Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 42

Author: McKee, James A., 1865- ed. and comp
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1526

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

1863, it crossed the Rappahannock at Franklin's crossing under a heavy artil- lery fire, and was present at Chancellors- ville, where it was assigned the extreme right of the line. Its terms of enlistment having expired, it was ordered to Harris- burg and mustered out on the 25th of May, 1863.

Company D of this regiment was or- ganized in Butler County, and had George W. Hays for its captain. The lieutenants were William Harvey, John B. McNair, and Matthew N. Greer.

Company F was recruited in the west- ern part of the county by Capt. Henry Pillow. The lieutenants were Origen G. Bingham, Cyrus O. Kingsbury, and John Lemmon.

Company G was recruited by Capt. Allen Wilson, and has for its lieutenants Robert Storey and David Conn.

George H. Graham of this company was promoted to quartermaster of the regi- ment August 28, 1862. W. H. McCandless of Butler County served in Company B of this regiment.

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-NINTH REGIMENT. (FOURTEENTH CAVALRY.)

The Fourteenth Cavalry was recruited in August and September, 1862, as a three years' service regiment, and was mus- tered into the United States service No- vember 24th, with James M. Schoonmaker, colonel; William Blakeley, lieutenant-colo- nel; Thomas Gibson, Shadrach Foley, and John M. Daily, majors. The regiment consisted of twelve full companies, Com- pany L being recruited in Butler County. The captains of this company were Will- iam H. Tibbles, R. M. Kiskaddon, and Saml. D. Hazlett. The lieutenants were David C. Beale and Robert Wilson. Cap- tain Tipples resigned November 14, 1862, and Captain Kiskaddon resigned March 18, 1865.

At the close of December, 1862, the Fourteenth Cavalry formed the advance

post of General Kelley's Division in the Shenandoah Valley. It rendered valuable services in Virginia from that time until June 11, 1865, when it was ordered to pro- ceed to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where it was consolidated into a six-company battalion. On August 24, five companies were mustered out and Company A re- mained at Leavenworth until November 2, 1865, when it was mustered out.

ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-NINTH REGIMENT.

Butler County furnished one company for the One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Regiment, which was recruited by Capt. John G. Bippus, and was mustered into the United States' service as Company E. The lieutenants of this company were Frederick Burry and James M. White. The organization of the regiment was com- pleted November 28, 1862, with the fol- lowing field officers: Lewis W. Smith, of Allegheny County, colonel; Emanuel W. Wickenshaw, of Allegheny County, lieuten- ant colonel; and William Smyth, of Butler County, major. This regiment was called out for nine months' service and was mus- tered out July 27, 1863. This organization was known as drafted militia. On the 1st of December the regiment started for Washington and upon its arrival was or- dered to Fortress Monroe, where it re- ported to General Dix. On the morning of the 7th it was sent to Yorktown and the following day to Gloucester Point. Near the close of the month it was transferred to Fort Keyes, which it garrisoned and in addition performed picket duty in its front. On the 9th of July, 1863, the regi- ment was removed to Washington, and thence marched through Frederick City and Boonsboro to Funkstown, Maryland, where it reported to the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac on the 14th of July, and was assigned to the Eleventh Army Corps. The regiment joined in the pursuit of Lee's army after the battle of Gettysburg, and made a forced march to

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Williamsport, Maryland, where it arrived in time to receive a few parting shots and see the last rebel baggage wagon disappear on the Virginia side of the Potomac. A few days later it proceeded to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where it was mustered out on the 27th of July, 1863.

TWO HUNDRED AND TWELFTH REGIMENT. (SIXTH ARTILLERY.)

The Sixth Artillery of the Two Hun- dred and Twelfth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers was organized at Camp Rey- nolds, near Pittsburg, in August and Sep- tember, 1864. The organization was re- cruited in western Pennsylvania and con- tained many veterans who had served in other regiments during 1862-3, and had been discharged on the expiration of their enlistments. The organization was com- pleted on the 15th of September by the se- lection of the following field officers: Charles Barnes, colonel; Joseph B. Cope- land, lieutenant-colonel; Robert H. Long, Joseph R. Kemp, and Frank H. Wite, majors. The regiment left Pittsburg on the 17th of September for Washington, D. C., and was assigned to the Second Bri- gade of De Russey's Division. On the 29th of September it was detailed to guard the Orange and Alexandria Railroad over which supplies were transported for Sher- idan's army, and in November it was or- dered back to Washington. Up to this time the regiment had served as infantry, but it was afterwards drilled and detailed for duty as an artillery regiment. It served at Forts Marcy, Renno, Craig, Ward, Albany, Lyon and others, and was mustered out at Fort Ethan Allen, June 13, 1865. The loss of this regiment was slight, being two men killed, while forty- four died from disease. Batteries A and B were almost wholly recruited of Butler County men. The captain of Battery A was William R. Hutchison, and the lieuten- ants, Thomas H. McElvain, William H. McCandless, James Harvey, and Milton

Wolford. The captain of Battery B was Gustavus L. Braun, and the lieutenants, W. H. H. Wason, John M. Kelsey, Robert O. Shira, and William C. Rudyard.

Butler County men served in other bat- teries in this regiment, as follows : Reuben Campbell, Battery C; James Atkinson, Fe- lix H. Negley, Gotfried Reinhold, Samuel Schaffner, and William Watson, Battery D; John W. Brown, Battery H; William Lutz and Alexander C. Weller, Battery I; John Day, Battery K; Amos McCamant, John A. Hutchins, and Robert Hutchins, from Butler County, also served in this regiment.

FOURTEENTH MILITIA REGIMENT.

After the second battle of Bull Run, when General Lee threatened an invasion of Pennsylvania, an emergency was creat- ed which made it necessary to call into the service a force of the state militia to co- operate with the troops already in the field in repelling the invader. Butler County's response to this call was prompt. A com- pany organized at Butler was mustered into the Fourteenth Militia. Regiment as Company G, and was one of the first to re- port for duty. Many of the leading citi- zens of Butler Borough and of the county were members of this organization, and by reason of the large number of lawyers who joined, it was known as the "Black- stone Guards." Two Butler men were also numbered among the field and staff officers of the regiment. These were Major Charles McCandless and Assistant Sur- geon Newton J. McCandless.

The Fourteenth Regiment was organized September 12 and 16, 1862, its colonel be- ing R. B. McComb. It was immediately sent to the front to perform such services as might be demanded of it, but the battle of Antietam fought on September 16-17, resulting in the defeat of General Lee and his retreat into Virginia, relieved Pennsyl- vania from the danger that threatened her borders. The further services of the

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

emergency men were not needed, and they Were accordingly mustered out September 26 and 28. The captain of Company G was James Gilmore Campbell, and the lieuten- ants, Ebenezer MeJunkin and Charles Duffy.

EIGHTEENTH MILITIA REGIMENT.

The Eighteenth Militia Regiment was also organized to meet the emergency aris- ing from Lee's threatened invasion of Pennsylvania. It was with the army at South Mountain and Antietam, though . it did not actively participate in those bat- tles. It was mustered out of the service September 27, 1862, after the defeat of Lee at Antietam. Company C of this regiment was recruited in Butler County by Capt. William R. Hutchison, and the lieutenants were John Brown and Henry Flick.

FIFTY-SIXTH MILITIA REGIMENT.

The second advance made by General Lee's army and the threatened invasion of the state in 1863 created an emergency for which the state militia were called out in June of that year. The Fifty-sixth Regi- ment was mustered in from June 27th to July 5th for the defense of the state and served until August 13th, when the com- mand was mustered out. Company F was recruited in Butler County by Capt. Will- iam R. Hutchison, who had recruited a company the previous year, and the lieu- tenants were Baxter Logan and John Brown.

FIFTY-EIGHTH MILITIA REGIMENT.

This command was organized in July, 1863, and mustered into service the same month under Col. George H. Bemus. On the 24th of July at the time of Morgan's raid, the regiment, with others, was or- dered to hold the fords on the Ohio River between Steubenville and Wheeling, the Fifty-eighth occupying La Grange, oppo- site Wellsville. The watchfulness of this regiment led Morgan to seek a way of es-

cape through Salineville, where he was at- tacked by Michigan cavalry and lost about three hundred of his men in killed, wound- ed and captured. The Fifty-eighth then took charge of the prisoners until they were placed in the Ohio penitentiary. After this duty was performed the regi- ment returned to Pittsburg and was mus- tered out August 14th and 15th, 1862. Com- pany G of this regiment was raised in But- ler County by Capt. Alexander Gillespie. The lieutenants were James G. Guthrie and John S. Brown. Company I was also recruited in Butler County by Captain William M. Clark, the lieutenants being William E. Moore and S. L. Daubenspeck.

THE FOURTH PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.

The Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry was organized in October, 1861, and served un- til July 1, 1865, when it was mustered out. This regiment saw some of the hardest service of the war and lost ninety-eight men killed in action, while two hundred and sixty died from disease. Butler County did not have a full company in this regiment, but a number of men were in its ranks.

MISCELLANEOUS COMMANDS.

In addition to the foregoing companies and parts of companies credited to But- ler County, a large number of her citizens and young men claiming the county as their home enlisted in other counties of Pennsylvania and in regiments raised in other states.

Col. James Cooper McKee, M. D., of Butler, was appointed and commissioned assistant surgeon of the United States Army in 1858. At the second battle of Bull Run he served as assistant medical direc- tor of Pope's army, and at Antietam as assistant medical purveyor of the Army of the Potomac. In 1863 he was promoted to captain in the regular army and placed in charge of Lincoln United States Hospital at Washington, D. C., in which position he

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continued until the close of the war. After the war he was transferred to New Mexico, serving there as chief medical officer of the army, and afterwards as medical director of the Department of Arizona. He also served in the same capacity at Vancouver Barracks, Department of Columbia. In 1891 he was retired from active service, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, by rea- son of injuries received in the discharge of his duty.

Dr. Samuel Graham, of Butler, after serving three months in Company H, Thir- teenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, complet- ed a course of medicine in Jefferson Medi- cal College, Philadelphia, and entered the service as assistant surgeon of the One Hundred and Seventy-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers. He was subsequently appoint- ed surgeon of the Eighty-first Pennsyl- vania Volunteers.

BOUNTIES AND DRAFTS.

In the early days of the war patriotism ran high in Butler County and the enlist- ments were rapid. Later on, though there was no diminution in the patriotic spirit, the burdens of war began to be heavily felt. The county was drained of its young men and extraordinary taxes were levied in or- der that the war might be prosecuted to a successful issue. The men in the field had to be encouraged and made to feel that the people at home were back of them and that the call for more troops would be promptly responded to. This imposed a duty of vital importance on those at home, de- manding many sacrifices, and much pa- triotism in order that the county might acquit itself with credit to the state, and with honor to the Union cause.

When more troops were needed enlist- ments were encouraged by the aid of boun- ties and other inducements. In 1862 a re- lief tax amounting to $3,154.00 was col- lected, and in 1863, $9,752.18 were paid in bounties. The same year, under the draft of July, the county furnished 323 men.

Many of those drafted furnished substi- tutes. The plan adopted in Butler County appears to have been for a number of those · subject to draft to subscribe to a fund to pay substitutes, and after the requisite number of substitutes had been secured, to divide up the surplus, if any, among the subscribers.

In January, 1864, Capt. Henry Pillow, a United States recruiting officer, announced the extension of the time for paying boun- ties, and asked for volunteers. At this time the quotas required from the counties comprising the Twenty-third district were published, showing the quota of Butler County to be 316, to be secured from 2,320 men of the first, and 1,317 men of the sec- ond class. The borough of Butler fur- nished fourteen recruits, and was clear of the draft. In order to accomplish this ob- ject, the local committee collected $3,070.00, of which $1,770.00 was paid for the four- teen substitutes. The sum of $35.00 was charged to the expense account, leaving $1,265.00 to be returned to the subscribers. Under the call of February 1, 1864, for 500,000 men, Butler Borough filled its quota and had a surplus of money to re- turn to the subscribers.

BOUNTY ACT OF 1864.

A call for two hundred thousand men was made March 15, 1864, and the general bounty was paid until April 1, 1864. On the 14th of April an act providing for the payment of bounties in Butler County was approved by Governor Curtin. Power was given to the school directors to levy a tax sufficient to pay a bounty of $300 to each volunteer enlisted and credited to the school district making the levy. They were also empowered to levy a per capita tax not exceeding $25 from each taxable citizen subject to the draft, and to repay to subscribers moneys advanced to aid in raising volunteers.

A prompt response was made to the call of March 15, 1864, and when the draft was

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made, June 3rd, only nine districts in the county were behind with their quotas. In those nine districts, ninety-one men were called out by the provost marshal. A sup- plemental draft was ordered for June 27th, when sixty-five men were called out. Ten of the ninety-one men drafted on June 3rd failed to appear. Forty-four paid a com- mutation of $300 each, thirty-three were exempted, and two were reported dead. A call for another draft was made July 18, 1864, and it took place September 19th. On the 30th of November the number of men subject to draft in the county was placed at 2,780, which estimate included a large number of soldiers who had served two years or more, and had received their discharges.

The drafts of 1864 were made necessary chiefly for the reason that during that year the terms of a large number of those who had enlisted in 1861 for three years had expired, and new men had to be obtained to fill their places. It should be borne in mind that a majority of these men re- enlisted in the field and that volunteers were constantly coming forward in every township.

THE BALAAM ASSOCIATION.

While so large a portion of the sturdy manhood of the county was at the front battling for the preservation of the Union, an urgent duty devolved upon those at home to care for the dependent widows and orphans of those who had fallen in battle, and also a necessity to care for the sick and wounded in the hospitals and in their homes. For the former purpose a relief tax was ordered in addition to the volun- tary contributions. For the latter purpose a society was formed in 1864 known as "The Balaam Association," which had active working members in the different townships.

PITTSBURG SANITARY FAIR ASSOCIATION.

Butler County people became liberal

contributors to the Pittsburg Sanitary Fair Association and in the spring of 1864 committees to solicit subscription of money and clothing were appointed in each town- ship in the county. On June 1, 1864, the collections amounted to $2,606.51 in cash, including $160.00 received from the Balaam Association. Clothing and pro- visions were also contributed to the amount of $736.14.

JUBILEE MEETING.

The success of the Union cause, as an- nounced by the fall of Richmond and the surrender of the Confederate forces under General Lee, and the final return of peace, caused much rejoicing throughout the North. In Butler the joy of the people found voice at a "Jubilee Meeting" held at the court house, April 7, 1865. This meeting was presided over by Hon. Law- . rence L. McGuffen, the vice-president be- ing Capt. Samuel Louden, William Camp- bell and William Stoops, and the secre- taries Col. John M. Thompson, Capt. George W. Fleeger, Jonathan Clutton, and James Bredin. After a number of patriotic speeches were delivered the following reso- lution, offered by John Negley, was adopted :

"Resolved, That we learn with irrepressible joy of the success of the armies of the Union; the downfall of the rebel capital, and the surrender or capture of the rebel hosts. Victory and peace have come through war. and, God be praised, the Republic lives."

These exuberant manifestations of joy were interrupted by the sad news of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. For the purpose of giving fitting expression to their sorrow, a meeting of the people of Butler Borough was held on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 19th, 1865. Gen. John N. Purviance was chosen president, James Gilmore Campbell, William Stew- art, Charles MeCandless, E. McJunkin, and E. M. Bredin, vice-presidents, and Wm. S. Ziegler, Thos. Robinson and James Bredin, secretaries of this meeting. Ad-

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dresses in English were delivered by Rev. White, Tibbes, Niblock and Limberg, and in German by Rev. Myser. William Stew- art, the chairman of the committee on reso- lutions, reported a preamble and a series of resolutions expressive of the general ,sorrow of the community.

SOLDIERS' MONUMENTS.

A suggestion for the erection of a monu- ment to the memory of the Butler County soldiers who had fallen in battle or died in the hospitals or prisons of the South, was made not long after the close of the war, but owing to a lack of organized effort, the matter failed at that time to take a prac- tical form. It was not until September 15, 1892, that any practical step was taken, when a meeting of soldiers and citizens was held in Butler at the suggestion of Col. John M. Sullivan. A board of direc- tors was appointed at this meeting and in order to give it the proper authority, it was duly incorporated as the Butler County Monument Association, and a board of directors was elected, of which G. D. Swain of Harmony was chairman; I. J. McCandless, of Butler, secretary ; and Charles Duffy, of Butler, treasurer. This board named committees to solicit funds in each voting district in the county, and in December of 1892, the collections had so far advanced that the board deemed it safe to advertise for bids and the presentation of designs. The contract was subsequently awarded to Campbell and Harrigan, of Pittsburg, for $3,500.00. The monument was completed, placed and ready for the dedication by July 4, 1894. The dedicatory ceremonies which took place on that day were appropriate and impressive, and were participated in by the old soldiers and citizens from all parts of the county. An address turning over the monument to the old soldiers and to the people of But- ler County was delivered by G. D. Swain, president of the Monument Association.

The address accepting the monument was delivered by Capt. George W. Fleeger, of Butler.

The monument is of Barre granite, twelve feet square at the base and forty- eight and one-half feet high. The shaft is surmounted by an infantry soldier in full dress standing at ease. On the sides of the shaft are emblazoned crossed muskets, sabers, cannon, and one anchor, represent- ing the four branches of the service, and at the base are these words: "Our Silent Defenders." The monument stands on the public park facing the court house, and is one of the first objects that attract the at- tention of the visiting strangers.

The soldiers' monument at Evans City was dedicated August 29, 1894. It was erected to the memory of the brave men who went into the service from Jackson, Forward, Connoquenessing, Lancaster, Cranberry, Adams, Middlesex and Penn Townships, who sleep in unknown and un- marked graves in the South. The project was started by Capt. William Stewart Post No. 573, G. A. R., of Evans City, in 1892. The committee appointed to take charge of the work consisted of D. B. Douthett, John Rohner, Dr. Wm. Irvine, Edward Dumbaugh, Enos Barkey, Capt. J. P. Boggs, H. C. Boggs, and George Marbur- ger. On December 6, 1893, the contract for the erection of the monument was let to J. B. Evans of Evans City, and cost when completed about $1,400.00. The monument stands in the center of a plot donated to Stewart Post, G. A. R., by the Evans City Cemetery Association. It is of Quincy granite, nineteen feet three inches high, and is surmounted by the figure of an eagle standing on a globe. On one side is a wreath and crossed swords, and on the four sides of the die are inscribed the names of the dead whose memory the monument is designed to perpetuate, the number forty-five in all. There is also in- scribed on one side these solemn and ap- propriate lines :

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The muffled drum's sad roll has beat The soldier's last tattoo ; No more on life's parade shall meet That brave and fallen few. On fame's eternal camping-ground Their silent tents are spread, But glory guards, with solemn round, The bivouac of the dead.

From first to last Butler County sent into the field twenty-five full companies, besides parts of companies. In addition to the organizations that are identified as belonging to the county, a large number of men claiming Butler County as their home enlisted in other volunteer regiments of the state and in other states, as well as in the United States regiments. The names of Butler County men are found on the mus- ter rolls of fifty of the regimental organ- izations of Pennsylvania, and seventeen representing other states in the Union. For the roster of the Butler County com- panies reference may be had to Bate's His- tory of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, which gives a record of each man enlisted.

SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. STIRRING SCENES OF 1898.

Butler County had but one military or- ganization when war was declared against Spain in 1898-Company E, Fifteenth Regiment of the National Guard. Upon the first call for troops this organization promptly tendered its services and was ac- cepted with the other National Guard com- panies of the state. For three days before the departure of the command for the point of mobilization the military spirit of the town rivaled that of 1861, when the first company left for the front in the Civil War. Blue-coated guardsmen on the street were the admiration of the girls and the envy of the less fortunate boys who wanted to enlist but did not have the opportunity. On Sunday, April 24th, the services in all of the churches partook of a patriotic na- ture and were attended by many soldiers in uniform. A mass meeting was held in the Y. M. C. A. hall in the afternoon which

was attended by the old soldiers and the members of Company E, and a patriotic address was made by Col. John M. Thomp- son, who had delivered a similar address to the first company that left Butler for the front in 1861.

DEPARTURE OF THE FIFTEENTH REGIMENT.

The greatest military pageant in the his- tory of the town took place on Wednesday, April 27th, when the entire Fifteenth Regi- ment passed through Butler on the way to the point of mobilization of the state troops at Mt. Gretna, and were the guests for three hours of the citizens of Butler. The train left Erie at 10 o'clock a. m. with Companies A and C, picking up Company B at Meadville; regimental headquarters and Company K at Greenville ; Company F at Grove City, and arriving in Butler at 5 o'clock p. m. At this point Company E of Butler, Company D of Clarion and Com- pany G of Sharon were picked up.

The regiment was met at the station by a committee of citizens, the G. A. R. and the U. V. L., and escorted to the court house, where lunch was served to the men by the young ladies of the town and the regimental officers were entertained at one of the hotels. At 7 o'clock the regiment formed at the court house and marched to the train. The line of march for more than half a mile was one continuous ovation, the entire population of the town turning out to wish the departing soldiers godspeed.

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 42

Author: McKee, James A., 1865- ed. and comp Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1526

Author: McKee, James A., 1865- ed. and comp
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1526