USA > Pennsylvania > History of the First regiment infantry, National guard of Pennsylvania (Grey Reserves) 1861-1911, pt 2 > Part 13
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The report of Colonel Sweeney as inspector-general of Decem- ber 26, 1901, covering the inspections at the brigade encampment is sometimes commendatory, at others canstic, frequently severe. The following quotation exemplifies the tenor of the text and is illustrative of its other criticisms :
The military bearing of the men in the ranks evidenced some improve. ment, particularly in way of less raising of hands and turning of heads. During the drills, however, there was talk and confusion in the ranks. to a
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degree that counteracted in a measure the improvement noted, and worked injury to the soldierly conduct of the commands.
In certain particular- the discipline of the entire Guard shows change for the better. the deportment of the men after taps and the cleanliness and sanitary condition of the camps being particularly noticeable. Some organizations are excellently in hand. the conduct of the men, both in camp and in transit. evidencing an admirable state of discipline, while others show a great lack of that serious conception of military duty that attends thorough training in the School of the Soldier.
Again in the presence of this general comment and the ab- sence of specific discrimination, may not the First Regiment be permitted, from the vantage ground of the highest average. con- structively to associate itself with the class of the " some organiza- tions" that "are excellently in hand. the conduct of the men both in camp and transit evidencing an admirable state of discipline," and eliminate itself from that other class that showed " a great lack of that serious conception of military duty that attends thorough training in the School of the Soldier."
The general average of the First Regiment at the annual " Field Inspection for 1901 " was 93.94. that average the leading average in the infantry organizations. All of the separate ratings that went to make it up were creditable, some exceptional, notably discipline, 95: evolutions of the regiment. 98: ceremonies, 97. The discipline rating of 98 was the highest in all the fourteen infantry regiments. The percentage of attendance was 96.67. The Sixteenth Regiment was second with a general average of 91.64, the Eighth third with 90.61 and the Thirteenth fourth with 90.57.
In the proceedings of the Summary Court a number of privates were found guilty of offences comprehended within the phrase " negleet of duty to the prejudice of good order and military discipline," and sentenced " to be reprimanded in Gen- eral Orders." In publishing the proceedings and promulgating the sentences the colonel commanding said :
They will understand by this proceeding and reprimand that in the future, as soldiers. they must respect the oath of enlistment and obey all orders promptly. No soldier shall be permitted to absent himself from duty without authority and permission from his company commander. and every man must attend on his company drill night, unless thus exerted, or. if preventel. by force of circumstances, from obtaining authority to be absent
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in advance. the reason of his ab-once must be promptly reported to his company commander thereafter, and thus insure himself from punishment and protect his good record as a soldier.
This reprimand is published in General Orders as a full warning to all men who are dispo-ed to be tardy in the performance of their duty, and any repetition of this offence, or any violation of this requirement Hereafter. will merit and receive severe pani-lament.
Every soldier must do his duty or suffer the consequences of disobedience or neglect thereof.
" The sad and untimely death at 2.15 A.M. of this date " (September 14, 1901) "of His Excellency William MeKinley, President of the United States and Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy," was speedily annonneed to the regiment in a General Order and the rifle contests ordered at the regimental rifle range for that day postponed to a date to be thereafter fixed.
This event of world import, bringing as it did a powerful nation to a grief and sorrow, deep. reverential, sincere, abiding. has a comprehensive exposition in Colonel Bowman's stately and expressive General Order No. 43, of September 17, 1901. This order, uncovered for the first time in years, is typical of its dar. the sorrowing echo from a still quite recent past of a stricken people's woe. It is a conception grand and impressive; the First Regiment's imposing tribute to the honored heroic dead, their chief as a soldier. their servant as a ruler. Of a readily recog- nized historic value, so long with the archives it must now be of the chronicles.
PHILADELPHIA, SEPTEMBER 17, 1901.
GENERAL ORDERS No. 42.
1. Pursuant to G. O. No. 27 e. s., Headquarters National Guard of Pennsylvania. announcing the death of the President of the United States, WILLIAM MCKINLEY, at Buffalo, New York, at fifteen minutes past two o'clock A.M .. the lith in-t .. the commissioned officers of this regiment will wear the badge of military mourning and the regimental colors will be placed in mourning or draped for the period of thirty days.
2. Thursday next, September 19. having been set apart by proclamation of the President of the United States of America and by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a day of mourning and prayer in commemoration and expre -- ion of our deep sorrow for the untimely death of our beloved Chief Magistrate, on which day his earthly remains will be laid in their last resting place. this regiment will assemble at the armory at 10 o'clock A.M., in full dress uniform, white gloves and belt. without arms,
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officers wearing side arms, to participate in the services of the day at July Trinity Church, under the auspices and direction of the regimental chaplain, the Rev. Dr. Floyd Williams Tomkins.
First call will be sounded at 10.20 o'clock. and the regiment will move at 10.30 o'clock A.M. The Field and Band Music will report to the regimental adjutant at 10.20 o'clock A.M.
3. The following minute of the Board of Officers upon the death of President Mckinley is hereby published for the official information of the regiment. and will be duly in-cribed upon the records thereof :
"WE. the Board of Otheers of the First Regiment of Infantry, National Guard of Pennsylvania, being called together, in solemn meeting assembled. to mourn the untimely, cruel, and sad death of our beloved Chief Magistrate. President Wm. MeKinley, do hereby order that the following minute be made and duly in-cribed upon the records of this Regiment :
In common with all God-fearing, law-abiding. and liberty-loving people of our own dear land. as well with those of the eivilized world. we meet on this Sabbath Day of September the Fifteenth. A. D. 1901. to express our sorrow for and mourn the loss of our great and good President.
The nation stands with bowed head and heart, in deepest mourning, overwhelmed with grief and sorrow.
The civilized world, too. joins with us in mourning for Honorable William MeKinley, our immortal dead. He has been struck down in cold blood, with premeditation and deliberation, by a cowardly assa-sin, the product of the infamous teachings of anarchy and assassination.
Thus a great crime has been committed against the noblest of men; nay, more, again-t law and liberty, against civilization and mankind.
President Mckinley's whole life was devoted to the uplifting of his fellow-men, the prosperity of our country. and its advancement in the pathway of nations.
His sympathies and best efforts were ever active for the alleviation of the poor and the oppressed. for the promotion of their welfare. the pro- teetion and prosperity of all. for the honor and glory of his country and its flag.
He was a patriot by endowment of nature and the grace of God; a good. kindly, pure man: a brave soldier: a great and learned statesman. wise and safe in counsel and action.
Hi- devotion to his loving wife and family marked him as one of the most lovable of men: always so gracion- and thoughtful in his anxiety for her. not only through his busy public life, but especially during the last sad hours of his suffering, to the very end of his courageous, brave fight for life.
He crowned all his earthly achievement- by a glorious death of Christian fortitude and resignation. The life he led and the way in which he died will stand forever a precious example to mankind.
We shall have an abiding reverence for his noble life and memory. and shall ever mourn his ernel and untimely death.
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We bow, however, in humble submission to this awful decree. In his immortal language to his precious wife, "It is God's way. His will be done, not ours." These words, like his life. will be indelibly in-eribed upon the records of time, as an example of Christian faith, to be emulated by his countrymen and by mankind.
The world is better for his having lived in it. His name will be recorded with the greatest of the human race. God bless him and his memory !
We extend our heartfelt sympathy to his sorrow-stricken and bereaved wife and family.
It is further ordered that this minute of our action be suitably engrossel and transmitted to the devoted and bereaved widow. duly attested by the President and Secretary of this Board.
By order of
COLONEL BOWMAN.
FRED. TAYLOR PUSRY, Adjutant.
The general order from regimental headquarters announcing the current season for rifle practice for 1901 from May 1 to October 31 provided, among other things, that " any man who fails to present himself at the range for practice shall be dis- charged for inefficiency or charges preferred against him by his company commander for neglect of duty." The paragraph, though it had appeared before and was seen afterward, did not appear to have ever required enforcement. Out of the aggregate of 737 in 1901, the 41 who failed to qualify had not failed to practise. The total qualifications reached 696 (94 per cent.) : : 14 sharpshooters, 125 first-class marksmen, 556 second-class marksmen, and one third-class marksman. Fifty-three officers and non-commissioned staff officers qualified with the regulation revolver. of whom 21 were experts.
The first-class regimental match for the First Brigade trophy. hotly contested, was won by the First Regiment team with a score of 368 ont of a possible 420: Private James Stewart, Com- pany E. 94: Private Theo. F. Shonert, Company C, 94; Lieu- tenant H. J. Mehard, 90; Lieutenant Wm. S. Sloan, Company D. Số. The team of the Third Infantry, second in this match. made a score of 358. These, the First's winning score of 363 and the Third's of 958. " being the highest scores ever made in the State, excepting that of 365 made by the Thirteenth Infantry in 1894 at Mt. Gretna, the State record."
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The following officers and men [so reads Colonel Bowman's annual ride practice order] are entitled to honorable mention for the distinction of ten consecutive years of faithful and efficient service in rifle practice, thereby entitling them to the ten-year gold medal issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in recognition of said service: Sergeant E. 1. Forbes, Company B; Captain Fred. Taylor Pu-ey, F. and S .; Lieut. F. L. Mueller, F. and S .; Sergeant C. A. Large, Company E; Lieutenant H. E. Bonnin. Company G; Sergeant G. L. Pomroi, Company G; and Sergeant-Major J. H. Wiley. F. and S.
Musicians, J. A. Coneen, Company 1; G. R. Sec. Company C. and II. . 1. Nathans, Company D, have qualified ten years, but, unfortunately, not con- secutively.
There are 144 officers and men who have qualified as Veteran Marks- men, five years and over. 56 of whom have qualified ten years and over.
Captain C. P. Hunt, Company E, has qualified twenty-two consecutive years, being the oldest qualified marksman in the Brigade; Lieut-Col. J. Lewis Good and Maj. A. L. Williams each twenty consecutive years.
In the brigade match for the State cup the Second Brigade won with a score of 968, with the First Brigade second with a score of 964. The First Regiment's representatives on this team were Lieutenant Mehard, Chief Musician Chapin, Sergeant Forbes, and Private Shonert. At Sea Girt Major Chew said in his report: "The performance of the men of both the infantry and cavalry teams was undoubtedly the best ever made with the Springfield rifle and carbine and represents the highest attainment that can be reached with that arm." And adds: " The Penn- sylvania teams defeated all other competitors armed with the Springfield ritle; only those using the Krag or other high-pow- dered modern arm defeating them." Lieutenant H. J. Mehard and Private Theo. F. Shonert, two out of twelve, were the First Regiment's men on the Pennsylvania team.
Of Pennsylvania's presence on this occasion Colonel Patter- son, general inspector of rifle practice, speaks as follows: " Ser- eral years have elapsed since the National Guard of Pennsylvania had taken part in the competitions at Sea Girt, and it was with some hesitaney that we undertook the work, but our treatment was all that could be desired and our meeting with other rifle teams from other States has added very much to the interest in rifle practice in our State."
Of the individual matches, Lieutenant Horace S. Lewars, of Company E. was third of twenty-six contestants in the Hatfield trophy match. Lieutenant Wm. S. Sloan, Company D. won second
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prize in the Go0 yards match open to first-class marksmen of the First Brigade. At Mount Gretna the brigade championship medal was won by Private Theo. F. Shonert. Company C. The inspector's of rifle practice, and the match for commissioned officers, with its handsome sword, known as the Elverson prize, was won by First Lieutenant II. J. Mehard with a score of 159 points. Lieutenant Mehard also won the revolver match, where there were quite a number of competitors, with a score of S4 ont of a possible 90.
The Liberty Bell was again in motion. At the request of the joint committee of Select and Common Council the regiment assembled at the armory in winter uniform at 1.15 o'clock on the afternoon of Saturday, January 4. 1902, to act as escort in the removal of the " Old Liberty Bell " from Independence Hall to Thirty-second and Market Streets on its way to the Inter-State and West Indian Exhibition, at Charleston, South Carolina.
The bell returned on the morning of Tuesday, June 10, 1902, the regiment, at the invitation and request of the Councils Com- mittee, participating in the military escort. Colonel Bowman's order for the parade concluded as follows: " The sacred Bell will be received at Broad and Washington Avenue, and as this may be the last opportunity we will have the honor of escorting it, it is hoped that every officer and man will participate in this patri- otie duty which will require our services until about 11 o'clock A.M."
General Orders No. 3, Headquarters National Guard of Penn- sylvania, of January 6, 1902, issued "in accordance with the provisions of the Alet of Assembly approved April 28, 1899. recognizing for the first time the " three majors " for the eight regiments therein named. the First included, authorizes the com- manding officers of the respective brigades to which the regiments indicated were attached. to order elections for an " additional major," to be held on or before January 25, 1902. That the major elected at an earlier date should not be advantaged in rank over another whose election followed later on, the order further provided. following a precedent, that majors elected in compliance with its terms should all rank as of January 25. 1902. Major Major William S. Allen. by the order from the headquarters of the First Brigade, was detailed to conduct the election for the
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First Regiment, ordered to be held at the regimental armory ou Saturday evening, January 25, 1902, at eight o'clock; when, promoted from his captainey of Company II, Maj. Engene I .. Kensil, with his twenty years of service, was duly elected major to fill an original vacaney. Captain Sylvester G. Watson, private April 5, 1599, corporal July 1, 1901, succeeded to the captainey of Company HI, June 11, 1902.
This election was followed by the assignment of Companies I. D, L, and E to the first battalion, and Maj. Albert L. Williams to its command ; Companies B, C, A, and G to the second bat- talion, with Maj. William S. Allen in command; Companies K. M, HI, and F, with Maj. Eugene J. Kensil in command. series of battalion drills followed, covering the season to summer- time.
A general order from headquarters of the National Guard announced the death on February 24, 1902. of ex-AAdjutant-Gen- eral and Brigadier-General Presley N. Guthrie, and concluded a lengthy résumé of his military career with this handsome tribute to his worth : " General Guthrie rendered distinguished and valued service to his country during the war for the suppression of the rebellion. He served his State faithfully as an officer of the National Guard and as adjutant-general. He was an ideal soldier. brave in battle, forceful and able as a commanding officer, com- petent and trustworthy as an executive officer."
. The forty-first anniversary of the regiment was celebrated by the usual street parade on Saturday, April 19, 1902. with Brig .- Gen. John W. Schall as the reviewing officer. The review took place from the porch of the Union League, "going south the band and field music after passing in review wheeling out and taking position in front of the reviewing officer on the east side of Broad Street." After the necessary halt for the music to resune its place, the march was continued to Locust, to Eigh- teenth, to Walnut to Twentieth, to Chestnut. to Seventh, to Wal- nut, to Broad, to the armory, where the parade was dismissed. The Veteran Corps on the right, under Colonel Wiedersheim, numbered some 125. and the strength of the regiment, under Colonel Bowman, was estimated at 600. The significant feature of the occasion was the presence with the reviewing officer of Admiral Winfield Scott Schley, who in the evening was the special
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guest of honor at the anniversary dinner of the Veteran Corps at the Union League.
On Sunday afternoon, May 25, 1902, the regiment in full- dress uniform, accompanied by the Veteran Corps and Brig .- Gen. John W. Schall and staff. attended services in commemoration of the Nation's Memorial Day at Holy Trinity Church, conducted by the rector and regimental chaplain. Rev. Floyd Williams Tomkins, D.D.
The third term of Col. Wendell P. Bowman about expiring, it was determined to make the occasion of his re-election to his fourth functional as well as official. Through a resolution of request by the Board of Officers the Governor and Commander-in- Chief waived the provision requiring a ten-days' previous notice, and the brigade commander permitted the electors to appear in citizen dress. The order for the election directed the line officers to report at " Elm Hall." Merion, Pennsylvania Railroad (Colonel Bowman's residence), at 6.30 o'clock p.M., June 30, 1902, leaving Broad Street station at 6.15. for the purpose of holding au election for colonel to fill the vacancy incident to the expiration of the commission of the present inenmbent. Company and bat- talion drills ordered for that evening were annulled, and a para- graph in the order read: " The commissioned officers and non- commissioned officers of the field and staff will likewise report at the same place and hour to participate in such duty and service as may be required of them." The following excerpt from the' annual report of Brig .- Gen. John W. Schall, who conducted the election. clearly indicates what the duty was and shows its faith- ful performance: "Col. Wendell P. Bowman, the efficient con- manding officer of the First Regiment. was unanimously re-elected colonel on June 30, 1902. I had the honor to preside at the elcetion." The " service " was " functional." and though the story of its performance did not find official place among the archives, as did the " duty." it was long remembered as distinctively char- acteristic of good fellowship and hospitality.
Colonel Bowman's General Order No. 13. Headquarters First Regiment National Guard of Pennsylvania, July 1. 1902. read 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
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fully appreciating the honor and responsibility thereby conferred, hereby assumes command of the First Regiment Infantry. N. G. P.
Il. The following re-appointments and appointments on the Regimental staff are hereby announced :
Adjutant, Fred. Taylor Puser; Quartermaster. Fred'k P. Koons; Com- missary, Frank L. Mueller; Chaplain. Rev. Floyd Williams Tomkins, D.D .; Battalion Adjutant. A. D. Whitney; Battalion AAdjutant, Walter M. Hotz; Battalion Adjutant, G. Rushton Howell; Sergeant-Major, Raymond C. Winter ; Quartermaster-Sergeant. Wm. G. Goodwin; Commissary-Sergeant, L. P. Pratt. Jr .; Color-Sergeant. Eugene HI. Waage; Ho-pital Steward, Charles Ouram; Principal Musician, Wm. E. Chapin; Battalion Sergeant-Major, Isaac Price Ewing; Battalion Sergeant-Major, Wm. H. Farraday; Battalion Sergeant- Major, H. Bartram Cornog.
There were no changes in the medical staff by assignment until June 10, 1903, when Sorden MeClure, appointed first lieu- tenant and assistant surgeon, was assigned to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of First Lieutenant and Assistant Sur- geon Randolph Faries on December 22, 1902.
As early as March 17, 1902, a general order from the adju- tant-general's office at Harrisburg made it known that the National Guard would encamp by Division from July 12 to July 19, in- clusive, and on July 1 the division commander announced that the camp would be known as " Camp George G. Meade," prescribing at the same time the customary rules for its conduet and govern- ment. and naming the hours for the calls for duty and service. This encampment assuming a place of national import from the beginning. the regimental unit, except as each was a factor in its zest to assure the reputation of the whole. was apparently lost for special mention. The adjutant-general of the State, when he said of it in his annual report: " The encampment was with- out doubt the most successful ever held by the National Guard. The troops were fully equipped and the personnel remarkably high. The conduet of the officers and enlisted men was exemplary in every respect." gave it character for speeifie prominence. The presence of and review by the Hon. Elihu Root, Secretary of War, and the distinguished officers of the United States army. Maj .- Gen. Henry C. Corbin. Adjutant-General, Brigadier-Generals Leonard Wood. Alfred E. Bates. and W. H. Carter and Colonel Wallace F. Randolph, Artillery Corps, who accompanied him. gave the encampment its national import. And then when the
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Secretary supplemented his presence and his review with his close and expressive analysis, with the commendatory conclusions he drew from his observations, he prepared for it a distinctive place in history.
I am not authority, of course (said the Secretary of War at the con- clusion of the review), but I have visited the camps and posts of the - Regular Army, and I have been very much gratified to see to-day the tendency toward uniformity and practical business-like basis which the National Guard of Pennsylvania has attained. When I say uniformity I mean discipline, method, equipment. and everything that goes to characterize a homogeneous army.
This is not merely a perfunctory body of soldiers which I have seen, it is a practical body. and my words are based upon genuine observation, for I am very deeply interested in bringing about an entente cordiale-a sympathetic relation, a camaradarie, between the Regular Army and the Guard. * *
The national government ought to make due provisions to enable the National Guard of poorer States, which cannot afford to furnish funds like Pennsylvania, to do what has been done in this great Commonwealth.
I want to repeat that I was mostly impressed with the tendency toward uniformity in organization, equipment, and spirit of the National Guard of Pennsylvania and the Regular Army. Pennsylvania is a great, rich State, but has been able to do all this itself. doing it on proper lines; but, as I look at it on national lines, I believe that this Guard is worth many millions of dollars to the national government.
The following organizations of the United States army par- ticipated with the National Guard in this encampment: Troops G and H, Second United States Cavalry, Captain Thomas J. Lewis commanding; Fourth Battery Field Artillery, United States army, Captain Stephen M. Foote commanding; Company of In- struetion Hospital Corps, United States army, Frederick P. Reynolds, captain and assistant surgeon United States army, com- manding.
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