USA > Pennsylvania > History of the First regiment infantry, National guard of Pennsylvania (Grey Reserves) 1861-1911, pt 2 > Part 21
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42
It is with the profoundest regret that note is made of the many cas- nalties and fatalities at this encampment. The Inspector-General does not concur in the opinions expressed in the daily press that the accontrements worn by the men were in measure responsible for the lightning's sad havoc- it was merely a circumstance.
The sources from which an inspecting officer draws his con- clusions, accepted when they commend, questioned sometimes by those at fault when they censure, are rarely sought for. It is not unlikely, however, that the inspector-general was in some measure moved by the more than ereditable averages attained by the entire Guard, the highest 96.17. the lowest 92.53, at the annual insper- tion of 1908, when he. officially announced that in his judgment the National Guard had not been in a more satisfactory condition during all his seventeen years of service than it was at that time.
1903
REGIMENTAL AVERAGES
551
Of the thirteen regiments- the Third detached to perform its tour of duty at Pine Camp, New York, with the regulars -- the First Regiment made the highest general average, 96.17, with a rating of 97 for guard duty and 95 for discipline. Two com- panies, C and K. each received a " special mention " and a maxi- mun rating of 100 for " personal appearance." Out of the 134 infantry companies that make up the thirteen regiments, but six others, G of the Sixth, D and I of the Eighth, D of the Thirteenth, M of the Sixteenth, and K of the Eighteenth, were marked for " special mention." each, too. for a maximum " personal appear- ance " rating ouly.
Then follow the other regiments in their order of merit, the Twelfth, with a general average of 94.83. guard duty 95, discipline 95: the Eighth, general average 94.57, guard duty 93, discipline 93; the Second, general average 94.39, guard duty 95, discipline 91; the Tenth, general average 94.05, guard duty 95. discipline 92: the Sixth. general average 93.96, guard duty 95, disci- pline 93; the Thirteenth, general average 98.92, guard duty 90. discipline 94; the Sixteenth, general average 93.85, guard duty 90, discipline 93: the Eighteenth, general average 93.83, guard duty 97, discipline 90; the Fourteenth, general average 93.56, guard duty 97, discipline 92: the Fifth, general average 93.09. guard duty 93. discipline 92; the Fourth, general average 92.72. guard duty 87, discipline 90: the Ninth, general average 92.53. guard duty 90, discipline 90.
In General Order No. 27. Headquarters National Guard of Pennsylvania. Adjutant-General's Office, Harrisburg, Pa .. June 26, 1909, which publishes the " Return of Small Arms Firing of the Troops in the State of Pennsylvania for the Year 1908." the rifle firing ela-sification and figure of merit of the First Regiment. appear as follows: Average strength present and absent, commi -- sioned and enlisted, for the entire period of the firing, 919; per cont. of average. 86.40: expert riflemen. 4 : sharpshooters. 8; marksmen, 34>; first-class marksmen, 173: second-class, 173: third-class. 54: fourth-class. 150: figure of merit, 69.03. an in- crease of .26 over its 1907 figure of 68.77 : total firing rifle, $20 : total tiring pistol. 15. Company E's figure of merit was highest. 105.47. Still above a hundred, but not up to its record for 1907, 111.74. Company K followed with 57.50, a considerable gain
5S2
HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
190$
over its previous year's rating of 73.78 ; and Company C was third with $5.20, against its 94.25 of the previous year.
The Brigade Trophy, contested for by the three brigades at the State rifle competitions at Mount Gretna on August 12, 1905. was won, as it had been for eight consecutive years, by the First Brigade. The First Regiment's contribution to the team was as follows : Captain Harry J. Mehard, inspector of rifle practice : Chief Musician William E. Chapin ; Privates Robert Gamble and A. L. Dunn, of Company C.
Founder's Week, October 4-11, 1908, a series of commemora- tive ceremonials, religious, civic, military, pageant, parade. ban- quet, assembly, organized and authorized by the Mayor and Coun- cils in celebration of the 225th Anniversary of the establishment of the city government, left behind in all its functions and features. successes and remembranees, that have a place in historie chronol- ogy, well worthy of a permanent lodgment.
Monday, October 5, was set apart as Military Day. In recent years, commemorative centenaries, the Spanish-American War Peace Jubilee, the frequent gatherings of the National Guard and other events of lesser moment had shown to Philadelphia military displays of magnitude and character such as in earlier times were wholly unknown. The Founder's Week military parade lost noth- ing in contrast or comparison with the effective military pageants that had aforetime preceded it. Maj .- Gen. Frederick D. Grant. United States Army, was in command, with Gen. Edward Morrell his chief aide, and Maj .- Gen. James W. Latta, National Guard, Pennsylvania, retired, chief of staff. The Army and Navy of the United States was well represented, sailors and marines from the squadron in the Delaware, artillery, coastwise and field. cavalry. infantry. every arm of the service, National Guard from the neigh- boring States, and the entire division of the National Guard of Pennsylvania made up a column that in numbers, character. sol- dierly bearing and impressiveness silenced criticism, aroused enthusiasm and brought the vast crowds to the highest pitch of demonstrative greeting.
Twenty-five thousand was the estimated strength of this hastily mobilized army. The reviewing stand was located at the southwest corner of Broad and Arch Streets, at its foot and across the way, on the east side of Broad Street the members of the Grand
?
583
FOUNDER'S WEEK
1909
Army of the Republic were seated. " The scene," so the Public Ledger reports, " when General Grant passed the reviewing stand, beggars description. Hundreds of policemen said that never had they fought so hard to restrain a crowd from breaking the lines that held them back." The line of march on Broad Street stretched from Susquehanna Avenue to Jackson Street. The head of the column left Susquehanna Avenue at one o'clock and reached its terminus at 2.45, taking just one hour and forty-five minutes to cover the route.
Regimental General Order No. 26, of September 21, 1908, issued pursuant to General Orders from the Headquarters of the National Guard, passing through division and brigade headquar- ters, announced that the regiment would assemble at the armory for the Division Parade on Monday morning, October 5, 1908, first call to be sounded at 12.10 and assembly at 12.30 p.M. And in response to this General Order, with Col. J. Lewis Good in command, the regiment assembled in its fullest strength of officers and men at the hour named, and moved to its place in line with the brigade on one of the lateral streets on North Broad Street. The column of the division of the Pennsylvania National Guard, Major-Gen. John A. Wiley commanding, arranged according to seniority of brigade commanders, brought the First Brigade, General Bowman, on the left, and the First Regiment, Col. J. Lewis Good, on the left of the brigade and consequently on the left of the entire column.
After disposing of the rest of the column, a description of the conclusion of the march follows: "Thus," reads the Ledger's report, " company on company of the National Guard tramped past and another great cheer arose when Gen. Wendell P. Bowman with his staff rode by at the head of the four regiments of the National Guard from this city. From their place on the reviewing stand the Old Guard hurled cheers and waved their standards. The crowd sent up an answering vell and through an avenue of applanse the city regiments marched-first the Sixth, then the white ducks, blue coats, and spiked helmets of the Third followed, while the cheers redoubled for the Second and First."
As the year was drawing to its close and it had already been announced that the First Regiment would be among the first to be inspected at the coming spring inspections, the colonel cautioned
584
HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. C. P.
1909
company commanders to give special attention to the instruction of their companies in the school of the soldier, school of the squad, school of the company and guard mount, and followed hi- caution with a General Order on December 28, 1908, announcing inspections of his own by companies at 8.80 o'clock on the evening- from the 25th to the 29th January, 1909, inclusive.
On Friday, January 15, 1909, at 8.30 in the evening, the regiment was paraded at the regimental armory in . full dress uniform for review by the governor and commander-in-chief. This ceremony was followed by the formal presentation by the governor to the successful contestants of the several trophies won at the previous riffe competitions. Social functions wisely planned by the committee in charge, incident to the attendance of the lady friends and patrons of the regiment, who had generously graced the occasion by their presence, concluded the evening's performance.
Though the story of drills. inspections and reviews may seem monotonous from frequent repetition, yet, in fact, months and oftener a year elapses between events which in the text appear to run together. There may be, too, just sufficient of a change to flavor the repetition with something of the spice of variety. Besides, inspections frequent and rigorons are the all essential necessity as well to the acquisition as to the retention, and appli- cation, of a proper military training. As in all else, so in the military, the well grounded are the successful. No better illus- tration, that a practical usefulness is always in the wake of a careful training, is to be found anywhere than in our own Revolu- tionary History, when through the watchfulness. tactfulness and rigor of his inspections and thoroughness of his instruction. that eminent German thetician, Baron Steuben, was able to send the Continental Army, broken, weary and worn. forgotten by Con- gress, forsaken by the people, ont from its Valley Forge encamp- ment ground, boastful and hanghty, a very host within itself. conquering and to conquer.
Regimental General Order No. 3, January 21, 1909, announced the spring inspections by companies by Major Charles H. Worman. the brigade inspector, beginning with Company A, on Friday. February 5, 1909. and concluding with Company G. on Tuesday. March 9, 1909.
585
INSPECTION REPORTS
10004
Major Worman was accompanied on these inspections by First Lieutenant Walter Campbell Sweeney, Twenty-fourth United States Infantry, as the representative of the War Department. " a most efficient officer, admirably qualified for the satisfactory fulfilment of the work entrusted to him." The inspector-general and brigade inspector are of one view on the subject of attendance. The inspector-general said: " The attendance at these inspections was most ereditable. there being comparatively few absentees in the entire division." And the brigade inspector said: "The strength present of the several companies was most gratifying. nearly all having the minimum strength as provided by law."
Both, too, deprecated an apparent want of attention to proper instruction in guard duty.
" The inspector-general notes with regret," said Colonel Sweeney, " that practically little consideration has been given to the subject of guard duty, notwithstanding the fact that it is one of the most important factors of a soldier's education -- a soldier that meets the full requirements of guard duty can be relied upon to give a satisfactory account of himself in any duty he may be called upon to perform."
And Major Worman, the brigade inspector, said :
Gnard duty is -adly neglected. Everybody seems to be under the impression that it is no longer necessary to instruct the men in this important part in the training of the soldier. Here again " Krieg-piel " seems to have relegated guard duty to the rear as an obsolete study.
He had also this to say of the pursuit of study in extended order :
The quiz in extended order. advance and rear guard, and outpost duty caused the officers and non-commissioned officers to study their text-looks. and the knowledge gained by them will undoubtedly be of some benefit to then in the field manœuvre.
As it was in 190%, so it was in 1909. With their 100 rating under the several subdivisions, so it was also with their general average and figure of efficiency. Field and staff, Hospital Corps. and regimental band each had the 100 for both.
Of the several companies. Companies B and I tied each other with 97.37 for first place in figure of efficiency and again tied for first place in general average, each with 96,25; and though they
5S6
1909
HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
also tied with 90 each for guard duty, Company I really passed to the front with its 100 for discipline with the narrow margin of three points against Company B's 97. Companies C and E also tied each other for third place in figure of efficiency with 97.20, as also with 96 each for a general average. Nor does the tie break with the ratings of 90 each had for guard duty and the 100 each had for discipline. Fifth place went to Company K with 97.10 for figure of efficiency, 95.87 for a general average. with 92 for guard duty, and 100 for discipline. The sixth in order, which includes all whose figure of efficiency was 97, was Company I with a figure of efficiency of 97.02, a general average of 95.75, discipline 98, and guard duty 90. Then for seventh place Companies A and G tied with figures of efficiency of 96.75 and general averages of 95.37, but G's discipline was 98 against A's 95, while both had 90 in guard duty. Company M was ninth with 96.15 for its figure of efficiency and 94.50 for a general average, 90 for guard duty and 98 for discipline. The tenth place was Company F's with 95.70 for its figure of efficiency. 93.87 for general average, 95 for discipline and for guard duty 90. D had the eleventh with 95.35 for figure of efficiency, 93.37 for general average, 97 for discipline and Số for guard duty ; and H was twelfth with 90.26 for figure of efficiency, 93.62 for general average, 90 for guard duty, and 91 for discipline. It will be observed that the range was very close, but 7 points in figure of efficiency from 97.37, the highest. to the lowest, 90.26.
All of the twelve companies had a rating of 100 each in con- dition of arms and condition of equipment, and all save one, Com- pany H, with $2.45, a percentage of attendance of 100.
The highest figure of efficiency, 97.35, in the infantry com- panies of the First Brigade was attained by Captain Charles J. Hendler's Company I, Third Regiment: next follow Captain William F. Eidell's Company B, and Captain Edwin E. Hollen- beck's Company L, First Regiment, with 97.37 each. In the entire division among the companies of infantry, Company I. Eighth Regiment. Captain Frank E. Zeigler, had the highest figure of efficiency, 99.12. The honor of the highest figure of efficiency over all arms of the service belongs to the First Troop. Philadelphia City Cavalry, Captain John C. Groome. 99.79.
1909
FIRST REGIMENT TABULATED REPORT
587
SPRING INSPECTION REPORT, 1909.
FIRST REGIMENT
ATTENDANCE AT INSPECTION.
Present
Absent
Aggregate
Off. En. Men.
Total
Off. En. Men.
Total
Off. En. Men. Total
Field and Staff. .
15
S
23
..
.
. ..
. .
27
27
Co. A.
3
55
5S
4
4
3
59
62
Co. B
3
53
56
4
4
3
57
60
Co. C.
3
5S
61
3
3
3
61
64
Co. D.
3
50
53
4
4
3
54
57
Co. E.
3
5S
61
S
S
3
61
64
Co. G
3
60
63
2
3
62
65
Co. HI
2
45
47
10
10
01
55
57
Co. I.
3
59
62
3
3
3
62
65
Co. K
3
60
63
2
2
3
62
65
Co. L
1
56
57
3
3
1
59
60
Co. M
3
59
62
3
3
3
62
65
Total
4S
713
761
. .
4S
48
48
761
S09
S
23
Hospital Corps ..
12
12
12
12
Regt. Band.
27
27
...
.
3
60
63
Co. F
3
53
56
.
.
The commemorative parade on Monday, April 19, 1909, cele- brating the regiment's forty-eighth anniversary, had as its distinc- tive feature the appearance of the regiment for the first time in its United States Army full-dress uniform. The regiment left the armory promptly at 4.30, led by a platoon of mounted police under Lieutenant Robinson, the drillmaster of the force, the Vet- eran Corps following with Col. Theo. E. Wiedersheim in com- mand, the regiment in an estimated strength of 600. Col. J. Lewis Good commanding, completing the make-up of the column, which was reviewed at the Union League by the adjutant-general, Brig .- Gen. Thomas J. Stewart. With the reviewing officer were Brig .- Gen. Wendell P. Bowman, Lieutenant-Colonels Lewis E. Beider and Fred Taylor Pnsev, of the governor's staff. and the Hon. John E. Revburn, Mayor of the city.
The line of march was down Broad Street to Locust Street, to Sixteenth, to Chestnut. to Tenth, to Walnut, to Broad Street. where the ceremony of " Evening Parade " was gone through, in front of the Union League. The regimental front covered the entire square from Chestnut Street to Walnut Street. The cere-
. .
. .
2
15
588
HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
1909
mony concluded. the companies were dismissed to await what. commemorative entertainments had been allotted for the evening. notably the banquet of the Veteran Corps.
The memorial services at Holy Trinity had their place in the calendar for Sunday, May 23, 1909. the regiment and Veteran Corps in attendance and the regimental chaplain, Rev. Floyd W. Tomkins, D.D .. officiating.
Captain Homer E. Smith resigned his captainey of Company D May 31, 1909, and on July 2, 1909, First Lieutenant Joseph Klapp Nicholls was promoted by election to be his successor. Cap- tain Nicholls was private, Battery A. February 1. 1897; dis- charged, March 12. 1898; private, D. First Regiment Infantry, July 1, 1904; corporal, February 27. 1905; sergeant. April 6. 1906; first lieutenant, August 3, 1906.
At a regular stated meeting of the Board of Officers, First Regiment Infantry of Pennsylvania, held June 7, 1909, at the armory, Broad and Callowhill Streets. Col. J. Lewis Good presid- ing, the following resolution was unanimously adopted :
WHEREAS, the 19th of April, 1911, will be the 50th Anniversary of the organization of this regiment, organized in the defence of the Union; there- fore be it.
Resolved, that a suitable celebration of the event be had. and that the colonel commanding is hereby authorized to request the Veteran Corps to assume charge of the celebration, pledging the support of the active command.
The vacancy created by the promotion of Maj. Henry Nuss. Jr., from captain and regimental quartermaster of the First In- fantry to be major and brigade quartermaster of the First Brigade on May 13, 1908, was filled subsequently by the appointment of Captain Frank Hall of Company A as regimental quartermaster : and on May 28, 1909. Lieutenant Edward S. Townshend was elected to the captainey of Company A. Captain Townshend was first in the National Guard service as seaman, Division B, State Naval Militia, May 7, 1896; discharged 1597: in same organiza- tion 1899; pay yeoman headquarters First Battalion, State Naval Militia, 1901: discharged 1902: private in Company A, First. Regiment Infantry. National Guard, Pennsylvania, February 9. 1906: second lieutenant November 16, 1906. Captain Townshend also served in the United States Navy by enlistment from June 6. 1898. to July 3. 1599.
599
CAMP GALUSHA PENNYPACKER
1000
The encampments were by brigades, Mount Gretna selected as the site and July 21 to July 31, 1909, fixed as the time for that of the First Brigade. It was named Camp Maj .- Gen. Galusha Pennypacker, in honor of Maj .- Gen. Gainsha Pennypacker. United States Army, awarded " Medal of Honor" for gallantly leading charge, as colonel. Ninety-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, over traverse at Fort Fisher, North Carolina, January 15, 1865. and planting colors thereon, and proved to be altogether the camp of manœuvres General Bowman had the year before promised it should be.
The tents were pitched and the camp prepared by the advance details on Friday the 23d in the midst of a drenching rain, and when the work was completed a reporter said of it :
A city of arms lies in orderly array in the valley, a demonstration of the pluck and energy of the handint of men who braved the downpour in order that the Philadelphia troops might find all in readiness upon their arrival.
Beginning at midnight when the first commands arrived, arrivals continued through the night and until after daybreak ou Saturday morning. and the detraining, which as well as the en- training helps to make the rating for discipline, was reported by the inspecting officers as " excellent." The First Regiment, Col. J. Lewis Good commanding, which entrained at Broad Street Station at 9.15 p.M. on Friday, was the second infantry command to leave Philadelphia and among the earliest to arrive at Mount Gretna. Making a good run, after a march from the station through a dense fog, the regiment reached its camp at the extreme western end of the field shortly after midnight. The First had not the best of locations topographically; its site was on the slope of a steep hillside with stones and boulders in plentiful supply on its own grounds and on all the approaches that led to them.
With the usual ceremonies incident to such occasions, troops paraded. colors sent to the peak, bands playing, salute fired, the camp was formally opened at nine o'clock on Saturday morning. Thirty men under First Lieutenant Edw. J. Adams, of Company B, furnished by the First Regiment, were the first detail supplied for a brigade headquarters guard. Monday was set apart for the ammal inspection, and what was left of Saturday that could In utilized for the purpose was devoted to clipping what few edges
590
HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
1909
there were yet to be adjusted. But there is scarce a time when there is not some opportunity for a touch of the humorous.
A lieutenant of the regiment in receipt of a goodly sized box, a contribution from some of his home companions, " said to contain books " but which in reality contained bottles, recalls an incident in army experience when the great American plains were still a wilderness. A regimental quartermaster of a regiment of infan- try, detached from its post for a long Indian campaign with trans- portation restricted to the narrowest limits, was approached by the regimental chaplain with the request that he give him a place in the Headquarters wagon for a box of books, which the quartermas- ter stoutly and emphatically declined to do. Shortly after there came along an officer of affable speech and persuasive ways with the request that he should make a place somewhere in his wagon train for a barrel of whiskey. "Yes! Yes! " said the quarter- master, " to be sure, anything in reason, but a while ago here was the chaplain who in these straitened conditions made the absurd demand that I should accommodate him with a place for a box of books."
" Our boys," said General Bowman, " are in splendid trim and expect great results from this encampment. I believe the war games and manœuvres as outlined will prove of inestimable benefit to both officers and enlisted men, and I believe this will be the most successful encampment the First Brigade has ever had."
That this encampment had been recognized at the War Depart- ment as specially designed for the better elucidation of the problem and manœuvre seems evident from the fact that Maj. Daniel H. Boughton, General Staff, United States Army, was assigned to First Brigade Headquarters as chief umpire. Captain James 1. Woodruff, Corps of Engineers, United States Army, was detailed as the representative of the War Department with the First Infantry.
A program of instructions, the exercises to be conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in the Regulations for Field Manouvres authorized by the Secretary of War for use in the Service Schools, each day set apart for a specific instruction or a particular exercise : assembly, field. staff and company officers' discussion and exhibition of war games ; battalion in attack (enemy outlined) ; regiment in attack (enemy outlined) ; discussion of
.
.
591
CAMP PROGRAM
1909
problems after solution : minor manoeuvres; manouvres proper were all set out elaborately, fully aud explicitly treated, considered and published for the government and conduct of the troops while in camp by the brigade commander in his General Order No. 7, Headquarters First Brigade, Camp Maj .- Gen. Galusha Penny- packer, July 24, 1909. The order also prescribed that " organiza- tions when not required in the tactical exercises under the fore- going program will have such drills and instruction as command- ing officers may prescribe."
Save for the break of a single day from an overburdensome heat, rain going unheeded, this program was effectually carried out, the campaigning incident to its execution the most strenuous the First Brigade had ever seen. Although there was grun- bling in the ranks-there always will be-it was once said the more a soldier growls the better he fights-at the hard work exacted, the men were more than satisfied to have had an oppor- tunity to gain a real tactical training which they could never hope to acquire at their armories.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.