crest of the hill, and gray hairs and stooping forms admonish us that we are rapidly descending into the valley. Of the hundreds of men whose
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names then appeared on the rolls of our regiment, and who entered the service with all the hope and ambition of true patriots, how few are with us to-day! Out of more than eighteen hundred names that appeared on our rolls during the time the regiment was in the service, but comparatively a . small number survive to reap the benefits that their heroism and fidelity secured. The history of the regiment shows that it took part in 77 battles, besides numerous skirmishes. From Mechanicsville, where, on the 26th of June, 1862, it fired the first volley on the advancing enemy, to the final surrender at Appomatox Court House, it was almost constantly on duty.
When its three full years of service had expired, it was one of the few regiments that preserved its name and organ- ization by re-enlisting in a body. The men who composed the Fourth Cavalry were not ready to depart for their homes even when their term of service had expired. They knew their country still needed them at the front, and although they could have returned to their homes with all honor, yet, like true patriots, like men who prized the interest of their imper- illed country above all other considerations, they remained at the front, battling for the right, for the cause of humanity, for the integrity of the Union, until the last enemy of the country had thrown down his arms, and peace was declared through- out our wide domain. "Three years or during the war," was the services you agreed to render your country. But at the the expiration of that time, although you had stood every privation which fall to the lot of the soldier, you were still ready to try it for three years more. Thoughts of home were brushed aside along with the unbidden tear those thoughts were parent to, and you refused to listen to the pressing call of business, or social relation. The wants of your country were paramount to all else, and was the only consideration which impelled you to make the second sacrifice. Such lofty, such impartial patriotism is seldom to be found in any land.
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