USA > Pennsylvania > History of the First regiment infantry, National guard of Pennsylvania (Grey Reserves) 1861-1911, pt 2 > Part 17
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There is no citizen. after all is said, that makes the sacrifice the soldier does. Even in time of peace he is called out to repel mob violence, and to maintain law and order.
Colonel Sweeney, in his very exhaustive report, confirms and supports the view that this encampment was fruitful of good results. * * * *
In the judgment of the inspector-general the division evidenced a degree of efficiency, at this inspection, never before attained. While there were occasions for criticism, yet, as a whole, the tour of duty was the most successful and satisfactory in the Guard's experience.
*
Marked improvement was observed in discipline. If there was any serious disregard of regulations, it was not brought to the attention of this Department, the conduct of the troops, at all times, appearing to be excellent.
On October 29, 1901, Regimental General Order No. 27 pub- lished to the command that on October 25, 1904. General Orders No. 32, Headquarters National Guard of Pennsylvania, had an- nounced that the revision of the Infantry Drill Regulations,
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United States Army, had been approved by the Secretary of War June 23, 1901, and published " for the information and govern- ment of the Army and the organized militia of the United States," and that the same was thereby adopted for the National Guard of Pennsylvania.
It was also directed that all infantry exercises and manœuvres . not embraced in that system were prohibited and that those pre- scribed should be strictly observed, except so far as it might be necessary to adhere to previous regulations in the use of the United States magazine ritle.
Captain Harry J. Mehard, Regimental Inspector of Rifle Practice, had been directed in General Orders on the respective drill nights of the several companies of the regiment to give aid to the officers and instruction to the men in the handling and use of the new rifle and in aiming and sighting. the better to enable them to familiarize themselves with the weapon and become pro- ficient in its use, that the practice which all were enjoined faith- fully to pursue might prove resultful in attaining the highest classification possible under the rules.
As shown by the tabulation of the rifle qualifications of the First Brigade for the season ending October 31, 1904. in the annual report of Maj. E. Claude Goddard, Acting Inspector of Rifle Practice. the First Regiment's standing in the several classifications was as follows: Experts, 25; sharpshooters, 10; marksmen, 240; first-class men, 178; second-class men, 179; third-class men. 34: fourth-class men. 116: total, 782; figure of merit, 68.OS. It will be noticed that the fourth class. "all who have not fired, or who having fired failed to qualify as third- class men, a paradoxical sort of a class, where as it stands for zero in summing up for the " figure of merit." its gain is every- body's loss. had a painful accretion from 72 in 1903 to 116 in 1904. In the revolver qualification the First Regiment had an aggregate of 64: Experts. 32; marksmen, 28; total qualified, 60: failed to qualify. 4.
The First-class Regimental Match of the First Brigade was won by the First Regiment with a score of 802. the individual scores as follows: Private A. L. Dunn. Company C. 92: Captain Harry J. Mchard. 90: First Lieutenant Chas. P. Smith, Com- pany E. 90: Private Robert Gamble. Company C. 90.
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Company C. First Regiment, won the Company Match Dolan Trophy, with all the companies of the First Brigade in the com- petition, by a score of 147, with individual scores as follows : Corporal A. R. Evans, 40; Private G. F. Hale, 38; Second Lieu- tenant Samuel P. Glenn, 37; First Lieutenant G. B. M. Phillips, 32.
The Regimental Match, all the fourteen regiments of the Guard competing, was won at the Mount Gretna Range, August ?. 1904, the matches of that year pronounced by the General In- spector of Rifle Practice " the most successful ever held by the State," by the First Regiment with a total score of 358, the individual scores being: Private Robert Gamble, C, 93; Private Albert L. Dunn, C, 90; Captain Mehard, 88; and Private Theo. F. Shonert, C, S7.
The Brigade Match, shot August 11, 1904, instituted 1SS4, twice before won finally, both times by the Third Brigade, was again won, finally this time. by the First Brigade with a grand total of 1050 against the Third Brigade's 1012 and the Second's 1001. There were on the team of twelve, five from the First Regiment, as follows: Captain Harry J. Mehard, his three totals aggregating 93: Private Robert Gamble, C. with totals of 94; Private Theo. F. Shonert, C, S7; Private Albert L. Dunn, C, 86; Chief Musician William E. Chapin, 80.
The Trexler 1000 yards trophy, open to teams of four from each brigade, was won by the First Brigade team, with a total of 133. Two of the team were from the First Regiment. Captain Mehard, who scored 36. and Private Shonert. who scored 30.
Once before, in 1900, Captain Harry J. Mehard had won, and now in 1904 he was again the winner of the State Champion Shot Gold Medal. In 1900 his score was 90.20; in 1904 it was 92.80. He also won the Expert Revolver Match in 1904, with a score of 63.
The Pennsylvania State Team to participate in the National Match to be shot at Fort Riley, Kansas, was selected upon the merit shown by their week's work at, Mount Gretna. Of the seventeen, twelve to shoot, were Captain Harry J. Mchard. Privates Robert Gamble, Albert L. Dunn, Jr., and Theodore F. Shonert, of Company C. Captain Mehard was unable to go with the team. The match was shot at Fort Riley, August 22, 23 and
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24. " The Pennsylvania team took seventh place out of the nineteen entries and lacked just thirteen points of being among the winners." Of the Pennsylvania team men with their grand total of 3983. Private Dun was second with an individual total of 361, Private Gamble third with an individual total of 34s. and Private Shonert twelfth with an individual total of 302.
The Board of Officers by resolution extended its thanks to the Regimental Inspector of Rifle Practice and the regimental team for their efficient work during the competitions at Mount Gretna in winning the Regimental Trophy and contributing to the success of the brigade by having all five of the members a part of that team. And the same resolution also provided for a committee of three to procure a suitable testimonial for the mem- bers of the team.
This incident that follows. happening, as it did, in the winter of 1904-05, historie, unique, instructive, of a touch with the regi- ment, if not of it. well adapts itself for preservation here, where the one year ends and the other begins.
A magazine reviewer not long ago elosed his review of a war contribution to his periodical with this comment: " That it sum- moned up thoughts that reminded one of the endlessness of war and the immeasurable distance travelled by its echoes."
This conclusion had something of an exemplification recently in Philadelphia. The band of a British regiment, the Grenadier Guards, sometimes known as the Prince of Wales Own, had been at the St. Louis Exposition. On its return, at the invitation of a number of the good people of that city who had known of its high repute at its home, the band made a brief stop on its way to take ship at New York. It was a bright. clear, crisp winter morning. and in its showy red, the all-prevailing color of Britain's soldiery. escorted by the band of the Veteran Corps of the First Regiment Infantry, National Guard of Pennsylvania, it made a most attractive display as it marched down Chestnut Street to the front of Independence Hall. There the two bands halted under the windows of the room where the Declaration was signed, and where in its real presence is now enshrined the furniture actually in use at the time of the signing, and where the portraits of the signers that adorn the walls, accurately portrayed on the canvas. remain as the surviving reminders of what they were when in the
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flesh. First the Veteran Corps Band played " God Save the Queen," and then in the spirited strain that the incident prompted, the Grenadier Guards band followed with the thrilling notes of the " Star Spangled Banner," and so each tune was several times repeated. A multitude of spectators crowded every available space. Suddenly one of the large windows of the Hall was raised, no one occupied it, no living hand was seeu to raise it. Its emptiness, the unseen hand. the broad bright light of the noonday sun, were quite suggestive of an apparition, and it took but a little stretch of imagination to place, within that window's empty space, the ghostly forms of Franklin, Adams, Hancock, and others of that patriot band, who with clenched fists and knitted brows were hurling anathemas at such a profanation of the quietude of this, the sacred abiding-place of all that is so dear to the American patriot.
On February 15, 1905, Captain John H. Maurer resigned his captainey of Company C. First Lieutenant George B. Mc- Clellan Phillips was elected to succeed him July 12. 1905. Cap- tain Phillips had first enlisted in Company D, First Infantry, April 3, 1885, where he remained except for brief intervals be- tween discharge and re-enlistment. continuing through the Spanish-American War until April 12, 1899, when he was trans- ferred to Company C. there to become, in due course, second and first lieutenant and ultimately captain.
A vacancy on the staff of the First Brigade, the retirement of Maj. J. Willis O'Neil. June 19. 1905, was followed by the promotion on June 21, 1905. of Captain Frank L. Mueller from captain and regimental commissary of the First Regiment to be major and commissary of subsistence. First Brigade. Major Mueller's aptitude and capacity and not only a businesslike, but technical understanding of an army commissariat had grown with his experience. While he was ever alert in the faithful discharge of the duties imposed by his immediate surroundings, he was in frequent demand elsewhere for instruction, advice, and counsel.
Captain Raymond C. Winter, private Company G, First Regiment. December 20, 1892: first sergeant Company G. First Pennsylvania Volunteers, through Spanish-American War, afterwards battalion and regimental sergeant major, in service continuously from original enlistment, was on June 30, 1905.
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1905
appointed captain and regimental commissary, vice Mueller, promoted.
The commission of Captain Charles F. S. Ellwanger as eap- tain of Company A was vacated November 30, 1905. First Lieu- tenant Frank Hall was elected to succeed him April 13. 1906. Captain Hall had enlisted as a private in Company A, October 19, 1900, and had been promoted sergeant: then second lieuten- ant February 26. 1904; first lieutenant July 12, 1904, and to the captainey two years afterwards.
On the evening of Washington's Birthday. February 22. 1905, the regiment was assembled at the armory in State uniform. blue, with Brig .- Gen. Thomas J. Stewart. the Adjutant-General of the State, in special attendance. The occasion that called for the gathering was the presentation by him of the valuable trophy donated by the Philadelphia Inquirer to Company K, First Regi- ment Infantry, National Guard of Pennsylvania, Captain Charles F. Hess commanding. the company of infantry that received " the highest ratings of all other companies of infantry in the division " for military efficiency at the annual tour of duty at Camp Matthew Stanley Quay, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, July 23-30, 1904. " thus entitling its officers and men to great credit and com- mendation for persistent devotion to duty and the exacting re- quirements of the military service." The Adjutant-General also presented to the Second Troop. Philadelphia City Cavalry, Cap- tain Frank E. Schermerhorn commanding, in attendance at the armory for the purpose at Colonel Bowman's invitation. a like valuable trophy awarded to the company of cavalry that had secured at the same encampment the highest ratings for military efficiency in the cavalry of the division.
The figure of efficiency as determined by the inspections. freely discussed in a previous chapter, hereafter more frequently appearing in the printed reports, particularly of the spring in- spections. has official recognition in a circular of the Inspector- General's published as General Order No. 1. Headquarters National Guard of Pennsylvania. Adjutant-General's office, January 6, 1905, as follows :
In the future the efficiency of an organization will be determined by the " percentage of attendaner " at inspection (based only upon the offi- cers and men actually present) and the "general average" in the ratio
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HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT. A. G. P.
of three to seven: for example. if a command receives 95 in " percentage of attendance," and 90 for " general average," by multiplying the " percentage of attendance " by three, and the " general average" by seven. the sum of the products, divided by ten. will give the figure of efficiency, namely, 91.50.
The spring inspections for 1905 for the First Brigade, con- dueted by Major Worman, again accompanied by General Me- Kibbin, of the Army, who this year contemplated his severance from further National Guard duty, resulted as to the First Regi- ment in percentage of attendance, general average, and figure of efficiency, as follows :
Co. A Co. B Co. C Co. D Co. E Co. F Co. G Co. II. Co. I Co. K Co. L Co. M Per. of Attend .. 69.84 100 100 100 100 100 S5.96 100 82.14 100 100 100 Gen'l Average .. 89.37 $7:00 90.87 91.87 96.62 91.87 91.87 93.50 91.75 95.87 91.25 91.00 Fig. of Effic'y ... 83.51 0.90 93.60 94.30 97.63 94.30 90.09 95.45 SS.S6 97.10 93.87 93.70
This inspection is thus referred to by General Schall in his annual report as Commanding Officer of the First Brigade for the year 1905:
The annual inspection by the brigade inspector under the supervision of Brig .- Gen. Chambers MeKibbin, United States Army, was held during the months of February, March, April and May, showing the usual high standard. First Infantry, Col. Wendell P. Bowman commanding, received the highest average.
CHAPTER XII.
1905-1911-PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S INAUGURATION-PENNSYL- VALVIA MILITARY COLLEGE NAMES ITS ANNUAL MILITARY DAY -- FIRST REGIMENT DAY-SPRING INSPECTIONS-ANNUAL INSPEC- TIONS-ENCAMPMENTS -- ARMY OFFICERS COMMENTS-RIFLE PRACTICE, SCORES. RESULTS. COMPETITIONS-GAMBLE WINS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP MEDAL-REGIMENTAL ANNIVERSARIES, COLONEL BOWMAN APPOINTED BRIGADIER-GENERAL-COLONEL GOOD ELECTED COLONEL-MEMORIAL DAY SERVICES- FOUNDER'S WEEK PARADE, PHILADELPHIA -. BRIGADIER-GENERAL BOWMAN MADE MAJOR-GENERAL-COLONEL GOOD BRIGADIER- GENERAL-MAJOR WILLIAM F. EIDELL ELECTED COLONEL- FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
The division of the National Guard of Pennsylvania was in evidence in its participation in the ceremonies incident to the inauguration of the Honorable Theodore Roosevelt as President of the United States on Saturday, March 4, 1905, through a provisional brigade commanded by Brig-Gen. J. P. S. Gobin, made up of twelve companies. each assigned from the Second and Third Brigades to make up two provisional regiments, and of the First Regiment Infantry, Col. Wendell P. Bowman com- manding. from the First Brigade. This participation of the Pennsylvania Gnard by a provisional brigade had been provided for and an appropriation to pay its expenses made by joint resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives, approved by the Governor. The appropriation permitted an allowance of $1.00 per day for two days for subsistence to each officer and en- listed man. and $200 to regimental headquarters with an addi- tional $200 for a band.
The regiment assembled at the Regimental Armory in heavy marching order. men in blue overcoat, officers in olive drab. with regulation dress eap, with Colonel Bowman in command. at nine o'clock on the evening of Friday, March 3. 1905. entraining at ten at. Broad Street Station for its Washington destination, where. arriving on the early morning of Saturday. it participated in the
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parade and ceremonies incident to the inauguration, and returned by the same route. the Pennsylvania. leaving Washington at -ix o'clock on the afternoon of the 5th, reaching its home rendezvous in due course, without accident or casualty of any kind.
The strength of the provisional brigade was an aggregate of 2403, and the First Regiment's total commissioned officers and enlisted men was 748. Of this brigade Adjutant-General Stewart in his annual report speaks as follows: " The provisional brigade reflected great credit upon the State, and officers and men alike behaved in a most exemplary manner."
General Gobin also said officially :
The provisional regiments authorized to attend the inauguration at Washington under my command, were a very creditable representation of the National Guard of the State. Better quarters were provided and the provision for feeding the men was much better than any former experience we have had on the-e occasions. The men marched well and the discipline was ex- cellent and not a single complaint from any source reached me-a very unusual situation. The usual delay occurred in returning the men to their homes, which was not surprising under the circumstances, as the railroad was simply congested. It was, however, a very satisfactory trip.
Colonel Bowman devoted a paragraph in his General Order No. 7 of March 7, 1905. to his expression of appreciation.
The colonel commanding hereby specially commends the officers and men of this regiment for their soldierly conduct, military bearing, spirit and perfect discipline throughout the march. en route, and in the performance of the duty assigned to them. incident to the inauguration of President Roosevelt in Washington March 3 to 5. 1905. The words of congratulation and commenda- tion from those highest in military authority were most gratifying and should encourage every man to renewed efforts not only to maintain but to advance the present efficiency and thus be ready at all times for the most exacting requirements of the service.
The forty-fourth anniversary of the organization of the regi- ment was commemorated by the usual street demonstration on Wednesday, April 19, 1905. In the General Order for the parade it was announced :
That any officer or man ab-enting himself from this duty without authority will be summarily disciplined for disobedience to orders and neglect of duty. This duty is obligatory and must be performed with soldierly spirit. Being the anniversary day of the regiment. every officer and man should be with the colors. and min-t be unless exeused by proper authority.
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CAMP ROBERT E. PATTISON
The first call was sounded at 3.50, the assembly at four, when the regiment in full dress uniform. with Colonel Bowman in command, accompanied by the Net ran Corps. left the armory in full strength and most impressive shape. The march, going south over the route generally prescribed, was inspirited by a review of the column from the porch of the Union League by Brig .- Gen. Chambers MeKibbin, of the Army. The day con- eluded with the evening's usual social and reminiscent features.
On the invitation of the Chaplain, Rev. Floyd Williams Tomkins, D. D., accepted by the Board of Officers, the regiment, in full dress uniform accompanied by the Veteran Corps, at- tended Memorial Day services at ten o'clock Sunday morning of May 28, 1905, at Holy Trinity Church.
By resolution of the Board of Officers of June 5, 1905, the regiment affiliated with and became a member of the National Rifle Association of America.
The time for the annual encampment. July 8 to 15 inclusive, this year, 1905. to be br brigades, had been announced as early as April 10, and for the First Brigade the place was subsequently designated as Perkasie and the name as Canip Robert E. Pattison.
The advance detail of the First Regiment, under First Lieu- tenant Edward E. Ilollenback, of Company L, left the Reading Terminal at 7 o'clock on the morning of July 6 and arrived at Perkasie at S.50. " And," as Maj. Thomas J. Dolan. the Brigade Quartermaster, reports of all the brigade details. " from then until they joined their respective commands on the arrival of the main body of the troops, their discipline was good in every respect and the duties for which they were detailed performed in a satisfactory and soldierly way."
That not only was the camp constructed in a " satisfactory and soldierly way" but as well used and occupied in a " satis- factory and soldierly way." is well established in another para- graph of Major Dolan's report.
Never in the experience of the writer have the camps of the First Brigade presented so good an appearance for general neatne-s. cleanliness and order, from the colonel's line down to the care and alignment of the garbage cans and through the line of sinks. There was a relative difference to be observed between organizations, but as one went through these camps it was impossible not to be struck with the military order and precision that prevailed.
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The regiment having entrained in two sections at Broad and Callowhill Streets at 9 o'clock on the evening of Friday, July 7, reaching Perkasie in the average time of one hour and fifty minutes and its camp site shortly afterwards, had had time to become acquainted with its quarters before the formal opening of the camp, announced for Saturday, July S, at & o'clock A.M. A report of one of the inspectors states that " Men were detrained from the Infantry sections in from two minutes for the quickest to six minutes for the slowest." A previous analysis has demon- strated to which of the two classes the First Regiment belongs.
The hours for drills, roll calls, and duties were as had here- tofore prevailed. The ceremonies were a daily regimental guard mount and every day there was a regimental parade, except Sunday, when a brigade parade replaced it; Friday, when a brigade review was substituted, and Thursday, when there was a review by the Division Commander.
The regiment was inspected under the supervision of the In- spector-General on Thursday, July 13, commencing about seven in the morning and with a short interval for dinner and another for review, not concluded until about seven in the evening. Some innovations on the basis of values from which ratings were to be computed need to be noted. The condition of camps during the entire time, making and breaking camp, condition of camp ground after the breaking of camp, entraining and detraining of troops, were all to be subjects for and factors in the rating for discipline. The drills after inspection at the spring inspections were confined to school of soldier and squad " for the purpose of calling attention of commanding officers to the absolute necessity for such training and to allow ample time for the same," but owing to lack of time no drills were exacted from the infantry organizations at the annual inspections of 1905.
The regiment broke its camp and returned to its home rendez- vous when the time limit prescribed for this tour of camp duty had expired. As the breaking of the camp and the condition of the grounds on which it was held is made a subject and factor in the rating computations, the official report of Major Dolan under those heads is of interest :
BREAKING CAMP .- The breaking of the camps and departure of the troops was executed in a business-like and military manner and throughout showed an
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1905
excellent discipline: and was made with as much expedition as could possibly be expected considering the impedimenta carried and a wagon service of farmers, difficult to control, as the general movement was carried out within one hour of schedule time.
CONDITION OF CAMP AFTER TOUR .- After the departure of the troops the ground on which the encampment was held was thoroughly gone over and inspected. The condition of the various sites prevented relative difference, but. on the whole, it was neat, serupulously clean and well policed.
This paragraph concludes with a number of exceptions set forth in detail, rather suggestive for the future than in complaint of the past, none of which include the First Regiment and none of which are of a nature sufficiently serious to disturb the con- elusion that " on the whole, it was neat, serupulously clean and well policed."
The First Regiment at this inspection lost its first place and fell back to the second by the narrow margin of .24. The general average of the Eighth Regiment was 97.41, the general average of the First Regiment 97.17, its ratings for discipline 97, guard duty 95, condition of camp, etc., 99. Precisely the same figures prevail under these respective heads in the Eighth, but in the condition of arms and equipment the Eighth rating is 99.91. and the First 96.86; and of elothing, while the First has a rating of 97.33. the Eighth has one of 97.50; and in books and papers the Eighth leads with 96.09 and the First follows with 95.55.
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