USA > Pennsylvania > History of the First regiment infantry, National guard of Pennsylvania (Grey Reserves) 1861-1911, pt 1 > Part 16
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There was a feverish excitement in political circles; the Geary-Clymer campaign for governor, a bitter contest, was in zealous progress; the city had but little sympathy with the pur- poses of the Convention and the authorities none. Tumult and outbreak were feared, and every precaution was taken to circum- vent it. In the end it was said that the mayor had made such arrangements for the preservation of good order that no outbreak was possible, and as the proceedings progressed it was confidently asserted that good order would continue unbroken and that any infraction of it would be by the delegates themselves.
But all available troops were put into immediate requisition and Gon. Peter Lyle was placed in command-Col. Wm. H. Yeaton's Grays, the National Guard, the Keystone Battery, First Regiment Gray Reserves, Captain James D. Keyser commanding. Col. Win. B. Thomas's regiment was mustered and drew pay for a few days at two dollars per man, and the Independent Scouts, Captain Robert M. Evans, from outside the city, were brought in and quartered in Girard College. There were but a few days of flurry, when, with confidence restored, and the good order that was really never broken assured, the troops were relieved.
The two letters following are from Mayor McMichael to Cap- tain Keyser:
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EXTRACTS FROM MINUTES
1866
FROM THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF OFFICERS
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, CITY OF PHILA.
August Il. 1866.
Sir :
You are hereby ordered to report your command to Genl. Peter Lyle, for duty on and after August 13, 1866, in aiding to maintain the public peace of Philadelphia.
Respectfully yours, MORTON MCMICHAEL Mayor of Philadelphia.
TO CAPT. JAS. D. KEYSER, Comdg. Ist Regt. Gray Reserves.
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
August 16, 1866
Dear Sir:
I beg to tender you my sincere thanks for the kindness and zeal mani- fested by you in coming to the aid of the civil authorities in the recent emergency. To me your prompt and effective action was of the most val- uable assistance in my official arrangements, and I am sure the knowledge that a sufficient military force was in readiness in case it should be needed inspired the public with a sense of confidence and at the same time materially aided to repress any attempt at disturbance.
With assurance of personal regard, I am, very truly yours,
MORTON MCMICHAEL, Mayor.
To CAPT. JAS. D. KEYSER, Ist Regt. Gray Reserves.
The unanimous tender by the Board of Officers of the colonelcy of the regiment to Brevet Brig .- Gen. Charles M. Prevost, its acceptance, followed by the issuance of his commission, September 18, 1866, practically completed the reorganization. Major William McMichael was commissioned as major November 14, 1866.
Col. Wm. MeMichael was appointed captain and assistant adjutant-general United States Volunteers Angust 15, 1861; pro- moted major, August 16, 1862; brevetted lieutenant-colonel and colonel for faithful and meritorions services, he was honorably mustered out March 20. 1566. His well-remembered services on the staff of Maj .- Gen. George H. Thomas brought him into prom- inence and won him distinction.
Col. Chas. Ross Smith, who had made a famous record as colo- nel and lieutenant-colonel of the Sixth Pennsylvania Cavalry and 10
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HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
on the headquarters' staff of the Army of the Potomac, was ten- dered the lieutenant-coloneley. There was a conviction that his acceptance was assured, but to the disappointment of the Board to the acknowledgment of the tender, there came in response, as reported by the committee who presented it, a letter of which the following is its significant paragraph : " In reply to which I regret that circumstances are such that I cannot accept the more than handsome compliment you have conferred on me." The position remained vacant until December of the next year, when General Prevost, having been made the major-general of the First Division. it was filled by the advancement of Major McMichael.
In his General Order, No. 1, of October 15, 1866, General Prevost announced his staff appointments as follows: James W. Latta, first lieutenant and adjutant; Major John M. Kollock, M.D., surgeon ; William A. Rolin, first lieutenant and quartermas- ter; and Major William H. Kern, paymaster. All were so com- missioned on the same day-October 26, 1866.
An ineffectual attempt was made about this time to consoli- date the two organizations,-the Artillery Corps of Washington Grays and the First Regiment Infantry Gray Reserves,-follow- ing action proposed at the meeting of the Board of Officers on September 12, 1966, when on motion of Captain Clark a committee was appointed to meet a similar committee of the Washington ' Grays to report to the Board any proposition they may make " having in view the consolidation of the two organizations." Captains Clark and Allen and Lieutenant Klander were named as the committee, and at a special meeting of the Board on Sep- tember 26, 1366. reported the result of their negotiations.
The propositions submitted by the Washington Grays commit- tee : that the Washington Grays should always have the right of the line, be known as the First Company; retain all their own funds, regimental expenses to be borne share and share alike by the companies ; the Board of Officers to have exclusive direction of the affairs of the regiment; and that the name of the regiment shall be changed to the "Washington Gray or Washington Gray Re- serve Regiment." though favorably entertained and so reported by its committee, were all rejected by the Board, except the one conferring exclusive jurisdiction, which was referred baek to the committee for a better understanding. Though this reference
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PARADES AND CEREMONIES
IS67
offered opportunity to renew negotiations, nothing further came of it, and the incident elosed.
The wise selection for the coloncley imparted a new energy and inaugurated an increased activity. Battalion drills and street parades followed each other with greater frequency. The anni- versary of the birthday of Washington, February 22, 1867, was remembered with the customary street demonstration of an after- noon parade, and the inaugural ceremonies of Governor John W. Geary at Harrisburg on January 15, 1867, were participated in by the then fully equipped companies, A, C, D, E, and I, with Col. Charles M. Prevost in command, as a part of the military contin- gent present on that occasion. The sixth anniversary of the organ- ization of the regiment, April 19, 1867, was modestly remembered by a full-dress drill at the regimental armory at eiglit o'clock in the evening. Other features of more pronounced significance had been under discussion in the Board of Officers, but their feasibility doubted, they were not attempted. With the opening of the spring came the outdoor military exercises, and the Olympie Baseball Grounds, then the most accessible location, were put into frequent use for battalion and skeleton battalion drills. The non-commis- sioned staff was completed with C. Stuart Patterson as sergeant- major and George A. Smith as quartermaster-sergeant.
The regiment about this time began to look to the exercise of its influence for the betterment of the improvident legislation then in operation. A further supplement to the Aet approved May 4, 1864, with that in view, had been introduced into the legislative session of 1867, and was then pending. To further its progress and encourage a support for the measure, the Board of Officers extended an invitation directing the quartermaster to provide a suitable entertainment, to all the officers of the militia organiza- tions of the city. together with the delegates to the House of Representatives and members of the Senate, to meet at the city armory on the evening of March 9, 1867, " to take into considera- tion the merits " of this proposed legislation. The effort was not resultless, though the legislation it produced afterward proved to be.
The bill thus introduced subsequently became a law, and was known as an Aet approved April 1, 1867. entitled a further sup- plement to the Act approved May 4, 1864, for the organization,
14S
1807
HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
discipline and regulation of the militia of the Commonwealth. The feature that most concerned the entire first division of the State militia was the first section. This section provided that all citizens of the city of Philadelphia liable to military duty, not members of volunteer organizations, should pay into the treasury of the city the sum of two dollars annually, to be collected by the Receiver of Taxes and distributed, to be used for military expenses, to the " officers of the militia and the Reserve Brigade " in the pro- portions in which the " numerical strength of organization repre- sented by said officers bears to the whole number in said First Division." It worked for a while; offensive to the taxpayer, un- productive to the beneficiary, it after but a brief existence was repealed, as should and ought to be all legislation that seeks to sup- port the military by any other than a direct appropriation.
During the years while the tax was collected at the two-dollar rate there was received by the regiment, as its share, of October 1, 1868, $664.45; February 3, 1869, $214.83 ; July 21, 1869, $3129 ; and May 10, 1870, $716. And after its repeal, on February T. 1872, on March 7, 1872, an additional sum of $268.50, collected subsequent to the reduction. These amounts on their receipt were apportioned among the several companies in accordance with their numerical strength.
Before the act ereating this tax for the first division only was repealed, it was, April 7, 1870, enlarged to include the entire State; the rate, however, was fixed at but fifty cents, and appar- ently to be nearer the axiom, " that taxes shall be equal and uniform throughout the land," that for Philadelphia was reduced to one dollar, instead of the two, as originally prescribed.
The tax thus modified in amount and enlarged in the scope of its operations was undisturbed during the legislative session of 1871, but on February 7, 1872, the section of the Act of 1867 which levied the militia tax specially for the one loeality was repealed. The repealing act contained but a single paragraph. An odious law, it was determined to be rid of it without the reason why but with all formality. Title and substance were alike com- prehensive. The title was an act "to repeal the assessment or collection of the militia tax in the city of Philadelphia." Its text in its one and only section was. " that all acts or parts of aets authorizing the assessment or collection of a militia law in the eity of Philadelphia be and the same are hereby repealed."
149
THE MILITLA TAX
ISOT
Though the militia tax may not have been favored by execu- tive authority, it was at least countenanced, probably in the absence of the direct appropriation, as the only means then attainable, for even the meagre support it gave the service. The adjutant-general. in his annual report for the year 1572, makes this reference to this repealing aet.
In the First Military Division Philadelphia there is to-day no military fund whatever, excepting what arises from the contribution of the officers and men themselves and of private citizens, friends of organizations, every act of the Legislature providing for the creation of such a fund in that Division having been repealed at its last session.
It was the keen military instincts of Governor John F. Har- tranft who first instilled into the legislative thought such a proper estimate of the direct appropriation as to secure in the first session of his term the passage of the Aet of Assembly approved April 15, 1873, which provided for the payment directly from the public treasury of the sum of four hundred dollars annually to every company up to the proper standard in numbers, drill, and dis- cipline.
This act was followed on May 14, 1874, by a further supple- mental act, which provided for the payment to each company annually of whatever arm of the service, whose standard should be as prescribed in the Act of 1873, of the sum of one hundred dollars for armory rent if located or quartered outside of cities, boroughs, or townships with a population exceeding fifteen thou- sand inhabitants, and two hundred dollars if inside. The same act authorized and empowered the commander-in-chief to redistrict and rearrange the military divisions, reducing their number to not more than ten. He was to so rearrange said divisions that by lines of railway or of contiguous localities the troops therein might be most speedily concentrated, make such assignments thereto as might be deemed for the best interest of the service, and recom- mend for an honorable discharge such general and staff officers as would be thereby rendered supernumerary.
The Act approved June 12, 1578, further reduced the number of major-generals to one, and the brigadier-generals to five; in- creased the annual allowance to infantry companies to $500, and to artillery and cavalry companies to $1000; and provided for the per diom payment for one day, increased afterward to five,
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HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
during the period of the annual encampment to commissioned offi- eers, a sum proportioned to the pay of officers of like grade in the regular army; to first sergeants, $3.00; sergeants, $2.00; cor- porals, $1.75; and privates, $1.50.
This legislation was a beginning, an early development of an undeveloped system, a germ of prophecy, as it were, of the military evolution that has now so narrowed the margin between the soldier of the permanent establishment and the soldier of the National Guard.
In the elimination of the independent, separate company, and establishing the regimental unit as the basis of organization, in her assimilation of her brigades and division to the army require- ments, and in her early invitation to the regular officer to super- vise the annual inspection of her National Guard, it may fairly be elaimed for Pennsylvania that from the beginning she was in the lead of her sister States.
The regiment paraded under the command of Major Me- Michael, Colonel Prevost being in command of the first division, with the following organizations only ordered out: The First Troop of Philadelphia City Cavalry, First Regiment Infantry Gray Reserves, and the Artillery Corps of Washington Grays, in celebration of the ninety-first anniversary of American independ- ence, July 4, 1867. In the order announeing the parade, other organizations not attached to the division had been invited to join. The line was formed on Broad Street, right resting on Chestnut, at 7.15 A. M., and the column was directed to move precisely at 7.30.
The event of conspicuous remembrance of this particular period was the regiment's visit to the Antietam battle-field to participate in the dedicatory ceremonies attendant upon the laying of the corner-stone of the National Cemetery on the fifth anniversary of the battle. Familiar seenes and ineidents of the campaigns of 1862 and 1863 were brought vividly to mind as the journey progressel. The expedition was undertaken pursnant to the invi- tation of Maj .- Gen. James R. Negley, chairman of the Military Committee of Congress. The regiment, Major MeMichael in com- mand, in full marching order, knapsaeks and shelter tents included, subsistence provided by the respective companies, moved by rail at six o'clock on the evening of September 15, 1867, to Hagerstown,
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ANNIVERSARY OF ANTIETAM
Maryland, and thenee some twelve miles by wagon transportation to the battle-ground, where in the vicinity of Keedysville it went into camp upon its arrival on the afternoon of the sixteenth. A tedious day followed on the next day, September 17, the anni- versary day. There was a huge gathering of people from all direc- tions, with troops from various localities. The regiment in the early morning crossed the Antietam by the historie Porter's Bridge, participated in the review by the President of the United States, the parade, and other incidental movements requiring its presence. The ceremonies closed during the afternoon, and the return jour- ney expeditiously completed, the event is recalled as a successful and highly ereditable undertaking, increasing prestige, adding experience, benefiting knowledge. Except for the rail transpor- tation, gratuitously furnished, the expenses were all borne by the men.
This September of 1867 seemed to be full of military activi- ties. On the twenty-fifth Maj .- Gen. Phillip H. Sheridan was the guest of the eity. In compliance with the request and in response to the invitation of the Joint Committee of Couneils who had the reception ceremonies in charge, the entire first division paraded, with Colonel Prevost in command of the division and Major Me- Michael in command of the regiment. The line was formed on Broad Street, right resting on Chestnut, faeing east, and moved promptly at five o'clock P. M., the hour designated. On this occa- sion the troops participating were the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry, the Artillery Corps of Washington Grays, First Regiment Infantry Gray Reserves, Infantry Corps National Guards, Zouave Battalion, and Wecracoe Legion.
Upton's was the last system of tactics known and designated and officially adopted and put in use under the name of its author. Scott's, Cooper's. Hardie's. Casey's, had all been previously so adopted. Drill Regulations. United States Army and other similar designations have since prevailed. Upton's was the first system with principle, purpose, and demonstration for its founda- tion. Other systems had been rather adaptations than solutions. Upton's began with the unit of fours, kept it ever in view until it had evolved the higher evolutions, only fully demonstrable in the manœuvres of the field. It was the first in the series of evolu- tionary sequences that have by their wonderful development ad-
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HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
1867
vanced the art of war to its present still unsolved limitations. Every " problem " now submitted must yet work out its own solu- tion, with its invitation, to conception, conjecture, and original thought.
Upton was a man with no common gifts. 1 close student and keen observer, he never left unsolved what was capable of demon- stration. He was as industrious in the closet as he was coura- geous in the field. Confusion never disturbed his thoughts, seelu- sion never bettered his judgment. He could work the solution of a problem of the battle-field in battle and under fire, as readily as he could solve a mathematical demonstration in class-room or eloset. A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, of the elass of May, 1861, second and first lieutenant, Fourth and Fifth United States Artillery, colonel 121st New York Volunteer Infantry, brigadier-general United States Volunteers. brevet major-general United States Army and United States Volun- teers, colonel Fourth United States Artillery, Emory Upton was singularly adapted to the profession of arms. In his untimely death in his early forties the service lost a soldier helpful to maintain its traditions, useful to propagate its purposes, resource- ful to preserve its scholarship.
It is well that something should be known not only of the author of this new system, but that the record of its first publication and announcement to the regiment marking an era, as it . does, should also be preserved and given publicity. The following is a copy of the order as it appears in the regimental Order Book :
HD. QRS. IST REGT. INFTY. G. R. R. B. City Armory Oct. 14, 1867.
GENERAL ORDER NO. II.
I. " Upton's New System of Infantry." "Tactics, Double and Single Rank " having been adopted by the War Department, company commanders will without delay commence instructions thereunder.
II. Par. 1. Genl. Ord. No. 6 from these Hd. Qrs. dated May 7th, 1867. is hereby revoked. [Prescribed " Old Manual of Arms."]
III. The Colonel Comdg. directs that the instructions under U'pton's System be pursued diligently. It is his intention to manœuvre in these tac- tics on the next parade of the Command.
By order of Colonel Charles M. Prevost,
Bvt. Brig. Genl. U. S. V.
JAMES W. LATTA, Adjutant.
Fruciam Marchand
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CHANGES IN PERSONNEL
On November 6, 1567, Captain A. H. Rosewig appeared at the Board meeting as captain of the newly reorganized Company B, remaining with the company until March 31, when he resigned, and on April 22, 15GS, was succeeded as captain by his first lieu- tenant, C. G. Cadwallader. Captain Cadwallader, promoted from sergeant to first lieutenant in Company K of the 104th Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, was honorably mustered out after a full three years in that regiment. Captain Robert P. Dechert was made captain Company F, on November 7, 1867, and on December 4 was in attendance at his first Board meeting. He resigned in the spring of 1868. General Dechert entered the volunteer service as sergeant-major of the Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania Infantry July 1, 1861, and was mustered out as captain and brevet lieu- tenant-colonel July 17, 1865. His subsequent service in the National Guard of Pennsylvania was as colonel of the Second Regiment and brigadier-general of the First Brigade. Captain Alex. Kerr, Jr., an honorably discharged soldier from the Seventy- second Pennsylvania Volunteers, made an energetic effort to resus- citate Company G, but it was not successful. On December 4, 1867, Major William McMichael was placed in nomination by the Board, and on December 7, 1867, elected and commissioned as lieutenant-colonel. Adjutant James W. Latta, previously nomi- nated and elected, was on December 14, 1867, commissioned major vice McMichael promoted.
Appointed by the Governor to fill the vacancy, Brevet Brig .- Gen. Charles M. Prevost, Colonel First Regiment Infantry Gray Re- serves, was on December 27, 1867, commissioned as major-general of the first division of the Pennsylvania militia, the first of the four general officers-three major-generals and one brigadier- general-that have come from the promotion of colonels of the First Regiment. On December 31, 1868, General Prevost by letter addressed to the Board of Officers expressing his regrets at the severance and connection, makes formal announcement of his appointment and the vacancy in the colonelcy thereby created. Before the headquarters are again fully re-established, vacancies, appointment, promotions, follow each other rapidly. Lient .- Col. William McMichael on January 11, 1868, is made colonel, and the vacancy that follows in the lieutenant-coloneley is filled by the promotion of Major James W. Latta, on January 18, 1868.
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HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
1807
Brevet Major R. Dale Benson, formerly of the Commonwealth Artillery, and a first lieutenant in the 114th Pennsylvania Volun- teers August 11, 1862, honorably mustered out May 29, 1865, brevetted for "conspicuous gallantry at Chancellorsville, Vir- ginia," was appointed adjutant January 22, 1865, and on Febru- ary 29, 1868, elected and connnissioned major.
"On February 11, 1567, at a meeting held by the officers and men who had followed the flag of the 118th Regiment, Pennsyl- vania Volunteers-better known as the Corn Exchange Regiment -in the War of the Rebellion, they decided that they would form a company and go into the National Guard Service of Pennsyl- vania as Company H of the First Regiment of Infantry." 1 Cap- tain John R. White, who had been captain of Company G of the 118th, was made captain, and Harry T. Peck first lieutenant, and Wm. F. Gardner second lieutenant, March 7, 1867. Lieu- tenant Peck had been the first lieutenant of Company C, 118th Pennsylvania, and Lieutenant Gardner first lieutenant and quar- termaster. Captain White resigned July 30, 1868, Lieutenant Peck October 3, 1867, and Lieutenant Gardner April 24, 1867.
Although with the reorganization of the regiment the prefer- ence was largely for and selections generally made from those whose experience and distinction in war service had won them recognition, Company H presents a conspicuous instance of men of prominence who had served it among its early captains. Gen. Charles P. Herring, who after the retirement of Captain White and Captain Donaldson, assumed command, served the company as captain ; Captain Frank A. Donaldson (captain Company H, February 24, 1869, to June 27, 1870), sergeant-major Seventy- first Pennsylvania Volunteers, May 26, 1861; second lieutenant Seventy-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, May 11, 1862; discharged for promotion August 27, 1562 ; captain Company HI, 115th Penn- sylvania Volunteers, August 13, 1862; honorably discharged January 14, 1864; Captain Sylvester Bonnaffon, Jr. (captain Company HI. June 14. 1871, to September 14, 1872); private Company I, 99th Pennsylvania Volunteers, December 14, 1861; corporal AApril 1. 1862 : sergeant May 1, 1862; seeord lieutenant Company G. August 1. 1862 ; first lieutenant June 18. 1964 : eap-
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