History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 80

Author: Crumrine, Boyd, 1838-1916; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Hungerford, Austin N
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : H.L. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 1216

USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 80

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" Roll and muster of Capt. William Hunter's company of infantry, at- tached to the First Regiment of Infantry, commanded by Col. Jeremiah Snider, in the service of the United States from the State of Pennsylva- nia, Brig .- Gen. Adamson Tannehill commanding, commencing the 25th of September and ending the 24th of November, 1812, both days in- cluded.

Name.

Rank.

Present.

William Hunter.

Captain.

William Hunter.

John Eckells.

Lieutenant.

John Eckells.

Robert McGrew.

Ensign.

Robert McGrew.

James Freeman.

Ist Sergeant.

James Freeman.

William Chalfant

2₫

William Chalfant.

Jesse Robb.

John Watkins.

4th

John Watkins.

Washington Palmer.

Ist Corporal.

Washington Palmer.

Frederick Layman.

William Crookbam.

William Crookham.

Johnson Chalfant.

4th 66

Johnson Chalfant.

William P. Biles.

Fifer.

William P. Biles.

Henry Pinkney,

Drummer.

Henry Pinkney.

Johu Bridge.

Private.

John Bridge.

Francis Scott.

Francis Scott

Samuel Barnett.

Joseph Butler.

Alexander Jones,

Alexander Jones.

William Dalrymple.

William Dalrumple.

James Dougherty.

Andrew Nicholson.

Crofford Dally.

Israel Pancoast.

Jobn Lefier.

John Lefler.

William Doyle.

Samuel Speaker.

William Wallace.

Samuel Speaker. William Wallace.

The Washington County battalion marched to the Niagara River in the vicinity of Black Rock, below Buffalo, N. Y., where they remained on duty as part of the command of Gen. Tannehill until the follow- ing December, when, before the expiration of their term of service, the six months' troops, including the Washington Infantry, the Williamsport Rangers, and other Washington County men, were allowed to return home, either by dismissal or on furlough, till again called.

On Monday, Aug. 24, 1812, information came by express to Washington County that a large force of British and Indians (estimated at five thousand) had landed from Lake Erie at the mouth of Huron River in Ohio, and had advanced to within a few miles of Cleveland, having, as was supposed, the intention of marching on Pittsburgh. The alarm was sounded through all the county, producing the most intense excitement, which resulted in the raising of nearly one thousand men in the county ready for duty, among whom were the infantry companies of Capt. Buchanan, Capt. Thomas, and Capt. Benjamin An- derson ; the cavalry troop of Capt. Shouse, of Mo- nongahela City (then Williamsport), and two other companies of cavalry from the central and western part of the county. Under a call for a further quota

of troops that was made immediately afterwards most of the men who thus volunteered joined the command of Gen. Richard Crooks, which rendezvoused at Pitts- burgh, destined for duty in the West under Gen. Wil- liam Henry Harrison. A small battalion, however (about three hundred men), which was quickly raised in the northwest part of the county,-composed of three companies of infantry, respectively, under com- mand of Capts. Thomas Patterson, Samuel Rankin, and John Vance, and two small companies of mounted men, commanded by Capt. Robert Withrow and Capt. Shouse, of Williamsport,-did not wait for the call and the rendezvous at Pittsburgh, but marched at once (independent, as it appears, of any superior command) to meet the invading British and Indian force. Rendezvousing at what is now the village of Florence, in Hanover township, the command of the detachment was given to the ranking captain (Pat- terson), and Capt. Vance was made acting major. They proceeded to the Ohio, crossed that river at Georgetown, and marched in Ohio as far as New Lisbon, where, for some cause, probably on account of information received there that the story of the British and Indian invasion was without foundation, after a Sabbath-day's rest, they faced to the rear and returned home over the same route by which they had advanced. It has been stated in some accounts that the reason for their turning back was because on their outward march, near New Lisbon, they re- ceived information of Hull's surrender at Detroit. This is clearly a mistake, for the news of the sur- render was announced at Burgettstown on the 26th of July, and was known to every male adult in Wash- ington County four weeks before they left their homes for the march to Ohio.

The company known as the "Ten-Mile Rangers," from the southern part of the county, volunteered for a six-months' term of service, and were on duty at Buffalo, N. Y. Mr. Joseph Miller, Sr., now a pen- sioner living in Amwell township at the age of ninety-two years, and who was the first corporal of the Rangers, furnishes the following account of the movements and service of the company in 1812:

" The Ten-Mile Rangers were a company of resi- dent militia, and were accustomed to muster three times a year. At the time they enlisted in the strug- gle of 1812 the organization was as follows, to wit: William Patterson, captain ; Elijah Rees, lieutenant; Simeon Brown, ensign; Jacob Cook, brigade major; John Miller, son of John Miller, who built the old Hallam mill and the primitive hewed-log meeting- houses of Upper and Lower Ten-Mile, was orderly sergeant. The other sergeants were Ichabod Clark and Daniel Cook [the Cooks were sons of Stephen Cook, and their mother was a McFarland. They lived on the farm afterwards owned by the McGiffins]. The corporals were Joseph Miller (1st), Henry Ustock, and Samuel McCullough. Of the privates, Billy Cook, Stephen Cook, and Benj. Miller are best remembered.

309

WAR OF 1812-15-TEXAN AND MEXICAN WARS.

" The Rangers left Ten-Mile on the 11th of Septem- ber, 1812, and arrived at Meadville, Pa., the place of general rendezvous, on the 25th of the same month. Here the brigade was organized by electing [?] Adam- son Tannehill (who was reputed to have been an aide to Gen. Washington) brigadier-general, William Piper, colonel, and William McGeary, major. After remain- ing at Meadville about a month, we received march- ing orders, the objective-point being Black Rock. We struck the lake at Erie, and marched thence along the beach about ninety miles to Buffalo, N. Y. The army remained at this point about three weeks, during which time on three occasions volunteers were called for to cross the river to make an assault on the fortifications opposite to Black Rock, and thence to march into the interior of Canada. Each time the Ten-Mile Rangers all stepped to the front, volunteering for a dangerous service, which no one had a right to command, and which could only be entirely voluntary. A force of regulars and sailors crossed the river (date not remembered) and made a night assault, which was successful. A number were killed and wounded, and the British guns of the shore batteries were all spiked. In our camp we heard the noise of the assault, and next morning we saw the killed and wounded brought back.

" There being no force of the enemy at hand to op- pose a crossing, the whole force was moved to the shore, to be taken over in transports to follow up the victory. The regulars and sailors were to cross first, and the volunteers were to follow. Accordingly about twenty transports were proceeding with the first em- barkation, and had got about one-third of the way over the river when, to the utter surprise and disgust of every one, Gen. Smythe ordered their return, and with his army of eleven thousand men ignominiously retired from a battle that was more than half fought. As the several commands were retiring to their old encampments in the neighborhood of Buffalo, an in- cident occurred which is worth relating, to show the feeling of the soldiers toward their chief. As Gen. Smythe and staff were riding through the demoralized columns on their return, a Dutchman in the ranks looked up into the general's face and exclaimed, ' Hoora for Gen. Smyt-Cot tam Tory !' In an instant the general snatched a pistol from his holster to fire into the face of his Teutonic admirer, but it flashed in the pan. 'Tory powter ton't purn coot!' was the only reply the doughty general's fierce attack elicited.

" The army became demoralized and greatly dis- couraged, the Rangers participating in the general discontent. Thus midwinter found us with little prospect of any active operations, and illy provided for wintering in so rigorous a climate. Under these circumstances the Rangers were granted a company furlough, permitting them to return home, but to hold themselves ready at a minute's warning to respond to orders calling them back. There were a number of desertions, but our company remained together until

they received their leave. About the middle of De- cember the company formed, and started on the march for home. On arriving at Buffalo bridge we found Capt. Sample, of Washington, with his company, doing provost duty. Our passports were demanded, and on Ens. Brown presenting our furlough we were permitted to pass peaceably. This was well, for our pieces were loaded, and, having turned our backs upon the inhospitable shores of Lake Erie, it was our intention to pass at all events. The company now broke into squads, and passed weary days of marching through snow from three to four feet deep, our squad arriving at home the day before Christmas. Capt. Patterson, Lieut. Reese, and Samuel Herod, of the staff, remained with the army till regularly discharged. The Rangers were never ordered out again. Under all the circumstances, it is not strange that rumors soon became rife that the Ten-Mile Rangers had not greatly distinguished themselves, and that they had left the front without the proper leave.

" The next winter a court-martial was convened in Jefferson, Greene Co., consisting of Gens. Calohan (?) and Sutton, and Cols. Thomas Vaneman, Dickison, Roberts, and Thomas Ringland, the latter being judge-advocate. Before this court we were cited to appear to answer a charge of desertion. On pre- senting the company furlough the court, without further investigation, dismissed the charge, and de- clared the company honorably discharged. Thus closed a severe and trying campaign, that failed in splendid results only through the cowardice or in- capacity of the general in command."

It has been stated in some accounts of the war of 1812 that Joseph Ritner, who was then a citizen of Washington County (afterwards Governor of Penn- sylvania), commanded a company of Rangers from this county, who served in the West under Gen. Har- rison. Another account is to the effect that he was one of those who marched from Briceland's Cross- Roads to Ohio and then marched back, as before nar- rated. There is nothing improbable in this latter account, but the former statement (that he served in the war as captain of a company) is rendered very improbable by an affidavit made by Ritner, and now on file at Harrisburg, from which the following is an extract :

" Joseph Ritner declares that he is the identical Joseph Ritner who was a private in the company commanded by Capt. Benjamin Anderson in first regiment commanded by Col. Joel Ferree, of the brigade commanded by Gen. Richard Crooks, in the · war with Great Britain declared by the United States on the 18th day of June, 1812, for the term of six months, and continued in actual service in said war from the 2d day of October, 1812, until the 2d day of April, 1813."

The Washington County troops under Gen. Rich- ard Crooks performed good service in Gen. Harrison's Western campaigns, and were honorably discharged

310

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

in 1813, at different times, from April to September of that year. After that time, during the war, the military organizations of Washington County were kept in constant readiness for the field when their services might be required. In the fall of 1814 the | the men of Morgan's command carried out their county was called on for men, to report at Baltimore, original idea of becoming settlers there or not is not known. Only a small proportion of those who marched from Washington were actual residents of this county. Md., for service against the British forces on the Chesapeake. The quota was promptly filled, and the troops marched under Maj. James Dunlap, but while on their way to the place designated the commanding officer received notice from Governor Snyder, of Penn- - sylvania, that their services would not be required. They accordingly returned to the county and were dismissed to their homes.

In 1836, when Texas was at war with Mexico for the purpose of gaining her independence from the latter country, Maj. Thomas Jefferson Morgan, of Washington, conceived a project to raise a body of men to fight in the Texan army under his command, and when the war should be ended successfully for Texas, these men to settle there on ample tracts of land which, as he was assured by President Houston, would be granted to them in payment for their mili- tary services. With this plan in view he issued an address

" TO ALL PATRIOTIC AND ENTERPRISING MEN, " EMIGRANTS FOR TEXAS.

" To Rendezvous at Washington, Pa., on 6th September, 1836."

In this address, which was from beginning to end an extremely florid and highly-colored one, he said, " History does not furnish so wide and fertile a field for enterprise, as ever having been presented to the view of any people. Those individuals who have no other aim in this life than the mere accumulation of riches, where will they have so favorable an opportu- nity to realize their hopes as is now offered upon the plains of Texas ? If wealth then be your sole desire, go to Texas, the fairest of a thousand lands." .. . "The undersigned has been authorized to recruit two hun- dred and eighty volunteers, and in accordance with this authority I now call upon the freemen of West- ern Pennsylvania, and of the surrounding districts of Ohio and Virginia, and upon all patriots, wherever may be their habitation, to join me in my undertak- ing. It is my desire that all volunteers should ren- dezvous at Washington upon the 6th of September, or as speedily afterwards as practicable. . . . "

The result of this appeal was the enrollment of thirty men, who were formed into a company which was called the "Morgan Rifles," and of which T. Jefferson Mor- gan was made captain by the votes of the members. The time of their march from Washington, as desig- nated in published orders, was Monday, September 19th. They marched on the 20th, and proceeded by way of the Ohio River to Louisville, Ky., receiving some accessions to their numbers on the way. From Louisville they continued down the river to New

Orleans, and thence proceeded to Texas, but did not arrive there until after the war had been closed by Gen. Houston's final battle and victory of San Ja- cinto, which gave independence to Texas. Whether

In the Mexican war of 1846-48, not more than six men from Washington County entered into the United States service, the principal one of whom was Col. Norton McGiffin, whose record in it was an honorable one. Of the others nothing is known.

CHAPTER XXII.

WAR OF THE REBELLION.

Opening of the War-First Companies from Washington County-The Twelfth Regiment-Pennsylvania Reserves-Eighth and Tenth Re- serve Regiments.

THE military history of Washington County for the period embracing the great war of the Rebellion com- menced in those spring days of 1861, when the signal to arms came booming from the guns of beleaguered Sumter and reverberated across the rivers and moun- tains, from ocean to lake. And it is a history of which the people of the county may well be proud. From the time when the first call for troops was made known until the surrender of the principal hostile army made further calls unnecessary the young men, the middle-aged men, and sometimes the old men of Washington responded to each appeal with an alac- rity and patriotism not excelled in any other county of the State or Union.

The war was commenced in the harbor of Charles- ton, S. C., at daylight in the morning of Friday, April 12, 1861, by the opening of a heavy fire on Fort Sumter from the formidable Confederate earthworks which encircled it. The bombardment was continued incessantly during all that day and the forenoon of the next, and at about one o'clock P.M. on the 13th the fort surrendered, the buildings within its inclo- sure being on fire. On Monday, the 15th of April, the President of the United States issued a proclama- tion, declaring the South in a state of rebellion, and calling on the Northern States of the Union for a force of seventy-five thousand men to suppress it. To this call Washington, like nearly all other counties of the State, responded with promptness and enthu- siasm, and within the week following the issuance of the President's proclamation two companies (one from Washington borough and one from Mononga- hela City) had been filled and were on their way to Pittsburgh to join the Twelfth Pennsylvania Regi-

WAR OF THE REBELLION.

311

ment, then forming for service in the field. Another company (called the "McKennan Infantry") was also in process of recruitment at Washington, but when its ranks were filled-only a few days later-it failed to secure acceptance from Pennsylvania (the quota being already full), and thereupon marched to Wheeling, where its services were tendered to, and accepted by, the Governor of West Virginia, and it was credited to the quota of that State. The officers of this company were Capt. Lewis E. Smith, First Lieut. A. A. Devore, and Second Lieut. N. W. Trux- all.

The companies which marched from Washington borough and Monongahela City to join the Twelfth Regiment, as before mentioned, were commanded respectively by Capt. Norton McGiffin and Capt. Robert F. Cooper. These companies, like the others forming the regiment, were raised for three months' service, a term which at that time was thought to be ample for the suppression of the Rebellion. The Twelfth was one of the earliest regiments to enter the field. It was organized at Pittsburgh, under super- vision of Brig .- Gen. James S. Negley, of that city, and included in its organization several Pittsburgh military companies already formed, viz., the Du- quesne Grays, Independent Blues, Zouave Cadets, and City Guards. These forming a nucleus, volunteers came in so rapidly that the ranks were filled and regimental officers elected on the 22d of April, viz .: colonel, David Campbell, of Pittsburgh; lieutenant- colonel, Norton McGiffin, of Washington; major, Alexander Hays, of Pittsburgh. Two days later the regiment left Pittsburgh for Harrisburg, where on the 25th it was reviewed by Governor Curtin and mus- tered into the service of the United States.

The regiment moved from Harrisburg to Camp Scott, near York, Pa., where it remained till May 25th, when it was ordered to Maryland to guard the line of the Northern Central Railroad from Pennsyl- vania to the city of Baltimore. On this duty it re- mained, posted by detachments along the road, during the entire term of its enlistment. It was mustered out of service at Harrisburg, Aug. 5, 1861.

In reference to the Twelfth, and the bloodless duty it performed, Bates, in his " History of Pennsylvania Volunteers," says, " The service rendered by this regi- ment was devoid of stirring incident, but was, never- theless, exceeding laborious, was faithfully performed, and was of great moment to the government. The highest expectations were entertained of its heroic conduct in the face of the enemy ; but no enemy was seen, and no occasion presented for firing a gun. It was a noiseless and inglorious campaign, but a highly useful one, for not only was an important and vital line of communication with the national capital pre- served and protected, but a fine body of men was thoroughly drilled and perfected in the school of arms, and many who here received their first instruc- tion afterwards led, with great skill, in the most

deadly encounters. The field-officers had all received a military training. Maj. (afterwards brigadier-gen- eral) Hays, who was killed while gallantly leading his brigade in the battle of the Wilderness, was a graduate of the United States Military Academy." Lieut .- Col. Norton McGiffin, of Washington, was a veteran of the Mexican war, as were also many mem- bers of the two old Pittsburgh companies which formed a part of the regiment. The two Washington County companies of the Twelfth were designated in the regimental organization as "E" and "G" com- panies. Lists of their officers and enlisted men are given below :

COMPANY E.

(Recruited at Washington.)

Norton McGiffin, capt., pro. to lieut .- col .; James Armstrong, capt .; William F. Templeton, let lieut .; Samuel F. Griffith, 2d lieut .; Oliver R. MeNary, Ist sergt .; David Brady, 2dl sergt .; John Q. A. Buyd, 3d sergt. ; David Acheson, 4th sergt .; John D. Mckahan, 1st corp .; Henry Brown, 2d corp .; Robert B. Elliot, 3d corp .; George B. Caldwell, 4th corp .; William A. McCoy, Simeon W. Lewis, musi- cians.

Privules.

John W. Acheson.

John Loughman.

Henry H. Alter.

Taylor McFarland.

James Barr.

Thomas M. Mckeever.

Edwin W. Bausman.

John Mckeever.

Peter Blonberg.

Caleb I. McNulty.

Hugh P. Boon.

James W. Montford.

John V. Brobst.

William M. Morrison.

John A. Byers,

Henry C. Odenbaugh.

John L. Cook.

George A. Perrett.

Henry M. Dougan.

Rollin O. Phillips.

Horace B. Durant.

Henry A. Purviance.

Tertius A. Durant.

Alexander Rankin.

Henry Erdman.

George W. Reed.

Hardman Gantz.

Samuel B. Rickey, died.

John L. Gettys.

John B. Ritner.

James Grier.

Alexander W. Scott.

John M. Griffith.

Cephas D. Sharp.

Charles Hallam.

David Shepherd.

William T. Hamilton.

James Stocking.

Alexander C. Hamilton.

Andrew J. Swart.

William Hart.

John R. Sweeny.

Eli Hess, died.

Samuel M. Templeton.

William H. Horn.

Joseph H. Templeton.

Robert P. Hughes.

Robert Thompson.

Andrew J. Hyde.

Robert L. Thompson.

James B. Kennedy.

William H. Underwood.

John Kendall.

Isaac Vance.

Philip P. Kuntz.

George I. Walker.

John Lawton.

Andrew W. Wilson.

Joseph Lane.

James B. Wilson.

Matthew P. Linh.

Robert T. Wishart.

Charles L. Linton.

Wesley Wolf.

COMPANY G ( MONONGAHELA ARTILLERY). (Recruited at Monongahela City.)

Robert F. Cooper, capt .; John S. McBride, Ist lieut .; Jesse C. Taylor, 2d lieut .; William W. Thompson, Ist sergt .; John Myers, 2d sergt .; Owen Bullard, 3d sergt .; John S. Slanger, 4th sergt .; Recs Boyd, 1st corp .; Benjamin F. Scott, 2d corp .; John H. Woodward, 3d corp .; Alexander O. D. O'Donovan, 4th corp .; Frederick Layman, musician ; James S. Scott, musician.

Privates.

Francis Allen.

William Baxter, Jr.

Isaac R. Beazell.

Samuel W. Beazell.

Harrison Remington.

Michael Barry.

John Boyd.

Patrick Collins.

William B. Brooks.

Sylvester Collins.

John Bellas.

William S. Cooper.

312

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Benjamin D. Dickey. John C. Dougherty. Andrew Elliot. William H. H. Eberhard. Andrew Grant. Alexander Gregg. John M. Gibbs. Joseph D. V. Hazzard. S. Bently Howe.

Thomas Mack. William Mack. Daniel Mockbee.

Jacob S. Miller.

Augustus J. Miller.

Hillery Miller.

John Merrick.

William Ong.

Charles Oliver.

William H. Howe.

William Oliver.

James S. Harris.

George W. Potts.

William H. Heath.

Samuel B. Paxton.

William J. Hoffman.

Samuel Pritchard.

Alexander Haney.

Joseph G. Reager.

David Kearney.

John Rinard.

Henry B. King.

Reuben Sutton.

George Stewart.

William G. Kennedy. James L. Long.

Alfred M. Sickman.

Andrew Louderback.

Jefferson G. Vangilder.

Ellis N. Lilley.

Theophilus Vankirk.

George C. Leighty.

Robert S. Wilson.

David Morton. James Mehaffy.

William H. H. Wickerham.

Charles McCain.

James S. White.

William T. Meredith.

Samuel Young. Daniel D. Yates,

After the filling of the first quotas the War De- partment changed its policy and ceased to accept three months' men, the term of service required being three years or during the war, with some exceptions of two years' regiments. During the long struggle Washington County furnished large numbers of troops for the armies of the United States. They served in various commands, but were most numerous in the Eighth and Tenth Reserves, the Seventy-ninth, Eighty-fifth, One Hundredth, and One Hundred and Fortieth infantry regiments, and the First, Four- teenth, Sixteenth, and Twenty-second regiments of cavalry of Pennsylvania. Of the movements and services of these regiments separate historical sketches will be given, with lists of their Washington County members. It is admitted, however, that the lists given are not entirely accurate or complete, but they are as nearly so as it is practicable to make them from the records of the adjutant-general's office.

The Pennsylvania Reserves .- The fact that Penn- sylvania, by reason of her extended southern frontier bordering on Mason and Dixon's line, was peculiarly exposed to the danger of invasion by the forces of the Confederacy, was at once recognized by Governor Curtin, who on the 20th of April, just one week after the fall of Fort Sumter, called an extra session of the Legislature, which convened on the 30th. In his message to that body he said, "To furnish ready sup- port to those who have gone out and to protect our borders we should have a well-regulated military force. I therefore recommend the immediate organization, disciplining, and arming of at least fifteen regiments of cavalry and infantry, exclusive of those called into the service of the United States. As we have already ample warning of the necessity of being prepared for any sudden exigency that may arise, I cannot too much impress this upon you."

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History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 80

Author: Crumrine, Boyd, 1838-1916; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Hungerford, Austin N Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia : H.L. Everts & Co. Number of Pages: 1216

Author: Crumrine, Boyd, 1838-1916; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Hungerford, Austin N
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : H.L. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 1216