USA > Pennsylvania > Mifflin County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 1, Pt. 1 > Part 26
USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 1, Pt. 1 > Part 26
USA > Pennsylvania > Union County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 1, Pt. 1 > Part 26
USA > Pennsylvania > Juniata County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 1, Pt. 1 > Part 26
USA > Pennsylvania > Snyder County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 1, Pt. 1 > Part 26
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On the 25th day of March, 1847, the com- pany took its departure from Lewistown for the seat of war. The speediest mode of transpor- tation at this date was by boat on the Pennsyl- vania Canal, propelled by mule-power on the towing-path. A very large assemblage of the people of the county was present on this very interesting and exciting occasion. The follow- ing account of the scene was published at the time :
"THE JUNIATA GUARDS .- They are gone. It only remains for us to regret their departure, to sym- pathize with them and their friends whom they have left behind, and to wish them well on their journey to a distant clime. The day was delightful, and na- ture seemed herself eager to contribute to the solem- nity and interest of the occasion. The Guards having formed under their gallant commander, Captain W. H. Irwin, the citizens were also formed in procession, and escorted them from their quarters to the boat, which was in waiting to convey them to Pittsburgh. On their arrival at the boat, James K. Kelly, Esq. (now the chief justice of the Supreme Court of the State of Oregon), addressed them on behalf of the people, in a beautiful and touching manner, and spoke of the excitement, perils and dangers of the soldier's life. The manly bearing of those gallant hearts gave an earnest that their conduct would never be such as to sully the fair fame of their mountain home.
" When Mr. Kelly concluded, Captain Irwin re- sponded in his usual style. After commenting large- ly upon the kindness of his friends, he made a most solemn and feeling appeal to the valor and bravery of his men, concluding in this wise : 'My men know me; I can trust them ; I can rely upon them ; I trust in God we will never tarnish the fair fame of our na- tive hills,' and turning to the vast assemblage present, he added, 'and now it only remains for us to bid you la sad, it may be a long farewell.' While he was
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speaking, the gay and the grave, old and young, maintained almost a breathless silence, eager to catch every sentence. All were on tiptoe to catch a last look at those destined for a southern, sultry clime. There were many, very many, whose tears flowed pro- fusely, who seemed to possess neither the power nor the inclination to repress them, while listening to the fervid eloquence of Captain Irwin, while many in the distance, who were eager to hear as those near the speaker, could be gratified only when the restless wind might waft it in its own good time to their lis- tening ear. There was a mutual interchange of sym- pathy and feeling between the soldier and citizen ; and where is the man who would not wish well those brave hearts who are sacrificing the comforts of home and of friends and the sweethearts of the Juniata for a distant land, where the ravages of disease incident to the country are as pestilential as the Simoon winds of Arabia, in view of promoting the dignity and honor of our nation, and of vindicating her character from reproach. Finally, the word was given to cast off ; amid the cheers, farewells and with a hearty 'God bless you !' they took their leave of us, some of them, perhaps, for the last time. We hope they may all live to return to the bosoms of their friends and relatives, among whom they will be wel- comed as the victors of olden times were wont to be received. Scenes like this one are not frequent in the valley of the Juniata, and can any blame us if we give full scope to our zeal and enthusiasm ? The la- dies, too, who are always ready to favor with their smiles any good enterprise of our sex, were present in large number to join in the rights and ceremonies of a long adieu to the defenders of our native soil."
At Me Veytown, on the next day, a similar scene occurred. More soldiers had enlisted in the company from this place than from any other locality in the county, and a seemingly deeper interest and feeling were manifested by the people, of which there was a very large number from the surrounding country to bid a last farewell to the soldiers.
Before leaving McVeytown, Colonel R. C. Hale presented Captain Irwin with a sword, A. P. Jacobs, Esq., making the presentation speech. A sash was presented by Major M. Criswell. At the same time the citizens of Mc Veytown presented Lieutenant McCoy with a regulation sword, and Major M. Criswell pre- sented him with a dress sword, and Lieutenant William Macklin with a military sash, and the ladies with a beautifully-bound copy of the Bible. The company received many tokens and manifestations of great kindness from the
people of the village and vicinity. Lieutenant McCoy was appointed acting quartermaster and commissary.
The company arrived at Pittsburgh on March 31st and quartered at the American House. April Ist it was mustered by Lieutenant Field, U. S. A. Surgeon Dr. MeDowell, U.S. A., made the surgical examination, in doing which he re- jected James Criswell, who afterwards returned to his home. The following is a correct list of the company as mustered into the United States service for the war :
Captain : William H. Irwin.
First Lieutenant : Thomas F. McCoy.
Second Lieutenants : Weidman Foster, Byers Kuhn.
First Sergeant : John McGuigan.
Second Sergeant: Joseph Dull.
Third Sergeant : Michael T. MeEnnis.
Fourth Sergeant : James Kerr.
First Corporal : Thomas O'Brien,
Second Corporal : G. W. Soult.
Third Corporal : B. F. Miller.'
Fourth Corporal : John Bayard.
Musician : John Siflicks.
Privates.
James B. Alexander. John N. Hays.
Jas. H. Anderson. William P. Haffy.
David L. Bogle. Reuben Hall.
William Bogle. James Hite.
Peter Beaver. John Hoffman.
John Bice. Jacob IIawn.
James Criswell.
Joseph Jackson.
William Cook.
Abraham Walker.
Isaac Correll. G. W. Watson.
William M. Coulter. Isaiah Knight.
Robert Cargill. William Kurtz.
Willis Copelin. Uriah Kitchen
J. H. Cowden.
Albert B. Kauffman.
Isaac Campbell. Christian Long.
Jacob Carpenter.
John Landis.
Samuel W. Davidson.
James Mahan.
Cornelius Duff.
James McCauley.
Robert Davis.
John McClenahan.
Geo. E. Miller.
John Dechl. Reynolds MeDonald.
D. S. Disbrow.
Patrick Noonan.
Samuel Evarts.
John Neff.
John Fink. Jacob Nicholson.
James Fulton.
Julius Ort.
Abraham Foster.
Samuel Patterson.
Thomas Gibbs. Levi Peters.
John W. Godwyn. Simon Pennington.
Caleb G. Patterson.
Godfrey Gressmoyer. William Guthrie.
James Roles.
James Hays.
William Roles.
Isaiah Dunn.
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THE MEXICAN WAR.
James Rager.
John Sigler.
Geo. W. Rager.
Geo. Susseman.
William Rager.
John Taylor.
McClung Radeliff.
Lemuel Taylor.
Isaac J. Stephens.
Bar. Thatcher.
Isaac Signer.
Henry Wells.
Frederick Smith.
Joseph Sedinger.
Joseph Williams. John Woodside.
HIenry Suloff.
While at Pittsburgh Private Francis Thomas deserted. The company left Pittsburgh April 3d in the steamer " Germantown," with Captain Barnard's company of voltigeurs, and Captain Moore's company of the Eleventh Infantry, and arrived at the city of New Orleans April 12th, and were immediately transferred to the trans- port ship " America," in which were already about six hundred soldiers of all arms. Before the arrival the soldiers were informed of the capture of Vera Cruz. There being no field officers present, Captain William H. Irwin was placed in command. While at this city Privates William Guthrie and James McCauley deserted.
While the troops were preparing for the sea voyage a difficulty occurred between Captain Wm. H. Irwin, Eleventh Infantry, and Captain R. C. Merrick, of the Third Dragoons (in later life a lawyer in Washington City of national repute), which well-nigh resulted in a duel. When one of the parties had crossed to Algiers, the fighting-ground, and the other was about to pass over, Lieutenant McCoy made the information at the mayor's office, and speedily officers were in pursuit and an arrest made, which resulted in averting the disgraceful affair.
On the 18th of April, 1847, the ship " America " left the city of New Orleans with her burden of nearly eight hundred soldiers, bound for Brazos, near the mouth of the Rio Grande, and after a safe passage of four days arrived at that point. From this the troops were taken by steamers up the river some forty miles and were in a camp of instruction under the command of Brigadier-General Geo. Cad- wallader, where they remained for nearly a month. The first soldier of Company D, in the person of Private Caleb G. Patterson, died in hospital at Matamoras. He had been enlisted at Bellefonte, Centre County, Pa. General
Scott, having advanced into the interior from Vera Cruz, and gained a great victory at Cerro Gordo, ordered the troops in this camp of in- struction to reinforce his army then at Jalapa and Perote, and advancing upon Puebla. The ship " Meteor" conveyed the company in six days' sailing upon the Gulf, and on the 2nd of June anchored in the harbor at Vera Cruz, and near the Castle of San Juan de Ulloa. The troops were landed on the 4th of June on the beach, two miles north of the city. On the 8th of June all the troops in camp took the line of march, with a long train, for the interior and with a view of reinforcing Colonel McIn- tosh, who had left a few days before, and near Plan del Rio had been attacked by a force of the enemy. Fourteen of the company had been left in hospital-five at Point Isabel and nine at Vera Cruz-on account of sickness.
Having joined McIntosh, General Cadwal- lader assumed command of the militia forces and continued the advance. The company experienced its first fight at the National Bridge on the 11th of June. The company received credit for brave conduct in the fight, which con- tinued long into the night, and received special distinction for bringing from the scene of the battle, under fire, several wagons loaded with specie (for the payment of the army) that had been upset down an embankment during the engagement. John Hoffman was killed in the fight and Frederick Smith wounded. Twenty- five were wounded of other companies. After resting one day at the National Bridge, the com- mand advanced, passing over the battle-ground of Cerro Gordo and by " Encesin," Santa Anna's fine country-seat, entered the city of Jalapa, the Mexican Paradise, June 15th. Being joined here by the force under Colonel Shields, which had been occupying the city to keep open com- munications, composed partly of the Second Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, the whole force advanced in the direction of the city and castle of Perote, some eighty miles farther in the interior, and on June 21st arrived at this interesting point, entering upon the table-lands of Mexico, and having passed around the snow- clad mountain-peak of Orizaba, its summit being eighteen thousand feet above the sea.
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Guerrillas were constantly hanging on the flanks and made attacks at every opportunity, and the greatest precaution was necessarily observed. At La Hoya quite a fight took place, in which Captain Walker, with his company of mounted rifles, took part, and the enemy was routed with considerable loss in killed and wounded, our loss being small. At Jalapa the company lost, as was supposed at the time by assassina- tion, their popular and famous old drummer, John Siflicks. It was afterwards learned, however, that he was a prisoner in the hands of the enemy, and was kept to the close of the war and died in the city of New Orleans on his way home. The castle of Perote is one of the greatest fortifications in the country, covering twenty-two acres of ground, mounting one hundred and twenty guns, and erected in the strongest and most permanent way, and looks as if it were impregnable if fairly defended by a competent force. The First Pennsylvania Regiment Volunteers, with Captain Walker's mounted rifles, were the garrison of the castle. Here the company met many of their acquaint- ances that had preceded them in the war. Surgeon John C. Reynolds, with Sutler D. M. Dull, both from McVeytown, manifested much kindness to those of their acquaintance in the company. General Cadwallader's force re- mained at this place for two weeks, waiting the arrival of General Pillow with additional re- inforcement. The following extract from the diary of an officer gives an idea of the way our soldiers suffered in the Mexican War :
"A great many sick, in consequence of the climate and the exposure, there not being tents sufficient to protect the officers and men from the inclemency of the weather. In consequence of this, hundreds are in the hospital. Half the men of our company are sick and cannot do duty. The march from Vera Cruz was severe on officers and men alike. Men dropped dead on the way. Hundreds would give out on the march and lay down exhausted on the way, and had to be forced up in the evening by the rear guard to prevent their falling into the hands and be- ing killed by the guerrillas. At night, tired, debili- tated and worn out, would lie down on the ground hundreds with no covering but the canopy."
Every day the " Dead March " was heard and the volleys over the dead comrade, who found a grave far from home in a foreign land. Ser-
geant Joseph Dull, who enlisted at Me Vey- town, a very worthy man and zealous soldier, being left at Vera Cruz sick, and having gotten better, undertook to rejoin the company by the next train, died on the way and was interred with honors of war by Captain Syborg's com- pany of the same regiment, near Eucerro, about ten miles cast of Jalapa.
General Pillow, having arrived with two thousand men, and being the ranking officer, assumed the command of the whole force of about four thousand men, with a train of five hundred wagons, took up the line of march July 2d and left Perote for the headquarters of the army at Puebla, eighty miles distant on the highway to the city of Mexico. The enemy made occasional demonstrations, especially at the Pinal Pass, but no serious attack was made, and the force reached and marched into the beautiful city of Puebla on the 8th of July. Large numbers of Scott's army and of the people of the city turned out to receive the long-wished-for reinforcements. Major Wm. HI. Graham, an old veteran of the Fourth United States Infantry, and who had been appointed lieutenant-colonel of the Eleventh United States Infantry, the regiment of which the Juniata Guards formed a part, now known as Company D of that regiment, joined the regiment here, and soon after, Colonel A. C. Ramsey being sick, Lieutenant-Colonel Graham became the permanent commander until killed at the battle of Molino del Rey.
The month spent at Puebla was one of great interest and enjoyment. During this time Gen- eral Scott was organizing and preparing his army for the grand march upon the city of Mexico, and drills and reviews were the order of the day. The movement was to take place as soon as General Frank Pierce arrived with the last expected train and reinforcements, which took place August 7, 1847. An officer's diary gives this account of the advance, ---
" August 7th .- The First Division left this morning -3000 strong-under the command of General Twiggs, for the City of Mexico. I passed along the line as it was formed in front of General Scott's headquarters, fronting the grand Plaza. The column extended along the street three-quarters of a mile. They gave a deafening cheer, the music struck up
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' Yankee Doodle,' and off they marched for the ' Halls of the Montezumas.'"
General Quitman left with his division on the 8th, General Worth on the 9th and Gen- eral Pillow on the 10th. Quitman's division was composed of volunteers ; the other three divisions, together with Colonel Summer's brigade of cavalry and the artillery, were all regulars. The Juniata Guards, now Company D, Eleventh Regiment United States army, was in General Pillow's division, Cadwallader's brigade. The route the army was required to march was over one hundred miles to the city of Mexico, and the road crossed the lofty mountain a little west of the great Snow Moun- tain and volcano, Popocatepetl, into the Valley of Mexico. At this point the diary referred to
"Again in the advance, Company D the leading company. A severe, hard march to-day for twenty- five miles. To give encouragement and spirit to the troops, the band would play in front and sometimes would stop and play while the brigade marched past. The power of music the world confesses, and its re- viving power was realized to-day. There was no fighting to-day, although expected. In ascending the mountain we passed through ten miles of woods, and, tired and weary, at length, to our great delight, the Valley of Mexico burst upon our view, and the vity, with its domes and church-spires glistening in the bright sun, many miles away up the valley. The sight was grand and beautiful in the extreme and in- spiring to the soldiers. Lakes, extended plains, cities, towns and villages and haciendas dotted the great historie valley of the Aztees. Here was the home of Montezuma and the theatre of Cortez's wonderful and romantic achievements nearly three centuries ago."
General Scott, finding the eastern defenses of the city of Mexico too strong to be taken without great loss, hit upon the expedient of his famous flank march of thirty miles around Lake Chalco and the advance upon the south of the city ; he was successful in this move- ment, the advance column arriving at the city of San Augustine on the evening of the 17th of August, this city being only eight miles from the city of Mexico. Within the next twenty- four hours the whole of Scott's army had con- erntrated at San Augustine, and General Worth had advanced within cannon-shot of the enemy's
strong defenses at San Antonio, two miles nearer the city of Mexico. On the arrival of Pillow's division on the 18th, the Eleventh In- fantry, with Captain Kearney's and Captain MeReynolds' companies of dragoons, under the direction of Captain Robert E. Lee, of General Scott's staff, were ordered to make a reconnois- sance of the enemy's position at Contreras. In doing this Captain Lee took his escort right into an advance force of the enemy in the Pedregal and had a lively fight, in which Cap- tain Irwin's company was noted for its gallant conduct. The enemy suffered quite a loss in killed and prisoners. Lieutenant McCoy saved the life of a Mexican soldier and secured him as a prisoner when at the point of being shot down by one of his men. Our soldiers were disposed not to give quarter on account of the Mexicans having assassinated so many of our men.
The account of the operations for the next two days we extract from an officer's diary,-
" August 18 .- We quarter to-night in a fine house in the city of San Augustine. Orange-trees bearing fruit in the court-yard, and Col. Graham cautioned the soldiers against taking the oranges, and the tempting fruit was left hanging upon the branches. To-morrow will disclose great events most assuredly. There will be a great battle. May the Great and Good Being preserve us through the contest and grant victory to our arms.
" 19th .- The great movement began this morning. General Pillow's Division moved at nine o'clock, Cadwallader's brigade leading, the 11th in the advance. The direction was the same road that had been reconnoitered by Captain Lee the previous evening, and where we had the skirmish. Pillow occupied the hill until Twiggs' Division passed. At this time the enemy opened fire by their artillery from Contreras. Twiggs was to make the attack on the fortifications; Pillow was to support. The diffi- culties of the way, which was over Pedregal of lava, rocks and fissures, almost insurmountable. McGru- der's battery was advanced, and was soon dismounted by the enemy's fire, causing considerable slaughter of men and officers. Horses could not pass at all, and the men with great difficulty. Cadwallader's brigade succeeded in working its way, all on foot, over the rocky way, and he deployed his force on the plain, between the enemy on the hill and the city. To the right and front of Cadwallader, Santa Anna ap- peared in person, with probably six thousand men, drawn up in line of battle only a few hundred yards off. One of their reconnoitering parties came so close
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that two companies on our right, Irwin's and Guthrie's, were ordered to open fire, which was returned by the enemy. Here we were in a tight place, with a large force of the enemy in front and rear. We had no artillery. . The officers were on foot, their horses not being able to pass the Pedregal. About dusk General Smith's brigade, of Twiggs' division, and followed by General Riley's and Shields'. Our company (Irwin's) was ordered to occupy the village church. Generals Smith and Cadwallader had their headquarters in this church, and here it was determined and ordered to storm the enemy's works on the hill of Contreras at the dawn of next day. Col. Riley was to head the storming-party, composed of his own brigade, to be supported by Cadwallader. Gen- eral Smith commanded in person, in consequence of Generals Smith and Twiggs having become separated from their commands.
" 20th .- At two o'clock this morning our company left the church, joined the regiment and marched towards the hill, preceded by Riley's brigade. The march was to the right of the fort, the intention being to go round in that direction and come upon them in the rear. The march was in rain and mud. Day approached before the troops were in position. The enemy became aware of the movement and prepared to give us a warm reception. In consequence of the rain, the arms of the troops had to be examined and many soldiers had to withdraw their loads and put in new ones with powder dry. This took time. At length the position was gained, and the column steadily moved, the storming regiments in array with flags flying, arms gleaming and swords flashing. Then the firing began-a most terrible roar of cannon and musketry. In less than twenty minutes the fort was in our possession, and the ground strewn with the dead and the dying ; the veterans of the renowned Hidalgo were swept from their works with the force . of an avalanche.
"One moment, like ten thousand drums, The musketry rolls out ; While like the bass-drum's booming knells, The cannons' diapason swells,
With many a mingled shout ;
A gallant storm-a thousand shouts ! And lo ! the foes fly fast ; In maddened haste, in wild alarms
They break their ranks, they leave their arms Like chaff before the blast !"
This was a great victory for the American army, and created the greatest enthusiasm. It turned the right flanks of the enemy's gen- eral works in defense of the city, and made the strong defenses of San Antonio untenable, and caused the force there to fall back to Cherubusco, with General Worth in pursuit. At this point the officer's diary gives this account,-
" After the taking of the fortifications on the hill, Twiggs', Pillow's and part of Quitman's divisions, moved towards the city, distant about six miles, but in full and magnificent view from our elevated ground. When near Cherubusco the next strong- hold of the enemy, 'Old Chippewa,' that we had not seen for twenty-four hours, came riding down the long column. Cheer after cheer greeted the old veteran. When opposite our regiment, and after we had cheered him with our whole hearts, he stopped for a moment and addressed us in the following words : 'Thanks ! Thanks to God, and glory to this gallant army ; I wish I could hug every one of you to my bosom.' He spoke these words with great emphasis and emotion. At this time we were nearer to the enemy's works at Cherubusco than we thought, as very soon a brisk fire was heard in our front, and it was manifest that the battle had begun, as the volume of the cannons' roar increased. Every officer was alive to the contest. General Pillow, in person, led our regiment off to the right to support the Sixth Infantry of General Worth's command, which had been driven back on the San Antonio Causeway. Here we were under very heavy fire within one hundred and fifty yards of the two forts, and con- tinually advancing closer. The contest was long and sanguinary. In the course of three hours the enemy's forts and fortifications were in our hands, but at the great sacrifice of one thousand of our men, in killed and wounded. Our regiment pressed forward along the Causeway leading to the city with Worth's advanced regiments, and until we received the order of recall. While here we witnessed the daring charge of Kearney's dragoons upon the San Antonio Gaseta, and cheered them most heartily as they passed us with banners flying and flashing sabres, and with the sound and force of a tempest."
These successes of the American army alarmed Santa Anna and the Mexican govern- ment, and during the night they sent a deputa- tion from the city to General Scott's head- quarters, at the city of San Augustine, propos- ing an armistice and negotiations for peace. General Scott granted and agreed to the armistice, and the eighteen days of its duration resulted not in peace, but in terrible and bloody war. It gave our army rest, however, and fitted it for further triumphs. In these eighteen days our army took possession of all the coun- try on the south side of the city of Mexico, including towns, villages and cities, in a com- pass of ten miles, and lived in-doors, enjoying all the beauties and luxuries of a rich country, teem- ing with plenty. Our regiment had quarters in the Hacienda San Jose, near the village Mexcoac,
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