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 9
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One day an officer went through the prison calling out the name of John Fulton, and thinking that he had been selected as a victim for revenge, the bearer of the name, then under 21 years of age, remained silent until assured of better treatment. When making known his presence he was asked to serve as ward master of the hospital, as he had a thorough knowledge of drugs. He remained in that position until Feb. 21, 1864, when Maj. Hopkins in charge transferred him to the dispensary, where he compounded from 200 to 300 prescrip- tions daily from 7 A. M. to II P. M. Having given strict atten- tion to his duties in helping others to prolong life, he was promised transportation north with the first exchange of pris- oners, but his services were so valuable that Maj. Hopkins positively refused to release him, stating that he could accomplish more good there among his fellowmen than at the north.
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He saw a crowd of 600 infirm prisoners leave for home without him, and that made him concoct a scheme for escape. as he did not intend to remain there as a "Yankee nest egg." as Dr. Hopkins was pleased to term him. Mr. Fulton had been reduced in weight from 145 to 98 pounds, and was grad- ually wasting away from lack of proper food, hard work and anxiety. His successor in the hospital, James Furlong by name, and hailing from Michigan, assisted in the escape by having the name of his comrade entered on the list of those eligible for dismissal. As only those incapaciated for duty were released, Mr. Fulton had to assume a disguise and be examined for chronic spine disease, which he passed satis- factorily, and was assisted into an ambulance by the same Dr. Hopkins who refused to let him go, and who supposed that he was then in the hospital attending to his duties.
Comrade Fulton has promised the Publishing Committee some very interesting items from his diary, for publication in our next volume of Regimental History.
ONE OF THE BOYS IN CIVIL LIFE.
A meeting of Encampment No. 45, Union Veteran Legion. Butler, Pa., was held at the hall of the order, in the Reiber building, on Thursday evening of last week, to which the public were invited. Besides members of the Encampment and many citizens, a large detachment from St. Paul's Orphan Home was present.
The evening passed pleasantly, enlivened by patrotic songs, in which the well-tuned voices of the orphans heartily joined, and short speeches by members and guests.
Interest culminated however, in the announcement and execution of a sentence pronounced upon Major R. J. Phipps, late Commander of the Encampment. The Major was called to the front, and stood with bared head before Post Com- mander F. M. Eastman, who addressed him as follows:
"This is a serious matter. You have been tried and found guilty by a court martial of your comrades. The trial was a star chamber proceeding. You were not notified, neither were
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you served with a copy of the charges and specifications. But your presence would not have changed the result. You , were ably defended by the Judge Advocate. The indictment contains but a single charge-a single specification. Charge: False pretense. Specification: On or about the 27th day of June, 1889, and at divers times since, continuing down to January 13, 1891, the date of trial you did represent that you were nothing but a plain, ordinary, common cavalryman, which is not correct.
"Your record before the war we have heard from your own lips. Your record since the war is well known by almost every citizen of Western Pennsylvania. By your upright honorable course in civil life, you have won the respect and esteem of all who know you. Your record as presiding officer. barring this one instance, has been good. You have been found guilty, and it only remains to pronounce sentence and carry it into execution.
"There was considerable discussion about the kind of pun- ishment. One suggested that you be blown from the muzzle of a cannon; but we do not possess a cannon. . Another that you be shot to death with musketry; we don't own a single musket. That you be run through with a calvary sabre; through the generosity of the Army of the Cumberland we have the sword of the famous guerilla chieftain, John Morgan, captured and presented to this encampment by Comrade George Shaffer; but, sir, you are too good a man to be pierced by rebel steel. Like the Mikado of Japan. the Court was determined 'to make the punishment fit the crime.'
"Inasmuch as your extreme modesty was one great cause of your offence, a double punishment has been prescribed. The first part will now be administered, the balance later on. The first part is that your correct military record be read be- fore this assembly :- Robert J. Phipps, enlisted Oct. 14, 1861, as private in Co. H., 4th Penn'a Cavalry. Promoted to First Sergeant. Promoted to Second Lieutenant, March 1, 1863. Promoted to First Lieutenant, March 23, 1863. Promoted to Captain, August 1, 1864. Promoted to Major, March 7, 1865. Brevetted Lieutenant Colonel, March 13, 1865. Discharged,
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July 1, 1865, by reason of the end of the war. It is but proper to say that you were brevetted Lieutenant Colonel upon. the personal recommendation of General Philip H. Sheridan. Now comes the most desperate part of the punishment. Will Misses Kinter and Geyer, soldier's orphans from St. Paul's Home, please come forward and assist in this painful duty.
"Now, sir, it becomes my exceedingly great pleasure in the name and behalf of Encampment No. 45, Union Veteran Legion, to direct these young ladies to decorate your manly breast with this beautiful badge. Wear it as a slight token of the esteem, honor-aye, love of your comrades of Encamp- ment No. 45, Union Veteran Legion."
The badge presented was of beautiful design, and of solid gold. The gallant Major, who is a fluent and forcible speaker when not taken at a disadvantage, expressed his thanks in very few words.
The Brevet Colonelcy which crowned his military rank was recommended by General Sheridan "for gallantry on the field of battle."
SURGEON J. S. SKEELS, writes as follows:
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MY DEAR COMRADES :- It is with pleasure that I write you in regard to our past soldier life, you will bear with me because I am now old and crippled.
It would be impossible for me to relate stories of mirth; my lot and position in the army was of such a nature as to cast a cloud over the beautiful sunshine, and make the heart nearly melt with grief over the misery, pain and anguish of our beloved soldiers, as they were brought from the battle-field where they had fallen in defence of their Country. When my mind reverts back to that time, I can imagine that I see the soldier, bleeding and dying, his life ebbing and passing away; others with their limbs broken, others wounded through their mortal body in all manner of forms, and I myself engaged in dressing these various wounds and caring for the sick and afflicted. When I think of the loss of the many brave soldiers who have fallen in defence of their Country, my mind rests for a while on that of Major Mays, who lost his life at Farm-
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ville; perhaps I might say no braver soldier ever faced the rebel bullets than he, no truer man to his country for which he died, no better man to the soldiers under his command; he died as he lived, kind hearted, and yet brave. There are many others of whom I might write, did space permit.
While sickness, sorrow, death and the cold grave has closed over our loved comrades, obedient sons of loyalty, affectionate husbands, dear fathers, and filial brothers; then you understand as the God-given arch on the cloud is born of sunshine and of storm, so our present and most hallowed joys sometimes span the vale of deepest sorrow.
My comrades, may the day be far distant when our altars shall cease to bear the lights of perpetual brotherhood; far distant when the widow and orphan shall appeal in vain for aid at our hands; far distant when the ties of army life shall have been forgotten. May the memory thereof be perpetuated as is the glorious old Fourth day of July 1776, when our fore- fathers declared this country a free and independent nation, and who so bravely fought for seven long years to obtain this American Independence which we enjoy to-day, and have enjoyed for the last one hundred and fourteen years. And let us not forget this great union of states which, as a nation has grown and prospered for about eighty-four years, unmo- lested, and the rights of American Citizenship not denied any- one. And let us now be willing to forgive our erring brethern who attemped to dissolve this great union of states and tear down that glorious old flag which was an emblem of American Liberty and Freedom,-liberty of speech, liberty of thought. and freedom for all true American Citizens. This glorious old flag, handed down to us by our forefathers, was by us protected, although it has been stained by the blood of brothers and used as a winding sheet for the sons of America and a swad- ling cloth for the dying, yet we done honor to our forefathers and protected that flag until now it floats over these United States, honored and respected by all nations, without a single stripe erased, or a single star obscured. It was for the pro- tection of this glorious old flag, and for the preservation of this Union, that we went forth at the call for men, and faced the
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enemy amidst flying bullets, thinking more of our country than our lives. And now my comrades the war is over, right has prevailed, the Union of states restored, and we have so nobly preserved the Constitution of the United States, that justice demands that we should be honored for so doing.
I hope I may live to meet with you at future reunions; but, if my time should come to join the host of soldiers who have passed over the River of Jordan, during and since the war, remember me as one who went forth at my country's call, to preserve this glorious Union, and to render such med- ical assistance to the sick and wounded as my professional skill afforded.
A SUGGESTIVE RECORD.
SHOWING WHAT CAVALRY REGIMENTS DID THE MOST FIGHTING DURING THE WAR.
The following official record of the number of engage- ments in which the regiments named below participated, in which losses occured, will be found of interest. In each case the figures given are those of the regiment whose official record among the regiments of the State is the highest, as stated in regimental records:
First Maine, St; Fourth Pennsylvania, 77; Eighth Illinois, 76; Tenth Missouri, 76; First Massachusetts, 72; Second Ohio, 65; Fourth Iowa, 64; Sixth Michigan, 63; First Vermont, 61; First Arkansas, 57; Second Kansas, 56; First West Virginia, 53; Tenth New York, 50; Third Indiana, 50; First Wisconsin, 45; First Maryland, 44; Sixth Kentucky, 35; First New Jersey, 34; First Rhode Island, 27; First Connecticut, 27; Fourth Tennessee, 20 .- National Tribune.
Seven Company Corresponding Secretaries report a list of 83 additional killed and wounded together with 88 names of comrades not recorded in Bates' History of Pennsylvania Volunteers.
Our next volume will contain Revised Rolls of each Company, including a complete list of the killed, wounded and captured and those who died in prison.
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COMPANY CORRESPONDING SECRETARIES.
Co. A .- W. J. BOYD, - Co. B .- R. H. McMUNN, - - Allegheny, Pa.
Mauch Chunk, Pa.
Co. C .- J. H. LEASHER,
- Pleasant Unity, Pa. Latrobe, Pa.
Co. D .- JAMES OGDEN, - Co. E .- HENRY M. KERR, - - Boston P. O., Pa. Philadelphia, Pa.
Co. F .- H. J. HAMBLETON,
Co. G .- JOHN W. MOORE,
Co. H .- A. M. BEATTY,
- Pittsburgh, Pa.
Dempseytown, Pa.
Co. I .- ALEX. FRAZIER,
- Cooperstown, Pa.
Co. K .- J. R. GRANT,
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Franklin, Pa.
Co. L .- ABNER J. PRYOR, - -
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Rockland P. O., Pa.
Co. M .- L. C. DARTE,
-
Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Copies of this book can be had by addressing Capt. W. K. Gillespie, Nos. 52 and 54 Seventh Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa. Price 75 cents per copy.
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