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 83

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 83

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Maj. Haller participated throughout 1859 in the San Juan Island imbroglio. Some young Indians of the Lummi tribe put on their war paint, and with arms entered What- com and demanded the release of their chief, who was supposed by them to be confined. They killed one white mau, when the citizens fired on them and killed several. Maj. Hal- ler was at the time patrolling the archipelago, and was sent for, and immediately marched into their location and demanded the perpe- trators, and brought them away as hostages; further trouble would have been dangerous to the scattered parties of the boundary com- mission, if not have suspended their labors.

In 1860 Maj. Haller was ordered into Ari- zona to relieve a company of the Sixth In- fantry, at Fort Mojave. The Indians had been very hostile and fought with determined bravery against the company just leaving. But Maj. Haller, having taken his family along, the chief, Irataba, assuming that he would not take his family into danger, in- ferred that he had come to establish peace and not make war, instructed his warriors to be obedient to the "Majore's" orders, and friendly relations were firmly established, which greatly aided the development of the mines of precious ores in that region. Mrs. Haller and her family were great objects of curiosity to the Mojave Indians, being the first time they had ever seen wife or child belonging to an officer. They became trou- blesome by lining the windows while at meals to see mother and children.

The secession movement called his com- pany to San Diego, Cal., and thence to Wash- ington, D. C., where he found himself pro- moted to major of the Seventh Infantry, vice Maj. Lynde, who had surrendered his regi- ment to the Texan forces in New Mexico, and put the Seventh Infantry on parole. Maj. Haller not being on parole, applied for active service, and was assigned to Gen. McClellan's army, as assistant provost-mar- shal on Gen. Andrew Porter's staff. To Maj., Haller was assigned the duty to draw up reg- ulations to govern the regiments and large bodies of troops in the secession country, which can be found in Gen. Mcclellan's re- port-the orders verbatim-which afterward were repudiated by Gen. Pope, who soon realized the penalty for disregarding such recognized usages of war by rousing every inhabitant to active hostility, and furnishing his enemy with information.

421

HISTORICAL BIOGRAPHIES.

Gen. McClellan experienced difficultly in finding his staff officers' tents after the day's march, and appointed Maj. Haller the com- mandant-general of general headquarters, with instructions to select suitable camping grounds, and keep his general staff conven- iently together. His arrangements proved satisfactory to Gens. McClellan, Burnside and Hooker, having a regiment (Ninety-third New York Volunteers). placed under his com- mand, and acting as a staff officer of the gen- eral commanding, and as commandant of general headquarters guard and provost-mar- shal's guard for prisoners of war.

Exposure to the hot sun daily caused an eruption on his cheek (impetigo), and ren- dered a change to indoor duty necessary. Gen. Frye, provost marshal-general of the army, assigned him to duty as provost-mar- shal-general for Maryland, but Gov. Brad- ford, of that State, had previously recom- mended a certain Maryland volunteer officer for the position to the secretary of war, and, finding his recommendation disregarded, felt offended with the war department when Maj. Haller made an official visit.

Gen. Frye, when apprised by Maj. Haller of Gov. Bradford's feelings, suspended his order, and permitted Maj. Haller to repair to York, Penn., until further orders. At York Maj. Haller learned of Gen. Lee's in- vasion of Pennsylvania, and Col. Levi Maish and he repaired at once to Harrisburg to offer their services. Gen. Couch immediately ordered Maj. Haller not to leave that city without his permission, and soon placed him temporarily upon his staff as aide de-camp; was assigned to York and Adams Counties to execute his orders, and keep the general commanding informed as to the movements of the enemy.

Gen. Couch's order for the citizens to send their stock, etc., across the Susquehanna River for safety was disseminated, and much property was saved from confiscation by Early's command.

While at Gettysburg, Gen. Couch sent the City Troop of Philadelphia, then under the command of the distinguished ex-speaker of the house of representatives in congress, Hon. Samuel Randall, to report, which, with a company of cavalry raised and mustered into service by Maj. Haller, at Gettysburg, commanded by Capt. Bell, did most efficient service. Like veteran cavalry, they kept the Confederate force constantly in sight, and reported fully their various movements, much to the relief of Gen. Couch, who had early learned the intention of Gen. Lee to march

Haller to have the various roads leading to York well patrolled. The general, in ad- vance, authorized Maj. Haller, if necessary, to burn the bridge across the Susquehanna River, and to inform himself of the several fords, and what defense could be improvised if the enemy attempted to ford the river.

The advance of the Confederates toward Gettysburg was made during a heavy fog, and his (Haller's) scouts could not discover at any time over fifty or sixty of their cavalry on the road. It was inferred that these were simply a foraging party, sent forward to col- lect horses and supplies, and gather informa- tion. A regiment of volunteers, having just joined, had been thrown forward about three miles in front of Gettysburg, in a defensive position, which it was expected would inter- cept these foragers, but the sconts brought the information that this regiment had left for parts unknown some time before the enemy had reached their line of defense. The want of proper arms and instruction left the cavalry unprepared to cope with the enemy's foragers, hence the volunteer cavalry were ordered to York. Soon reports of the enemy's cavalry approaching York was re- ceived, and, supposing them still to be forag- ing parties, the Patapsco Guards and the in- valids at the general hospital capable of bear- ing arms, were organized into a battalion, and were marched to the west end of York (Buttstown), and there posted to resist the entry of the enemy. While there, Mr. Farquhar, returning to York, informed Maj. Haller that Gen. Gordon, with over 3,000 armed men, was approaching. Then Maj. Haller for the first time realized the inten- tions of the Confederates as previously in- dicated by Gen. Couch, and hastened his departure for Wrightsville to prepare for its defense if possible, or defeat the enemy in attempting to cross the river. Hundreds of teams were collected about the bridge await- ing their turns to cross, but the slow process of collecting toll rendered it necessary, and by Maj. Haller's directions the tolls were omitted, and the wagons were allowed to cross without further delay.

Col. Frick's regiment of Pottsville Volun- teers, and a battalion of Col. Thomas' Phil- adelphia Corn Regiment, were at Wrights- ville, but the natural defensive line for the bridge, on the Wrightsville side, was on the hills very far out, and so extended, as to re- quire a very considerable force. The force collected, especially without cannon, was manifestly insufficient for efficient defense.

From Col. Frick's position, the rebel host upon Philadelphia, and had directed Maj. | could be counted as it descended from the

422

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

high ridge several miles south of Wrights- ville, which gradually sloped toward the Sus- quehanna, exposing the long column ap- proaching, with several cannon, and made evident that a determined defense there would only result in useless slaughter.

The enemy were making their dispositions for the attack, while their skirmishers ad- vanced firing at objects exposed, when Col. Frick requested the flank guards to be called in before too late, and cross over to Colum- bia. The orders were given, and time per- mitted the command to enter the bridge, but for some reason the Philadelphia Volunteers declined crossing the bridge, and were cap- tured.

An engineer had cut loose one span of the bridge, except the large wooden arches which were pierced with holes to charge with pow- der, and burst them asunder and drop the span into the river; unfortunately the powder failed to break the arch, when the torch was applied, and Philadelphia was saved.

Upon the retreat of the Confederates from Wrightsville, Maj. Haller with a portion of Capt. Bell's company, forded the Susquehan- na, and followed up the enemy to York and to Hanover, keeping Gen. Couch informed of events transpiring.

Soon after Gen. Lee's defeat at Gettysburg, while making out reports of service performed by the volunteers, and the expenditure in- curred, an order was sent Gen. Couch to relieve him, Maj. Haller, who, on reporting to the adjutant-general for orders, was informed by telegraph that he had been dismissed.

After repeated requests for an investigation, and after sixteen years of hope deferred, through the influence of Col. Levi Maish, of the Military Committee of the House; the delegate from Washington Territory, Judge Orange Jacobs, together with the entire dele: gation from Oregon, a joint resolution of congress opened the military courts to Maj. Haller, and authorized a trial by general court martial or by a court of inquiry. Pres- ident R. B. Hayes adopted the latter, and after a strict trial, the court of inquiry re- ported that Maj. Haller was wrongfully dis- missed, and was immediately restored to the rank he would have held had he remained continuously in the service, viz. : the rank of colonel of infantry, from February, 1873. This commission added an extra colonel of infantry to the army, and upon the death of Col. Jefferson C. Davis, of the Twenty- third Infantry, he was commissioned colonel of this regiment.

Having passed the sixty-third year, on the 6th of February, 1882, Col. Haller was re-

tired. His son having located in Seattle, Washington Territory, the Colonel with his family, settled down aud erected a home in the same place, where he now resides.

GEN. HORATIO GATES GIBSON, U. S. A.

This officer was born in Baltimore, May 22, 1827, and was appointed, March 8, 1843, a cadet at West Point from the York Congres- sional District, by the Hon. John C. Spencer, then secretary of war, at the instance of his successor in office, Hon. James M. Porter.

Military History .- Cadet at the United States Military Academy from July 1, 1843, to July 1, 1847, when he was graduated and promoted to

Bvt. Second Lieut. 2d Artillery, July 1, 1847.

Served in the war with Mexico, 1847-48 -on leave to August 5, 1847, and en route to

[Second Lieut. 3d Artillery, September 8, 1847.] Vera Cruz to October 22, 1847; at camp Ver- gara and with Maj .- Gen. Patterson's column on march to Puebla to December 2, 1847; at Fort Loreto, Penbla to April, 1848, and at the citadel of the City of Mexico to June, 1848; on march to Vera Cruz to July, and en voy. age to Fort Monroe, Va., July 16 to August S, in garrison (there-acting adjutant Third Artillery, and en voyage to and) at Fort Co- lumbus, N. Y., (August, November 15), 1848; (en voyage, via Cape Horn. to Monterey, Cal., to April 16, 1849; at the Presidio of) San Francisco, Cal., (May 1, to January 17), 1850; (on leave and en voyage to the Hawai- ian Islands to January 29, and on duty at Lahaina, Maui, February to June, as A. C. S., purchasing and shipping supplies to Cal. ifornia, and en voyage to San Francisco to June 22; as aide-de-camp to Bvt. Brig. - Gen. Riley, at Monterey, Cal., May 28 to August 9; at the Presidio of San Francisco, August, 1850 to January, 1851; escorting Indian commissioners through

[First Lieut. 3d Artillery, May 26, 1851.] the San Joaquin Valley and Tejon Pass to Los Angeles, Cal., and en voyage to the Presidio of San Francisco to June; on frontier duty at Sonoma, Cal., with First Dragoons, June 8-October 20, 1851, and expedition against Coquille Indians, October-November, being engaged in skirmish on Coquille River, Ore- gon, November, 1851, (and making rongh sur- vey and map of Coquille River)-and in com- mand of Fort'Orford, Ore., December to March, 1852; en voyage to San Francisco, March, and New York via Panama, April 5, to May 4, and on leave to August, 1852; in garrison at Fort Sullivan, Me., to October and at Jef- ferson Barracks, Mo., October 9, 1852 to

423

HISTORICAL BIOGRAPHIES.

October 11, 1853, en route to Fort Gibson, Ind. T. to October 31, and in garrison to May, 1854; on march to Fort Washita and in garri- son, May-November 2, 1854; en route to New York and on leave to April, 1855; in com- mand of Fort Wood, N. Y. to May 5, and en voyage to San Francisco and Fort Vancouver, Ore., to June; en route to San Francisco and Fort Reading, Cal., to July, and in command, with Lieuts. Sheridan, Crook and Hood, escorting topographical party exploring route for railroad from California to Oregon, July 26 to October; at Fort Lane, Ore., to Decem- ber 26, 1855, and in the Rogue River expe- dition, October-November, being engaged in an action with Oregon Indians, October 31- November 1, 1855, where he was severely wounded; in command of Benicia depot, Cal., January, 1856, and at the Presidio of San Francisco, January to-,1856, and in gar- rison to April, 1857; in command en route to Fort Jones, Cal., and Presidio of San Fran- cisco, April to May, and in garrison to June 4, 1857; in command at Fort Bragg, Mendo- cino Reserve, Cal., to May, 1858; en voyage to Fort Vancouver, and on the Spokane expedi- tion, (to the Cœur d'Alene Mission), Washing- ton Teritory, to November 1858, being engaged in the combat of Spokane Plain, September 5, and skirmish of Spokane River, September 8; at Fort Vancouver and en voyage to Fort Bragg, November, and to Fort Vancouver and San Francisco, December, 1858; as reg- imental quartermaster, Third Artillery, No- vember 1, 1358 to October 2, 1861; in com- mand of the Presidio of San Francisco Jan- uary-July 4, 1859; in garrison to May, 1860; on expedition to Carson Valley, Nev., May- October, 1860, being engaged in the combat on Truckee River, June 2, and skirmish on Pyramid Lake, June 2, 1860, (constructing field work at that point); at Fort Churchill, Nev., and en route to Presidio of San Fran- cisco, to October 25; in garrison there and at Alcatra Island, San Francisco

[Captain 3d Artillery, May 14, 1861.]

harbor, to November 11, 1861, and en voyage via Panama, to Washington, D.C., to Decem- ber 19, 1861.

Served during the rebellion of the seced- ing States, 1861-1866; in the defense of Washington, D. C., December 19, 1861 to February 11, 1862, and on leave to March 6; in the Virginia Peninsular campaign, Army of the Potomac, March 10, to September 4, 1862, being engaged in the seige of York- town, April 5 to May 4; battle of Williams- burg, May 4-5, 1862, and under Gen. Stone- man, guarding

[Bvt. Major, May 5, 1862, for gallant and meritorious conduct at the battle of Williamsburg, Va. |

the rear of the army, June 25 to June 29, 1862; in the Maryland campaign, Army of the Potomac, September-November, 1862, being engaged in a skirmish at South Moun- tain, September 13, 1862; battle of South Mountain, September 14, 1862; battle of

[Bvt. Lieut .- Col. September 17, 1862, for gallant and meritorious conduct at the battle of Antietam, Md.]

Antietam, September 17, 1862; skirmish of Sheperdstown, September 19-20, 1862, and skirmish atRappahannock Station, November 7-8, 1862; on the march to Falmouth, Va. ; in the Rappahannock campaign, Army of the Potomac, December, 1862-February, 1863, be- ing engaged in the battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862; on leave February 28 to April 10, 1863; as chief of artillery of Army of the Ohio, April 20, 1863.

[Lieut .- Col. 2d Ohio Heavy Artillery, Vol- unteers, August 1, 1863.] [Colonel 2d Ohio Heavy Artillery Volun- teers, August 15, 1863.]

To January 22, 1864, he was employed in recruiting and organizing his volunteer regiment, June to September 23, 1863, and in the defenses of the Louisville & Nash- ville Railroad, October 10, 1863, to February 22, 1864; in command of district of north- ern central Kentucky, February 22 to April 9, and in defenses of Louisville & Nashville Railroad to May 15; in guarding railroads debouching from Cleveland, Tenn., and con- structing Forts McPherson and Sedgwick at that place, May 26 to October 9, being en- gaged in skirmish there, August 17, 1865 and pursuit of the enemy August 22-28, 1864; in command of London, Tenn., October 12 to November 18; in operations in east Ten- nessee, opening communications with our troops engaged at Strawberry Plains, Novem- ber 18-20; under Gen. Ammen covering Gen. Stoneman's raid into southwestern Vir- ginia, December 10-20, 1864, and in com- mand of Knoxville, Tenn., and Brigade Twenty-third Army Corps and of the Army of the Cumberland, January 28

[Bvt. Colonel, March 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious conduct in the field, during the war. ] [Bvt. Brigadier-General U. S. Volunteers, March 13, 1865, for gallant and meri- torious service during the war. Mustered out of Volunteer Service, August 23, 1865.]

to August 12, 1865; on leave to November 14, 1865; in garrison at Jefferson Barracks to [Major 3d Artillery, February 5, 1867.] April 10, 1867: in command there, ---- 1866,

424

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

and of Fort Preble, Me., April 23, 1867, to April 29,1868; of Fort Adams, R. I., to July 27 ;of Fort Preble, August 6,1868,to February 8, 1869, and en voyage and in command of Barrancas. Fla., to May 25, 1870; on leave May 25, 1870 to April 6, 1871; in garrison at Newport Barracks, Ky., April 6, 1871, to November 11, 1872; in command of Fort Wads. worth, N. Y., November 13, 1872, to October 20, 1876 ;- in garrison at Columbia, S. C., (inaugurating Gov. Chamberlain) October 22, 1876, to January 11, 1877, and in command of Fort Wadsworth, N. Y., January 13 to July 21, 1877; at Mount Clare Depot, Baltimore, Md., and in garrison at Mauch Chunk, Penn., suppressing railroad and mining disturbances, July 22 to September 1, 1877, and in com- mand at Fort Wadsworth, N. Y., September 1, 1877 to July 5, 1882; inspecting encamp- ment of National Guard of Pennsylvania, at Camp Alexander Hays, Pittsburg, Sep- tember 7-14, 1880; in command of Fort Mc-

[Lieut .- Colonel 2d Artillery, April 19, 1882.] Henry, Md., to December 2, 1883; waiting orders to January 2, 1884-and in command of St. Francis Barracks, January 10, 1884, to June. 1885, then at Washington, D.C.

[Colonel 3d Artillery, December 1, 1883.]

Member of the "Aztec Club of 1847" (Mexico), of the "California Pioneers of San Francisco," and of the "Associated Pion- eers of the Territorial Days of California," of New York (1849), of the "Society of the Army of the Potomac;" of the "Cavalry As- sociation of the Armies of the United States" of the "George Washington Post No. 103 G. A. R;" of the "Association of the Graduates of the United States Military Academy" (1847); and of the "Military Service Institu- tion of the United States."

Gen. Gibson's full name is Horatio Gates Jameson Gibson, and he is, as his name indicates, a descendant of the Jamesons of whom David Jameson was the founder in this county. His grandfather, Dr. Horatio Gates Jameson, after whom he was called, was named after the Revolutionary Gen. Gates. He married March 16, 1863, at St. Louis, Mo., Harriett Leavenworth Atkinson, nee Walker, daughter of Mary Houston and Benjamin Walker, paymaster of the army, and has the following surviving children, Horatio Gates Jameson, Catharine Fisher, Agnes, and Henry Kendrich.

GEN. M. P. SMALL, U. S. A.

Gen. M. P. Small was born at York, and appointed to the Military Academy from this district. He is major commissary of subsistence, United States Army. The fol-

lowing record of his services is from Cul- lum's Biographical Register of the Graduates of the United States Military Academy.

Military History .- Cadet at the United States Military Academy from July 1, 1851, to July 1, 1855, when he was graduated and promoted in the army to

[Bvt. Second Lieut. of Artillery, July 1, 1855.]

Served on frontier duty, at Benicia, Cal., 1855; in Florida hostilities

[Second Lieut., 2d Artillery, September 21, 1855.] against the Seminole Indians, 1856-57; in garrison at Fort Lafayette, N. Y., 1857, and Fort McHenry, Md., 1857; on frontier duty at Fort Leavenworth, quelling Kansas dis- turbances, 1857-58; march to Utah, 1858 and Fort Leavenworth, Kans., 1858-59; in garri- son at Fort Monroe, Va. (Artillery School for practice) 1859; on Harper's Ferry expedi . tion to suppress John Brown's raid, 1859; in garrison at Fort Monroe, Va. (Artillery School for practice), 1859-61;

[First Lieut., 2d Artillery, April 27, 1861.]

and as quartermaster, Second Artillery, July 10 to August, 1861. Served during the re- bellion of the seceding States, 1861-66 as chief

[Capt. Staff Com. of Subsistence, August 3, 1861.] commissary and quartermaster at Rolla, Mo., of the southwestern district of Missouri, September 4, 1861, to January 31, 1863; as, mustering officer and depot commissary and quartermaster, at Rolla, Mo., January 21, 1862 to January 31, 1863; as inspecting commissary of subsistence of the department of the Missouri, February 1 to March 31, 1863; as chief of commissariat of the district of Minnesota, department of the northwest, and depot, and purchasing commissary at St. Paul, Minn., April 10 to August 22, 1863; as chief commissary of the Thirteenth Army Corps, and of the army in the field, in the Teche Campaign (Department

[ Lieut .- Col. Staff U. S. Volunteers, Sep- tember 15, 1863, to December 29, 1865.]

of the Gulf), September 15 to November 9, 1863; as purchasing and depot commissary at Chicago, Ill., and supervising commissary of the States of Illinois and Indiana, De- cember 30, 1863 to February 15, 1864; as chief commissary of the department of Vir- ginia and North Carolina, at Fort Monroe, Va., (supplying the "armies operating against Richmond" on the James River), February 22, 1864, to

[Bvt. Col. U. S. Volunteers, January 1, 1865, for distinguished and meritorious services in the campaign of 1863 and 1864.]

425

HISTORICAL BIOGRAPHIES.

February 21, 1865; of the army of the James and department of Virginia, February 21 to June, 1865, and in the final campaign in Virginia against the Confederate Army under Gen. Lee, issuing rations to that army at its surrender ;* of military division of the southwest, and military division

[Bvt. Major, Bvt. Lieut .- Col., and Bvt. Col- onel March 13, 1865, for meritorious servicesin the Subsistence Depart- ment during the Rebelliou. ]

[Bvt. Brig .- General, April 9, 1865, for faithful and meritorious services in the Subsistence Department during the Rebellion. ]

of the Gulf (ex-officio colonel United States volunteers), May 25 to December 29, 1865; as purchasing and depot commissary at New Orleans, La., July 25 to December 5, 1865; as purchasing and depot commissary at Nash- ville, Tenn., and supervising commissary of the States of Kentucky, Tennessee and por- tions of Alabama and Georgia, February 17 to November 6, 1866; as chief commissary, department of the Tennessee, November 6, 1866

GEN. M. R. MORGAN, of the Subsistence Department, United States Army, who was on the staff of Gen. Grant at the time of Lee's surrender, sends to the Baltimore Sun the following letter:

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF DAKOTA, OFFICE CHIEF COMMISSARY of SUBSISTENCE,

ST. PAUL, MINN., April 25, 1879. )

Dear Badeau;

Your favor of April 7th was received yesterday. I remember the matter you allude to in your letter very well. After the terms for the surrender of Lee's army had been arranged, (April 9, 1865,) Gen. Lee asked Gen. Grant to have rations issued to his army. Gen. Grant, turning to me, said: "Colonel, feed Gen. Lee's army." I asked: "How many men have they?" Gen. Grant repeated my question, addressing Gen. Lee. Gen. Lee went into an explanation to show why he could not tell the number of his men. He said " I have not a complete organiza- tion in my army. . Many companies are commanded by non-commissioned officers. The books are lost." When he got thus far I said, suggestively : "Say 25,000 men." Geo. Lee said " Yes, 25,000."" I went from the room at once, and meeting Col. M. P. Small, chief commissary of Gen, Ord's army asked him if he could spare three days' rations (I think it was three days,) of beef, salt and bread for the Army of Northern Virginia, num- hering 25,000 men. He said: "I guess I can." I was not at all certain that he could do it, because we had been having some lively marching, and I douhted if the provision trains and herd were up with the troops. But Small was equal to the emergency and I told him to issue the rations.

You remember we started back to City Point the afternoon of the next day, April 10, and I did not take much more interest in the number of men constituting the Army of Northern Vir- ginia. I have since learned that the number of men of that army paroled at the time, officers and men, was 26,115, divided as follows, viz .:

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 83

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