USA > Pennsylvania > History of the First Regiment Infantry, National Guard of Pennsylvania > Part 3
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I have the honor to be, Colonel,
Very respectfully, Your obedient servant,
(Signed) R. DALE BENSON, Colonel Ist Reg't Inf., N. G. P.
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[CERTIFIED COPY OF ORDER, MARKED "A."]
HEADQUARTERS
FIRST DIVISION, N. G. P.
Philadelphia, March 29, 1874.
SPECIAL ORDER, - No.
I. By order of Governor John F. Hartranft, Commander- in-Chief of the National Guard of Pennsylvania, the Ist Regi- ment Infantry, 2d Brigade, Ist Division, N. G. P., Colonel R. Dale Benson commanding, will report at the Armory, Broad and Race Sts., this day at II o'clock, A. M., fully armed and equipped, to proceed to Susquehanna Station, Phila. & Erie R. R., to aid in suppressing a serious riot existing there.
II. The regiment will be provided with three days' rations and ten rounds ball cartridge per man.
III. Transportation has been provided, and Col. Benson will report with his command at the Penna. R. R. Depot, 31st and Market Sts., at 12 o'clock M., and upon his arrival at Har- risburg he will receive from Governor Hartranft orders for his further governance.
(Signed) CHARLES M. PREVOST, Maj .- General Ist Div., N. G. P.
" B."
HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION, N. G. P.
Philadelphia, March 29, 1874.
SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 6. 1
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By order of Governor John F. Hartranft, Commander-in- Chief, the Ist Regiment Infantry, Colonel R. Dale Benson
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commanding, will proceed to Susquehanna Depot, via North Penna. R. R. to Bethlehem, Lehigh and Susquehanna Divi -- sion of the Central R. R. of N. J., to the point of destination. On his arrival there he will report for duty to Major-General E. S. Osborne.
Colonel Benson is authorized by Gov. John F. Hartranft to secure transportation and subsistence for his troops while in performance of this duty.
By command of Maj .- General C. M. PREVOST. (Signed)
G. H. NORTH, Lieut .- Col. and A. A. G.
According to Field Return, marked "C," Ist Reg't, N. G. P., at Susquehanna Depot, March 29-April 2d, 1874, there were 25 officers and 304 men, total 329, on duty.
In April, 1875, the coal regions in the neighborhood of Hazleton were disturbed by the dissatisfaction existing among the miners, and the First Regiment was again ordered into active service, (Maj .- General Osborne, commanding 9th Divis- ion, N. G. P., making a special request to the Governor that this regiment might be assigned to him for duty.)
Their tour of duty on this occasion occupied about three weeks, particulars of which are given in the official report of the Colonel commanding, viz:
Philadelphia, May 15th, 1875.
Lieut .- Col. A. P. BARBER,
A. A. G., 3d Div., N. G. P.
COLONEL:
I beg leave to report that, in compliance with S. O. No. 14, Headquarters Ist Division, N. G. P., dated April 7th, 1875, copy herewith marked "A," received at noon on same date,
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I immediately took measures to place my command under arms, and ordered the proper staff officers to provide subsist- - ence and ammunition, as called for in the order. About an hour later I received the following telegraphic order through Headquarters 2d Brigade, Ist Division, N. G. P .:
Major-General C. M. PREVOST.
Direct Colonel Benson to move with his regiment at once, by rail, to Hazleton, via N. P. R. R. He will immediately place himself in communication, by wire, with General E. S. Osborne, at that point. Advise him also to communicate here the hour of his departure and his progress along the route.
By command of JOHN F. HARTRANFT,
J. W. LATTA.
General Wagner is now arranging transportation for you. Advise him how soon you will be ready.
R. R. Campion, Captain and Quarter-Master, at 1.10 P. M. telegraphed Major-General Osborne, at Hazleton, that I could move my command at 2 o'clock P. M., without rations, receiv- ing a reply that General Osborne had not reached Hazleton; the providing of subsistence was prosecuted with all dispatch ; upon being advised by the Brigadier-General commanding brigade, that transportation would be in readiness at 5 o'clock P. M, at depot N. P. R. R., moved my command from its armory at 3.30 P. M., provided with subsistence and ammuni- tion, as ordered, and proceeded to the depot named. At 4.45 P. M., in accordance with instructions, advised the Adjutant- General of the State, at Harrisburg, by telegraph, that my regiment was on train and would proceed at once to Hazle- ton. Left the depot at 5 o'clock P. M., reached Bethlehem at 7.15 P. M., Mauch Chunk at 9 P. M., reporting at each point to General Latta, as instructed. Reached Hazleton at 11.7
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P. M., immediately reporting in person to the Major-General commanding. Quarters were assigned the regiment at Hazle Hall. On the morning of the 8th of April, in accordance with S. O. No. 2, Headquarters 3d Division, N. G. P., same date, copy herewith marked "B," I ordered a battalion, consisting of companies A, B, D, H and I, under Lieut .- Col. Clark, to pro- ceed and garrison the mining towns of Jeddo, Eckley, Ebervale and Highland, with Headquarters at Jeddo; Assistant Surgeon Leach and Commissary Sergeant Elder were detailed for duty with this battalion. Col. Clark was directed to report the dis- position of his command, to place himself in communication at once with Captain Post, 9th Infantry, commanding at Buck Mountain, with two companies of the 9th Infantry, that post having been placed under his command. He was instructed to report daily to my Headquarters the situation within his command, which orders he promptly and regularly complied with. As to the details of the tour of duty of the troops under his command, I beg to refer you to his official report, a copy of which accompanies this, marked "C."
The battalion of the regiment remaining in Hazleton, con- sisting of companies C, F, G and E, held as a reserve, was placed under the command of Major Ide, still occupying the quarters at Hazle Hall. Major Ide was instructed to institute garrison duty in every detail, to carry out the same with exact- ness and strict discipline, and to drill his command constantly ; his faithful compliance with these instructions will be shown by his official report, a copy of which accompanies this, marked "D."
The weather being quite severe during the first two weeks of the tour of duty, proved very trying to the entire command, being unprovided with blankets, especially in the battalion under Lieut .- Col. Clark. No application was made direct
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from my Headquarters to the State authorities for blankets, as I was informed it had been done from superior Headquarters, and they were unable to furnish the same. But the liberality of the citizens and corporations that, on the 11th of April, for- warded, as a gift to the command, blankets for the entire regiment, added materially to the comfort of my men, who were actually suffering for such protection, and, I have no doubt, was the means of preserving the health of the entire regiment, which, from the Assistant Surgeon in charge official report, (copy herewith, marked "E,") was, under the circum- stances, considered excellent.
I constantly visited all the posts under my command, and although the patrol, out-post and guard duty was a severe test upon the discipline of the regiment, owing to the severe cold and inclement weather, to the credit of the officers and men it can be stated, they never relaxed in their duty or vigilance, and any hardship or extra duty was borne without a murmur.
As the situation warranted, and the peace of the section under my command, through the force of military authority, began to be restored, I ordered the duties at the several posts lightened, with the authority of the Major-General command- ing, and finally, towards the close of our tour of duty, mere sentinel duty was observed. By direction of the Major-Gen- eral commanding, the presence of the military seeming suf- ficient to maintain the peace, Col. Clark's battalion was re- lieved by a battalion 9th Infantry, and drawn into Hazleton April 26th.
The regiment remained on duty until April 27th, when it was relieved by S. O. No. 58, Headquarters 3d Division, N. G. P., dated April 27th, 1875, and proceeded to Philadelphia via L. V. R. R. and N. P. R. R., at 9.37 A. M. April 27th, by special train.
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I have confined my report strictly to the military move- ments of my command, refraining from introducing any matter pertaining to any civil question, believing such observations are exclusively within the province of the Major-General com- manding.
In closing this report, special mention is due to Assistant Surgeon Alonzo L. Leach, who, by the absence of Surgeon Stewart on leave, was, with the exception of two or three days, in charge of the medical department during the entire tour of duty.
Although himself a physical sufferer, he was ever constant in his attendance on the command, and by the skill he evinced in his department, saved much suffering and contributed largely to the health of the regiment. He was ably assisted by volunteer and acting Hospital Steward Emmor H. Lee.
Also to Quarter-Master Sergeant Haverstick and Commis- sary Sergeant Elder, who, through the unavoidable absence of the chiefs of their respective departments, assumed control of same, and in which the marked ability and efficiency dis- played by them warrants this special commendation and my personal thanks.
Sergeant Haverstick, until relieved by Regimental Quarter- Master Philbin, on April 19th, Sergeant Elder being on duty at Jeddo, superintended both staff departments at my Head- quarters at Hazleton with ability and great satisfaction, prov- ing himself eminently worthy of higher rank in the National Guard service.
I have the honor to be
Your obedient servant, (Signed) R. DALE BENSON,
Colonel Ist Reg't Inf., V. G. P.
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According to Field Return of the Ist Regiment, N. G. P., there were on duty at operations in Luzerne county 24 officers and 330 men ; total, 354 officers and men.
,At noon on the sixteenth of June, 1875, the regiment left Philadelphia for Boston, arriving there on the 17th, for the purpose of participating in the Centennial Anniversary of the battle of Bunker Hill, returning to the city on the 19th. While in Boston the regiment was under escort of the First Regiment Massachusetts N. G. The regiment had on parade 29 officers and 419 men, making a total of 448 officers and men.
At a meeting of the Board of Officers, held on the 8th day of July, the following resolutions were adopted :
Resolved, That the Board of Officers of the First Regiment gratefully appreciate the public consideration and sympathy extended to the National Guard of the State by the business men of Philadelphia on the occasion of the Centennial Anni- versary of the battle of Bunker Hill; and, while thanking them for their generous, unsolicited action, they take occasion to assure the subscribers to the fund, that their substantial recog- nition of a body of citizens, hitherto somewhat neglected, has done much to sustain the spirit, encourage the hopes and revive the pride of the volunteer organizations of this city.
Resolved, That the First Regiment, as their representatives in part in the city of Boston, make special acknowledgement for the honor of selection, and are grateful that, through their liberality, they were permitted to appear in column on the 17th of June, 1875, with some of the best disciplined regiments from Massachusetts, New York, Maryland, and other States.
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On the 27th day of November, 1875, the regiment paraded on the occasion of the escort by the Division to the remains of Hon. Henry Wilson, Vice President of the United States.
In compliance with General Orders, No. 1, dated January 14th, 1876, the regiment assembled on 17th, at Regimental Headquarters, and proceeded to Harrisburg, Pa., to participate in the ceremonies attendant upon the inauguration of Major- General John F. Hartranft, Governor of the State. The regi- ment paraded 398 officers and men.
On the 10th of May, 1876, the regiment paraded for the purpose of assisting in the ceremonies attendant upon the opening of the Centennial Exhibition at Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, commemorative of the one hundredth anniver- sary of American Independence, on which occasion there were on duty 31 officers and 483 men, making a total of 514 officers and men.
On the 4th of July, 1876, the regiment formed, in accord- ance with General Orders, No. 17, at 6. 30 o'clock A. M., in full dress uniform, for parade in honor of the Centennial Anni- versary of the Declaration of American Independence. The regiment paraded 473 officers and men. In the line were many organizations from other parts of the country, including the West Point Cadets, 7th and 22d New York Regiments, Albany Zouave Cadets, the Washington Light Infantry, of Charleston, S. C., and the "Centennial Legion," composed of one company from each of the original thirteen States.
During July, 1877, serious labor riots occurred at Pittsburg, Scranton and other portions of the State, resulting in much damage to property and also loss of life, and on the 20th day
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of July the regiment was ordered under arms, and on the even- ing of same day proceeded to Pittsburg in accordance with orders from general Headquarters.
The regiment was in active service from 20th of July until August 5th, full particulars of which will be found in the report of the Colonel commanding to Brigade Headquarters, hereunto annexed.
HEADQUARTERS FIRST REGIMENT INFANTRY, N. G. P.
Philadelphia, August 24th, 1877.
Major W. W. ALLEN, A. A. G.
Ist Brigade, Ist Division, N. G. P.
SIR:
In compliance with the verbal instructions of the Brigadier General commanding Brigade, I have the honor to report that verbal instructions were given the Ist Regiment Infantry to be placed under arms, the evening of July 20th. Being absent from the city, the communication of the acting Assistant Adj .- General of Division, advising that the troops of this Division were ordered to be held in readiness to proceed to Pittsburg, Pa., did not reach me until 10.27 P. M. that date. I imme- diately repaired to the armory of my command, and found that Lieut. - Colonel Clark and the officers of the regimental staff had, with commendable promptness, placed the command in marching order. By verbal orders of the Brigadier-General commanding Brigade, the regiment marched from its armory at about 12.45 A. M., fully equipped, numbering 268 total, with 1500 rounds ammunition, and proceeded to depot of the Pennsylvania R. R., 32d and Market streets; embarked in train there in waiting, leaving depot about 2 o'clock A. M., July 21st. By order of Major-General commanding, about one-half my ammunition was distributed to other commands. At Harrisburg ammunition was distributed to my regiment, allowing an average of about 20 rounds per man. At Altoona sandwiches of bread and ham, also coffee, were issued to my regiment. Arrived at Pittsburg about 1.30 P. M. July 21st, when the same rations were issued. Stacked arms in Union
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Depot until about 3 o'clock P. M .; when ordered under arms, proceeded upon right of brigade, in column of fours, along the line of Penna. R. R. tracks. The column was constantly halted, owing, I am informed, to difficulty in moving battery of Gatling guns. While on march, a party of 30 or 40 citizens moved directly in my front, preventing me from observing what should take place, I ordered them to disperse ; a citizen,- much agitated, since ascertained to be Sheriff Fife, Allegheny County, approached me, stating the body of citizens referred to was a sheriff's posse, the troops were to support them in making arrests, and inquiring "would my men do their duty." I informed him I had received no such orders, my front must be cleared, and it was not his business to inquire as to whether my command would perform its duty, and he was referred to General Matthews, commanding Brigade. The order to clear my front was obeyed, and General Matthews afterwards, coming to the right, stated that the sheriff's posse were ordered to march in front of the troops, and they were allowed to do so. Proceeding along the line of the rail road, amid the jeers and insults of the mob, that covered the roofs of the cars standing upon the tracks on both flanks, the column was halted at 28th street crossing, in the midst of an immense crowd. My command, being still in column of fours, was, when halted, entirely surrounded by the mob, those composing it standing shoulder to shoulder and breast to breast with my troops. The sheriff's posse being upon my right, I was unable to observe what took place in my immediate front. Upon receipt of the order of General commanding Brigade to clear the rail road tracks the length of my battalion, I informed the mob on my left flank of the order, that I proposed to execute it, and that there was no necessity for violence; placed my battalion in line of battle, facing rail road shops, gave the order "forward," the battalion at "carry arms;" the mob moved slowly and sullenly, addressing vile epithets to the officers ; having cleared the tracks to the line of cars, battalion was halted and order was given to post a double line of sentinels, two from each company, to hold the line, before moving to the rear to clear the other tracks, when I received the order of Brigadier General commanding, through a staff officer, directing " my front rank to stand where it was, and with rear rank to clear the other track," to which order I replied that "I must protest; is it not a mistake?" Staff officer replied, "those are General Matthews' instructions." I replied, "they will then have to be executed." It seemed in my judgment
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extremely hazardous to expose a single line to the crowd bear- ing against it in such compact masses, and having but one officer to a company, except in two instances, it left my rear rank without officers to command it, and to move the crowd from the other tracks, exposed it in the same manner as front rank, and more so, all the files not being filled, to be broken by the pressure of the mob, if not by attack. The order was executed; the crowd not being as heavy on that flank, now my rear, gave way, and the tracks were cleared and held open by my command until relieved; the distance between my two ranks was about 15 to 18 paces. Through my ranks I observed other troops were brought forward and placed upon my right, covering the space between my ranks. A few moments after- wards I saw some of the men in those commands open fire; receiving no order, I gave the order to my battalion "to load," as a matter of military precaution, and await edthe order to "fire," which was not communicated to me, and which I did not consider I was authorized to give, superior officers being present. Pistol shots were frequent from the mob, and stones were thrown in large quantities at the troops, two men in my right company were shot, one disabled by a blow in the head from a stone, and some of the muskets of the men were grasped by the mob, before my battalion fired; then file firing commenced in my right company, and I immediately gave the order to "cease firing." The yelling of the mob and the musketry firing prevented my order from being heard through the entire command at once, but, as soon as heard, it was obeyed. The firing, confined almost entirely to the right wing, had dispersed the crowd. As to the firing of my com- mand without an order from the commandant of battalion, whether the situation of the troops justified it, or self defence on the part of the men required it, or whether the order to fire should have been given, probably is not my province to decide or express an opinion officially.
My battalion was then, by order of the Brigadier General commanding Brigade, moved to the right to more fully cover 28th street, where the mob was still in large numbers ; and, upon the mob refusing to keep back to a line indicated, I brought my three right companies to a "ready," when they scattered. By order, a company was thrown across the entrance to the grounds of West Penn Hospital to protect the rear, and my battalion remained in the position last indicated, until about 7 o'clock P. M., several men fainting and others made sick by the extreme heat and want of water.
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The battalion, about that hour, was relieved, and with the brigade proceeded to the "Round House," farthest from 28th street, formed line and stacked arms; guards were detailed and posted, and the entrances covered by my battalion, as directed. Lieut .- Colonel Clark, of this regiment, was detailed as brigade officer of the day.
During the night I was ordered to send a company to the windows of the Round House, facing Liberty street, to sup- port the two companies of the 3d Regiment, as the mob had placed a piece of artillery in position. Company D, Captain Wiedersheim, was detailed for that duty, performing the same in an admirable manner, and remaining on duty until the troops left the building. Later in the morning, being ordered to relieve the detachment of 3d Regiment, I ordered companies F, Captain Huffington, and K, Captain Cromelien, to relieve that command, which was promptly done, they remaining on duty until the brigade moved out of the building. Considera- ble exchange of shots took place between the troops and the mob during the night, but the mob was unable to fire the piece of artillery, or remove it, owing to the skillful and effective manner in which the men on duty kept it covered, and a number of the mob lost their lives in attempting to gain the piece. Rifle firing, from the cover of a board yard opposite the Round House, which was accurate and constant, was trying to the men, but was ineffective, as they were instructed to keep themselves covered, and my command lost no men in that building. During the night, hearing volleys of musketry, my command was placed under arms, as a precautionary measure, and perfect discipline was maintained.
About 8 o'clock A. M., July 22d, the order was received to move, and the regiment proceeded on the right of the division, through the carpenter shop to Liberty street, by direction of the Brigadier-General commanding brigade; before leaving building, I detailed twelve men and one sergeant from my right (E) company, as skirmishers, and upon reaching the street, ordered Lieutenant Filley, E company, to assume com- mand of same. Column marched, without opposition, on the right, out Penn Avenue, and, when near Arsenal Building, firing that had been heard in the rear, increased rapidly, and, being dismounted, before I was aware of it, most of the other corps of the division came rushing through my column, firing indiscriminately, knocking some of my men down, and for a moment disorganizing my regiment, though there was ample space on both my flanks, still being in column of fours. Lieut .-
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Colonel Clark and myself endcavored to drive them from our ranks, threatening to run them through with our swords. The right company and skirmish line, hearing my order to halt, quickly did so, a drummer, beating the long roll, greatly assisted; the battalion was halted, formed to the left, to allow the other troops in full retreat to pass, when the Maj .- General commanding division, in person ordered me to take my bat- talion to the rear of the division, stating it was a military necessity. I requested permission to march my battalion as my judgment dictated, which was granted. I then formed my right wing in column of fours on one sidewalk, and left wing on the other, leaving the Gatling battery in centre of avenue, between the two wings, and followed the division ; my object being, by that formation the men could see what was occurring in their rear and I should be enabled to enfilade the streets or buildings on either side; my battalion was not attacked after taking the rear. One officer and several men were missing, but have since reported, and will be ordered before a Board of Inquiry, except in cases where exhaustion or sickness has been fully established. Crossing the Sharpsburg bridge, the command proceeded to grounds of the Allegheny County Poor House, about ten miles, over which entire distance my command assisted in hauling the Gatling guns, owing to which fact the details constantly being compelled to relieve each other, and the necessity that the men should obtain food that they could purchase or obtain from the houses en route, the march being an exceedingly trying one and fatiguing, regular halts were not made and the column was not kept closed up.
Reached Allegheny County Poor House late in the after- noon; towards night coffee and bread were issued, the first ration since 1.30 P. M. on the day previous; encamped for night ; took cars at Claremont station early following morning; pro- ceeded to Blairsville Junction, and were joined there by detach- ments of 127 officers and men. Encamped there, performing regular camp duty until July 27th; embarked on cars that even- ing and proceeded to Pittsburg; encamped on grounds of West Penn Hospital, remaining until Aug. Ist. Broke camp at mid- night, and proceeded to entrance to grounds of West Penn Hospital, and awaited transportation until daylight; proceeded to Harrisburg and returned to Sunbury, there taking the Lackawanna and Bloomsburg R. R., proceeded to Scranton; during the night I was ordered to detail two companies to form an advance and march in front of train ; Co. " E," Capt. Muldoon, and Co. "D," Capt. Wiedersheim, were detailed for that duty,
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