USA > Pennsylvania > History of the First regiment infantry, National guard of Pennsylvania (Grey Reserves) 1861-1911, pt 2 > Part 19
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Company :
A B C D
G H I K L
Person. appear.
Cond. of arms.
Cond. of eloth.
F F 9$ 100 100 99 100 95 100 99 100 95 99 99 100 99 100 100 100 98 95 100 9S 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Cond. of books and papers. 100 90 98 98 99
99 100 99 99 100 99 100
It would seem that with a 100 in each subdivision. Companies K and M had earned a " special mention," while E. with but a single falling off to 99 in books and papers, might have been noticed by a reference. but it does not so appear in the record.
560
HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT. N. G. P.
190G
The general averages of the other regiments were, respectively, as follows: Third, 97.85; Thirteenth, 97.14; Eighth, 96.98; Sixteenth. 96.59: Tenth. 96.74; Twelfth, 96.57; Fourteenth, 96.47; Fourth, 96.26: Second, 95.96; Sixth, 95.74; Ninth, 95.24; Fifth. 94.96; Eighteenth, 94.86.
The Inspector-General. Col. Frank G. Sweeney, thus com- mends the Guard as a whole, particularly as demonstrated by the annual inspection :
Never in its history has the National Guard of Pennsylvania presented a better front than at this in-peetion. With the new Khaki uniform, which is both comfortable and attractive, new campaign hats and leggins, the commands made a handsome appearance.
The comment running through the official reports of the officers of the Army detailed by the War Department for this encampment is at times sharply critical, at others persuasively corrective, and not infrequently appreciative and encouraging. There is also diversity in matters of opinion and in method of expression. Between two of these officers, Maj. Jos. T. Diekman, of the Gen- eral Staff, assigned to the Second Brigade, and Captain John W. Furlong, also of the General Staff, assigned to the First Brigade, both West Point graduates of the classes of 1881 and 1891 respectively, Major Dickman from Ohio and Captain Furlong from Pennsylvania, there seems quite a wide temperamental difference. Speaking of matters common to both assignments of the division review of Thursday, July 26. Captain Furlong said :
The various ceremonies were generally very creditably performed, but having a certain stiffness due to lack of self-confidence. In the reviews the formations were generally executed very raggedly. While the regiments were marching in review the lines were good and distances generally well kept for the time being. Before and after passing the reviewing stand they were not so well kept.
While the same event is thus disposed of by Major Dickman :
The review of the entire division took place in the evening of July 26. The arrangements for the ceremony were perfect. the only annoyance, as usual, coming from the intrusion of the spectators. The march past con- tinned for over one hour, and the only comment to make is that it was very well done.
Captain Furlong reaches the harsh conclusion that it was the apparent consensus of opinion that the encampment was for "a
561
.
EXTRACTS FROM REPORTS
1906
summer outing and recruiting advertisement" rather than for what its purpose and intention was-business, instruction and experience.
The majority of the officers seemed to be zealous in the discharge of their duties, but the general attitude toward the men seemed to be that the camp was a summer outing and a sort of recruiting advertisement, and that it would not be wise to expect any hard work of them. Here and there individ- nals were encountered who deplored this view of the matter and realized the importance of getting the maximum of work out of their men while they had thein together.
Major Diekman takes the more liberal, and what might be reasonably conceded to be the fairer view, that the encampment was conducted in all respects both as to work and diversion in a way the more likely to produce the best results.
It is in pursuit of an entirely correet principle, therefore, that the highest military authorities of Pennsylvania seck to make the annual en- campment of their guard an enjoyable outing through judicious mixture of work and leisure, rather than a strenuous and fatiguing existence for a week, tending to leave the physically soft in a condition unsuited for immediate resumption of civil avocations and with no inelination for future experiences of a similar character. The amount of work required of militia at encamp- ment thus becomes a sort of barometer, in an inverse sense, of the difficulties of recruitment and retention in service. which probably can never be fully appreciated by an outsider.
A. word in Captain Furlong's report, not in general use and rarely remembered, will bear a reference: " Where troops get no exercise in castramentation it would be wise to expend half a day on this subject when the annual opportunity arrives." This com- ment is made in criticism on the desirability of a previous con- struction and laying out of the camps before the arrival of the troops. "Castrametation," not castramentation, is shown by its derivatives to be a serviccable word of well-chosen meaning- castro. a camp; metor, measure: meta. boundary ; and its defini- tion a- given in the Standard Dictionary is (1) " The art or act of laying out a camp: " (2) " The outline or plan of a camp."
In compliance with the desire of the Capitol Dedication Com- mittee and in conformity with an Act of Assembly providing for the participation of the National Guard in the Dedication of the new Capitol Building at Harrisburg. October 4. 1906. a pro- visional brigade consisting of one regiment of infantry from each
36
562
HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
1906
of the brigades under command of Brig .- Gen. John A. Wiley was organized for the purpose. Col. Wendell P. Bowman of the First Regiment of Infantry was assigned to the command of the pro- visional regiment from the First Brigade, composed of the band, hospital corps, and Companies E. K, and L of the First Regiment. Companies C. D, and G of the Second, Companies E. I, and M of the Third, and Companies A, I, and K of the Sixth. Major A. L. Williams commanded the three companies of the First Regi- ment, the three companies in turn being respectively commanded : Company E by Captain Chas. P. Hunt, Company K by Captain Chas. F. Hess, Company L by Captain Geo. A. Scattergood.
In the report of that zealous and persistent worker and close observer, Maj. E. Claude Goddard. Acting Inspector of Ritle Prae- tice, First Brigade. for the season ending October 31. 1906. the First Regiment is shown to have attained the highest figure of merit in the brigade, 64.79, with a rifle qualification score for the season, ont of a total of $49, of 38 experts, & sharpshooters, 256 marksmen, 146 first-class, 134 second-class, 47 third-class, and 190 fourth-class or zero men. In revolver qualification the First Regiment's totals were as follows: Experts, 29: marksmen, 24; total qualified, 53; failed to qualify, S; aggregate. 61.
The First Regiment won the Second-class Regimental Match in the brigade, seven shots, 200 and 500 yards. Van Rensselaer trophy and medals with a grand total of 223. Corporal F. X. Strong, Company L, scored 39; Sergeant A. R. Evans, Company C, 39; Sergeant H. F. Hunt, Company E. 35; and Captain G. B. M. Phillips, Company C, 50.
The First Regiment was also the winner of the brigade trophy and gold medals in the First-class Regimental Match with a grand total of 326. its team scoring in totals: Captain Mehard. S6; Private Gamble, $5; Corporal Strong. 78; Sergeant Evans, 76.
In the annual State competitions at Mount Gretna that began August 20, 1906. the present cup of the Regimental Match, all the infantry regiments of the State participating, that had been won twice by the First Regiment. once by the Sixth, once by the Third, the third winning to bo final, was now again won for the second time by the Third Regiment with a grand total of $61.
Only in the Brigade Match won by the team of twelve of the First Brigade with a grand total of 1514, with Privates Robert
563
INAUGURATION OF THE GOVERNOR
Gamble with a grand total of 128 and A. L. Dunn, Jr., with a grand total of 193, of the First Regiment on the team, did the First Regiment win or have active touch with the winning team in any of the Mount Gretna competitions of 1906.
Private Robert Gamble, Company C. First Regiment. and Private Albert L. Dunn. Jr., Company C, First Regiment, were selected as two of the twenty that made up the Pennsylvania State Team to participate in the National Match at Sea Girt, New Jersey. Forty-one teams were entered for the match, four from the regular establi-Innent and thirtyseven from the different States. The match was shot September 4, 5, and 6, and in the field of forty-one teams Pennsylvania took thirteenth place. the lowest she had ever held in the competition. The United States Infantry team won with a grand total of 3251; Pennsylvania's was 2974. Major Goddard having the highest individual grand total of 272, with Dunn's 250, and Gamble's 242.
The Champion Shot Medal presented annually by the Governor of Pennsylvania, heretofore won on highest individual score, high individual average, or high aggregate, as conditions were from time to time changed. this time, 1906, was won in competition. with Private Robert Gamble, Company C. First Regiment, again. for the second time. the winner with a score of 227.
The one conspicuous incident in the ceremonies attendant upon the inauguration of Governor Edwin S. Stuart as Governor of Pennsylvania on the third Tuesday of January, 1907. was the absence of the usual military display, and the presence of but a regiment and battalion of infantry, and a single troop of cavalry as the Governor had requested. That the National Guard, how- ever. was to be the ever essential factor it had always been in the preservation of the peace and maintenance of the dignity of the Commonwealth was early made manifest by the announcement of the retention of Brig .- Gen. Thomas J. Stewart as the Adjutant- General of the State. an officer whose vigilance, zeal. and purpose had not ouly proven his capacity for effective service, but had won for him the confidence of the community and esteom of the soldier.
But Governor Stewart's wisdom of choice did not cease here. In his determination to choose wisely for his military family he had named Captain and Regimental Adjutant Fred. Taylor Pusey
564
HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
1907
to be a lieutenant-colonel and aide-de-camp with rank from Febru- ary 17. 1907. In this selection the First Regiment was to lose the services of an officer who had not only won distinction as a soldier, but had stenred a reputation for efficiency and maintained a character for capacity as an officer of the administrative staff, recognized and appreciated by his superiors and everywhere ac- knowledged. Colonel Pusey, beginning his military career as a private in Company C, First Regiment Infantry, National Guard. Pennsylvania, June 16, 1892, was a corporal March 27, 1895: battalion sergeant-major, December 7, 1893; battalion adjutant February 28. 1896; first lieutenant and regimental adjutant July 15, 1896; reappointed July 1, 1897; recommissioned cap- tain and regimental adjutant April 28. 1899; reappointed July 1. 1902. Three years a sergeant-major, more than ten years an adjutant, there is included in his record his service as first lieu- tenant and adjutant First Pennsylvania Volunteers, through the Spanish-American War from May 5, 1998, until he was mustered out with the regiment, October 26, 1898.
On March 4. 1907, First Lieutenant and Battalion Adjutant Augustus D. Whitney was announced in General Order No. 4 from Regimental Headquarters, as captain and regimental adjutant, to rank from February 15. 1907. vice Pusey, promoted aide-de-camp on staff of Commander-in-Chief. Captain Whitney, first an enlisted man in Company C, November 2, 1594. was made a corporal May 27. 1895; second lieutenant May 13, 1897: first lieutenant February 23, 1999; captain September 21, 1899: battalion adjutant April 9. 1900 (resigning his captainey Janu- ary 1. 1900). and reappointed July 2. 1902. Here he remained until promoted to the regimental adjutaney. Through the Spanish- American War Captain Whitney was second lieutenant, Company C, First Pennsylvania Volunteers. from May 10, 1895, until mustered out with his company. October 26. 1898.
On April 15, 1907. Captain Sylvester HT. Watson, Company HI. in service from April 5. 1899, and captain from June 11. 1902, resigned his captainey. Promoted from his first lieutenancy. which he had held from January 5, 1905. following through the intervening grades of corporal and sergeant, on enlistment as pri- vate March 1. 1500. Captain William C. Levering was, oll May 22, 1907. elected to succeed him.
565
SPRING INSPECTIONS
1907
Beginning on Tuesday, January 21, 1907, and ending on Friday, February's, 1907, with an evening devoted to each com- pany, the usual spring inspections were held by Maj. Charles II. Worman, the Brigade Inspector, accompanied by Maj. W. P. Stone, Artillery Corps, United States Army. This officer, as the Brigade-Commander states in his annual report, subsequently re- - ported to the War Department that all the companies were found to be " qualified and efficient."
In Major Worman's official report of April 29, 1907, he states. among other details, that " The companies generally paraded in good strength, notably Company K. First Regiment, and Com- pany 1, Sixth Regiment, which paraded their maximum strength, 3 officers and 61 men. and 3 officers and 57 men respectively, without any absentee at the time of the inspection."
And again further on he adds that " the rifles of Companies K. First; A and C, Sixth; and I, Third, were exceptionally clean, and the companies deserve special mention for the care bestowed."
The official report of the spring inspection for 1907 shows figures of efficiency as follows :
Company A, 95.57: Company B, $6.73; Company C, 96.34; Company D. 94.86: Company E. 95.12; Company F. 95.56 ; Company G. 91.19 ; Company H. 83.31 : Company I, 95.01 ; Com- pany K. 98.21 : Company L, 91.79; Company M. 96.11. Com- pany K is starred for a " special " mention.
The Board of Officers at its stated meeting of March 4, 1907, dirceted : " That a suitable minute be prepared to be presented to Private Theodore F. Shonert, of Company C, showing the appre- ciation of this board for his faithful and valuable services as a member of the Regimental Rifle Team, the same to be spread on the minutes."
On April 9. 1907, General Orders No. 10. from Regimental Headquarters, announced in paragraph one that " The forty-sixth anniversary of this regiment will be commemorated by a street parade and review in regimental full dress uniform on Friday, April 19. 1907. accompanied by the Veteran Corps." Besides direction, detail, and demand for full ranks, announcement was also made that the column would be reviewed at five delock from the porch of the Union League by the Honorable Edwin S. Stuart,
566
1907
HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
Governor and Commander-in-Chief. On April 19, however, Gen- eral Order No. 11. all the other paragraphs remaining undisturbed. revoked so much of paragraph one of General Order No. 10 that read : " Friday, April 19, 1907." and substituted in its stead : " Saturday, April 27, 1907." The Veteran Corps Banquet and the other evening entertainments went on as usual on the 19th. The review and other features identifying the occasion as a com- memorative anniversary were successfully carried out in the post- poned parade of the 27th.
The regiment in full dress uniform, accompanied by the Vet- eran Corps, attended Memorial Day services on Sunday, May 26. 1907, at four o'clock in the afternoon, at Holy Trinity Church. Rev. Floyd Williams Tomkins. D.D., officiating.
On the afternoon of July 1. 1907, at 6.30 o'clock, pursuant to orders from Headquarters of First Brigade, the line officers of the regiment were directed to assemble at the armory for the purpose of holding an election for colonel to fill the vacancy about to occur through the expiration of the commission of the present ineumbent. Thereupon Col. Wendell P. Bowman was for the fifth time elected colonel of the First Regiment Infantry, National Guard of Penn- sylvania, at the same time announcing his staff as follows:
Captain and adjutant, Augustus D. Whitney: captain and quartermaster. Henry Nuss, Jr .: captain and I. R. P., Harry J. Mehard; captain and com- missary, Raymond L. Winter: captain and chaplain. Floyd Williams Tom- kins; first lieutenant and battalion adjutant. George Rushton Howell; first lieutenant and battalion adjutant, Clarence J. Kensil; first lieutenant and battalion adjutant. J. Howard Reeve; regimental sergeant-major, George S. Pomroi; regimental quartermaster-sergeant. A. Wilson Mathieus: regi- mental commissary sergeant. Harry E. William-on; regimental color sergeant, Eugene H. Waage: regimental color sergeant, JJames Gray; chief musician, William C. Chapin : principal musician, Samuel H. Kendle; drum-major, James McFarland; battalion sergeant-major, Joseph J .. Castle; battalion sergeant- major, William W. Laffrey; battalion sergeant-major, Thomas J. Snyder.
" July 5" [1907] "the regiment proceeded to Perkasie, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and participated with the brigade in the annual tour of duty in the field from July 6 to 13 inclusive." The encampineut was officially designated as Camp Major-General Henry R. Guss, with Brig .- Gen. John W. Schall in command of the camp, and Col. Wendell P. Bowman in command of the First Regiment. The following officers of the United States Army were
1907
567
REPORT OF COLONEL SWEENEY
detailed by the War Department to be present at the encamp- ment of the First Brigade " as observers and instructors "; Cap- tains Charles E. Stodter, Ninth Cavalry, Monroe C. Kerth, Twenty-third Infantry, and B. B. Hyer, Thirteenth Cavalry. Their detail required them to be present, as they were, during the entire period of the encampment, and " to report the actual conditions as found from day to day." " These officers," said the commanding officer of the Brigade in his annual report. " were zealous in the performance of their duties and always ready to assist and advise the officers of the Brigade."
The tour of duty, as reported by Colonel Sweeney in his annual report as inspector-general for the governor and commander-in- chief and the inspecting officer, was restricted to a day at each of the First and Third Brigade camps, Thursday, July 11, being allotted to the First Brigade. In the absence of the reports of the officers of the army not published in the annual report of the adjutant-general for 1907, the official details outside the tabulated ratings are meagre.
Speaking generally, however, Colonel Sweeney said :
The limited amount of time permitted for the officers of the Inspector- General's Department to be in attendance at the several encampments did not give opportunity for the careful and comprehensive study of the condition of the Guard necessary to a just valuation of its real efficiency.
The Inspector-General. as well as the officers engaged in the inspection. saw the troops only when they were on " parade." If the personal appearance, military bearing and work performed at the inspection are to be accepted as conclusive evidence of efficiency, then the Division has never been in better form. . ..
The arms and accoutrements were found, with but few exceptions. in serviceable condition and generally clean.
The khaki uniforms showed careful handling and no little effort on the part of the men to make a favorable appearance.
The discipline of the several commands appears to have been most ex- cellent. No serious violations of regulations were reported and none came to the notice of any of the inspectors. In consequence, the ratings for discipline are necessarily confined to condition of camp. condition of camp grounds after the breaking of camp, detraining and entraining condition of cars, and appearance at inspection and on guard.
This time and for the first time zealous, persistent and intelli- gent effort brought to the Third Regiment of the home brigade Col. William G. Price, Jr., commanding first place in the annual inspection report of 1907, with a general average of 95.07. 1ll
5CS
1907
HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
the other regiments in the State, save the Second, and that with 89.84, was but .6 short, were above .90.
The First Regiment, .61 below its leading competitor, had second place with a general average of 94.46. The ratings of the First were extended order 90; out-post duty, advance and rear- guard, etc., 85; guard duty, 95; discipline, 96; personal appear- ance, 97.53; condition of arms, 97.61; condition of clothing, 97.78; condition of books and papers, 96.78. In all its twelve companies there were but four 100's; three fell to Company K for personal appearance, condition of arms, and condition of clothing, and one to Company E for condition of arms.
A series of schools for commissioned and non-commissioned officers were held monthly through the year, those for the latter being presided over by the several majors. Major John H. Duval, U. S. Army, retired, beside an occasional lecture to the Board of Officers, attended these schools and assisted in the instructions, which were supervised by the colonel commanding.
First Lieutenant and Assistant Surgeon Sorden MeClure died August 7, 1907. Ile had been continuously on duty with tho First Regiment since his assignment, on the day of his appoint- ment to the medical department June 10, 1903. In the General Order announcing his death, directing the usual military obser- vances, it was said that well-poised, unobtrusive, and unassuming, with professional qualifications of a high order, he was one of the most reliable, faithful and efficient of medical officers and that his faithful and patriotic attention to his every duty and his manly conduct had secured him the confidence and support and won hin the respect and regard of all . with whom he was ever brought in touch.
First Lieutenant and Assistant Surgeon Frederick Oswin Waage, who had been a private in Company D and afterwards hospital steward appointed to the medical department October 15, 1907, was on the same day assigned to the First Regiment rice McClure, deceased.
The commissions of Lieut .- Col. J. Lewis Good and Major Albert I. Williams expired on the same day, 22d of August, 1907. and at the request of a majority of commissioned officers on August 9, 1907, an election was ordered for August 22, at S.30
569
APPOINTMENTS
1:07
o'clock r.M., when both officers were again elected to their respec- tive places.
The General Assembly at its session of 1907 passed the act approved May 31, providing for the retirement of officers of the National Guard on request after forty years' service and com- pulsory when the officer shall have reached the age of sixty-four. - Some important changes shortly followed.
On August 19, 1907, Major-General John P. S. Gobin, com- manding Division National Guard of Pennsylvania, was upon his own application relieved from active service and placed upon the retired list; and on August 20, 1907, the appointment was an- nounced of Brigadier-General John W. Sehall, of the First Bri- gade. to be major-general of the National Guard vice Gobin, retired, as was also his assignment to the command of the division.
General Sehall's retirement followed on August 27, but not until by his promotion he had secured the advancement of his assistant adjutant-general, Major J. Campbell Gilmore, to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, who, having established his soldierly effi- cieney in his thirteen years' service as officer and man in the First Regiment Infantry, developed more effectually as an officer of the staff, was thus given further opportunity to demonstrate not only his peculiar fitness for department service but as well his special adaptability for the field.
General Order No. 29, Headquarters National Guard of Penn- sylvania. Adjutant-General's office, August 28, 1907, announced the appointment of Brig .- Gen. John A. Wiley, commanding Second Brigade, to be major-general of the National Guard rice Major- General John W. Schall, retired. and Col. Wendell P. Bowman. commanding First Regiment Infantry, to be a brigadier-general. General Wiley was assigned to the division and General Bowman. who was assigned to the First Brigade, was at the same time authorized to order an election for colonel of the First Regiment Infantry and to fill vacancies in field officers that might be occa- sioned by said election.
General Bowman's twenty years of his coloneley had been busy, eventful, and progressive. Save for its profitable experi- enec, he had left the old behind and seized the new with zealous purposes. Familiar with evolutions. acquainted with the manœuvre. a student of the problem, he had retained what he had
570
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