USA > Pennsylvania > History of the First regiment infantry, National guard of Pennsylvania (Grey Reserves) 1861-1911, pt 2 > Part 23
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The camp was indeed one of business and problems-patrol- ling, outposts, advance and rear guard, reconnaissance, attack and defence. beginning with smaller units, increasing in size until the climax in the battle scheme between the " Reds " and the " Blues " was reached in the middle of the week. What this camp did demonstrate, that there was neither effort to criticise nor attempt to recall, was that a limit had been reached in pageantry and that the guardsman was no longer on exhibition solely for spectacular effect.
Nor when the day was over had the duties of the officers ceased.
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HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
1910
Illustrated lectures were delivered at night by the officers of the army from huge war maps of the surrounding country, mistakes of the day were pointed out, movements and actions were at times sharply criticised, and the solution of a problem thought to have been deduced from reason it was explained had only come by chance.
By a clever piece of military strategy, in sending forward a small body of cavalry to act as a decoy, Gen. Wm. G. Price, of the First Brigade, in the manoeuvres of the Eighteenth, entrapped almost an entire regiment of the Second Brigade. The umpires. said some one who reported the incident, as usual failed to render a decision, but it was apparent to the observer that the fortunes of war had gone to Price. Colonel Good was mentioned as play- ing a prominent part in this movement, pouring a heavy enfilading fire into a regiment he attacked and making prisoners of a body that he had outflanked and that suffered heavily in attempting to get away.
" One of the most successful camps," so reads a letter in the Public Ledger dated Gettysburg, August 20, 1910. "the division of the National Guard of Pennsylvania has ever hold is over. To- day the First Brigade, consisting of the First, Second, and Third Regiments, also Company B, engineers, and Troop A, folded their tents and without confusion boarded their troop trains and left the historic battle-field, where they have established new records for efficiency and discipline."
The first of the regiments to leave was the Second Infantry, which entrained in good order at 10 o'clock A.M. Several hours later the First Infantry followed. entraining at one o'clock.
Speaking of the encampment, General Bowman, shortly before his departure from his headquarters, said :
It is a great credit to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and an honor to the service. Every man and officer in the division has a right to be jealous of its character and standing, and they have no reason to regret their part in its achievements. This Government has a better military policy to-day than ever before in its history, and Pennsylvania, in my judgment, has the honor of taking the lead in working up to the advance line in the develop- ment of that policy.
I do not believe there is any department in the Federal Government or in any State Government that is more thoroughly, more carefully, more honestly, or more efficiently managed than the military department of
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" WAR GAME " COMMENTS
Pennsylvania. It only remains for the officers and men to keep up the work, and not relax in their efforts along the lines now well established. The only regret I have is I am not just beginning in the good work.
Colonel Sweeney's comments on the general results of the " War Game " as practised at this encampment, of much present value, are of use for the future. Coming, too, as they do, from a depart- ment the very mainstay of a military efficiency, they come rather with the strength of authority than the venture of an opinion. Besides, if they were but an opinion they would seem in full accord with what was everywhere concurrent thought. Then each paragraph so depends upon the other that what he says cannot be fairly quoted unless it is given in full. Probably what he says broadens the scope beyond what is intended to be included in a regimental history, but it cannot be altogether out of place, and here follows what was said by Colonel Sweeney on the " war game " in his report as inspector-general, published in General Order No. 48, Headquarters National Guard of Pennsylvania, Adjutant- General's Office, Harrisburg. Pennsylvania. December 6, 1910:
The "War Game" absorbed the entire attention of the troops at this encampment. At the very outset of the tour of duty the various commands became engrossed in problem work, and this without any previous instruction to the men in the ranks. The major portion of the officers of the Guard had been instructed and coached in field work by officers of the Army at Mt. Gretna in May, and some hours in advance of the manœuvre at Gettysburg, officers of the troops that were to participate in the problem were called together for instruction. At the conclusion of the work in the field the officers were again called together for diseussion and the errors of omission and commission were pointed out: but what of the rank and file? They had no previous instruction in their part of the game, while many of them, recruits, knew nothing of extended order. could not properly handle their rifles, and were totally ignorant of fire discipline. They were admonished to take advantage of terrain, without knowledge of its meaning: were ordered to fire at long ranges, but the sights remained flat, etc., etc. At the conclusion of the problem they were marched directly to camp. Perhaps they enjoyed the game, but what had it profited them ?
There are men in each company of every regiment, sufficient to form a skeleton battalion or regiment, whose length of service in the guard might warrant their engaging in manouvres, and they should be given opportunity for advanced work, but even these men should receive instruction during the first few days of the encampment, in things that would be required of them in the problems to be solved later in the week.
The recruit, however, as has been frequently stated in reports by the inspector-general, should not be permitted to participate in manouvres, but in the squad, in camp or its vicinity, should be given instruction in the
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HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
fundamentals. Under competent officers, the recruits can be taught more in the week in camp than in the armory in a year, for the reason that in camp his attendance at drills is assured and his environment is wholly military, while during the year, under existing conditions, he reports irregu- larly for drill and in the interim his attention is given to business and social affairs.
The advisability of. as well as the necessity for, instructing the Guard in military field work makes the acquiring of a permanent camping ground by the State obligatory.
As the result of the annual inspection of August 15, 1910, the last before the semi-centenary, the First Regiment recovered the place it had aforetime so frequently held, and passed to the front with a general average of 93.5, a rating for discipline of 93, and for guard duty of 94. A new column appeared for the first time among the ratings-"care and preparation of rations," in which the regiment has SS.7, two of the companies, K and D, fall off to 75, Company L alone has the maximum of 100. In one column, " condition of clothing," all the twelve companies are rated at the maximum. In " personal appearance " the regimen- tal average was 99.4, Companies A, B, C, and M having the maximum, Companies D, E, F, H, I, K, and L 99, and Com- pany G 98. Field and staff, hospital corps, and regimental band have a rating of 100 each under all the several heads included in their inspection.
Ten regiments ouly participated in the division encampment of 1910; the Third Brigade, Ninth, Twelfth, and Thirteenth Regiments, had performed their tour of duty by participation in the combined camp of regulars and National Guard forces at Gettysburg, July 11 to July 18, 1910.
In the range of the general averages of the ten regiments there was the narrow difference of less than four points between the highest average, 93.5, of the First, and the lowest, 90.9, of the Eighth, and the margin of those between was still narrower. The First Regiment stood alone in the " 93" class. There were five in the " 2 " class-the Tenth, with 92.9; the Third, Fourth, and Eighteenth, each with 92.6; and the Fourteenth, with 92. In the " 91 " class there were three-the Second, with 91.6; the Sixteenth. with 91.5; and the Sixth, with 91.8. The Eighth was alone in the 90's with 90.9.
The inspector-general, while not unmindful of deficiencies, had something to say in commendation :
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SMALL-ARMS REPORT FOR STATE
605
The infantry commands presented a splendid appearance in their new uniforms of olive drab khaki. These uniforms looked serviceable, and, in the main, fitted well. As a rule, the bearing of the men, at the inspection of personal appearance, was good.
The ceremony of review, preceding each inspection, was well done. While errors were noted. yet the regiments were efficiently handled and made a ereditable showing.
With few exceptions, the arms and accoutrements were found in good and serviceable condition.
The entraining and detraining of the several organizations showed improvement over that of previous years. There was seemingly, on the part of both officers and men, an extra effort made to conduet these move- ments in a prompt and soldierly manner, and, whatever violation of military procedure. was chietly due to too great eagerness to excel. After the de- training, cars were inspected, and, as a rule, found clean and in good order.
In the " Report of small-arms firing of the troops in the State of Pennsylvania for the year 1910" the following is the classifi- cation and figure of merit in rifle firing of the First Regiment: Average strength, present and absent, commissioned and enlisted. for the entire period of firing, 866 : percentage of average strength qualified, 89.26; expert riflemen, 25; sharpshooters, 3 ; marksmen, 286; first-class men, 146; second-class men, 157 : third-class men, 56; fourth-class men, 123 ; figure of merit, 77.84; total firing rifle, 773 ; total firing pistol, 46 ; figure of merit previous year, 76.20.
With 76.20 in 1909 and 77.84 in 1910, the regiment's figure of merit had increased 1.64. Seven of the companies, some of them most depended on, had not only failed to preserve their standing, but had fallen off, one notably, the others appreciably. Five others, however, had so increased their scores, one winning exceptional prominence, as to not only preserve and inercase the regimental standing, but to secure for themselves a fine record at the range.
The most notable shrinkage was in Company K, where the decrease was 37.43-from 110.71 in 1909 to 73.2S in 1910. Com- pany F, with 71.70 in 1909, went down to 32.26 in 1910-a de- crease of 22.14. Company C's decrease was 19.53-from 111.57 in 1909 to 92.04 in 1910. Company A, with 63.71 in 1909. had but 56.94 in 1910-a loss of 8.77. Company II's 59.77 in 1909 was reduced by 5.01 to 54.76 in 1910. Company M's 59.32 in 1909 was but 36.64 in 1910-a decrease of 2.68. Company E was least affected, with but .29 off from its 1909 figure of 109.21 against the one of 108.92 for 1910.
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HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
Of the five increases, Company D, in its famous stride from 58.25 in 1909 to 10 -. 46 in 1910-an increase of 50.21-was the company of " exceptional prominence." Company I scored band- somely when with an increase of 26.75 it passed from 58.97 in 1909 to 85.72 in 1910. Company L made the creditable increase of 18.68, the difference between its 39.54 in 1909 and its 78.22 in 1910. Company G increased its standing by 12.31, its figure in 1909 being 58.84 and in 1910. 71.15 ; and Company B was the better by 4.31 in 1910, with 74.68. than it was in 1909, with 70.37. Headquarters went from 147.50 in 1909 to 150 in 1910- an increase of 2.50.
Companies D and G had each a maximum of 100 for " percent- age of average strength qualified." The percentage of the other companies was as follows: Headquarters, 95.45; A, 85.71; B, 87.30; C, 78.78; E, 97.14; F, 81.70; H, 80; I, 89.47; K, 90.41; L, 95.16; and M, 84.28.
Col. J. Lewis Good, with his forty years of service, four in the ranks, twelve in the line, twenty-three and upward in the field ; major, lieutenant-colonel. and colonel; continuous, consistent, constant, courageous; never seeking the limelight, always of it, steadily rising in merit, had well earned the promotion which came to him on December 30. 1910, when his appointment was announced as a brigadier-general in the National Guard of Penn- sylvania.
Expression, resolution, comment, as well evidenced the reluc- tance with which Colonel Good severed the ties, so strengthened by the length of years, that had bound him to his regiment, as they also showed how the regret of officers and men at the severance had been tempered by their high appreciation of his well-deserved advancement.
General Order No. 1. Headquarters National Guard of Penn- sylvania, Adjutant-General's Office, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, January 5, 1911, announced that the several organizations of the National Guard would be inspected at their respective home sta- tions upon the dates therein indicated. The time fixed for the First Infantry-the inspection to be by companies and in dress uniform-included dates between Friday, March 31, 1911, and Monday, April 17. 1911. Maj. Robert M. Brookfield, inspector, Inspector-General's Department, was assigned to the several com-
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INSPECTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS
607
panies of the First, Second. Third, and Sixth Infantry. His inspection was to include State property of every description, school of the company, guard duty, a quiz for officers and non- commissioned officers in " Security and Information," field orders, advance and rear guard, outpost duty, and map-reading.
General Order No. 5, Headquarters National Guard of Penn- sylvania, Adjutant-General's Office, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, January 24, 1911, directed an inspection in service uniform of the several organizations of the National Guard, in accordance with the requirements of the Act of Congress approved January 23, 1903, as amended by the Act of Congress approved May 27, 1908, the inspection to be made by officers of the Army of the United States detailed for the purpose by the Commanding General of the Department of the East. The inspection was to include " all property available for field service or for use in connection therewith or preparatory thereto, and which [was] is of pattern or quality issued to the Regular Army, whether the property be- longs to the State or not." March 23, 1911, was designated for headquarters and band of the First Regiment, March 1 for the medical corps, and March 23. 24, and 27 for one of each of the three battalions.
Maj. George B. Scattergood, who had been elected major to succeed Maj. Eugene J. Kensil, deceased, was on January 11. 1911, placed on the retired list. On January 20, 1911, Maj. William F. Eidell, promoted from his captaincy of Company B. which he had filled since July 18, 1906, was elected major and commissioned accordingly, vice Scattergood, retired. On February 11, 1911. by virtue of General Order No. 3, regimental headquar- ters, Major Eidell was assigned to command the third battalion. composed of Companies C. G. F, and H.
Major Eidell's service began as a private, Battery A. May 20. 1599 : corporal. October 26, 1891; sergeant, July 19, 1893: dis- charged, November 19, 1891; private. Company B, First Regi- ment Infantry. November 21. 1894; corporal. April 21, 1596; sergeant, May 2, 1898 ; discharged, May 9, 1898 ; private. Decom- ber 14, 1998: first sergeant. March 22, 1899: second lieutenant. February 7. 1900: appointed battalion adjutant. July 11, 1903 ; captain Company B. First Regiment Infantry, July 18, 1906. In Spanish-American War he was sergeant Company B, First Regi-
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HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
1911
ment Infantry, Pennsylvania Volunteers, May 10, 1898; first sergeant ; mustered out with company, October 26, 189S.
To rank from February 15, 1911, First Lieutenant Edward J. Adams, eleeted and commissioned as captain of Company B, was announced in general orders from National Guard headquarters as the successor of Captain William F. Eidell, advanced to the majority. Captain Adams, a private in Company B, First Infan- try. National Guard Pennsylvania, October 9, 1901, was a cor- poral April 27, 1904; a sergeant January 18, 1905 ; second lieu- tenant July 11. 1905 ; a first lieutenant April 4, 1906, and captain February 15. 1911.
Of twenty-five years of military service ; of merit, measured through the scrutiny and observation of a long personal and official association : of character, capacity, and efficiency; of ex- perience in camp, in administration, and in war; of an acquaint- ance with men and familiar with character: of a readiness for responsibility and ability to meet it, of themselves and from themselves, Maj. William F. Eidell was on February 24, 1911, elected by the line officers to be the colonel of the First Regiment Infantry, National Guard of Pennsylvania, and commissioned to rank as such from that date, rice Col. J. Lewis Good, promoted to brigadier-general November 30. 1910.
Maj. Alfred II. Pierson, elected on the same date, was com- missioned major to rank as such from February 21, 1911, rice Maj. William F. Eidell, promoted colonel. Major Pierson was advanced from the captainey of Company E, where from a private. April 3, 1883, he had passed through the grades of corporal and sergeant and the ranks of the two lieutenancies until he had reached the captainey of the company, September 24, 1907.
Lieutenant J. Henry H. VanZandt, who from a private in Company E April 22, 1898. to corporal July 7, 1900, was a ser- geant May 18, 1904, first sergeant February 19, 1907, second lieu- tenant September 24. 1907, on March 23, 1911, was elected to fill the vacant captaincy. Captain VanZandt had been a battal- ion adjutant from April 1, 1910, and had been reappointed March 13. 1911.
Captain Millard D. Brown, promoted from the second lieuten- aney of Company II, was appointed regimental adjutant March 1.
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Colonel 1t humains
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APPOINTMENTS AND RETIREMENTS
609
1911, vice Captain Augustus D. Whitney, to the retired list. On the same day Captain Edwin E. Hollenback was appointed captain and regimental quartermaster, and Captain Raymond C. Winter was reappointed captain and regimental commissary. First Lieu- tenants Clarence J. Kensil and J. Howard Reeve were reap- pointed battalion adjutants March 13, 1911, and on March 24." 1911, First Lieutenant Stanley N. Ponlterer, of Company D, was also named a first lieutenant and battalion adjutant. filling a like executive place his respected father, Captain William S. Poulterer, had worthily filled before him.
Second Lieutenants David B. Simpson, A. Wilson Mathues, and Arthur J. Purssell were respectively reappointed battalion quartermasters and commissaries.
Chaplain Floyd Williams Tomkins. D.D., who had been in continuous service, ranking from June 29. 1901. was on March 13, 1911, reappointed with the rank of captain.
Captain Edwin E. Hollenback, transferred from Company E, Nineteenth Regiment. National Guard of Pennsylvania, where he had first enlisted September 15, 1899, to Company L, First Regiment, then made second and first lieutenant and captain De- cember 13, 1907, his announcement as captain and regimental quartermaster causing a vacancy, it was filled March 17, 1911, by the election of Captain Charles H. Ward, who had been a private in Company B, First Regiment Infantry, quartermaster-sergeant, hospital corps, and a lieutenant in Company L.
In accordance with the provisions of the Act of Assembly approved April 22, 1889, section 44, upon their own request the following named officers were relieved from active service and placed upon the retired list : Captain Harry J. Mehard, inspector of small arms practice, First Infantry, to date from February 23, 1911 (commission expires March 25, 1913) ; Captain George B. McClellan Phillips, Company C, First Infantry, from March 27, 1911 (commission expires July 11, 1913). And upon his own request, being entitled thereto, under the provision of the same act and section, Captain Augustus D. Whitney, adjutant, First Infantry, to date from March S, 1911 (commission expires March 7, 1916), was placed upon the retired list.
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HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
1911
THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY.
There had been waiting, preparation, effort, that what should be produced should be as memorable in its execution and fitness as was the event itself, of that significant remembrance, that so specially separated it from other celebrations in the calendar of anniversaries. Semi-centenary-a festival, a commemoration, a celebration, an epochal incident of solemnity and reverence, of joy and appreciation. But as a yesterday to those whose years carry them beyond it; far, far away for the others who are yet to follow.
The nineteenth of April, nineteen hundred and cleven! What did the day bring forth ? Save for an official prediction that there might be a disturbance later on, there was every assurance of fair weather in the early part of the day, except for the tradition of many bitter memories of foul. But the tradition was preserved, the prediction too soon fulfilled, and from an hour before the regiment left the armory, the movement delayed in the hope that the storm might abate, through all its march and until hours after its return, the rain descended in an incessant downpour, and the April skies that should have been alight with the glow of a brilliant twilight to greet the incoming of the new half century, were blackened with the darkness of the night time.
That the storm seriously marred the parade so far as the spec- tator was concerned, while in goodly numbers he was still upon the sidewalk with an enthusiastic greeting, which despite conditions would not altogether down, was quite evident, yet it was equally apparent that it also stiffened, nerved, and strengthened the rank and file to the maintenance of the celerity of a well-measured cadence, a soldierly bearing, a well-preserved distance, and solid ranks that confirmed the regiment's standing as a marching column of high repute. If there remained any lingering suspicion in the minds of the skeptical that the unstinted commendation of the troops on review at the division encampments had been over- stated, it would have taken but a hasty glance at the column as it swung itself over the entire route with cadence alert and bearing steady to have removed it.
Two features brought the parade abreast with the olden time. The one, the unveiling of the bronze statue of heroic size, in front
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STATUE OF FIRST REGIMENT (GRAY RESERVE), SOLDIER, 1861. COMMEMOR- ATING THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
1911
611
THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
of the Union League, of a soldier of the First Regiment, Gray Reserves, in the uniform and equipment of 1861, his step forward, his whole figure alert with action, promptly and impressively done as the head of the column approached by Sergeant Jay Campbell Gilmore of Company K, son of Col. J. Campbell Gilmore, repre- senting the First Regiment, and William W. Sherer, acting for the · Veteran Corps, each in the uniform of his organization, bands playing a march, colors and officers saluting as the column con- tinued the movement.
The other was the historic pageant, detachments of eight men each garbed in the distinctive uniform of the period for which the dress they wore stood, the different uniforms worn by the First Regiment from the time of its organization through all the changes that the necessities of wars and campaigns demanded or the more attractive and closer fitting garment that the better days of peace permitted, all somewhat submissive, too, to the prevailing cut and fashion of their time.
I. The Artillery Corps of Washington Grays in the uniform of its earliest days.
II. The original uniform and equipment of the First Regiment Infantry, Gray Reserves, at its organization in 1861.
III. The United States Army uniforms as worn by the Seventh and Thirty-second Pennsylvania Militia in the service of the United States in the campaigns of Antictam, 1862, and Gettys- burg, 1863, and of the 119th Pennsylvania Volunteers (Gray Re- serves) in the United States service from 1862 to 1865, Sixtli Army Corps, Army of the Potomac.
IV. Full-dress uniform, First Regiment Infantry, Gray Re- serves, 1865-1869.
. V. Full-dress uniform, First Regiment Infantry, Gray Re- serves, 1869-1870.
VI. The regimental full-dress uniform in use from 1870 to 1885. which after that year was replaced by the present regi- mental full dress, supplemented subsequently by the full dress of the Regular Army.
VII. The fatigue uniform of the First Regiment Infantry, as first paraded in 1873 and through until and including 1877, conspicuous as the uniform in the riots of 1877 and. other indus- trial disturbances of lesser moment ..
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