Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 25

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 25

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ENTRANCE TO CASCADE PARK.

VIEWS IN NEW CASTLE AND VICINITY.

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months during 1863 did duty in Western Virginia, being attached to the command of General Averell. After the battle of Gettysburg, the regiment, which had been transferred to Maryland, crossed into Vir- ginia, and took up the pursuit of Lee, be- ing actively engaged with Averell's com- mand in the vicinity of the Potomac, at Falling Waters, about Manchester, and White Sulphur Springs. It was in the movements in Western and Southern Vir- ginia during the winter of 1863-1864, fight- ing at Droop Mountain and destroying the Virginia and Tennessee railway and sup- plies of the rebel army to the extent of more than $3,000,000. During these raids the Fourteenth Cavalry lost about fifty men in killed, wounded and missing. It continued with Averill's command in their raid through West Virginia and lost many in killed and wounded, particularly at Core Gap. It participated in General Huster's operations on the James River, and was with him when Early, with an entire corps from Lee's Army, compelled him to retreat toward the Ohio River. The march was a severe one and a number of the men died of hunger. From Parkersburg, it returned by rail to Martinsburg. July 20th, Averell attacked Early at Winchester and defeated him, but on the 24th the fortunes of war were reversed when the entire command of Early attacked the commands of Crook and Averell. The commands fell back to the Potomac, contesting every inch of ground, and finally withdrew to Hagerstown, Maryland. The enemy under McCausland, burned the town of Chambersburg, Penn- sylvania, and was followed by Averell from that town to Moorfield, on the Po- tomac. Averell's command there defeated the combined forces of McCausland, John- son, Gilmore and McNeill, with heavy loss, and in this engagement the Fourteenth Cavalry lost ten killed and twenty-five wounded. The regiment was afterward in all the engagements with Sheridan, which resulted in the destruction of Early's Army. They participated with the divi- sion under General Powell at Front Royal,

when MeCausland was made to retreat, with the loss of his guns and supply trains. During the winter of 1864-1865, they were in engagements at Millwood, and at Ash- by's Gap, and April 18, 1865, was present at the surrender of General Moseby. April 29, it moved on to Washington and partici- pated in the grand review in May, and in June was ordered to Kansas. They were mustered out at Fort Leavenworth, Au- gust 24, 1865, and returned to Pittsburg, where they disbanded.

Company A, known as the "Pollock Guards," of the Fourteenth Regiment, was organized in East New Castle, then Pol- lock township, and was captained by A. L. Hazen. At the time Lee threatened Penn- sylvania, the company tendered its serv- ices to Governor Curtin in defense of the State, which were accepted September 15, 1862. They arrived in Harrisburg on the 16th, and on that day the Fourteenth Regi- ment was organized with R. B. McComb, a private in the Pollock Guards, as Colonel, and Forbes Holton, of the same company, as Adjutant. They were ordered on to Chambersburg, and as the battle of Antie- tam was then in progress, it was their be- lief they were to be rushed forward to par- ticipate in that engagement. They crossed the line from Chambersburg while the men were asleep, and when they awoke to find themselves beyond the line they emitted cheer after cheer. They arrived in Ha- gerstown, Maryland, on the 17th, the regi- ment was formed and moved out about four miles on the Sharpsburg road, where it encamped and remained until the follow- ing day. It was ordered out on the Wil- liamsburg road, and on Sunday ordered back to Green Castle. They remained in camp several days, then returned to Har- risburg and were discharged. The day after the battle of Antietam they had been within two miles of Lee's lines, in advance of any of the other emergency regiments of Pennsylvania, and were disappointed at not being able to get into action.

In June, 1863, when Governor Curtin called out the volunteer militia of the

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State, three companies from Lawrence County responded. They were the one un- der Capt. Joseph Moorhead, the Wilming- ton Company under Capt. G. C. Vincent, a professor of Westminster College, and one under Capt. T. G. Christy. They ar- rived in Pittsburg on July 1, 1863, and the first night slept in the woods at Camp Howe. July 4th, the Fifty-Fifth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia, was or- ganized with R. B. McComb as Colonel, and included these three companies. They went into camp near Homewood Station on the Pennsylvania Railroad, and upon receipt of a dispatch from the Secretary of War asking for volunteers to go to Western Virginia, the Fifty-Fifth Regiment was the first to volunteer, and immediately re- ceived orders to proceed to Parkersburg and report to General Kelly. July 11, the regiment started and arrived at Parkers- burg on the 13th, when Colonel McComb took command of the post, which was the most important in West Virginia, it being the point where supplies were collected and distributed. A dispatch was received from General Burnside, notifying them of the approach of Morgan and 3,000 raiders. Colonel McComb ordered all steamboats and other craft removed from the Ohio side of the river, and took every precau- tion to prevent Morgan from effecting a crossing near Parkersburg. He sent Cap- tain Moorhead, with Company A, down the river to reconnoitre. July 18th, Colonel Wallace arrived from General Kelly's headquarters, with four guns, and at the same time 400 discharged prisoners ar- rived under Major Showalter. On the 19th, Colonel Wallace moved down the river with the whole force to intercept Morgan and prevent his crossing the river. On the following day the attempt was made at Point Pleasant, but repulsed by the Con- nesteag, a gunboat. Morgan, believing es- cape impossible, proposed capitulation ; Basil Duke was sent to arrange the terms of surrender, and while he was so doing, Morgan and 400 men made their escape up the Muskingum. Duke and 1,400 men sur-

rendered. The Fifty-Fifth Regiment re- mained in camp at Parkersburg until the expiration of their term of service.

A part of a company of cavalry was raised in New Castle by Capt. R. W. Stew- art, and went to Cleveland, where he united with the Second Ohio Cavalry.

Company E, of the One Hundred and Ninety-Third Regiment of Pennsylvania, was raised in and around New Castle for the one hundred days' service, and was captained by John C. Euwer. The regi- ment was organized at Pittsburg on the 19th of July, and proceeded to Baltimore, where it encamped with Colonel Nagle's brigade. August 10, Company B was de- tached for provost duty at Wilmington, Delaware, and the remaining companies were stationed at the bridges on the Phila- delphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Rail- road, with headquarters at Havre-de- Grace. Colonel Clark, three weeks later, with Companies A, F, D and I, moved to Wilmington and assumed command of the post and district. The regiment was mus- tered out at the close of its term of service, but many of the men re-entered the service.

There were many Lawrence County men in the Two Hundred and Fifth Regiment, Fifth Artillery, of Pennsylvania, scattered through its various companies. It was re- cruited in August, 1864, and rendezvoused at Camp Reynolds, near Pittsburg, where it was organized on September 10th. It was soon ordered to Washington and as- signed to the fortifications north of the city. September 28, 1864, it was sent out to cover the construction trains engaged in opening the Manassas Gap Railroad, the government proposing to make this the line of supply for Sheridan's Army in the Shenandoah Valley. The First battalion, under command of Major Morton, was at- tacked at Salem, on October 8, by Moseby with a superior force of cavalry and artil- lery, and retired to Rectortown in good or- der, there joining the other battalions un- der Lieutenant-Colonel Browne. By sharp maneuvering, Moseby was defeated in all his plans. After the battle of Cedar Creek,

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the regiment was again stationed in the forts north of Washington for a short time, then returned to Virginia, where the win- ter was spent in building blockhouses and stockades, and in drill and picket duty. In the spring of 1865, expeditions repaired to the Bull Run battle ground, to inter the dead who had lain on the ground from the time of the second battle there, fought in August, 1863. Nearly 2,000 were buried, and monuments erected over them. The regiment was mustered out at Pittsburg, June 20, 1865.

The Two Hundred and Twelfth Regi- ment, Sixth Artillery, of Pennsylvania, also contained many men in its ranks who had their residence in Lawrence County. It was organized at Camp Reynolds, near Pittsburg, September 15, 1864, with Charles Barnes as Colonel, and two days later was ordered to Washington and as- signed to the Second brigade of DeRussy's division, which was garrisoning the de- fenses of the capital. September 29th, the regiment was detached and ordered to duty in guarding the Orange and Alexan- dria Railway between Alexandria and Manassas, with headquarters at Fairfax Court House. In November, the regiment returned to Washington and stationed at Forts Marcy, Ward, Craig, Reno, Albany, Lyon and others. Here it was drilled for heavy artillery service, and remained dur- ing the winter. June 13, 1865, it was mus- tered out at Fort Ethan Allen, and on June 17th disbanded at Camp Reynolds.

Company H, of the Seventy-Seventh Regiment, captained by Paul F. Rohrback- er, was recruited from Lawrence and Beaver Counties, and joined its regiment in East Tennessee, March 13, 1865. The regiment had gone out in August, 1861, but contained no Lawrence County men until Company H was recruited. April 25, 1865, the regiment returned to Nashville and was assigned to the First Brigade, First Division of the Fourth Corps, with Colonel Rose in command of the brigade. The regi- ment with others was ordered to Texas, and arrived at Indianola, in that state,

July 27; from there they marched to Green Lake, then ten days later to Camp Stanley, on the Guadaloupe River, four miles above Victoria. There it remained until October 1st, then moved into Victoria. December 5, 1865, orders were received to return home. Breaking camp, they marched a distance of fifty miles to Indianola, where it embarked for Philadelphia. They ar- rived in that city January 16, 1866, and were there mustered out of service.

SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR.

The Spanish-American War witnessed the going to the front of many young men from Lawrence County, most of them from New Castle. They were imbued with the same spirit of patriotism and loyalty to the country that characterized the fathers of many of them in the great battles of the Rebellion. Company B, of the Six- teenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, was made up almost exclusively of sons of veterans of the Civil War. Be- fore war with Spain was declared, Oscar L. Jackson Camp, No. 249, Sons of Veter- ans, Division of Pennsylvania, volunteered its services to the State, and to the Federal Government on April 9, 1898. This organ- ization was the nucleus of Company B, of the Sixteenth Pennsylvania.

The Sixteenth Regiment, National Guards of Pennsylvania, was composed of eight companies, located in the counties of Erie, MeKean, Venango, Elk, Warren and Crawford. On order of the Governor, it went to Mt. Gretna, Pa., arriving April 28, 1898, and was there reviewed by him on May 3. The officers and men were imme- diately given an opportunity to enlist, and every man present responded affirmatively. May 10, the regiment was mustered into the United States service as the Sixteenth Reg- iment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and on the 15th of that month proceeded to Chickamauga; arriving there on the 17th, it was assigned to the Third Brigade, First Division, First Army Corps. July 2, 1898, Lieutenant-Colonel Richards was ordered to Pennsylvania to recruit four ad-

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ditional companies to form the Third Bat- talion of the regiment; they were recruited as follows: Company B at New Castle, Company G at Kittaning, Company L at Punxsutawney, and Company M at Jean- nette. The Third Battalion did not reach the regiment until October 11, 1898. July 21, 1898, it went forward to Chickamauga, and on the 25th orders were received to re- port at the railroad station at Rossville, eight miles distant, on the following morn- ing. They there boarded a train for New- port News, Virginia, whither they arrived on the morning of the 27th. They received orders from Brigadier General Grant to embark on the steamship Rio Grande, but orders were later received delaying the movement. In the meantime, General Grant embarked, leaving orders that the detachment of the Sixteenth Pennsylvania was to embark the day following. Instead of going to Porto Rico, as contemplated, they were ordered to Camp Meade, Penn- sylvania, to which point they moved, Au- gust 18, 1898. On September 13 they left Camp Meade for New York City, and in the evening of the following day embarked on the steamship Obdaur for Ponce, where they arrived at 8 o'clock A. M. on the 22d. They were detained on board until Sunday, September 25, then went into camp about six miles from Ponce. October 10 they re- ceived orders to return with their regiment to the United States. The Third Battalion joined the Sixteenth Regiment at Playa de Ponce, on October 11, and that day sailed for home, arriving in New York City Oc- tober 17. They were mustered out of serv- ice December 28, 1898. A roster of Com- pany B is here given: Capt. Joseph V. Cunningham, First Lieutenant William Hamilton Dunlap, Second Lieutenant James W. Cook, First Sergeant Charles N. Clark, Quartermaster Sergeant Edward M. Bryant, Sergeants Charles H. Young, James R. A. Pattison, Frank G. Dunlap and Clarence E. Brown; Corporals Mahlon S. Clark, Frank H. Strohecker, William Rogers, Frank S. Nessle, Jr., Lee C. Fish- er, Frank J. Andrews, Rufus W. Bell.

Frank A. Zinn, Charles L. Daniels, Patrick J. Muldoon, Roy F. Sippy and Alfred Williams; Musicians Fred S. Emery and John A. Seifert; artificer, John W. Allen; wagoner, Daniel F. McCall; clerk, Charles Clark; Privates Truman D. Allen, John C. Ault, Charles H. Baldwin, Charles E. Bart- ley, Curtis V. Brown, Edward H. Burke, Garve M. Burke, Charles E. Christy, James G. Crum, Frederick W. Davidson, William F. Dickson, Thomas Doyle, Homer C. Drake, Charles H. Durant, David J. Eich- inger, Edward W. Eiler, George E. Ford, Max A. Geiger, John F. Genkinger, George T. Gilmore, Archie M. Graham, John F. Greer, Lee Guildoo, Albert B. Haid, John M. Hannon, William E. Harman, Oscar J. Hall, Howard C. Harper, John C. Hennon, James H. Hoover, Louis M. Holt, Matthew J. Howard, Joseph G. Hunter, Lewis R. Jay, Frederick H. Kay, James M. Kincaid, Albert F. Leathers, Andrew B. Mallory, Erasmus H. Martin, David A. McBride, Harry E. McCaskey, John S. MeCay, Eb- enezer B. MeDonough, John J. McDowell, Matthew J. McMahon, Roy W. Mershimer, Edwin L. Mitchell, Clinton K. Myers, George W. Patterson, Frank W. Reed, Henry J. Scott, Theudius C. Scott, George H. Shallenberger, John B. Shelar, Matthew H. Shelly, Charles A. Snyder, Henry Spahn, Thomas A. Spence, Harvey F. Steinbrink, Bert E. Stevenson, Lawrence W. Stevenson, Herbert C. Stockman, John A. Stimkard, Elmer J. Suber, Robert W. Taggart, James B. Taylor, Harry L. Tel- mosse, Percy Tetlow, William C. Thomp- son, George E. Tobey, Frederick G. Urm- son, John E. Urmson, James W. Vance, Jo- seph A. VanGorder, Charles R. Walker, John S. Walters, Lewis C. Warnock, Will- iam E. White, Harry E. Williams, Robert L. Wylie, Charles Henry Young, Floyd W. Young and Charles E. Zerner.

The Fifteenth Regiment of Pennsylvania National Guards was composed of eight companies from the counties of Erie, Craw- ford, Clarion, Butler and Mercer, and scat- tered through these companies were many from New Castle. The regiment reported

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at Mt. Gretna, Pa., April 28, 1898, was re- viewed by the Governor on May 3, and im- mediately after given an opportunity to volunteer. The various companies were recruited to seventy-five enlisted men, and on May 10 Companies A, B, C, G and K were mustered into United States service, followed on the 11th by Companies D, E and F, and Regimental Headquarters. It was mustered in as the Fifteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, with a total strength of thirty-six officers and 605 enlisted men. It remained at Mt. Gretna until June 11, when it proceeded to stations at Sheridan Point, Va., and Fort Washing- ton, Md. Regimental Headquarters and Companies A, B, D, F, G and K arrived at Sheridan Point on June 12, and the same day Companies C and E arrived at Fort Washington. June 23, Companies A and G were transferred to Fort Washington. Company E was assigned to the care, pres- ervation and drill of Emplacement C, hav- ing two 10-inch guns on disappearing car- riages to handle; Company C was assigned to the 10-inch Barbette gun and the water battery, one 15-inch M. L. S. B. smooth bore. The men of the entire command con- tinued regular infantry, company and bat- talion drills. September 9, 1898, the regi- ment went to Camp George G. Meade, in Pennsylvania, and arrived in Middletown on the 10th, being there assigned to the First Brigade, Second Division, Second Army Corps. September 17, the regiment was ordered on provost duty at the camp, and was relieved on October 2. It partici- pated in the Peace Jubilee Celebration in Philadelphia on October 27, 1898, and was finally mustered out on January 31, 1899, at Athens, Ga. The following is a list of those from Lawrence County who served in the Fifteenth Regiment, and the com- panies to which they belonged: Harry D. Baldwin, Company A; John D. Barrett, Company G; George Beveridge, Company F; Adam Black, Company D; Harry H. Boston, Company E; Archie K. Campbell, Company B; David F. Campbell, Company B; George Davies, Company D; Robert S.

Davis, Company K; Wallace Earl, Com- pany G; Harry E. Eckelbergen, Company D; Thomas Evans, Company K; Clifford W. Fenton, Company E; DeWeese For- rest, Company F; Cowden D. Hetrick, Company A; Abner D. Hood, Company C; Norman MeL. Hunter, Company K; Ed- ward M. Kerr, Company C; Forgus F. Knowles, Company D); John T. MeDonald, Company F; Michael L. McDonald, Com- pany A; John T. McHenry, Company C; Robert J. McMullen, Company F; John Meredith, Company K; John Mulcahy, Company D; Lorenzo G. Nail, hospital steward of the First Regiment; George A. Rae, Company E; Walter S. Reynold, Company E; James Robinson, Company G; Charles E. Sankey, Company E; Calvin A. Shaffer, Company G; Edward Shatzer, Company G ; Frank J. Smith, Company G ; Sheridan W. Smith, Company C; George Sperry, Company G; Edward F. Thomas, Company E; John E. Thompson, Company A; Milton S. Tyler, Company E; Walter B. Tyler, Company E; Daniel Waters, Company G; Earl E. Williams, Company D, and Thomas L. Woodling, Company G. There may have been others in the regi- ment from Lawrence County; if so their names were not ascertainable.

Of those who saw service in the Philip- pines, we find the names of James Robin- son, of New Castle, who was a member of the Fourteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry; George Muse, an at- torney of New Castle, and Creighton Lo- gan, members of the Tenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and James B. Taylor, who went to the Philippines as member of the Forty-second U. S. V. I., and is now lieutenant in an artillery corps, U. S. A., stationed in New York Harbor.

Those from New Castle, whose names we could secure, who served in the Fourth Heavy Artillery during the Spanish-Amer- ican War, are as follows : Charles W. John- son, James J. Dugan, W. E. Jones, James A. Miquel, Nathan C. Patton, Fred D. Rea- her, William Watt, George E. Allard, John Graham, C. H. Lusk, Ira S. Rudolph, Mar-

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tin E. Reno, Harry Cassady, R. B. Barrett, Robert McComb Kerr, H. G. Walker, Van Horn, Charles Black, Charles Watt, Charles O. Stevenson, J. W. McWilliams and Ed. Neal.

The city of New Castle, at the present time, is possessed of a military company in which the people take a just pride, Troop F, Pennsylvania Cavalry, National

Guards. It is officered as follows: J. V. Cunningham, Captain; Thomas Arm- strong, First Lieutenant; William H. Dun- lap, Second Lieutenant; Ralph M. Camp- bell, Lieutenant Quartermaster; Allen W. Urmson, Lieutenant Surgeon. A hall is rented at No. 107 East Washington street for an armory.

CHAPTER XIV

RELIGIOUS DEVELOPMENT

First Churches and Pioneer Clergy -General History of Religious Organizations. Churches and Clergy of Today.

One hundred and forty-one years ago there came to the Indian town of Gosch- gosch-kunk, at the mouth of the Tionesta Creek, where it debouches into the Alle- gheny River, in what is now Forest County, Pennsylvania, a solitary German, a minister of the Gospel in the Unitas Fra- trum church, usually called Moravians. Accompanied by two converted Indians, he had set out from the Christian Indian town of Friedenshutten, on the north branch of the Susquehanna, which stood near to the present town of Wyalusing. Traversing the unbroken and dense forests of North- ern Pennsylvania and Southern New York on foot, with but a single pack-horse to carry their baggage, after many dangers and hardships they arrived at Gosch-gosch- kunk, at the mouth of the Tionesta. on the 16th day of October, 1767. The village was only two years old, having been founded after the close of Pontiac's war.

Soon after, the missionary was joined by his wife, and by John Senseman and his wife, and a band of Christian Indians from the Susquehanna, and they attempted to establish a mission at that point.

The results were not altogether satisfac- tory; owing to the opposition of the na- tives, the poorness of the land, and other causes, they made hut few converts, and a change of location soon became necessary. They accordingly moved across the Alle- gheny River and built a mission town in

what is now the heart of the Oil Creek oil region. The oil was sought for even then, both by the missionaries and Indians, who made use of it for medicinal purposes.

Soon after this the way of the mission- aries was made smoother by the conver- sion of Glik-kik-an, the principal sub-chief and counsellor of the Delawares, or Lenni Lenapi-a man noted for his eloquence, and previously for his opposition to the missionaries. Subsequently receiving an invitation from Pack-an-ke, the principal chief, to settle on the banks of the Beaver, on a tract of land that should be reserved for the use of the mission, Zeisberger, the missionary, after obtaining the consent of the Moravian Board at Bethlehem, ac- cepted it, and the migration was effected as soon as the necessary arrangements could be made.

Before they left the oil region the Lord cheered them with some fruits of their toil. Early in December, 1769, the first Protes- tant baptism in the valley of the Allegheny took place at Lawunakhanneck. Luke and Paulina were then baptized, and Alemani at Christmas; and in the beginning of 1770 several other converts were added.

On their way up the Beaver they arrived at an Indian town on the west bank of the river. a little north of where Newport now stands. Here they found a community of Indian women, all single, and pledged never to marry-an uneloistered nunnery.

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Though few similar instances, we believe, have been recorded, if any, it is hardly sur- prising, upon reflection, that such commu- nities should have existed here and there, in view of the degradation and unallevi- ated drudgery that is the lot of married women in most savage or half-civilized communities.

After proceeding a little farther up, they made an encampment and sent an embassy to Pack-an-ke, whose capital then stood on or near the present site of New Castle. They found the Indians making prepara- tions to celebrate a great feast, but on re- ceiving a statement of the religious prin- ciples of his visitors, Pack-an-ke, though it was contrary to Indian etiquette that vis- itors should retire without taking part in the feast, refused to detain them, but dis- missed them with his promise of protec- tion, thus setting an example of religious toleration that has not always been exhib- ited by those who profess the mild and beneficent doctrines of Christianity. King Pack-an-ke, however, reproached Glik- kik-an with having embraced the doctrines of the Christian teachers. The sub-chief perished a few years later in the wanton and bloody massacre of Moravian Indians perpetrated by the expedition under the command of Col. David Williams.

White traders had early introduced whiskey among the pagan Indians and the curse of intemperance grew rapidly among them. Thus early in the history of the county atrocities were committed that sprung solely from the rum traffic and from that day down to the present atrocities from the same cause have never ceased in our beloved valley.

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Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 25

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