USA > Pennsylvania > History of the First regiment infantry, National guard of Pennsylvania (Grey Reserves) 1861-1911, pt 1 > Part 38
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On April 30, 1991, First Lieutenant George W. Coulston, to be ever remembered for his enviable record in marksmanship, re- signed, to be succeeded, June 24, 1891, by First Lieutenant Thomas D. MeGlathery, promoted from a sergeantey in Company D. On June 23, 1891, Rev. Isaac L. Nicholson, D.D., advanced from his rectorship of St. Mark's to be a Protestant Episcopal bishop, resigned his chaplainey of the First Regiment. There was an intervening vacancy of a year, until July 1, 1892, when Rev. Samuel D. McConnell, D.D .. rector of St. Stephen's, was appointed his successor. Captain Harry O. Hastings, Company D, resigned April 29, 1591, and on June 5, 1891, Captain Henry
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J. Crump was advanced from his first lieutenancy to succeed him. On April 15, 1891, L. E. F. Toboldt was named as quartermaster- sergeant, vice Bingham, honorably discharged, and John C. Sheain was appointed commissary-sergeant, vice Toboldt. On June 24, 1891, Captain Pearson S. Conrad, upon the resignation of Captain Franklin Swayne, resumed his former place as pay- master.
Captain Albert L. Williams, " who had occupied the position of secretary of the Board of Officers for a period verging upon ten years, a length of service unprecedented in the history of the office," on January 3, 1891, resigned the secretaryship. Appro- priate resolutions appreciatively recognized the worth and the value of the service he had rendered.
The death of Gen. William T. Sherman in New York City at 1.50 o'clock p. M. on February 14, 1891, was officially an- nounced to the regiment in a General Order No. 3, of February 16, as follows :
Born in Lancaster, Ohio, February 20, 1820, he lived out the time allotted to man, and by his military genius won illustrious honors and im- mortal fame in the service of his country. His name will live in history as one of the few great generals of mankind.
In honor of his memory the flag will be displayed at half staff until after his burial, the colors of the regiment draped in mourning for thirty days, and the commi-sioned officers will wear the usual badge of mourning for a like period of time, in compliance with G. O. No. 3 C. S. from head- quarters N. G. P.
The thirtieth anniversary was celebrated by the usual full- dress street parade, followed by the evening incidentals of ban- quets, dinners, reunions, the day falling upon Sunday, on Satur- day, April 18. The regiment was accompanied by the Veteran Corps, and the column was reviewed by Maj .- Gen. George R. Snowden, the division commander, on Broad Street in front of the Union League.
Pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Officers, and by the orders of the colonel commanding, on Sunday, May 24, 1891. the regiment in full-dress uniform, accompanied by the Veteran Corps, officers with side-arms and enlisted men with waist-belts without bayonet scabbards. attended divine service at St. Mark's, with the regimental chaplain. Rev. Isaac L. Nicholson, D.D., offi- ciating for the last time before his departure for his bishopric.
1891
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HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
The National Guard of the State by contributions purposely made small, that all might have opportunity to subscribe, had caused to be erected to the memory of Maj .- Gen. John F. Hart- ranft, as testimony of their reverence for him as a man and their appreciation of his valor and capacity as a soldier, in the ceme- tery at Norristown, a monument expressive in design and im- pressive in appearance. The First Regiment's share in this trib- ute to their much revered commander was a contribution of $650. The monument was formally dedicated, with oration, poem, choral and religious services and military parade, on Sat- urday, June 6, 1891, when the regiment with the First Brigade participated in the ceremonies incident to the occasion. General Dechert commanded the brigade and Colonel Bowman the regi- ment. General James W. Latta delivered the oration.
The Pennsylvania Society of the Sons of the Revolution ex- tended an invitation to the organizations of the First Brigade to be present at their patriotie services to be held in Independence Square on the morning of July 4, 1891. A detachment of the regiment volunteered, and was reported to Major Henry T. Dech- ert, of the Second Regiment, assigned to the command of the de- tail at the place designated at 9.30 on that morning.
Camp Sherman, named in honor of the eminent soldier, Gen. William T. Sherman, the camp of the First Brigade-the en- campments for the year 1891 were by brigades-was located near Devon, Chester County, Pennsylvania, and covered the period from July 18 to July 23, both dates inclusive. The camp was located as infantry on a single line with wide company streets and good distances between companies.
The usual construction detail under Lieut .- Col. Thomas E. Huffington left on the 16th at S o'clock, and the regiment, under Colonel Bowman, followed on the morning of the 1Sth. Rigorous enforcement of all requirements was demanded, a rifle range was e-tablished in the immediate vieinity, and no leaves of absence or furloughs were to be permitted except " for physical disability testified to by a physician."
On Monday morning, the 19th. while the men were at break- fast the governor and commander-in-chief accompanied by his staff passed through and inspoeted the mess tents, and on the same morning at 8.45 o'clock there was the annual inspection and muster by the adjutant-general. this year conducted by
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Brig .- Gen. William McClelland, the adjutant-general appointed by Governor Pattison to succeed General Hastings. On the 21st, in the afternoon, the governor reviewed the brigade, as did the division commander, Major-General Snowden, on the afternoon of the 20th. A brigade dress parade on the 22d closed the notable ceremonies of the encampment. Gen. Robert P. Dechert was in command of the camp, and Col. Wendell P. Bowman of the regiment. The encampment broken on the day as announced, on the afternoon of the 25th the regiment returned by rail to Philadelphia, marching over a short route ou its arrival to the regimental armory.
As the result of the annual inspection, with an aggregate of 592, present 587, only 5 absent, percentage of attendance 99.1, general average of $2.92, the First Regiment's figure of efficiency, 82.15, below its usual standard, brought it to fourth place in the order of merit, with the Thirteenth Regiment, 92.3; Ninth, 91.1, and Eighth, 90.36, leading it.
General Order No. 21, Adjutant-General's office, Harrisburg, Pa., August 17, 1891. is Governor Pattison's tribute of recogni- tion to the value, efficiency, and patriotism of his National Guard.
The encampments for 1891 must convince every one who has observed them that the National Guard of Pennsylvania stands at the head of the militia of the States.
The improved soldierly bearing, proficiency, and drill, striet discipline, general deportment of all the organizations, is most marked and comes from the undoubted patriotism of the individual guardsman.
For these the commander-in-chief desires to thank each officer and en- listed man. He also desires to commend to the people of the State their citizen soldiery as worthy of their consideration and support.
Officers and men alike met with generous commendation and the effectiveness of the military service in Pennsylvania was placed " far in advance of her sister States " in the report of Cap- tain James Chester, Third United States Artillery, the officer of the army detailed as the inspecting officer. The following are cx- cerpts from it:
As a body the officers of the National Guard of Pennsylvania whom I have met would take high rank for efficiency in any army. What they lack in the technicalities of the profession they more than make up in prae- tical good sense and knowledge of human nature. . . . The men are bright, intelligent, and enthusiastic soldiers. They lack the snap and military bearing of regular troops, but they work exactly like the men who won our hardest-fought battles for us. Considering their opportunities, they do re-
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HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
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markably well, and the State has every reason to be proud of them. .. . By these annual eneampments Pennsylvania has organized effective military schools and thus placed her military far in advance of her sister States.
Major Herbert Cox, ordnance officer of the First Brigade, in his official report for the year 1891 makes this complimentary reference to the First Regiment: " The First Regiment deserves special mention for this year's practice owing to disadvantages before mentioned " [Hartranft range closed by injunction after eight days' practice; neighborhood improvements had rendered its use unsafe and dangerous] " having qualified 452 members of the command, an increase of 62 over last year-every commis- sioned officer, field, staff and line, and 87 per cent. of the men. This result was only accomplished by heavy personal expense and great sacrifice of time."
It may be stated, in addition to what was said by Major Cox, that one hundred and sixteen out of one hundred and thirty-three non-commissioned officers are included in the total of 452 officers and men. The percentage of sharpshooters in the regiment was 17.5, and 22.7 per cent. of the qualified marksmen were sharpshooters.
Company D had the greatest increase of marksmen, with a gain of 20 over the number qualified in 1890, having the honor to lead the regiment with 56 marksmen, while Company H was a close second with 55.
The nine ten-year veteran gold badges to which the regiment was entitled all went to commissioned officers: Major J. Lewis Good, Captains William Ewing, H. O. Hastings, Clarence T. Kensil, and Albert L. Williams, Lieutenants William Cairns, A. W. Deane, Henry Nuss, Jr., and Thomas E. Heath.
In a general order of December 4, 1891, " the colonel com- manding congratulates the officers and men upon their excellent work and great advancement during the year in this important branch of military science." and after a resume of the practice through the season and a sketch of the results from which the foregoing text has been gathered, concludes as follows:
The record thus briefly outlined is a most creditable one, of which the officers and men may ju-tly be proud. It will serve as a stimulus for still greater efforts, and we will enter the season of 1892 determined to qualify every enlisted man. We hope that the command by that time will be in possession of its own range.
The officers have set a good example, which the men are bravely following.
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The inconveniences that attended the necessary abandonment of the Hartranft range, at Frankford, were in some measure re- lieved by the generous tender of facilities and privileges on the United States range at the Bridesburg Arsenal by Maj. G. W. McKee, U. S. A., the commandant; on the range of the Sixth Regiment, National Guard of Pennsylvania, at Upland, Dela- ware County; and on that of the Thirteenth Regiment, National Guard of Pennsylvania, at Dickson, Lackawanna County. In ae- cepting these tenders the colonel commanding made grateful and appreciative acknowledgment.
The rifle range project was consummated as Colonel Bow- man had hoped, but not quite as soon. The incorporated asso- ciation purchased a traet of land of 40 acres, 10 from the Bing- ham estate and 30 from W. S. P. Shields, near Ninety-second Street Station on the Chester branch of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, about nine miles from the centre of the eity. The purchase money, to include what improvements there were upon the traet, was not to exceed the sum of $9500, and the Board of Directors was authorized to negotiate and execute a bond and mortgage for such portion of it as might remain unpaid, the rate of interest not to exceed 5 4/10 per cent. per annum. The negotiations closed, title passed, and possession secured, such equipment, including eight steel targets for use at 200, 500, and 600 yards, sufficient to make it available, was completed within a few months, and by August 22, 1892, the range, ready for prac- tice, was formally opened. It is known as the First Regiment Range, and there is but faint recollection of a Ninety-second Street station, as the present railway station now bears the same name.
The spring inspections for 1892 by companies at designated weekly intervals, by Major Frank G. Sweeney, brigade inspector, Major Wetherill's successor, were announced for the months of February and March in general orders from Harrisburg head- quarters as early as the first of January. Preparatory inspec- tions by companies in full equipment, two assigned for cach even- ing by the colonel, immediately preceded those ordered for the brigade inspector. Drills, squad, company, battalion, continued in the usual course, particular attention being given to individual instruction and the setting up of reeruits.
The death of First Lieutenant William Cairns on the after-
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1802
noon of January 25, 1892, at his residence, 1600 Market Street, was announced in a regimental order of that date. The field, staff, and line officers were directed to report at the armory in service uniform to attend the funeral, which was a military one, with his company as the escort, on the afternoon of the 2Sth. Lieutenant Cairns had been in the service from April 4, 1572, continuously for twenty years; beginning as private in Company B, and remaining with it, he had passed through both grades of non-commissioned officer and both lieutenancies.
The concluding paragraph of the resolutions of the Board of Officers, their tribute to the memory of Lieutenant Cairns, passed at the March session of 1892, read as follows: " That during the whole extent of his membership in the regiment we have been deeply impressed with his interest in the work of the Guard as shown by the active part which he unremittingly took in the proceedings of this regiment."
The adjutants-general of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania began with Josiah Harmar, in 1793. General William McClel- land was the first to die in office. Appointed January 20, 1891, with but a little over a twelvemonth of service, he died February 8, 1802. A proclamation issued "in the name and by the au- thority of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania " announced his decease, extolled his virtues, recounted the congressional and other civic honors that had come to him, told of how he had " met and mastered " the extraordinary situation in the riotous conditions that confronted him as adjutant-general and made this special mention of his services in the field in the great struggle against the "insurgent armies " of the Confederacy.
He entered the army [so read the proclamation] at the outbreak of hostilities and remained in it until the close of the war for the Union. En- listing as a private, he rose to be captain in the artillery; his battery was engaged in many serious battles and he himself bore a conspicuous part in the brilliant achievements which made it historic. He was an eminent and honored member of the great organizations formed to perpetuate the memories of the war and composed of its survivers.
An innovation had come about in tactics, movements, and manœuvres, progressive gunnery had made it necessary, advance in the art of war demanded it, and on April 7, 1892, by his orders No. S the colonel commanding, in compliance with General Orders
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NEW DRILL REGULATIONS
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No. 6, Current Series, Headquarters National Guard of Penn- sylvania, on that day received, directed that thereafter the new infantry drill regulations approved by the President, published by the Secretary of War, and issued by the Adjutant-General's De- partment of the State, would be strictly observed and all infantry exercises and manœuvres not embraced in that system be prohibited.
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The celebration of the thirty-first anniversary has this signifi- cance about it-the parade of the regiment in its commemoration of that event on the 19th of April, 1892, was the regiment's first parade under the new battalion system.
With this event there goes something of a coincidence. Al- ready on the 6th of April there had gone out in the usual form Orders No. 7, announcing a street parade for the 19th of April in celebration of the regiment's thirty-first anniversary. On the seventh appears Orders No. S, from regimental headquarters, issued in compliance with orders that day received from superior headquarters, adopting new drill regulations involving thorough and radical changes. Thereupon Colonel Bowman hastens not only to direct compliance with the new requirements, but also signifies his own willingness for prompt performance by, on the 16th, so reconstructing his Orders No. 7 in his Orders No. 9 as to meet the new conditions completely.
Here between a direction and a performance a new era is in- terposed. These orders, the one ending the old and the other beginning the new, are thus given a special significance. They have besides a commemorative value. Together they close the thirtieth year of regimental existence and leave to the thirty-first the new military thought of the day with which to begin its pro- gressive future. They deserve, therefore, to be brought out of their obscurity and into the light.
HEADQUARTERS FIRST REGIMENT INF., FIRST BRIGADE, N. G. P. Philadelphia, April 6, 1892.
ORDERS No. 7.
This command will celebrate the thirty-first anniversary of its organiza- tion by a street parade in dress uniform on Tuesday afternoon, April 19, 1892. First call will be sounded at 4:10 o'clock, assembly at 4:20.
The drum-major will report the band and field music at 4:05 o'clock P.M. The field and staff officers will report mounted.
By order of COLONEL BOWMAN.
EDWARD V. STOCKHAM,
Adjutant.
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HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
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HEADQUARTERS FIRST REGIMENT INFANTRY, FIRST BRIGADE, N. G. P. Philadelphia, April 16, 1892.
ORDERS No. 9.
On the occasion of the celebration of the thirty-first anniversary of the organization of this regiment on the 19th inst. the command will be formed in three battalions in accordance with the new Infantry Drill Regu- lations.
The following commissioned and non-commissioned officers are hereby detailed for duty as prescribed on the occasion.
First Battalion
Major J. Lewis Good, commanding-First Lieutenant Robert G. Stinson, act- ing adjutant-First Sergeant Wmn. B. Johnson, acting sergeant-major.
Second Battalion
Captain James Muldoon, commanding-First Lieutenant A. W. Deane, act- ing adjutant-First Sergeant Wm. J. Storck, acting sergeant-major.
Third Battalion
Captain A. L. Williams, commanding-Second Lieutenant C. B. Nichols, act- ing adjutant-First Sergeant Theo. R. Lammot, acting sergeant-major -Sergeant George B. Wright, Co. "D," regimental orderly, and one musician as regimental bugler.
The commandants of battalions, acting adjutants, regimental orderly, and bugler will report mounted.
By order of
COLONEL BOWMAN.
EDWARD V. STOCKHAM, Adjutant.
Following the date of Colonel Bowman's first commission, July 1, 1887, and that commission being about to expire, there issued from headquarters, First Brigade, June 17, 1892, Special Order No. 32, as follows :
An election for colonel, First Regiment Infantry, vice Col. W. P. Bow- man, commission expiring on the 30th inst., will be held on June 29th inst. at 8 P. M.
Col. John W. Schall, Sixth Infantry, N. G. Pa., is hereby detailed to conduct said election, making prompt returns of same through these Head- quarters.
The election duly held and Colonel Bowman unanimously elected, in Orders No. 14, of July 1, 1892, he announced his ac- ceptance and appointments as follows :
I. Having been re-elected and sworn into the service as required by the Military Code of this Commonwealth, the undersigned by virtue thereof, and fully appreciating the honor and responsibility thereby conferred, hereby assumes command of the First Regiment Infantry, N. G. P.
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II. The following reappointments and appointments on the Regimental Staff are hereby announced:
Adjutant, Rohert G. Stinson; Quartermaster, F. P. Koons; Surgeon, Alexis Dupont Smith; Assistant Surgeon, Edward Martin; Assistant Sur- geon, Norton Downs; Chaplain, Rev. Dr. Samuel D. McConnell; Sergeant- Major, H. J. Mehard; Quartermaster-Sergeant, L. E. F. Toboldt; Commis- sary-Sergeant, John C. Sheain; Hospital Steward, Charles Ouram; Drum- Major, William T. Baker. Captain P. S. Conrad will continue to serve as paymaster. They will be obeyed and respected accordingly.
First Lieutenant and Adjutant Edward V. Stockham having been com- missioned captain in the Sixth Infantry N. J. N. G., this regiment is hereby deprived of the services of an accomplished officer and gentleman, whose faithful, efficient, and meritorious performance of duty as adjutant is hereby officially recognized and recorded.
The regiment, ever disposed to be helpful when public charity sought its aid, had by resolution of the Board of Officers in re- sponse to an invitation of the Methodist Episcopal Hospital fur- nished a large volunteer battalion to participate in a reproduction of the allegory, "War in Songs," given for the benefit of that institution at the American Academy of Music on the evening of Wednesday, May 3, 1892.
As early as April 29, 1592, in General Orders No. 9 from the adjutant-general's office at Harrisburg, it was announced that the several brigades would encamp by regiments, the place of each encampment to be designated by the regimental commander, sub- ject to the approval of the adjutaut-general," strict regard to econ- omy in transportation being observed in making the selection." The time fixed for the First Brigade was from July 16 to July 23, inclusive. No enlistments excepting re-enlistments were to be made for thirty days previous to the close of the encampment. Commutation for rations and fuel was to be allowed at the rate of twenty cents per day per man for eight days, to be paid on regimental quartermaster's vouchers approved by the regimental commander. The inspector-general would make his annual mus- ter and inspection on such days as he might thereafter designate.
Colonel Bowman previous to the encampment in announcing its date had by circular called attention to certain paragraphs in the new infantry drill regulations, those particularly relating to ceremonies, evolution 'in close and extended order, columns of masses, line of masses, echelon, ployments, deployments, changes of direction, and directed that officers and non-commis-
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1892
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HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
sioned officers " master their details," as the regiment at the en- campment would be largely manœuvred in such movements.
The site had been selected on private property of John Eyre Shaw, known as " Chestnut Wold," Haverford Township, Dela- ware County, and approved by the adjutant-general, and the name "Camp Zook." in honor of Gen. Koscuiszko Zook, a distin- guished son of Pennsylvania, killed at Gettysburg, had been deter- mined upon. And on July 9 Colonel Bowman had promulgated his Orders No. 15, that provided for the construction of the camp, its conduct in every detail, its management in all its rou- tine, when on the 10th an " industrial disturbance " at Home- stead, Allegheny County, for some days of a threatening aspect, culminated in a clash with the sheriff's posse that summoned every Guardsman in Pennsylvania to its suppression. Its seri- ous magnitude again awakened the community to the need of a well-trained militia, and as well afforded the Guard an oppor- tunity, the first time since 1877, when it had not inspired the fullest confidence, to demonstrate that it was well conditioned to supply that need.
At 12.20 p. M. on the 10th of July General Snowden, the division commander, reached Harrisburg, summoned a few hours previously from Philadelphia to report there at once to Governor Pattison, the commander-in-chief. A riotous disturbance had been prevailing at Homestead, some eight miles from Pittsburgh on the west bank of the Monongahela, the site of a great steel plant, since the sixth, and the governor was in hourly expectation of a call from the sheriff of Allegheny County for assistance. Meanwhile the request for troops was made, and at ten o'clock that same evening, the 10th, the governor personally delivered to General Snowden an order drawn in his own hand to put his division under arms and move at once with ammunition to the support of the sheriff of Allegheny County, maintain the peace, and protect all persons in their rights under the constitution and the laws of the State.
Despatches were at once prepared for the brigade command- ers. It was Sunday night, and as all operators were not at their post, some time was lost in delivery, but by eleven o'clock the despatches had all left Harrisburg for their destination. General Gobin was ordered to concentrate the Third Brigade at Lewis-
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