History of Cumberland and Adams counties, Pennsylvania. Containing history of the counties, their townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc.; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of Pennsylvania, statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc., etc, Part 120

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Publisher: W. Taylor
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USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > History of Cumberland and Adams counties, Pennsylvania. Containing history of the counties, their townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc.; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of Pennsylvania, statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc., etc > Part 120
USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > History of Cumberland and Adams counties, Pennsylvania. Containing history of the counties, their townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc.; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of Pennsylvania, statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc., etc > Part 120

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The Government declared war June 18, 1812, and the United States Mil- itia had been greatly increased in all the States, and reorganized. The fol- lowing company officers of the Adams County regiments held frequent musters, and June 3, 1812, a military order from Washington commanded them to hold themselves in readiness to march with their commands at a moment's notice. Of the Ninth Regiment Light Infantry-Captain, Samuel Shriver; lieutenant, Paul Rider; ensign, John Stine.

Militia-Captain, Sturgeon; lieutenant, John Noll; ensign, George Parr.

Twentieth Regiment-Captain, John McMillan; lieutenant, Jacob Bushey; ensign, Jacob Peasacker.

Fortieth Regiment-Captain, William Bort; lieutenant, Amos Underwood; ensign, Adam Spangler.

LA Kitzmuller.

HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

Ninety-third Regiment-Captain, Victor Mellhenny; lieutenant, Peter Slosser; ensign, George Slaybangh.

Capt. Ralph Lashells sent out notices to his command, the "Federal Troops," to meet for parade in Gettysburg. Wednesday, June 10, 1812. He said: " Business of importance to each member will be transacted."

May 30, 1812, John Randolph, of Roanoke, issued a flaming appeal to the country, and in the latter part of the following Juno this was read by the poo- ple of Adams County. Then they wheeled about, and, with Randolph, the Federalists opposed a war with England. Randolph pronounced such a war as "neither with the interests nor honor of the American people, but as an idolatrous sacrifice of both ou the altar of French rapacity, perfidy and am- bition."

Congress was now sitting with closed doors. Constant messages and doe- uments were being submitted by President Adams; the public excitement ran high all over the country. A mob in Baltimore "headed." in the language of the Federal papers of that day, "by foreigners," assembled in the early part of July, 1812, and demolished the Federal Republican printing office, and orders to march began to reach the militia in New York and other States; drafting men and forming armies were, in July, the work of the country, and "grim visaged war" was upon the nation-upon the Federalists and Democratic Re- publicans alike. The Federalists at first growled a little, and said it was a bad war, brought about by the Democrats to gobble up Canada and ruin thereby the whole world, but the first drum beat heard in the land acted on these good, honest patriots like the fiddle on the grim old preacher, who upon hearing it -knowing full well, too, that the devil was in the fiddle-could not, for his life, refrain from dancing to it with all his might; and they fell into line, forgot their political enmities, laid aside their politics, eager and confident of whip- ping all creation, and abandoned all political disenssions until "this cruel war is over;" but this united enthusiasm was short lived.

In August, 1812, Gen. James Gettys appointed James McSherry brig- ade major, and Micheal Newman brigade quartermaster of the Second Brig- ade, Fifth Division, Pennsylvania Militia. A government recruiting station was organized in Gettysburg in the fall of 1812, with Lieut. Dominick Cornyn, of the Twenty-second Regular United States Infantry, in command.

Edward McAuliff deserted from this State in October, 1812. He was a New Yorker by birth. Gen. William Reed was adjutant-general of the State and the efficient officer in organizing the soldiery of Pennsylvania in the war of 1812.

The war had been in active progress for eighteen months with scarcely a word of news in the paper about the war or any of the battles, until in the issue of October 20, 1813, it announced in half a column the capture of Detroit and all Michigan, and the capture of Gen. Proctor and his army. Not a word of the details are given, or even the death of Tecumseh stated.

The people of Gettysburg all rejoiced over Harrison's great victory. The bells were rung and the town illuminated, and for two hours muskets were were fired and the people paraded and huzzahed their joy upon the streets. Harper is constrained to say that on this occcasion all people heartily joined to- gether and laid politics aside.

A new quota for militia had been levied on the county, and in May, 1814. these new levies safely arrived at Erie.

In 1814 the Legislature passed an elaborate act reorganizing the State militia. The State was divided into fifteen districts. The fifth division was composed of Adams and York Counties, with the First Brigade in York and the Second in Adams County. The act also specified there should be in each regi-

HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

ment ten companies of 108 men in each company. This new arrangement of companies, regiments and brigades, and the number and rank of officers were nearly the same as we have it now in the army.

The state of political feeling wrought out in the county during the war may be gleaned from the celebrations of July 4, 1814, in Gettysburg. A short time before that day a call appeared in the paper for a "peace meeting," and inviting all who favored peace to meet and honor the memory of Washington and his compeers. So warm had politics now become that on that day each political party held separate meetings of celebration. Of the first the paper says: "A numerous and respectable meeting of the 'Friends of Peace' took place in Lashell's long room July 4, 1814. John Edie was chairman and Will- iam McPherson vice-president. A sumptuous dinner was prepared and the American flag draped the hall."

Among the regular toasts we give a few as indicating the spirit prevalent: Toast 3-"The imperishable memory of Washington-first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen." .... Toast 4-" James Mad- ison-pusilanimous in war, visionary in peace, and last in promoting the inter- ests of his countrymen." .... Toast 9-" The present Army of the United States-a quick and safe 'backing out,' the only relief for a rash and wrong beginning." .... Toast 12-"The American Plenipotentiaries to Guttenberg- may they negotiate a speedy and honorable peace with Great Britain." Among numerous voluntary toasts by the vice-president, Alexander Cobean, Maj. Will- iam Miller, Jacob Cassat, William McClean, John McCanaughy and Alexan- der Russell, we give that offered by Mr. Cassat as follows: "May the copart- nership of Democracy, folly and corruption be dissolved, and the debts and credits of the firm placed to the account of James Madison."

The other meeting was at the house of Frederick Rupley; the day was ushered in by firing a field piece; the flag of the Twentieth Regiment sus- pended from the window. Dr. Crawford and James Duncan were chosen presidents of the meeting; the Declaration of Independence was read. Among the regular toasts we extract No. 11: "Peace with honor and safety, or exter- minating war; death is preferable to dishonor or slavery. " .... Toast 16 -- "The patriots of the present war-glorious in their deeds on land and water." .... Toast 6 .- "James Madison, President-the enlightened friend of the country." .... Toast 5 .- " Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence-his practice in power proved the sincerity of his friendships and professions." Among the voluntary toasts by the president, vice-president, and James Gilliland, Mr. Cassady, Workman, Col. Eyster, Bell, Col. Kerr, A. M. Worts, Jackson, McGrew, Walter, Capt. Hoover and others, we select one or two. By the MeGrew brothers, "just returned from the lines, beg leave to offer the toast, 'Their fellow soldiers at Buffalo.'" By Mr. Jackson, "May the flag of the United States, undisturbed and prosperous, wave over the uni- verse. " By James Gilliland, "The American heroes who have shed their blood so nobly in the present contest with our common enemy on sea and on land; let their names be recorded on the page of history, never to be blotted out." The evening gun was fired and the people peacefully retired. The Federals thought the war not only cruel but unjust and a great crime, and in every possible way showed their violent condemnation of it and its supporters.

An old cast-iron cannon is planted on Baltimore Street, as a hitching post, that has a history of those times in its own history. At the Fourth of July celebration, or rather at the joyous celebration of Perry's victory, and Gen. Harrison's capture of Detroit and Proctor's army, and the reclamation of all Michigan from the English, the anti-war men would not allow the court house

HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

bell to ring out the joy of the people. So this old cannon was hastily brought hore, and in lieu of the bell it sent its rebounding echoes among the surrounding hills, and defiantly thundered forth the deep and long pent feelings of those who were eager to fight " all creation." if said creation only dared to touch the chip on their shoulder. The Federals hated Napoleon, the Jacobins, Jefferson, Tom Paine and Madison and the war. They were in politics of the Hamilton school, and wanted the nation strong and central after the English govern- ment. They proudly designated themselves a "peace party." So uncalled for and dishonorable was the war that they could see no glory in our most brilliant victories, and, hence, we find Mr. Harper's paper sedulously voicing the sentiments of his party, by as nearly as possible remaining wholly silent on the movements of our armies, and as to the soldiers from Adams County and the part they took in the war, their organization and departure, the battles in which they took part. the noble lives they sacrified on their country's altar, even their return to their homes after the war, of all of which there is not a line nor a word in the Centinel. Not the slightest allusion, not a name men- tioned, not a deed or sacrifico described in the weekly issues of the paper for the three long years of the war. It affords us a strange and suggestive chapter in the history of politics and war.

When America had conquered a glorious peace, and the splendid achieve- ments of the war were about to be realized, achievements second only to the Revolution itself, President Madison issued a proclamation to his countrymen containing the tidings. A daring Gettysburg preacher (we greatly regret we cannot ascertain his name) had the audacity to read the proclamation at the regular Sunday services following its reception. Then did communications, denouncing this blasphemous deed, pour into the columns of the Centinet from outraged laymen. Oh horror! " The Bible lay nailed to the pulpit," exclaimed one, "and the preacher has put away the word of God and taken up the awful slanders, falsehoods and blasphemies of that little creature, James Madison."

During all the war they cried " peace," and now peace had been conquered they were only the more completely miserable, politically. In war or in peace they would have it that the country was plunging headlong to ruin and deep disgrace. We believe some sage once said something about history repeating itself. If he did not. the intelligent reader, who puts this and that carefully together, may conclude that he should have made some remarks, squinting a little in that direction.

Gov. Snyder, on July 4, 1814, made full appointments in the reor- ganized militia of the State. 1Ic appointed William Gilliland, of this county, a major-general of the Fourth Division, and Jacob Eyster a brigadier-general in the same division, and George Welsh a brigade inspector.

In September, 1814, the people of Adams County began to feel the critical condition of the country from the advances of the invaders, and a long address was issued, urging all men to lay asido all differences and dissentions on po- litical questions, and a general meeting of all patriots was called to convene in Gettysburg on October 3, 1814. "to consider what further steps to take to re- lieve our distressed country and the sufferings of the people."

August 1S. 1814, Gen. Winder, commanding the Tenth Military District of Maryland, wrote from Washington City to Gov. Snyder this: "In conse- quence of the arrival of large reinforcements to the enemy at the mouth of the Potomac, I am authorized and directed by the President to require from you, immediately, the whole number of the militia of Pennsylvania designed for this district, out of the requisition of the 4th of July last, to-wit: 5,000 men."

Washington City was, as is well known, captured by the enemy and many

HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

of our publie buildings destroyed. The enemy was invading the country by way of the Potomac, and all this portion of the country was seriously menaced. All men might well become alarmed, as they did. At the approach of the enemy there was no more security for the Federalists than for the most rabid war men-all were or would be in "the same boat." Military headquarters of this district were at York, and at that point was in rendezvous a number of soldiers. These were hastily formed into a company and marched to Baltimore, which point they reached in time to be of good service. This company started from York on August 29, 1814. On the 12th of the following month they en- gaged the enemy and at one time were in the most important part of the com - mand and suffered severely, but conducted themselves with unexampled gal- lantry for raw recruits. The captain was Michael H. Spangler; first lieuten- ant, Jacob Barnitz; second lieutenant, John McCurdy.

On the 29th of November, 1815, the troops from this portion of Pennsyl- vania were under the command of Gen. Watson, when Gen. Scott ordered them to rendezvous at York, to receive their pay and be mustered out. These were the troops under the command of Gens. Foster and Adams. Gen. Scott thanked the men and officers for their general good conduct, and concluded: "The men had borne the severity of the wet and inclement season in their tents with patience and forbearance."

CHAPTER XV.

CIVIL WAR-RECRUITING IN ADAMS COUNTY-THIE MILITARY COMPANIES AND THEIR REGIMENTS-CORP. SKELLY POST, NO. 9. G. A. R.

THE echoes of firing upon Fort Sumter had hardly died away when re- cruiting soldiers to go to war commenced in Adams County. The pub- lie was moved by an unparalleled excitement; all minor issues were instantly buried; politics were happily forgotten; the people came together; great meet- ings assembled in all the towns; patriotic and sometimes eloquent speeches still more deeply aroused the already excited populace; flags were displayed from all public buildings and often from private houses; the shrill fife and drum filled the air with martial music.

Adams County stands proudly in the front ranks of counties in the number of and quality of heroes that she sent to war. Upon every battle-field they con- tributed their full share of stalwart heroes, ready to do and die for their country. With a population of not much over 23,000, she sent over 3,000 soldiers to the different services and commands during the war. The first re- cruits were Company E-three months' men, becoming a part of Second Pennsylvania Regiment. This company left the county April 19, just one week after Fort Sumter was fired on, and was mustered into the service April 20. Captain, Charles H. Buehler; first lieutenant, Ed. G. Fahnestock; second lieutenant, John Culp; number of men, 78. Next company recruited was Company K, First Pennsylvania Reserves; three years' service; mus- tered in June 8, 1861; Captain, Edward McPherson; first lieutenants, John F. Bailey (killed); W. Warren Stewart (promoted lieutenant-colonel); Henry N. Minnich (afterward made major); first lieutenant, John D. Sadler (killed at South Mountain); George E. Kitzmiller (brevet captain); second

HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

lieutenant, J. J. Herron: number of men, 112. Gen. Stewart was brevet brigadier-general, the only man from the county to reach this position. There was next in order an Adams County company that joined Cole's Independent Maryland Battalion (cavalry), in the three years' service; captains, John Hor- ner and A. M. Hunter; first lieutenants, W. H. Horner and William Mellhenny; second lieutenant, O. D. McMillan: major, H. S. McNair; from Adams County, 6S men. The next was a detachment of drafted men in the Forty- ninth Pennsylvania; estimated 20 men. Then Company G, in the Seventy- fourth Pennsylvania: one year's service; first lieutenant, Jacob Lohr; esti- mated 40 men, from this county. Then Company D, in the Seventy-sixth Pennsylvania, in the three years' service, was a detachment of ten or twelve Adams County men.

Companies F and I, in the Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania, were three years' men. Of Company F, the captains were C. H. Buehler (promoted major), Willian J. Martin, and James Adair; first lieutenant, Theodore Morris; quartermaster, William H. Culp; second lieutenant, William F. Baker. Officers and men in Company F. 112. Company I, captains, Thaddeus S. Pfeiffer (killed at Cold Harbor, June 1, 1864), W. H. Laumies; first lieutenant. Anthony W. Martin, (who was made adjutant, was killed at Monocacy), and Edward F. Cole; sec- ond lieutenants, James Hersh (promoted regimental quartermaster), Robert K. Slagle; in this company, 99 men.

In the Ninety-first Pennsylvania were 32 drafted men. In the One Hundred and First Pennsylvania, three years men; captains, Henry K. Chritzman and Henry S. Benner; second lieutenant. Thaddeus Welty. In this company, 55 Adams County men. Company G, same regiment, recruited in March, 1865; captain, T. C. Morris; first lieutenant. Robert George; second lieutenant, Sam- uel A. Jong, enlisted for one year; 98 men.

One Hundred and Third Regiment Pennsylvania, reorganized. Company A, first lieutenant, George C. Corson; second lieutenant, Samuel Eiholtz: 85 men.

One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Regiment, nine months' service, Com- pany I; captains, I. R. Shipley, Christian A. Missley; first lieutenants, James S. Shoemaker, Jerome W. Henry; second lieutenant, William W. Reed; 84 men.

One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Regiment, two companies from this county in three years' service. Company B, captains, John F. MeCreary, George A. Earnshaw; first lieutenants, Jacob W. Cress (promoted adjutant), H. C. Grossman; second lieutenants, Harvey W. McKnight, J. C. Livelsberger, Da- vid M. McKnight; 116 men. Company G. captains. James H. Walter, George W. Mullen: first lientenant, George W. Wilson; 86 men.

One Hundred and Fifty-second Regiment, Third Artillery; captain, James B. King; a detachment of 30 men; in three years' service.

One Hundred and Sixtieth Regiment. Fifteenth Cavalry; captains, James Lashells, George W. Hildebrand; first lieutenant, John K. Marshall; three years, detachment of Adams County men, 40.

One Hundred and Sixty-fifth Regiment, drafted, nine months' men. Offi- cers from this county: colonel, Charles H. Buehler: lieutenant-colonel, Ed. G. Fahnestock: major, Nash G. Camp: adjutant, J. Harvey White: quartermas- ter, Evan T. Rinehart. Company C; captain, Ebenezer MeGinley; first lien- tenant, Charles J. Sefton: second lieutenant, W. H. Lowe. Company D; captain, Jacob H. Plank: first lieutenant, J. S. Stonesifer; second lieutenant, John Q. Swartz. Company E; captain, George W. Shull; first lientenant, W. J. Bart; second lieutenant, George K. Duttera. Company F; captain, John F. Gilliland; first lieutenant, Jacob C. Pittenturf; second lieutenant,

HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

William N. Saunders. Company G; captain. Jacob E. Miller; first lieuten- ant, George Y. Hoffman; second lieutenant, W. C. Beck. Company H, cap- tain, W. H. Brogunnier; first lientenant, Franklin J. Martin; second lieuten- ant, Alfred Helsel. Company I; captains, Nash G. Camp, Edward M. Warren; first lieutenant. Noah D. Snyder; second lieutenant, Isaac Miller. Company K; captain, William H. Webb; first lieutenant, John S. Chronister; second lieutenant, David Day; 800 men,

One Hundred and Eighty-second Regiment, Cavalry, six months' service, Company B; captain, Robert Bell; first lieutenant, James Mickley; second lieutenant, Harry G. Scott; 80 men. This company was, at the end of its serv- ice, reorganized in February, 1864, and entered the three years' service. On its reorganization, Capt. Robert Bell (promoted major) was succeeded as cap- tain by James Mickley; first lieutenants, Henry G. Lott (killed), Isaac Buell- ler; second lieutenant, John Q. A. Young; 131 men. In this regiment there were in various companies detachments of Adams County men in all 40.

One Hundred and Eighty-fourth Regiment, one year's service, Company I; eaptain, W. H. Adams; first lieutenants, John N. Boger, Philip L. Houck: second lieutenant, Adam B. Black; 82 men.

Two Hundred and Second Regiment, one year's service, Company C; captain, John Q. Pfeiffer; first lientenant, John T. Blair; second lieutenant, John J. McKinney; 102 men.

Two Hundred and Fifth Regiment, one year, Company I; captain, I. R. Shipley ; about 50 men.

Two Hundred and Ninth Regiment, one year, Company G; captains, George W. Fredrick (promoted lieutenant-colonel), Charles F. Hinkle; first lieuten- ants, W. T. King. Calvin R. Snyder; second lientenant, J. Howard Wert; 100 men.

Two Hundred and Tenth Regiment, one year, Company I; captain, Perry J. Tate; first lieutenants, Charles J. Sefton, J. C. Martin; about 40 men.

Independent Battery B, second lieutenant, Clarence MI. Camp: about 25 men.

In detachments assigned to different regiments there were 50 Adams County colored men. In the signal service there were about 15 men. In the emergency service, men recruited to repel invasion, there were four Adams County com- panies; Capt. Edward M. Warren's Independent Company, Cavalry, three months' service; first lieutenant, Cyrenus H. Fulwiler; second lieutenant, Sam- uel N. Ecker: 100 men.

Company A, Twenty-Sixth Regiment; captain, Fredrick Kleinfelter; first lieutenant, William F. Hinkle; second lieutenant, Luther M. Slater; 90 men. Same Regiment, Company I; captain, John S. Forrest; first lieutenant, John Q. Pfeiffer; second lieutenant, A. T. Barnes; 50 men.

In 1862, Capt. A. H. McCreary's Company; first lieutenant, Robert Bell; second lientenant, Isaiah W. Orr; 60 men.

There were three drafts in the county. In the first draft the quota was filled by the 800 men in the regiments given above.

Corporal Skelly Post, No. 9, G. A. R .- This Gettysburg Post was named in honor of Corp. Skelly, of this county, who was wounded at Carter's Woods in the Millroy fight, and died in Winchester; he was brought to Gettysburg and buried in Evergreen Cemetery.

The post was first organized in 1865; reorganized in June, 1872. The charter members were Theodore C. Norris, William McCartney, J. W. Gil- bert, John F. McCreary, W. D. Holtzworth, William E. Culp, J. A. Kitzmil- Ier, John M. Krauth, George A. Earnshaw, J. Jeff. Meyers, George W. Wikert,

HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

J. W. Cress, Peter Warren, S. S. Palmer, A. M. Hunter, A. W. Fleming, George W. Myers, D. J. Benner, Jesse B. Young, W. T. Zeigler.

Officers: A. M. Detrick, Commander; H. W. Lightner, S. V. C. ; J. G. Frey, J. V. C .; N. G. Wilson, Q. M .; H. W. McKnight, chaplain; William T. Zeigler, O. D .: H. S. Buehler, O. G .; Thaddeus L. Welty, adjutant; W. H. Rupp, S. M .; J. E. Wible, Q. M. S,; John H. Sheads, O. S. The Post pur- chased the old Methodist Church and have it nicely fitted up for a hall.

CHAPTER XVI.

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS-SENATORS AND ASSEMBLYMEN-COUNTY OFFICIALS.

A DAMS COUNTY is now just eighty-six years old. In 1856 Mr. Stahle in his paper, the Compiler, published a list of county officers. This chap- ter will complete that list to date. CONGRESS. (District-York and Adams Counties.)

1800-John Stewart. 1808-William Crawford. 1810-William Crawford.

1802-John Stewart.

1804-James Kelly.

(District-Adams, Franklin and Cumberland Counties.)

1812 -- Robert Whitehill, William Crawford.

1814-William Crawford, William McClay.

1816-Andrew Boden, William McClay.

1818-David Fullerton, Andrew Boden.

(District-Adams, Franklin, Cumberland and Perry Counties.) 1820-James McSherry, James Duncan, Thomas G. Mccullough.

1821-John Finley.

1822-John Finley, James Wilson.

1824-John Finley, James Wilson.

1826-James Wilson, William Ramsey.

1828 -- T. H. Crawford, William Ramsey.

1830-William Ramsey, T. H. Crawford.

(District-Adams and Franklin Counties.)

1832-George Chambers. 1838-James Cooper.

1834-George Chambers. 1840 -- James Cooper.

1836-Daniel Sheffer.

(District-Adams and York Counties.)

1842-Henry Nes. 1846 -- Henry Nes.

1844-Moses McClean. 1848-Henry Nes. 1850 -- William H. Kurtz, Joel B. Danner.

(District-Adams, Franklin, Bedford, Fulton and Juniata Countics.) 1852-Samuel L. Russell. 1858 -- Edward McPherson.

1854 -- David F. Robinson. 1860 -- Edward McPherson.

1856 -- Wilson Reilly.

HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

(District-Adams, Franklin, Fulton, Bedford and Somerset Counties.)

1862-A. H. Coffarth. 1868-John Cessna.

1864-W. H. Koontz. 1870-Benjamin F. Meyers.

1866 -- William H. Koontz. 1872-John Cessna.

(District-Adams, Cumberland and York Counties.)

1874- Levi Maish, re-elected 1876.

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Author: Publication date: Publisher: W. Taylor Number of Pages: 1280

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher: W. Taylor
Number of Pages: 1280