USA > Pennsylvania > History of the First regiment infantry, National guard of Pennsylvania (Grey Reserves) 1861-1911, pt 1 > Part 21
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As the situation warranted, and the peace of the section under my com- mand, through the force of military authority, began to be restored, I or- dered the duties at the several posts lightened, with the authority of the Major-General commanding, and finally, toward the close of our tour of duty, mere sentinel duty was observed, the presence of the military seeming sulli- cient to maintain the peace.
And the following extracts from the official report of Lieu- tenant-Colonel Clark, in direct command of the outposts, " of the operations of the Second Battalion, composed of Companies A, B, D, H, and I," are more specific :
In obedience to instructions contained in Circular dated April 8, 1875, the command proceeded by rail to Jeddo, arriving there at 11:30 A. M. I at once detailed D & H Cos., and sent them to Eckley, under command of Capt. Walters, and B Co., Capt. Dunn, commanding, to Highland, reserving A & I Cos. at Jeddo.
Finding later on in the day that Oakdale Colliery was in a disturbed condition, I withdrew H Co. from Eckley, and with a detachment of ten men
13
194
1875
HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
from A Co., ordered them to that place. . . . As my information in regard to the then condition of affairs in the district had to be gained after arrival there, and as it was limited entirely to one source, viz .: the operators or superintendents of collieries, it was based upon opinions which were perhaps not free from the bias which personal interest or undue excitement is likely to produce. This I discovered later-but from some such information I was induced to believe that the force at Eckley was sufficient for the purposes intended, and as my reserve at Jeddo was as small as I thought my instruc- tions would permit, I telegraphed for an additional company to be sent there. . . . Instructions to commandants of posts were issued, directing them to preserve the peace and protect property, using discretion and good judgment in the means which were carefully and faithfully carried out by each. Patrols were sent out, streets and roads cleared of men, guards mounted at breakers, engine houses, and quarters, and a strict military surveillance had of all the section. During the first night a few shots were fired at parties prowling about suspected places, who would not answer challenge, and this vigilance and determination at first, was of ultimate benefit, since all dis- turbers of the peace were made aware that the movement was in earnest, and their lives in certain danger.
There were no changes made in the relative positions of the troops dur- ing my stay in the district, and as the influence of these representatives of the State's authority became more marked, the duties of the men were re- laxed, until at last their presence merely was all that was needed to insure quietness and order.
The detached companies had not the opportunities for demon- stration such as had those quartered in the borough, yet they did not permit the 19th of April to pass, this fourteenth anniversary day, to go by, without some suitable recognition. A parade was out of the question, a formal dinner impossible, so with an improvised menu, a deal table, clothless, the furniture as primitive as was the table, with the talks of present experiences, rather than of reminiscent selection, the affair was long remembered as a bright episode in the Hazleton campaign of 1875.
The weather was surcharged with April vagaries throughout the entire period of this tour of duty. Slush, snow, and mud hindered and hampered but did not stop drills, guard mounts, parades, and inspection. Snow fell during some part of the day or night on seventeen out of the twenty-one days covered by the service.
On the 26th of April, under the direet superintendenee of Colonel Benson, the posts at Eckley and Jeddo were relieved by detachments from the Ninth Regiment under the command of Captain Pierce of that regiment. Military occupaney of the others was abandoned, and at two o'clock on that day the com-
195
REGIMENT RELIEVED
1875
panics returned to their Hazleton rendezvous and the entire regi- ment was again assembled at Ilazle Hall. On the twenty-seventh, relieved by a special order from General Osborne, the regiment entrained at nine o'clock, and by special train over the North Penn and Lehigh Valley reached the Berks Street depot at two. From there, after a reception by a special committee improvised from honorary and active members, a street parade, a review by the Mayor and Councils, an enthusiastic demonstration as the column passed the Union League, a brief but felicitous address from Colonel Benson at the regimental armory, the companies proceeded to their respective armories and were then discharged from further service. General Osborne's order relieving the regi- ment concludes with the following paragraph :
The Major-General desires to express his thanks and congratulations to Col. R. Dale Benson, and through him to the officers and men of his eom- mand, for the promptness and alacrity with which they have performed the duties assigned to them while serving in this Division, and to express the hope that the peace-loving and law-abiding citizens of the Commonwealth may duly appreciate the sacrifice they have made, for the honor and good name of the State.
The regiment was growing in public favor, the appreciative spectator was in constant evidence, whether the occasion was of full-dress or fatigue. This was conspicuously manifested on the evening of June 14, 1875, when the command was summoned in general orders in fatigue uniform for instruction in the " School of the Battalion " at the Rink Building, 2305 Chestnut Street. It was in no way out of the ordinary, designed solely for instrue- tion and not for display, yet the building, with galleries well adapted for the accommodation of a large audience, was crowded beyond its capacity by an intelligent and observing gathering, Inany of whom were ladies. The manœuvres, the men stimulated by the presence of so goodly a company, were executed with a care, precision, and snap that elicited much applause.
But the more substantial proof of a ripening growth of popu- lar appreciation was supplied when the merchants and business men of the city selected the First Regiment at their invitation and at their expense as one of the organizations to represent the military of Philadelphia at the centenary of the Battle of Bunker HIill, to be celebrated with ceremonies commensurate with its
1875
196
HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
historie importance in the city of Boston on June 17, 1875. The invitation-or the request rather, for such it really was-willingly accepted, the regiment set about in the brief interval permitted for preparatory effort to stiffen up for, in a measure, their compet- itive meeting with military organizations from other States of high repute for proficiency, who were likewise to participate.
Through the efficiency and experience of Major Charles K. Ide in railway management a well-adapted prearranged schedule was faithfully carried out. There was neither interruption nor interval in any of its details. The regiment left Philadelphia at 12.30 p. M. on Wednesday, June 16, and arrived at Boston by the Stonington route at six o'clock on the morning of the seven- teenth, and, returning by the same route, left Boston at five o'clock on the afternoon of the eighteenth and completed its return a little after noon on the nineteenth. While in Boston the com- mand, quartered at Continental Hall, was the guest of the First Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, Col. Henry W. Wil- son commanding.
There is a widespread prevalent inquiry for original war- time manuscripts. Magazines and periodicals willing to make liberal compensations are in constant search for correspondence and diaries of that epoch-making period of such signal and lasting importance in our country's history. Told in familiar phrase, the story of first impression has a flavor of reliability. Authen- ticity is often disturbed by a change of garb, the truth is not in- frequently marred by too florid speech. Fortunate as this text has been in the goodly supply of such material from which it has already been permitted to draw, a further contribution still awaits it. The oft-referred-to journal of Company C, passing from the hands of First Sergeant David A. MaeCarroll upon his promo- tion, as it did, to those of First Sergeant W. S. Poulterer, and continued by him after his advancement, up to and including the Centennial year, contains the following readable, thorough, and first-impression story of the regimeut's participation in the Bunker Hill centenary :
" We came! We saw! We conquered! " were the words of the great- est general of ancient times, and well may they be applied to one who, although not a general, is-Colonel R. Dale Benson. Embarking via Penn-
197
BUNKER HILL CENTENARY
18:3
sylvania Railroad at 1 P. M. we reached New York about 1:30 P. M., where we boarded the Narragansett, one of the famous Stonington line of steamers on Long Island Sound. If we had previously requested the " Clerk of the Weather " to have a pleasant night reserved for us for the trip "down the Sound," we could not have had one more pleasant and suitable-a perfectly cloudless night, with a bright full moon. Glorious !! A guard was estab- lished on the boat under command of Lieutenant Poulterer. Arrived at Ston- ington about 1:30 A. M., where we took the cars for Boston via Providence, reaching Boston at 6 A. M. and marched direct to "Continental Hall," it being the quarters of the regiment during its stay. At 7:30 A. M. breakfast was served, the service of a caterer having been secured to " feed " us while there. As orders had been published that the column of troops would form at 9 A. M., we were again in line and on parade at that time, but as the Massachusetts State Troops were to be inspected that day, we were held in line until 11:30 A. M., when the column moved-and what a column it was! There were troops from all over the country-North, South, East, and West, all represented. Our position in line was that immediately in rear of the Seventh New York, and many and hearty were the compliments paid us all along the route, such as " they must be regulars," "the best yet," and "that beats the Seventh," etc., etc. The city was magnificently draped with bunt- ing and flags. The command paraded as ten (10) companies, the tenth com- pany being composed of details from C and E and officered by Lieutenants Crane (E) and Poulterer (C). After parading all over Boston, we marched over into "Charlestown," and then up "Bunker Hill," where the columns of parade were dismissed. A short rest was here made, when the line of march was again taken up, for quarters, being escorted there by the "First Massachusetts," reaching Continental Hall about 6:30 P. M. pretty well tired. However, supper, or rather dinner, refreshed us somewhat and the members scattered around town to sce the sights; but as a general thing we were all glad to " turn in " at an early hour.
The morning of the eighteenth opened rainy, which continued most all day and made sight-seeing rather unpleasant. At 5 o'clock P. M. we again formed line; this time, under escort of First Massachusetts National Guard, we marched to the depot, homeward bound. We arrived at Stonington about midnight, where we again boarded the Narragansett, but the ride on the Sound was not so pleasant as on the night of the sixteenth. The weather was feggy and the water rough, and before morning many of the men had been " feeding the fishes." Arrived in New York about 8 A. M. Marched direct to the ferry and proceeded to Jersey City, where we breakfasted at Taylor's Hotel, entered the cars of Pennsylvania Railroad about 11 A. M., arriving at West Philadelphia depot about 1 P. M. Marching down Chestmit to Third and tendering a " marching salute " to the " Commercial Exchange," who were instrumental in raising the funds to defray the expense of the trip. Reaching the armory about 4 o'clock p. M. well satisfied that we had represented Philadelphia, and at least maintained our previous reputation and gained new laurels. Thus ended the great trip to "Bunker Hill." the beginning of "Centennials," for they fellowed thick and fast afterward. There we met, beside the Seventh New York, the renowned Fifth Maryland, "Norfolk Artillery," the "Charleston Light Infantry." "Old Guard of New York," and the "First Light Infantry" of Providence, R. I., all of which are crack organizations of their respective cities.
1873
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HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
The regimental badge as now worn, upon its presentation, as manufactured by the firm of Robbins, Clark & Biddle, through the report of a conunittec to whom the matter had been referred, was formally adopted at the meeting of the Board of Officers November 11, 1875. The motto, yet to be determined, was left with another committee-Colonel Benson, Captain Allen, and Lieutenant Poulterer-who were instructed to report at the next meeting of the Board. At that meeting, December 9, 1875, the reports of committees not having been yet reached in the regular order of business, or by agreement and understanding with the committee, on motion of Major Ide, by a vote of 12 ayes to 3 noes, " the word 'Paratus,' signifying 'ready,' was adopted as the motto of the regiment." A circular from regimental headquar- ters of December 13, 1875, announced its adoption, prescribed the cost, how and where it was to be purchased, fixed a six-months' requirement of " creditable service " before the soldier should be entitled to wear it, and announced also its adoption by the Veteran Corps with the addition of the letter " V " aeross its face. Now in its thirty-sixth year ehaste, ornate, suggestive, comprehensive, recognized as a treasure, reverenced as is the standard, there is no likelihood that its design will ever be disturbed.
A number of interesting incidents followed before the Centen- nial events overshadowed all else. A disappointing Fourth of July parade and review on Monday, the 5th, at Belmont, Fair- mount Park, with ranks thinned by the heat (thermometer said to be about 1123), promised to be over by nine o'clock. but pro- longed until noon, was one. Another was a full-dress uniform parade for inspection by the adjutant-general of the State on Oc- tober 1S. And still another, for review by the Governor of the State, on November 25-a day regularly observed, principally in New York, as the anniversary of the evacuation of that eity by the British troops after their several years of oceupaney during the Revolutionary War. Here on this occasion it fell upon a Thanksgiving Day, and though neither event may have had aught to do with the selection of the day for the review, it so happened . to be well adapted for the display, and as it was a holiday. re- sulted in a parade of unusual strength.
199
EXTRACT FROM " SUNDAY REPUBLIC"
1875
From the Sunday Republic, November 28, 1875:
FIRST REGIMENT .- Colonel I. Dale Benson. This command paraded as ten companies, in full winter uniform, accompanied by the regimental band and drum corps of 70 pieces. The regiment had in line a total of about 450, and the marching, etc., of the command was most flattering. As this splendidly equipped and disciplined organization swept by the reviewing offi- cer, its personnel never appeared to better advantage. The overcoats and knapsaeks gave the several companies a solid and decidedly martial appear- anee.
The following is the field return of the regiment on Thanksgiving Day, 25th inst .:
Officers
Men
Aggregate
Field and staff
5
12
Company A
40
40
Company B
2
61
63
Company C
45
47
Company D
1
58
59
Company E
2
55
57
Company F
3
40
43
Company G
1
33
34
Company H
2
28
30
Company I
1
31
32
21
396
417
Band
40
Grand Total
457
.
The marehing of the First Regiment on Broad Street was perfect.
And again on a hurried call two days afterward, Saturday, November 27, the regiment, with the entire First Division of the National Guard, detachments from the regular army and marine corps, and the Fifth Maryland regiment, participated in the obsequies, making up the funeral escort, as the remains of the Hon. Henry W. Wilson, Vice-President of the United States, passed through the city on their way to the place of interment in Massachusetts. And as a conclusion of these pre-Centennial inci- dents there was the participation in the ceremonies attending the second inaugural of Governor John F. Hartranft, at Harrisburg, January 17, 1876, with its usual attendant of inclement weather. Nevertheless it seems that it did not suppress the prevalent spirit of temperaments apparently suited to all conditions. A note of the conclusion of the journey reads thus :
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1876
HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
At four o'clock the assembly beat and the column moved depotwards, and home once again our aim. Here, however, a delay occurred, and the start was not made until six o'clock. As the men were pretty well tired, the ride home was a comparatively quiet one until about midnight, when, the rest- Jess spirits being a little refreshed, all were compelled to "wake up" or suffer the penalty of "burnt eork."
On this occasion Company K, organized in December of 1875, with Captain C. I. Wickersham in command, made its first appearance with the regiment and was accorded the honor of an escort to its position in line, with Companies B and E specially designated for the duty.
Early in the year (1875), confronted by the problem as to how to best finance the schemes conjectured for the proper cele- bration of the nation's approaching centenary, in which the mili- tary must necessarily prominently figure, the Board of Officers appointed a committee, with a view to its solution. The com- mittee reported, recommending meanwhile retrenchment and economy in expenditures, the avoidance of all entertainments, excursions, displays, necessarily attended with expense, that might be reasonably dispensed with, and the creation in each company of a fund, to be known as a "Company Centennial Fund," in amounts proportioned $1,000 to each company, making an aggre- gate of $10,000, that amount being estimated as a minimum of the necessarily attendant Centennial expenses. The fund to be kept separate and apart from the general eurrent expense account, its principal to be applied to Centennial expenditures only.
This was followed by a circular from Colonel Benson, ad- dressed to the officers and men, ealling attention to the fact that the corps, as one of the representative organizations of the Na- tional Guard of the State and of American soldiery, would be placed in review before military crities of this and other nations. In its duty to maintain, and to exeel, if possible. its recognized reputation, he urged constant attention to weekly drills, watch- fulness as to the eleanliness and completeness of arms, uniform and equipment, and a cheerful submission to that military disci- pline so essential to assure that measure of excellence every sol- dier should seek to attain. There was a manifest need for an inerease in the strength of the rank and file. He urged its recruit- ment, to the extent at least of twenty-five new members to each company, with the cantion that the reeruit should be from a elass
201
CHANGES IN PERSONNEL
that would not impair the standard for efficiency or disturb the character of the personnel which had heretotore been so successfully maintained. He specially designated the particular events in view in the coming celebration likely to call for a larger surren- der of the time of the soldier than had previously been demanded, and plainly demonstrated that, as they were all more or less of a holiday character to be observed by the whole people, the sol- dier would not be called upon to surrender any more of his time than would any public-spirited private citizen be expected to give of his.
There were numerons changes, notably in the command of the division and brigades. Maj .- Gen. Charles M. Prevost re- signed April 19, 1875, and Maj .- Gen. John P. Bankson was, on August 30, 1875, appointed to succeed him, Brig .- Gen. Louis Wagner, as the ranking brigadier, having held command in the interval until his resignation, August 25, 1875. General Bank- son died December 27, 1876, and Maj .- Gen. Robert M. Brinton, promoted from his brigadier-generaley, was appointed to succeed him. General Brinton retained command until May 24, 1878, when he resigned.
Brig .- Gen. Henry P. Muirheid was appointed to the First Bri- gade, to which the First Regiment was attaclicd, November 5, 1875. He died April 28, 1876, and was succeeded, until his pro- motion, by Brig .- Gen. Robert M. Brinton. The appointment of Brig .- Gen. E. Wallace Matthews followed, June 1, 1877, of spe- cial interest to the First Regiment, as he named for his major and assistant adjutant-general William W. Allen, so long faitlı- ful, efficient, energetic, from the very beginning in the ranks, April 19, 1861, to the end in the captaincy of its ever-continuous, well-appointed, and highily reputed Company C, until he resigned, November 18, 1876, making fifteen years and six months, with interruptions, scarce appreciable, of service in the line. Major Allen retained his staff position until he resigned with his chief, December 20, 1877.
The following entry, made coincident with the resignation of Captain Allen, is taken from the journal of Company C:
Captain William W. Allen having tendered his resignation on November 18th, 1876, the following is a copy of the approval as forwarded by the
202
IHISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
1876
Colonel Commanding to " Headquarters of the National Guard " and which fully expressed the sentiments entertained by the members of the ("C") Company.
Respectfully forwarded.
approved.
Cognizant of the ground- upon which this officer withdraws from the Na- tional Guard service, he having remained in commission during the " Cen- tennial year " at the urgent solicitation of the undersigned, the approval is reluctantly affixed.
Captain Allen's faithful and honorable record as a soldier, his dignified bearing, wisdom in council, high standing as a citizen, tend to make his loss felt in this Regiment.
The National Guard service can ill afford to lose officers who bring honor to the Commonwealth through the commissions she confers.
(Signed ) R. DALE BENSON, Col. Ist Infantry.
The Company naturally feels the loss of an officer and a gentleman of the character and standing of Captain Allen, together with his long associa- tion and strong friendship among its members. His loss, however, is only reparable, because the next in command, Ist Lieut. D. A. MacCarroll, is thor- oughly capable to assume the responsibility, and who has the entire support of the members of the Company.
The retirement of Captain Allen naturally makes "C" Company the junior company of the Regiment, and under the circumstances of the pro- vision of the "Tactics " the " Colors " that for more than thirteen (13) years have been carried by "C" (they having been placed with us while in active service, in camp near Hagerstown, June 20, 1863) revert to "B " Company, Captain T. J. Dunn commanding.
The brigade commanders of the Second Brigade were Brig .- Gen. Russell Thayer, November 8, 1875, to May 27, 1877; and Brig .- Gen. Edw. D. C. Loud, June 15, 1877, to May 24, 1878.
An interesting ineident is associated with the appointment of General Thayer. Governor Hartranft, during his first term as governor, visited the West Point Academy as a guest of Gen. Emory Upton, then Commandant of Cadets. Thayer was at the time a first classman and a cadet captain. Hartranft happened to have him in view on one occasion as he marched the battalion from the parade-ground to the mess-hall. He gave his commands with such a vim, zest and action that the Governor was prompted to inquire who he was and whence he came. When told he was Cadet Captain Russell Thayer, of Philadelphia, a son of the eminent jurist, the Hon. M. Russell Thayer, he ventured the pre- dietion that if, after his graduation, Thayer should be of a notion
203
CHANGES IN PERSONNEL
to resign from the army and locate in his native city, he would bo made a brigadier-general of the National Guard if he was still in office as Governor of Pennsylvania. Within a couple of years Thayer resigned, returned to Philadelphia, and Hartranft was enabled to fulfil his own prediction, which he did.
There were many changes in the staff and line in the regi- ment. Stephen K. Philbin resigned as first lientenant and quarter- master, and on August 14, 1875, Albert Haverstick was appointed to succeed him. L. K. Tappey, Jr., was appointed quartermaster viec Haverstick, promoted. Caspar HI. Duhring resigned as com- missary July 19, 1876, and on August 1, 1876, Henry L. Elder was named as his successor. Captain Thos. E. Huffington was made captain of Company F, May 31, 1875. Captain Theo. E. Wie- dersheim was elected captain of Company D, February 7, 1876, to succeed Captain William J. Barr, who had resigned August 28, 1875. Captain Isidor Cromlein was elected captain of Com- pany K on May 22, 1576, vice Captain C. I. Wickersham, re- signed, March 13, 1876. Captain David A. MacCarroll was elected captain of Company C, December 30, 1876, vice Captain William W. Allen, resigned.
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