USA > Pennsylvania > History of the First Regiment Infantry, National Guard of Pennsylvania > Part 5
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quired of them for the defence of their fellow citizens, and to assist in the preserva- tion of law and order.
(Sunday Republic.)
ON Thursday last a committee of the First Regiment and Veteran Corps, con- sisting of Colonel Theo. E. Wiedersheim, Colonel Peter C. Ellmaker, Major Jos. W. Lewis, Major Wm. H. Kern, and Captain James Muldoon, purchased a lot 120x240 feet, at the southeast corner Broad and Callowhill streets, for the purpose of erecting an armory, the best step yet taken in this direction, and must be en- couraging to the members of the Ist, who have been for many years without proper armory accommodations; and it now looks as if their efforts will be generously seconded in the way of liberal subscriptions by every one having an interest, as they should have, in the National Guard of the State.
VETERAN CORPS FIRST REGIMENT,
N. G. P.
On Friday evening, November 5th, 1875, in accordance with a call published in the papers of Philadelphia, about 200 of the old members of the First Regiment, N. G. P., met at the armory, Lardner street below Fifteenth.
The meeting was called to order by Major-General James W. Latta, upon whose motion Colonel Charles S. Smith was called to the chair, and Mr. S. Grant Smith appointed secre- tary.
Colonel Smith, on taking the chair, stated that the object of the meeting was for the purpose of forming a Veteran Corps of the First Regiment, N. G. P., to be composed of those who had served in the United States army as regulars or volunteers, who had at any time been connected with the First Regiment. and any who had served with the First Regiment under any of its names, viz: Gray Reserve Begiment, Seventh Regiment, P. M., Thirty-second Regiment, P. M., and First Regiment, N. G. P.
After addresses by Col. Smith, General Latta, Col. Ellmaker. and others, the meeting adjourned to meet at call of the chair.
An adjourned meeting was held on 24th of November, at which committees on Constitution and By-Laws, Charter and
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Membership reported. Nominations were made for officers to serve until April 19th, 1876, after which the meeting adjourned to meet on December 8th, for purpose of electing officers, and at the meeting held December 8th the following officers were elected :
Colonel-Charles S. Smith. Lieutenant-Colonel -- S. Bonnafon, Jr. Major-Edwin N. Benson. Adjutant-James W. Latta. Quarter-Master-Edwin North. Paymaster-Chas. S. Jones. Commissary-D. Stanley Hassinger. €
Captains-Henry J. White, Wm. A. Wiedersheim. James C. Wray, Jos. W. Lewis, and Chas. S. Boyd. Lieutenants-Daniel K. Grim, Albert D. Fell, Geo. F. Dellaker, J. N. Donaldson, and Wm. P. Atkinson. Surgeon-William S. Stewart.
There was also elected at this meeting 162 members.
On the 19th of April, 1876, in accordance with the Consti- tution, the following field officers were elected to serve one year :
Colonel-Chas. S. Smith. Lieutenant-Colonel-S. Bonnafon, Jr. Major-Edwin N. Benson.
The corps having paraded on Pennsylvania Day, Sept. 28th. 1876, to Centennial Grounds, acting as an escort to his Excel- lency John F. Hartranft, Governor of Pennsylvania, the follow- ing communication was presented and read at a meeting of the corps on October 18th :
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ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE,
Harrisburg, October 4th, 1876.
Col. CHAS. S. SMITH,
Comd'g Veteran Corps Ist Reg't Inf., N. G. P.
COLONEL :
The Governor directs me to return his thanks to your corps for its escort and presence on Pennsylvania Day.
It was to him a great satisfaction that Pennsylvanians, them- selves displayed in such overwhelming numbers, should have had this fitting opportunity to see what has been her soldiery, and what yet, by their countenance and organization, propose to encourage her established national guard system.
Very respectfully, JAMES W. LATTA, Adjutant General.
On April 19th, 1877, Colonel Charles S. Smith having declined a re-election for Colonel, the following preamble and resolutions, presented by Major Edwin N. Benson, were unan- imously adopted :
Whereas, It has been officially announced by the Colonel commanding the Veteran Corps First Regiment of Infantry, N. G. P., that, in view of having arrived at the advanced age of eighty years, many of which have been spent in the National Guard service, he deems it to be the course of wisdom to withdraw from military life, and to decline any further honors of office or preferment; and by reason of which decision he has declined the use of his name as a candidate for re-election to the office he now fills: Colonel commanding the Corps ; therefore be it.
Resolved, That this Board of Officers desires to place upon record its admiration and respect for Colonel Charles S. Smith
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as a soldier and a gentleman, who carries to the verge of four score years his interest in his comrades in arms, and especially in his brother officers and fellow soldiers of the First Regi- ment Infantry ; who, when the Veteran Corps was organized, was among the first to enrol his name as a member, and has con- tinued until now its efficient commanding officer and faithful friend, and who carries with him into his well earned retirement the affectionate regard of every officer who has had the good fortune to be under his command. . Be it also
Resolved, That the Adjutant be instructed to present to the Veteran Colonel of the Veteran Corps a suitable copy of this expressed sentiment of the Board of Officers, properly attested, as a lasting evidence of its respect and affection.
The following field officers were elected April 19th, 1877 : Colonel, James W. Latta; Lieut .- Colonel, S. Bonnaffon, Jr .; Major, Edwin N. Benson.
On the 22d and 23d of July, 1877, special meetings of the Corps were held to take action in reference to the troubles existing around Pittsburg, caused by the rioters.
On motion, the Corps tendered their services to the Mayor of Philadelphia, in case the riot should extend to this city, and it was also agreed to raise a regiment, fully armed and equipped, and tender the same to the Governor, which was done, and the regiment accepted and mustered into the service of the State as the Twentieth Regiment, P. M.
We take the following from the report of Col. S. Bonnaffon, Jr., commanding the Twentieth Regiment, to the Veteran Corps, under date of date of October 17th, 1877:
The 20th Veteran Regiment was uniformed and equipped by the aid of the Finance Committee appointed by the Veteran Corps, Ist Reg't, N. G. P .: Col. P. C. Ellmaker, Col. Chas C.
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Knight, Major Wm. H. Kern, Major Wm. H. Loyd, and Lieutenant Chas. J. Field, and paid for by them from money subscribed by loyal citizens of Philadelphia.
I desire to call the attention of the Corps to the fact, that the total time occupied in mustering into the service, uniform- ing, arming and equipping the Twentieth Veteran Regiment, N. G. P., was thirty-six hours, a feat unprecedented and un- paralleled in the military history of this continent.
On July 27th the regiment left Philadelphia, en route for Pittsburg, and on July 28th reported to Major General R. M. Brinton, commanding First Division, N. G. P., at Pittsburg, for duty, and continued with that command until August 4th, when the regiment was ordered to report to Major General A. L. Pearson, commanding Sixth Division, N. G. P., for duty at Wilkesbarre, and continued with that command, doing guard, out-post and patrol duty in the Luzerne coal fields, and protect- - ing the lives and property of the citizens of Luzerne county.
It would be impossible for me to speak in better terms of the conduct, deportment, drill and discipline of the 20th Vet- eran Regiment, N. G. P., than has been expressed by the officers under whose command it served, and the just apprecia- tion of its services as shown by the citizens of Wilkesbarre.
Section V., from Special Order, No. 56, Adjutant-General's Office, Harrisburg, Pa., September 17th, 1877:
V. In dispensing with your further service, the Com- mander-in-Chief extends his congratulations to you, and his thanks to the generous citizens who so effectually aided in your equipment.
Organized and equipped with a speed rarely equalled, you were at once so schooled in drill and discipline as to attract universal favorable attention and fairly earn the name you bear.
Your duties have been onerous, exacting and continuous, performed with a full knowledge of their executions and with a constancy and cheerful obedience under the pressure of a
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continued and unexpected retention on duty, that showed that you well understood that the sole purpose of your enlistment - was the maintenance of the laws and protection of law abiding citizens.
In your final discharge, the Commonwealth parts with the valuable services of a body of officers and men, skilled and trained in the trying duties that have recently devolved upon all her soldiery, with the assurance, however, that you, with your fellows, have so contributed to the restoration of peace and good order, that the force which relieves you will suffice to secure the continued supremacy of the law.
By command of JOHN F. HARTRANFT, Governor and Commander-in-Chief.
JAMES W. LATTA,
Adjutant General.
While at Wilkesbarre the Twentieth Regiment was presented, by the citizens of Allegheny county, with a stand of colors, which were presented to the Veteran Corps on February 22d, 1878, in presence of the Governor and a large number of distinguished guests and members of the Corps and First Regiment.
On the 19th of April, 1878, the following field officers were elected: Colonel, James W. Latta; Lieut .- Colonel Henry J. White ; Major, James C. Wray.
On the 3d of July, 1878, the uniformed battalion left the city to participate in the ceremonies attending the one hundredth anniversary of the "Massacre of Wyoming," at Wilkesbarre, returning on the morning of the 5th.
On the 19th of April, 1879, the following field officers were . elected: Colonel, Jas. W. Latta ; Lieut .- Colonel, S. Bonnaffon, Jr .; Major, James C. Wray.
The Corps since its organization has paraded on each anniversary of the First Regiment, April 19th, and has also attended divine service with the First Regiment on each
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anniversary of Washington's birthday. It also participated in the parade of July 4th, 1876, and in the reception to General U. S. Grant, ex-president of the United States, December 16th, 1879.
Following are the officers of Veteran Corps Ist Regiment :
Colonel-James W. Latta. Lieutenant-Colonel-S. Bonnaffon, Jr. Major-James C. Wray. Adjutant-George H. North. Paymaster-Albert W. Taylor. Surgeon-C. S. Turnbull. Quarter-Master-Edwin North. Commissary-D. Stanley Hassinger. Captains-J. Parker Martin, Jas. D. Keyser. Lieutenants-John A.Wiedersheim, Chas. J. Field, H. P. Dixon, Geo. W. Briggs.
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