USA > Pennsylvania > History of the First regiment infantry, National guard of Pennsylvania (Grey Reserves) 1861-1911, pt 1 > Part 18
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The military display was alike significant that the soldier was as deeply sensible of the nation's never-to-be-forgotten obliga- tions to the great President as was the citizen. The entire First Division paraded, with Major-General Prevost in command; prompt in its formation, alert in its movement, its full ranks and excellent marching drew favorable comment from the many spec- tators who thronged the sidewalks. The Keystone Battery fired a national salute at the moment of the unveiling. The comment
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VISIT OF SEVENTHI REGIMENT, N. Y. N. G.
1870
from the Orderly Sergeant's Book of Company C is as follows : " The entire Division paraded and made one of the best displays ever made since its organization. The whole affair was a decided success. An immense concourse of people assembled to witness the ceremonies."
The reception and escort of the military organization from abroad, of acknowledged celebrity, the visitation to participate elsewhere in some historic event of sufficient consequence for annual commemoration, or to be the guests of military hosts of recognized prominence, are incidents of moment. Continuously for a season the gossip of the armories, and always repeated with zest to all newcomers to the ranks for a long time afterward, these events attain impressiveness with distinctive official recog- nition. Congratulatory orders probably more clearly indicate their import than do the views of those participating. From the tenor of these orders that followed the incidents that are to follow here, the occasions were expected to accomplish as much for the tone they gave the service as they were to be of direet benefit and advantage to the active participant.
The Seventh Regiment National Guard of the State of New York, of nation-wide repute and with prestige and renown of well-nigh a century's growth, had been announced to visit Phila- delphia, and the First Regiment was detailed for escort and parade duty with it, by a special order from First Division Head- quarters, on Thursday, July 14, 1870.
This event, given prominent recognition in the Seventh Regi- ment's history, has its place, its features both civic and military, . not only in our own regimental story, but in the annals of the city as well. The story, with its civilities and courtesies, its atten- tions and hospitalities, its weather hindrances that brought about discomfort and disappointment, is quite exhaustively told in Col. Emmons Clark's " History of the Seventh Regiment of New York " (vol. ii. p. 182. et seq.) :
An invite tion having been received from the Mayor and many distin- guished citizens of Philadelphia to visit that eity in July, the Regiment, after due consideration, decided to accept the courtesies tendered. and to extend the trip as far as Cape May. At 8 A. M. on Thursday, July 14th, it left New York with over five hundred men. The march from the armory to the Jersey City ferry was a very fatiguing one. for the heat was already oppressive. The day proved to be intensely hot, and grave apprehensions were early expressed that the unusual temperature would seriously inter-
1870
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HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
fere with the success and pleasures of the excursion. Upon its arrival at Philadelphia the Regiment proceeded up Walnut, Third, and Chestnut Streets to Tenth Street, and was received with great enthusiasm by the crowds of people that thronged the sidewalks and filled the windows and house-tops along the route. But the sun was now at its zenith, and not a breath of air was stirring, and when the regiment finally reached the Continental Hotel the men were well-nigh overcome by the intense heat of the day. But the Continental Hotel, the headquarters of the Regiment, abounded with comforts, and after an hour's rest officers and men were in their usual gay spirits.
The parade and review, which had been announced to take place at 3 P. M., were postponed until four o'clock, on account of the extreme heat. The colonel seriously considered the propriety of countermanding the parade; but the fact that all Philadelphia was in the streets to see the Regiment; that the military escort was already under arms and awaiting its move- ments; and that the reputation of the Regiment would seriously suffer by so remarkable a deviation from the order of arrangements, seemed to render a parade absolutely necessary. So, at 4.30 P. M., the Regiment formed, and with the thermometer at 100º Fahrenheit in the shade, and escorted by the First and Fourth Pennsylvania Regiments, commenced its march over the prescribed route. Having passed through Spring Garden, Thir- teenth, Walnut, and Eighteenth Streets, as far as Columbia Avenue, it turned into Broad Street, and, returning through that wide and handsome avenue, it passed in review, at the corner of Jefferson Street, before Major- General Prevost, commanding the First Division Pennsylvania National Guard. The reviewing stand was occupied by Mayor Fox, General Robert Patterson, and many of the most distinguished citizens of Philadelphia. Although the pavements over which the Regiment had passed were generally of cobblestone and utterly execrable, the streets at the point selected for the review were in admirable condition, and afforded the Regiment a fine opportunity to display its Military accomplishments to the best advantage to the immense throng that occupied the sidewalks, and the yards, piazzas, and windows of the elegant residences in that vicinity. Unfortunately, how- ever, it was suffering severely from the intense heat, and the burning sun had already compelled many of the members to leave the ranks from utter ex- haustion. But a large majority of officers and men exhibited wonderful pow- ers of endurance, and steadfastly maintained their places during the return march through Broad and Chestnut Streets to the Continental Hotel. When the Regiment reached its comfortable quarters, after this long and terrible march, there were few that did not require rest, and many were wholly ex- hausted. The services of the Surgeons, Drs. Darron and Morris, were con- stantly required in all directions. but fortunately no one was seriously injured by the fatigue and exposure of the day, and in a short time nearly all were convalescent.
An elegant entertainment, provided by the hospitable citizens of Phila- delphia, awaited the Regiment at the Continental Hotel upon its return from the parade. Only a small part of its officers and members, however, were in a condition to immediately repair to the dining hall. and a con- siderable delay occurred before the seats were filled. A most unfortunate circumstance connected with this magnificent entertainment was the utter impossibility of securing any considerable attention to the after-dinner speeches. So fatigued and exhausted were the young men of the Seventh. that they were in no mood to listen, and oratory was at a discount. Even
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VISIT TO NEW YORK CITY
1972
the eloquent Dougherty could not obtain a patient hearing, and some of the more staid and venerable of the distinguished Philadelphians present were almost shocked by the inattention. At 9 P. M. the festivities ended, and the Regiment hurried away to the Camden Ferry and took a special train to Cape May, where it arrived at 2 A. M. 1
This occasion seemed to be a stimulant and initiative for the interchange of various other military courtesies and visitations which afterward followed, but with still more significant fre- quency with the celebration of the coming centennial events of national import which had had their birth and beginning in the city of Philadelphia.
As early as August 19, 1872, a general order announced that the First Regiment would visit New York City on Evacuation Day, November 25, 1872, and directed that company commanders should see that every exertion was made to insure the success of the expedition, and on September 24 another general order fol- lowed, which directed that " in order to increase the drill and efficiency of the command preparatory to the excursion to New York City company commanders will drill their respective com- panies at least twice in each week during the months of October and November, except in the last week in October, when wing drills will be ordered."
The regiment, with Colonel Latta in command, left the West Philadelphia depot of the Pennsylvania Railroad, Thirty-second and Market Streets, on the morning of Novem- ber 25, 1872, at 7.15 o'clock, by special train, and, arriving at 10.45, proceeded at once to their quarters at the Grand Central Hall, Broadway opposite Bond Street, where, first pro- vided with a substantial meal, the men were dismissed with orders to reassemble at 2.80 o'clock. At that hour, accompanied by their escort, the Seventh Regiment National Guard of New York, Col. Emmons Clark commanding, and as well as their host -- for at the conclusion of the parade the regiment was lavishly en- tertained at their regimental armory-they moved down Broad- way to the City Hall. There, after passing in review before Maj .- Gen. Alexander Shaler, commanding First Division Na- tional Guard of State of New York, and Hon. A. Oakey Hall, mayor of the city of New York. the parade was dismissed. The regimeut returned to Philadelphia by the midnight train
1 See Appendix for Cape May itinerary.
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HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
1872
From the North American and United States Gazette, November 26, 1872:
LEFT FOR NEW YORK .- Yesterday morning the Ist Regiment N. G., Col. James W. Latta commanding, left for New York with about 400 men. They were accompanied by Beck's Band. They will be the guests of the 7th Regi- ment, and yesterday participated in the parade in honor of Evacuation Day. Their headquarters are at the Grand Central Hotel.
The incidents, details and results of this expedition, in this as in every event worthy of historic preservation, find their best expression through contemporaneous manuscript. The congrat- ulatory deliverance of the colonel commanding presents the inci- dent in the official formality of a general order, which the entry in the journal of First Sergeant D. A. MacCarroll, of Company C, supplements with a story effectively told. The colonel's order was as follows:
The Colonel commanding congratulates the command upon the great success that attended the excursion to New York on the 25th inst.
Its results surpassed and exceeded all that has been hitherto done. The press, the people, and the soldiery of both our own and our sister City unite in universal encomiums on the drill, discipline, marching, and excellent mili- tary and gentlemanly deportment of the entire Regiment. The ovation on Broadway, the enthusiastic reception at the Stock Exchange, the Review at the City Hall park. almost faultless in its execution, have added new and brighter laurels to your history, and will ever be pleasing reminiscences to all the participants.
This expedition it is believed has done much to improve the tone of public sentiment toward the encouragement of the National Guard service, and to you it should be hut a further incentive to strive by continued appli- cation, and strict attention and obedience to all orders and instructions, to earn a municipal, state, and national reputation that shall stamp this regi- ment as the peer of all its fellows, in all that serves to make the true Ameri- can soldier.
An extract from the Orderly Sergeant's book, Company C, Gray Reserves (D. A. MeCarroll, first sergeant), dated No- vember 26, 1572, describes the visit to New York as follows:
A Company order of November 20, 1872, read as follows: " In com- pliance with G. O. No. 15 from Regimental Hdqrs. the Company (C) will assemble at Armory at fi: 15 A. M. on Nov. 25th inst. to proceed with the Regiment to New York City to participate in the celebration of " Evacua- tion Day " by the 7th Regt. N. Y. N. G."
In obedience to above order the Company assembled at specified time. forming with the Regiment on Market Street above 19th. Marching to depot of Penna. R. R., the command entered the ears and moved off at 7:20 o'clock -reaching New York City at 10:30 where we were met by a delegation of officers of the 7th and marched to quarters at the Grand Central Hotel, where after dismissing and fixing up generally, we had breakfast at 12:30 P. M .- at 2:30 the line was again formed. When the 7th making their ap-
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INTERESTING EXTRACTS
1872
pearance formed in line of battle facing east, coming to a "present arms " when the Ist marched by them, and then the 7th on the right the march was continued down Broadway and through many of the principal streets in the lower part of the City. We were reviewed by Governor Dix of New York, Mayor of the City, and General Shaler, commanding National Guard Division of New York City. "C" Company turned out particularly well that day, being divided into two companies, and forming the 3rd Division, and in marching Division front through City Hall Park they were particu- larly applauded for the " wheel " made there, and specially noticed by Gov- crnor Dix. After the parade, which was not a long one to us. we marched to the Grand Central Hotel where leaving our "arms " we then marched to the armory of the 7th where a table, or rather tables, were spread with eat- ables and drinkables, the latter e-pecially. Returning to the Hotel at 7 P. M., those who were so inclined, dined, accompanied by many of the " 7th " after which permission was given to the men to disperse and seek their own amuse- ment until 11:15 P. M., and although many temptations were thrown in the way, all were on hand, in good condition, at the appointed time. The line again forming the line of march was taken up for the cars. We were es- corted to the Ferry by many of the "7th," and our way illuminated hy the firing of Roman candles, blue lights, etc. Leaving in the 12:30 A. M. train we reached Philadelphia about 6 A. M. on the 26th, all being well pleased with the excursion and matters and things generally.
Col. Emmons Clark, in his " History of the Seventh Regiment of New York " (vol. ii, p. 210), says:
On the 25th of November the First Regiment, National Guard of Penn- sylvania, visited New York, and the otlicers and members of the Seventh Regi- ment gladly embraced the opportunity to extend proper courtesies to one of the leading and representative military organizations of Philadelphia. The regiment was welcomed to New York by a committee of the officers of the Seventh, and proceeded at once to its quarters at the Grand Central Hotel. At 2 r. M. the Seventh Regiment paraded and escorted its military guests down Broadway to Beaver Street, and up Broad and Nassau Streets to the City Hall, where they passed in review before the Mayor of the city. At all points ou the route the First Regiment was received with distinguished honors, all of which its fine military appearance merited. After the comple- tion of the parade the First Regiment marched to the Seventh Regiment Armory, where its officers and members were hospitably entertained; and during the afternoon and evening the members of the Seventh extended to their guests various individual attentions. When the Regiment Jeit for Phila- delphia. at 11 p. M., a large delegation informally escorted it to the ferry, and bade its officers and members a hearty farewell.
An annual pilgrimage to some previously selected point was and still is quite the vogue with independent military organiza- tions of the character and standing of the Albany Zouave Cadets. There was something of a common bond between the First Regi- ment Infantry Gray Reserves and the Albany Cadets. They were of nearly cotemporaneous birth. The one, founded June 7. 1860, celebrated its fiftieth anniversary on its natal day of
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HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
1910; and the other, founded April 19, 1861, will do the like in 1911. So, encouraged by an invitation from Company D of the First Regiment Infantry, Captain Charles K. Ide, the Cadets for their pilgrimage for the year 1870 selected the city of Phila- delphia. That its proficiency might be in nowise impaired by the usual suspension incident to the season, and as a note of prepara- tion, Company D continued its weekly drills through the summer.
The 7th and Sth of September, the days covered by the visita- tion, were crowded with courtesies, were abundant in parades, escorts, reviews, banquets, and speeches-the Cadets under the command of Captain William T. Hamilton, and Company D, under Captain Charles K. Ide. They were of sufficient import as a regimental event not only to demand a present recognition, but to justify their preservation among the archives. A special order of congratulation from Regimental Headquarters conse- quently followed :
The recent visit [so reads the order] and reception of the Albany Zouave Cadets, on the 7th and Sth inst., marks an era in the history of D Company that is well deserving of a congratulatory notice from these Headquarters.
Your soldierly bearing, gentlemanly deportmient, and excellence of drill and discipline was, by all, the subject of favorable comment. Your alike generous and judicious entertainment of a body of guests, whose behavior, bearing, and discipline, both as soldiers and citizens, made them well worthy of such attentions, will carry with it, both to them and you, lasting and pleasing remembrances of the occasion, and doubtless establish for you as an organization, and through you as its representative, for our whole Na- tional Guard force, an excellent and enviable reputation in the City from whence your visitors come.
This visit bred intimacies that still survive. The Cadets. anxious to show their best appreciation of the courtesies extended by Company D, hastened the opportunity to extend theirs. It happened two years later, when in June, 1872, Company D, still under Captain Ide, visited Albany as the guest of the Albany Zouave Cadets, still commanded by Captain Wm. T. Hamilton. Upon its return Company D made a brief stop in the city of New York, and was there escorted from the steamboat landing to its place of rendezvous by Company B (second company) and Company F (sixth company) of the Seventh Regiment National Guard, State of New York. This incident is made memorable by the acquaintance then first formed, that later grew to an in- timaey, between Corporal Daniel Appleton, then of the sixth company, who afterward became the colonel of the Seventh Regi-
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CONGRATULATORY ORDER
1872
ment, and Corporal Theodore E. Wiedersheim, of Company D, who subsequently was promoted to the colonelcy of the First Regiment.
The following notice is from the "History of the Seventh Regiment of New York, supra " (vol. ii. p. 203) :
On the 15th of June, Company D, First Regiment, National Guard of Pennsylvania, returning to Philadelphia from an excursion to Albany, ar- rived in New York. A Committee of the Regiment conducted the company at an early hour in the morning from the Albany steamer to the armory, and at 9 A. M. the Second and Sixth Companies, Captain Van Norden command- ing, assembled and escorted the Philadelphians down Broadway to the Jersey City Ferry. The battalion and its guests attracted favorable notice from the people and the press. The officers and members of the Seventh Regiment not on parade rallied in large numbers, and at the armory, and in Broad- way, and at the Ferry, were enthusiastic in their demonstrations in honor of their military guests.
Again do the regimental records best supply a brief summary of the conspicuous incidents of this occasion, in the congratulatory order of the colonel commanding, who had opportunity as the guest of the company to specially note them. The order bears date from regimental headquarters June 18, 1872, and was as follows :
The Colonel Commanding congratulates D Company upon its recent well planned and successful excursion to the City of Albany. He carefully observed the command through all the details of the expedition. Its march- ing, strict attention to duty, gentlemanly deportment and discipline, were subjects of universal commendation.
The ovations and kindnesses that attended you at the hands of the Albany Zouave Cadets and B and F Companies of the New York 7th Regiment, should be long and gratefully remembered and particularly will the far famed hospitalities and attentions of the Albanian's be a record on the pages of your history that can never be etfaced.
Though the well-defined purpose of the congratulatory order may be but transitory, it often happens that in its expressions of appreciation and encouragement opportunity is afforded for the presentation of historie material that would otherwise be entirely lost. The instances already disposed of, and the one that is to follow, appear to fairly justify this conclusion. A most im- portant incident connected with the eleventh anniversary com- memorative parade of April 19, 1872, could never have been re- called, and a bit of the best of military testimony that fully sus- tains the high standard for efficiency always claimed for the regi- ment would never have been produced, had not the colonel com-
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HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
1872
manding gone a little outside of the usual course and issued for the occasion a congratulatory order. The order, General Order No. S of the current series, is dated from regimental headquar- ters, April 20, 1872, and was as follows:
The Colonel commanding congratulates the command on its magnificent appearance, high soldierly bearing, excellent deportment, and well executed marching and manœuvering on the occasion of the parade in commemoration of the Eleventh Anniversary.
It was his good fortune to meet on the evening of that day Major-Gen- eral Geo. G. Meade. U. S. _ 1., the General commanding the Military Division of the Atlantic, the Adjutant.General of the State, the General commanding tbe Brigade. and many prominent citizens of former military experience.
Their encomiums passed upon the display warrant the belief that the impressions thus made will, if our efforts to excel be continued, insure a distinguished and lasting reputation.
General Meade did not long survive. He died at his Phila- delphia residence, and was buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery No- vember 11, 1872. The regiment was a part of his imposing mili- tary funeral. The escort was composed of soldiers, sailors and marines from neighboring posts, garrisons, and navy yards; the troops of the First Division, National Guard of Pennsylvania; and other military bodies from the immediate vicinity. Maj .-. Gen. Charles M. Prevost commanded the division, and the com- manding officers of the brigades at that time were Brig .- Gen. John P. Bankson, of the first, and Brig .- Gen. J. William Hofmann, of the second. The regiment was attached to the second brigade. A severe epidemie prevailing among the horses forbidding a lengthy route, the escort was dismissed at the steamboat landing at Fairmount Park, and the remains, guard of honor, and others transferred to steamboats, proceeded thence by the river to the cemetery.
The journal of First Sergeant D. A. MacCarroll, Company C, again supplies descriptive details of special interest. A copy of the general order for the escort precedes the entry.
The Regiment assembled in accordance with the ahove, formed and moved to the line of formation on Locust Street west of Broad. The ser- vices were held in " St. Mark's " Church, after which the body was placed on a " Caisson " belonging to the Keystone Battery, and accompanied by a guard of "Regulars." The line of march was taken out Loenst Street to ISth St., ISth St. to Green, and Green to the Park, on reaching which point the divi-ion was drawn up in line of battle, left in front, the line extending from entrance of Park to nearly reaching Girard Avenue Bridge
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RESIGNATIONS
1872
on the river front. The remains were placed on one of the river boats deco- rated for the occasion with flags and mourning emblems, which then moved up the river at a slow rate of speed, and as each Regiment and organization was passed they were brought to a present, the bands of each taking up the time and playing a dirge. Along the streets through which the line moved, the houses were heavily draped in mourning, the sidewalks lined with peo- ple and in places it was ditlieult to preserve the alignment from the great pressure of the crowd. The adjoining hills in the Park were one mass of people, such was the love, respect and honor shown to one of Philadelphia's greatest sons and warriors, the Hero of Gettysburg and many battles of the Army of the Potomac. The remains were accompanied to Laurel Hill by the family and his personal staff only. The troops returned from the Park by quick time.
Major James D. Keyser, first a lieutenant, then a captain, afterward major from December 30, 1868, with a long previous military training in the Artillery Corps of Washington Grays, with a full ten years' service to his credit as a commissioned offi- cer, resigned his majority April 28, 1871. He was a man of unflagging energy, with a readiness to do and a constancy in the doing that made him an officer of especial value wherever it was his lot to serve. He was ever watchful in the care of his men, zealous to maintain their repute, and ever mindful to preserve not only in his all-retentive memory, but as well in the large accumulation of newspaper clippings he was so prone to gather, the military incident, that added to the honors of the soldier or increased the prestige of the service.
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