USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Uniontown > A history of Uniontown : the county seat of Fayette County, Pennsylvania > Part 52
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" Uniontown, Pa., Jany. 11, 1847. Col. William Redick :
I leave today for Mexico; I therefore resign my commission as captain of the Union Volunteers. I deeply regret I could not carry it in the battles of my country, but I am compelled to a lay it down. I trust I shall never have a successor willing to enjoy it peaceably while his country is at war.
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Respectfully Yours,
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Samuel S. Austin."
Mr. Austin secured an old musket that had belonged to one of the military companies of Uniontown, and a knapsack on which he had lettered the following: "The Third Pennsyl- vania regiment. A man fighting on his own hook." Thus ac- coutred, Captain Austin followed the company into Mexico.
The Genius of Liberty of January 14, 1847, contained the following announcement: " For Mexico-Our chivilrous friend, Capt. Sam. S. Austin, left this place for Mexico on Monday last (Jan. 11, 1847). The captain having failed to get his company accepted, determined to assist the arms of his country upon his own hook, and at his own expense. So, fully uniformed and armed to the teeth with rifle, pistols and full of knives, this brave knight set out upon his errand of glory to fight the
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enemy in his own way. We may rest assured of hearing of him in the coming fight."
A letter written by Capt. Austin to his father dated Orleans, February 14, 1847, states : " I am very glad I have no company to muster into Mexico. I am fully satisfied that no peace nor pleasure would follow a thinking captain who would lead a company of good men into such service. Let it suffice to say that the United States are not able in the first place to make the service bearable. Second, they don't try to ease the suffer- ings and privations of the army. Third, it is the axiom that regret is the only conclusion of the best who go. I telegraphed the secretary of war from Pittsburgh, and if the present ten regi- ment bill passes I could get my men mustered into the regular service for the war or for five years. I would not do it for any consideration. I know all they would suffer by theory. As for myself it is different. I fix my own time to stay ; direct my own movements, and thus avoid some of the objections that make a soldier's life worse than a dog's. I have, I believe, a constitution to stand much. I can live in a hard place easy. I have an itching to be in and see a big fight. I have no fears. My present intention is to see the grand fight, or stay till I am satis- fied there will be none. I shall then return home, and I know and feel determined I shall cast off my old shell and put on business. I feel I can make money, and I am determined I will.
The Second Regiment left here last Friday destined for the Island of Lobos, sixty miles south of Tampico to wait, drill, season and stand ready for the siege or attack of San Juan de Ulua. I know this to be the next fight intended now by govern- ment. I shall have two shares in that fight. First; for credit- another for safety. I hope how soon it may be, as I think it will be the last wag of the war hammer. I shall come home at least immediately after, if I survive. I hope to get my passport today and leave tonight or tomorrow."
Captain Austin was lustily cheered as he entered camp at Vera Cruz and made his intentions known.
Upon the death of Col. Roberts his remains were prepared for transmission home, as before related, and Jesse B. Gardner and others secured a small cannon from the hall doorway at the hall of the Montezumas and secreted it among the charcoal in the box enclosing the coffin of Col. Roberts. In this way it was conveyed to Pittsburgh, at which place it was kept until the
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arrival of the company. It was the intention of the company to bring this little cannon home as a souvenir from the land of the Actecs. On coming up the river from Pittsburgh to Browns- ville, this cannon, which was about three feet long, was tied to a stanchion on the boiler deck of the boat; and salutes were fired all the way up; being loaded to the muzzle and rammed with a sledge hammer. The rebound would send it to the end of the cable and among the boilers.
At Pittsburgh the returning company was met by Captain Austin and others, and on the Brubaker hill, coming out of Brownsville, the cannon was loaded for another salute. The breech was placed against a wall and Captain Austin stood astride of it and ignited the priming with his lighted cigar. The wall prevented the rebound of the gun and it exploded into frag- ments, one of which tore through the groin of the captain, severing the arteries. He was conveyed to the Workman House where he soon bled to death. His wife was sent for, but before she arrived at his side his spirit had departed. His remains were brought to his late home on Morgantown street, from whence the funeral was held amidst every demonstration of sorrow.
WAR OF THE REBELLION.
South Carolina took the initiative in the secession of the States. In November, 1860, on the day following the general election of that year, an extraordinary session of the legislature of that State was held. Members of both houses of congress from South Carolina made treasonable speeches at the capitol of that State, and the Legislature authorized a convention of delegates for the purpose of declaring the State separated from the Union, and taking measures for maintaining what they called the " Sovereignty of South Carolina." On December 20, 1860, they adopted the following " Ordinance of Secession ":
" We, the people of the State of South Carolina, in conven- tion assembled, do declare and ordain, and it is hereby declared and ordained, that the ordinance adopted by us in convention on the 23rd day of May, in the year of our Lord 1788, whereby the constitution of the United States of America was ratified, and also all acts and parts of acts of the general assembly of this State ratifying the amendments of the constitution, are hereby repealed, and that the union now subsisting between
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South Carolina and other States, under the name of the United States of America, is hereby dissolved."
This action on the part of South Carolina was speedily im- itated by the politicians of the States of Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina and Tennessee.
Upon the announcement that Fort Sumter had been fired on and had fallen into the hands of the rebels, the president called for seventy-five thousand men to suppress the rebellion. Uniontown promptly responded by the formation of companies to enter the service of their country. So readily and enthusiastic was the response that on the 21st of April, 1861, only six days after the president's call, the first company, then known as the " Fayette Guards," ninety-eight strong, including officers, under the command of Captain S. Duncan Oliphant, left Uniontown for Pittsburgh, where they were soon mustered into the service for three months-a term, which at that time, was considered ample for the crushing of the rebellion.
Of this company were: Captain, S. Duncan Oliphant; First Lieutenant, Jesse B. Gardner; Second Lieutenant, Jesse B. Ramsey; Third Lieutenant, Henry W. Patterson; Sergeants : First, John Bierer; Second, Henry C. Dawson; Third, James H. Springer ; Fourth, Peter Heck; Corporals: First, B. L. Hunt; Second, O. P. Wells; Third, J. O. Stewart; Fourth, Joseph White. The company was recognized and mustered in as G company of the Eighth Reserve regiment. After being in camp at Camp Wilkins and Camp Wright the regiment left on the 20th of July for Washington where they went into camp at Meridian Hill.
During the six or seven weeks next following the presi- dent's call, a company of cavalry was raised by Captain William A. West. Of this company sixty-seven were Fayette county men, but as the Pennsylvania quota was already filled, the company was joined to the First Cavalry regiment of West Virginia. This company left Uniontown June 25, 1861, and was escorted out of town by the Home Guard under the command of Major Absalom Guiler. This being the third company to leave the town for the war.
In the Third Regiment of West Virginia were: Captain C. E. Swearingen; Lieutenant, H. C. Hagan; Second Lieutenant,
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C. B. Hadden. Upon the organization of the regiment Captain Swearingen was elected major and Lieutenant Hagan promoted to the captaincy. This company served creditably during the war.
Of the Eleventh Reserve regiment or Fortieth Pennsylvania regiment, Company F was recruited at Uniontown. The original officers were: Captain, Everard Bierer; First Lieuten- ant, Peter A. Johns; Second Lieutenant, John W. Deford. This regiment left Camp Wright July 24, 1861, and arrived at Wash- ington on the 26th.
On the first day of August, 1861, Joshua B. Howell, Esq., was commissioned by the Secretary of War to enlist a regiment of infantry in this locality for the term of three years, unless sooner discharged. This regiment was to be known as the Eighty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers. Ten companies enlisted from Fayette, Washington, Greene and Somerset counties com- posed the regiment. On October 12th the regiment was organ- ized by the election of Joshua B, Howell, colonel; Norton Mc- Giffin, lieutenant-colonel; Absalom Guiler, major; and Andrew Stewart, adjutant. The regiment left Uniontown November 20th, and arrived at Washington on the 22nd and went into camp at Bladensburg, and went into winter quarters at Camp Good Hope. This regiment served valiantly until the expira- tion of their time, when about one hundred and fifty members re-enlisted for three years further service or during the war, and became known as the detachment of the Eighty-fifth, and continued in the service until they witnessed the surrender of Lee at Appomattox, April 9, 1865. The regiment was dis- charged at Pittsburgh, November 22, 1864.
Besides the above mentioned, Uniontown was represented in the following regiments in the war of the rebellion: The Second Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery ; Fourteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry ; Two Hundred and Twelfth Pennsylvania Heavy Ar- tillery ; One Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers ; Sixty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers; One Hundred and Fortieth Pennsylvania Volunteers; Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry ; One Hundred and Forty-second Pennsylvania Volun- teers; First West Virginia Cavalry; One Hundred and First Pennsylvania Cavalry; and the U. S. Navy. Contributing, in all, about three hundred of her boys to the service.
Drafting into the service was commenced in September,
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1862, with E. B. Dawson as commissioner and Dr. Hugh Camp- bell as examining surgeon for this district, and on the 15th of October over six hundred men were drafted from Fayette county.
The army was disbanded the 1st of June, 1865, and 786,000 men and officers were mustered out of service. The whole number employed in the service was 2,656.553, of these 1,490,000 were in actual service. Nearly 50,000 were killed on the field, and about 35,000 mortally wounded, and over 184,000 died of disease in the hospitals and camps. The total loss on both sides has been estimated to reach fully 1,000,000 able-bodied men.
An encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic to be known as Post No. 180 of Uniontown, Fayette county, Pennsyl- vania was chartered April 6, 1869, with John Bierer, A. C. Nutt, S. M. Baily, James H. Springer, Peter Heck, J. K. Combs, George B. Rutter, N. H. Divvens, H. C. Diffenderffer and R. A. McClean as charter members. This charter was signed by O. C. Bosbyshell, Grand Commander.
The William F. Stewart Post No. 180, Grand Army of the Republic was chartered May 20, 1880, with the following charter members: A. G. Beeson, Henry White, R. A. McClean, James C. Whaley, J. D. Moore, Stewart Starns, George B. Rutter, John H. Marshall, George W. Bowie, Thomas B. Whaley, C. H. Livingstone, Jacob S. Miller, William Hall, A. M. Litman, Jacob Prettyman, H. C. Diffenderffer, Crampton Williams, John Nickleson, William Kern, James Collins and William Searight. The charter was signed by Chill Hazzard.
The Fayette County Veterans' Association, composed of the surviving soldiers of the various wars, residing in Fayette county, was organized October 17, 1901.
WAR WITH SPAIN.
The oppression practiced upon her Cuban subjects by Spain was so grievous and so long continued that not only the Cubans were crying out against it but the civilized world stood aghast at the spectacle.
The sobs and wails of the suffering subjects ascended to the ear of Him who hears the cries of the oppressed, and the ap- peals of these sufferers came to the hearts of the Christian people of the United States with irresistible force.
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The religious press appealed to the people, and commis- sions informed the head of the government as to the conditions so near our door. Feeling became intense, and demands were made that Congress and the Executive take steps to alleviate the conditions of our neighbors.
Spain looked with enmity upon the sympathy and assist- ance the suffering Cubans were receiving from the United States, and seeing the hand writing on the wall, their feelings were given vent in belligerent expressions. As a matter of " friendship " the battleship Maine was ordered to Cuban waters, where she peacefully lay at anchor in the harbor of Havana for three weeks, where her officers and those of the Spanish government exchange friendly greetings. On the night of February 15, 1898, the Maine was blown up, killing two officers and two hundred and sixty-four of her crew. Indications pointed to a diabolical plot, and a Court of Inquiry was appointed on the part of the United States to make inquiry into the cause of the explosion. This Court of Inquiry made a report March 21st, stating that they were unable to obtain evidence fixing the re- sponsibility for the destruction of the Maine upon any person or persons. Notwithstanding the report of the Court of Inquiry, it was the belief of the masses that a mine had been intentionally exploded by the Spanish authorities, and the Maine with her crew of precious souls wilfully destroyed.
On March 8, 1898, Congress appropriated $50,000,000 for national defense, and on April 20th, the same body resolved that it is the duty of the United States to demand, and the government of the United States does demand that the govern- ment of Spain at once relinquish its authority and government on the island of Cuba and withdraw its land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters; and on April 23rd, the president issued a proclamation calling for 25,000 men, and on April 25th, Congress passed a bill declaring that war existed between the United States of America and the kingdom of Spain and had existed since April 21st.
The exigency of the case justified the ordering of the North Atlantic squadron to Cuban waters, and on April 22nd, the Cuban ports were blockaded, and on the first day the steamship Beuna Ventra, a merchantman flying the Spanish flag, was captured by the Nashville. This was the first victory of the war, although a bloodless one.
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Two days before the declaration of war Morro Castle opened fire on Sampson's fleet, but the distance being so great, and the shots falling short, they were not returned by the ships. On April 27th, Matanzas was bombarded, and on May 19th, while the American navy was guarding the northern ports, Admiral Cervera with his Spanish fleet, slipped into the Harbor of Santiago. On June 6th, the fortifications of Santiago were bombarded by Sampson and Schley, and on the 20th 3,000 American troops were landed on Cuban soil at Barquere under the command of General Shafter.
Cervera's fleet, after having been held in the harbor of Santiago de Cuba for six weeks, was utterly destroyed by the American fleet July 3, 1898, and Santiago surrendered on July 14th, and the first detachment of Spanish troops sailed for Spain September 20, 1898.
General Miles landed at Porto Rico and Ponce on the 25th of July and these places surrendered to him on the 28th, and the Island of Porto Rico passed formally into the possession of the United States, and the stars and stripes were hoisted over San Juan at noon, October 18, 1898.
LIST OF UNIONTOWN BOYS WHO SERVED IN THE WAR IN CUBA.
William Cunningham, Hart Moore and Joe South were members of Battery A, Second Artillery, U. S. A., which was known as Grimes' Battery.
They landed at Beaquairi and were stationed four miles from San Juan and four miles from Santiago. This battery fired the first gun of the battle of July 1st, and this battery fired the last salute after the surrender of Santiago. These boys ar- rived home April 25, 1898, after a service of three years.
Practically the same conditions and discontent subsisted among the Spanish colonists of the Philippine Islands as existed on the Island of Cuba and called for the same remedy, viz .: That Spain relinquish her authority and government in the Philippine Islands and leave the inhabitants to self-government.
The same chord of sympathy that had vibrated to the suf- ferings of the natives of Cuba vibrated to the deprivations of the natives of the Philippines.
In response to the call of humanity and at the outbreak of hostilities between the natives and those in authority, Admiral George Dewey, of the United States navy was placed in com-
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mand of a squadron of war ships and ordered to the Philippine Islands, where he arrived on April 29, 1898. He entered Manila Bay on the night of the 30th, and destroyed the Spanish fleet on the following day. The Spanish army confined itself within the city and blockhouses, and hostilities were suspended be- tween the Americans and the Spaniards until July 31st.
Among the land forces sent to the Philippine Islands was the Tenth Regiment of the Pennsylvania Infantry which had been taken from the National Guards and was mustered into the United States service on May 11th and 12th, 1898, at Mount Gretna, Pa. Its military organization dates from the summer or 1873 ; but as a regiment it was not mustered into the State service until December of the same year. Alexander L. Hawkins, senior regimental commanding officer of the National Guards of Penna. was commissioned colonel February 27, 1879, at the time being captain of Company H of Washington, Pa.
The several companies of the Tenth Regiment, on the morning of April 27, 1898, concentrated at Pittsburgh and Greensburg, and arrived at Mount Gretna on the 28th, and were mustered into the United States service by the 12th of May. The regiment started across the continent May 18th, and arrived at San Francisco May the 25th, and went into camp at Camp Merritt, and on the afternoon of June 14th, em- barked aboard the U. S. Transport Zealandia, under the com- mand of Brigadier-General Francis V. Greene, and the next day passed out the Golden Gate on the voyage to Manila, accom- panied by the Senator, the Colon and the China. The regiment arrived in Manila Bay Sunday, July 17th, and disembarked on the 21st and went into camp at Camp Dewey, six miles south of Manila, after a sea voyage of 7,300 miles. The first expe- dition, consisting of California troops, having sailed on May 25th, and arrived at Manila on June 30th.
A third expedition sailed on June 29th, with General Merritt in command, and reached Manila on the 25th of July.
The battles of Santiago and San Juan were fought on July 1st, and the Amercan flag was hoisted over Santiago on the 17th.
The battle of Malate, an outskirt of Manila, was fought on July 31st, and was the first engagement in which the Tenth took a part, and in which they were the principal sufferers. In this engagement it is estimated that not less than 100,000 rounds of
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ammunition were expended by the enemy, and about 60,000 by the United States troops, the Tenth alone using 37,000 rounds. In this engagement the Tenth lost six killed and twenty-nine wounded. In his report Brig .- Gen. Greene commended the gal- lantry displayed by the Tenth in this engagement.
On August 13th, Malina and Malate were bombarded and captured by Merritt and the articles of capitulation signed on the 14th, and the peace protocol was signed at Washington later. The terms of peace proposed by the United States were that the Spanish sovereignty be forever relinquished in the West Indies; that the United States have a coaling station in the Ladrones, and would occupy Manila Bay and harbor, as well as the city, pending the government of the Philippines. The Spanish government to relinquish all claims of sovereignty over the Island of Cuba, as well as the immediate evacuation by Spain of the Island; the cessation to the United States and im- mediate evacuation of Porto Rico and other islands in the West Indies, and the like cession of an island in the Ladrones.
On September 6th, the Evacuation Council arrived at the Harbor of San Juan and General Brooke entered the city the same day.
On December 10, 1898, the treaty of peace between the United States and the kingdom of Spain was signed.
The disaffected Philippinos sought surcease from Spanish rule and desired self government, and had earnestly hoped that by the friendly aid of the strong arm of the United States they might accomplish this happy result, but to their chagrin they discovered that the war had assumed more the aspect of a change of rulers than the desired change of self government.
General Aguinaldo was chosen to lead the insurrectoes in their efforts to secure political independence and on February 4, 1899, he had moved his forces up to the blockhouses prepara- tory to an attack on the Americans. On the 5th a general ad- vance was ordered, the Tenth being directed to advance upon and capture the Chinese hospital from which they succeeded in driving the enemy after a stubborn engagement, and succeeded further in driving him from the De la Loma church and block- house. Here the Tenth remained until the 25th of March. From here the Tenth was ordered to advance to the north in pursuit of the enemy, fighting all the way to Malolos, which capitulated
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March 31st. The Tenth lost thirty-eight men in the advance from Malina to Malolos, where they remained on outpost and guard duty until April 14th, when they were ordered to Manila and from there to Cavite.
The time of enlistment having expired, on June 22nd, the Tenth was ordered to embark on the Transport "Senator " for the United States for muster-out at San Francisco, but their departure was delayed until June 29th and 30th, and the vessel sailed on July 1st.
Colonel Hawkins died at sea July 18th, and the " Senator," flying her colors at half-mast, arrived at San Francisco Bay August 1st. The troops disembarked on the 3rd, and went into camp at Camp Presidio, and were mustered out of the United States service on August 22, 1899, after a service of sixteen months.
The Tenth left San Francisco on the evening of their dis- charge in company with a committee from Pittsburgh that had been sent to meet them and furnish transportation to Pitts- burgh, where they arrived August 28th and were given a grand reception at Schenly Park by the citizens of Pittsburgh.
Company C arrived at Uniontown on Tuesday, August 29, 1899, and forming into line, marched to the fair grounds, north of town, where a throng had assembled to give them a hearty welcome. R. F. Hopwood, Esq., delivered the address of wel- come, after which a banquet was given in machinery hall. After the banquet the company and citizens again assembled in the grand stand where Judge Nathaniel Ewing made a most able address in which he eulogized the gallantry and services of the company, and on behalf of the citizens of Fayette county, presented Captain Bierer and Lieutenants Howard and Wood each a costly and elegant sword, and to each member of Com- pany C a beautiful gold medal on one side of which was the lettering, Company C, 10th Pa. Vol., presented by the citizens of Fayette county, Pa. On the reverse side was the name of the recipient, followed by "Philippines, Malate to Malolos, 1898-1899."
The body of Colonel Hawkins arrived at his late home in Washington, Pa., on the 10th of August and on September 1st funeral services were held on the campus of Washington and Jefferson college and amidst the greatest demonstrations
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of sorrow the remains were interred in the Washington cemetery.
FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATIONS.
From the time the Continental Congress declared that " These United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States," and the glad news of the signing of the Declaration of Independence was heralded abroad, the Fourth of July has been the red letter day in the history of this nation, and has properly been observed as a day of rejoicing and thanksgiving by a free and independent people. The demon- strations of the observance of this day naturally partook of a military character, and were heralded by the booming of cannon, the unfurling of flags and shouts of joy. Uniontown was never found wanting on Fourth of July occasions. Celebrations of the day were always held with more or less demonstrations, and those who had shared in the privations and struggles for inde- pendence took a leading part until their number was depleted. Colonel Alexander McClean was usually chosen to read the Declaration of Independence, the military companies would parade, and the citizens would resort to convenient groves where patriotic speeches were made and sumptuous repasts served. Captain Hugh Gorley, who had served as an artillerist in the war of 1812, took a leading part in the early celebrations and military demonstrations, and usually had charge of the artillery in ushering in the day.
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