History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Part 37

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

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There was no Sunday in Delaware County on Sept. 14, 1862, but all day long recruiting went on and men hastened their preparations to go to the front, while the busy hands of the women were actively em- ployed in getting their fathers, husbands, and sons ready to march. On Monday, September 15th, at Media, a company was fully recruited, of which Hon. . J. M. Broomall was chosen captain, which, fully equipped and mustered in, on the following day left for Harrisburg. The same day the Chester Guards, commanded by Capt. William R. Thatcher, and the Mechanic Rifles of Chester, Capt. Jonathan Kershaw, equipped partly by the Borough Council, which body appropriated fifteen hundred dollars, which soon was largely augmented by private subscriptions, was also dispatched for the State capital. In Upper Darby the Darhy Rangers, Capt. Charles A. Litzenberg, a com- pany from Thorabnry and Edgmont, commanded by Capt. James Wilcox, the Delaware County Gnards of

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Concord and Aston, Capt. John H. Barton, and the Upland Guards, Capt. James Kirkman, were also dis- patched to designated rendezvous. The latter organ- ization had taken so many men out of the mills at Upland that the factories there were compelled to close, as every able-bodied operator had joined the militia and gone for the front. Samuel Bancroft, of Upper Providence, supplied the blankets for the militia, and declined to receive any compensation for the goods. At that time it is creditable to the patriot- ism of Delaware County to record that out of a total male population of six thousand men subject to mili- tary duty nearly twenty-two hundred were under arms. History nowhere records a more spontaneous uprising of a people than that displayed by the men of Delaware County in the face of this threatening danger to the State. The troops from this section were, after their arrival in Harrisburg, assigned to various regiments and hastened to Chambersburg, where they were stationed at Camp McClure to await orders. Just previous to the battle of Antietam it was seriously considered whether it was not necessary to cross the borders into Maryland as far as Hagers- town, that they might be in supporting distance of the Union army. When the militia companies were in- formed of the contemplated movement the officers in- formed the men that it was voluntarily on their part whether they would go or not, that those who were willing to march beyond the State boundary, if so de- sired, should advance two paces to the front, and in response to this order not a dozen in all the Delaware County companies declined to· volunteer. However, the fierce battle of the 17thi of September was fought and won, and when the defeated army of Lee in con- fusion retreated across the Potomac, the emergency having passed the militia were relieved from further service in the field. The moral support these men rendered in promptly taking the field was of the utmost importance to the cause of the North at that juncture, and the spectacle it presented to the Old World was largely instrumental in preventing recog- nition by foreign nations of the Confederate State government.

The following is the roll of the various militia com- panies from Delaware County :

TENTH REGIMENT MILITIA.

Organized Sept. 10-16, 1862, and discharged Sept. 25-27, 1862.

COMPANY K .- Captain, William B. Thatcher ; firat lieutenant, Lewis M. Larkin ; second lieutenant, William G. Price; first sergeant, Henry McIlvaine; aergesnts, John M. Omensetter, William G. Evana, William C. Dubree, Joseph H. Hinkson ; corporals, William N. Pennell, James Morgan, Joel Lane, David M. Johnson, Gsorge E. Darlington, John W. Otter, Richard F. Flickwire, Francis R. Shoe- maker ; musician, Charles Dickerson.

Privotes .- Walter J. Arnold, William Appleby, David Appleby, George Bottomly, James E. Breckenridge, William Blakely, Joseph Blakely, Elwood Black, Benjamin F. Bucha, Theodore Bell, Nathan Berry, Joseph Brewster, John Cunliff, J. Engle Cochran, Allen Carr, George Cadmen, John Clark, Archibald Clark, Julius Dutton, Alfred O. Deshong, James Dunkerly, Joshua P. Eyer, Jr., Martin Faradoy, Henry G. Grubb, Henry Greenwood, James Glennan, Henry M. Hinkson, Samuel Haigh, David E. Holstein, Edwin

Hewitt, Charles Hinkaon, John Hinkson, Henry Hinkaon, Amos Holt, Joseph Hult, John Holt, J. Washington Irving, Benjamin Irving, Francia Harricka, Jolin S. Israel, R. Morgan Johnaoo, Beu- jamin D. Johnson, Theodore Lukena, Henry M. Lukens, Mordecai Larkine, Jr., Samuel W. Loveland, Benjamin Mason, Hamilton Morria, William Mackey, John F. McFall, Daniel McCollum, John S. McFadden, William McConnell, James McClymont, laaac New- ton, Jr, William H. Neur, David F. Newlin, William J. Oglesby, Samuel C. Price, William Pattison, Charles D. Pennell, John S. Robinson, Charles A. Story, Jr., Jaho E. Shaw, Arnold Shaw, Samuel Stevenaou, George I. St. Leger, Henry B. Taylor, William G. Veruon, Preaton E. Wilson, Lewis D. Wheaton, Hiran Williame.

SIXTEENTH REGIMENT MILITIA. Organized Sept. 17, 1862 ; diech. Sept. 25, 1862.

FIELD AND STAFP .- Colonel, Joseph Wilcox; major, Charles A. Litzeo- horg ; quartermaster, John J. Rowland ; quartermaster-sergeant, Isaac Johnaou.

COMPANY B .- Captain, Jonathan Kershaw ; first lieutenant, Abram Lowery ; second lieutenant, John W. Bech ; first sergeant, George W. Wilson; sergeants, George Smith, Charles R. Sweeney, Hugh Hatton, William D. Pullen; corporala, Richard Turner, Thomas H. Berry, Harry A. Hopple, Thomas H. Thompson, Nathaniel P. Chad- wick, Peter Goff, Charles Stringfellow, William Schofield ; musi- ciana, John Cullen, James G. Hunter.

Privates .- John Booth, Augelo D. Bolga, Charles Barger, John Brauken, Edward Briley, Enos F. Clund, Edward E. Cullen, Goorge Clouser, John J. Clark, William H. Dickerson, John Dunkerley, Jesse Galli- gar, Jacob Greider, Jr., James Hawa, William Latch, James Morris, Charles Martine, Theodore V. Rosevalt, Joseph Rein, John Russell, William Smith, William Sweeney, Robert Smith, Jr., John Sykea, Richard T. Turner, John W. Warren.

COMPANY C .- Captain, John M. Broomall ; first lieutenant, William Ormsby; second lieutenant, John C. Price; first sergeant, Terry Reilly ; sergeante, Daniel Mcclintock, Fred. Fairlamb, John Davis, Andrew T. Walker ; corporals, Ephraim Stark, Owen W. Yarnall, Charles J. Broomall, William James, Samuel P. Rush, John L. Moore, Jease Hibberd, John Coburn.

Privates .- Philip Afflick, John H. Anderson, Levi Baker, Alfred Baker, George W. Bertle, J. A. Bend, Israel Briggs, George W. Bishop, J. H. H. Cline, John J. Cloop, Emlen M. Chalfant, Joseph R. Camp- hell, Clement B. Clingen, Jesse L. Cummins, Walter C. Curtis, James Davis, Joseph Doling, Rubina P. Dunn, Albert Dunn, George Edwarda, Nathan Edwarda, William Eves, Jr., Michael Fern, Thomas Forsythie, William G. Goodley, Samuel F. Gracey, Henry Green, Thomas P. Grubbs, John G. Haddock, John M. Hall, W. W. Harvey, Samuel M. Henderson, George W. Hill, Jr., Heury Huddle- son, Henry James, W. S. Johnson, Isaac Johnaun (pro. to q.m .- Bergt.), Isaac Kerlin, John Leland, Isaac C. Litzenberg, John Lowe, Charles D. Manley, Jr., Thomas E. Malen, William Mitchell, William Moore, Waldron C. McGuigan, William P. H. McCline, Benjamin F. Niles, Henry Pennypacker, Pearson Pike, Charles C. Porter, John W. Pile, Davia Reese, Eber S. Rigby, William A. Seal, John Shipley, Joseph Shipley, James Taylor, David A. Vernon, Nicholas F. Walter, William H. Walter, Jacob Wheateley, Isaac Worrell, Jr., Joseph Worrall, John E. Worrall, Thomas W. Worrall, Henry C. Worrall, Edwin C. Worrall, John Y. Worrall, John Wrigley, James R. Wor- rall, George H. Yarnall.

COMPANY D .- Captain, John H. Barton; first lieutenant, William Wal- ter ; Second Lieutenant, Emmior S. Leedom ; first sergeant, Joseph Paschal; sergeauta, Wesley Clayton, Mordecai Lewis, Edward Bar- ton, Charles P. Walters ; corporala, Charles P. Petera, William Han- num, William Chandler, John Baker, Jesae Scott, George Dutton, Zaddock Speakman, Charles McGinnia.

Privates .- Elijah Bassely, George Barnea, Samuel Barton, Jesse I. Brozier, Edward E. Bartleson, Osborn Booth, Alfred Broadhelt, Jamea Brace- land, Joseph Buckley, Houry Cheetham, William Congleton, Jared Darlington, James Finny, Shelley Ford, Robert Fulton, Patrick Gallager, Isaac Gilpin, Lewis Green, Joseph Griffith, William Girth- wait, John Greenley, George W. Hall, Joseph Hannum, Samuel Hanaum, Samuel Hill, Jesse Jester, John Leamey, George W. Lan- caster, Samuel Lenderman, Jacob Miller, Thomaa McCall, Jamea McMullin, George McCracken, Joseph Oshorn, Eli Pyle, William H. Porter, William Palmer, Charles V. Peters, William K. Peters, Ver- Dun Pyle, Michacl Rail, William Righy, John N. Smith, Robert Smith, Aaron Swayne, Robert Taylor, George Turner, Aaron Tyson,

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

John L. Wcedon, Henry Walter, John S. Wells, Joseph L. Wells, William Yarnall, Albert Darlington.

COMPANY E .- Captain, Amos BonssIl; first lieutenant, James Shilling- ford; second lieutenant, Levi Lukens; first sergeant, Thomas Kirk ; sergeants, John Toppen, William H. Garrett, Charles B Lear, Joseph Worrall; corporals, William Newton, Joseph B. Robinson, Jacob Wise, Henry Hancock, Lewis Bryan, Joseph P. Neath, Henry Sharkey, William Kırk ; musicians, Morris Gilmore, John Welsh. Privates .- Thomas J. C. Allen, Robert Anderson, Thomas Barr, William F. Carter, James Cocker, William Garrett, Thomas Hammel, Plinez Holstein, James Hill, John Leedom, Henry Myers, Thomas Pyott, William Pyott, Thoinse Reman, John H. Robinson, William S. Rambo, George K. Smith, Charles Shillingsford, William Scott, Ed- mund Smith, John Allen, Henry Burhonse, Israel Cooper, Lewis D. Cook, John Donnell, Thomas Green, Benjamin F. Hannum, Reece C. Heacock, Richard Jones, Obern Lamey, Henry H. Major, Thomas W. Palmer, Isaac Robineon, James Robb, Thomas Robinson, John Smith, S. Charles Smith, John Schofield, Thomas Sharp, John Shil- lingford, Charles M. Worrall, Frank Alexander, Ellwood Baker, Cornelius Chadwick, Rolandis Cooper, Willism Geffing, James Gorm- ley, Morris Hannum, John Holstein, George Long, Charles H. Lamar, John Noden, William Palmer, Frank B. Ridgeway, Daniel Rively, Michael Rambo, George W. Smith, Henry Shillingford, Robert Scho- field, William Speak, James Wildes.

COMPANY F .- Captain, Joseph Wilcox (pro. to col. Sept. 17, 1862); first lieutenant, William H. Miller ; second- lieutenant, George W. Eachus; first sergeant, Robert Sill; sergeants, William Hall, Wil- liam H. Huddleson, Edmund Green ; corporals, Isaac Malin, Thomas Baker, Rufus Green, James Broomall, Davidson Baker, William Eachus, Abil Green, Smedley Green ; musician, George Hall.

Privates,-Daniel Baker, John J. Baker, Walter A. Baker, L. Baker, Edwin M. Bittle, William Broomall, Davis Broomall, Mark Broomall, Robert M. Barnett, Charlee M. Cheyney, George S. Cheyney, Hugh R. Cheyney, Timothy Donovan, Evans Eachus, Alfred B. Entriken, Oliver Farra, John W. Fryer, Ellwood B. Fryer, Robert Gamble, George S. Green, George L. Green, Pierce E. Hemphill, Thomas W. Hemphill, Edward Hickman, William Hines, Edward Howard, Pass- more Howard, John T. Huddleson, Ellwood H. James, Bishop King, Helson Lamb, Henry Lodge, William H. Malen, Joseph R. Menough, John Menough, William Miles, Sr., William Miles, Jr., John S. Pyle, Charlee P. Pyle, Humphrey Pyle, Ellwood Pyle, Richard T. Plum- mer, Joseph H. Regester, Friend W. Russell, John D. Roney, Smith Sharpless, Amos C. Sharpless, Enos P. Sharpless, Thomas J. Sharp- less, Joseph M. Stackhouse, Meredith Stackhouse, Elhannan B. Stanley, John M. Steele, Joseph B. Taylor, John Yarnall, Albin Yarnall, Walker Yarnall.

COMPANY H .- Captains, Charles A. Litzenberg (pro. to major Sept. 17, 1862), J. Charles Andrews; first lieutenant, George S. Patchel ; second lieutenant, Joseph L. Lewis; first sergeant, James D. Byerly ; sergeants, John J. Hoopes, William H. Ferris, George Serrill, Rich- ard Thatcher; corporals, Moses Bonsall, Charles Willis, Mordecsi M. Shaw, Walker Hoopes, George Bonsall, John S. Hansell, Abel Lodge, Jr., Hamilton A. Burk.

Privates .- George Ash, Jr., Henry Bonsall, William C. Bonsall, B. War- ner Bonsall, Reese Bonsall, Joseph C. Bonsall, Jesse Bonsall, Wil- liam H. Bunting, Jacob S. Bunting, John Bunting, Joseph M. Bunt- ing, Jr., Henry Burgoine, Edward Caine, James Carr, Samuel Carr, Andrew Coldy, G. Swayne Collier, Horatio P. Connell, George Davis, John Davis, Edward Earl, Samuel Edner, John Gartin, John A. Hall, Isaac H. Hibbert, J. Robert Howell, Henry Hoppin, George H. Lan- ing, Henry M. Leech, Isaac R. Lincoln, William H. Morris, Jolin P. Ottey, William Palmer, Henry Palmer, George Plumly, Josiah Preston, Henry H. Russell, Emmior E. Rudolph, Jacob S. Serrill, James P. Serrill, Jacob K. Simpers, Samuel W. Shaw, William H. Shiller, Valurins Sheller, James S. Swane, Albert G. Thatcher, Rich- ard Thatcher, Edward Thatcher, John Verlenden, B. Frank Wor- rall.

TWENTY-FOURTH REGIMENT MILITIA.

COMPANY I (organized Sept. 13, 1862, and discharged Sept. 20-22, 1862). -Captain, James Kirkman ; first lieutenant, Robert Britton ; second lieutenant, Nathan Van Ilorn; first sergeant, George R. Vanzant; sergeants, Andrew Lampert, Thomas Clough, John Gilston; cor- porals, John W. Thompson, Patrick Carroll, John Ardee, William Blythe.

Privates .- John Armstrong, William Anderson, David Beaumont, Thomas Blukeley, Thomas Bradshaw, John Blythe, Ratcliffe Bridge, James

Buckley, John Bail, Jonathan Cliff, Robert Cornog, Joseph Couk, Samuel Cottiogham, Joseph Dickinson, William H. Dean, Robert Davis, Henry Foster, Luke Hepworth, Samuel Hopkins, James Hulme, Thomas Jolly, Joseph Kay, James Logan, George Marshmso, William Melntyre, John McGovern, Charles McBride, James Orry, Henry Ogden, John Pretty, Samuel Pretty, David Pretty, Joseph Parkinson, Thomas Parkinson, Benjamin Perrin, James Ross, Ed- ward Taylor, John Thompson, Samuel Talbot, John Taylor, William Vernon, John Wiser, James West, Joseph Wyatt, John Wyatt.

INDEPENDENT COMPANY MILITIA.

Organized Sept. 11, 1862. Discharged Sept. 25, 1862.

Captain, Charles G. Andrews ; first lientenant, Frank P. Wells; second lieutenant, Perry Ware; first sergeant, Charles Paul ; sergeants, E. Pickett, James W. Wittermore, Henry Brown ; corporals, Lathrop Farein, Laverin Pomroy, Loren B. Dewolf, Moses Brown.

Privates .- Obadiah Alderman, J. D. Abbey, Isaac Bowman, G. W. Batch- elor, John Beaumont, Thomas Beaumont, John L. Brock, George Boroughs, R. A. Barnes, Liberty Carn, Calvin Carn, Myers H. Cole, J. N. Cook, John Campbell, W. A. Crane, Daniel Crouch, Loren Davenport, Martin Duboyce, Edwin Duboyce, Perry Eaton, E. F. Griffiths, S. J. Godfrey, G. J. Gorden, Albert Hartson, John Hilbert, Henry L. Hewit, Ira Hartwell, E. C. Hedding, C. H. Jackson, Abner N. Keep, William Kidder, Francis J. Kidder, Albert Keeler, O. R. Kirkland, R. J. Kennedy, Samuel Law, William Loomis, J. R. Mor- rison, D. C. Munger, Charles Newnhonsen, Robert Okford, Samuel H. Paul, John H. Paul, Lester Paul, Issiah Pelton, Seymour Patter- son, Edward Richards, Henry Runnyan, John Runnyan, Earl Run- nyan, Jacob Rubert, Benjamin N. Rogers, Wm. Spicer, F. M. Spauld- ing, C. E. Stitt, Sherman Stitt. J. L. Salisbury, T. J. Swap, C. L. Scott, Charles Selden, William Thornton, Thomas Thornton, Reuben Taylor, Augustus Weineeke, O. Wood, John Ware, John H. Ward- well, B. B. Wiser, H. J. Wright.

The story of Delaware County during those long years of war is almost a counterpart of every locality of the like character in the Northern States. The enormous drain upon the resources of the nation, the wholesale destruction of life and property stimulated an unusual activity in business to keep pace with the demand, and employed the surplus labor at high wages. The various industrial establishments ran day and night, and yet the market was often unable to furnish goods as rapidly as they were required. As the war advanced the Union armies were necessa- rily compelled to increase their numbers; every city, town or State, which was won by Northern troops required to be held by the bayonet, while long lines of communication, lengthening as the armies advanced, must be maintained uninterrupted. Hence it became absolutely essential that a great number of men should be called to the field, and as recruiting began to flag, the government was compelled to pro- vide by law for compulsory military service. To that end, in the early summer of 1862, the President notified the various States that unless the required troops were furnished he would call for a conscription in accordance with the act of Congress. In Dela- ware County, as throughout the North, there was a popular feeling against the measure, and it was de- termined, if possible, to avoid the enforcement of the law, by offering bounties to men to enlist.

On July 26, 1862, a meeting of prominent citizens was held in the court-house at Media, at which John P. Crozer was chosen president, H. Jones Brooke and Edward Darlington, vice-presidents; Y. S. Walter, secretary ; and addresses were made by ex-Judge

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Haines and Joseph J. Lewis. It was finally deter- mined to instruct the commissioners of the county to borrow fifteen thousand dollars, which sum was to be expended in bounties, additional to those paid by the general government, and for the protection of the commissioners, indemnifying bonds were to be given, in the event of the Legislature declining to enact a law legalizing the expenditure. On Aug. 4, 1852, the general government ordered a draft of six hundred thousand men, three hundred thousand of which number should be immediately called into service, the several States apportioning the quota of the dif- ferent counties. On September 1st, the authorities at Harrisburg announced that Delaware County had then more men in the field than any other in the commonwealth, according to population. On August 10th, Samuel M. Felton sent one thousand dollars to John P. Crozer, a donation from the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad Company, to aid enlistments. In the mean while Joshua P. Eyre, who was appointed deputy marshal to enroll the male resi- dents of this county, began the work intrusted to him, and so fully was it discharged that the list outnum- bered the election returns almost a thousand names. As the autumn came and recruiting had again fallen off, it was then found necessary to enforce the con- scription, and on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 1862, the names of two hundred and twenty men, required to fill the quota from Delaware County, were drawn under the supervision of Abel Lodge, of Nether Providence, draft commissioner, and the men so drafted were re- quired to appear at Media on the following Wednes- day, the 22d, for medical examination by Dr. Joseph Rowland, of Upper Providence, examining surgeon. On that day about one hundred presented themselves, when they were told that in the interval the quota had been filled. At that time substitutes could be had for four hundred to five hundred dollars each.

One Hundred and Fifty-second Regiment, Third Artillery (Three-Years' Service) .- The Dela- ware County men recruited in this regiment were in the batteries ordered to the front to take part in the siege of Petersburg, being posted on the Ber- muda front. Unfortunately, although the artillery regiments were as conspicuous as any other in the war, they never acted as a whole, and hence have not received the full credit due them.

BATTERY G.

James Elliott, private, must. in Jan. 11, 1864 ; disch. by G. O. Juue 15, 1865.

Elias Eaves, private, must. in Jan. 18, 1864; must. out with battery Nov. 9, 1865 ; veteran.

Arthur Marten, privata, must. in Jan. 11, 1864 ; must. out with battery. Artemua C. Jenkins, private, must. in Dec. 30, 1863; must. out with battery.

BATTERY K.

Charles B. Roberts, private, must. in Jan. 15, 1864; must, out with bat- tary.

Elias Baker. Charles Roberts.

BATTERY M.

Horatio Nelson Platt, Ist sergt., must. in Feb. 26, 1864; pro. to corp. Sept. 1, 1864; to Ist sergt. May 1, 1865 ; must. out with battery Nov. 9, 1865.

William D. Platt, corp., must. in Feb. 25, 1864; pro. to corp. July 1, 1865 ; must. out with battery.

Johu S. Fields, private, must. in Feb. 19, 1864; must. out with battery ; veteran.

One Hundred and Sixtieth Regiment, Fifteenth (Anderson) Cavalry (Three-Years' Service) .- In the early part of August, 1862, William J. Palmer began recruiting a battalion of cavalry in Pennsylva- nia, which was subsequently increased to a full regi- ment. When Lee crossed the Potomac and advanced into Maryland two hundred and fifty picket men were ordered to the front, while the remainder of the regi- ment was directed to remain in the Cumberland Val- ley. The detachment mentioned in the Antietam campaign did effective duty in skirmishing and as- certaining the position of the enemy ; and on the 15th of September, when the Confederate troops were re- treating from Hagerstown, it charged through the village, capturing thirty stragglers. On Nov. 7, 1862, the regiment was transported to Louisville, Ky., and a month afterwards was ordered to join Rosecrans, at Nashville. On December 26th, Rosecrans, then preparing to give Bragg battle, ordered the Fifteenth Cavalry to advance with Gen. Stanley's division, but the greater part of the regiment stacked arms and re- fused to obey the command. To the credit of Dela- ware County, among the three hundred who, defer- ring whatever grievances they might have to a future time for consideration, volunteered to go to the front, were the following : Captain, Edward Sellers ; Lieu- tenants, Joseph R. Thomas, Edward C. Smith, An- nesley N. Morton ; Sergeants, Isaac Bartram, Simeon Lord, Jr., Marshall L. Jones, George W. Lukins, Geoffrey P. Denis, John W. Caldwell; Corporals, Hiram P. Eves, Thomas A. Jones, Henry W. Pan- cost, Benjamin Bartram ; Privates, Horatio D. Sny- der, Andrew J. Buchanan, Richard Pancost, William Armstrong (the present sheriff ), Edward W. Jones, Augustus W. Markley, Samuel Trimble, Charles P. Sellers, Joseph S. Bunting, and William P. Powell. The brave conduct of those three hundred volunteers from this regiment on that occasion was made the subject of a special commendatory order issued by Gen. Rosecrans, and the historian Bates, in referring to this incident, declares that "the conduct of the men who followed the gallant Rosengarten and Ward, even under the most discouraging circumstances, and met death in the face of the foe, will never cease to be regarded with admiration and gratitude."

Stanley, covering with his command the right flank of the Union army, encountered the enemy on the 27th, whom he attacked, driving them nearly five miles, and on the 29th, at Wilkinson's Cross-Roads, in the engagement there, charged the largely superior force of the enemy, and, finally overpowered, was compelled to retire, not, however, until he again at-

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

tempted to dislodge the Confederates by a desperate attack. During the four days of battle at Murfrees- boro' the detachment was constantly on duty and suf- fered severely. On the 20th of January, 1863, Rose- crans made a proposition for the reorganization of the regiment, which was accepted, and the Fifteenth Cavalry was thereupon thoroughly organized and equipped. On the 4th of April, after a successful scouting expedition, on its return to camp Rosecrans reviewed the regiment, expressing himself pleased with its good conduct and soldierly bearing. Not only did he do this, but, to show his good feeling, in the Chickamauga campaign he detailed three compa- nies of this regiment to act as his personal escort, while the remainder was instructed to scout and learn the topography of the country in advance of the army. This service brought it in frequent collisions with the enemy, in which its conduct was highly meritorious. So expert had the regiment become in scouting, that in January, 1865, it was especially ordered to watch the enemy and harass their foraging parties. By a bold dash it succeeded in capturing Gen. Vance, part of his staff, one hundred and fifty horses, and fifty men, besides recapturing twenty Union baggage- wagons and prisoners taken by the enemy, and within a week afterwards captured a train of eighteen wagons, ninety mules, and seventy-two men of the enemy. It was indeed the eyes of the army, and furnished im- portant information to the general commanding. The story of its daring expeditions is full of interest, and its subsequent efficiency and valor amends for whatever error it committed in its early history, and several times, indeed, it gave occasion for compli- mentary orders from brigade and general commanders. Its pursuit of Hood's demoralized troops, after the battle of Nashville, was eminently successful and ad- vantageous to the Union cause, and on May 8, 1865, when searching for Jefferson Davis, near the forks of the Appalachee and Oconee Rivers, it captured seven wagons, one containing one hundred and eighty-eight thousand dollars in coin, one with one million five hundred and eighty-eight thousand dollars in bank- notes and other securities, one containing four mil- lion dollars of Confederate money, besides consider- able specie, plate, and valuables belonging to private parties in Macon. Two days afterwards Company G captured Gen. Bragg, his wife, and staff-officers. The war being at an end, the regiment went to Nashville, where, on the 21st day of May, 1865, it was mustered out of service.

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History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Part 37

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