History of York County, Pennsylvania : from the earliest period to the present time, divided into general, special, township and borough histories, with a biographical department appended, Part 34

Author: Gibson, John, Editor
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: F.A. Battey Publishing Co., Chicago
Number of Pages: 1104

USA > Pennsylvania > York County > History of York County, Pennsylvania : from the earliest period to the present time, divided into general, special, township and borough histories, with a biographical department appended > Part 34

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For the command of which division, I designate Maj .- Gen. Watson and Brig .- Gens. John Forster and John Addams. The major-general and the offi- cers and men under him are to obey the commands, and execute the orders of Gen. William Winder, Commandant for the United States, within the Tenth Militia District.

The troops may be marched from York, either in division after organization, or in small bodies he- fore organization, if it further the service, and Gen. Winder shall so direct, and to such place as by him shall be designated. The term of service to be six months, unless sooner discharged by the authority of the United States.

SIMON SNYDER,

Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

On the same day orders were sent to Archibald S. Jordan, * Brigade Inspector of York County, to " direct such volunteers and flank companies, as soon as practicable, to march on toward Baltimore, or to such other point as your information may enable you to judge most proper at this crisis, without any regard to the time fixed for the general ren- dezvous, and direct the commanding officer of each company or detachment to report himself to Gen. Winder, or any other officer commanding under the United States." And on the 27th, on behalf of the adjutant gen- eral, it was communicated to the same, with regard to making arrangements to provide provisions for the men as they shall arrive at the place of rendezvous. All the camp equi- page belonging to the State was at Philadel- phia, and had been ordered to York. t

Among the general officers of the war of 1812-14, in the roll of Pennsylvania Volun- teers, are the names of Christian Hetrick, Brig .- Gen. York, 1812, and Archibald S. Jor- dan, York, brigade inspector, 1812.

Volunteers at Baltimore, 1814 .- Head quarters at York, September 16, 1814. The detachment of Pennsylvania militia, ordered to rendezvous at York were organized into four regiments and one battalion, forming two brigades, under command of Maj .- Geu. Nathaniel Watson. First Brigade, Brig-Gen. John Foster .. Second Brigade, Brig-Gen. John Addams.

The companies at York, in September, 1814, of the First and Second Brigades of Pennsylvania militia, were from Lebanon, Bucks, Dauphin, Schuylkill, Lancaster, Berks, Chester and York Counties., and companies of riflemen, from Lancaster and other counties. These were in service from September 1, 1814. to March 1, 1815.

On the 6th of September. 1814. Gov. Snyder, issued an order to the keeper of military stores at Carlisle, to deliver to the order of Gen. Nathaniel Watson such number of muskets and equipments as he may require to supply the militia under his command at York, who have been called into the service of the United States. And also such a num- ber of tents and camp equipage as he may require for the accommodation of the meu .*

WAR DEPARTMENT, September 13. 1814.

MAJ. L. MARSTELLER, QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL.

Sir :- All the arms which are at Fredericktown will be immediately transported toward Baltimore, reporting their progress to the commanding general at that place, that his direction may be given in re- lation to their final destination; reporting, also, that the arms are for the use of the Pennsylvania troops, marching from York to Baltimore. Should there be less than 5,000 stand of arms at Freder- icktown, the balance, to make up that number, must have the same direction from Harper's Ferry. The commanding general of ordinance has been directed to send 10,000 stand of arms from that place to Carlisle, the above order will embrace a part of that number. The residue of the 10,000 you will have immediately transported, one half to Fredericktown and one half to York, in Pennsylvania. You will report to me your proceed- ings under this order as soon as practicable. I am respectfully

Your obedient servant,

JAMES MON ROEt

The following in relation to " The York Vol- unteers" who had marched in the meantime, and participated in the battle of North Point, fought September 12, 1814, is from Gloss. brennar's history of York County.

The "York Volunteers" were nearly one hundred strong, and were composed princi - pally of young men, "the flower of the county," and were commanded by Capt. (afterward colonel) Michael H. Spangler, of the borough of York. This gallant company marched from York on the 29th of August, 1814, without any provision other than that *XArchives, 2d S., p 734. +Ibid 781.

*He was from Hopewell Township.

+XII Archives, 2d. S., 714.

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SUBSEQUENT MILITARY HISTORY.

contributed by the citizens of the borough. Immediately upon their arrival at the city, they tendered their services to the general in command, and in consequence of their respec- table appearance and discipline, were solicited to attach themselves to the Fifth Regiment, a fine body of Baltimore troops, under the command of "Col. Sterett. They were marched with their regiment to oppose the enemy at North Point, and, until overpow- ered by numbers, fought with the bravery of veterans. Notwithstanding the formidable host opposed to them, they resolutely main- tained their ground, until a retreat, thrice ordered, became absolutely necessary to pre- vent their being surrounded and cut off.

Two of their number were taken prisoners and severely wounded, one very severely. After the battle, and until the enemy retired, their duty was of the most severe and arduous kind, and they acquitted themselves in a man- ner fully satisfactory to their commanders and highly honorable to themselves. In tes- timony of the gallant bearing of the "Vol- unteers" at Baltimore, we subjoin the dis- charge of Gen. Smith, a private letter of Maj. Heath, and an extract from the regi- mental orders of the brave Col. Sterett of September 20, 1814.

HEADQUARTERS, BALTIMORE. September 20, 1814.

Capt. Spangler and his company of volunteers from York, Penn., having honorably performed the tour of duty, for which they had offered their ser- vices, are hereby permitted to return to their homes. In taking leave of this gallant corps, the major- general commanding has great pleasure in bear- ing testimony to the undaunted courage they dis- . played in the affair on the 12th inst., and in tender- ing them his thanks for the essential aid they con- tributed toward the defense of the city.

S. Smith, Maj .- Gen. Commanding.

BALTIMORE, September 20, 1814. To Capt. Spangler:

Dear Sir-Hearing that you are about to depart from our city with your brave corps, I can not do justice to my own feelings without expressing the obligations I am under, to you and them for the promptness with which you uniformly executed my orders, your readiness at all times to perform your duty, and the cool and manly conduct manifested by the officers and men under your command during the action with the enemy on the 12th inst. May you all return in health to the bosoms of your fam- ilies, and long enjoy happiness uninterrupted.

I am, Sir, with sentiments of sincere respect,

Your friend and humble servant, R. K. HEATH, First Major, Fifth Regiment.

REGIMENTAL ORDERS- FIFTH REGIMENT.

BALTIMORE, September 20, 1814.

Capt. Spangler's company of York Volunteers having permission to return to their respective homes, the lieutenant-colonel can not permit them to depart without thanking them for their soldier- like and orderly conduct. The few days they were

attached to the Fifth Regiment was a momentous period of trial-they not only had to face the dan- gers of battle, but to bear the inclemencies of weather, and suffer all the inconveniences of fa- tigue, watching and hunger, to which the soldier is liable in the hour of alarm-these were met and borne by them with manly fortitude, which does them honor and entitles them to the gratitude of Baltimore, and particularly to the friendship and esteem of the officers and men of the Fifth Regi- ment, which are thus publicly and cheerfully ac- corded to them."

Two companies marched out of Hanover for Baltimore, in September, and were at- tached to a Maryland regiment participating in the battle of North Point-of one Freder- ick Metzgar was captain; John Immell, first lieutenant; of the other, John Bair, captain, and Henry Wirt, first lieutenant. These companies contained from fifty to sixty men.

The following is a list of the officers and men composing the company of "York Vol- unteers," when that company marched from York on the invasion of Baltimore-August 29, 1814:

. Michael H. Spangler, captain; Jacob Bar- nitz, first lieutenant; John M'Curdy, second lieutenant; George F. Doll, ensign. Musi- cians: John A. Leitner, Daniel Small, G. P. Kurtz.

Non-commissioned officers: John Hay, Adam King, Joseph Schall, David Wilson, Charles Kurtz, Michael Hahn, John Kuntz, Daniel Updegraff.

Privates: Peter Lanius, Henry Sleeger, James Gibson, G. W. Spangler, Hugh In- gram, John Brickel, Thomas Miller, Jacob Lehman, Jacob Wiesenthal, Jacob Frey. George Dunn, John M'Clean, George Holter, Michael Miller, John Devine, John M'Anul- ty, John Linn, Anthony T. Burns, Jacob Gart- ner, Peter O'Conner, Charles Stroman, Enoch Thompson, Henry Wolf, David Hoffart, Rich- ard Coody, James Dugan, Andrew Kauffman, Charles Stuck, Hugh Stewart, Jacob Lolt- man, Jacob Sheffer, Peter Siers, Jacob Rei- singer, William Burns, Jacob Glessner, Eman- uel Raab, Jacob Rupp, Grafton Duvall. Sam- uel Hays, George Beard, Christian Eshbach, Joseph Kerr, John Taylor, John Byron, Dan- iel Coyle, Jacob Herbst, Peter Grimes, Hugh M'Cosker, Abraham Keller, Henry Mundorf, G. M. Leitner, Walter Bull, William Ness, Aaron Holt, Daniel Heckert, James S. Connel- lee, David Trimble, I. W. Altemus, Thomas Thompson, Chester Smith, E. W. Murphy, Robert Pierson, Daniel Baumgardner, Fred- erick Witz, Frederick Kircher, Jacob Noell, George Ilgenfritz, Joseph Woodyear, Joseph M'Conniken, John Fisher, John Giesy, Jacob Levan, Jacob Stocar, Peter Cooker, Hugh M'Alear, Sr., Hugh M'Alear, Jr., David

166

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

Kauffman, William Watson, Dennis Kear- ney .*

On the 28th of November, Gen. Wat- son, who had commanded the troops rendez- - voused at York, received the order of Gen. Winfield Scott for the payment and discharge of his division. He issued his orders that the First and Second Brigades of Pennsyl- vania militia, under Gens. Foster and Addams, should, when mustered and paid, proceed forthwith to York and be discharged. He thanked them for their uniform good conduct. "The men had borne the severity of the wet and inclement season in their tents with patience and forbearance."+

MEXICAN WAR.

Texas had declared independence in 1836, and was acknowledged an independent repub- lic by the United States. That independence had been achieved by American settlers, so that it came asking for admission at the first congress in the new administration, and was made one of the States of the Union in 1845. The year following found the government embroiled in a war with Mexico. Volunteers were asked for and all parts of the country quickly responded.

York county furnished her proportion of brave men to carry the flag of the United States to the halls of the Montezumas. Sev- eral volunteers left the borongh of York for the Mexican war, who were attached to the First Pennsylvanian Regiment under Col. Francis M. Wynkoop, Lieut. - Col. Samuel Black, in Company C., Capt, William A. Small. There were nine of them and they partici- pated in many bloody but victorious battles, under the great chieftain, Gen. Winfield Scott, from Vera Cruz to the city of Mexico, through the battles of Cerro Gordo, Churu- busco, National Bridge, Molino del Rey, Chapultepec, Contreras, Huantla, where the renowned Capt. Samuel Walker was killed, and at the siege of Puebla, where William Eurich, one of their number, was killed and Jacob Danner died. Peter Ahl, Esq., was the last survivor of this band of brave men. Col. Thomas A. Ziegle was one. The others were Albertus Welsh, Daniel Craver, Will- iam Patterson, Robert Patterson and Samuel

Stair. Weirich Pentz was in the 4th Ohio, Colonel Brough and David Hays were in one of the Ohio Regiments.

Edward Haviland was a member of the Philadelphia Grays, Captain Scott, attached to the First Pennsylvania volunteers. Col. Albert C. Ramsay, a resident lawyer of some distinction, commanded a regiment, in which were some men from York County; it was the Eleventh Regiment of the line. George John- son, a soldier from York in that regiment was killed at the battle of Molino del Rey. Theodore D. Cochran was a captain of volti- geurs attached to the same regiment.

There were officers of the regular army from York in the Mexican war. Maj. Gran- ville O. Haller was captain of the Fourth infantry. William B. Franklin, a graduate of West Point, of 1843, was first lieutenant of topographical engineers. H. G. Gibson, a graduate of 1847, was second lieutenant of the Third artillery. The officers of the navy from York who served in that war, were George P. Welsh, Samuel R. Franklin and William Gibson. The Mexican war ended in 1848. It added to the Union immense tracts of territory and rich States, the golden land of California and the silver mines of Nevada, and opened for us that great transit across the continent to the Pacific, with still more momentous political results to the gov- ernment and nation.

THE WAR FOR THE UNION.#

THE news of the firing upon Fort Sumter, which occurred on the 12th of April, 1861, followed by the proclamation of Presi- dent Lincoln on the 15th, calling for 75,000 troops, aroused the patriotism of our people. Gov. Curtin made a requisition upon the organized companies of Pennsylvania, and the citizen soldiers of York, consisting of the Worth Infantry, Captain Thomas A. Ziegle, and the York (Penn.) Rifles, Capt. George Hay, responded unanimously to the call, and obeyed with alacrity the order of the governor.

On the evening of Thursday, the 18th, in pursuance of a general call, the people of York assembled in great numbers in the court house, for the purpose of expressing their sense of the condition of the national gov-

*Capt. Michael H. Spangler died on Sunday, the 7th of Sep- tember, 1834, and was attended to his grave on the following Tuesday by a vast concourse of mourning relatives and friends, by the officers of the Ninety-fourth Regiment, Pennsylvania Militia, by the survivors of the " York Volunteers," and by the following volunteer companies of the borough : the Washington Artillerists, commanded by Capt. Jacob Upp, Jr .; the Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, commanded by Capt. John Evans; the Citi- zen Guards, commanded by Capt. Samuel Hay ; the National Greys, commanded by Capt. Alexander H. Barnitz; the York Rangers, commanded by Capt. Samuel E. Clement.

+XII Archives, 2d S., p. 785-6.

*This narrative of the events of the late war is from the edi- tor's " Historical Sketch," prepared in 1876, and published by O. Stuck & Son.

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THE WAR FOR THE UNION.

ernment, and to offer aid to those called into the service. John Evans, Esq., was called to the chair, and other prominent citizens were made officers of the meeting. Patriotic reso- lutions were adopted, and measures taken to provide means for the support of the families of volunteers. The borough authorities appropriated $1,000 for this purpose, the commissioners were recommended to make an appropriation of $5,000, and committees were appointed to collect money by voluntary subscription from our citizens, and over $2.000 were contributed. The union feeling in York was intensely strong. Flags were suspended from the principal buildings, places of business and private residences, and poles were erected from which the stars and stripes floated proudly to the breeze. The ancient borough of York was not behind any of her neighbors in patriotism and zeal.

Events thickened and aroused intense feeling. The Sixth Massachusetts Regi- ment while passing through Baltimore, on the 19th, was attacked by a mob, and the passage of some of the cars obstructed. The soldiers who were obliged to form for the purpose of marching through the city, being assaulted with increased violence, fired upon the crowd. Two of the Massachusetts sol- diers were killed and seven persons in the crowd, some rioters and some who were look- ing on. On that night a portion of the track of the Northern Central Railway was torn up between Cockeysville and Baltimore, and a number of the bridges on the road were set on fire and burned down for the purpose of impeding the passage of troops from the North.

The military companies from this place received orders on Saturday evening, the 20th, to hold themselves in readiness to march, and at 11 o'clock at night they left in a special train, going toward Baltimore, and were stationed in squads at the several bridges along the route of the road, and some at Cockeysville. Ten or twelve trains with troops passed through York on Sunday, from early in the morning until late at night, pro- ceeding as far as Ashland and Cockeysville, concentrating some 3,000 men at those points. But on Monday these several regiments returned to York, and encamped on the fair grounds.

stated that the citizens of York had sub- scribed several thousand dollars, and that the borough authorities had appropriated $1,000, and recommended the grand jury to request the commissioners to make a liberal appro- priation for the same purpose out of the county funds, and said that he had no doubt the appropriation would be legalized by the Legislature. Several members of the bar also addressed the grand jury. The scene was a very impressive one. The grand jury the next day recommended that the commis- sioners appropriate $10,000, which was promptly done. Hanover and Wrightsville made liberal appropriations, making about $15,000 in all. The Legislature subsequently ratified these proceedings.

The troops which had passed through York to Cockeysville on Saturday and Sunday, were the First, Second and Third Regiments of Pennsylvania Volunteers, for the three months' service, composed of organized com- panies from nearly all the cities and princi - pal towns in the State, the military compa- nies of Easton, Allentown, Reading, Harris- burg, Lancaster, Chambersburg, Gettsyburg, Columbia, Bloomfield, West Chester, Belle- fonte, Hollidaysburg, Altoona, Johnstown, East Liberty, and other places-somne unat- tached-together with our own military com- panies who were as early as any of them in the field. They came from comfortable homes and were unaccustomed to exposure and hard- ship. The commissary arrangements were not sufficient for so large a body of men sud- denly thrown together, and they depended to some extent on voluntary supplies from our own people.

The hospitality of the citizens of York, on this occasion, extended to these new recruits, has frequently been mentioned by them in complimentary terms. The encampment here was for the purpose of instruction, and was called Camp Scott, in honor of the veteran commander-in-chief of the United States Army. The town assumed a warlike appear- ance. Other troops came on the 26th of April, the Twelfth and Thirteenth Regiments from Pittsburgh arrived, and by the 7th of May there were 5,500 men in camp here. In addition to these was Capt. Campbell's bat- tery of twelve pieces of artillery. The Sec. ond Regiment, Col. Stumbaugh, of Cham- bersburg, had been organized on the 21st of

At the meeting of the court on Monday, the 22d, the president judge, Hon. Robert J. . April. The York Rifles, George Hay, cap Fisher, in charging the grand jury, referred tain, John W. Schall, first lieutenant, and Jacob Emmitt, Jr., second lieutenant, were attached to it here as company K. to the distracted state of the country, and urged upon them the necessity of providing for the comfort and support of those who had The material of which the Sixteenth Regi. so promptly obeyed their country's call. He ment was formed, was also encamped on the

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

fair grounds. Five companies were from Schuylkill county, one from Mechanicsburg, Capt. Dorsheimer's, the first company in the State that enlisted for three years, and four companies from York County. These were Company A (Worth Infantry), captain, John Hays ; first lieutentant, Solomon Myers ; second lieutenant, John M. Deitch. Com- pany F' (Marion Rifles of Hanover), captain, Horatio Gates Myers ; first lieutenant, Joseph Renaut ; second lieutenant, Jacob W. Ben- der. Company G (Hanover Infantry), cap- tain, Cyrus Diller ; first lieutenant, Henry Morningstar ; second lieutenant, Joseph S. Jenkins. Company H (York Voltiguers), captain, Theodore D. Cochran ; first lieuten- ant, Michael Gallagher ; second lieutenant, Andrew D. Yocum. The regiment was or- ganized at Camp Curtin on the 3d of May, by the selection of Thomas A. Ziegle as col- onel. A. H. Glatz was made quartermaster, and Charles Garretson, assistant quartermas- ter.

The regiments here were all ordered to Chambersburg and left about the 1st of June, with every demonstration of encouragement, amid cheers and waving of handkerchiefs- the Rifles leaving with their regiment ; but the Sixteenth remained for a few days. This regiment had already acquired great proficiency of drill under the care of its accomplished commander. On Saturday, the Sth of June, it marched into town to take its departure for the seat of war. In the morn- ing a flag was presented to the regiment by the ladies of York. A perfect storm of flow- ers fell upon the soldiers as they marched through the streets, every one had a bouquet in his musket.

The Sixteenth was in the brigade of Col. Miles, U. S. A., First Division, and the Sec- ond regiment was in a brigade of the Second Division of the army of Gen. Patterson in the campaign of the valley of the Shenandoah. They moved from Chambersburg to Hagers- town and Williamsport. At the latter place Albertus Welsh died on the 27th of June, the first soldier from York who died in the war. He was a member of the Worth Infantry, and as already mentioned was one of the nine veterans from here in the war with Mexico. The Potomac was crossed on the 2d of July by fording it, and an ad- vance made to Martinsburg, arriving about the middle of July at Bunker Hill, driving in Johnston's advance guard. The regiment then made a forced march toward Harper's Ferry, the enemy's pickets retreating before them, and encamped at Charlestown, on the 17th of June. They were constantly threat-

ened with attack, but no action took place. When their term of service expired the Sec- ond and Sixteenth Regiments returned to Harrisburg and were mustered out. The Worth Infantry and York Rifles arrived home on the 27th of July, where they were wel- comed by the ringing of bells, firing of can- non, speeches and a banquet. The Volti- geurs arrived home on the 2d of August, their commander, T. D. Cochran, was subse- quently appointed a captain in the regular army. Capt. H. G. Myers, of the Marion Rifles, had been left ill at Hagerstown, where he died on the 8th of August. Thomas Brannon, a member of his company, died at the same place, on the 17th of July.

Thus ended the campaign of the three mouths' men. Though our soldiers were not engaged in battle, and we were glad to see them home safe and sound, events showed that they might have been. The demonstra. tions of Johnston in the neighborhood of Harper's Ferry were only feints, as was proved by his opportune arrival on the battle field of Bull Run, on Sunday, the 21st of July. Instead of the army of Gen. Patterson engaging him and preventing him from rein- forcing Beauregard, he was permitted to retire with all the appearance of a retreat. The great embarrassment under which Gen. Patterson labored, and perhaps an altogether sufficient excuse for him, is found in the fact of the expiration of the term of enlistment of so many of his men just at the time of that battle, which after all, some have considered a Providential reverse.

There had already been a call on the part of the Government for men to serve for three years unless sooner discharged. The Thir- tieth Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers otherwise known as the First Regiment of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, organized on June 9, 1861, at Camp Wayne, Ches- ter County, was represented by Company D, recruited in Lancaster and York Counties. The Forty-first regiment, the Twelfth Re- serves, was first raised for the three months' service. Samuel N. Bailey, of York County, was made lieutenant-colonel. Company G., Capt. Charles W. Diven, afterward major, was recruited in York County. To enumer- ate the battles of this renowned corps would be to relate the greater part of the history of the war. It is sufficient to say that York County had men in the Pennsylvania Re- serves.

The Forty-third Regiment, known as the First Pennsylvania Artillery, was formed under the call for volunteers of April 13, 1861. One company was recruited in York

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THE WAR FOR THE UNION.

by Alfred E. Lewis, who at the organization of the regiment was made senior inajor. The colonel was Charles T. Campbell, who, it will be remembered, was here with a bat- tery during the encampment of troops on the fair grounds. He had enlisted twenty or more men here who were attached to battery A, commanded by Capt. Easton, which per- formed gallant service at Drainesville, and Gaines' Mill, where Capt. Easton was killed. The other company recruited here became Battery E, Capt. Thomas G. Orwig, and served in the Peninsular Campaign, under McClellan, and in the army of the James, rendering valuable service at Drury's Bluff and Fort Harrison, and at the siege of Peters- burg and Richmond. It was the first battery that entered the capital, reaching there before the enemy's flag was pulled down, and hastening the retreat of his rear guard, who had intended to fire the city.

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History of York County, Pennsylvania : from the earliest period to the present time, divided into general, special, township and borough histories, with a biographical department appended, Part 34

Author: Gibson, John, Editor Publication date: 1886 Publisher: F.A. Battey Publishing Co., Chicago Number of Pages: 1104

Author: Gibson, John, Editor
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: F.A. Battey Publishing Co., Chicago
Number of Pages: 1104