USA > Pennsylvania > History of the First regiment infantry, National guard of Pennsylvania (Grey Reserves) 1861-1911, pt 1 > Part 20
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For what success has been attained in the formation of a local militia, small thanks are due to our citizens; but to the officers and men of the First Division, N. G. of Pennsylvania, we offer our most hearty congratulations upon the highly creditable results attained.
And from another, the Sunday Transcript, April 5, 1874, editorial matter appeared as follows:
THE MILITIA .-- The prompt response of the Gray Reserves to the call of the Governor, and the equally earnest and immediate muster of the remainder of the Division, to await orders to march, should have a beneficial effeet upon the future of the militia in Philadelphia. . . .
If the rebellion, which found Philadelphia and Pennsylvania compara- tively helpless, while the east could push forward troops by the thousands, did not teach our people anything, let them gather wisdom from the events of the week just closed. Fortunately, no blood was shed; but why? Simply because the overwhelming foree which this city was able to supply at a moment's notice overawed all opposition, and saved the State and its citizens from the disgrace of a fratricidal struggle within our borders.
In better temper and without denunciation, generously toned to spreial commendation, there follow contributions from the editorial pages of both the Public Ledger and the North Ameri- can :
From the Public Ledger:
The First Regiment (Gray Reserves), Colonel Ben-on. which returned yesterday from Susquehanna Depot, is entitled to great credit. It has done the State good service during its brief absence. Its prompt response to the call of the Commander-in-Chief, through its Division Commander, shows that the First Division of our State militia is a body that can be depended upon for immediate and threatening emergencies. The call reached the Colonel of the Regiment at midnight; he and his Lieutenant-Colonel, Major and Adju- tant acted at once, and in the dead of night notified the company officers personally, who in their turn notified their subordinate- personally, and these last personally called out the men. In the morning the Regiment was ready,
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EDITORIAL EXTRACTS
1874
fully equipped for the march and ready for action, several hours before they got the Governor's order to march. They arrived at the scene of disorder at a critical time, their presence had an immediate good effect, and how im- portant it was that that Regiment did arrive, equipped as it was, at the time when it did, it would perhaps not be wise to tell. While on duty at Susquehanna its conduct was all that the deportment of a well-trained regi- ment of citizen soldiers should be. There was not a breach of discipline, not a cause for complaint. Its mere presence saved what might have been a destructive, if not a sanguinary, riot. It discharged its duty in a soldier- like manner; and returning home. with orders to report to General Prevost, that was done in a soldier-like manner, too-and then the men returned to their homes, and their business. The whole event was creditable to the Regiment, the Division and the State, and deserves this acknowledgment and something more.
From the North American :
THE MILITIA CAMPAIGN .- The First Regiment returned yesterday from the duty upon which it had been engaged during the week. Without unneces- sary fuss or display the troops were marched to their armory, a formal review having first been made by General Prevost, and were there dismissed to re- sume their ordinary avocations. To officers and men every award of credit is to be made for the soldierly and practical manner in which their duty had been discharged. The men have shown that with threatened danger in front of them they were prompt to rally to the roll-call; and the officers have been rewarded for the care and discipline they have insisted upon. The time, it seems to us, is opportune to again urge upon the young men of the city and upon their employers the wisdom and necessity of encouraging as perfect a militia organization as is practicable. Without some such reliable organi- zation as this First Regiment the troubles at Susquehanna Depot would have unquestionably assumed a more serious aspect: for the previous arrivals of troops had been in small detachments of irregular commands not calculated to impress the rioters with a sufficiently clear sense of the fact that they were to be opposed by arms. Any similar trouble occurring in Philadelphia, a thing possible, while not at the moment probable, would develop itself upon so much larger a scale that the local troops now available might prove in- adequate. As a measure of wise precaution. then, apart from other and im- portant reasons, a proper increase of our militia should be encouraged.
The incident did not elose withont an illustration of the rig- orous discipline that at that time followed the delinquent. A general order from regimental headquarters published the names of nine men, " the only members " of the command who failed to respond to the call that summoned the regiment to its riot duty at Susquehanna or "place upon record satisfactory reasons account- ing for their inability to do so." They were consequently ad- judged " unworthy of being borne upon the rolls of this command and of membership in the National Guard of this Commonwealth," and were therefore " discharged as prescribed by laws govern- ing the National Guard of the State of Pennsylvania."
186
IS74
HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
The records that survive for the year 1874 supply no evidence of commemorative parades in recognition either of the 22d of February, the 4th of July, or the regimental anniversary. Wash- ington's Birthday fell upon a Sunday, and at the invitation of its reetor, Rev. Thomas A. Jagger, the chaplain, the regiment at- tended divine service at the Church of the Holy Trinity. Itis very effective sermon on that occasion was afterward printed by anthority of the Board of Officers. A general order directed the resumption of the regular drills after the summer suspension, and also named Monday afternoon, September 7, at half-past two o'clock, for a parade and battalion drill in fatigue uniform, the field and staff dismounted, at Ridley Park, the regiment to pro- ceed thither by rail.
On the afternoon of October 5 there was a parade, review and inspection of the second brigade of the division by Governor Hart- ranft. The Evening Bulletin of the day following makes this comment on the presence and appearance of the First Regiment on that occasion: " The First Regiment, which has no superior in the country in the proficiency of drill or the fine morale of the command, made a display which delighted the speetators and which added fresh laurels to the corps, which has already won such high distinction in holiday parade and in the sterner duties of actual service."
On November 17, 1874, there was a parade of the entire first division in commemoration of the eentenary of the First Troop, Philadelphia City Cavalry. From various sources the officers were highly complimented for the fine appearance the command made on that occasion. The soldiery seemed to have bestirred the community to better attentions. The Board of Officers, moved to aetion by the aid and support of the civil authorities that had contributed so largely " to the effeet of the parade," by resolution tendered their thanks to " His Honor the Mayor and to the officers and men of the police force for their efficient cooperation in keep- ing the streets free from obstructions, thereby enabling us to han- dle the command satisfactorily to itself and the public."
The following is from a newspaper elipping of the day:
THE CENTENNIAL OF THE FIRST TROOP PHILA. CITY.
FIRST INFANTRY, Col. R. Dale Benson .- The Reserves paraded seven com- panies and were accompanied by their excellent hand of 40 pieces and drum corps of 20 pieces. The regiment mustered a total of about 350 men and
187
CENTENNIAL OF FIRST TROOP
1875
paraded in winter uniform-overcoats and knapsacks. The command pre- sented a splendid appearance and were frequently applauded. The marching was good and undoubtedly the First was one of the main features of the display.
And among the rank and file there prevailed a generous dis- position to encourage the progressive tendency then so evidently manifest. Private John H. McDonald, of Company C, was the " originator and principal donor " in presenting to the regiment through his captain, William W. Allen, for and on behalf of Com- pany C, a handsome " silver eup " and "purse of money," the cup to be competed for at target practice under such stipulations as might subsequently be imposed. The cup was described in the report of the committee of the Board of Officers to whom the subject of proper rules for its annual disposition had been re- ferred as one of which a photograph " could give but an imper- fect idea of its beauty and value." The Board in their acknowl- edgment of the gift stated that " the action of Company C in pro- curing and presenting such a prize at a cost of so much time and money was eminently generous and praiseworthy," and deter- mined that the formal presentation should be made at the first opportunity when it might be brought prominently to the atten- tion of the public. The ceremony took place before a large as- semblage at a " Regimental Promenade Concert " at the Academy of Music on the 9th of January, 1875.
An industrial disturbance of some magnitude was again upon the State; this time in the coal regions. The eivil authorities of Luzerne County, the seat of the trouble, had exhausted their pow- ers, lost control of the situation, and the military were once more summoned to restore order and preserve the peace. The dis- turbanee centered about the thriving borough of Hazleton; huge crowds of the striking miners thronged the thoroughfares; several thousand, in by no means an orderly procession, with a number of American flags borne at the right of the column, marched down the main street, shouting, jeering, and threatening. A Catholic priest heroically stepped in front of this unruly mass, and in loud and manly tones demanded that the crowd dis- perse, that no body of men with threats in their speech and riot on their faces should bear aloft the American flag. The flag stood for authority and law and should not be used to coun- tenance riot and disorder. The crowd, cowed by his effect-
18S
1875
HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
tive speech, and awed by his priestly presence, sullenly dis- persed. The adjutant-general of the State the story of his heroic behavior had previously reached Harrisburg -- when on the ground a few days later personally called at his residence and thanked him in the name of the Commonwealth. This was but the beginning; the crowds soon gathered again, open violence fol- lowed, the sheriff was powerless.
How it happened that it fell to the lot of the First Regiment to be again in active service, to suppress a disturbance originating in and wholly contined to the limits of another military division, and with no other troops on duty except the troops of that divi- sion, is best ascertained by quoting from the report of Maj .- Gen. Edwin S. Osborne, commanding the Ninth Division of the Na- tional Guard, in extraets made to follow each other in an orderly sequence that more fully, satisfactorily, and authoritatively define the situation, than any brief resume of the facts could be made to do. Major-General Osborne's report, addressed to the adjutant- general of the State, is to be found in its proper place in the pub- lic documents for the year 1875.
The report opens after the necessary preliminary phrases withi the dispatch from Governor Hartranft that inaugurated the move- ment quoted in full. The dispatch was as follows: "Sheriff Kirkendall telegraphs ine that the disorders continue in his county [Luzerne] and at points so distant from each other that he is unable to maintain the peace by means of the posse comitatus. You will therefore furnish Sheriff Kirkendall such troops as you may deem necessary to enable him to preserve order, protect life and property, and enforce obedience to the laws of the Common- wealth."
It will be observed that these instructions permitted General Osborne to select troops outside of his own division if he deemed it necessary to increase his force. Other than his own command, he evidently considered the addition of the First Regiment an all- sufficient inercase, and in an explanatory paragraph gives not only the reason for his choice, but gives also reason why he explains an act that he did not need to explain neither to the public nor to his superiorz. This is the paragraph :
As you [the adjutant-general] remember. I made an earnest request that in case troops should be ordered to duty and it became my lot to take com-
189
ASSEMBLY ORDER
1875
mand, I should be allowed to select the troops so ordered out. The Governor granting my prayer, I named together with my own troops the First Regiment Infantry, Col. R. Dale Benson commanding. I make mention of this fact here because of some reports I have heard and seen in newspapers censuring the Governor and yourself for not sending other troops to me. Suffice it to say I never undertook a public duty with the reluctance I did on this occasion, and feeling that to do what was required of me and prevent bloodshed could only be done through efficient officers and thoroughly disciplined men, and having had an opportunity on a former occasion to try Colonel Benson and his command, I felt in my hands it would be more serviceable than any other regiment in the State. . . .
This division was at once put under marching orders for Hazleton and you [the adjutant-general] were called upon to furnish the First Regiment of Infantry. . . .
Later in the evening [April 7] the First Regiment Infantry, Colonel Benson commanding, reported. . . .
It is but just for me to say that I found the First Regiment to be all I had anticipated. It is in my judgment, all things considered, the most perfect volunteer military organization in the country. Indeed, there are regiments in the regular service less efficient and not so reliable.
The order for this movement to assemble at once at the armory, Broad and Race Streets, promulgated at 12 o'clock noon on April 7, 1875, promptly executed, the regiment entrained at the North Penn depot, Third and Berks Streets, at five o'clock in the afternoon, fully armed and equipped, with Colonel Benson in command, reaching its Hazleton destination at midnight. De- trained immediately on arrival, the march was through streets, with sullen and turbulent crowds, hurling threats, slurs and imprecations, lining the sidewalks, to Hazle Hall, where the com- mand was quartered for the rest of the night.
The entire region was disturbed, and the day following five companies were detached under Lieut .- Col. J. Ross Clark, and assigned for the protection of collieries in the immediate vicinity ; two (Company A, Captain Washington II. Gilpin, and Company [, Captain Rudolph Klauder) to Jeddo and Drifton; one (Com- pany D, Captain William J. Barr) to Eckley; one (Company B, Captain Thomas J. Dunn ) to Highland; and another (Company H, Captain Albert II. Walters) to Oakdale. Colonel Clark's headquarters were established at Jeddo. The four companies (C, First Lieut. David A. MacCarroll; E, Captain James Muldoon ; F, Captain F. E. Huffington; and G, Captain C. II. Kretsch- mar), all under the immediate command of Major Charles K. Ide, were retained at Hazleton.
190
HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
1875
The story of the four companies held at Hazleton-their stay was uninterrupted-is so well told by the diarist of Company C, in his journal, it is better that it appear as a piece of history as he tells it rather than that its integrity should be disturbed by an abstract :
After [so it reads] drilling on the streets and showing the populace what stuff and discipline there was with us, we established that respect that armed troops generally carry with them.
Although time sometimes hung a little heavy on our hands, it was not the case often, for in a day after we got settled " Regulations " were pub- lished and strictly adhered to, thereby giving us something to look forward to almost every hour, for instance --
"Guard Mount." 9 A. M. and 9 P. M.
" Company Drill," 10 A. M.
" Battalion Drill," 3:30 P. M., and
" Dress Parade," 5:30 P. M.
The evenings were mostly spent in a jolly way, as at the end of the Hall in which we were quartered a stage was erected, and almost every evening some amusement was enacted, and Mess. T. W. Watson, J. J. Keenan and C. F. Kuhn were the men of C Company taking a prominent part.
The 19th of April. 1875. being the anniversary of the Regiment, and as it was also a prominent event in the annals of the country, we concluded to celebrate as well as possible with the means at our command, thinking that it would be a long time, perhaps, when we would be in the same position again. So a program was gotten up, the people of the town invited to attend and a pleasant affair was the consequence. To be in readiness in case of emer- gency, twenty feet of the room was kept clear around the walls where the arms were stacked, back of which the men formed ready at a minute's warn- ing to spring " to arms." On one occasion just after " tattoo " when we were getting our "beds" in order to turn in, and some had already done so, we were startled by the sounding of the " long roll," and we all thought the time had come for some action, and every man got himself down to work. In less time, almost, than it takes to write it, the four companies, of more than 150 men, were formed and the Battalion in readiness in less than "415 minutes." The Colonel then told us it was necessary for him to know in how short a time the Battalion could be in readiness, and that he was fully satisfied with the result.
The detached companies were practically on outpost duty, and so continued to the end. Their duties were onerous, mani- fold and demanded an especial vigilance. All the costly property interests of the colliery-breaker, cars, tracks, pumps, engines. shafts, and what not-were in their special care and keeping. Dynamite was not then in vogue, but other secret methods of de- struction were known, and the incendiary's torch was boldly, openly and defiantly threatened. Guards and patrols were con- sequently required to be ever active and always on the alert.
191
HAZLETON EXPERIENCES
1875
The conduct and carriage of officers and men bad had a ten- deney to weaken demonstration and soften speech. Indeed, their soldierly bearing had created an impression that the troops were of the regular army. A bit of innocent deception had helped to strengthen it. While Company D on its arrival at Eckley was halted awaiting distribution of its details, a sturdy miner from the crowd in a general sort of a way threw out the inquiry, "Are you fellows regulars?" Sergeant Chas. H. Coxe, catching the opportunity and ready with response-his red chevron on his sleeve indicated his services in war-volunteered the reply, " Cer- tainly." But the miner, apparently not altogether satisfied with this categorical answer, pressed his inquiry further : "And where were you last stationed ? " said he. Coxe was still the more ready, and in his reply gave it that flavor of dignity and importance which distance lends to service: "At Fort Vancouver Barracks, Washington Territory," came the quick response.
There were some not yet regulars, and who never hoped or desired to be, but earnestly aspired to do their best. The relation of this incident to one long since retired, afterward a commis- sioned officer, then a young recruit for the first time on active field duty, vividly recalled a happening that fell to his lot on this same occasion. The officer of the guard played on him the well-worn ruse of requesting his piece for the moment while he was on his post, for an innocent and very proper purpose, and then after he had given it up returned it, severely rebuk- ing the indiscretion. This officer visited the post of this then young recruit about an hour after midnight; the challenge, the halt, the advance, all in the precise formula of the regulations, were given with a confidence and assurance clearly indicating the sentry's intimate acquaintance with his highly responsible duties. Completely unmanned, however, by the profuse compli- ments this exhibition of proficiency elicited, to the officer's re- quest that he pass over his gun that he might see whether it was loaded he incontinently vielded, and the relator has never for- gotten how the officer's profusive speech of commendation changed to stern reproof. And he still remembers how intense was the " Don't let it occur again!" with which the incident closed.
Timoney's, over the " Mountain," was a place where the vilest of liquors were sold. It was a disreputable hostelry. some- thing of a menace to discipline, and to frequent it was forbidden.
1575
192
HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
As prohibition does not always prohibit, so the effort to enforce it on this occasion was not conclusive. Breaking away for a visit to this forbidden ground, the soldier-it was always the good fellow-subsequently apprehended was punished with a double tour of guard duty. This lot had more than once fallen upon one of the best of nien. He was a man of somewhat a conspicu- ous figure, fat, chubby, and cheery, and once seen was always re- membered. His beat happened to be in full view of a shanty occupied by an Irishman with a close-observing keen-witted wife. The frequency with which she had seen this soldier upon his beat rather induced her to believe that he was bearing more than his share of the burden. The soldier, who overheard the refrain of her speech, in which she proclaimed this conviction, said he could bear his punishment with a better grace than he could what the woman said about him, despite its sympathetic strain. This was the refrain: " It's a great shame," said the woman, " bedad, to keep that little fat man walking up and down all day long while the other men do nothing at all, at all ! "
A defiant, heavily leaded, display type poster appeared about this time throughout the region, conspicuously posted, notably in bar-rooms, announcing that there was a big giant, a veritable Goliath among the Philistines, ready to settle the question of prowess between these minions of the law and the insurgent dis- ciples of disorder; not indeed in the old way of the ancients, but in the more modern methods prescribed by the Queensberry rule. The poster speaks for itself.
A CARD!
I, Dominick MeGlynn, hereby challenge any member of the First Regi- ment. P. S. N. G .. now stationed here, to fight me a fair stand-up fight, in a twenty-four-foot-ring. according to the rules of the London prize ring. for the sum of fifty dollars ($50) or I will fight any of them, barring an Irishman, for one hundred dollars. Time and place to be fixed hereafter. Any party wishing to accept this challenge can meet me either in person or by proxy at Neal McMonigle's saloon, Wyoming St .. north of Broad, to make arrangements for the mill.
DOMINICK MCGLYNN. Hazleton, Pa.
The proposed combat had too much of a commercial flavor about it for the acceptance of a David, had there been one ready to respond.
193
OFFICIAL REPORTS
1875
The weather was unseasonable; there was no spring in it yet. The nights were dark, gloomy, and forbidding. The sound of the approaching relief, the coming of the patrol, the visit of the Grand Rounds, were cheery breaks in the midnight solitude of the sen- try's lonely vigil. Occasional shots rang out through the night, which brought the guards to arms, and on one occasion a heavier firing prompted a hurried march in the direction from whence it came. All, however, proved inventions of the disaffected to dis- turb and annoy. No hostile intent behind them was anywhere developed. Colonel Benson was assiduous in his visitations to his outlying companies. He kept in close touch with his entire command at all times. "Turn out the guard, the colonel com- manding," notwithstanding the necessary hurry and scurry for belts, boxes and accoutrements, had always a prompt and cheer- ful response. The whole command was usually in line as quickly as the guard.
The following extract from the official report of Colonel Ben- son supplies an interesting and comprehensive statement of how well and faithfully the responsibilities incident to the situation were met by these companies at the outpost :
I constantly visited all the posts under my command, and although the patrol, outpost, and guard duty was a severe test upon the discipline of the Regiment, owing to the intense 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.
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