USA > Pennsylvania > History of the First regiment infantry, National guard of Pennsylvania (Grey Reserves) 1861-1911, pt 1 > Part 36
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Of this 46,254 grand total, 7527 were of the Pennsylvania division; 2449 of the First Brigade, and 560, inclusive of 34 officers, of the First Regiment.
The special correspondent of the Philadelphia Inquirer in his story to his paper appearing in its issue of May 1, 1889, among other things, said :
Pennsylvania scored another success to-day in the display of strength and soldierly bearing of her militia, but at the same time the fact was for- cibly impressed on Governor Beaver and the other State officers that the agitation for a State dress uniform is not only well timed but a matter that demands immediate attention.
" Now we will show the President some militia that could start for war to-night without having to first go home to change their clothes," ex- claimed Legislator John H. Fow to his colleagues on the reviewing stand this afternoon as the phalanx of blue-coated troops from Pennsylvania came in sight marching up Fifth Avenue, in striking contrast with the show and feathers and fancy dress uniforms from other States. . . .
Attention was more closely directed to the parade as it was passing through the section of Fifth Avenue embraced between Twenty-third and Twenty-fifth Streets. It was in this block that the President stood review- ing the troops. Before going under the triumphal arch at Twenty-third Street, in order to get a good line for the review, it was necessary to make a slight wheel, or order a right oblique movement. to make up for the curve in the street. .
A mounted color-bearer rode ahead of the commands from each Com- monwealth, which passed in the order of their adoption of the United States Constitution, and carried a blue silk flag on which was the name of the State following in letters of gold. It was evident from the applause which broke out, as soon as the crowds caught a glimpse of him. that Governor Beaver needed no such introduction. It was one continuous shout all along the line, and college eries and campaign yells, where parties of congenial spirits were gathered, made the Governor doff his hat till his arm grew tired. Ile was particularly warinly greeted as he saluted President Harri- son. . . .
The boys of the First carried off the palm for fine marching. They
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received an ovation. Company B, Captain William Ewing, was loudly cheered in passing the President, as were also A Company, Captain L. C. Hall, Jr., of the Third Regiment, the State Fencibles and the Gray Invin- cibles. . . .
Our correspondent, with sufficient of the passing comment at his command, shows that the serviee uniform was still well cham- pioned in high places :
PENNSYLVANIA AND OIIIO
There has been some adverse criticism by members of the Legislature of the appearance of Pennsylvania's troops in comparison with the dress uniformed men from other States. General Hartranft, when his attention was called to the matter to-night, said the militia looked as well as they ever did in heavy marching uniform.
" There was not a regiment in the line that marched better than the First, of Pennsylvania," he said with emphasis.
Governor Foraker, who was standing near by, spoke of the Ohio troops, who also appeared in heavy marching equipments. "I like to see the Na- tional Guard turn out like the men from Pennsylvania," said he, " for their appearance means business. That is what our militia is intended for. Did you notice our battery from Ohio? We had a greater number of first-class guns than the regular army had in line. Every one was of the late-t pat- tern, and I tell you they mean business, too. That is what we want."
The Artillery Corps of Washington Grays, now Company G of the First Regiment, had some time previously on a visit to Richmond, Va., been the guests of the Richmond Light Infantry Blues. Both commands were to meet in New York, and in recog- nition of the courtesies then extended the Grays took this oppor- tunity to present to the Blues a stand of handsome silk national colors. The formal presentation took place at the quarters of the Virginia soldiers in New York. The committee representing the Grays were Col. P. C. Ellmaker, Major John F. Smith, Captain A. L. Williams. Lieutenants G. K. Morehead and Josiah Torr.
This expedition was accompanied by official comment quite favorable as to the bearing and conduct of the division, from the report of Adjutant-General Hastings, as follows :
On the 30th of April last the division was also paraded in the city of New York. participating in the centennial celebration of the inauguration of President Washington, the men appearing in heavy marching order. While the division attracted much attention and evoked commendation from military critics on account of its solidity and plain. businesslike appear- ance, yet there was a marked difference between the uniform worn by the Pennsylvania Guard and the full-dress uniform worn by most of the other
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troops participating in the parade, and made apparent again the necessity of a full-dress uniform.
The State was put to no expen-e in making the movement to and from New York, except the 812,000 which were appointed by a special act of the Legislature, approved May 3, 1889, which amount was disbursed in accordance with the provisions of the act.
From the annual report of Brigadier-General Snowden for the current year :
With an aggregate force of 2338, the brigade assisted, on the 30th of April last, in the centennial celebration of the inauguration of President Washington, at New York, in perhaps the largest body of citizen soldiers ever assembled in this country, and for the last time served in public under the command of the late Major-General Hartranft. While the occasion amply exhibited the solidity and massiveness of the division as a whole, yet it also again demonstrated the propriety of a new dress uniform. While the men appeared to great advantage as soldiers ready and fully equipped for active service, for an occasion of ceremony, when there were troops from various States more brightly clothed, they looked dull and unfitly clad.
The year 1889 was the year for the regimental encampment. That its first colonel might still know something of his old regi- ment's appreciation of him and of its recollection of his distin- guished services, while he yet survived in his honored old age, it was officially announced that the encampment would be known as " Camp Peter C. Ellmaker." The location, Green Hill, on the Frazier branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad, a little over two miles from West Chester, was a site well selected. Its rail facili- ties were excellent, its surroundings picturesque, its sanitary ad- vantages unusual, its water-supply abundant. There were 270 acres, including the camp site, at the disposal of the regiment, through the generous permission of the owners, without charge. A gentle swale and a sloping hillside afforded opportunity for range and practice with safety at 100, 200, and 500 yards. The residences thereabouts were the finest; some " ancient as the hills " and as stable, others of more modern mould; and the farms were of the best in this, a region of high repute everywhere for men and women of social prominence, and for finest field and farm, rare in beauty and rich in opportunity. All the countryside wel- comed the soldier. visiting his camp continuously, frequently by the thousands. The soldiers, too, were all propriety, gracious for the greeting, considerate in their attentions, and manly in their deportment. They thius secured a rating with these very good
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HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
people for behavior and decorum as high as they did-and that was the highest-with the inspecting officers for drill, discipline, and efficiency.
Gen. Henry R. Guss, the distinguished colonel of the Ninety- seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, a resident of West Chester and citizen of high repute, manifesting much interest in the camp, and critically noting its drill and discipline, was a daily visitor. After the camp had broken, that its memories might the better be preserved, the general had the conspicuous and impressive flag- pole that stood upon the parade-ground taken down and conveyed to the residence of Colonel Bowman at Merion. There it was re- erected on the lawn, and there it still remains.
The persuasive speech of the visiting journalist, the corre- spondent of the Philadelphia Inquirer, thus graphically supplies a couple of paragraphs that artistically condense much of what the whole brought forth :
Never before has the crack regiment of the N. G. P. shown to such advantage. Their long lines of snowy tents stretching in beautifully laid- out company streets down the gentle declivity of the grassy knoll, stand out in charming relief against the dark green patch of woodland which crowns the erest of the hill and casts its grateful shade upon the colonel's headquarters. Standing in front of Colonel Bowman's tent the eye can catch a view of as charming a stretch of country as any in the State.
Far away on the western horizon the pale blue outlines of the Welsh Mountains hang like a curtain of mist. To the southwest the graceful Brandywine hills rear their verdant tops above the surrounding hills, which barely cut off the view of Chester County's handsome little capital. To the east the Goshen hills stand holdly out on the horizon like grim senti- nels of the fair Chester valley, which spreads out as far as the eye can reach. a panorama of beauty, directly to the north. A better place for a camp could hardly have been selected, and five thousand visitors yesterday ratified Colonel Bowman's choice.
The encampinent covered the period from Saturday, August 3, to Saturday, August 10, and with a full complement of officers and an aggregate, including the enlisted men, of 571, with Colonel Bowman in command, the regiment left the armory at eight o'clock on the morning of the third, reaching the camping ground before noon. The usual detail for construction, under Lieu- tenant-Colonel Huffington, had preceded it, and the camp was ready for occupancy upon its arrival. The hours for roll-calls. reveille, retreat, taps, police, and meals, drills, etc., were all as
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TIIE FIRST'S ROSTER
1959
usual. There was little varianee from the ordinary routine. De- tails for outpost duty, as they had been for several previous years, were added for practical instruction as an all essential to the de- mands of the new regime.
The following list is from the Philadelphia Inquirer of August 5, 1SS0 :
THE FIRST'S ROSTER.
All the officers of the regiment are on duty except Quartermaster- Sergeant Bingham, of the non-commissioned staff. Sergeant R. M. Lever- ing, of A Company, has been detailed to duty in his place. Following is the full list of officers on duty:
Colonel, Wendell P. Bowman; lieutenant-colonel, Thomas E. Huffington; major, J. Lewis Good; adjutant. Pearson S. Conrad; quartermaster, Fred- erick P. Koons; major and surgeon, J. Wilkes O'Neill; chaplain. Rev. Dr. Isaac L. Nicbolson; assistant surgeons, A. Dupont Smith, Edward Martin; paymaster, Franklin Swayne; inspector of rifle practice, George W. Couls- ton; sergeant-major. Samuel N. Ware; hospital steward, Charles Ouram; commissary-sergeant, Lewis F. Smiley; drum-major, William T. Baker; band- master, S. H. Kendle.
Captains: Company A, Kirk W. Magill; Company B, Wm. Ewing; Company C, Milton W. Orme; Company D. H. O. Hastings; Company E. James Muldoon; Company F. George Eiler, Jr .; Company G. Albert L. Williams; Company H, Clarence T. Kensil; Company I, T. H. P. Todd; Company K, Alex. J. Diamond, Jr.
First Lieutenants: Company A, Charles E. Rogers; Company B, William Cairns; Company C, R. G. Stinson ; Company D, Henry J. Crump; Company E, Thomas Early; Company F, William Brod; Company G, G. K. More- head; Company H, William J. Moore; Company I, R. F. Simpson; Company K, Frank M. Earle.
Second Lieutenants: Company \, William M. Bonsall; Company B, William S. Allen; Company C, William P. Homer; Company D, Artemas W. Deane; Company E, C. Frank Crane; Company F. Thomas E. Heath; Company G, F. A. Von Moschzisker; Company H. Eugene J. Kensil; Com- pany I, A. J. Fillo; Company K, George D. Street.
Lieutenant Robert G. Stinson, of Company C, was appointed guard instructor and directed to make such regulations for theo- retieal and practical instruction as he might deem necessary.
Sergeant H. J. Mehard, Company C. and John B. Maull. Company E, were directed to report to Lieutenant George W. Coulston for duty in his department during the tour of the en- campment.
The other regiments of the First Brigade were all eneamped in the vicinity of Philadelphia during the same week with the First: the Second and Gray Invincibles at Clifton, the Sixth at
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Locustwood, the Third at Fort Mifflin, the State Feneibles Bat- talion at Bristol.
The annual muster and inspection of the First by Adjutant- General Hastings, followed by a review by the governor and cont- mander-in-chief. Gen. James A. Beaver, was held on Thursday, the 8th of August, at 1.30 o'clock in the afternoon.
The Governor. General Hastings, and General Snowden, with their respective staffs, arrived on the grounds shortly after the prescribed hour, and the inspections and ceremonies were promptly proceeded with. Of the party was Second Lieutenant William H. Bean, Second United States Cavalry, who, well equipped with his training as a West Point Cadet, and his experience as an officer, had ably assisted at the inspections.
Of the inspection and review, with an accompanying dress parade, the Philadelphia Inquirer, in its issue of the 9th of Au- gust, among other comments, included the following:
The Governor came, General Hastings saw, and Colonel Bowman's com- mand conquered. This year the First has taken the highest honors; their inspection was perfect, their drill beautiful, their dress parade simply great. . . .
" Yes, sir," said General Hastings at the close of the dress parade, " the First Regiment has taken the highest honors this year."
" And," said Lieutenant Bean, "they have earned it by a year's hard work."
These " highest honors " of the adjutant-general, accorded on the field, proved no mere prediction or offhand guess; the official report of the inspections fully sustained his conclusions.
That report shows that with but 1 officer and 34 men absent -- in all, 35-and 39 officers and 538 men present-in all, 377 -- out of a total commissioned and enlisted present and absent of 612, the regiment's "percentage of attendance " had earned it the figure of 94.3. Then its ratings under the general heads of " knowledge of duties," " discipline," " conditions of arms, equip- ment, clothing," "books and papers," " target practice." secured it a general average of 90.6, and the product of their multipliea- tion gave it the " figure of efficiency " of 85.4, with which in the recapitulation it led the column of infantry organizations in the State. The highest " figure of efficiency " in the companies of cavalry is 65.9. and in the batteries of artillery, 51.
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A SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE
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The continuous eraek of the rifle on the range, the expendi- ture of some thousands of rounds of blank cartridge on the skir- inish drill, lent a spirit of activity and animation to the camp of much interest to spectators, and was as well instructive and helpful to the men.
The performance of the tour of duty most satisfactorily com- pleted, the camp was broken and the usual summer suspension of armory drills and exercises was continued until September 30.
A foriner officer of the regiment who visited the encampment tells of an incident at the conclusion of his visit flavored with a spice of humor. A heavy local shower during the afternoon had left a deal of muddy roadway in its wake. The guest as he boarded the station wagon on his return had, in contact with the wheel, gathered about his clothing a goodly supply of this mud, which he carried with him to his destination, and did not discover it until he reached it. Arriving at Broad Street station, he promptly sought the bootblack for repairs. The boy eyed him with a good deal of suspicion. Could it be that such a well- groomed fellow as he had on hand could be in such a sorry plight and still be a sober man ? The rain had not touched the city, the streets were dry, the sky was clear, and a summer moon shone in all the season's brilliancy. By and by the boy gathered courage. and yet with no desire to offend, but showing plainly the trend of his thoughts, ventured the expressive suggestion, "I guess you must have fell down." It was quite clear that the patron's con- dition visibly supported the bootblack's conjecture. It could not be permitted to pass without explanation, which was of course freely given.
Captain aud Brevet Major John II. Calef, Second Artillery, U. S. A., was the officer of the army detailed by the War Depart- ment to supervise the inspection at the different regimental en- campments.
The following are some of his conclusions on the Guard gen- erally :
The personnel of the Guard, including, as it does, men of such a variety of professions, trades, and occupations, is, generally, very good.
Throughout there was an carnestness and zeal in their bearing, and a steadiness under trying circumstances, that told of good material. I no- ticed many very young men in the ranks, a considerable number of whom had not attained their majority. It would prove a great benefit to these
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IHISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
latter-and in fact to all-if the "selting-up exercises " were made a pre- liminary to every company drill. . . .
As to instruction in the battalion movements executed at review, in- spection. drill, and dre-s-parade, errors were observable, but considering the limited time the companies are encamped together, the wonder is that the errors were not more numerou -. . . . The inspecting officers of the State were alive to mistakes and inaccuracies, and the attention of those responsible will undoubtedly be called to them. . .
Great attention is paid to marksman hip, and not only by the com- mander-in-chief and his general officers, but by officers of all grades, the interest extending even to the citizens of the State, by whom many hand- some prizes and medals have been given. It is a criterion for enlistment, and in two regiments in particular no man is taken unless he is qualified as a marksman. In one of these regiments every man, with the exception of the chaplain, is a marksman ..
The discipline, so far as I could observe, was excellent. . . . It sug. gested itself to me that it might be harder to enforce discipline in a regi- mental eamp than in that of a larger organization, for the reason that in the former the men are more acee-sible to their relations and friends, and, judging from the large number of visitors found at each place, strict per- formance of duty was difficult. Realizing, however, that these men voluntar- ily become soldiers for the time being from a fondness of the life, and not from compulsion, their conduet was very commendable, and I saw no cases of drunkenness in any of the camps. On the contrary, a deep-seated spirit of willingness and subordination appeared to pervade all ranks, and to the maintenance of that spirit may be aseribed the high standard attained by the troops of this State.
The year had shown a marked advance in the regiment in its proficiency in ritle practice apace with the entire Gnard, which at the close of the year had qualified 4438 sharpshooters and marks- . men-50 per cent. of its total strength. "At the close of the season of 1587 there were 34 companies in which there were no marksmen, in IS$5 ten companies, and this year (1989) but one -A, Eighth Regiment, located at York."
The total of the First Regiment's sharpshooters and marksmen in 18SS was 160. In 1889, with 45 sharpshooters and 243 marksmen-in all, 288-the increase was 128.
Of the Coleman regimental prizes, the First Regiment won the third. $60. with a total score at the 200, 500, and 600 yards of 518 ; and of the eighteen Coleman individual prizes Lieutenant George W. Coulston won the sixth. $10, with a total score of 93; Sergeant II. J. Mehard, of Company C, the eighth, $10, with the same score. 93; and Sergeant George F. Root, Company F. the ninth, $5.00, with a score of 92.
In the regimental match, twenty-one teams competing, on
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RECORDS IN MARKSMANSHIP
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Wednesday, September 4, at Mount Gretna, the First Regiment stood third in the competition, with its score a grand total of 353, as against 360 made by the number one regiment, the Thir- teenth. It tied the Sixth, that had won second place. The team of the First, with their individual total seores, were Sergeant II. J. Mchard, 92: Sergeant George F. Root, 91; Adjutant P. S. Conrad, 85; Lieutenant George W. Coulston, S5.
The Potter trophy was this year taken from the First City Troop and won by the First Regiment. Handsome badges of gold set in diamonds had been presented as prizes by Mr. Wm. M. Singerly, one of Philadelphia's well-known, open-handed, publie- spirited citizens. These prizes, with the Potter trophy, " were presented to the winning teams at the armory of the First Regi- ment on the evening of November 12, 1889, in the presence of a large and appreciative audience, by the Governor of the Com- monwealth."
Pennsylvania up to that time had never sent so strong a team to Creedmoor as it did to compete in the Creedmoor matches of September 9 to 14, 1889. " They were," says Colonel Watres in his report as general inspector of rifle practice, " the best shots in the Guard, and by reference to the report of the team adju- tant, to which your attention is respectfully called, it will clearly appear that they outshot the 'world-beaters,' the famous Massa- chusetts team." This was what the team adjutant, Lieutenant Herman Osterhaus, said:
Opposed to us were the New York team. shooting upon its own range, and the " world-beating " Massachusetts team, which had the prestige and training of a summer of victorious shooting in England. .. . In the inter- state match Massachusetts made 1045, Pennsylvania 1035, and New York 1025. In the Hilton trophy match Massachusetts made 1057, Pennsylvania 1055, and New York 1052. In the Hilton trophy mateh Pennsylvania was shut out by the calling of time when it still had two shots to fire; Massa- chusetts had one shot to fire and New York was done. The two shots of our team. if we had been allowed to fire them, must surely have overcome the one shot of Massachusetts and that team's lead of two points.
This is what the First Regiment contributed to the Pennsyl- vania seore on that leading and eventful occasion. In the inter- state match Lieutenant George W. Coulston led with a grand total of 91. Sergeant H. J. Mehard. Company C. followed second with a grand total of $$, and Sergeant George F. Root. Company
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HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
F, was fifth with a grand total of ST. There were twelve on the team and the lowest individual grand total was 83. In the Hilton trophy match Lieutenant George W. Coulston was see- ond, with a grand total of 94; he tied the first man, Corporal W. C. Weagraff, of the Sixteenth. Sergeant H. J. Mehard was third, with a grand total of 92, and Sergeant George F. Root was sixth, with a grand total of $9. There were twelve on this team and the lowest individual grand total was 79. The team was made up from the following regiments: Sixteenth, 4; First, 3; Thir- teenth, 2; Sixth, 2; Ninth, 1; with reserves, Thirteenth, 2; Eighth, 1.
A circular from regimental headquarters thoroughly digests incidents, events, mateles, results, making several references not here previously alluded to. Company F had the honor of leading the regiment in number of sharpshooters and also in number of sharpshooters and marksmen combined, with Company D as a close seeond and Company A entitled to honorable mention. In the regimental contest Company F won the first prize, Company D the second, and Company E the third.
And the circular eoneludes:
The record thus made in one year is one of which the regiment has just canse to be proud. It marks a new era in your carcer as soldiers, and we venture the prediction that in the very near future every member will be a qualified marksman. The Thirteenth has done it [the Thirteenth had qualified every officer and enlisted man, and so had the Twelfth] and so can you. Fight on this line until you win. You have odds to contend with in inferior facilities compared with our comrades of that regiment, but your victory will be all the more meritorious.
Maj .- Gen. John F. Hartranft, the commanding officer of the Pennsylvania Division of the National Guard, died at his home in Norristown on Thursday, October 17, 1889. Orders from the office of the adjutant-general directed the proper military escorts, and his funeral took place from his late residence on the follow- ing Monday, the 21st.
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