USA > Pennsylvania > History of the First regiment infantry, National guard of Pennsylvania (Grey Reserves) 1861-1911, pt 2 > Part 7
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On Tuesday. March 16. a volunteer battalion from the regi- ment paraded with band and field musie as a military escort at the funeral of Col. Alexander E. Drake, late of the United States Army. The occasion was deemed of sufficient import to be made the subject of a congratulatory order as follows:
The colonel commanding desires to express his appreciation of the patri- otie soldierly bearing and spirit manifested by the officers and men who so promptly volunteered in response to his call to perform escort duty upon the occasion of the burial of the late Col. Alexander E. Drake, U. S. A., a hero of the old school who had faithfully served his country in three wars.
The services thus rendered by the volunteer battalion have also been gratefully acknowledged by the family and friends of the deceased.
Colonel Drake's career was unique, in that he was in the regu- lar service in the permanent establishment on both land and sea. He was a midshipman in the United States Navy from his ap- pointment on June 26. 1834, until his resignation, June 28. 1837,
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HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
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and after an interval of twenty years, on February 21, 1857. he entered the army as a second lieutenant in the Second United States Infantry. Made a first lieutenant May 14, 1861, a captain October 9, 1561, he retired August 27, 1862. Brevets for faith- ful and meritorious services as major, lieutenant-colonel, and colonel subsequently followed. He died March 13, 1897.
This March 13 recalls a date made nich of in the old army in the closing days of the Civil War.
Brevet rank was usually conferred for some specific act of gallantry or distinction, and the aet itself. the place where and the date of its performance, were always made to appear in the body of the commission as the cause of and the reason for its issue. It so happened that as the days of the great struggle were on the wane, the War Department, generously impelled to forget no one, was lavish in its distribution of this brevet rank. whether battle distinction could be found to sustain it or not. One instance is recalled as illustrative of others where the blank space in the commission after the word " for " was filled up with the phrase " faithful services in the recruitment of the armies of the United States," instead of the specific act of gallantry it was intended to be used for. It so happened, too, whether designedly or by accident did not appear, that many of these commissions went out under the same date, March 19, 1865. When knowledge of this wholesale issue. all of the one day. began to come to light. some wag of an officer in the Army of the Potomac bestirred himself to find a battle date that the day would fit. He wanted to find a battle where the slaughter was sufficient to justify such a wholesale recognition of gallant performances. His search was vain-he had overlooked " Thermopyke had her messenger of defeat, the Alamo had none "-so he turned himself to the Holy Scriptures, where the man who flounders either in profane litera- ture or religions lore usually goes. Ilere his industry was re- warded : he had found what he wanted in the battle of Armageddon. It was innmaterial whether he had drawn figuratively on the Arma- geddon of " The Revelation of St. Jolm the Divine," where " in the battle of that great day," where the good alone survived and evil went down to sore defeat. or actually from the real Armageddons of the plain of Esdraclon, where the sword of the Lord and of Gideon had smote the Canaanites and the Midianites hip and
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thigh and slew a nation. It was of no particular moment for the purpose for which it was appropriated whether Armageddon was tradition or history. fact or fancy, myth or mystery, the name was all that was needed: it sounded big and strong and had the ring about it of the awful carnage of these ancient battles. It was a fitting antithesis to the bloodless field of March 13, 1865, when for the valorous deed done on that day there was such a lavish issue of brevets.
The soldier who had fought hard and marched afar, with nerves hardened, sinews toughened, sentiment gone. had neither sympathy with nor tolerance for honors awarded or distinction won at home station, recruiting office, draft rendezvous, distribu- tion camp or in any other way save in the field and at the front; besides that irrepressible sense of humor was ever ready with responsive answer. Neither was it of moment whether that immortal struggle the Armageddon of those ancient days was figurative or real. it had struck a popular chord and with March 13, 1865. arbitrarily fixed for a date, jocularly paraphrased. such brevet commissions were made thereafter, in the minds, at least. of their soldier critics, to read as conferred " for gallant and meri- torious services at the Battle of Armageddon."
On Monday, April 5, the regiment was paraded at the armory in full-dress uniform for inspection, review. and presentation of medals and trophies won during the rifle practice season of 1896.
An event of national import was the "Grant Monument In- augural Parade " and the ceremonies incident to the dedication of the monument in the city of New York, April 27. 1897. Bv direction of the governor and commander-in-chief the Pennsyl- vania National Guard was represented by a provisional brigade commanded by Brig .- Gen. J. P. S. Gobin, composed of the First Infantry. Colonel Wendell P. Bowman; Ninth Infantry. Colonel C. Bow Dougherty : Thirteenth Infantry, Colonel Henry A. Cour- sen : Fourteenth Infantry. Colonel William J. Glenn: Sixteenth Infantry, Colonel Willis J. Hulings ; Eighteenth Infantry, Colonel Norman M. Smith; Battery B. Captain Alfred E. Hunt; and Governor's Troop. Captain Frederick M. Ott. Transportation for the movement was furnished through the courtesy of the railway companies, and the troops were quartered at the Grand Palace, Lexington Avenue, between 43d and 44th Streets.
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The day had with it a reminder of a Washington inaugural. A furious gale blew continuou-ly, biting wild and wintry, but the skies were bright and the streets dry. The First Regiment left the armory at six o'clock on the morning of the 27th, marched thence to the Reading Terminal, entrained at 6:45, made its New York destination in ample time to be at Madison Avenue and 34th Street at the hour named, where the Pennsylvania provisional brigade was directed to form. From there the brigade took up its line of march, joining the main colunm at 23d Street and Madison Avenue at 10:45.
The First Regiment did not take advantage of the quarters provided for the troops on Lexington Avenue, but chartered for itself a large barge, which, meeting its special train on its arrival at Jersey City, conveyed the regiment up the East River, landing at the foot of 32d Street within a few blocks of the point of forma- tion designated for the provisional brigade.
From 23d to 125th Street, the site of the Monument, via Broad- way, Fifth Avenue, Seventy-seventh Street, Riverside Drive, and thence to 129th, where the column was reviewed and dismissed. was a lengthy march, shortened materially, though, by the enthusi- astie greetings everywhere extended by the vast crowds that thronged the sidewalks and occupied every vantage ground for observation along the entire route.
The barge in service for the day, ready near the foot of 129th Street on the North River when the parade was over, with regi- ment aboard, again landed it at the foot of 20th Street, where. arms and accountrements left under proper guards, the men were permitted their own way until eleven o'clock, when. re- training for Jersey City, the regiment was off again on the midnight schedule for home; participant as it had been in an event conspicuous in its time and long remaining bright in the memory of all who were of it.
The water transportation not only expedited the movement. saved a fatiguing march, but afforded opportunity for a view of the combined fleets of our own and the navies of several foreign countries, "one of the principal features of this great national celebration."
Another event commemorative of a eivie undertaking of national importance followed on May 15. 1597. The Society of the Cincinnati had nearly a century before set aside a modest
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son of money, which it had wisely permitted to accumulate, that it might in the end in more pretentions significance ereet the statue that was in the way of its small beginning to commemorate the services as patriot. soldier, statesman, of him of whom " his- tory affords no other example of so indispensable a man, " General George Washington. This equestrian statue, as is well known to every Philadelphian and all familiar with that goodly city, in all its massive grandeur and rich heroie proportions, now graces the Green Street entrance to Fairmount Park, where amid tributes of admiration, appreciation, and profound respect it was on the fifteenth of May, 1-97, so worthily and impressively dedicated.
The presence of the First Regiment at these dedicatory cere- monies was first assured by direct invitation on March 17, 1897, from Col. J. Biddle Porter, chairman of the committee of the Society of the Cincinnati, who had the matter in charge. His letter, as follows, was presented to the Board of Officers at a regu- lar stated meeting: " I have the honor," said the letter, " on behalf of the State Society of Cincinnati of Pennsylvania, to invite you and your command to take part with the First Brigade of the National Guard of Pennsylvania in the unveiling of the Washing- ton Monument in Fairmount Park on May 15;" by and upon motion the invitation was unanimously accepted.
But the proposed dedication had a firmer hold upon the public than had evidently been anticipated, and soon assumed more ex- pansive proportions. Not the First Brigade alone, but the entire division, had been ordered to parade, and so much had the com- munity at large felt its importance that by concurrent resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Pennsyl- vania, approved by the governor May 5, 1897, the adjutant- general of the State was thereby requested " to direct that such commands of the National Guard as have dress uniforms shall be allowed to wear them on the occasion of the dedication of the Washington Monument in Philadelphia, May 15, 1597."
And General Snowden. never of prodigal speech. recognizing the importance of the occasion, had out of his usual course in- (Inded in his order announcing the movement of the division the following paragraph :
A reputation for efficiency and discipline gained by years of attention and application to duty may be lost in a single day. The division cannot live on the distinction of the past; it must acquit itself with credit on all
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occasions, especially upon this one, when it will be the object of great interest and of close and sharp criticism. Every officer and man of the division must feel the need of doing his duty so well that credit and honor will accrue to and be gained by all. Effective measures will be taken to require every officer and man present in uniform not excused by written permission of com- manding officers of regiments and separate commands to join in the parade.
There was wisdom in the request of the legislature and good judgment in the ready compliance of the adjutant-general, as his annual report conclusively shows:
This request was complied with. and as a consequence the Guard itself by its splendid appearance made a inost convineing argument in favor of a full-dress uniform. From all sides, from the press and the people, the National Guard received unstinted praise for its splendid appearance and discipline.
And that the caution of General Snowden bore fruit was also demonstrated from the same official source. This is a concluding sentence from a paragraph in the same annual report of the adjutant-general: " The demonstration made by the National Guard of Pennsylvania on this occasion was without doubt the finest and most successful in all its history."
Besides the entire division of the National Guard of Pennsyl- vania the following commands of the regular army participated : two foot batteries of artillery from Fort MeHenry, Maryland; two foot batteries and one light battery of artillery and band from Washington Barracks. D. C., and also the band and four troops of cavalry Fort Meyer. Virginia.
Maj .- Gen. George R. Snowden was the marshal of the proces- sion. Gen. Daniel H. Hastings, governor and commander-in- chief, was in command of the National Guard. Brig. Gen. John P. S. Gobin, the ranking brigadier, was in command of the Penn- sylvania division, National Guard. The First Troop Philadel- phia City Cavalry was assigned to special duty as the escort of the President of the United States, William MeKinley, who paraded with the column, unveiled and dedicated the monument, delivering an oration of telling effect.
The column, in light marching order, formed on South Broad Street, moved promptly at the hour fixed to Spring Garden Street and thence to the site of the monument, where after the ceremonies of the dedication had been completed it was reviewed by the President of the United States and officially it was said that as
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a military demonstration, this was "one of the most notable pageants ever witnessed in this city."
The city of Philadelphia provided for the subsistence and entertainment of the troops and horses for the mounted officers. the various railroad companies of the State again extended the courtesy of free transportation, and the entire division, National Guard of Pennsylvania, was assembled in Philadelphia for the occasion without expense to the State.
The paragraph in General Snowden's annual report which so succintly tells the story of the military part of this especially distinctive event so peculiarly of Philadelphia, preserved securely, as it ever will be, among the archives of the State, seems of suffi- cient present interest for revival and repetition :
In the parade on the 15th of May, in Philadelphia, at the dedication of the monument to General Washington, erected by the Society of the Cincinnati, the division appeared to the greatest advantage and received with the plaudits of great crowds of people unbounded praise for discipline and soldierly appearance. Having myself the honor of commanding the entire parade, composed of troops from the army and sailors and marines of the navy of the United States, a detachment from the cruiser Fulton, of the French Navy, a regiment from Delaware, a regiment, a Gatling gun battery, and a naval battalion from New Jersey, the entire division and the naval force from our own State, and corps of military cadet- from the Pennsylvania Military Academy and Girard College, in all, nearly 12,000 men, the command of the division devolved upon Brigadier-General Gobin. As the visiting troops and the First Brigade were in full uniform, the formation by brigades alternately in full-dress and service uniform-a fortunate incident of the ceremony-added to the attractiveness and variety of the display, and enabled spectators to contrast at intervals simplicity with ornament in dress. The members of the legislature and the public were offered opportunity under favorable circumstances to pass upon the relative merits of the different styles.
Captain Alexis R. Paxton, of the Fifteenth United States Infantry, was the officer of the regular army on duty with the National Guard of Pennsylvania, so assigned by Order of the Secretary of War. Through the efforts of Colonel Bowman and the willing response of Captain Paxton the officers of the First Regiment had been given a very instructive lecture on some of the newer contribution to the military art. This favor was acknowl- edged by resolution " That a vote of thanks be tendered to Colonel Bowman for securing the services of Captain Paxton and that a resolution be sent by the Board of Officers to Captain Paxton ten- dering the thanks of the Board for his kindness in giving us the
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benefit of his knowledge on " Wagner's Service of Security and Information."
On Monday, July 5, 1897, upon the invitation of a joint com- mittee of the Select and Common Councils, the regiment with the First Brigade participated in the usual celebration of the anni- versary of American independence. Colonel Bowman in his order for the parade coneludes with this paragraph: " The celebration being held under the auspices of the Councils of the city of Phila- delphia-the representatives of the people-it is important that every officer and man able for duty should participate in this patriotic duty." " The exercises," said General Schall in his annual report, " consisted of certain manduvres executed in a suit- able portion of Fairmount Park, designed more for spectacular effect than military instruction." The demonstration concluded with a review by his Honor, the Mayor of the city.
The encampment order for 1597 located the First Brigade at Neshaminy Falls, Bucks County, 18 miles from Philadelphia on the New York Division of the Reading system, fixed the time from Saturday, July 10, to Saturday, July 17, inclusive. and gave to the camp the name " Camp David B. Birney," in honor and memory of an eminent citizen of Philadelphia, a major-general of United States Volunteers, distinguished as a regimental, a division, and a corps commander. Of this encampment Brig .- Gen. John W. Schall, its commander, officially said: " The disei- pline of the troops during the encampment was better than I have ever before known, instruction by the officers was well directed and intelligent, and the work of the men faithful and earnest, so that the results of the camp were on the whole satisfactory."
The First Regiment reached the camp at 8:30 o'clock on the morning of Saturday in the run of an hour from the time its special train of thirteen cars had left the Reading Terminal. There was but little variance from the prescribed routine. The governor and commander-in-chief had his review. the major-general his, and the annual muster and inspection with all its rigorous requirements carried out was disposed of by the adjutant-general. inspector- general, and his assistants on Wednesday, July 14. Much insist- ence by the regimental commander for closer instruction in the school of the soldier, particularly the salute, and better attention to cleanliness about the kitchens, as no adverse comment followed
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from the supervision of superiors, it would seem had been effee- tual. The surrounding country was well adapted to instruction in outpost and advance rear guard formations. They were made the subject of careful study and the drills were as satisfactory as possible, hampered as they were in some instances by ranks de- pleted from the posting of interior guards. The weather had been encouraging, but was not altogether without its hindranees; the canvas was so wet on the morning of departure that the formality of dropping tents together was dispensed with, and its further dis- position was left with the quartermaster. But the week follow- ing there was the worst of weather; downpours and heavy rains followed each other daily, the Neshaminy was in flood, and it was well nigh a week before the sorely perplexed quartermasters had the canvas out of the way.
On the early morning of the seventeenth, other impedimenta save the canvas disposed of. the regiment was aboard of its train at ten o'clock, an hour later at the Terminal. and moving thence to the armory, was dismissed for the rest of the summer.
The comments of the regular officers on duty with the Penn- sylvania Guard in the several brigade encampments were thorough and exhaustive. The following brief extracts. if not altogether of the First Regiment, have close touch with its every surrounding :
On July 16 the First Brigade was reviewed by Governor Hastings. The formation was prompt, distances good, and in both the turns and the march past the reviewing officer the troops made a fine showing. The men were remarkable for their steadiness. The old formation of locking shoulders was noticeable; the step a trifle slow-about 110 to the minute-and a little short of the regulation step of 30 inches. Upon the brigade band wheeling out, the step was appreciably increased and reached 120 to 122 per minute .- ( First Lieutenant J. Harry Duval. Eighteenth United States Infantry. )
Exercises in outpo-t. advance and rear guard, and patrol duty, as well as in the order of march in an enemy's country for brigades with cavalry and artillery attached. have received very considerable theoretical and practical attention in the past year. Maj .- Gen. George R. Snowden. commanding the division. offered special prize- for the best essays on this subject, taking Major Wagner's text-books as a basi -. This interest was very clearly proved in the brigade camps of this year. Thi- being the first year of any theoretical or practical work in this line. much proficiency could scarcely be expected. but in some of the brigades and regiments the purposes of these formations were fairly understood, although in their many details there was a great deal to be learned. The regiment which made the best showing in outpost duty was the Third. attached to the First Brigade .- fCaptain Alexis R. Paxton, Fifteenth Infantry, U. S. A.)
The personnel of this brigade ( First) is excellent. The enlisted strength
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is generally made up of young, intelligent men. The officers are men of in- telligence, who take great interest in their work. Both officers and men dis- play a degree of enthusiasm in their work and an attention to duty that cannot fail to bring about good results and maintain this brigade in it- present etlicient state. The discipline of the command was excellent .- (Captain Edgar B. Robertson, Ninth United States Infantry. )
The National Guard of Pennsylvania is officered by a class of men repre- senting the highest social and intellectual class. men of standing in the State, and to them is due the high state of efficiency attained in organization, drill, and discipline, while the rank and file, composed of the better element from the town and country. make discipline a comparatively easy matter .- ( First Lieutenant Robert L. Howze, Adjutant Fifth United States Cavalry. )
As the result of the inspection, out of an aggregate of 615. 41 officers and 577 enlisted men, with but four enlisted men absent, the First Regiment, with its total present of 614, secured a percentage present of 99.35 and made a general average of 97.15. The regiment again was on the lead, with the Third Regiment a close second; with its general average of 96.94, it was but 0.51 behind it. The following extract from the report of General Schall clearly shows how the very laudable efforts of Colonel Ralston to excel had had their full reward. "Colonel Ralston," said General Sehall. " obtained permission to have his regiment [ the Third] inspected in regard to its knowledge of outpost duty and field work on the field instead of on parade, and the ratings received attest the inspector's estimation of the work." But the ratings throughout the State were exceptionally high. There was no regimental general average below 90. Besides the First and Third of 93 and above, the other averages were as follows: the Eighth, 95.85 ; the Second, 95.56; the Tenth, 95.43; the Fifth, 93.29 ; the Thirteenth, 95.23. And then followed the Fourteenth, 94.63 ; the Ninth. 94.61; the Fourth, 94.1S; the Twelfth, 94.15; the Fifteenth, 93.52 ; the Eighteenth, 93.29; the Sixteenth, 92.49 ; the Sixth, 91.78 : and the State Fencibles Battalion, 91.11.
On June 29 Col. Wendell P. Bowman was for the second time re-elected and recommissioned as of July 1, 1887. He rean- nouneed his commissioned staff, including without change all whose appointments have previously been noted. And also upon the expira- tion of their respective commissions, both on September 13, 1897, Lieut .- Col. J. Lewis Good and Major Albert L. Williams were each re-elected. Captain Winfield L. Margerum resigned the captaincy of Company 1, May 7, 1897, and on June 11, 1897, his first
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lieutenant. Clarence HI. Staley, was elected to succeed him. Cap- tain Margerum had been in the service with but a year's interval since he joined Company AA as a private. May 7, 1884. He was promoted corporal and sergeant and cleeted first lieutenant and captain.
On the 17th of September, 1997. Captain Thomas II. P. Todd was relieved from duty as acting regimental inspector of rifle practice, with the following note of commendation from the colonel commanding: " The faithful. conscientious, and meritorious ser- vices rendered by Captain Todd in the discharge of the important duties of inspector of rifle practice entitle him to special mention as deserving of the highest consideration and hearty appreciation of the entire command."
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