USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 96
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185 | Part 186 | Part 187
Early in 1848 it was proposed to raise a plain but durable monument inscribed with the names of all the Westmorelanders that served in the war. For a time it looked probable that the project would be
accomplished. But after the first expressions of re- gard the matter ceased to be agitated, and the fortu- nate moment passing, the memorial was abandoned by that generation and left to another.
Simon H. Drum, who fell gloriously before the gates of the city of Mexico, Sept. 18, 1847, was a na- tive of Greensburg, son of Simon Drum, Esq., and a brother of Richard C. Drum, the present adjutant- general of the army. He was a captain in the Fourth United States Artillery in Mexico. By a desperate charge at Contreras he recovered the cannon taken from his own regiment at Buena Vista. When he got a glimpse of the guns, he turned to his men and said, "See those guns, men : they belong to the Fourth Artillery, and we must take them."
A prominent historian of the war thus mentions his services at Chapultepec : "Captain Drum's battery kept up a constant and destructive fire the whole day at Chapultepec. Quitman's division, consisting of the Second Pennsylvania and South Carolina and New York Volunteers, s battalion of United States marines, occupied a position in supporting distance of the battery." In every account of this battle the services and the gallant conduct of this artillery are highly and commendably spoken of.
Amid the tempest of fire that preceded his death, being unable to move his guns on account of the loss of his men, he turned to the Westmoreland Guards, who lay in the arches of the aqueduct beside him. Many of them had been his schoolmates; and these were those who would carry back to Westmoreland the story of the glorious bravery of one of her sons. He turned to them and said, " Will not some of my Westmoreland friends lend a hand ?" The response, so another one said who was not a Westmorelander, " did honor to old Westmoreland." His last words to his comrades were, "Forward the battery !"
Some of his comrades or friends composed a beau- tiful poem upon the subject of his death, which was published in the Pittsburgh Morning Post late in 1847, and in it appeared these lines :
" And Westmoreland, whose fearless sons Saw thee in death expire, Thou, and her brave, heroic ones, Whose fall she mourns, to ber bequeath Glory's unfading laurel wreath,- And sacred patriot fire,- Which she will cherish while remains
. Each green hill of their native home, While living verdure crowns the plains, By honor hallow'd, where their names Have mouldered in the tomb."
He was born June 8, 1807; entered the Military Academy at West Point, and graduated with distin- guished honor, July, 1829. He was on active duty in the Black Hawk war, and served for three years in the Florida war as an officer of artillery. In 1846 he joined Gen. Wool in his long and arduous march through Mexico to Saltillo, performing duty as assist- ant-inspector-general. From there he marched, in command of his company, with Worth's division to
Digitized by Google
387
MEXICO.
join Gen. Scott in the attack upon Vera Cruz. In the whole campaign he conducted himself with that cool and accomplished bravery for which he was so re- markably distinguished, and at Cerro Gordo and Con- treras his gallantry displayed itself in a conspicuous manner.
The following observations were made upon the news of the death of Capt. Drum and Richard H. J. Johnston at Molino del Rey, and they show what a deep feeling of sorrow pervaded the community upon the occasion :
"But what shall we say of the gallant but unfortunate Dick Johnston ? He volunteered, as all know, as the private soldier of his country lees than a year ago; was shortly afterwards appointed a lieutenant by the President, distinguished himself for his daring and courage, and fell. fighting gallantly, in view of the city of Mexico. How much he is ro- gretted by all who knew him here is more than we can express. Under a rough and blunt exterior he had a heart as kind and as fearless as ever beat in human breast. He was the youngest brother of three wbo went to Mexico together. One was stricken down by the disease of the climate and was barely able to reach home, where, thank Providence 1 his health has been restored. The other, Capt. Johnston, is still in Mex- ico, suffering much from impaired health. And the gallant Richard, who followed the steps of his elder brothers to battle, escaped almost en- tirely the sickness of the climate to fall in the sanguinary conflict of King's Mill, like a true soldier, 'with his back to the field and his feet to the foo.'
"Capt. Drum and Lieut. Johnston were both natives of this county, and the sons of two of our oldest and most respectable families. Their friends have the deep sympathy of the entire community in their be- reavement. They have, besides, the consolation of knowing that these gallant men fell nobly in discharge of their duty; that they fell where the brave and chivalrous soldier wishes to fall, if fall he must, in the thickest of the fight, and that their memories will be respected wher- ever patriotism is honored and the true soldier of his country has a friend."
Andrew Ross died on board the steamer " New Or- leans," April the 30th. He was born in Allegheny township, graduated at Union College, New York, studied law at Greensburg, and had been admitted but a short time when the war broke out. He was among the first to volunteer. He died on shipboard from exposure and sickness contracted in the open campaign field. His body was thrown into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
James Kerr, a native of Sewickley township, had just been prepared to enter upon his professional career, that of the law, when he enlisted into the Guards. His disease developed itself at New Orleans, yet he pressed forward to Lobos, and thence to Anton Lizardo, near Vera Cruz. Here he was unable to go on shore, but died on shipboard on the 11th of March.
At a meeting of the bar, held at the sheriff's office on the 5th of June, 1847, suitable and appropriate resolutions of respect and condolence were passed in memory of these young men who died in Mexico.
George May, of Youngstown, James M. Hartford, of Stewartsville, and Lewis Myers, of Carlisle, died at Vera Cruz before the march began.
Lieut, Washington Murry died on the 16th of June (1847), on his homeward passage, between Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. He took part in the capture of Vera Cruz and the castle of San Juan de Ulloa, and in the battle of Cerro Gordo. He left Jalapa on the 28th of
May, on a furlough to recruit his health in the United States. His remains were interred in the graveyard of the Long Run Church, near Stewartsville.
Andrew Jackson Forney, drummer to the "Guards," died in the Marine Hospital at Louisville on the 18th of June. He had been discharged at Vera Cruz some time before, and was on his way home, when he became so ill he had to stop over at Louisville, where he died.
Andrew R. Huston died in the hospital at Vera Cruz, of yellow fever, on the 18th of June. When the army moved forward from Jalapa he was left in charge of the sick, and thus himself fell a victim to disease.
William A. Campbell, on account of ill health, re- ceived a certificate of discharge at Jalapa on the 8th of June. He arrived with much difficulty at his father's house near Blairsville, where he died on the 12th of July.
Henry C. Marchand was honorably discharged on account of ill health. Arriving home in May, 1847, he was compelled for a long time to keep his room and bed.
James Johnston, assistant quartermaster's sergeant, and Corporal James M. Carpenter were honorably discharged on account of sickness, and they both ar- rived home towards the middle of June.
William Wentz took sick beyond the city of Jalapa, while the company were encamped there, and died in the garrison.
Robert McGinley, from Salem township, died in the city of Mexico.
Sergt. James M. Mclaughlin, of Greensburg, son of Randall Mclaughlin, died at home on the 80th of March, 1848, in the twenty-second year of his age. He took part in all the battles in which the " Guards" were engaged, from Vera Cruz to Mexico. After the battles of the city of Mexico he was disabled for duty by sickness, was discharged, and arrived home De- cember the 25th, 1847, and was compelled to keep his room almost constantly till the day of his death.
Jacob Miller, a private, who was wounded in the leg at Cerro Gordo, left Jalapa on the 8th of June (1847) for home, where he arrived about the middle of July.
George Decker, a private, was wounded at Chapul- tepec, 13th September, 1847, returned home, near Salem, and died 19th August, 1871, in Penn town- ship.
The following list includes the volunteers who went from Westmoreland County with the Duquesne Grays, First Pennsylvania Regiment, as also a full list of the Westmoreland Guards, arranged under appropriate heads :
DUQUESNE GRAYS (FIRST REGIMENT).
John C. Gilchrist, Eeq., killed in battle, 12th October, 1847. James Keenan, Jr., promoted second lieutenant, 11th Infantry. Richard C. Drum, promoted second lieutenant, 11th Infantry. Joseph Spencer, died at Perote, Mexico. Henry Bates, died at Perote, Mexico. William Burns, no return.
Digitized by
888
HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
WESTMORELAND GUARDS (SECOND REGIMENT). Killed in Beide-at Molino del Rey .- R. H. L. Johnston, promoted fret lieutenant, 11th Infantry.
Died in Mexico .- Samuel Gorges, George Hagerty, James M. Hartford, Andrew R. Huston, Jobn Kerr, Daniel 8. Kubns (in consequence of a wound), Jacob Linsenbigler, John McCollam, Robert O. MoGinley, E4- ward McCredia, George May, William H. Melville, Lewis Myers, Joseph Shaw, Thomas Spears, Nathaniel Thomas, William R. Weutz.
Discharged and Died coming Home .- Lieut. Washington Murry, Lieut. Andrew Bow (11th Infantry, promoted), Drummer A. Jackson Forney. Discharged and Died at Home .- William A. Campbell, Esq., Sorgt. James M. MoLanghlin, Michael Hessly.
Discharged-H. C. Marchand, Eeq., J. M. Carpenter, John R. Grow, Edward Hansberry, James Johnston, William Kelly, Edmund B. Les- don, Philip Kubus, William McIntire, Jacob P. Miller (wounded), Jona- than Pesse, Frederick Bezroad, John Taylor, Henry Flebel, Jacob T. Wiss, Archibald Dougherty.
Promoted .- 8 H. Montgomery, cesietant quartermester.
Promoted and Resigned .- H. Byers Kuhne, Thomas J. Bareley, second lieutenants, 11th Infantry.
To Return .- Capt. J. W. Johnston, Llent Jamm Armstrong, Lieut. James Coulter, David Mechling, Corp. William Bigelow, Tifer M. J. Ket- tering, John Afkens, Lebbius Allshouse, Andrew Bates, Hugh J. Brady, McOlure Bills, Samuel A. Byerly, George W. Bonnin, Hegan Carmey, Humphrey Carson, Milton Cloud, R. Coulter, Jr., George Decker, Samuel Elliot, James Underwood, Henry Gecsyn, Andrew D. Gordon, Frederick Haines, George W. Hartman, James Haya, Jacob Hoffer, J. Kagarise, Heory Keslar, J 20b " . ha, Benjamin Marts, Peter MoCabe, Bas sel MoOlaran, Amon MeLain, Richard Mcclelland, D. R. McCatchen, Charles MeGarvey, James McWilliams, William McWilliams, Jacob Marchand, Samuel Milner, Samuel C. Moorhead, James Bager, O. For- ward Bargent, William R. Shields, Frederick D. Steck, Heary Stickle, Joseph Smith, Israel Unospher, Samuel Walters.
CHAPTER XLVII. WESTMORELAND IN THE CIVIL WAR.
The Call to Arms-The Response from Westmoreland-The Eleventh Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers-History of its Colors-Blographi- cal Sketch of Capt. E. H. Gay-The Fourteenth Regiment-The Twenty-eighth Regiment-The Fortieth Regiment (" Eleventh Re- serve")-Forty-first Regiment ("Twelfth Reserve")-The Fifty-third Regiment-Sixty-fourth Regiment (Fourth Cavalry)-Seventy-fourth Regiment - Eighty-fourth Regiment - One Hundredth Regiment (" The Round-Head Regiment")-The One Hundred and Fifth Regi- ment-One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Regiment (Nine Months' Ser- vice)-One Hundred and Sixty-eighth Regiment (Drafted Militia)- Two Hundred and Sixth Regiment (One Year's Service)-Two Hun- dred and Eleventh Regiment (One Year's Service)-Two Hundred and Twelfth (Sixth Artillery) Regiment-The Militia of 1862-Militia of 1863- Colored Troops, etc.
THE roar of Sumter's guns as it rolled northward along the Atlantic coast, and westward across the prairies, awakened the nation from its peaceful dream of half a century to the startling reality of armed rebellion and civil war. Following close upon the sur- render of Fort Sumter came the call from Washing- ton, not less startling than the report of the first cannon-shot, for volunteers to defend the rightful authority of the government. Every Northern State sent back the same enthusiastic response. Party lines were obliterated and political differences forgotten in the common danger. Cities, towns, and villages rivaled each other in their patriotic offers of men and means. Such an uprising had perhaps never before been witnessed. The State capital became the mili- tary rendezvous of Pennsylvania, and to Harrisburg
her sons flocked from their shops and farms, from their stores, offices, and counting-rooms. Rapidly as the troops arrived they were organized into regiments and sent to the front, each regiment distinguished by the number that marked the order of its organization,
THE ELEVENTH REGIMENT PENNSYLVANIA VOL- UNTEERS.
One week later than President Lincoln's call for troops, ten companies, representing six different' counties and containing in all a thousand men, were united and formed into the Eleventh Regiment. Com- panics A, D, and G represented Lycoming County; B and C, Clinton County ; E, Luzerne County ; F, Northumberland County; H, Montour County; and I, Capt. Richard Coulter, and K, Capt. W. B. Coulter, Westmoreland County. The election for field-officers that followed this union of companies resulted in the choice of Capt. Phaen Jarrett for colonel; Capt. Richard Coulter, lieutenant-colonel; and William D. Earnest, major. To complete the regimental organi- sation, Lieut. A. F. Aul was appointed adjutant; W. H. Hay, quartermaster; Dr. W. F. Babb, surgeon; and Dr. H. B. Buehler, assistant surgeon. It was mustered into the United States service April 26, 1861, and mustered out August 1st, having been re- cruited for three months' service. During this time it was actively engaged along the front lines on the Upper Potomac, repelling the advance of the then audacious enemy, and, in connection with the First Wisconsin Regiment, finally met and defeated them in their first fair, open field fight, at the battle of Falling.Waters, where the afterwards famous name of "Stonewall" Jackson was first heard. While stationed at Martinsburg the conduct of the regiment so won the esteem of the citizens that the ladies of that place presented it a neat, substantial flag. Before the close of the "three months' service," on the application of a number of the officers, and through the personal solicitation and exertions of Col. Coulter, the Secre- tary of War continued the organization of the regi ment, and permitted it to return to Harrisburg to recruit for the three years' service. It was finally recruited and mustered into service for three years. chiefly through the personal influence of Col. Richard Coulter. There was some dispute among the State officials as to the number to be given the regiment, most of them desiring to designate it the Fifty-first, which the officers refused to accept. The dispute was finally settled by an order from Governor Curtin, dated Harrisburg, Oct. 26, 1861 :
"The regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers commanded by Col. Coul- ter will continue to be known as the Eleventh Regiment Pennsylvanie Volunteers. It is just to the officers and men that the regiment should have future opportunities of displaying the courage and gallantry of Falling Waters, which is now a part of the military history of the State, under their original designation."
On November 20th, Governor Curtin presented to the regiment its stand of colors provided by the State, and side by side with the flag presented by the Mar-
Digitized by Google
-
.
WESTMORELAND IN THE CIVIL WAR.
389
tinsburg ladies it was carried until after the close of the war. On November 27th it left for Baltimore, and reported to Gen. John A. Dix.
The regimental roster of field- and staff-officers was as follows :
Colonel, Richard Coulter, rank from July 19, 1861; appointed brevet brig .- gon. Ang. 1, 1864; wounded at Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, and Spottsylvania; must. out with regt. July 1, 1866.
Lieutenant-colonel, Thomas 8. Martin, rank from Sept. 21, 1861 ; killed at Bull Run, Va., Aug. 30, 1862.
Lieutenant-colonel, Henry A. Trink, rank from Ang. 30, 1862; ap- pointed to col. 186th Peona. Vols., March 21, 1864; wounded at Second Ball Run.
Lieutenant-colonel, Benjamin T. Haines, rank from Dec. 13, 1864 ; ap- pointed brevet col. March 18, 1865; must. out July 1, 1865; wounded at Second Bull Run, Gettysburg, and Hatcher's Ron.
Major, Henry A. Trink, rank from Aug. 1, 1861 ; pro. to lieut .- col. Major, John B. Keenan, rank from Aug. 30, 1868; wounded at Thor- oughfare Gap; killed at Spottsylvania, May 8, 1864.
Major, Benj. T. Haines, rank from Sept. 5, 1864; pro. to lieut .- col. Major, John B. Overmyer, rank from Dec. 13, 1864; appointed brevet lieut .- col. March 18, 1866, and brevet col. April 1, 1866; wounded April 1, 1865 ; must. out July 1, 1865.
Adjutant, Israel Uncopher, rank from Jan. 17, 1862; resigned Nov. 28, 1862.
Adjutant, Arthur T. Small, rank from January, 1803 ; disch. Sept. 27, 1863.
Adjutant, John A. Stevenson, rank from Sept. 28, 1864; wounded April 1, 1866; must. out July 1, 1865.
Quartermaster, George W. Thorn, rank from Sept. 30, 1861; hon. disch. May 30, 1863.
Quartermaster, Allen 8. Jacobs, rank from June 3, 1863 ; died Oct. 18, 1863.
Quartermaster, Samuel P. Lightcap, rank from June 30, 1865; not mustered.
Quartermaster, Robert Anderson, rank from Nov. 22, 1864; pro. to capt. Co. G.
Surgeon, R. 8. M. Jackson, rank from Sept. 9, 1861; resigned April 7, 1868; pro. to surg. U. 8. A .; died in service at Chattanooga, Jan. 18, 1865. Surgeon, James W. Anawalt, rank from May 26, 1863; must. out July 1, 1865.
Assistant turgeon, James W. Anawalt, rank from Oct. 15, 1861 ; pro. to burg. 132d Regt. Sept. 15, 1802.
Assistant surgeon, Thomas G. Morris, rank from Sept. 17, 1862; ro- rigned Nov. 26, 1862.
Assistant surgeon, W. C. Phelps, rank from Aug. 4, 1862; pro. to surg. 22d Cav. April 4, 1864.
Assistant surgeon, W. J. Osborn, rank from Nov. 24, 1863 ; pro. to surg. 117th Vols. Jan. 21, 1865.
Assistant surgeon, John M. Rankin, rank from Jan. 24, 1865; must. out July 1, 1865.
Assistant surgeon, Charles D. Fortney, rank from Feb. 25, 1865; must. out July 1, 1865.
Chaplain, William H. Locke, rank from Nov. 5, 1861 ; resigned Dec. 19, 1863.
Sergeant-major, Edward H. Gay, must. in Nov. 27, 1861 ; pro. from pri- vate Co. K to sergt .- maj. Jan. 15, 1862; to 2d lieut. Co. F, March 10, 1862. Sergeant-major, John Ingram, must. in July 3, 1862; disch. March 30, 1865.
Sergeant-major, William J. Willyard, must. in Oct. 1, 1861 ; pro. from sorgt. Co. K May 30, 1865; must. out with regt .; veteran.
Quartermaster-sergeant, William B. Huber, must. in Oct. 4, 1861 ; pro. from Ist sergt. Co. E. Oct. 18, 1861; disch. on surgeon's certificate March 15, 1863.
Quartermaster-sergeant, Samuel W. Phelps, must. in Nov. 27, 1861; pro. from private Co. D to com. vergt. March 1, 1863; to q.m .- sorgt. April 1, 1863 ; to 2d lient. April, 1864; veteran.
Quartermaster-sergeant, Samuel P. Lightcap, must. in Nov. 8, 1861 ; pro. from private Co. H Oct. 1, 1864; com. regt. q.m. June 30, 1865; not mustered; must. out with regt. July 1, 1866; veteran.
Commissary-sergeant, Charles H. Clifford; must. in Oct. 4, 1861 ; pro. from private Co. E Dec. 1, 1863 ; disch. Oct. 3, 1864.
Commissary-sergeant, N. B. Dilhorn, must. in Nov. 26, 1861 ; pro. from bergt. Co. A to com. sorgt. Dec. 94, 1864, to 2d lieut. Co. H May 20, 1865 ; veteran.
Commissary-sergeant. Lewis P. Hays, must. in Oct. 1, 1861; pro. from corp. Co. K May 30, 1865; must. out July 1, 1865; veteran.
Hospital steward, P. F. Hyatt, must. in Nov. 27, 1861; pro. to hosp. steward U.S.A. Jan. 23, 1863.
Hospital steward, J. J. Briggs, must. in Oct. 4, 1861; pro. to hosp. steward March 1, 1863; to 2d lieut Co. E March 28, 1864; veteran.
Hospital steward, E. 8. Stephenson, must. in March 1, 1865; must. out with regt. July 1, 1865.
The regiment was engaged in provost guard duty, guarding railroads, etc., at Annapolis, Md., until April 18, 1862, when it was sent to the front, and sta- tioned for some time along the Manassas Gap Rail- road. During the summer of 1862 it was actively engaged in the campaign under Gen. Pope, and was in the battles at Cedar Mountain, Rappahannock Station, where it bore the brunt of the battle, Thor- oughfare Gap, where, supported by part of Gen. Rick- etts' division, it held the Gap against Hill's whole corps, and prevented the annihilation of Pope's army, Second Bull Run and Chantilly, after which it took part in the battles at South Mountain and Antietam. To write the history of the regiment from this time on would be to write a history of the Army of the Potomac, as it continued actively engaged in that army until it was finally dissolved, and space will only permit a brief mention of the principal engage- ments and actions it participated in, which are as fol- lows: Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine Run, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Tolopotomy, Cold Harbor, Bethesda Church, Norfolk' Railroad, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, raid to Hick- ford, Dabney's Mills, Hatcher's Run, Boydtown Plank- Road, Gravelly Run, Five Forks, and finally at Ap- pomattox, where Gen. Lee's army surrendered. On Jan. 1, 1864, it re-enlisted as a veteran regiment for three years more, and came home in February, 1864, on furlough to recruit. Its thinned ranks were ra- pidly filled, and it again returned to the front. It left Harrisburg in November, 1861, with nine com- panies, numbering in the aggregate about seven hun- dred men. The tenth company joined it Aug. 27, 1862. The whole number belonging to the regiment and taken upon its rolls was nineteen hundred and eighty, showing that about eleven hundred and fifty joined as recruits or were transferred to its ranks after its organization. When it was finally discharged, July 6, 1865, it only numbered three hundred and thirty-two, showing that about sixteen hundred and fifty were lost by deaths, losses in battles, discharges, etc. This was the oldest regiment in the service from Pennsylvania, being the only one whose old organi- zation and number was continued, and there being the Eleventh Reserves and Eleventh Cavalry in the field from this State, this regiment was generally known and distinguished from the others as the " Old Eleventh." Of the gallantry. and general good sol- dierly conduct of the officers and men of this veteran regiment, the long list of battles and the great num- ber killed and wounded therein speak more forcibly than language. Of Col. Coulter we shall not speak in
Digitized by Google
390
HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
too high terms of praise; but his reputation is safe with the men he commanded, and they and the off- cers under whom he served will always commend him for his personal disregard of danger, his kindness of heart, and his excellent management of the regiment under all the trying circumstances to which it was exposed. His vigorous constitution was seriously shattered by three severe wounds, received respec- tively at Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, and Spottsylva- nia, and for his gallant course in action he received the sobriquet of "Fighting Dick Coulter," by which he was almost universally known both in the Con- federate and Union armies.
For the rosters of the Westmoreland companies of this regiment, see Appendix "R."
THE REGIMENTAL COLORS .- The State flag was presented to the regiment by Governor Curtin, Nov. 20, 1861, and placed in the hands of Bergt. Charles H. Foulke, of Company: A, who carried it until Aug. 11, 1862, at Cedar Mountain, where he was acci- dentally wounded in the foot, when it was placed in the hands of Berg .. Robert H. Knox, of Company C, who carried it August 21st to 24th, at Rappahannock Station, August 28th, at Thoroughfare Gap, and An- gust 80th, at Second Bull Run, where he was severely wounded, losing his right leg, the flag passing on the field into the hands of 1st Sergt. Samuel S. Bierer, of Company C, who was immediately wounded. It was then taken by 2d Lieut. Absalom Schall, of Company C, who was severely wounded, when it was again taken by Sergt. Samuel S. Bierer, of Company C, who carried it to Centreville. Daniel Matthews carried it September 1st, at Chantilly, September 14th, at South Mountain, September 16th and 17th, at An- tietam, where he was severely wounded, and it was taken by Private William Welty, of Company C, who was almost immediately killed. . It was then delivered to Corp. Frederick Welty, of Company C, who was soon severely wounded and obliged to leave it on the field, where it remained some time, all of the men near it having been killed or wounded. It was next carried by 2d Lieut. Edward H. Gay, of Company F,1
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.