History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Part 30

Author: Ashmead, Henry Graham, 1838-1920
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L.H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1150

USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania > Part 30

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The election was held on Oct. 12, 1847, and resulted in a majority of seven hundred and fifty-two votes in favor of the proposed change in the location of the county-seat. The opponents of the measure, in- asmuch as the Supreme Court had decided that a law submitting to the vote of the people the power to determine whether spirituous liquors should or should not be sold ju the respective townships when such a vote was had was unconstitutional, determined to test the validity of the law, which had been in like manner submitted to the people, respecting the change of the county-seat. In the mean while the act of April 9, 1848, confirming the removal of the seat of justice was adopted, a proviso in that act, however, de- claring it should not go into effect until the Supreme Court had decided the question as to the constitution- ality of the law under which it had been voted on by the people. At the December term of that year the case was argued, and at the following spring term the Supreme Court held the act to be constitutional. In compliance with that decision the court records were removed from Chester to Media in the summer of 1851, on the completion of the public buildings at that borough.

The incidents and happenings in the county from that date are so connected with the various townships wherein they occurred that practically the general

history of the county terminates for the present. The glorious story of the civil war-for no locality in the loyal States exceeds in patriotism that of Delaware County in that trying period of our nation's annals- will be related in the succeeding chapter.

Under the provisions of the Constitution of 1874 Delaware County became the thirty-second judicial district, the vacancy on the bench thereby created being filled early in that year by the appointment by Governor Hartranft of Hon. John M. Broomall, presi- dent judge. At the ensuing election in November, Hon. Thomas J. Clayton was elected to the bench, and took his seat in January, 1875.

CHAPTER XVII.

THE CIVIL WAR.

THE war of sections, which had overhung the country for over forty years, burst upon the nation on Saturday, April 13, 1861, when the American flag was hauled down at Fort Sumter, under the assaults of Southern military men who, on the plains of Mexico, had proudly marched to victory under its folds. Then the pent-up anger of the North broke all restraint, and a great people rose resistless in their might. It was amazing with what rapidity the news sped from farm- house to farm-house that Fort Sumter would be evac- uated by Maj. Anderson on the morrow. In Chester, Media, Darby, Rockdale, Kellyville, in all the towns, villages, and cross-road hamlets in Delaware County, the people, abandoning their usual avocations, gath- ered in excited groups to discuss the engrossing intel- ligence, knowing not in what direction to give expres- sion to their enthusiasm, save in demonstrations of pa- triotism. Over the court-house at Media, at the town hall in Chester, and the public buildings throughout the county, over mills, workshops, stores, and private dwellings, before nightfall the stars and stripes floated to the winds, or where that was not done, the angry muttering of the populace soon compelled compliance with the popular will, and tri-colored badges were displayed on the breasts of almost every man, woman, and child, for the people were stirred as no living man then could recall the like in all our national his- tory. Sunday followed, and the anxiety to learn the latest news from the seat of war was intense, and in the absence of intelligence the suspense became op- pressive. On Monday morning, April 15, 1861, di- rection was given to the public excitement when President Lincoln issued his proclamation calling for seventy-five thousand troops to be enlisted for a period of three months, unless sooner discharged.

In Media, on that Monday morning, the people crowded the court-house, called thither by the ring- ing of the bell, when patriotic speeches were delivered, and finally it was determined to form a rifle-corps im-

115

THE CIVIL WAR.

mediately. After arrangements were made to obtain recruits, the meeting adjourned until Wednesday evening following, the 17th. At Chester, on that same Monday evening, the old town hall, with its memories of the stirring days of '76, once more rang with patriotic calls to the people to arm in defense of liberty and human rights. Nobly throughout the county was the response made, and the sound of the fife and drum was heard on all sides.

On Wednesday night, at Media, the adjourned meeting reassembled in the court-house. Edward Darlington was called to the chair, and Charles D. Manley, Charles R. Williamson, James R. Cummins, John R. Roland, Robert Playford, and J. Crosby Fairlamb acted as vice-presidents, and O. F. Bullard and Thomas V. Cooper as secretaries. Speeches were made by John M. Broomall, Joseph Addison Thom- son, and Hugh Jones Brooke. Among the thousand baseless rumors flashing along the wires that day was one which stated that Jefferson Davis, with ten thou- sand troops, was marching directly on Washington, determined on its immediate capture. The intelli- gence, false as it was, served to rouse the patriotic in- dignation of the people, so that name followed name rapidly on the roll of those willing to be led at once against the enemy, and the ranks of the " Delaware County Union Rifles" were filled, while many men were anxious to be recruited even after the list had been closed. So rapidly was the company organiza- tion effected that on Friday morning, April 19th, the men were assembled in front of the court-house, where, after a prayer by Rev. Mr. Gracey, they marched to the car, and were forwarded to Philadelphia. There, at the Western Market-House, a collation was served, and the company addressed by Charles D. Manley and H. Jones Brooke. The same afternoon they reached Harrisburg, where they encamped in the capitol grounds, and the next day, April 20th, were mustered into the service for three months.

Company F, Fourth Regiment Pennsylvania Vol- unteers, mustered into service April 20, 1861, as follows :

Captain, George Dunn; first lieutenant, T. V. Cooper; second lieu- tenant, A. McMuron; sergeants, William Callum, Richard Stilas, Thomas J. McMillan, J. L. Woodcock; corporals, Caleb Hooper, James Mulholland, John B. Sully, William Dnrall ; musicians, Wil- liam Quail, Henry Carnay.

Privates,-Henry J. Baker, Thomas Broomall, John Bagge, Peter Brantz, William Baggs, John Britton, Matthew Blair, Robert Coppock, John Cottingham, John Clowney, Thomas Coultar, James Conner, John B. Davis, Thomas Dysou, John M. Davis, William Eekil, James Evane, Able Ford, Allen Ford, Lorenzo D. Farra, William Farra, David Grubb, Thomas Griffen, James Gorman, John W. Glen, Ben- jamin Gradan, George W. Gleo, Henry Greenwood, Hamilton Gillon, Robert Henderson, John Hollingsworth, Patrick Hughes, Daniel Harigan, Robert Johnson, Stephen Johnson, Jeremiah Ketzler, Thomas Kelly, Thomas Laden, Banjamin H. Magee, Michael Mon- ahan, Michael Martin, John McCuen, William McGinDis, Richard J. Nuttle, John Palmer, John P. Potte, Joseph Parker, William Roberts, Amos R. Rap, Franklin Redmond, Antrim Redmond, Epb- raim Stirk, George Stikes, Samuel N. Techtou, William Towneend, John Yaehton, Baker C. Wright, James W. G. Weaver, James Wal- ters, James Waseon, James Worrell, John Williams, Lee L. Yarnall.

The Fourth Regiment, commanded by Col. John F. Hartranft, was the following day, April 21st, ordered to Philadelphia, where, under command of Col. Dare, of the Twenty-third Regiment, acting brigadier, it was dispatched to Perryville, Md. There it encamped that night, and the next day was ordered to embark on steamers for Annapolis, and thence moved to Wash- ington, the riots in Baltimore having interrupted di- rect communication with the national capital. The regiment had been so hastily sent forward that it was not then uniformed, although the soldiers were armed with muskets and carried ammunition in their pockets. The Fourth remained at Annapolis until the 8th of May, when it was forwarded to Washington and quar- tered in the Assembly Buildings. Sickness prevailing among the men, it was encamped about two miles from the city in the direction of Bladensburg. On June 24th it was ordered to Alexandria, where on Sunday, June 30th, its pickets for the first time were engaged with a small party of the enemy. The Fourth, in the organization of the army of McDowell, formed part of the First Brigade, Third Division. Its hour of en- listment expired on Sunday, July 31, 1861, the day of Bull Run, when McDowell desired the regiment to remain until after the battle had been fought. There being a difference of opinion among the men, it was finally marched to Washington, and thence by rail to Harrisburg, where it was mustered out of service. McDowell, in his report after his crushing defeat, at- tempted to relieve himself from a part of the blame of that day's disaster by a slurring censure of the Fourth Pennsylvania, but the records of the War Department show that in the great majority of in- stances the men who composed that organization at Bull Run on subsequently bloody battle-fields mani- fested their valor and patriotism. The Delaware County Union Rifles, however, had been discharged from the service the day before the battle, and any reflection Gen. McDowell indulged in respecting the Fourth Regiment as a whole has no application to the Media company.

In Chester, at the conclusion of the meeting of cit- izens held on Monday evening, April 15, 1861, steps were immediately taken for the enrollment of a com- pany. On Wednesday more than a sufficient number had been enlisted, and at the meeting of the company it was decided that the organization should be known as the "Union Blues." An election of officers was held, and Henry B. Edwards was chosen captain. Rev. Mr. Talbot, then rector of St. Paul's parish, pre- sented a sword he had worn when chaplain in the United States navy, to Capt. Edwards. The Union Blues at once began drilling and equipping to respond at a moment's notice when ordered.

On Saturday morning, April 20, 1861, the Union Blues were directed to proceed at once to Harrisburg, and at six o'clock that evening the company mustered in front of the Washington House, in Chester, where they were addressed by Frederick J. Hinkson, who

116

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

stated that the citizens of the borough pledged them- selves that the wives and families of the soldiers de- pending on them for support should be protected and maintained during the absence of the men at the front. Addresses were also made by Rev. Mr. Talbot, rector of St. Paul's, and Mr. Sproull, of the Presbyterian Church. Rev. Father Haviland, of St. Michael's parish, personally contributed and solicited subscrip- tions to a fund to be used in equipping the men who had volunteered, and for the maintenance of the families of those who had gone in the service. As evening came the streets were crowded, and no one old enough to remember those early days of the war can forget the departure of the first troops who re- sponded to the call of President Lincoln, or the ova- tion then extended throughout the North to the "boys in blue," before constant repetition in the years of battle which followed had imparted a same- ness to the movements of soldiers. The crowd of people which gathered at the railway station, includ- ing cultured and refined women, was the largest the ancient borough had ever known until that time in all its history. And when the engine with the special train rolled from the station, the impression that war had indeed come upon the nation caused the populace to disperse in silence to their homes. The "Union Blues" reached Camp Curtin, at Harrisburg, the fol- lowing day, and on Monday, April 22d, were mustered into the Ninth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, for a period of three months.' On May 4th the regi- ment was moved to West Chester, where it arrived at nine o'clock at night during a severe storm of sleet and snow, and as no arrangement had been made for their reception, they were quartered in the rooms at- tached to the old depot. The next day Col. Long- necker selected a location for cantonment, which was named Camp Wayne in honor of "Mad Anthony," of the Revolution. On May 26, 1861, the Ninth Regiment was ordered to Wilmington, Del., to pre- vent disloyal citizens in that State from forming military organizations for the Confederate service, On Tuesday afternoon, April 23, 1861, an immense meeting of the people of the county was held in the court-house at Media. H. Jones Brooke was made president, and stirring addresses were delivered. Con- tributions amounting to two thousand five hundred dollars were made that day, and the county was di- vided into seven districts for the purpose of soliciting funds to equip troops and support the families of vol- unteers. Chester, Ridley, and Tinicum constituted the first district; the second comprised Media, Nether and Upper Providence, and all of Middletown east of Edgmont road; the third Marcus Hook, Linwood, Lower and Upper Chester, Bethel, and all of Aston south of Concord road; the fourth Concord, Birming- ham, and Thornbury ; the fifth Aston, east of Concord road, Middletown, west of Edgmont road, and Edg- mont ; the sixth Springfield, Darby, and Upper Darby ; and the seventh Haverford, Marple, Newtown, and and went into camp at Hare's Corner, between Wil- mington and New Castle. The regiment, on June 6th, was ordered to Chambersburg to join Gen. Patterson's command, and was attached to the First Brigade, First Division, under Col. Miles. On Sunday, June 16th, Miles' Brigade crossed the Potomac, the Ninth having the right of the column, the troops wading the stream, the water reaching breast-high. Subsequently they were ordered to recross the river and take a posi- tion to cover the ford. On July 1st the brigade again passed over in the direction of Martinsburg, and on the 8th a forward movement of the whole army was ordered by Gen. Patterson in the direction of Win- chester and Bunker Hill, but a council of war being held, it was decided to countermand the order. On the 17th of July, Longnecker's brigade marched to- wards Charlestown, where it encamped, remaining there until the 21st, when it marched to Harper's . Radnor. The meeting, as taxpayers, called on the

Ferry. On the 22d the Ninth Regiment was marched to Hagerstown, and thence forwarded to Harrisburg, when it was mustered out of service, the period of the enlistment having expired.

The following is the roll of Company I, Ninth Regiment, three months' Pennsylvania Volunteers :

Captain, Henry B. Edwards; first lieutenant, James G. Stacey ; second lieutenant, William Blakeley; sergeants, William B. Stevenson, Jolin Beck, James Williams, William Evee; corporals, Isaac Weaver, William R. Thetcher, Charles Storey, Jesse Cummings ; musicians, Ezra Dransfield, Alexaoder King.

Privates .- John Booth, Joseph Barker, Joseph Brewster, Lewis Benner, John C. Barrowclough, Thomas Blythe, Isaac F. Badden, William H. Brown, David Burke, George Booth, Thomas W. Bruner, Edward Crowther, Edward Collison, Samuel Cross, Daniel Crowther, James Cliff, Allen Carr, Frederick Cutler, Frederick Crider, Simeon Davis, John Doyle, William Elliott, Theodore Ettienne, Robert Fogg, John Farraday, Joseph Grooves, William P. Hoff, James Hewes, George Helms, William F. Jester, James P. Kelley, Edward Kay, Jonathan Kershaw, Edward Lilley, Edward Lyons, Thomas McNamee, William McNeil, John Marshal, William Marlor, Samuel McDaniel, George McAffee, John C. Morton, John Phillips, Daniel Pithie, Thomas F. Pierce, Anthony Quinn, Francis Rodrigos, Robert Reaney, Samuel Shepherd, Francis Scott, Edgar Stevenson, Willism V. Shellinger, John Smith, Samuel Smith, Thomas Toy, Joseph Taylor, Jr., Rich- ard Turner, George W. Wilson, Joshua L. Wilaon, John Wagner, Robert Wright, Alfred Woodhead, George Weigan, Reed L. Weaver.

The two companies having gone to the front the citizens of the county did not relax their efforts, but in all directions home guards were formed and drilled in the manual of arms, such organizations being ef- fected at Chester, Media, Rockdale, Darby, Linwood, Kellyville, Wildeville, Glen Mills, Village Green, Upland, and other localities. So rapidly did the or- ganizations form that on July 4th, at Chester, a parade was made by the Wayne Guards, Capt. W. C. Gray ; Home Guards, Capt. H. B. Taylor ; Company A, Capt. George E. Darlington ; Upland Guards, Capt. George K. Crozer, while on the same day, at the county- seat, the Village Green Guards, Capt. Barton; Glen Mills Guards, Capt. Willcox; Manchester Rifles, Capt. Ballentine; Upper Darby Home Guards, Capt. Buckley, joined with the Media Home Guards in a parade.

117

THE CIVIL WAR.

county commissioners at once to appropriate five thousand dollars, and twenty thousand dollars there- after, to be used for the support of the families of those men who should join the army. The activity did not cease here, for the subordinate committees in the several districts in two days after their appoint- . ment collected two thousand seven hundred dollars for the relief fund, and in addition Samuel M. Felton, president of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Bal- timore Railroad Company, sent a check for one thou- sand dollars to John P. Crozer, as the contribution of the company. Mr. Felton also notified the clerks in the employment of the road that those who should go to the front would receive their salaries while absent, and on their return from the war would be taken back into the railroad company's service. The women were as active as the men, and busy fingers found constant employment during all the four suc- ceeding years of war in fabricating articles of clothing to minister to the comfort and healthfulness of the soldiers in the field.

After the defeat at Bull Run had convinced the North that the revolting States were terribly in earnest, that they were brave men, ably commanded, and that a war which would dwarf all former wars in the world's history had begun, the popular excitement of the first three months of open hostilities settled into dogged determination that, cost what it might, the national authority should be maintained in every part of the land. During the latter part of July, and in August, 1861, recruiting for new military organiza- - tions was brisk in the county. Hereafter the local history of the time, so far as it relates to the several companies and regiments, will be presented in a con- nected account of such organizations.

Twenty-sixth Regiment (Three-Years' Service). -Although the history of this regiment antedates the actual outbreak of hostilities, and, as will be re- called, under Col. Small, it was attacked in Baltimore on April 19, 1861, when on its way to Washington to be equipped and armed, it is nowise distinctly con- nected with the annals of Delaware County until nearly a month subsequent to that event. Under the call of the United States, May 3, 1861, for troops to serve a period of three years, William L. Grubb began recruiting a company in Chester and the surrounding neighborhood. This company was mustered in on May 31, 1861, as Company K, Twenty-sixth Regiment, and on Monday evening, June 16th, it went through Chester. The people in the ancient borough, knowing that the company was ordered to Washington, gath- ered at the station and along the railroad. The boys in blue, as they caught sight of their friends and acquaintances, waved their hats from the car win- dows and platforms and cheered, which was taken up and answered by the people who had been watching their coming so anxiously. The main body of the regiment was then at Washington guarding the quar- termaster-general's stores, the arsenal, and the flying

bridge at Georgetown. The regiment was subse- quently assigned to Gen. Hooker's division, and early in April, 1862, was transported to the Peninsula, where it took part in the siege of Yorktown, and on May 5th, at the battle of Williamsburg in front of Fort Magru- der, it drove the enemy out of the rifle-pits into the works, which position it held for eight hours until fresh troops came to its support, and the fort was taken. It was engaged at Seven Pines, and in "the change of base," on June 19th, was in action at Savage Station. On the 20th it was engaged in the battle of White Oak Swamp from noon to night, and just before dusk of that long summer day it made a brilliant bay- onet charge, breaking the enemy's line, compelling them to retire, and the following day it took part in the battle of Malvern Hill. On August 20th it was with Heintzelman's corps, dispatched to the support of Gen. Pope. In that campaign it was engaged at Bristoe Station on the 26th, and the next day opened communication for the army with its base of supplies. On the 29th it marched through Centreville to Bull Run, going at once into the fight, where it suffered severely. Capt. Meekins, of Company K, was killed in this battle. The next day the Twenty-sixth Regi- ment was held as support to three different batteries, which compelled it to march rapidly from point to point as occasion required. At Burnside's defeat at Fredericksburg it was in the front line of battle, and was engaged with but slight intermission for thirty hours. At Chancellorsville, on May 2, 1863, the regi- ment made a reconnoissance up the road in front of Hooker's headquarters to feel the enemy, and on the 3d it was held as a support to batteries after it had fallen back to the intrenchments, a movement made necessary after the Seventy-second New York had broken, leaving the flank of the Twenty-sixth uncov- ered and exposed to a heavy fire, by which it lost nearly a hundred men. In the Gettysburg campaign it was with Gen. Sickles, and reached the field on the evening of the 1st of July, 1863. The next day the regiment was on the extreme right of the division, and suffered severely. Late in the day it sustained a charge of a Florida brigade, which it checked, and in turn charged the enemy, driving the latter in confu- sion, capturing many prisoners. The loss of the Twenty-sixth Regiment in this battle was appalling. It had gone into the fight with three hundred and sixty-four men, and its loss was two hundred and six- teen killed and wounded, this number including three color-bearers who were killed. In Grant's campaign, on May 5, 1864, at the battle of the Wilderness, it was on the extreme left of the army and held its position, although repeatedly assailed. On the 12th, at Spott- sylvania Court-House, it took part in Hancock's grand charge with the Second Corps, and in the engagement the Twenty-sixth captured two Napoleon guns, which it turned with effect on the enemy. It was actively engaged at the crossing of the North Anna River, and on the 27th of May crossed the Pamunkey River at

118

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Nelson's Ford, where its term of service having ex- pired it was ordered to Philadelphia, where, on June 18, 1864, in front of Independence Hall, it was mus- tered out.

COMPANY C.

Thomas V. Cooper, private, served until after battle of Gettysburg ; de- tached by order of War Department and placed in charge of gov- ernment printing-office st Camp Distribution, where he remained until close of war.

COMPANY K.

William L. Gruhh, capt., mnat. in May 31, 1861 ; res. Dec. 30, 1861.

John F. Maskins, capt., must. in May 31, 1861 ; pro. to let lisut. Feb. 6, 1862 ; to capt. August, 1862; killed st Bull Run Aug. 29, 1862.

James L. Seary, capt., must. in May 13, 1861 ; pro. to lat lieut. April 1, 1863; to capt. April 13, 1864 ; must. out with company Juns 18, 1864. Peter P. G. Hall, 2d lient., must. in May 31, 1861 ; pro. to adjt. Ang. 10, 1861.

William H. Phillips, sergt., mnst. in May 31, 1861 ; pro. from corp. to sergt .; must. out with company JnDe 18, 1864.

George W. Rossvelt, sergt., must. in May 31, 1861 ; pro. to sergt. October, 1862; wounded, with loas of leg, at Gettysburg; disch, ou surg. certif. March 14, 1864.

William Groundsell, sergt., must. in May 31, 1861 ; trans. to 99th Regt. P. V. May 30, 1864 ; veteran.

Samuel P. Morris, sergt., must in May 31, 1861; died nf wounds rec. at Gettysburg July 2, 1863.

Isaac Ford, corp., must. in May 31, 1861; pro. to corp .; must. out with company June 18, 1864.

James Schofield, corp., muat. in May 31, 1861 ; pro. to corp. ; must. out with company June 18, 1864.

Isaac Brown, corp., must. in May 31, 1861; captured at Williamsburg, Va., May 5, 1862; disch. on surg. certif., date unknown.

Nathan Larkin, corp., must. in May 31, 1861 ; disch. on surg. certif. Marcb 19, 1863.

James Ford, corp., must, in May 31, 1861 ; trans. to 99th Regt. P. V. May 30, 1864; veteran.

Nathan R. Van Horn, corp., must. in May 31, 1861 ; killed at Gettysburg July 2, 1863.

James L. Gelsten, corp., must. in June 12, 1861 ; killed st Gettysburg July 2, 1863.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Part 30

Author: Ashmead, Henry Graham, 1838-1920 Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L.H. Everts Number of Pages: 1150

Author: Ashmead, Henry Graham, 1838-1920
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L.H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1150