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 36

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 36

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The following is a copy of the requisition made upon the borough of York by Gen. Early, during his occupancy of the town, also a list of the articles and amount of money he received:

REQUIRED FOR THE USE OF EARLY'S DIVISION.

One hundred and sixty-five barrels of flour, or twenty-eight thousand pounds baked bread.

Thirty-five hundred pounds of sugar.

Sixteen hundred and fifty pounds of coffee.

Three hundred gallons molasses.

Twelve hundred pounds salt.

Thirty-two thousand pounds fresh beef, or twenty-one thousand pounds bacon or pork.

The above articles to be delivered at the Market House on Main Street, at 4 o'clock P. M.

WM. W. THORNTON, Capt. & A. C. S.

REQUIRED FOR THE USE OF MAJ .- GEN. EARLY'S COM- MAND.

Two thousand pairs shoes or boots.

One thousand pairs socks.

One thousand felt hats.

One hundred thousand dollars in money.

C. E. SNODGRASS,

Major & Chief Q. M. Early's Division. June 28, 1863.

Approved, and the authorities of the town of York will furnish the above articles and the money required, for which certificates will be given.

J. A. EARLY,

Major-General Commanding.

A meeting of prominent business men was called, and a committee appointed to fill the above requisition. After every effort was made with unexampled labor on their part, a sum of money and the following articles were furnished, with which Gen. Earley expressed satisfaction, viz .:

Twenty-two thousand pounds of beef, 3,500 pounds sugar, 1,200 pounds salt, 2,000 pairs boots and shoes, 1,000 hats, 1,000 pairs socks, 165 barrels flour, and 300 gallons molasses, 3,500 pounds sugar, 1,650 pounds coffee, and $28,610 in money.

The Confederate army evacuated York early on Tuesday morning, and our people were cut off with communication with the outside world and news from the army until Tuesday evening, July 2, when a scouting party of twenty of Kilpatrick's calvary, from Hanover, came galloping into town. The feelings of our people were worked up into a fever of excitement, and the scouts were received with great joy. A collation was at once spread for them in the market house in Centre Square, and as the hungry men were about to partake of it, the sentinel on duty a short distance down Market Street gave the alarm, that a body of horsemen were approaching from the west. The officer in command, gave the order "to horse " and quicker than it can be written, every man vaulted into the sad- dle, and with drawn sabre and carbine in readiness, were in line, eager to make a dash down the street, upon the reported advance- of the enemy. The officer poised his field glass, but instead of an enemy, discovered a. peaceable farmer coming into Bottstown, with a load of hay, drawn by six horses. The soldiers laughingly dismounted, and did full justice to the viands spread for them by the patriotic people of York. After ascertaining that the army under Earley, had left this sec- tion of the country the cavalry left for Han- over, to join Kilpatrick and take a hand in the bloody fight at Gettysburg.

The Committee of Safety of the borough of York, organized in June, 1863, for the defense of the borough of York, for the in- formation of the public, published the fol. lowing statement :

On Monday evening, the 15th of June, 1863, at the call of the chief burgess, a large meeting was. held in the court house, which resulted in the ap- pointment of the following Safety Committee :

First Ward-Frederick Stallman, William H. Albright, Gates J. Weiser.

Second Ward-David E. Small, John Gibson, E. H. Weiser.

Third Ward-Thomas White, Jacob D. Schall, W. Latimer Small.

Fourth Ward-Col. D. A. Stillinger, Gen. George Hay, George A. Barnitz.

Fifth Ward-Fred. Baugher, Lewis Carl, Joseph Smyser.

The Safety Committee met at 9 o'clock on Tues- day morning, and issued a call in obedience to the governor's proclamation, for the formation of mili- tary companies to be sent to Harrisburg for the defense of the State.

A company of men for six months was organized in the borough, under Capt. Seip, and sent to Har-

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risburg, who are now in the service of the United States.

They also used every effort with the commission- ers of the county to secure to every volunteer a bounty of $25, in which they did not succeed. They, however, through a towu meeting called by them, on the evening of the 17th of June, obtained from the town council of the borough of York a sum sufficient to pay the required bounty, which was accordingly done.

The committee further recommended the citizens of the borough and county to form a company of horsemen, to act as scouts. This latter company was immediately organized, and were very service- able to the committee in furnishing them with in- formtion.

Despatches were, from time to time, received from Maj. G. O. Haller, Seventh United States In- fantry, at Gettysburg, of the movements of the enemy. Maj. Haller had been appointed aid to Gen. Couch, and placed in charge of the defenses here, and he frequently cousulted and advised with the committee as to the means to be used for the protection of the borough. The committee met twice a day, and all information received by them, by telegrams or otherwise, was immediately given to the public.

On the 23d of June, 1863, an order of Gen. Couch was published, by haud-bills, to the people of the county, " directing that all horses, except those for cavalry or scouting purposes, and all cattle, be sent north or east of Harrisburg," thus giving ample notice to all persons to place in security property most liable to capture by the enemy.

On the 24th of Juue, reliable information from Gettysburg was received through Maj. Haller that the enemy were on the South Mountain with a large force, consisting of infantry, cavalry and artillery. The committee, at that time, not apprehending anything more than cavalry raids in this vicinity, issued a call to the citizens of the borough to form companies of minute men for home defense. To effect this, places of business, at the request of the Safety Committee and of the chief Burgess, were closed at 6 o'clock P. M. The next day, Friday, June 26, the places of business were closed at 12 o'clock, noon, and those desirous of joining mili- tary organizations for the defense of the borough, were requested to meet at the court house, at 2 o'clock P. M. A large gathering of citizens re- sponded to the call, and the company rolls were opened.

During the meeting, a dispatch from Maj. Haller was received, informing the committee that the enemy were moving upon Gettysburg with infantry. cavalry aud artillery, and urging the citizens of York to organize and arm themselves, that perhaps York County could be saved. A meeting of citi- zens assembled at 7:30 o'clock in the evening, at which addresses were delivered and the rolls again opened. One company, numbering seventy men, under Capt. John Hays, was organized.

At a late hour on Friday night information was received of the occupation of Gettysburg aud of the retreat of our forces from that town. Places of business were closed on Saturday during the entire day. Notice of the rebels being at Abbottstown was received about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. The forces here were ordered out by Maj. Haller, con- sisting of the convalescents of the United States Hospital, the hospital guard a few men of the Eighty-seventh Pennsylvannia Volunteers, the Phil- adelphia City Troop, a volunteer company of cavalry from Gettysburg aud vicinity, and some citizens of York, in all about 350 men. This force, about 6 o'clock, was ordered to fall back to Wrightsville, leaving the borough of York without a soldier to defend it.

At the request of the chief burgess, the Safety Committee was convened at half-past seven o'clock. The following committee immediately adopted the following resolution :

Resolved, That the American flag be raised in the Centre Square.

The chief burgess informed the committee that Mr. Arthur Farquhar, a citizen of the borough had reported to him an interview with Brig .- Gen. Gor- don, of the rebel army, a few miles from town, and that he was authorized to inform the borough authorities that in case no resistance was made to the occupation of the town, private property and unarmed citizens should be respected; whereupon the committee adopted the following resolution:

Resolved, That finding our town defenceless, we request the Chief Burgess to surrender the town peacefully and to obtain for us the assurance that the persons of citizens and private property will be respected, the Chief Burgess to be accompanied by such of the committee as may think proper to join him.

The following named gentlemen were appointed a special committee to accompany the Chief Bur- gess: Gen. George Hay, President of the Committee of Safety; W. Latimer Small and Thomas White, Esq. These gentlemen with the Chief Burgess and Mr. Farquhar left town about eight o'clock Saturday evening, and returned about one o'clock the follow- ing morning. They reported an interview with Brig. Gen. Gordon in which they informed him that they had endeavored to raise all the force they could to resist his entering the town, but having failed to do so, all that they asked if he did enter, was that the persons and property of citizens should be safe, that the rebel General gave them every assurance of the protection they asked in case the town should be occupied by his forces, and further that there was nothing said by either party about a surrender of the town. At ten o'clock on Sunday morning, the 28th of June, the rebels in large force entered and occupied the town. The flag flying in Centre Square was ordered to be taken down by the enemy and was carried away by him.

The Committee of Safety having discharged the duties imposed upon them to the best of their judgment respectfully submit the above report of their action to their fellow citizens.

GEORGE HAY, JOHN GIBSON, FREDERICK STALLMAN,

WN. H. ALBRIGHT, GATES J. WEISER, DAVID E. SMALL, E. H. WEISER, THOMAS WHITE, JACOB D. SCHALL. WV. LATIMER SMALL. D. A. STILLINGER. GEORGE A. BARNITZ, FREDERICK BAUFHER, LEWIS CARI, JOSEPH SMYSER.

Committee.

At Hanover, the first battle of the war in Pensylvania, was fought on Tuesday, June 30, 1863, an artillery and cavalry tight which lasted the greater part of the day. The cannonading was distinctly heard in York. The third division of the cavalry corps, of the Army of the Potomac, under Gen. Kilpatrick, one of the brigades of which was commanded by Gen. Custer, reached Lit- tlestown on the 29th, and Hanover on the

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30th, in pursuit of Gen. Stuart, who was known to be moving through Pennsylvania. The Eighteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry was of the rear guard of Kilpatrick's column, and while halting in the streets of Hanover, was suddenly attacked by the head of Stnart's column. The Eighteenth was at first driven through the town, but rallying with the Fifth New York, drove the enemy back, when his

artillery opened fire. The roar of guns brought Kilpatrick to the rescue. He formed his line of battle on the hills south of Han- over, and the enemy held the heights to the north, the Eighteenth Pennsylvania occupy- ing the town and barricading the streets. The fight, with artillery firing and skirmish- ing, continued until dark, when the enemy retired. A large body of them came as far as Dover, and about 230 prisoners were paroled there. Thirteen Union men were killed and fourteen wounded, four rebels killed and nine wounded, Stuart was pre- vented by this engagement from joining Lee until after the battle of Gettysburg, and his absence was greatly deplored by the Confed- erate leader.

Among the most renowned and effective branches of the service were the cavalry reg- iments. The Eleventh Cavalry (One Hun- dred and Eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers) was organized at the commencement of the war. It received recruits here who were attached to Company I, Capt. William I. Reisinger and Daniel H. Shriver, lieutenant. This reg- iment was employed in continuous and ardu- ous cavalry service for four years, with the Army of the Potomac and with Sheridan. In one of its raids Lieut. Shriver was killed, at Flat Creek Bridge, on February 14, 1864.

During the months of June and July, 1863, the Twenty-first Cavalry, (One Hundred and Eighty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers) was recruited, under a call for cavalry for six months' service, during which it was on scouting duty in the Shenandoah Valley. Company A, Capt. Hugh W. McCall, Lieuts. S. Nelson Kilgore and Samuel N. Manifold, was raised principally in the lower end of York County. In January, 1864, it was re- organized for three years' service. This reg- iment was engaged at Cold Harbor, on the 1st, 2nd and 3d of June, and in the as- sault on Petersburg, on the 18th. Again, at Jerusalem Plank Road, Weldon Railroad, at Poplar Spring Church, where it was compli- mented for its gallantry by Gen. Griffin, and at Hatcher's Run. Afterward it was in other engagements, and, in the final assault upon the defences of Petersburg, had the honor of making the first charge in the campaign,

near Dinwiddie Court House, and had other fighting up to the surrender near Appomat- tox Court House. It was mustered out on July 8, 1865.

Just previous to the invasion of Pennsyl- vania, in June, 1863, a company was formed in York, which was united with a body of troops, known as the First Battaliou, and placed on guard and provost duty. In March, 1864, it became Company B, of the One Hundred and Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, then organized for three years' service: David Z. Seipe, captain, afterward major; Samuel I. Adams, first-lieutenant, af- terward captain; Matthew H. McCall, first- lieutenant and quartermaster of the regiment; Jonathan J. Jessop, William W. Torbert, Samuel C. Ilgenfritz, second lieutenants. In May, 1864, the regiment was ordered to the front to join the Army of the Potomac and assigned to the Fifth corps, arriving in time to participate in the battle of Cold Harbor. It suffered severely at Petersburg, on the 18th of June; Maj. Merrick, commanding the reg- iment, and Lieut. Jessop, each lost a leg, while leading their men to the charge. For its gallant conduct the regiment received the commendation of Gen. Chamberlain, com- manding the corps. It was again engaged at Weldon Railroad, on the 18th of August. In September, it was moved from the front and placed on duty at Philadelphia, where it acted as escort to the remains of President Lincoln on the occasion of the funeral obse- quies in that city.

Beside the company of Capt. Seipe, just mentioned, companies were formed in York County, who were mustered in for the emer- gency service, from June to August, 1863, but the great victory of Gettysburg, relieved our people from all apprehended danger.

The First and Eleventh Corps of the Army of the Potomac, on Wednesday, July 1, 1863, came up with the enemy, in large force, under Gens. Hill and Longstreet, near Gettysburg, and a short and severe engage- ment ensued in and around that town. Gen. Reynolds was killed at the commencement of the fight, while riding at the head of his troops. On Thursday another engagement began,-the rest of the army, under Gen. Meade, having come up, and the army of the Confederates, under Gen. Lee. The firing was heard here distinctly, and in the evening, from six to eight o'clock, it was terrific. On Friday the battle continued, resulting in the defeat and retreat of Lee. This great battle furnished an opportunity to our people to for- ward supplies and assistance to the wounded and suffering soldiers, on and in the neigh-

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borhood of the field of battle. It scarce needed a public meeting, which was called for the purpose, to cause our citizens to bring in abundance of provisions to the market and court houses. In less than two hours and a half thirty wagons, loaded down with the necessaries of life, bread, cakes, hams and delicacies, accompanied by male and female hurses, were on their way to the battle- field. Provisions continued to arrive and were at once forwarded to the scene of action.

In the early part of 1864 sanitary fairs throughout the country were held, and the ladies of the Soldiers' Aid Society, of York, in February of that year, inaugurated a series of entertainments in connection with their fair, consisting of concerts, tableaux and other exhibitions, by which large amouuts of money were raised for the sani- tary fund. Quiet reigned at home, and our people were free from all apprehension of danger. until they were suddenly disturbed by another advance of the enemy across the Potomac.

After terrible battles and frightful slaugh- ter, Gen. Grant, about July 1, 1864, sat down before Petersburg to commence the siege of the enemy's works, and the slow, but sure advance to Richmond. But while he was there with his great army, the country was startled by another invasion of Maryland, by Ewell's Army, and siege laid to Washing- ton, the enemy's cannon shaking the very Capitol. After the battle of Monocacy, the Confederate cavalry overran all eastern Mary- Jand. Harry Gilmore made his famous raid, destroying the railroads, and particularly cutting off communication between Phila- delphia and Baltimore. A memorable inci- dent of this raid was the capture and escape of 'Maj .- Gen. Franklin. On the 11th day of July, when on the train from Baltimore to Philadelphia, he was taken prisoner, but while at Reisterstown, in charge of a guard, he made his escape. Feigning sleep, the guards fell asleep really, when he quietly walked off. After hiding two days in the woods, he met a farmer who befriended him, and with whom he took refuge until it was time to make his way further.

There was witnessed, in the month of July, 1864, again, the distressing sight of refugees fleeing through our streets in charge of horses and cattle. The proximity of the enemy occasioned great alarm. There was a call by the governor for 24,000 men to serve for one hundred days. Five companies were formed in York for home protection, and pub- lic meetings were called to provide bounties

for volunteers. The stores were closed, and business generally suspended.

On the 30th day of July the awful news was received of the burning of the town of Chambersburg. Three hundred and fifty houses were burned and all the public build- ings. A public meeting for the relief of the sufferers was called, and several thousand dollars were raised for that purpose in York. The enemy retiring relieved us from further apprehension.

Of the hundred days men, the One Hun- dred and Ninety-fourth Regiment had men from York County. It was put on duty in and near Baltimore, on the lines of the rail- roads, on provost duty, and as guard to prisoners.

Early in 1864 a draft was ordered for 500,000 men, unless forthcoming by volun- teers, and for some districts a draft was made on the 6th of June. On the 18th of July there was a call for 500, 000 volunteers. This call, after the already exhausting drafts, roused a class of citizens, who determined to volunteer themselves, and fill the quotas, organized companies, and became attached to regiments, which, although put into ser- vice late in the war, acquired the distinction of veterans.

The Two Hundredth Regiment was com- manded by Col. Charles W. Diven, formerly major of the Twelfth Reserves. It was or- ganized on September 3, 1864. The com- panies, formed in York, attached to this regiment, were, Company A, Adam Reisinger, John Wimer, captains; William F. Reisinger, Edward Smith, Jere Oliver, lieutenants. Company D, William H. Duhling, captain; Martin L. Duhling and William H. Drayer, lieutenants. Company H, Jacob Wiest, cap- tain; James M'Comas and William H. Smyser, lieutenauts. Company K, Hamilton A. Gless- ner, captain; George I. Spangler, Augustus C. Steig and Zachariah S. Shaw, lieutenants.

At the time of the formation of the com- panies just mentioned, a company was raised in York by Capt. Lewis Small; lieutenants, Richard C. Ivory and William L. Keagle. This company was attached, at Harrisburg, to the Two Hundred and Seventh Regiment as Company E.

Two other companies from York County were also then formed, one by Capt. Henry W. Spangler; lieutenants Thomas J. Hend- rieks, William Douglas, and William B. Morrow; the other by Capt. John Klugh; lieutenants, George W. Heighes and Henry L. Arnold, and were attached to the Two Hundred and Ninth Regiment as Companies B. and I.

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

These three regiments, organized about the same time, were immediately ordered to the front, and placed in the Army of the James, and were employed in active duty until the 24th of November. when they were trans- ferred to the Army of the Potomac, and placed in the division of Gen. Hartranft, Ninth corps. They performed fatigue duty and were thoroughly drilled during the win- ter, and were engaged in several raids at Bermuda Hundred, Jerusalem Plank Road and Hatcher's Run, and at the opening of the spring campaign they were engaged in one of the most brilliant achievements of the war. Fort Steadman was, by a surprise, captured by the enemy. Hartranft had six Pennsyl- vania regiments, including these three, and determined to lead his command at once to the assault -- Col. Diven, commanding the First Brigade. About daylight, on Saturday morning, the 25th of March, after three sev. eral assaults, under very heavy fire, the fort was retaken. The Two Hundredth led the assault, supported by the Two Hundred and Ninth. The Two Hundredth received particular mention in Gen. Hartranft's re- port: "It was put to the severest test, and behaved with great firmness and steadiness." And he congratulated all the men and officers of his command " for their gallant and heoric conduct," that they had "won a name and reputation of which veterans ought to feel proud."

April 2, the division was again formed for assault in front of Fort Sedgewick, in the capture of which the men and officers behaved with great gallantry and coolness. Sergt. Michael Harman, of Company E, Two Hun- dred and Seventh, was killed in this assault. The color sergeant of the regiment, George J. Horning, fell pierced with seven balls, when Sergt. Charles J. Ilgenfritz sprang for- ward and raised the colors, and the men rushed over the works and the colors were planted on the fort. The regiments advanced to the city of Petersburg, which was by this time abandoned, and continued in pursuit of the enemy until the surrender of Lee, and in May they were mustered out.

A company was raised in York by Capt. Emanuel Herman, in the early part of 1865, Emanuel Rutter, first lieutenant, and Charles W. P. Collins, second lieutenant. This com- pany was attached, with seven other com- panies, to the One Hundred and Third Vet- eran Regiment, which had been reduced to eighty-one men. It was on duty in North Carolina, until June 25, 1865, when it was mustered out at Newbern.

Soldiers from York and York County, vol-

unteered in other Pennsylvania regiments, besides those mentioned, and also in regi- ments of other States, and where, in some cases, they had become residents. Henry J. Test, who had been a member of the Worth Infantry, in the three months' service, vol- unteered in the Seventy-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers (Col. Hambright's regiment, of Lancaster County), became a lieutenant in Company B, and was killed at the battle of Perryville, Ky., on October 8, 1862. The Seventh Iowa Regiment was commanded by Col. Jacob Lauman, afterward brigadier- general, who was with Gen. Grant in the West, at Belmont, Pittsburgh Landing and Fort Donelson. At this last named place, Capt. Jonathan S. Slaymaker, of the Second Iowa, fell while leading his company in the assault. Corp. David Hays, of the Thirteenth Indiana, a soldier of the Mexican war, dis- tinguished himself in a desperate hand to hand encounter with the rebels in Western Virginia. Many others might be mentioned whose names cannot be recalled.

Thus from the ordinary life of the citi- zen, from the farm, the workshop, the count- ing room and the office, our men left their business and homes, at the call of their country, and formed a part of that great body of volunteers, which constituted, with the regular army as a nucleus, the military power of the nation, and furnished their full share toward the preservation of the American Union. The army officers are chiefly graduates of the military academy. These in many instances, during the war, retaining their rank in the line, became general officers of volunteers. The West Point graduates from York attained conspicu- ous positions in the service. William B. Franklin was major-general by brevet, and major-general of volunteers; Horatio Gates Gibson, major, Third Artillery, was colonel of Second Ohio Heavy Artillery and brevet brigadier general of volunteers. On the staff, Edmund Shriver was Inspector- Gen- eral of the Army of the United States and brevet major-general; Michael P. Small, colonel, commissary department, and brevet brigadier-general. Of those appointed from civil life were Maj. Granville O. Haller, Seventh Infantry: Capt. Walter S. Franklin, Twelfth Infantry, brevet major and on the staff with the rank of lieutenant-colonel; Capt. Theodore D. Cochran, of the Thirteenth Infantry; Capt. Charles Garrettson, of the Seventeenth Infantry; Lieut. George W. H. Stouch, Third Infantry, and Lieut. Jacob L. Stouch, Twelfth Infantry.

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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 36

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