USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Wilkes-Barre > A history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania : from its first beginnings to the present time, including chapters of newly-discovered early Wyoming Valley history, together with many biographical sketches and much genealogical material. Volume IV > Part 40
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Over one hundred residents of the Lehigh Valley lost their lives, property damage ran into the millions and more than forty million feet of lumber was set adrift. The company, dealt a staggering blow by this misfortune, rebuilt a portion of its canal from Mauch Chunk to Easton but never attempted the re- construction of its slackwater system where total destruction was more in evi- dence, from Mauch Chunk to White Haven. Cut off, for a time, by the destruct- ion of this link in a transportation system eastward from Wilkes-Barré, the com- munity was eventually to gain more than it lost by the hastening in construction of an all-rail route, paralleling the once pretentious slackwater system and gaining entrance to the Wyoming Valley by the circuitous mountain grade still in use.
CHAPTER XLVI.
OUTBREAK OF THE CIVIL WAR-UNPREPAREDNESS OF PENNSYLVANIA- WYOMING ARTILLERISTS AND OTHER LOCAL UNITS MERGE TO FORM LUZERNE'S FIRST SERVICE REGIMENT-SUCCESSIVE CALLS OF PRESI- DENT LINCOLN-RECRUITMENT OF WYOMING'S MANY VOLUNTEER COMPANIES-ROSTERS OF THEIR MEMBERS-INVASION OF PENNSYLVANIA-GRANT ASSUMES COMMAND-TIDE
OF THE CONFEDERACY TURNS-THE STRATEGY OF FINAL CAMPAIGNS-APPOMATOX.
LINCOLN AT GETTYSBURG
The whole world came to hear him speak that day And all the ages sent their scribes to see
And hear what word the new land had to say Of God and man and truth and liberty. Homer was there and Socrates and Paul, Shakespear and Luther, Pitt, Cavour and Bright,
With Washington-staunch friends of freedom all;
Nor did he fail; he lifted there a light
For all the earth to see, from fires of truth That surged within his breast. Yet that crude throng
Of men knew not that through the man uncouth God spake as through old prophets, stern and strong.
They turned away, these men, but angels bent From Heaven to hear those flaming words, God-sent. -T. F. Clark, in Master Mason.
To turn abruptly from events of local import to the wider field of national affairs seems a natural procedure at this point.
However important to the community was the establishment of utilities and banks, however impressive may appear figures of population and trade, however significant might prove the activities of its citizens in building on firm foundations of community progress, all were to be overshaded by events of world wide significance which were to turn a young and vigorous nation from the pursuits of peace into the path of the bloodiest civil war of history. A record of
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the war years of the early sixties is, of necessity, a narrative of patriotic endeavor, of the recruitment of war organizations, of the movement of troops and of the desperate efforts of a nation to preserve its integrity. In all war activities the Wyoming valley was to share. Never had its patriotic impulses been more deeply stirred nor its responses to the call of the nation more generous and general. It was to learn, as was the country at large, the huge cost of unpreparedness and the heavy toll imposed by national slothfulness in refusing to maintain some form of military policy. It was to find that the community's three regiments of ninety day volunteers who responded promptly to the call of President Lincoln, were to disband before a single question at issue had been settled. When the conviction came that the contest was to demand the sacrifices of years rather than months, the community set itself to the vital task of providing men and more men, treasure and more treasure.
When the hosts of Lee invaded the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Wyoming steeled itself to whatever fate the God of Battles might decree, con- vinced of the righteousness of a cause and unwavering in its allegiance to prin- ciples involved. Many men living when this is written retain vivid impressions of those stirring times. From the narrative of these, from records of the Common- wealth and from newspaper accounts of the period, an effort will be made in this Chapter to set down, in sequence as far as possible, the story of Luzerne County's splendid war time achievements.
The year 1861 opened gloomily. Mutterings of an approaching storm of civil discord were plainly discernible. In the midst of this portentous over- shadowing, Governor Andrew G. Curtin, on January 15th, took over the helm of state. In his inaugural, he took occasion to declare "that Pennsylvania will, under any circumstances, render a full and determined support of the free institutions of the Union."
On February 17th the house passed a series of resolutions approbatory of Governor Hicks of Maryland and pledging to that state the support and fellow- ship of Pennsylvania. In Wilkes-Barré, as elsewhere, meetings were held for the avowal of similar sentiments.
Threatening as was the danger, no one anticipated that it would break forth so suddenly nor that it would grow to such fearful proportions as in a brief time it assumed.
When, on April 12, 1861, Fort Sumter felt the impact of the first overt act of war, Pennsylvania was wholly unprepared for events which so rapidly de- veloped. Her volunteer soldiery system had fallen into decay.
What few militia organizations then held place on the rolls of the Adjutant General were the subject of burlesque, and a distaste for military service in any form had followed a long period in which the nation had been at peace. Yet nowhere throughout the country did the actual commencement of hostilities produce a deeper resentment than in the Keystone state. On April 15th, President Lincoln called by proclamation seventy-five thousand militia from the different states to serve for three months. Requisition was made on Pennsylvania for fourteen regiments. On April 18th, Camp Curtin was formally established in the suburbs of Harrisburg, being the first military rendevous created north of the Susquehanna. To it flocked men from all portions of the Commonwealth. Indeed, by the end of April, not alone the required fourteen regiments were organized there and sent into the field, but recruits sufficient to organize eleven
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additional regiments reported. These became the nucleus of the Pennsylvania Reserve which became famous as the only well organized and diciplined body of reserve troops in the north ready for actual service at the moment of the disaster of the first Bull Run.
On April 30th, Governor Curtin called a special session of the legislature to consider a better establishment for the militia, for the passage of financial measures and the assumption of a military debt already created.
The legislature acted with alacrity, and on May 15th, provided for the organization of the Reserve Corps consisting of thirteen regiments of infantry and one each of cavalry and artillery.
Pennsylvania's promptness was indeed vital to the national government. On April 18th, the governor obeyed a frantic appeal from the national capital for troops and sent forward the Ringgold Battery of light artillery of Reading, the Logan Guards of Lewistown, the Washington Artillery and the National Light Infantry of Pottsville and the Allen Rifles of Allentown; these organiza- tions, comprising five hundred and thirty men all told, being considered the best equipped for immediate service of those which had volunteered thus early. The Pennsylvania contingent, which barely escaped a mob's fury at Baltimore en route, composed the first military organizations from any state to reach Washington. Under the call of July 1, 1861, for three year volunteers, Pennsyl- vania sent into service forty-three regiments of volunteers aggregating forty thousand, three hundred thirty-eight men. The speed and intelligence with which Pennsylvania handled her troops elicited the warmest acknowledgments of a hard pressed war department through which President Lincoln sent his personal thanks to Governor Curtin.
That Pennsylvania's heart was in the war and that its governor sensed dangers of invasion through a display of an aggressive policy of the Confederacy at the second disaster of Bull Run, was indicated by his initiative in securing permission from President Lincoln in September, 1862, to raise an additional defense quota for the state of fifty thousand men. Under provisions of this emergency call, twenty-five regiments and four companies of infantry, fourteen unattached troops of cavalry and four batteries of artillery were immediately organized and hurried to the Maryland border.
The year 1863 gave cause for an even greater alarm throughout Pennsyl- vania. It was apparent that the strategy of capable Confederate leaders called for an invasion of the north in the hope of ending the war by decisive action.
Early in June, 1863, Pennsylvania was divided into two military depart- ments; that of the Susquehanna under General Couch and the department of the Monongahela under Gen. W. T. H. Brooks. On June 12th, when General Lee's intentions became known, Governor Curtin called upon the entire man power of the state to defend its borders.
The thousands who left home in answer to this call understood that their services were demanded for an emergency only, but, upon arrival at Harrisburg, the Federal government refused to enlist any for a shorter period than six months. Conflicting opinions arose to such height that Governor Curtain was requested to enlist troops for the emergency under state colors alone. His refusal to com- ply was due, as he wisely reasoned, to a danger of a conflict of authority. Eight regiments and one battalion of infantry were, however, organized from those
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who were willing to enlist for a period of six months. Thousands of others, unwilling to enlist for that period, were on their way home when the Governor, on June 26th, issued a second call, prescribing ninety days as a limit of service. The invasion of Pennsylvania was imminent. Once more the rush to Harrisburg began, but before the ninety-day volunteers could be gotten in readiness for action, the battle of Gettysburg had been fought and the threatening tide of the Confederacy turned back.
Proudly did the Commonwealth bear itself through the four years of conflict, and generously did it pour forth men and means to sustain the federal cause. The year 1861 sent one hundred three thousand, five hundred ninety-four of its sons into the field. In the year 1862, seventy-one thousand, one hundred more were enlisted. A total of forty-three thousand, forty-six followed in 1862 and in 1864, ninety-one thousand, seven hundred four obeyed various calls. The final call of the President, December 19, 1864, added twenty-five thou- sand, eight hundred forty more recruits in the early months of 1865; a total of two hundred seventy regiments aggregating three hundred eighty-seven thou- sand, two hundred eighty-four troops as Pennsylvania's contribution to the greatest of all civil conflicts.
The secession of states, beginning with South Carolina, December 1, 1861, and concluding, February 1, 1861 with that of Texas, the last of the seven con- stituent commonwealths of the Confederacy, had, in some measure, prepared the public mind in the Wyoming valley as indeed it had throughout Pennsyl- vania, for even more startling events which were to follow.
The military training of a younger generation of the manhood of Luzerne County had sunk to a low ebb. Only a few organizations, usually officered by veterans of the Mexican war, had preserved even the outward form of military bodies. The connection of these with what few larger militia units the state possessed was merely nominal. The Wyoming Light Dragoons preserved a precarious existence with headquarters at Wilkes- Barré. The Jackson Rifles held occasional drills at Pittston. At White Haven a loosely organized com- pany styled the "Yagers" turned out at irregular intervals for muster. In Wilkes-Barré, the Wyo- ming Artillerists had in- termittently been disband- ed and reorganized since their eventful career in Mexico. From 1855 to 1860, the Artillerists had been commanded by Capt. E. B. Harvey, whose en- thusiasm had brought it REUNION OF SURVIVORS OF WYOMING ARTILLERISTS JULY 3, 1878 to a tolerable state of efficiency. In the elections of 1860, Captain Harvey was succeeded in com-
WYOMING YAGERS AT WILKES-BARRE
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mand of the local organization by Capt. Edmund L. Dana* who thus found himself at the early stage of the Civil War at the head of the same unit with which he had seen active and distinguished service in the Mexican campaign of 1848.
Captain Dana retained his title with the Artillerists only a few months. In the Fall of 1860, he was elected Major General of the loosely organized militia division comprising such organizations as then existed in Columbia, Montour, Luzerne and Wyoming Counties. That he left the local command in a state of preparedness for its subsequent career in the field is indicated by newspaper mention of target practice held at Mill Creek on June 6, 1860, when its marks- manship was favorably commented upon and Oliver Parsons and Martin Frey were pronounced its best shots. Capt. A. H. Emley succeeded General Dana in command of the Artillerists, but, upon arrival of the company at Harrisburg, Capt. Emley was elected Colonel of the 8th regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, whose history is later to be considered. Edwin W. Finch succeeded Captain Emley in command of the Artillerists when it became a part of the 8th Regiment.
The Wyoming Yagers, first organized at Wilkes-Barré in 1843 and composed of German residents, many of whom had received military training before migrating from the country of their birth, was another organization in existence at the outbreak of the Civil War. Capt. George N. Reichard, long associated with the Yagers, was in command when that organization was mustered into Federal service.
Membership in all the units mentioned above was based rather on qualities of sociability than on military requirements, yet they were the only organizations the county possessed. Each, with commendable promptness, placed its services at the disposal of Governor Curtin.
All, as will later be seen, were to find a level in the maelstrom of war, but, in each case, they were to lose their individuality of title and be merged as com- panies of larger units of regiments made up wholly or in part of citizens of Luzerne County.
To assist in recruiting these and other organizations to war strength and to stir the patriotic impulses of the county to the point of making such sacrifices as the occasion seemed to demand, a general meeting of citizens was held in the recently completed court house on April 26, 1861.
Hon. Hendrick B. Wright was called upon to preside at this meeting and a lengthy program of addresses followed on the part of the county's most gifted orators, irrespective of political opinion held by them. Large sums of money were pledged for the care of families of volunteers; bonuses of twenty-five dollars for ninety day volunteers and fifty dollars for three year enlistments
*EDMUND LOVELL DANA'S career, both in military and civil life, was fraught with interesting experiences. He was born in Wilkes-Barre, January 29, 1817. Two years later his father, Asa Stevens Dana, removed with his family to Eaton, near Tunkhannock, where Edmund was reared as a farmer lad. He assisted at the farm during summer, and at winter attended a country school a few months. When fifteen years of age he entered the old Wilkes-Barre Academy, and in the year 1835 entered Yale College as a sophomore. In three years he graduated and immediately after took up the occupation of a civil engineer on the North Branch Canal. He remained at this business for about one year, when he entered the office of Hon. Luther Kidder, then of Wilkes-Barre, as a law student. April 6, 1841, having completed his studies, he was admitted to the bar of Luzerne County. He immediately took charge of the extensive law practice of George W. Woodward, who was just then appointed president judge of the Fourth Judicial District. For four years thereafter he practiced law in this and Wyoming Counties.
In 1842, when the "Wyoming Artillerists" were organized in Wilkes-Barre, Francis Bowman, captain, Mr. Dana was elected first lientenant. Soon after this Capt. Bowman was elected to the office of inspector of the Second Brigade, Pennsylvania Militia, and Lieut. Dana was elected to the vacant captaincy. When the United States Government sent out a call for troops to aid in prosecuting the Mexican War, Captain Dana was among the first to respond to the call. December 3, 1846, the company of one hundred twenty-four men embarked for Pittsburg, the Pennsylvania starting point for the seat of war. The citizens of this city were loath to see them depart and at a public meeting General Dana was presented with a handsome sword. When they arrived at Pittsburg, snow and ice covered the ground and the weather was intolerably cold. Thirty of the men joined other companies, ninety-four forming a com-
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were offered; desks were placed at the disposal of recruiting officers and the meeting ended in a fervor of patriotic enthusiasm of a character not unfamiliar to the present generation, in whose minds are vivid memories of similar gather- ings and similar sentiments connected with the World war.
The impulses of Luzerne County needed but little stimulation. On all sides volunteers came forward, many of them starting for Harrisburg without waiting for the recruitment of local units. Of Pennsylvania's quota of fourteen regiments under President Lincoln's call for ninety day enlistments, the 8th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers was allocated to the district of Northeastern Pennsylvania and all but one of its eight companies were recruited within the boundaries of what was then Luzerne County.
The Wyoming Light Dragoons became Company C of this regiment, the Wyoming Artillerists became Company F, and the Jackson Rifles of Pittston were merged with the Wyoming Yagers at Wilkes-Barré to form Company G. The overflow of recruits from Wilkes-Barré were organized as Company D.
Of the remaining local companies of the regiment, Company B was re- cruited at Moscow, and companies E and H were recruited at Scranton, these three being later accredited to Lackawanna County after its separation from Luzerne.
The various companies of the regiment were mustered into Federal service on April 23rd and immediately proceeded to Harrisburg where its field and staff officers joined it. With but little opportunity for further organization, the regi- ment was sent to Chambersburg where it was assigned to the Third Brigade, Second Division of Pennsylvania troops. After guarding forts along the Potomac and performing other duties in connection with protecting the borders of the Commonwealth, the terms of enlistment of its members ended and the regiment was returned to Camp Curtin for muster out. Many of its companies re-enlisted almost to a man, and most of its members were to see hard and bloody service in other organizations composed of units recruited from the disbanded 8th Regiment.
pany. The Artillerists were known as Co. I. First Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. December 22, 1846, they left for New Orleans. January 16th they started for Vera Cruz. Capt. Dana distinguished himself in the siege of that city, and was one of the men assigned to receive the surrender of the city of San Juan, D'Ulloa. April 18, 1847, in the battle of Cerro Gordo, his company, at the side of Gen. Scott, assisted in capturing a large part of the Mexican force and dispersing the remainder. He received special mention for bravery at the siege of Pueblo and for leading the charge of El Pinal Pass. July 20, 1848, after brilliant service, his company was mustered out of service at Pittsburg, when the treaty of peace was signed. The citizens of Wilkes-Barre tendered them a hearty ovation on their arrival home. Each member of the company was looked upon as a hero. Judge Conyngham delivered an eulogistic address.
Capt. Dana resumed the practice of law. In 1851 he was defeated for Congress by Hon. John Brisbin. Ho.1. Charles R. Buckalew defeated him for the office of State Senator in 1853.
In the Fall of 1860, Captain Dana was elected major general of the Ninth Division, Pennsylvania Militia, from the counties of Wyoming, Montour, Luzerne and Columbia. In the summer of 1862, he was appointed by Governor Curtin commandant of a camp of organization in Kingston Township, known as Camp Luzerne. ] He was elected colonel of the 143d Regiment, recruited at this camp. On November 7th, the regiment broke camp and proceeded to Washington, from which place, after some duty, they went to the front, arriving at Belle Plain Camp, February 17, 1863, where the regiment became part of the First Army Corps. On the 20th they saw their first active service, when they crossed the river below Fredericksburg. On the night of May 2nd, on the march to Chancellorsville, they were exposed to a brisk firc. The woods were full of rebels and many of the men were left behind dead or wounded. Colonel Dana's regiment was the first regiment of the corps of infantry to reach the field of Gettysburg, preced.n; the battle July Ist, the brigade was stationed on the ridge, opposite the Seminary, and Colonel Dana's regiment formed on the line of the railroad. The brigade commander was killed and the charge devolved on the colonel. The fire was terrific. The rebel fire burst on every side, and the men, one after another, fell on the field of battle. The brigade was forced to take its position near the cemetery. Colonel Dana cheered his command throughout that protracted struggle, walking on foot from one end to another, and from him the soldiers caught an inspiration that made them heroes on the battle field. General Longstreet's charge on the afternoon of the third was terrific and the brigade lost half its num- ber in killed and wounded. After this Colonel Dana led his command in pursuit of the Confederate army. He was taken prisoner May 5, 1864, with a large number of his officers and men in the Wilderness campaign. He was conveyed to Orange Court House, to Danville, to Macon, Ga., and then to Charleston, where he was one of fifty officers who were placed under fire in front of the Union guns for some breach of the rules of war by the Federal Government. Their prison life was one continual torture, occasioned by rough treatment and insufficient food. Major Raymond, of the Confederate Army, a class mate of Colonel Dana at Yale, heard of their sufferings and during the remainder of their prison life they fared better. The party was exchanged August 3, 1864, and Colonel Dana resumed his command before Petersburg. Ile was in many battles and adventures after this, when, after a brief term of service in the North, the regiment was mustered out June 12, 1865. He received many favorable notices from his superiors to the war department. Although in command of a brigade, he still retained the title of Colonel, until some time after his im- prisonment, when his distinguished services were becoming known, the error was corrected, and he was brevetted Brigadier-General. He was mustered out August 23, 1865. Some one has said of him that his record as a soldier surpassed that of any other individual in Northern Pennsylvania.
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Field and staff officers of this, Luzerne County's first service regiment of the war were:
A. H. Emley, Wilkes-Barré, colonel; Samuel Bowman, Wilkes-Barré, lieutenant colonel; Joseph Phillips, Pittston, major; Joseph Wright, Wilkes-Barre, adjutant; Butler Dilley, quarter- master; Benjamin H. Throop, surgeon; H. Carey Parry, assistant-surgeon; T. P. Hunt, chaplain.
Members of the four companies of the Sth recruited from the Wyoming valley, were as follows:
COMPANY C. STH REGIMENT, WILKES-BARRÉ
Officers .- William Brisbane, captain; Joseph Wright, first lieutenant; John B. Conyngham, second lieutenant; Lyman R. Nicholson, first sergeant; William J. Fell, second sergeant; Beriah S. Bowers, third sergeant; William C. Rohn, fourth sergeant; Treat B. Camp, first corporal; Samuel B. Hibler, second corporal; Albert M. Bailey, third corporal; Edwin S. Osborne, fourth corporal; Thomas J. Schleppy and Joseph W. Collings, musicians.
Privates .-- Andrew J. Crusan, Edward H. Chase, William H. Cook, Daniel Clossen, Andrew Clossen, George B. Carey, Orlando Deitrick, William G. Downs, Elisha A. Dailey, Joseph H. Everett, Peter Gray, Jacob Gregory, Willett E. Gorham, James Harvey, John Humble, Andrew J. Hughey, George Hoover, James D. Harris, Burtis Irvin, George W. Jumper, Charles Keller, Patrick Kearney, George W. Kelley, James Kelley, Isaiah Kizer, William Moser, Charles McWilliams, Daniel W. McGee, Norman McNeil, John McCormick, Roderick McFarlane, John Powell, John Piper, Joseph W. Patten, Alexander Puterbaugh, Wil- liam A. Partington, Samuel H. Puterbaugh, Richard Prideaux, John Reymer, Stephen D. Robbins, Adam Robbins, Miles Reel, George A. Reese, Wesley Rittenhouse, David L. Rohn, Charles Rennard, Jacob Remmel, James A. Raub, William W. Rines, Giles E. Stevens, Nathan Schoonover, Charles F. Stevens, Henry Stroh, Frank Smith, Samuel Stookey, Isaac Tripp, Pres- erve Taylor, William H. Vanscoten, George E. Waring, William H. Ward, Jr., Daniel Wood, Lazarus S. Walker, William W. Watson, Alex- ander Youngst.
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