History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 58

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1158

USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I > Part 58

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Those who subscribed the Roll were:

John E. Webster

Daniel Kramer

William Kress Solomon Goebel

Charles A. Schiffert John Hook

Joseph T. Wilt

David Jacobs

Jonathan W. Reber

Nathaniel Hillegas

Samuel H. Schneck

Martin W. Leisenring

William Ruhe

Edwin Gross

Henry Storch

George S. Keiper

with his company to Washington with loaded guns.

Several hours later, after breakfast to the com- pany, supplied through the generosity of State Senator from Lehigh county, Rev. Jeremiah Schindel, the five companies were regularly mus- tered into the service of the United States by Capt. Seneca G. Simmons, 7th U. S. Inf., and with a detachment of 50 men, of Co. H, 5th U. S. Artillery, under the command of Lieut. J. C. Pemberton (who afterward became Lieutenant General of the Confederate Army at Vicksburg, and after the Civil War a resident of Allentown for a time), embarked at 8: 10 a. m., on two Northern Central R. R. trains, of 21 cars, for Baltimore, where they arrived at 2 p. m., with- out any special incidents excepting the waiving of Rebel flags by young women at a female col-

302

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Sergeants.

Jacob Miller Lewis Larosh John Koull

Jacob Krammes Daniel Dudt

Corporals.

Jacob Esterline David Shaffer

John Wertz William Laudenslager

Drummer.

Philip Myer

Fifer.

George Mertz

I believe the above to be a correct muster of pay roll.

CHRISTIAN J. HUTTER, Lieut. Col. commanding.

I certify that the company commanded by Capt. George F. Coldovey is now in the service of the United States, under orders of the General Com- manding Military District No. 4.

H. SPERING, Brigadier General.

Oct. 25, 1814. MEXICAN WAR.

At the outbreak of the Mexican War, in 1846, the local military company, the Harrison Guards,

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Henry Mich John Adan

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Georg

Henry Jacob

Jonat Danie John

Henr John

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Georg Tohn Conra

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Peter

John Godfı

Peter-

Tohn Georg John Philip.

John Ric

John Hisk chrisuan Lutz

George Krinamyer

Eberhard Ohl

Andrew Klotz

David Fretz

Anthony Lacleyder

Abraham Jeintimer

Henry Mohr

Paul Bar

George Reinert

Charles Rose

George Schlicher

Peter Snyder

Daniel Draxel

Isaac Lefever

Jonathan Shelhamer

Jacob Wagner

Nicholas Fegley

George Neitz

David Schubert

George Dutt

George Kriling

John Harpster

Solomon Finck

Christian Willauer

Daniel Christman

CAMP MARCUS HOOK, Oct. 23, 1814.

I certify, upon honor, that this muster roll ex- hibits a true statement of the company of Penn- sylvania Militia now in the service of the United States.

GEORGE F. COLDOVEY, Captain.

cuifed north of the town by Capt. David Stein's militia company, and paraded through the streets of the town to the square, where addresses were delivered from the balcony of the Allen House by Hon. John D. Stiles and others.

John Kuhn was not among this number, but returned a year later. The confinement in a Mexican prison had made him insane and he is still remembered by old citizens as an eccentric character, known as "Mexico John."

Rudolph Kent, who, in 1830, married a daughter of Jacob Deily, of Hanover township, was a general in the war. His son, J. F. Kent, became a general in the United States Army.

CIVIL WAR.

On the 13th day of April, 1861, two days be- fore President Lincoln issued his proclamation

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303

WAR PERIODS.

for 75,000 men, the citizens of Lehigh and Northampton counties assembled in the public square of Easton, to take action in behalf of supporting the National Government in the im- pending crisis. Patriotic addresses were made by Andrew H. Reeder, Esq., of Easton, and others, in which the two counties were urged to pre- pare themselves to sustain the President in his efforts to preserve the Union.

On the 15th of April, the President issued his proclamation, and on the afternoon of that day, the Secretary of War telegraphed to Gov- ernor Curtin that a call had been made on Penn- sylvania for sixteen regiments and that two regiments were wanted within three days, be- cause the capitol was wholly unprotected and it was feared that it would be attacked. The gov- ernor accordingly telegraphed an appeal to all parts of the State for men to come forward with the utmost dispatch for the defense of Washington.

No sooner had the news of the attack on Fort Sumter come to Allentown than Capt. Thomas Yeager, of the Allen Infantry (one of the three organized militia companies at Allentown), hur- ried to Harrisburg and tendered the services of himself and his command to Governor Curtin. Having been directed to bring his company to Harrisburg, he immediately returned to Allen- town on the evening of April 16th and opened a list for volunteers in the company's armory, which was then at No. 716 Hamilton street. Men of all occupations, both old and young, re- sponded to the call, and by noon of the follow- ing day, forty-eight had signed the roll.

The excited populace crowded the armory and the streets; the citizens packed a box with necessary articles of clothing, charged themselves with the care and support of the families of the departing men, and prepared a farewell dinner at the Eagle Hotel (at the northwest corner of Seventh and Hamilton streets), placing under each plate a $5 state bank-note, which, unfortu- nately, had no purchasing power upon their ar- rival at Washington. At 4 o'clock on the after- noon of the 17th of April, the gallant band of volunteers, headed by Capt. Yeager, and followed by a cheering crowd, marched down Hamilton street (lightly covered with snow), to the East Penn Junction and took train to Harrisburg.

Those who subscribed the Roll were:

John E. Webster William Kress Solomon Goebel Joseph T. Wilt Jonathan W. Reber Samuel H. Schneck William Ruhe Henry Storch

Daniel Kramer

Charles A. Schiffert John Hook

David Jacobs

Nathaniel Hillegas

Martin W. Leisenring

Edwin Gross

George S. Keiper

Franklin Leh Charles Dietrich James Geidner Ernst Rottman Matthew R. Fuller Gideon Frederick Allen Wetherhold Edwin H. Miller Norman H. Cole

John Romig Charles A. Pfeiffer William Wolf

Ignatz Gresser

James M. Wilson Lewis G. Seip Milton H. Dunlap

William G. Frame

Edwin M. Hittle

George W. Rhoads

Wilson H. Derr

Benneville Wieand William Early Marcus H. Sigman

Joseph Hettinger William S. Davis

Joseph Weiss

Darius Weiss

George F. Henry

George Hoxworth

William Wagner

Conrad Shlatterdach Stephen Schwartz

The following drum corps accompanied them to the railroad station :

Major Amos Ettinger, fifer ;

William Hittle, drummer ;

Charles Denhard, bass-drummer (Mexican War veteran).

John E. Webster, the first on the roll, acted as the color-bearer.

At Reading, Adolphus Schadler and Enville Schadler joined the company; and at Lebanon, John E. Uhler. These three volunteers did not sign the roll, but their names appear on Bates' Official Roll.

The Company arrived at Harrisburg at 8 p. m. the journey on the way having been marked by no special incident. . The men bivoucked at the old Pennsylvania depot, with the following other companies which had responded to the governor's call :

Ringgold Light Artillery, of Reading;

Logan Guards, of Lewistown;

Washington Artillery, of Pottsville ;

National Light Artillery, of Pottsville.

At one o'clock on the morning of Thursday, April 18, Gen'l Wm. H. Keim (of the State Militia, then Surveyor-General of Pennsylvania), ordered Capt. Yeager to proceed immediately with his company to Washington with loaded guns.

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

lege. They dis-embarked at Canton, a suburb of the city, but upon discovering an excited mob which had filled the streets of the vicinity, upon the suggestion of Capt. James McKnight, of the Ringgold Light Artillery, (a veteran of the Mexican War, who at once recognized the ani- mus of the mob to be directed against the new arrivals,) the volunteers only were ordered back into the cars. In a short time Marshal Geo. B. Kane appeared with a large force of city police to escort the soldiers to Bolton station, a dis- tance between two and three miles.

Then the men formed in close column of two, with the Regulars at the head. According to Bates' History, the Allen Infantry held the cen- tre of the column, but according to the sur- vivors of this company they occupied the rear. The mob, upon observing the formation of the column and the march begun, were driven into a frenzy, and when Lieut. Pemberton and his Regulars left the head of the column and filed off towards Fort McHenry, the mob became more violent, but the escorting policemen pre- vented the column from being broken and it finally reached the station without any fatal re- sults, although some of the men were bruised by missiles from the rioters, among them the fol- lowing members of the Allen Infantry:

Privates Hittle and Gresser, seriously lamed.

Private Jacobs, struck on the mouth with a brick and lost his teeth, and falling unconscious frac- tured his left wrist.

Private Derr, struck on the ear with a brick, and as a consequence has since been afflicted with deafness; but, it was reported that he repelled this insult by striking his assailant with the butt end of his gun which tore off the latter's ear.

The troops found their way into a train of box cars which prevented further injury to them from the volley of cobble-stones and bricks which were thrown by the rioters, and the train finally moved off, passing over the Pratt street bridge (which had been set on fire) and reach- ing Washington at 7 o'clock in the evening, to the great joy and relief of President Lincoln and all loyal men.

Although the total number of these "First De- fenders" of Washington was only 530, the morn- ing newspapers of the Capital reported it to have been 5,300, sufficient to deter the Rebel sol- diers, drilling on the opposite bank of the Po- tomac river, in their design to seize Washington and take possession of the capitol; and by the time Rebel spies and sympathizers in the city had communicated the correct number, other vol- unteers, notably the 6th Massachusetts and the 7th New York Regiment, arrived in sufficient numbers to prevent its capture.

The "First Defenders" were quartered in the Capitol, the Allen Infantry having been assigned to former Vice-President Breckingridge's room, which led off from the Senate chamber. They were at once visited by Speaker Galusha A. Grow, Secretary of War Simon Cameron, Col. John W. Forney, Hon. James Campbell, of Pottsville, and other prominent men from Penn- sylvania, residing at Washington, who expressed great gratification that the soldiers of the Key- stone State were the first to arrive for the de- fense of the National Capitol. On the next day, the 19th, they were visited by President Lincoln, who shook hands most heartily with all of them. He was accompanied by his Secretary of State, Hon. William H. Seward.

The following most interesting letter was written by Capt. Yeager to Reuben Guth, editor of the Lehigh Patriot (German newspaper at Allentown), the second day after his arrival at Washington; and containing many valuable details relating to a noteworthy occasion it is published in full :

WASHINGTON, Saturday Evening, April 20, 1861.

Mr. Reuben Guth:

SIR: I suppose you heard of the trouble at Bal- timore. We were the first men that crossed the "Mason and Dixon Line" on Wednesday [Thurs- day] last. The Secessionists in Baltimore retained our box of merchandize that the citizens of Al- lentown gave us for an outfit. Our trunks we re- ceived, but the box is wanting. Two of my men saw it in Baltimore when it was taken from the Harrisburg railroad train and placed on a bag- gage-wagon. We just escaped with our lives go- ing through. I suppose you have already heard of it. Two of my men were hurt with clubs and stones. We have the stones in our headquarters.

Where is the other Allentown Company? We have no tidings of them here. The railroad is torn up between Harrisburg and Philadelphia. We have no news at all here-unless the North sends men here soon, and enough, there is doubt entertained about Washington. I presume you are aware of the arrival of a Massachusetts Regiment? They quarter in the Senate chamber. There are doubts whether any more Northern troops can pass through Baltimore. Colonel Foreny called on me personally after my arrival, took me to his office, introduced me to the army officers, and sent me shouts of joy for being one of the first from the Keystone on the ground. Partook of champagne and brandy, gave me 100 "Frank" envelopes, and as quick as they get all he will send more. The loyal citizens are calling every day in our head- quarters to render service. A Miss Bach sent us some linens and things for those hurt fellows in our quarters, and white sugar and milk

The booking establishment in the capitol is not well fixed. The government is fixing every min- ute at it. We got 59 new muskets last night; that is, muskets with each 15 rounds of ball and cart- ridge for each man, so there are 1,500 in the cap- itol. There are 80,000 more in the arsenal.

305

WAR PERIODS.

The Northern troops will all have to come by water -- twenty-four hours from Philadelphia. There are men-of-war stationed at the mouth of the Po- tomac. That seems at present the only avenue for entrance of Northern troops. I presume you know that the government blew up Harper's Ferry arsenal preventing them from recruiting in.

A large amount of loyal citizens, descendants of Pennsylvania, residing here, came here and glory in our spunk in fighting through the riot on Wed-, nesday [Thursday] in Baltimore, three miles from one depot to the other; but we fought through nobly and stand by the Stars and Stripes. William Ruhe and William Kress brought up the rear of the company, as I had no lieutenants. They showed fight with the butts of our old muskets. Oh, it was awful! You can not imagine. Ours was the first riot on Wednesday [Thursday] and on Thurs- day [Friday] was the second, when the Massachu- setts Regiment, of about 1,000, fought through. They all had minnie muskets out of the Springfield Armory, and all loaded and 15 extra rounds; they killed a good many Secessionists and lost two men and some wounded. Good for Massachusetts !

Questions from the mob when we passed through ; I had my men instructed to say nothing nor look around but stick to me; they did so: "Say, you traitors ;" "Abolitionists ;" "Abe Lincoln's Militia ;" "Hurrah for South Carolina;" "Capital Success ;" "Hit him;" "Stone him;" "Kill him;" "What mus- kets ;" "No locks;" "No powder;" "Sponges to wipe cannons for Jeff Davis."

Right and left on us, their fists on our noses, you have no idea of the language, conduct, danger. The only reply I made was in one case: "Where are you going?" My remark was-"For my coun- try."

The belief in Harrisburg when we left there, Wednesday [Thursday] morning, of all Curtin's administration and General Keim, was that we would be massacred in Baltimore, as we were the first troops to cross the Mason and Dixon Line, but they did not let us know it. I took the hint, but I kept it from my men. The reason was we were only a few hours in Harrisburg when General Keim called at my door at one o'clock at night and said : "Captain Yeager, go to Washington immediately ; load your guns." Says I: "They are not in con- dition; no locks, no flints." He remarked: "They are good for clubs." When he mentioned the word clubs to my answer, I took the hint of an intended massacre in Baltimore, but I let my men drink freely to keep up their spirits so they should not take the hint.

About us being the first Pennsylvania Troops go- ing to the seat of government for freedom, and not only of Pennsylvania but of all the other free States, this courage and brisk movement of ours has made us not only friends of Pennsylvania, but in all the Southern Union papers; and particularly Col. Forney, who called on us immediately and re- joiced in our courage coming through the plotted assassins, particularly not having good arms.

If the Northern men take the stand in this matter as I did, we will between now and three months march back to our native firesides with the "Min- nies" on our shoulders, drums beating, trumpets sounding, Stars and Stripes in our hands and play- ing "Hail Columbia," and the perpetual "Star- Spangled Banner."

But this stand our loyal people of the free states must take immediately. Let them come in citi-

zen's dress as passengers; they can be organized here. Send me a good, strong, sober and honest Allentown man for a second lieutenant, immediate- ly in citizen's clothes. When he arrives at Wash- ington, let him inquire for Captain Yeager, Penna. Volunteers. He will find us in a few minutes, as all the free states' men have known me by reputa- tion already for the reason that I was one of the first of the Keystone State.

Colonel Forney gave me 50 franked envelopes and sent a messenger to see if I wanted more. Forney is a man, and so are the army officers I am acquainted with. Their acquaintance I got in this way: They send messengers to different quar- ters of the volunteers, rap at the door of the quarters, and inquire for Captain So and So. If he is in, answer "yes." The reply of the messenger will be: "Captain of the United States Army will send a message in a few minutes. In a few minutes a message comes in writing, addressed to Captain Yeager, Penna. Vols .: "I desire to see you in my office in one hour; office capitol, East, North or ag- ricultural office, this number." In this way you find out where they are and sit. They all sit in full uniform, very complimentary, but fierce, savage, and resolute.

I will have my trunk full of orders, letters, calls, and instructions by the time I come home. I pre- serve them all for future information. I have a hat-full already. We are called to Major Mc- Donnell's quarters every few hours through the day and night, all the captains, only to receive in- structions. He is the main man, called mustering officer of the United States Army-fine man, 6 ft. 2 in.

This letter is dated Saturday night, April 20th, but I did not get it finished until Sunday night; so the latest is in and correct.

They established a post-office at the capitol yes- terday for the benefit of all volunteers. All letters addressed to me must be addressed: Capt. T. Yeager, Penna. Vols. Tell Mrs. Yeager and my dear children and all friends that all is right and I feel well. Always send my wife word when I write.

THOMAS YEAGER, Pennsylvania Volunteers.

Postscript: The government cannot get uniforms before 21 weeks. They don't care much about uni- forms, but we will get all the overcoats in a few days. The other equipments are all first-class and plenty. We have not been on duty yet. To-mor- row night we get the first standing guard with one- half the company in front of the capitol for 12 hours. I got two new men since; one on the cars at Lebanon, Pa., a very smart young man named Uhler, and also another young man from Harris- burg.

I expelled a Dutchman at Harrisburg for not obeying my orders. I stripped him myself, in the middle of the street, taking the whole uniform from him and left him naked except pantaloons, stock- ings, and shirt, and took all the money he had re- ceived at Allentown with the exception of ten cents.

George Roth, Gideon Frederick, and John Romig are fast on the way of being cured. George Roth got the fits in the cars from Washington depot. The army doctor soon had him in our quarters again all right. Plenty of private Union physicians call to give their services. The water is very good and we are just getting used to it at the right

306

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

time of the year, in April. Shirts would be very desirable to us, checked and white ones.

We all had to take the oath of allegiance in Har- risburg by holding up our right hand to God and swear that we would support the Constitution of the United States and Pennsylvania, and obey the orders of our superiors. The oath was administered by Capt. Simmons, United States Army, Seventh In- fantry, mustering officer for Pennsylvania Volun- teers. General Cameron's son called on all the Penn- sylvanians last night by direction of his father. He showed us a new invention of a pistol made in Connecticut, which the War Department ordered yesterday ; 300, to supply the officers of the volun- teers. They are the most ingenious invention I ever saw. They are only for the commissioned officers- as you pull the trigger, the cock springs right back again and so you shoot six times.

There are no uniforms yet. It is a question whether the Secession mobs at Baltimore took our box of clothing with all these handy things in. At Reminger's store they have an account of it and it is a correct one. Our trunks were all received. The Massachusetts men were served the same way with their outfit. They say theirs were worth $3,- 000. The uniforms of all the Northern men will be taken at Baltimore if they come as soldiers.

I wrote to Governor Curtin immediately about the Baltimore affair. Shirts would be very convenient, check or white ones, as we lost all ours. If any are sent they should be sent by express and the title captain omitted; merely Thomas Yeager, Wash- ington Capitol, Penna. Vols.

If you see my dear father, give him my respect, good spirit, and iny country to the last. I had no time to write to him yet, but will try to do so in a few days. I consider you all friends, except a few traitors in Allentown and cowards.

Once my solid, stern, iron constitution gave way, -the morning when we left Harrisburg,-when I shook hands with Wm. H. Blumer, as the cars com- menced moving, about the contemplated assassina- tion in Baltimore. He accompanied us to Harris- burg. In military, nothing will move me, but con- templated assassinations moved me. But I thought onward and forward, with a resolve to live or die for Washington though threatened assassination come from whatever quarter.

The ladies of Allentown, learning of the needs of the Allen Infantry, shipped a large box of shirts, underclothing and stockings to the com- pany. The men occupied the capitol twelve days. During this time provisions and meals were meagre; fresh meats and vegetables were want- ing; the pork furnished was green and unpalat- able. All the more welcome, therefore, were the supplies (such as apples and fresh eggs), which were sent by appreciative friends at home.

Stephen Schwartz, after having been sworn in at Harrisburg with the company, on April 18th, received leave of absence to attend the funeral of his only child, and rejoined the company at Wash- ington during the first week, accompanied by Charles W. Abbott and Theodore Mink, who also became members; and a third addition, George Junker, was made shortly afterward. Junker, while passing through Baltimore, was ar-

rested, but he secured his release by pretending to be a deserter from Camp Curtin, at Harrisburg, on his way to join the Rebel army.

Twenty-eight members of Small's Philadelphia brigade were, by order of the War Department, assigned to and mustered into the Allen Infantry.

The five companies mentioned were reorgan- ized into seven, and with the addition of three other companies, recruited at Harrisburg, Doyles- town, and Carbondale, became the 25th Regi- ment, commanded by Col. Henry L. Cake, of Pottsville.

The Allen Infantry became Co. G, of the reg- iment. The lieutenant-colonelcy was offered to Captain Yeager, but he declined.

After leaving the capitol, the company per- formed guard duty at the United States Arsenal, opposite Alexandria. While there they were de- tailed, on June 8th, with the Ringgold Light Ar- tillery, to cross Long Bridge and unload from boats some thirty large cannon and mount them on carriages at the Arlington Heights entrench- ments. On the 29th, with other companies, they marched to Rockville, and then to Poolsville, Point Rocks, Sandy Hook, and Harper's Ferry, where, on the 4th of July, a skirmish took place with the Confederates. On the 6th of July they marched to Williamsport, crossed the Potomac to Martinsburg and went into camp. On the 15th the brigade marched to Bunker Hill, and thence, on the 17th, to Charlestown, and the following day back to Harper's Ferry, where they en- camped.

The terms of enlistment having expired, Gen- eral Patterson thanked the men and directed them to move by way of Baltimore to Harrisburg, where the entire regiment assembled on the 20th of July, and they mustered out of service on the 23d.

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History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 58

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1158

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1158