USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Uniontown > A history of Uniontown : the county seat of Fayette County, Pennsylvania > Part 49
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The Lafayette Artillerists will parade at the court house May 7, 1827, in full uniform and arms. Members will appear in white pants. James Bunton, O. S.
The 20th Regiment Pennsylvania Militia will parade as fol- lows: The First Battalion, May 4, 1827, at Smithfield. Second Battalion on the 15th at John Balsinger's. The Battalion of Fayette Volunteers will assemble for inspection and discipline at Uniontown, May 26, 1827, by order of Lieut-Col. Samuel Evans ; John O. Marsh, adjutant.
An oration was delivered on the 4th of July, 1827, by Richard Beeson, Esq., at the request of the joint committee of arrangements appointed by the Union Volunteers and the La- fayette Artillerists at Uniontown, as follows :
"Citizens and Soldiers :
Again the festival of Independence has arrived. More than half a century has rolled away since our fathers, appealing to the Lord of Hosts for the purity of their intentions, ushered into the world that immortal charter which has just been read by our venerable and much esteemed fellow citizen (Col. Alex- ander McClean).
We are now assembled in common with many millions of freemen, not to commemorate the bloody triumphs of mad am- bition, but to lift our hearts in gratitude to the Almighty Ruler of the universe, who, amidst the fall of empires and the wreck of nations, has preserved our beloved country, and enabled us this day to " sit under our own vine and fig tree, and none to make us afraid."
When last this imperishable instrument, the declaration of Independence was sounded in your ears, how deeply interesting
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and solemn were the scenes which were at that moment passing at Montecello and at Quincy! On that day, our fiftieth anniver- sary, the great day of national jubilee, "in the very hour of public rejoicing, in the midst of echoing and re-echoing voices of thanksgiving, while their own names were on all tongues," Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, the patriarchs, the conscript fathers of the republic, were winging their flight from their fields of fame to the regions of eternal bliss! For surely, " If virtue's votary, if freedom's friend be worthy of the palm and robes of white, then ye have place eternal with the blessed."
Spirits of the mighty dead! Seated at the side of the " Father of his Country," you may enjoy the reward of your philanthropy! Twin sons of liberty! Great heirs of fame ! They had accomplished their task, their earthly labors were complete. Their pure spirits were permitted to take their exit on the brightest day the sun had ever lighted, and were wafted back to the great fountain of life on the grateful aspirations of millions of their fellow beings. They have fallen full of years and full of honors. How sublime was the hour! Millions of freemen were rejoicing and lifting up their hearts in gratitude to Him who inspired the councils of the nation with wisdom in the dark and gloomy day of the Revolution. The voice of the jubilee was heard from Maine to Louisiana-from Missouri to the Carolinas. At this moment of grandeur, when twenty- four free and happy republics were united in thanksgiving- while the deep mouthed cannon waked the wilderness and shook the solid ground, it would seem as if the Most High had deigned to smile on their rejoicings and bless their jubilee.
From the vast multitude the two old patriarchs were chosen and received the reward of their labors in the service of man- kind. To them the messenger of death could bring no terrors. Calm and collected, with those who have acted well their part, they patiently awaited the inevitable hour, and at their last aspirations, remembering affectionately their beloved country, they sank into the sleep which, as to this world, knows no waking. "I have done," said the illustrious Jefferson, " for my country and for mankind, all that I could, and I now resign my soul without fear to my God : my daughter to my country."
" It is a great and glorious day indeed," said the venerable Adams. "It is, indeed, a great and glorious day, and with it will be forever and indissolubly united the names of Thomas
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Jefferson and John Adams. Consecrated to freedom, their names shall be its talismanic watchword; they shall dwell for- ever on the tongue of lisping infancy and be the rapturous theme of mature age."
Thus, fellow citizens, have these great benefactors of the human race been signally and, may we not say miraculously, gathered to their fathers. Just and benevolent in their lives, in their death they were not divided. Together they breasted the stream of the Revolution, together they witnessed the high and palmy state of prosperity at which their country had ar- rived, and at last, when the wine of life was drawn away, and its lees only remained, these apostles of liberty, having fulfilled their mission together, departed to receive their rewards. " Worn with the cares of four score years and ten, When life no more a blessing would impart, At peace with God, and deeply mourned of men, They lay them down to rest, to wake in Heaven again."
Both born to rich inheritance, and brought up in the lap of fortune, they were ushered into the theatre of the world with the certainty of distinction; yet with that moral courage which belongs to true magnanimity."
A military parade was held in Uniontown September 10th and 11th 1828. The Washington Blues, commanded by Captain Thomas M. T. McKennan ; four companies from Greene county, viz .: The Franklin Rangers, Captain Baltzell; the Cumberland Rangers, Capt. Litzenburg; the Jefferson Blues, Capt. Lindsay ; the Independent Blues, Capt. Jackson. These were joined by the Youghiogheny Blues, Capt. Rogers; the Pennsylvania Blues, Capt. McClelland; a troop of cavalry, Capt. Morris; the Lafay- ette Artillerists, Capt. Thomas Patton; and the Union Volun- teers, Capt. Richard Beeson; making, collectively, a military display magnificent and imposing in the highest degree. The whole was under the command of Colonel Samuel Evans, and the maneuvers were executed with military precision, and the utmost harmony and good fellowship prevailed.
The following lines from the pen of Captain Beeson, were written in commemoration of the occasion.
Parade ! parade !- The grand parade, With martial joy has come- The morning's dawn-the reveille-
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The gush of warlike minstrelsy, Of bugle, trump and drum.
They all are here! The waving plume, The flaunting colors sheen, The pride and pomp and circumstance Of glorious war behold advance, From Washington and Greene.
A soldier's greeting quick exchang'd, The line will form !- Parade ! ' Tis form'd-Slow wheeling on the right, A firm, broad column meets the sight, With banners high display'd.
The host moves on,-a sea of plumes, With undulating wave, Now sink-now rise, like fields of grain When zephyrs breathe along the plain- How beautiful! How brave!
To shady grove, and peaceful plain, Where hostile foot ne'er fell, (Unless, perchance, the forests' lords, Might here have pour'd their warrior hordes, And raised the battle yell.)
They marched-but not to fields of blood Where war's dread clarion roars- Ah! ne'er again may battle plain Be thine, my country, 'till, in vain The foe invades thy shore.
But may thy soldier citizens Still meet on bloodless fields, Thus, like a " wall of fire " they stand Around their much lov'd native land, Its ornaments and shield.
Now eastward, mountain, tower and town, Their length'ning shadows wave,
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The field which late with mimic war Resounding, thunder'd wide and far, Is silent as the grave !
Beneath the bright autumnal sky, The camp fires brightly glow, --- And now with welcome heart and hand, Friend meets his friend, while gay and bland, The social feelings flow.
Again the morning wakes-once more The field receives the train- Again the vollying musket pours Its flood ! again th' artillery roars In thunder o'er the plain !
'Tis hush'd-and now 'tis silence all; The parting hour is come ! ' Twas joy to meet-'tis pain to part, Yet plays there 'round the human heart A charm so sweet as home?
Ah! no,-the peasant in his cot, The monarch on his throne, Feels not a more enduring tie For which to live,-for which to die, Than this-than this alone.
On May 3, 1830, the Fayette Artillerists were called for parade at the court house, with arms in complete order for drill and inspection, James Bunton, O. S.
On the same date the Pennsylvania Blues were to drill at the dwelling house of James A. McClelland in complete uni- form and equipment and guns in bright order. And on May 10th, the Twentieth Regiment Pennsylvania Militia was to meet for drill. The First Battalion, Major Poundstone, at the house of George Hair in Smythfield. The Second Battalion to meet at the late residence of John Balsinger in German township, by order of David Gilmore, colonel.
On July 3, 1830, two celebrations were held. Captain Thomas Patton's company of artillery formed at the court house
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and marches to a grove just east of the old Baptist church, where the Declaration of Independence was read by the venerable Colonel Alexander McClean. The officers of the day were: General Henry W. Beeson, president, assisted by Andrew Bryson, and Colonel Ewing Brownfield, vice-president, assisted by John Huston. National salutes were fired by the artillery.
The other celebration held the same day was by the Union Volunteers in a grove east of the town. Refreshments were served by Harry Gilbert at 50 cents a plate. A patriotic ad- dress was delivered by ex-Captain Richard Beeson, and the Declaration of Independence was read by E. P. Oliphant, Esq. The address of ex-Captain Beeson was published in full in the Genius of Liberty, July 12, 1830.
The roll of the Lafayette Artillerists for September 18, 1833, was as follows: 1st Captain, Joseph Williams; 1st Lieu- tenant, Elisha Emmerson; 2nd Lieutenant, George Brown; Stephen Beckett, Thomas Wathen, Isaac Moore, Edward Jones, Joseph Peach, Hugh Gorley, James A. Yerk, Isaac P. Miner, Samuel Starnes, Charles Peach, Leonard Wilson, Benjamin Rid- dle, Seth Hyatt, Henry H. Beeson, Joseph H. Springer, John Beeson, John Neads, Elisha Stevens, Benjamin Stevens, Daniel Downer, Abe Griffith, James Clark, Jonathan Downer, Hiram Downer, Enos West, James McDowell, Samuel McReynolds, Robert McDowell, Benjamin Downer, John Fleming, William Jobes, Absalom White, David Bryson, George Clark, Benjamin F. Price, Levi Jacobs, Samuel Pope, Uriah Wood, Thomas Wood, William D. Beggs, James Woods, Absalom Murphy, James Piper, William B. Craft, Peter Kelley, William Middle- ton, Paul Shearer, David Ellis, Uriah Kendall, Thomas Patton.
The roll of the Union Volunteers for the same date was as follows :
Captain William Redick; 1st Lieutenant, James Veech ; 2nd Lieutenant, William Maquilken; 1st Sergeant, Joshua B. Howell; 2nd Sergeant, Nathaniel Brownfield; 3rd Sergeant, Leroy Haymaker; 4th Sergeant, William H. Whitton; Musicians : Caleb Crossland and John H. Heaton, fifers; George Sullivan and David Lincoln, drummers; Privates : Ezra Semans, Isaac Olden, Isaac Roberts, Simon Johnson, George Wiggins, William Wiggins, Joseph Waters, William Campbell, Jacob Springer, Job Springer, Harvey Springer, Joseph Fisher, Robert L. Vance, Lott W. Clawson, John W. Holland,
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Francis W. Holland, John Stewart, John Doran, John Brown- field, Moses Nixon, Patrick L. Bradley, Jacob Taylor, Ephraim B. Owings, Darlington Jefferies, James Mendenhall, Samuel Mackey, Jacob Johnson, William P. Wells, Owen Price, Wilson Minor, Andrew S. Fowley, Lewis Mobley, David Neal, Jonathan Fisher, Henry D. Skillman, Alfred Patterson, Miles J. Tiernan, Matthew Wylie, Francis Collins, Isaac Johnson, Jonathan D. Springer, Isaac Wood, William Halfstein, Isaac Sutton.
The following is a roll of members who have served seven years, according to law, and were not now on the active list : Richard Beeson, Robert C. Wood, Joseph McGee, James Bryant, William Crawford, Hugh Campbell, Robert Skiles, Andrew Stewart, William McMullen, Milton Baily, Samuel Lewis, Isaac Beeson, Elijah Craft, I. Newton Craft, Alexander Mendenhall, Hardesty Walker, Daniel P. Lynch, Jacob B. Miller, James Ebert, Benjamin Miller, William Ebert, William Bryson, Jacob Poundstone, Jesse Covert, Edward Hyde, Isaac Nixon, John Dawson, James F. Canon.
Capt. Howell and O. S. Leroy Haymaker were members of the U. S. Volunteers November 11, 1835.
Captain George Meason announced that Fayette Cavalry would meet at Brownsville to join the grand parade on the 7th, 8th, and 9th, and to bring nine rounds of blank cartridges.
Rev. William Hanna in his history of Greene county men- tions that the Union Volunteers under command of Captain Sam Austin attended a parade at Waynesburg in 1841, were armed with fence rails instead of muskets, and thus paraded the streets of the town, and at the command "order arms " the sound of the " arms " as they struck the ground resembled somewhat the sound of an earthquake.
A grand parade was held for three days, beginning August 31, 1842, at Uniontown by. the Fayette Cavalry and Union Volunteers, and the neighboring companies were invited to par- ticipate.
The Union Volunteers attended a 4th of July celebration at Morgantown in 1843. They were received by an address of welcome by Hon. Waitman T. Willey. Among those who re- sponded to toasts were: R. G. Hopwood, P. U. Hook, Wm. McCleary, W. A. Donaldson, S. S. Austin and others.
A grand encampment was held at McClelland's grove just northwest of Waynesburg in 1843. A volunteer stole a piece
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of meat. A court martial was called to try the case. Col. Joshua B. Howell, Capt. James M. Oliphant and Capt. Bradley Mahanna were the officers of the court. Capt. Sam Austin was prosecuting attorney, and various witnesses testified in the case. The attorneys made speeches, and the court found the defend- ant guilty and sentenced him to be bumped seven times against a tree, and the sentence was immediately executed, when to the surprise of all parties the accused came before the court and asked for a new trial, which the court readily granted, and at the conclusion of which the defendant was again found guilty and sentenced to receive fourteen more bumps against the tree, which was summarily executed.
The Union Volunteers marched to Greensburg in Septem- ber, 1845, to attend a parade, under the command of Capt. Sam Austin.
In 1847 a fife and drum corps was organized in the town in order to give spirit to the many military parades and cele- brations so common in those days. This fife and drum corps was composed of the following named young men: Fifers-Silas M. Baily, John Thorndell, Charles H. Livingstone, Lewis West, John Stumph and Oliver Stumph. Snare Drummers-Henry Bunting, John Rine, Charles Huston, Charles Wickersham, John R. West, and Henry McMullen. Bass Drummers-Lucius Bunting and Jefferson Miller.
A new military company was organized this same year, and in honor of Zachary Taylor, was named the Rough and Ready Guards, and of its members may be mentioned John Murphy, a brother-in-law to Harry W. S. Rigden, was captain and Amos M. Jolliffe, first lieutenant; Frank Kountz, second lieutenant ; Samuel McMullen, first sergeant. Privates-Jacob Joseph, " Paint " Lewis, Henry Prentice, James Fee, John Wood, Lew Wood, Mordecai Hunt, Huston Fisher, Henry Sullivan, Henry Shriver, Washington Smith, Huston Devan, Clark Beeson, Enos West.
The Union Volunteers paraded the streets of the town on February 22, 1848, and were addressed by Captain S. Duncan Oliphant in the Methodist Episcopal church. The address was published in full.
On the occasion of the celebration of the thirty-sixth anni- versary of the battle of New Orleans, January 8, 1851, the Union Volunteers paraded the streets and repaired to the
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Methodist Episcopal church where they were presented with a beautiful flag by the ladies of the town. An oration was de- livered by E. P. Oliphant, Esq., which was responded to on the part of the company by Lieut. Alfred Rowell.
On July 11, 1851, Captain Thomas King paraded the streets of the town with his new artillery company and big brass cannon. This cannon was borrowed from the arsenal at Pittsburgh and was to be returned upon demand. It was a six pounder and mounted on a carriage, and was used for firing salutes for many years, before it was recalled. This company must have lost its interest as Capt. King announced that he would hold a meeting at the town hall on July 11, 1857, for the further organization of the new artillery company.
A large gathering of the militia of the county was held on the Lenox fields, just north of town, in May, 1851, at which the following companies attended: The Union Volunteers, Capt. James Bugh ; the Connellsville company, Capt. J. M. Du- shane; South Fayette county, Capt. Hichman; Walnut Hill company, Capt. Ortin Frisbee; Brownsville company, Capt. Van Swarto; Wharton Blues, Capt. E. Y. Beggs; Springhill Blues, Capt. David Wrasler; the Swamp Blackbirds from Flat Woods; a cavalry company from near Merrittstown, Capt. Jesse B. Ramsey.
The battalion of infantry was under the command of Lieu- tenant-Colonel D. M. Whaley of Connellsville. The squadron was commanded by Major John S. Goe, afterwards brigadier- general of Fayette county. General R. T. Galloway was com- mander-in-chief and had his saddle headquarters in a distant part of the field and was surrounded by his uniformed staff. A sham battle was fought, and the infantry was formed into a hollow square with the color bearers enclosed. The colors were to be captured by the cavalry, and after several fruitless at- tempts and much maneuvering the flag of the Union Volun- teers was captured from James Beckett by Jeffries A. Hague of Capt. Ramsey's cavalry company. Many amusing incidents were related as having occurred at this sham battle. One of the officers displayed poor horsemanship by falling from his horse. Dave Blythe, local versifier, in writing about this sham battle said :
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JACK BEESON'S MEDAL.
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" The mimic battle scene was grand. Fought, too, as well as planned ; And sketched by some historian hand, Would most inevitably brand
The monstrous intellect that spanned Its mighty outline With immortality."
On July 4, 1857, the Cameron Union Volunteers paraded the streets for the first time in their new Uniforms, and were addressed in front of the court house by Alfred Patterson, Esq., who, in the name of Honorable Simon Cameron, presented the company with a beautiful flag and four elegant swords in recog- nition of the respect shown him. The flag and swords were re- ceived on the part of the company by its captain, Captain C. E. Swearingen. Both addresses were published in full.
Captain Thomas M. Fee received his commission as captain of the Cameron Union Volunteers from Governor William F. Packer, June 9, 1859, and held the office until the company was disbanded in 1860.
Company C, Pennsylvania Volunteers was organized De- cember 23, 1881, at which time the following officers were elected : John H. Campbell, captain; Albert G. Beeson, first lieutenant ; John K. Ewing, Jr., second lieutenant. In 1882, D. M. Bierer was appointed first sergeant and the following non- commissioned officers were named: Henry C. Diffenderffer, H. F. Detwiler, Jacob D. Moore and Charles W. Fowler, second, third, fourth and fifth sergeants, respectively. Luke H. Frasher, John N. Debolt, Thomas T. Beall, C. S. Francis, Elmer E. Ruble, Peter Lape, Alfred B. Pickard, Ewing Sembower, corporals. At the breaking out of the war with Spain Albert G. Beeson was captain. On April 25, 1908, the company received orders to join the United States Reserves and proceeded to Camp Hastings, Mt. Gretna, for enlistment. Captain Beeson was rejected on account of his age, and former Captain Daniel M. Bierer was elected. The company saw severe service in the Philippines and was given a great ovation upon its return home.
By an order issued from the Adjutant General's office at Harrisburg, December 29, 1910, to First Lieutenant Thomas P. Jones, it was ordered that the location of Company C, Tenth Infantry be changed from Uniontown to Somerset, and that all
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articles of uniforms and equipments be delivered to Captain John D. Hitchman, commissary of Tenth Infantry, and the members honorably discharged.
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
No single overt act on the part of the mother country was the cause of the struggle for independence by the American colonists, but the cumulation of a long series of causes pre- cipitated the climax.
The Act of Parliament known as the "Writ of Assistance " revealed the intentions of that body to enforce taxation upon the colonists. This act authorized the king's officers to break open any colonist's store or dwelling, and to search for and seize any foreign merchandise on which the duty had not been paid. This caused an indignation meeting to be held in Old Town Hall in Boston at which the actions of the mother country toward her American colonists were forcibly denounced and the spirit of resistance fostered.
A bill imposing duties on sugar, coffee, indigo, etc., im- ported into the colonies from the West Indies being re-enacted added fuel to the flame, and in 1765, the famous Stamp Act, which required the stamping of all legal papers, was imposed. This caused the people to again assemble and express their in- dignation in still more emphatic terms. The stamps were seized and destroyed, and the distributors insulted and dispersed, and when the time came when the law was to have taken effect, there were no officers courageous enough to enforce it.
A General Congress convened in New York on the 7th of October, which remained in session fourteen days, and which ably set forth the grievances and rights of the colonists, and petitioned the king and parliament for a redress of the former and the acknowledgment of the latter.
The first of November, when the act was to have gone into effect, was observed as a day of fasting and mourning. Funeral processions paraded the streets of the cities, bells tolled funeral knells, flags were placed at halfmast, and all business suspended.
This obnoxious act was repealed on the 18th of March, 1766, at which the merchants of London rejoiced, and in America public thanksgivings, bonfires and illuminations attested the general joy. The rejoicing of the colonists was, however, but temporary, as in the following June, a duty was levied on
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tea, glass, paper, painters' colors, etc., and troops were sent to force the collection of these duties. The East India company petitioned parliament to remove the duty on tea, agreeing to pay to the government more than an equal amount, in export duty, should the change be made.
This was the last feather laid on the back of the already overburdened camel. Indignation meetings were held in Faneuel Hall, and on the night of December 17, 1773, a party of about sixty persons, some disguised as Indians, rushed aboard two vessels lying in the harbor and threw their cargoes of tea overboard.
Parliament then ordered all ports of Boston closed against commercial transactions, and all public offices removed to Salem, but the people of that place refused the proffered ad- vantages. The colonists then began to prepare for the inevitable.
All over the land at provincial assemblies and public gather- ings the right of resistance was boldly proclaimed. The crisis came on the 19th of April, 1775, when the first blood of the revolution was spilt on the green at Lexington, where eight of the colonists were killed, several wounded and the remainder dispersed by Major Pitcairn under orders of General Gage. The spark had now been set to the tinder. The news spread over the country like a blaze. From the hills and the valleys patriots went forth by hundreds, and before the close of April an army of 20,000 men was forming camps and building fortifications around Boston.
The people of Western Pennsylvania assembled at Han- nastown on May 16, 1775, and there and then drew up a Decla- ration of Independence in which they pledged themselves to resist and oppose with their lives and their fortunes, if need be, the tyranny and oppression of the Parliament of Great Britain. And, further, they agreed to organize themselves into military bodies for the purpose of resisting any troops that might be sent to enforce the arbitrary acts of parliament : but in case the ob- noxious burdens of taxation should be removed, they as strenu- ously pledged themselves to observe the laws and remain loyal subjects of their king.
As an outcome of the Hannastown Declaration of Inde- pendence the First Battalion of Westmoreland county was raised, and John Proctor put in command. This noble band of patriots carried a rattlesnake flag bearing the significant motto
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