Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 24

Author: Hazen, Aaron L. (Aaron Lyle), 1837- comp. and ed. cn
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1058

USA > Pennsylvania > Lawrence County > New Castle > Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th > Part 24

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In 1908 "The College of Music" came into special prominence in the erection of a new building, containing thirty-six rooms for concert, studio and practice purposes.

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The building is unexcelled in arrangement and conveniences. The equipment of this department is always maintained at the highest point of efficiency, nothing but high grade instruments being used, and these always having the merit of newness.

Three other buildings of the college plant are worthy of notice. The Home of the President, originally occupied by A. P. Moore, Esq., the first benefactor of the col- lege, is a spacious building fitted with all modern improvements and admirably adapted as a social center of college life. Two cottages, adjacent to the Hillside Dormitory, are adapted to rooming pur- poses for young women who in all other respects share the dormitory life. The programme of progress embraces the erec- tion of new college buildings upon the hill, and the laying out of the grounds for col- lege settlement in accordance with the elab- orate plans prepared by Olmsted Broth- ers, Brookline, Mass., thus permitting the present plant to meet the needs of an en- larging Preparatory School with commer- cial and agricultural features. The grow- ing interest in New Wilmington as a cen- ter for summer conferences also demands the erection of a commodious auditorium.

THE PRESIDENTS.

The first president of the college was the Rev. James Patterson, D. D., his term of service being from 1854 to 1866. The sec- ond was the Rev. Robert Audley Brown, D. D., who served from 1867 to 1870. The third was the Rev. E. T. Jeffers, D. D., who served from 1872 to 1883. The fourth was the Rev. R. G. Ferguson, D. D., LL. D., who served from 1884 to 1906. The term of the fifth president, the Rev. R M. Russell, D. D., LL. D., began in June 1906. During the year 1883-84 the Rev. J K. Mcclurkin, D. D., then professor of Greek, was acting president.

THE FACULTY.

The faculty has always included in its number able, earnest and scholarly men

and women. A few names of those who have passed away will support the above assertion: Prof. W. A. Mehard, D. D .; Prof. J. B. Cummings, Ph. D .; Prof. An- drew M. Black, A. M .; Prof. John Edgar, A. M., D. D .; Prof. S. R. Thompson, Ph. D .; Prof. John Mitchell, A. M .; Prof. Oella J. Patterson, A. M.

At the period now noted the faculty con- sists of the following professors and in- structors :

Robert McWatty Russell, D. D., LL. D., President and Professor of Christian Evidences.

Robert Gracey Ferguson, D. D., LL. D., Professor of Biblical Literature and Ethics. John James McElree, A. M., Professor of Latin. Charles Freeman, Ph. D.,

Dean and Professor of Chemistry. John Abram Shott, A. M.,

Professor of Physics and Department Instructor in Psychology and Educa- tion.

James Oscar Campbell, A. M., D. D.,

Professor of History and Political Science.

James McAllister Shaffer, A. M., Professor of Mathematics.

William Templeton Hewetson, A. M., Professor of English.

James Dwerelle Barr, A. M., Professor of Greek.

Anna Heyberger, A. M., Professor of German and French. William W. Troup, A. M.,

Associate Professor of Latin and Greek. Sara A. Pratt, A. B., Dean of Women. Benjamin William Bridgman, A. M.,

Associate Professor of Physics and Mathematics. Owen W. Mills, A. M.,

Professor of Biology and Geology. Elizabeth Lawrence Randall, B. O., Professor of Oratory.

Alta Aileen Robinson, A. M., Assistant Professor of English

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Berthe Muller,

Assistant Professor of French and Ger- man.

Mabel McCoy Henderson, A. M., Instructor in English.

Bess Stuart, A. B., Instructor in Greek.

William Wilson Campbell, A. M.,

Director of Music, Pianoforte and Vocal Culture.

Nona Yantis, B. S.,

Instructor in Pianoforte and Harmony. Edward French Hearn, Instructor in Pianoforte.

Mona Downs,

Instructor in Vocal Culture and En- semble.

Lucie M. Manley, Director of Art.

J. H. Veazey, A. M., Registrar and Local Treasurer. Isabel B. Stuart,

President's Secretary and Assistant Registrar.

William Templeton Hewetson, A. M., Librarian. Mabel McCoy Henderson, A. M.,

Bess Stuart, A. B.,

Assistant Librarians.

RELATION TO LAWRENCE COUNTY.

Westminster has done much for Law- rence County. Its influence has reached to all its parts from which its patrons have

come. Many of its graduates, and many more who have taken partial courses, have raised the standard of intelligence and morality in the community in which they reside. It has prepared many for positions of usefulness in education, law and medi- cine, as well as in the ministry. It has sent W. A. Aiken into the superintendency of public schools, George W. McCracken and others into the editor's chair, R. K. Aiken and others into the district attorney's of- fice, scores into the practice of law. Four judges of the County Court have been graduates of Westminster, the Hon. John McMichael, class of 1857; the Hon. J. Nor- man Martin, class of 1881; the Hon. Will- iam D. Wallace, class of 1881, and the Hon. William E. Porter, class of 1889.

Westminster, though under the special care of the United Presbyterian Church, is pre-eminently the college of Lawrence County. Her doors are open to students of all varieties of religious belief, or to those who have none. Her policy is liberal, aiming to furnish education along all lines for professional and practical life, yet striving to have the whole college influence permeated with Christian morality, so that her students may be trained not only for the "making of a living but for the making of a life." The citizens of Lawrence Coun- ty should make Westminster the object of their hearty beneficence.

CHAPTER XIII

MILITARY HISTORY

The Territory and County in Five Wars.

War has its glories, and, no less, its tragedies ; its surviving heroes and its mar- tyrs. The history of the city of New Cas- tle and of Lawrence County teems with the names of men who went forth valiantly to fight their country's battles in the cause of right and justice, some to return as heroes with records of distinction in service, oth- ers to give their lives in the cause they espoused. The pioneer history records the coming of not a few brave men who had seen service in the Colonial Army during the Revolution, and to whom many of the citizens of today trace their lineage. By the time of the second war with England, that territory now comprising Lawrence County had made rapid strides in its de- velopment, and was populated by a hardy class whose patriotism carried many to the front. Others were drafted into the serv- ice. Two companies were raised in the vi- cinity of New Castle, one captained by John Fisher and the other by James Ham- ilton, and were rendezvoused at Mercer. The service of the men from this commun- ity was in various companies and brigades, and their course during the war can not be followed. Some were called to Erie at dif- ferent periods during the war, a number of them going as often as three times. A por- tion of them were with General Cook's Bri- gade, which went from Pittsburg in the fall of 1812, and joined General Harrison's Army on the Sandusky and Miami Rivers, in Ohio. During this struggle, the people along the frontier were in constant fear of

invasion by the British and Indians, and numerous block houses were erected as places of refuge in case of attack; one of them was built, in 1813, in the city of New Castle, between Mercer Street and Apple Alley, on the north side of Washington Street. It was a very substantial structure, constructed of logs, and stood for many years.

Believing that in time of peace we should prepare for war, there have at various periods in the history of the community been military organizations in which the citizens were trained and drilled in military tactics. About the year 1820 there was a battalion of five uniformed companies in the vicinity of New Castle, each company with a distinctive style of dress. James Cubbison was captain of the Pumpkintown White Coats, so called from the color of their coats, which were of white flannel; Captain James Rigby commanded a rifle company from the neighborhood of Mt. Jackson; the New Castle Guards were com- manded by Capt. Nathaniel McElevy; the Parkstown Company, northwest of New Castle, was commanded by Capt. Andrew Robinson; a company in the neighborhood of East Brook was commanded by Capt. John Budd, and Capt. William Young com- manded a company up the Shenango, north of New Castle. In 1821, Capt. James Wil- son commanded a company in Shenango Township. It was the custom for these various companies, for some years, to meet annually and participate in dress parade,

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drills and sham battles. These were scenes of great jollification, feasting and drinking, being regarded as a gala day and attended by the people from far and near.

No companies were organized in Law- rence County for service in the war with Mexico, but quite a few are known to have served in companies organized elsewhere.

It was in the War of the Rebellion the citizens of Lawrence County made a record which shines with the greatest lustre. With a population far less than many of the other counties of the State, it sent from the various walks of life some 4,000 in enlisted and drafted men, of whom nearly five hun- dred never lived to survive the war. Others returned maimed and injured and illy pre- pared to take up life's battles in the busi- ness world, but proud to have rendered their country a service in the hour of its greatest need.

Within a few hours after the arrival of news concerning the capture of Fort Sum- ter by the Confederates, a company of young men was recruited in New Castle, and shortly went by canal to Pittsburg, where the Twelfth Regiment was being re- cruited. The New Castle men were organ- ized into two companies, F and H, with Capt. Edward O'Brien in command of the former and Capt. Daniel Leasure in com- mand of the latter. Leaving Pittsburg April 24, 1861, the Twelfth Regiment ar- rived in Harrisburg the next day, were re- viewed by Governor Curtin and mustered into the United States service. They went into camp immediately at Camp Scott, near York, Pa., and were drilled for several weeks. May 19 the regiment was clothed and given accoutrements, and on May 25 was ordered to move and take possession of the Baltimore & Harrisburg Railway, from the State line to the city of Baltimore, which it did, maintaining headquarters at Cockeysville. The regiment was mustered out of service at Harrisburg, August 5, 1861, its work having been performed with- out strife or bloodshed. Many of the men of Company F and Company H afterward re-entered the army, Captain Leasure go-

ing out as colonel of the famous 100th, or Roundhead, Regiment, and Captain O'Brien becoming colonel of the 134th Regiment of Pennsylvania.

Company K, of the Thirty-ninth Regi- ment (Tenth Reserves), was partially from Lawrence County and was recruited for the three years' service, the organization being effected late in June, 1861. The regiment was mustered in at Harrisburg July 21, 1861, and went by rail to Baltimore, thence to Washington; it was finally assigned to the Third Brigade, and on October 10, 1861, moved into Virginia and took posi- tion in line with the army. Their first en- gagement took place December 10, with the entire brigade in action, and was a vic- tory. About the middle of June, 1862, they were ordered to the Peninsula to re-enforce MeClellan, and June 26, 1862, participated in the battle of Mechanicsville. It after- wards engaged in the battles of Gaines' Mill, White Oak Swamp, Bull Run (second battle), South Mountain, Antietam, Fred- ericksburg, Gettysburg, New Hope Church and the Wilderness. Those who survived the stirring action through which they had been were mustered out at Pittsburg June 11, 1864, many of them re-enlisting as vet- erans.

Battery B, Forty-third Regiment, First Artillery, of Pennsylvania, joined the Pennsylvania Reserves at Tenallytown, August 14, 1861, and was assigned to the First Brigade. It was in the thickest of the fight in many of the most important battles of the war, namely at Mechanics- ville, Bull Run (second battle), South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Get- tysburg, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Courthouse and Cold Harbor. Many of the men had re-enlisted at the expiration of their service, others returned home, and in all during the four years there were 334 men connected with Battery B. In that time, 11,200 rounds of ammunition were expended. The battery was mustered out at Harrisburg June 9, 1865.

Company A of the Seventy-sixth Regi- ment was recruited in Lawrence County,

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and Company G, of that regiment, in Law- rence and Westmoreland counties. The regiment was organized for three years' service in August, 1861, with D. H. Wallace, of New Castle, as lieutenant-colonel. No- vember 18, 1861, at Camp Cameron, at Harrisburg, it received its colors from the Governor, and the following day proceeded to Fortress Monroe. On the 8th of Decem- ber they arrived at Hilton Head, South Carolina, where it was armed and equipped and assigned to General Wright's brigade. A part of the regiment participated in the taking of Fort Pulaski at the mouth of the Savannah River, Company A and Com- pany F being left at Hilton Head. June 16, 1862, they made an attack on the city of Charleston, but were repulsed. October 22, 1862, they formed a part of an expedi- tion to sever communication between Charleston and Savannah, by destroying the bridges across the Pocotaligo, and in this undertaking the Seventy-sixth Regi- ment lost seventy-five officers and men in killed and wounded. July 10, 1863, an at- tack was made on Fort Wagner, and on the day following the Seventy-sixth partici- pated in a charge on the fort in the face of a withering fire; they were repulsed with terrible losses. The number of killed and wounded from this regiment alone totaled 187, of whom fifty-three were killed. An- other assault was made on the fort on the 18th of July, in which the Seventy-sixth lost seventeen in killed and wounded. In May, 1864, the Tenth corps was attached to the Army of the James in Virginia; early in that month they forced the Con- federates back from the Weldon Railroad to Drury's Bluff, and in this action the Seventy-sixth sustained a loss of sixty-five in killed and wounded. They sustained a heavy loss in a three days' battle at Cold Ilarbor. June 23, 1864, they proceeded to Petersburg, where they performed picket duty on the front line of works; they later were in engagements at Chapin's Farm and Hather's Run, and on January 6, 1865, joined an expedition against Fort Fisher, in North Carolina, which was surrendered

on January 15. They next took Wilming- ton and Raleigh, at the latter place being detached for provost-guard duty. They were mustered out at Raleigh on July 18, 1865, and paid off at Harrisburg, Pa., on July 23, when they disbanded.

The One Hundredth Regiment of Penn- sylvania, which is known in history as the Roundhead Regiment (so called because the territory from which it was recruited was settled by the Covenanters who had followed Cromwell), had more Lawrence County men enrolled in its ranks than any other regiment. It was recruited by Capt. Daniel Leasure, whom we have previously mentioned in connection with the Twelfth Regiment, by authority of the Secretary of War, under date of August 6, 1861. Com-

panies B, E, F, H, I and K were recruited in Lawrence County, and on September 2, 1861, the regiment, consisting of twelve companies, proceeded to Washington and encamped at Kalorama Heights. Upon organization, Daniel Leasure was commis- sioned colonel of the regiment. The regi- ment was brigaded October 7, 1861, with the Eighth Michigan and the Fiftieth Penn- sylvania, with Colonel Leasure as ranking officer in command. It joined the command of Gen. W. T. Sherman, at Annapolis, destined for the coast of South Carolina. On request of Colonel Leasure to the Sec- retary of War, the Seventy-ninth New York was assigned to his brigade, and on October 12, 1861, Gen. Isaac I. Stevens was assigned to its command. October 19 they set sail for Fortress Monroe, thence under sealed orders for Port Royal Entrance; they arrived on November 5, and on the 7th the gunboats advanced to the attack on Forts Walker and Beauregard, driving the enemy from the works. The troops were landed and took possession of the forts, and Hilton Head and Lady's Island. For- tifications were erected, and General Stev- ens' brigade was here stationed for one month, then proceeded further inland to the town of Beaufort. General Hunter, who had relieved General Sherman in this department, undertook the reduction of

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Charleston. With this object in view, on June 1, 1862, General Stevens moved with his brigade through Stony Inlet to James Island, took possession of the village of Legareville and moved into the interior of the island. They erected forts and per- formed guard duty, and during their stay were under almost constant fire from the enemy's forts. June 16, they made an at- tack on Tower Fort, near Secessionville, which was held by a large force and com- manded the approaches to Charleston by the James Island causeway. The attack was repelled with heavy losses, and the operations against Charleston were sus- pended. July 4 the brigade returned to Hilton Head, and on July 13 to Beaufort, thence on the Merrimac, which was on a trial trip, to Virginia, going into camp at Newport News. It participated in the sec- ond battle of Bull Run, August 29 and 30, and fought gloriously, but at an awful sac- rifice of lives. On the second day they fell back before overwhelming numbers to Cen- terville, and on September 1 took part in a hotly contested battle at Chantilly, in which the Union Army triumphed.

The One Hundredth Regiment partici- pated in the battle of South Mountain, Sep- tember 14th, but having lost nearly all its line officers was not engaged actively at Antietam on September 17th, being held in reserve. Colonel Leasure, who had his horse shot from under him on the second day at Bull Run, and had himself been se- verely wounded, returned from the hospi- tal to the front in October, and was sent by General Burnside to bring up the absentees and convalescents of the Ninth Corps, as- sembled in camp near Washington. About 4,000 were thus added to the strength of the corps, 200 of whom were members of the One Hundredth Pennsylvania. During the progress of the battle of Fredericks- burg, December 13, 1862, this regiment, with its division, was held in reserve, and on December 15th was deployed as skir- mishers to cover the retreat of General Sumner's forces. In June, 1863, the Ninth Corps was ordered to the support of Gen-

eral Grant at Vicksburg, and was there placed to guard the fords of the Big Black River, remaining until the surrender of Pemberton, July 4th. After the fall of Vicksburg it was with Sherman's Army on the expedition against Jackson. They were then sent to East Tennessee, going by boat to Cairo, thence by rail to Cincin- nati, thence to Camp Nelson, in Kentucky. Owing to the ravages of disease, due to poor water in the south, hot weather and hardships, their ranks were greatly de- pleted when they left Camp Nelson on Sep- tember 25th, fully one-fourth of the One Hundredth Regiment being left in hospi- tals. The regiment got into action about Knoxville, and on January 1, 1864, not- withstanding their hardships and priva- tions, the entire regiment, with the excep- tion of twenty-seven, re-enlisted for a sec- ond term of three years. They returned home on veteran furlough, and on March 8th rendezvoused at Camp Copeland, near Pittsburg, with a sufficient number of re- cruits to raise the regiment to a strength of 977 men. It proceeded to Annapolis, where it was brigaded with the Twenty- first Massachusetts and Third Maryland, forming the Second Brigade, First Divi- sion, with Colonel Leasure in command. They participated in the battle of the Wil- derness, at Spottsylvania Court House, North Anna River, Cold Harbor, a series of battles before Petersburg, in the en- gagement along the Weldon Railroad, Pop- lar Springs Church, Hatcher's Run, Fort Steadman, and the final assault upon Pe- tersburg. The regiment was mustered out at Washington, D. C., July 24, 1865.

Company D, of the One Hundred and First Regiment of Pennsylvania, was largely from Lawrence County, and with the regiment participated in the battles of Williamsburg, Virginia; Fair Oaks, where fully one-third of their number were killed or wounded; White Oak Swamp; Kinston, North Carolina; and in numerous sorties about Newbern and Plymouth. At the last named place the entire regiment, except those absent on furlough or detached duty,

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

was captured, and marched under a strong guard to Tarboro. They were from there conveyed by rail to Andersonville, where the enlisted men were incarcerated, the officers being taken to Macon and held. All of the officers of the regiment at one time or another made escape, some of them mak- ing the Union lines, and others, less for- tunate, being recaptured. They were moved from Macon to Savannah, then suc- cessively to Charleston and Charlotte, be- ing finally exchanged at Wilmington, in March, 1865. Most of the enlisted men were taken from Andersonville, some to Millin and others to Savannah, where a limited number were exchanged. All were exchanged in the spring of 1865 at Wil- mington, North Carolina, except those left at Andersonville, they being sent north afterwards, by way of the Mississippi. The regiment was mustered out of service at Newbern, North Carolina, June 25, 1865. The number of deaths in the regiment dur- ing its imprisonment, and the enfeebled condition of the survivors, was appalling.

Company D, of the One Hundred and Ninth Regiment of Pennsylvania, was re- cruited in Lawrence County, in December, 1861, and was commanded by Capt. John Young, Jr., of New Castle. It was under General Banks in the operations about Harper's Ferry, took part in the battle of Cedar Mountain, and was on hand at An- tietam, although not actively engaged. After taking part in the battles of Chan- cellorsville and Gettysburg, it was sent with the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps, un- der General Hooker, to the relief of Rose- crans at Chattanooga. It was with Sher- man's Army through the Atlanta cam- paign, participating in the engagements around Resaca, Dallas, Lost Mountain and Kenesaw Mountain. It accompanied the army in its march to the sea, arriving in Savannah December 21, 1864. It later was in action at Averysboro, Bentonville and Goldsboro, and after the surrender of Johnston, March 26, 1865, made its way northward with Sherman's army to Wash-

ington, where it was mustered out on the 19th of July.

Companies A, B, D, and H, of the One Hundred and Thirty-Fourth Regiment of Pennsylvania, in compliance with a call is- sued in July, 1862, by Governor Curtin, for troops for nine months' service, were raised in Lawrence County, and Com- pany I of the same regiment was raised in Lawrence and Beaver Counties. It ren- dezvoused at Camp Curtin and was or- dered away before its organization was effected. It moved on to Washington Au- gust 20, 1862, and was attached to a pro- visional corps commanded by General Ca- sey at Arlington Heights. There the or- ganization was effected with Matthew S. Quay as Colonel, and Edward O'Brien of Lawrence County, as Lieutenant-Colonel. It was brigaded with the Ninety-First, One Hundred and Twenty-Sixth and One Hun- dred and Twenty-Ninth Pennsylvania regi- ments, and the brigade placed in command of General E. B. Tyler. They got into stirring action in the last struggle of the battle of Fredericksburg, and in the brief space in which they were in the conflict lost fourteen killed, 106 wounded and sixteen missing. In this engagement, in addition to facing the fire of the enemy in front, they had the misfortune of being fired upon from the rear. In the spring of 1863, the brigade participated in the movement against Lee, which ended with the defeat at Chancellorsville, in which Colonel O'Brien and his men made a brave stand until their ammunition gave out. After this battle, the regiment was shortly mus- tered out at Harrisburg, May 26, 1863, its term of enlistment having expired.

The One Hundred and Fifty-Ninth Regi- ment of Pennsylvania (Fourteenth Cav- alry) contained many men from Lawrence County, scattered through its various com- panies. It was organized at Pittsburg, and equipped at Hagerstown, Maryland. It performed picket-duty for some time at Charlestown, West Virginia, during the winter of 1862-1863; and for several

WASHINGTON STREET, LOOKING WEST.

WASHINGTON STREET, LOOKING EAST.

DANCING PAVILION, CASCADE PARK.

FLORAL BRIDGE, CASCADE PARK.

CAT ROCKS, CASCADE PARK.

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Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 24

Author: Hazen, Aaron L. (Aaron Lyle), 1837- comp. and ed. cn Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold publishing co. Number of Pages: 1058

Author: Hazen, Aaron L. (Aaron Lyle), 1837- comp. and ed. cn
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1058