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 35

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 35

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Two companies of infantry for three years' service were recruited in York County early in 1861-one in York by H. Clay McIntyre, and the other in Hanover by Cyrus Diller, immedi- ately after his return from the three months' service. These companies were attached to the Seventy-sixth Regiment, which was raised under a special order of the secretary of war, and was known as the Keystone Zouaves, John M. Power, of Cambria County, colonel. Charles Garettson, of York, was made quar- termaster, who, while serving with it, was appointed a captain in the regular army. The captains of Company D were successively Cyrus Diller (afterward major), William S. Diller and Charles L. Bittenger; of Com- pany I, H. Clay McIntyre, Jacob J. Young, Frank.J. Magee and Harrison Stair.

On the 18th of November, 1861, the reg- iment received its colors from the hands of Gov. Curtin, and proceeded to Fortress Mon- roe. sailed from there to Hilton Head; as- sisted in taking Fort Pulaski at the mouth of the Savannah River; participated in the attack on Charleston under Gen. Wright, and engaged the enemy with heavy loss in an expedition to sever communication between Charleston and Savannah. On the 6th of July, 1863, it moved to Morris Island, and on the 10th it took part in the memorable assault on Fort Wagner, which it charged in gallant style. They received the order to charge as the flash of the artillery fire was seen, knelt and permitted the discharge of the guns to pass over them, then started for- ward with a yell. The ranks were thinned at every discharge. The moat was reached and crossed, and many fell on the parapet beyond; 130 men and five officers were left

behind. A second assault took place on the 18th of July, with a similar result. Frank J. Magee acted as aid to Gen. Strong in the engagement. Company I went in with thir- ty-six men and but twelve escaped. Twelve regiments were afterward ordered to take the fort by storm, but were repulsed with great loss. Fort Wagner was a heavy sand fort, bomb proof, covering several acres. It was ultimately demolished after a fierce cannou- ading of fifty days' duration, when it was discovered that it had been abandoned by the enemy.

In May, 1864, the Tenth Corps, to which the Seventy-sixth was attached, was ordered to Virginia. The regiment took part in the battle at Drury's Bluff, where Capt. J. J. Young, of Company I, was killed, also in the sanguinary engagements at Cold Harbor, Deep Bottom, and numerous other localities on lines before Petersburg and Richmond. Capt. Magee served as aid-de-camp on staff of Gen. Terry, commanding corps; also was for a time with Gen. Ames. The Seventy- sixth, under command of Gen. Penny - packer, assisted in the capture of Fort Fisher, in January, 1865. It was disbanded at Har- risburg, July 23, 1865, after one of the long- est terms of service in the war.

After the departure of the regiments quar- tered here, a company was organized by Capt. James A. Stahle, called the Ellsworth Zouaves, after the brave but ill-fated officer of that name. This company became Com- pany A, of the Eighty-seventh Regiment. Capt. George Hay immediately after the re- turn of the Rifles on the 19th of August, 1861, received a commission as colonel. The project originally was the raising of a regi- ment for the purpose of guarding the North- ern Central Railway, in relief of other reg- iments recruited for the war. By the 12th of September there were five companies mus- tered in. John W. Schall was made lieuten- ant-colonel, and Charles H. Buehler, major. Eight of the companies were from York County and two from Adams. The officers commanding this regiment successively were colonels, George Hay, John W. Schall and James Tearney; lieutenant-colonel, James A. Stable; major, Noah G. Ruhl; adjutant, Ja- cob Emmitt, Jr. Company A, captains, John Fahs, James Tearney, George J. Chalfant. Company B, captains, Jacob Detweiler, Lewis Maish, Zeph. E. Hersh. Company C, An- drew J. Fulton, Murray S. Cross, Findlay S. Thomas. Company D, James H. Blasser, Edgar M. Ruhl. Company E, Solomon Myers, Charles J. Fox. Company F, William J. Martin, James Adair. Company G, V. C.

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S. Eckert, H. Morningstar. Company I, Thaddeus S. Pfeiffer, William H. Lanins. Company H, Ross L. Harman, Wells A. Far- rah. Company K, John Albright.

The first duty assigned them was the guard- ing of the railroad, relieving the Twentieth Indiana. On the 28th of May, 1862, the regiment was moved to Baltimore, and thence to West Virginia, and was kept actively em- ployed and moving from point to point, un- der great fatigue and exposure, until it went into winter quarters with Gen. Milroy's Divi- sion at Winchester, about the 1st of January, 1863. Here they performed picket duty dur- ing the winter under very severe exposure.

In May, 1863, by the resignation of Col. Hay, John W. Schall became Colonel, James A. Stahle, Lieutenant-Colonel, and Noah G. Ruhl, Major. Maj. Buehler was made Colonel of the One Hundred and Sixty-sixth.

If the army of Gen. Patterson in 1861 ought to have engaged the enemy, it may be said that the command of Gen. Milroy, in 1863, ought not to have hazarded an engage- ment. He was over sanguine of holding his position, and by the consent of Gen. Schenck, disobeyed an order to retreat. The advance of Gen. Lee's forces for the invasion of the North, flushed with success, could not be checked by his comparatively small force.

June 12, 1863, the first of a series of battles was fought by the Eighty-seventh, at Middletown, ten miles distant from Winchester, with the advance guard of Ewell's army, and on the 13th and 14th they behaved with great gallantry in the battle of Winchester. On the 14th a brilliant charge was made by it at Carter's woods, in which Col. Schall had a horse shot under him. Capt. Farrah and Lieut. Slothower, of Com- pany H, were killed. The regiment joined the Army of the Potomac in July, 1863, and was attached to the Third Corps, Gen. French, and was in the battles of Manasses Gap, Bealton Station, Kelley's Ford, Brandy Sta. tion, Locust Grove, and Mine Run.

Afterward assigned to the Sixth Corps, Gen, Hancock, it was in the battles of the Wilderness, and at Cold Harbor where Col. Schall was wounded and Capt. Pfeiffer was killed, and the regiment sustained a loss in killed and wounded of nearly a third of its strength.

On the 6th of July, the battle of Monocacy was fought against superior numbers, the loss of the regiment being greater than in any other battle. Among those who lost their lives at this battle were Adjt. Martin and Lieuts. Haak, Dietrich, Spangler and Walte- meyer. In September the regiment was with

the army of Sheridan at the battle of Ope- quon, where the enemy were defeated, and on the 22d at Fisher's Hill, where he was again routed. The next day the term of serv- ice expired, and the remnant of the regi- ment returned home, arriving at York on the 27th of September, 1864, where a reception was awaiting them -- their arrival announced by the ringing of bells. The old flag which they bore through all their battles was carried in the procession torn in shreds. Few regi- ments saw more active service and work or suffered more.

The veterans who had re-enlisted, and the new recruits who remained at the seat of war, were consolidated into a battalion of five companies, under command of Capt. Edgar M. Ruhl, who was killed while gallantly leading them in the battle of Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864. The regiment being re- cruited to its full strength, Capt. Tearney was commissioned colonel, and it participated in the charge upon the works before Peters- burg, where Lients. Keasey and Nichol were killed. It was mustered out on the 29th of June, 1865.

After his return from the three months' service, Col. Thomas A. Ziegle received an- thority to recruit a regiment. One of the most experienced and accomplished volun- teer officers in the service, he assisted in the organization of troops at Harrisburg, and March 5, 1862, was given the com- mand of the One Hundred and Seventh. Company A, Capt. Jacob Dorsheimer, had volunteers from York County - Oliver P. Stair, first lieutenant, George C. Stair, second lieutenant. On Sunday, the 9th of March, the regiment passed through York, for the seat of war, moved to Wash- ington, and on the 2d of April crossed the Potomac, and was assigned to Duryea's brigade, Ord's division, of McDowell's corps. After the defeat of Fremont and Banks by Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley, the regiment reached Front Royal by forced march, on the 1st of June, where Jackson had retreated. The regiment encamped at differ- ent places, and while near Warrenton, on the morning of the 16th of July, Col. Ziegle died. The whole regiment were devotedly attached to him, and he was regarded as one of the most efficient officers in the brigade. He had been identified with the military of York for so many years, that his career was regarded with expectations of unusual suc- cess. He has already been mentioned as one of the volunteers in the Mexican war from York, where he had displayed remarkable coolness and bravery, and became captain of

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his company. Immediately after that war he raised the military company known as the Worth Infantry, whose discipline and drill were not excelled by any corps in the Union. The Worth Infantry was the equal in their peculiar drill of the gallant Ellsworth's com- pany of Zouaves. His readiness and that of his company on the breaking out of the war for the Union, their services, the organization of the Sixteenth Regiment and its service have already been mentioned. His remains were brought home and were interred with impressive obsequies in Prospect Hill Ceme- tery, on July 20, 1862.

The One Hundred and Seventh Regiment became part of the army under Gen. Pope, and was first under fire at Cedar Mountain on the 9th of August, 1862, and was in the second battle of Bull Run, and at Chantilly, South Mountain and Autietam. In October, 1862, it took position in Gen. Franklin's grand division, and was at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. It was in the First Corps, Gen. Reynolds, at Gettysburg, en- gaged the first day on Seminary Ridge, and on the third to the right of Cemetery Hill. In February, 1864, nearly the entire regi- ment re-enlisted, and after the veteran fur- lough, was with Grant in his movement across the James, heavily engaged, and before Pe- tersburg. At Weldon Station Lieut. George C. Stair was captured, and with other officers made his escape through the enemy's lines. Oliver P. Stair was promoted to captain and made brevet major. James Crimmons was wounded at Antietam, taken prisoner at Get- tysburg and Weldon Station, and was made first lieutenant in July, 1865. The regi- ment was mustered out on the 13th of July, 1865.

In the summer of 1862 a company was raised in York by Col. Levi Maish, and about the same time companies by Capts. Hamilton Glessner and Lewis Small, and a company in Hanover by Capt. Joseph S. Jenkins, which were mustered into the service at Harrisburg about the middle of August. These, with five companies from Cumberland County, and some recruits from other counties, were formed into the One Hundred and Thirtieth Regiment, Henry J. Zinn. of Cumberland, colonel; and Levi Maish, of York, lieutenant- colonel; aud John Lee, of Cumberland, ma- jor. Company B, Capt. Glessner; lieuten- ants, William H. Tomes, Henry Reisinger; Company C, Capt. Jenkins; lieutenants, Benj. F. Myers, William Bossler; Company I, Capt. Small; lieutenants, D. Wilson Grove, Frank- lin G. Torbet, Jere Oliver; Company K, Capts. Maish, David Z. Seipe; lieutenants, James

Lece. John J. Frick. The regiment proceed- ed at once to Washington, and was moved across the Potomac. After the retreat of Pope it was assigned in September to French's division of Sumner's corps, and on the 16th, but one month after its formation, was in front of the enemy at Antietam, in the center.

The One Hundred and Thirtieth were post. ed on the 17th upon the crest of a hill, with a field of corn in front, and the enemy lay at the further edge behind a stone wall. Com- pany K was 100 yards from where the enemy lay in the rifle pits. The regiment held this exposed position for hours. " The shot and shell flew like heavy hail, and the men be- came deaf from the roar of musketry and cannon." Gen. French said: "The conduct of the new regiments must take a prominent place in the history of this great battle. There never was such material in any army." The officers from York County wounded, were Col. Maish, Capt. afterward Maj. Jen- kins, and Lients. Seipe and Tomes. Maj. Jen- kins afterward was attached to the One Hun- dred and Eighty-fourth regiment, and was killed in November, 1864, in front of Peters- burg.

At daylight on the 11th of December, the regiment moved to within sight of the spires of Fredericksburg, at night assisted in lay- ing a pontoon bridge opposite the upper end of the city, and on the following morning crossed with the division and bivouacked in the streets of the city, part of which was still burning, and at night occupied the ruins of a large brick building on Caroline Street. The great battle began on the morning of the 13th by the firing of the artillery on both sides, and when the infantry was put in mo- tion, the division of Gen. French was in ad- vance, which was exposed to a terrific cross- fire of shot and shell, but pressed on with broken and thinned ranks until it was com- pelled to fall back. Among the killed were Col. Zinn, commanding the regimeut, and Lieut. Torbet, of this county.

Levi Maish was promoted to colonel on the 3d of February, 1863. When the command of the army devolved upon Gen. Hooker, the regiment was moved to Chancellorsville, and it was engaged in the furious battle of the 3d of May, 1863, when Col. Maish was again wounded.

On the 12th of May the regiment was re- lieved from further duty. The special order of Maj .- Gen. French, relieving the One Hundred and Thirtieth and One Hundred and Thirty-second, said: "The General command- ing the division takes pleasure in promulgat- ing, in orders, their gallantry, soldier-like

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bearing and efficiency, during their entire term of service." And after referring to the great battles in which they had been engaged, said: "Soldiers, you return to your native State which has received lustre from your achievements, and by your devotion to your country's cause. This army, and the divi- sion to which you are attached, although they lose you, will always retain and cherish the credit which your military bearing on all oc- casions reflected on them." On the announce- ment of their return a town meeting was held for their reception, and on Saturday, the 23d of May, 1863, they received a handsome and hearty welcome. The bells were rung, busi- ness suspended, a procession formed under a military and civic escort to the United States Hospital, where a collation was served by the Ladies' Aid Society, and speeches of welcome were made and responded to by the Colonel in praise of the the bravery of his men in their great battles.

In all great wars, as was remarked in not- ing the events of the Revolution, the first volunteers are not sufficient to the con- duct of a prolonged war, and especially in the recent war, carried on upon such an im- mense scale, a draft was necessary. On two occasions there was a draft in York, on October 16, 1862, and in August, 1863. There were other calls, and partial drafts, but, generally, on the announcement of the quota for any district it was filled either by volunteers or by means of subserip- tions for the purpose. Many took their chances of the draft and went in person when drawn. It is the experience of army officers that men raised by this means are as steady and efficient as any other troops.

The One Hundred and Sixty-sixth Regiment was formed, in large part, by men raised under the draft of 1862. It was organized on the 29th of November in that year, on the fair grounds, named Camp Franklin, after Maj .- Gen. William B. Franklin, with the fol- lowing field officers: Andrew J. Fulton, late captain of Company C, of the Eighty-seventh, colonel; George W. Reisinger, lieutenant- colonel, and Joseph A. Renaut, Major. The troops comprising this regiment were exclu- sively from York County, and proved them- selves to be good soldiers. On the Sth of November, the regiment proceeded to Wash- ington, and from thence to Newport, and under Gen. Peck, to Suffolk, which place was besieged by Gen. Longstreet for more than three weeks, who failed to reduce it. While there, companies of the One Hundred and Sixty-sixth were engaged in heavy skirmishes with the enemy, and sustained

considerable loss in killed, wounded and prisoners. Companies D and I had a severe conflict on the 14th of May, near Carnsville. After further service in the destruction of railroads leading North, during which they were exposed to the fire of the enemy, especi- ally at Hanover Junction, while engaged in destroying the Richmond & Fredericks- burg Railroad. At the expiration of their term of service, on July 28, 1863, they were mustered out. The regiment left with over 800 men and about 650 returned- 9 were killed, about 25 died, and others were left sick at Fortress Monroe.

In the meantime, events at home gave our people work to do; and in all cases when called upon to furnish provisions or give aid to the sick and wounded, they were ready with abundance, and with sanitary help. The Second Regiment of the Ira Harris cavalry (Sixth New York) took up winter quarters here about Christmas, 1861. In the course of the winter barracks were erected on the commons for their accommodation. This regiment had occasion to express their appreciation of the hospitable attention they received from our citizens. Gen. Havelock, a distinguished British officer, a volunteer on the staff of Gen. McClellan, as Inspector- General of Cavalry, visited York, in March 1862, for the purpose of superintending the transportation of the New York regiment. which soon after left us. The barracks erected for them were converted into a mili- tary hospital, in the course of the summer, in which many hundreds of soldiers were placed. The ladies of the borough formed a society for the relief of sick and wounded soldiers, Mrs. C. A. Morris, president, which was perfect in organization and effectiveness, and the attention, sympathy and aid afforded by it have been gratefully remembered.

Great apprehensions were excited by the retreat of the army under Gen. Pope, in Sep- tember, 1862, and still further increased by the crossing of the Potomac by the rebels in large force, and the occupation of the city of Frederick. In consequence of the reported advance of the enemy toward the Pennsyl- vania line, a meeting of the citizens of the borough was called, on September 8, 1862, and it was resolved to form companies in the respective wards, and voluntary organ- izations were thereupon immediately formed, in the First, Second, Third, Fo urth and Ffth Wards, two in the Fourth, and an independ- ent company being the seventh, called the Keystone Guards, and a cavalry company called the Videttes. The captains of these companies secured 700 stand of arms

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and necessary accoutrements. Places of business were closed at 6 o'clock, to give an opportunity for drilling, and to acquire proficiency in case the companies were needed. They were all mustered into the serivce on September 12, 1862, and were not discharged until the 24th. The Keystone Guards were fully armed and equipped ready to march when the order to move was conuter- manded. The reception of the news of the battle of Antietam, and the retreat of Lee across the Potomac, quieted the country.

'In June, 1863, our people were again thrown into a state of excitement from an apprehended rebel invasion. Two military departments were erected and Gen. Couch was given command of the eastern depart- ment, and orders issued for the formation of the army corps of the Susquehanna, but the enemy moved with more rapidity than was expected. Dr. Palmer, surgeon in charge of the United States Hospital, received orders to remove the patients and stores to a place of greater security, the rolling stock of the Northern Central Railway was removed north- ward, and citizens were warned to take care of their valuables, especially their horses. A large meeting was held on the 15th of June, and a Committee of Safety formed. " Maj. Granville O. Haller, Seventh United States Infantry, who was in York at this time, was placed in command of military preparations here by order of Gen. Couch. Gen. William B. Franklin, U. S. A., was also present in York. These officers met in consultation with the Safety Committee. Large bounties were offered by the borough and county authorities. A company under Capt. Seip was organized and sent to Harrisburg, and a company of horsemen acted as scouts. But be- fore any further organizations could be effect- ed, the rapid movements of the enemy brought him to our doors. They came nearer and nearer, heralded by flying families, and horses and cattle, removed by the orders of Gen. Couch, to the east of the Susquehanna. On the 26th of June, Gettysburg was occu- pied by a large force. Late at night the Philadelphia City Troop arrived with jaded horses, and reported that they had been chased several miles this side of Gettysburg. Maj. Haller arrived at midnight, having narrowly made his escape from that place. The enemy were reported the next day, Saturday, at Abbottstown. The troops here, consisting of the Patapsco Guards, about 60 men, and 200 convalescents of the hospital and some citizens, the City Troop, a cavalry company from Gettysburg, in all about 350 men (companies of citizens were not ordered out)

were at first moved westward, but it was deemed that such resistance as they might make would likely result in disaster to the town, and they were moved toward Wrights- ville.

On the 28, June, 1863, the rebel army entered York. They marched into town about 10 o'clock, on Sunday morning, entering the west end of Market Street ; the church bells had commenced ringing and the citizens crowded the streets. Ladies on their way to church stopped on the porches and sidewalks. The whole population soon thronged the streets, and men, women and children looked with curious eyes, mingled with undefined apprehensions, upon the motley procession of cavalry, infantry and artillery marching up Market Street, the soldiers looking curiously from side to side, astonished not less at their observers than their observers were at them. The people were in holiday or Sunday costume, the ladies in all their fashionable finery, and the men looking well dressed and comfortable, in strange contrast with the ragged and worn appearance of the invading army. These first troops that entered the town were Gen. Gordon's brigade of 2,500 men, who marched up Market Street and on toward Wrightsville. The Union flag was floating in the center square and was taken down and carried off by them.

Two regiments of infantry, with ten pieces of artillery, followed, and with them, Maj .- Gen. Early, commander of the division. This last brigade took possession of the hos- pital grounds, the commons. Gen. Early established his headquarters in the court house. York was the only place of any con- siderable size and wealth they had in their grasp. They saw the rich valley, and the evidences of prosperity all around us, and made their demands accordingly. Although the men were restrained from violence and citizens were treated with respect, the iron hand of an enemy was felt. A requisition was made for provisions and articles of cloth- ing and $100,000 in money. Our prominent business men, by their efforts, partially filled the requisition, raising some $28,000. Threats were made of burning the railroad buildings and car shops, and prudence dictat- ed compliance as far as possible.

Four brigades were in York and vicinity, commanded by Gens. Gordon, Hayes. Smith and Hoke. The brigade of Gen. Gordon marched to Wrightsville, reaching there about 6 o'clock, in the evening. The few Union troops there retreated across the bridge, after the exchange of a few shots with the enemy. The bridge was fired about midway, and soon

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the whole was enveloped in flames. The in- vading troops left hastily on the morning of Tuesday, the 30th of June, between 4 and 5 o'clock.

There were some incidents connected with the rebel invasion of the borough of York, which gave rise to much excitement and mis- representation at the time and afterward, and as a part of the res gestae, as the lawyers say, cannot pass unnoticed. Sufficient time has elapsed since the war, to view the proceed- ings calmly. A visit was made to the camp of the enemy, on the evening preceding his entry into town, by the request of the Committee of Safety, in order to assure the alarmed citizens of the safety of persons and property, an assurance which accounts for the calm manner in which the presence and control of a hostile foe, was viewed by our people the next day; and the flag, in Centre Square, was left flying to show that the town was not surrendered. It was soon after replaced by another flag, presented by W. Latimer Small, Esq., to the borough.

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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 35

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