USA > Pennsylvania > History of a cavalry company. A complete record of Company "A," 4th Penn'a cavalry, as identified with that regiment in all the campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, during the late civil war > Part 18
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Go ! soldiers of the Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry ! to be happy with, and to render happy those whom you love and cherish. We may never meet again, but the remembrance of your gallant deeds and heroic endurance, will never fade from the memory of him who has had the honor to lead you through the trials and dangers of the past, and he trusts that you will carry with you kind memories of one who, whatever may have been his faults or his failures, has striven to do his duty, and gloried in the leader- ship of a command whose achievements are second to none.
May God bless you, and keep you as pure citi- zens, as you have been faithful soldiers.
J. IRWIN GREGG, Brev. and Maj. Gen. Vol's.
On the same day, we received orders to be ready to march for the North on the following morning.
On Sunday, July 2d, therefore, we proceeded on our way about daylight, to Burnt Bridge, six miles below Lynchburg. There took the cars to Farm- ville, and marched thence to Burkville Junction, and encamped. Here we awaited transportation by rail, remaining at this point all the next day.
313
MARCHING NORTH.
In the meantime Gen. Young proceeded to Rich- mond, to hurry transportation.
On Tuesday, July 4th, we remained at Burkville Junction, until one o'clock, when we took the train for City Point. We met several old friends from our native valley here on this anniversary of the Na- tional Independence, and we had a very lively and joyful re-union. It was the only anniversary in the service that we had really enjoyed. It is unneces- sary to say, that we drank to the memory of every canonized hero of the revolution, and toasted the brilliant names of our later war. Throughout the North, the spirit of the occasion was kept up, with great demonstrations of joy. During the day men, women, and children, gave themselves up to an en- joyment and suitable celebration of the day. The skies were laced, stippled and constellated from sunset till day-dawn, with fiery pyrotechnic displays, and one anthem of joy for the victory lately achieved, and for the old conquest of our Revolutionary fathers, rolled from Maine to Maryland, and between either ocean. The patriotic feeling of the following lines, glowed in every loyal heart of the land :-
" New England mountains, Texas plains, Virginia slopes, Nebraska vales, One noble language breathes its strains, Along the freedom of your gales ; One mighty heart pulsates beside, The rolling of your every tide.
" One patriot glory spreadeth white Seraphic wings above the past, 27
£
314
HISTORY OF A CAVALRY COMPANY.
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And rainbows in eternal light The costly blood which showered fast, On battle fields of ancient time, When love of country was a crime.
" Heroic memories strike their root Along your every hill and shore ; And not a flower beneath the foot But burgeons proudly from the gore Of noble breasts, which calmly met The charging foeman's bayonet.
"The echoes of old battles roll In thunder down your cataracts, And utter startlingly the soul Of glorious times and deathless acts ; The changeless rainbow waveth there, Your stripes along its native air.
" A deathless rush of crimson rills, Through spectral ranks runs steeply down New England's first of battle hills, By Freedom's sickle fiercely mown, And echoes, ever to your veins, But faintly worthy of such strains.
"The ice upon the Delaware E'er trembles 'neath unshodden feet, Which ever track its chilly glare With life-blood oozing through the sleet, The foot-falls of a race of men Whose like we lately saw again.
" The horn of Marion echoes clear Through Carolina's aged pines, Whose every dew-drop like a tear, Is dashed aside by bannered vines, Which, faithless to the hero's fall, Still vibrate to his battle call.
-
315
MARCHING NORTH.
"The vivid thought of Franklin beams, In every lightning glare that flies Above our zone-traversing streams, Along our ocean-bounded skies, And bids us open reverent souls To truth's eternal thunder rolls.
" Mount Vernon bosoms in its sod That generation's noblest heart, Whom Greece had shrined a demi-god- A man without a counterpart ; The throbbings of that patriot breast Are echoed in our farthest west.
"Such heroes splendored not alone, But many more who nameless sleep Beneath the hasty funeral stone, Where nature took them to the deep, Kind bosom, from the reeling strife Of breast to breast and knife to knife.
" God help us keep the sacred trust Our sires bequeathed us with our breath, Crush treason in its native dust, And struggle, faithful unto death, With fearless soul and tireless hand, For liberty and fatherland."
After the 4th had been duly celebrated, we pro- ceeded to Cedar Level, between City Point and Petersburg, and remained there for the night.
٦٠٠٢٠٠٩٠٤
9
316
HISTORY OF A CAVALRY COMPANY.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
" FLING OUT THE STARRY FLAG."
0 N the 5th we went to City Point, and embarked on board the steam transport, Northerner. We arrived in Baltimore on the following day, and immediately took the cars for Pittsburg. We reached that city at midnight, and quartered at once in the City Hall.
On Saturday morning, July 8th, we were received by the Mayor of the city, and were publicly ban- queted at the City Hall, where addresses were made by the Mayor, Gen. Ycung, and others. The council and numerous citizens were in attendance. Some fine music was discoursed by an excellent band, and a hearty and delightful collation furnished to the whole regiment.
Col. Young here delivered his farewell address to the regiment, which was received with feelings of affection and regard. It reads in substance as follows :-
0
I
"FLING OUT THE STARRY FLAG." 317
HEAD-QUARTERS, 4TH PENNA. CAVALRY,
Pittsburg, Pa., July 8th, 1865.
OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS OF THE 4TH PENNA. CAVALRY :
In parting with you who have gallantly performed your duties in defence of the Union, your command- ing officer deems it necessary to say, it is with re- Juctance. From the organization of the Regiment he has officiated with you in various capacities. Ilis positions have been such, that his acquaintance with each one as a soldier in camp as also in the field, has been personal, creating an attachment, that now is about to be severed, but never forgotten. For four years your life has been his, the privations and hard- ships which you have suffered, he has also endured, but the recompense has been a full compensation. By your gallantry and daring, on every battle-field, you have won the admiration of the whole country. You have wrested from the hands of arch traitors, the proud emblem of liberty.
You have once more opened the doors of the free institutions of a powerful people, and firmly estab- lished the great fundamental principle that there is no such thing as secession, but by hydra headed treason, and punishable to the full extent by military Jaw; and not only that, but you have also estab- lished the supremacy of " The Star Spangled Ban- ner " above all nations of the world.
Among the officers of this command, your comman- der sees none in the same capacity in which they
27*
L
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318
HISTORY OF A CAVALRY COMPANY.
entered the service. You have been promoted to your present respective grades for gallant and meri- torious services rendered on many fields of " gore." You have by your deportment won the full confidence and esteem of your commander. And for your as- sistance and obedience to all orders, he thanks you.
And now that your country no longer requires your services, beat your swords into plow shares, and your spears into pruning hooks, that the clanking of arms may no longer salute the ear, but be superseded by the busy hum of industry. Let your deportment hereafter be in accordance with your military life, and prove to the world that a soldier can be a good citizen ; that he who raises the arm to establish law, also raises it for its maintenance.
You will soon gather around your hearth-stones, and recount your perils, privations, hardships, and sufferings to the loved ones at home, but your bosoms will always heave with emotions of pride in the ex- clamation, I was a soldier of the Union. Your name will be revered by the loyal, the great, and the good.
For our comrades, who have fallen, we shed a tear; our sympathies go forth to the house of mourning, and would condole with the afflicted. Their loss has been in a glorious cause, the propitiation of freedom to you and to all posterity.
We soon shall separate, perhaps never to meet again, but your memories will be the proudest of my recollections, to be erased only by the soul's exit.
S. B. M. YOUNG, Brev't Brig. Gen'l Vols.
and Col. 4th Penna. Cavalry.
1
.
319
"FLING OUT THE STARRY FLAG."
This public reception and banquet had been tend- ered to our regiment, because the majority of its members, were soldiers from the Iron City, and its vicinity. But our own Company was almost as far away from home, as it could get in the State of Pennsylvania. We, however, were equally well re- ceived, with the balance of the command.
After the reception, the regiment was ordered to Camp Reynolds, near Pittsburg, to await the pay- master and be disbanded. This camp was located on the famous Braddock Field, where the proud British General, disdaining the advice of our own Washington, met with sudden and fatal disaster, in the early French and Indian wars.
We remained here until July 12th, awaiting anx- iously the Paymaster's arrival, for we were all desti- tute of means, and our clothing was worn-out.
While here, I visited the surrounding country in company with several friends.
We called at the home of the Hon. John Covode, in Westmoreland County, and on other prominent statesmen in Greensburg.
After inserting the necessary transportation on the rolls, to convey the members of the Company to their homes, they were paid off on the 12th. I per- sonally handed each man his honorable discharge, duly stamped and signed.
About this time, also, the remains of two flags, which had been presented to us during the war, were deposited in the archives of the State. In the bat- tles of the Union, they had been reduced to mere
320
HISTORY OF A CAVALRY COMPANY.
tatters. One of these had been presented to us in the early stages of the war, at Camp Campbell, Washington, by Gov. Curtin, personally. The other was presented at Amosville, Va., about the time that Covode was commissioned Colonel. Be- fore we had received the second, the first had been reduced to a mere fringe, on a bullet-worn staff, and now both were in the same condition.
After this there were mutual leaves-taking and farewells, and the troops as citizens of the United States, but no longer as soldiers, returned to their respective homes.
In twenty-four hours after they were disbanded, the Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, as a military or- ganization, was non est-its members being scattered all over the State, many of them never to meet again. It is to be hoped that they will never be called upon again for the same purpose. I remained with the Company until it was disbanded, when I proceeded home with such as were going my way. And now the gallant boys have doffed their military trappings, donned citizens' attire and settled down once more to the peaceful pursuits of life, carrying with them the proud consciousness, that they had performed well and faithfully their parts, in crush- ing a rebellion, which aimed at and threatened to destroy the Union of the United States, and thus make a wreck of the best government the sun ever shone upon.
.
I
321
,
"FLING OUT THE STARRY FLAG."
. "Fling out the nation's stripes and stars, The glorious standard of the free, The banner borne through freedom's wars, The hallowed gem of liberty. On mountain top, in valley deep, Wherever dwell the free and brave, O'er graves where freedom's martyrs sleep, Columbia's flag must freely wave.
"Raise high the bright, auspicious flag, From every height and lowly glen, In forest dell, on jutting crag, Afar among the hearts of men. The sparkling banner, widely flung, Shall proudly wave o'er land and sea; And freedom's anthem, sweetly sung, Shall swell our country's jubilee.
"O, let the world that flag behold, The emblem of the brave and free ; The brightest crown of streaming gold That decks the goddess Liberty. Spread out its folds, till heaven's dome Reverberates the holy sound, That all oppressed have found a home On freedom's consecrated ground.
"Fling out our country's banner wide, Our emblematic starry gem; Our union never shall divide, While floats the silken diadem. 'Year after year the brilliant stars Shall indicate the strength of all; Let all beware of civil wars, Her patriot's wound, and traitor's fall."
1
322
HISTORY OF A CAVALRY COMPANY.
CHAPTER XXXV.
-
- CLOSING REFLECTIONS.
I [F we are true as a nation to ourselves, I believe a grand future is before this country. G. S. Hil- lard, on the destiny of America, has wisely re- marked with a voice of solemn warning :
"We may betray the trust reposed in us-we may most miserably defeat the fond hopes entertained of us. We may become the scorn of tyrants and the jest of slaves. From our fate oppression may assume a bolder front of insolence, and its victims sink into a darker despair.
"In that event, how unspeakable will be our dis- grace! With what weight of mountains will the in- famy lie upon our souls ! The gulf of our ruin will be as deep, as the elevation we might have attained is high. How wilt thou fall from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! Our beloved country with ashes for beauty : the golden cord of our union broken; its scattered fragments presenting every form of misrule, from the wildest anarchy to the most ruthless despotism ; our soil drenched with fraternal blood: the life of man stripped of its grace and dig-
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323
CLOSING REFLECTIONS.
nity; the prizes of honor gone, and virtue divorced from half its encouragements and supports ;- these are gloomy pictures, which I would not invite your imaginations to dwell upon, but only to glance at, for the sake of the warning lessons we may draw from them.
"Remember that we can have none of those con- solations which sustain the patriot who mourns over the undeserved misfortunes of his country. Our Rome cannot fall and we be innocent. No conqueror will chain us to the car of his triumph; no countless swarm of Huns and Goths will bury the memorials and trophies of civilized life beneath a living tide of barbarism. Our own selfishness, our own neglect, our own passions, and our own vices will furnish the elements of our destruction. With our own hands we shall tear down the stately edifice of our glory. We shall die by self-inflicted wounds.
"But we will not talk of themes like these. We will not think of failure, dishonor, and despair. We will elevate our minds to the contemplation of our high duties, and the great trust committed to us. We will resolve to lay the foundations of our pros- perity on that rock of private virtue, which cannot be shaken until the laws of the moral world are reversed. From our breasts shall flow the salient springs of national increase. Then our success, our happiness, our glory is inevitable. We may calmly smile at all the croaking of all the ravens, whether of native or foreign breed.
"The whole will not grow weak by the increase of
---
1
324
HISTORY OF A CAVALRY COMPANY.
its parts. Our growth will be like that of the moun- tain oak, which strikes its roots more deeply into the soil, and clings to it with a closer grasp, as its lofty head is exalted and its broad arms stretched.out.
" The loud burst of joy and gratitude which this occasion is breaking from the full hearts of a mighty people, will never cease to be heard. No chasms of sullen silence will interrupt its course, no discordant notes of sectional madness mar the general harmony. Year after year will increase it, by tributes from now unpeopled solitudes. The farthest west shall hear it and rejoice ; the Oregon shall swell it with the voice of its waters ; the Rocky Mountains shall fling back the glad sound from their snowy crests."
And so the great and vexed question, was at last decided, and for all time. A wiser statesmanship might perhaps have evaded the war, but through in- scrutable designs of an over-ruling Providence, it was decreed otherwise. It could hardly have been ex- pected, indeed, that what such giant intellects as Webster and Calhoun had failed by discussion to settle, with even the benign and conservative elo- quence of a Henry Clay, to compromise the still re- maining differences, could be adjusted by any species of human arbitration. The sword alone was left, and its decision is at last announced. The bickerings of at least thirty years in the halls of Congress, are now hushed on this painful subject, and at length the Northern system of civilization-its clear, pure principles of free pulpit, free press, free speech, and of individual freedom without exception, as to caste
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325
CLOSING REFLECTIONS.
or class, is firmly established over the entire coun- try. Whether the Constitution is a compact of the States, as entities, or directly of the people of the several States, is no longer a topic of importance on this point. Undoubtedly the very passions and false pride, which the wrong of slavery had generated in the South, were the causes which impelled them to reject all measures of conciliation offered by the North in 1860 and '61. They themselves precipi- tated the struggle, and thus evoked the vengeance of God, on a section that had been notoriously and profoundly unjust to millions of their fellow- beings.
In the affairs of men personally, the compensation of the moral system, is not always apparent, nor possibly existent either to mortal eyes, for the reason, perhaps, that human life is so short, that villainy is frequently successful, before inexorable events make the penalty inevitable.
But in the case of nations it is different. Life there is prolonged by successive generations, and the national wrong is sure to be followed by the Divine retribution, in some shape or other. I believe that history corroborates, and multifariously illustrates this principle. The wasted fields, the desolated homes, the cold and cheerless hearths, and the broken spirits of the South, which the progress and close of the war evinced, were but the balance in the scale against the long years of suffering and misfor- tune, the unrequited toil and crying injustice meted out to the poor slave. Doubtless our own. derelic- 28
326
HISTORY OF A CAVALRY COMPANY.
tion of duty in the past, in countenancing the evil more or less, and in pandering to it for the gain it brought, is also represented by penalties, by emo- tional and commercial lacerations, from which we shall not soon recover.
But evidently the wrath of the Just One is now withdrawn, and the vestibule of our future career is already luminous with the brilliant and happy pros- pect. May principle after principle of sound na- tional morality be incorporated into our institutions, until we present that round and perfect development of public wisdom and virtuc, which shall allure and stimulate other nations to a like advancement.
In these glorious days and hours, covering so rap- idly the sombre traces of war, there is a profound sense of inward satisfaction to the battle-worn veteran, when he considers the perils he has encountered, and the priceless heritage it is his high privilege to leave for coming generations. Doubtless, long absence has had something to do with this sensation, but the sloping sides of Mahoning, Bear, and Sharp Moun- tains, and the long stretch of our beautiful valley, were never more gorgeous in their romantic scenery. It seems that the sky is more serenely blue, the wild- bird's carol livelier and cheerier, the trees and grasses, and the budding clusters of flowers, are more early and freshly colored, than to me, they have ever been before. A mist seems to have left the atmosphere, and a cloud the heavens. It is indeed now the air of freedom, the soil of liberty, and there is nothing in our present status as a Re-
327
CLOSING REFLECTIONS.
public, of which we need be ashamed. Our moral power is immeasurably exalted and strengthened. The very majesty of our late struggle, will deter all future efforts at a dissolution of the Union, and com- mand the respect of the civilized world.
At last, more appropriately than did the sage of Marshfield, we can apply, with perfect truth, to our vast country in its present unity of political demands, the beautiful lines descriptive of the ornamental edging on the buckler of Achilles :
"Now the broad shield complete, the artist crowned,
With his last hand, and poured the ocean round, In living silver seemed the waves to roll, And beat the buckler's verge, and bound the whole."
APPENDIX.
1
93.BEZTIX
ORIGINAL ROLL
OF
Company "A," Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
RANK.
NAME.
AGE.
RESIDENCE.
WHEN ENLISTED.
Captain ....
William E. Doster. ...
24
Bethlehem, Pa ....
Aug. 7, 1861.
1st Lieut ...
Hermin Horn
43
Lehighton, " ....
2d
Edward Tombler
24
Bethlehem, " ....
0. Sergt ....
Joseph Andrews.
24
Summit Hill, Pa ..
Q. M. Ser ..
Allen O. Fahs.
26
Bethlehem,
Sergeant ...
Geo. W. Moss.
23
Summit Hill, "
66
James G. Loder.
37
Easton,
"
Wm. F. Sider.
24
Bethlehem,
..
A. G. H. Row
31
Weissport, ..
Corporal ...
Alfred Walton
23
Summit Hill, ..
Wm. T. Hess
19
Parryville, ..
Nathan Fritz
22 Summit Hill, " ..
Martin Bloss
22
Weissport,
Benj'n F. Younker. 29
Summit Hill, "
Richard Edwards.
24
James A. Gaumer.
20
Hellertown,
..
John Ballentine 25
Hazleton,
Bugler
Miller A. Brown 19
21
..
Bl'ksmith.
John Rinker.
29
Weissport,
Farrier
John Guth
25
Saddler ..
Edw. Petzel 33
Bethlehem,
..
Wagoner ...
Josiah J. Deemer 33
Easton,
..
331 - OK
"
..
Summit Hill, " ..
Merrit A. Brown
332
HISTORY OF A CAVALRY COMPANY.
NAME.
AGE.
RESIDENCE.
WHEN ENLISTED.
Ash, Tilghman
19
Weissport, Penna. Aug. 7th, 1861.
Armbruster. Martin.
30
Easton,
Bloss. Daniel,
30 Weissport,
Boston, Robert,
32
Stockton,
Bower, John
19
Easton.
Barr, Abraham,
21 | Bethlehem,
Boyd, Wm. J.
20 Buck Mount'n, Pa.
Broadback, John
19
Easton, Penna.
Brelsford, Nathan
21
Mauch Chunk, Pa.
Cunning, Neil
28
Summit Hill, Pa.
Cochlin, Michael
21
Connor, Thomas
19
Weissport,
Connor, Jos. C. H.
44
Campsie, Alexander 21
29
| Parryville, 66
Dempster, Cornelius
29
Slatington,
Erwin, John.
24
Summit Hill,
Everhard, Andrew 23
Bethlehem, 66
Frechy, Christian 36
East Penn,
File, Jacob 18
Manch Chunk, "
Garvy, Nicholas
24
| Lehighton,
Fiddler, John
23
Lehighton,
Galligher, Condy 20
| Summit Hill,
Heenan, John 28
29
Parryville,
Isley, John.
25
Weissport,
Kent, George.
19
Keefaber, Philip
22
Karass, Albert.
29
Bethlehem,
Weissport, «
Kopf, Francis X 29
Mauch Chunk, "
-
MeLaughlin, James
26
Me Laughlin, Robert.
20
McClure, William
201
Moyer, Reuben 26
Morkle, John
20
Mickle. Geo. W.
20 : Hellertown,
Me Michael, Archibald.
22 Summit Hill,
Moyer, Mareus
26 . Lehighton,
Mover, Gottlieb.
26 ; Weissport,
Mellose. Josiah
27 | Coplay,
Miller, George
19 . Summit Hill, ¥
MeCarron, JJohn
19:
Naftz, Martzell
26 . Weissport,
Nicho!s, David
43 ! Easton,
¥
Oswald, William
26 | Weissport,
Patterson, Chas. A
20 | Lehighton, 66
66
--------
----
! Bethlehem,
Hand, Joseph
Summit Hill,
Kain. William .. 32
Meyer, John,
Summit Hill, "
Northumberl'd Co.
Weissport, Pa.
! Bethlehem,
.4
66
¥
i Summit Hill,
Driesbach, Simon
-
333
APPENDIX.
NAME.
AGE.
RESIDENCE.
WHEN ENLISTED.
Paxton, Thomas S.
32
Easton, · Pa.
Aug. 7th, 1969.
Raub, Charles
29
Smith, James
20
Weissport,
Shivelhuth, Joseph
26
Bethlehem,
Schombler, Lewis
30
Centre Valley, "
Smith, George E
22
Bethlehem,
Stahler, David.
27
Summit Hill, «
¥
Shimp, Andrew
26 Easton,
Snyder, Jos. M.
30
Bethlehem,
¥
Smith, William
28
Weissport,
Schlager, George.
18 Scranton,
Shultz, John.
24
Mauch Chunk, "
Swallow, John
29
Easton,
Schingler, Lewis
20 Nazareth,
Steel, John
25 Bethlehem,
Stermer, William
21 Mahoning,
Slaven, John
33
Easton,
Tiful, Richard
21 Summit Hill,
Thomas, Wm. E
22 Jeansville,
Tiller, Herman
19
Bethlehem,
Ward, Benjamin
19
Bucks County,"
Welsh, John W
24
Weissport,
Wertz, Peter.
28
Walter, Robert.
26
Bethlehem,
Wunder, Frederick
25
¥
Wagoner, Frederick
25
Recruits whose Enlistment dated back to
Edwards. Thomas
20 | Summit Hill, Pa. 1 Yost, John B.
20 |Stockton,
16
1
..
334
HISTORY OF A CAVALRY COMPANY.
ROLL OF RECRUITS
OF
Company "A," Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
NAME.
AGE.
RESIDENCE.
WHEN ENLISTED.
Kain, William.
20
Weissport,
Pa.
Hyndman, William
19
Mauch Chunk,
Keck, Charles.
28
Weissport,
Zeigenfuss, Stephen,
22
Schoenberger, George
23
Frazer, Robert
31
Scotland,
Irwin, G. W. S.
39
Cumberland,
66
May 28th, "
Lewis, John J
19
Hollidaysburg,
"
June 18th, "
Miller, Henry
27
Mauch Chunk,
-
Mar. 16th, "
Kelier, John
43
Lancaster,
Jan. Ist, IS64.
Arner, Reuben 20
Weissport,
Feb. 29th, «
Bartholomew, George.
39
Mauch Chunk,
Feb. 16th, “
Blakely, Tilghman
26
Connor, Wilfred.
20
Weissport,
Feb. 29th, “
Crawford, Robert.
21
Summit Hill.
Apr. 26th, "
Drumbore. Joseph
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