History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 64

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1534

USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania > Part 64

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THE GREAT REBELLION.

tacking one of Prentiss' scouting-parties, killing a captain and one man, and taking twelve prisoners and thirty horses.

In the mean time the remainder of the regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Lamborn, was attacked by Vaughan's forces, which had returned from Virginia. Lamborn held the ford of the North Fork of the Hols- ton against Vaughan for one day, and at night, hav- ing no supports, retired towards Bull's Gap, losing in the skirmish one man wounded. On the following day, while crossing a difficult ford of the main stream, he was again attacked by a large force. The com- mand was in column, along the river-bank, the enemy occupying a steep bluff commanding the ford and the road which led to it, over which the column was advancing. A company was sent to the rear of the attacking party, which, coming upon the enemy un- awares, made a sudden dash, capturing three officer: and eight men, and so disconcerting the entire party that it took to its heels, leaving the Union force, of only one hundred and twenty-five men, to cross and move unmolested to Bull's Gap. Upon their arrival in camp General Gillem complimented them, in an order, "for their action at Rogerville, October 7th - when in the face of a rebel force much larger than their own, they crossed the Holston River, capturing three rebel lieutenants and eight enlisted men, with no loss."

After this the main body of the regiment and the detachment under Colonel Palmer assembled in camp near Chattanooga, and for two months were engaged in scouting for a long distance on all sides, frequently meeting bands of the enemy. On the 20th of Decem- ber, Colonel Palmer, with his own and detachments from other regiments to the number of six hundred men, proceeded to Decatur, whence he pushed for- ward, on the south bank of the Tennessee River, in pursuit of Hood's demoralized troops, now in full retreat from Tennessee, having been thoroughly de- feated, in the battle of Nashville, by Thomas. With- out attempting to give the details of this eminently successful expedition, its character may be judged by the following summary of results : The capture of two hundred prisoners, including two colonels, three cap- tains and eight lieutenants, and the destruction of seven hundred and fifty stands of arms; the capture, on the night of December 28th, of two pieces of Gen- eral Roddy's artillery, with horses and equipments ; the capture and complete destruction, on the 31st, of the entire pontoon bridge, having seventy-eight boats. on which Hood crossed the Tennessee River, with two hundred wagons loaded with tools, ropes, engineer- ing instruments and supplies; the capture, on the night of January 1, 1865, of a supply train of Hood of one hundred and ten wagons, while on its way from Benton Station to Tuscaloosa, and its complete destruction ; the surprise and complete rout, on the Tuscaloosa road, below Moulton, of the rebel Colonel Russell's regiment of cavalry, Fourth Alabama, and

the capture and destruction of his train, with the papers and baggage of the brigade ; and the repeated defeat and route of Roddy's forces, causing their dis- bandment. The entire loss of the command was one man killed and two wounded. It successfully eluded largely superior forces of the enemy while on its re- turn to Decatur, and brought all its captures safely in.

Upon its return the command was ordered to Huntsville for rest, but on the night following its arrival Colonel Palmer was directed to take all his available mounted men and intercept the rebel Gen- eral Lyon at Fort Deposit. Failing in this, Colonel Palmier crossed the river in pursuit, came up with Lyon on January 16th, surprised his camp before daylight and routed his command, capturing his only piece of artillery and ninety-six prisoners, which were bronght off. Lyon himself was taken, but suc- ceeded in making his escape, after shooting the ser- geant who had him in charge,-the only loss. Colonel Palmer led out another scouting-party, on the 27th, of one hundred and fifty men in pursuit of a guerilla band, under Colonel Meade, infesting the Cumberland Mountains, returning on the 6th of February with one captain, two lieutenants and twenty-three pri- vates as prisoners.

Before starting on the spring campaign fresh horses were supplied aud the command was completely re- fitted for active service. General Stoneman was placed in command of the cavalry, and Colonel Palmer, who had been promoted to brevet brigadier- general, was assigned to the command of the First Brigade of Gillem's division, whereupon Lieutenant- Colonel Betts, who had been promoted from major, took command of the regiment. Towards the close of March, Stoneman started on an important expedi- tion towards North Carolina. On the 29th he reached Wilkesboro', on the Yadkin River, where he had a skirmish. Here he received intelligence which deter- mined him to turn north towards the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, which he fell to destroying, the Fifteenth being actively employed in this work. From this point Major Wagner, with four companies, made a demonstration to within sight of Lynchburg, Va., destroying two important railroad bridges. He re- joined the command, after an absence of ten days, near Salisbury, N. C., having sustained a loss, of one killed and eight wounded and captured. On the 19th of April a detachment of the regiment under Major Garner destroyed a railroad bridge ten miles north of Greensboro', N. C., after a brisk skirmish with the gnard. At the same time Lieutenaut-Colonel Betts, with ninety men, surprised the camp of the Third South Carolina Cavalry, near Greensboro', and charged upon it, capturing the commanding officer, Lieutenant- Colonel Johnson, four of his officers and forty-four men, with their horses, reginiental wagons and camp equipage. On the following day a detachment under Captain Kramer met and defeated a superior force of

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

the enemy at Jamestown, destroying the depot and a truss-covered bridge at Deep River. On the 12th, Salisbury, N. C., was captured and immense rebel stores destroyed, when the command turned towards Knoxville. Towards the close of April, intelligence of the surrender of Lee and Johnson having been received, the division of General Gillem, now com- manded by General Palmer, was ordered to proceed south for the capture of Jefferson Davis and train. Night and day, with the most untiring energy and skill, the pursuit was pushed. On the 8th of May seven wagons, containing the effects of the banks of Macon, were captured. "On the morning of the 8th, instant," says General Palmer, in his official report, " while searching for Davis near the fork of the Appalachee and Oconee Rivers, Colonel Betts, Fif- teenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, captured seven wagons in the woods, which contained one hundred and eighty-eight thousand dollars in coin, one million five hundred and eighty-eight thousand dollars in bank-notes, bonds and securities, and about four millions of Confederate money, besides considerable specie, plate and other valuables belonging to private citizens of Macon. The wagons contained also the private baggage, maps, and official papers of Generals Beauregard and Pillow. Nothing was disturbed, and I sent the whole in by railroad to Angusta to the ; who were then in the field had dispelled all fancy commanding officer of the United States forces, to await the action of the government." Two days after, Company G, Captain Samuel Phillips, captured Gen- eral Bragg, his wife, staff officers and three wagons, which were sent under guard to the headquarters of General Wilson. On the 15th news was received of the capture of Davis and party by Colonel Pritchard, of the Fourth Michigan Cavalry, detachments from Colonel Betts' command being close npon his trail. The regiment now started northward, and on the 12th of June arrived at Nashville, where, on the 21st, it was mustered out of service.

RECRUITS FROM MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

Henry K. Weand, mustered into service Aug. 24, 1862 ; pro. to corp. Oct. 30, 1862; to sergt. Nov. 1, 1862 ; to Ist sergt. March 1, 1863; to 1st lient. May 8, 1863 : com. capt. Co. H, Feb. 20, 1865 ; must. out with company June 21, 1865.

Privates.

Jacob Fitzwater, Henry Cress, Chas. H. Cress, Robert Dager, Theodore F. Ramsey, Josiah C. Reiff, O. S. Spang, Fred. Spang, William Spang, Fred. S. Shrack, Abner Evans, John .I. Shelmin, Andrew W. Wills, Ed- win H. Hiltner, Nicholas F. Dager, Abraham Hartranft, Geo. W. Lukens, Courtland F. MeCarter, Wm. Wills, .Ir., David R. Conrad, Samuel F. Tyson, Joshua Johnson, Thos. B. Tucker, Harry Somers, J. R. Steinmetz.

Alexander R. Cutler, of the Philadelphia bar, now residing in Norris- town, was a member of this regiment, Co. C; also John W. Eckman, present superintendent of the Montgomery Furnace, at Port Kennedy, and Joseph C. Weatherby, a resident of Norriton township, near l'enn Square.

The One Hundred and Sixty-Second Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers (Seventeenth Cavalry) .- The organization of Company L, composed of men from Montgomery and Chester Counties, was attended with some unusual circumstances, which seem to re- quire special mention. David B. Hartranft, propri-

etor of the Jeffersonville Hotel, Norriton township, received authority to recruit a cavalry company, under the call of President Lincoln, July 2, 1862, for three hundred thousand volunteers to serve for three years or during the war.1 Hartranft had been an active member of Captain Leidy's Washington Troop, a volunteer organization in the days of peace, but which melted away, like almost all similar organi- zations in the country, when active service invited men of arms to the front. The period was favorable to enlistments. The Peninsula campaign, with that of General Pope in front of Washington, had closed in disaster. The ordinary channels of trade and business were paralyzed. The fact was painfully manifest that the struggle was still gathering fury, and, if the unity of the country was to be pre- served, inen of all classes would have to fill up the dreadful gaps resulting from the ill-fated battles fought in front of Richmond and Washington. IFitherto the young and unmarried men largely filled up the company and regimental organizations accredited to the county, but this call appealed to the patriotism of men of family and those settled in life. Fully fifty per cent. of the company were mounted men. The call was for three years' service or during the war, and the rough experience of those notions of the glitter and pomp of war. Those who were now to march felt that it was a serious matter, and this feeling was fully shared by the families of the men and the public in general.

Among those recruited by Hartranft were fifty men in temporary camp at Zeiglersville, Frederick town- -hip. These men had been enlisted by John B. Adams, who was authorized to organize a regiment of infantry. Under the pressing exigencies of the public service, in the month of August, 1862, an order was issued by the Secretary of War to consolidate regi- ments in process of formation and forward them at once to Washington for assignment to brigades. In the execution of this order the men enlisted by Adams and Ellmaker were organized into the One Hundred and Nineteenth regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers. Under this arrangement Peter C. Ell- maker was commissioned colonel. This gave offense to Adams, who failed to report the men in camp at Zeiglersville. Hartranft found these fifty men, who represented that the officer recruiting them had aban- doned them, and they expressed their desire to join the company of cavalry then forming. They were accepted, fifty in number, and about the middle of August, 1862, the full company of one hundred mnen assembled at Zeiglersville, and, after a royal breakfast, provided by the kind-hearted people of the village, the company took carriages, furnished by the farmers and business men of the neighborhood, and

1 U'nder the call, Pennsylvania was required to furnish three regiments of cavalry. The Sixteenth, Seventeenth and Eighteenth were organized. (See Bates' History, vol. iv. pp. 950, 1001, 1043).

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THE GREAT REBELLION.

drove to Pottstown, where they took the cars for Harrisburg. The company officers upon leaving the county were as follows: First Lieutenant, R. B. Rhoads ; Second Lieutenant, Joshua Houck. Upon arriving at the State capital the company was marched to Camp Curtin, commanded by Captain Tarbutton, where it drew camp equipage and provision -. The men passed the usual physical examinations and were then tested in horsemanship, and duly mustered into the service of the United States on the 17th day of September, 1862, to " serve for three years or during the war." Theodore W. Bean was appointed first sergeant of the company. Clothing was issued to the men, and the work of squad and company drill was about to commence, when an order was received from the commandant of the camp to muster the men in the company street. The order required the men whose names were called to step two paces to the front. All the Adams recruits were called. They were declared under arrest, and escorted by the provost guard of the capital to quarters in the city of Harrisburg, there to await the further orders of the Secretary of War.

The fact now became evident to the officers of the company that all the Zeiglersville recruits had been regularly " mustered in " under the order of Adams, and the rolls returned to the Secretary of War under the order to consolidate, and that therefore their men belonged of right to Colonel Ellmaker's command. The manner in which these men were claimed was felt to be humiliating, and the officers and men remaining felt it due to themselves and those under arrest to investigate the facts, and, if possible, have them restored to the command. It is just to the great and good war-Governor Curtin and his Adju- tant-General Russel to say that both offered every facility to fully investigate the facts and circum- stances of the case. Theo. W. Bean was designated by the officers and men in camp and those detained to proceed to Washington to confer with the Secretary of War and Adjutant-General of the United States army. Governor Curtin and General Russel united in a strong appeal to the Secretary of War for the restoration of these men to the cavalry service, and the gentleman bearing the dispatches pressed the request of officers and men and the appeal of the State authorities in terms the most considerate his address coukl command. The matter was referred to , Adjutant-General Thomas, U.S.A., who, in a per- sonal interview, declined to change or modify their original muster-in roll, but at once relieved the men from the order of arrest, and directed them to be for- warded, under the command of a commissioned officer, to the regiment to which they originally belonged. Sergeant Bean returned from Washington and reported results to the men. They were promptly relieved from arrest, and accepted the situation without murmur or remonstrance. They were gallant and patriotic men, and their record in the noble regiment

to which they subsequently became attached is highly creditable to themselves and their country.

LIST OF MEN NOT ON MUSTER-ROLL, COMPANY L, SEVEN- TEENTH PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.

Henry S. Acker, Jacob Antis, Joseph Anchy, Clem. Armbruster, Peter S. Boyer, Jonas Boyer, Henry Basler, Jacob Batzel, George Brusius, Wm. Dearoff, John F'aust, John Freese, Mahlon Herbert, Henry Herbst, John Jenkins, Harrison Johnson, Jarob Johnson, John Kohl, Milton Krause, Aug. Keyser, Abr. P. Koons, Edwd. Kepp, John P. Koons, Fred. P. Koons, Philip Kline, Saml. S. Leidig, Albert Leidig, II. S. Long- aker, John Lord, Lewis D, Miller, Adam Moyer, John G. Miller, John Neiman, John Neiffer, Daniel Puhl, John Pool, William D. Quigg, Oliver Rushon, John sloop, Henry Styer, Elias Smith, Franklin Shuler, John Schnenk, Samuel Schlottern, Jacob Smith, James Smith, Arnold Ulmer, Joseph Underkuffler, Aaron Wick, Christian Wick, Henry Wolff.

This separation and loss of men disorganized the original company, in consequence of which Lieu- tenants Rhoads and Houck lost their positions, neither of whom accompanied the enlisted men to the One Hundred and Nineteenth Regiment. Captain Hart- ranft still had fifty men in camp, but under the altered circumstances could not be mustered. About this time Lieutenant John Rees, with fifty men from Chester County, reported to Captain Tarbutton ; overtures were at once made for a consolidation of the two commands, and a new company organization was effected. The Chester County men were at once transferred to the quarters vacated by the Zeiglersville recruits, and an election of officers was immediately held, which resulted in the choice of the following gentlemen: Captain, David B. Hartranft ; First Lieu- tenant, John Rees ; Serond Lieutenant, Theo. W. Bean. The non-commissioned officers were then appointed, and the work of dismounted drill and discipline began. By the latter end of September the quota for the three cavalry regiments was in camp, and the organization of twelve companies into the Seven- teenth Regiment of cavalry was effected. Captain Hartranft was promoted first major ; Lieutenant Rees succeeded to the captaincy ; Second Lieutenant Theo. W. Bean was promoted to first lieutenant, and First Sergeant William H. Wright was commissioned second lieutenant ; Edwin A. Bean, of Company L, was appointed regimental quartermaster-sergeant. The regimental organization 3 was effected on the

1 There was an incident connected with the regimental organization which had such an important relation to its subsequent history that it deserves to be preserved. The election of field and staff officers was ef- fected after an active canvass, and the choice mule was accepted by all with great satisfaction. The roster was made up of colourl, lieutenant- colonel, three majors, adjutant, quartermaster and commissary. All va- cancies in the companies occasioned by promotion to the fieldl and staff were filled, and the papers at once forwarded to Governor Curtin for ap- pointments and commissions. Upon the receipt of the roster at the ex- ecutive office, the Governor carefully examined the same, and directed a reply to be sent to the officers of the regiment that he would appoint and commission all the officers named except the colonel, Daniel M. Donchoo, who had been captain of Company A. It should be added that none of the field of staff officers elected had experienced active service except Reuben Reinhold, the second major. The Governor's communication was couched in the most respectful terms, and his refusal to appoint and commission Capt. Donehoo colonel was based solely upon the fact of this officer's want of knowledge and experience for such a responsible position. The Governor's refusal created quite a breeze among the officers, and es-

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2nd of October, and completed by the muster of its commanding officer, November 19, 1862. It immedi- diately broke up its dismounted camp under Captain Tarbutton within the line of Camp Simmons, and

pecially the admirers and personal friends of Colonel Doneboo, Some of the hasty and impulsive gave vent to their indignation in terms more vigorous than polite, and others hinted at resignation. These "camp growls " found their way to the Governor's ear, and he was prompt in inviting a conference with all the commissioned officers. The day and hour were appointed ; prompt to time the field, staff and line officers to the number of forty-four marched into the executive chamber, and re- ceived a cordial welcome. There were present his Adjutant General Russel and Brigadier-General Andrew Porter, of the United States army. The latter officer had been especially requested to be present and make a statement to the officers upon the subject of the interview, We regret that no copy of the remarks of the Governor and General Porter was preserved, but in substance the former said : " Gentlemen, I bave invited this interview to fully and freely explain to each of you why I bave refused to appoint and commission the gentleman you have elected as your commanding officer. I have no doubt of his patriotism or per- sonal bravery, but I am informed that he has never been under fire por had any experience in commanding troops in active service. I have been sadly admonished of my own mistake in appointing inexperienced and untried men as commanding officers of regiments, which has resulted in the unnecessary sacrifice of hundreds of gallant Pennsylvanians. In the first days and months of the war this may have been unavoidable, but now we have officers who have been trained for the profession of arms, natives of our own State, officers of experience, many of whom have been especially commended by their superior officers for distinguished conduct and capability in active service. And I have thoughtfully made up my official mind that I ought not, and therefore will not, appoint any man colonel of a new regiment about to enter the service for the period of three years who has not given the country some practical evidence of his fitness for the responsible office."

His manner indicated not less than his words his sincerity and de- termination, and when he had brielly stated his reasons he addressed General Porter, who was standing at his side, and requested him to advise the visiting officers upon the subject umler consideration. The commanding presence of this distinguished officer, who was in full dress uniform, his age and pleasing uddress, and his words of wisdom resulting from many years of public service in the then impending and prior wars, induced the most respectful attention of every officer present. The possible and probable duration of the conflict between the North and South was referred to in such a manner as to dissipate all hope of a apeedy end, however much it might be desired. lle spoke of the several disasters to the Union arms, due to the incompetencey of inexperienced field officers, and of the almost irretrievable disgrace which associates itself with the history of a regimental organization that suflers reverses, resulting from the incapability of its commanding officer. lle impressed the importance of these considerations ujum those present, and supported the Governor, especially because the cavalry arm of the service was then about to be brought to its highest uses, and concluded bis ulvice by say- ing that it required greater skill to successfully command and direct the movements of a full regiment of cavalry in active service than a brigade of infantry, that they covered more ground in their formations, were more likely to be thrown into confusion and more difficult to withdraw in the hour of peril. The interview closed with a presentation of all tbe officers to the Governor and General Porter, and a free exchange of con- gratulations upon the first lessons of duty to our country. Captain Donehoo retired with the respect of his fellow-officers, and the Governor presented the names of a number of officers then in the service, all of whom were graduates of the I'nited States Military Academy, and were Pennsylvanians by birth or residence. After some days of deliberation and inquiry, Josiah H. Kellogg, then captain of First Regiment l'nited States Cavalry, was selected. The following facts will serve to illustrate the attachment of Governor Curtin to the volunteer troops of Pennsyl- vania. During the winter of 1862-63, and after the regiment bad joined the army of the Potomac, the work of officers fitting themselves to in- telligently perform their duties was rigidly insisted upon by Colonel Kellogg. Officers' school was instituted, and gentlemen were given to understand that unless they became proficient in the manual of arms and in the practical knowledge and execution of all necessary commands, and prompt in all the necessary duties of officers, they would be at once re- ported to the standing board of examiners. This was eminently proper,

established itself at Camp McClellan, about two miles north of Harrisburg, where the command received their horses, arms and equipments. A realizing sense of work and responsibility of the cavalry officer and soldier was perhaps here first experienced. The nov- elty was by no means worn away, nor had the men become accustomed to the care and management of their horses, when orders were received to report to the line of active service. Of the twelve companies voluntarily composing this regiment, A Company was from Beaver County, B from Susquehanna, C from Lancaster, D from Bradford, E from Lebanon, F from Cumberland, G from Franklin, H from Schuylkill, I from Perry, K from Luzerne, L from Montgomery and Chester and M from Wayne. The letters by which companies are denoted in cavalry regiments are not given until after the regimental organization is effected,-at least, such was the case in the late war among the volunteer troops entering the three years' service.

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History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 64

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901 Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1534

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1534