USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical > Part 33
USA > Pennsylvania > Lebanon County > History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical > Part 33
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" And whereas, The House organized by the election of Mr. Hopkins as Speaker is now composed of a constitutional quorum of regularly returned members and being thus brought within the pile of the Cou- stitut on, the senate ought no longer to refuse to recognize the satd House as the proper constituted House of Representatives of Peutsyl- vania; therefore,
" Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inform said Hon-e that the Senate is now organized and ready to procee I tu business."
The committee so appointed immediately waited upon the House, and a joint committee was appointed by both branches to inform the Governor that the Legislature was organized.
At the meeting of the House of the morning of the 27th, Mr. Cunningham, with some twenty of the mem- bers of his division, were present and duly qualined. Mr. Hopkins, the Speaker, then resigned, but was immediately re-elected. Gen. Patterson's command evacuated the borough on Sunday, the 16th of De- cember, and the battalion from Cumberland County on the 23d following, and thus ended the "Buekshot war," one of the most exciting political events in the history of Pennsylvania.1
! In the course of an interview published in the Philadelphia Press. Gun. Patterson gave lus recollections of the " Buckshot war" in the fol- lowing language :
" At the tiure of the Buckshot war I was in command of the troops that marched front the city to restore order and quell the riot. The dif- ficulty arose from a few of the leaders of the party then in power trying to treat the election is a nullity and to retain possession of the govern- ment for three years Mager. Governor Ritner, a perfectly honest and well-meuning man, was persuaded to co-operate in the matter The
134
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXIL.
.
The War with Mexico-Organization of the Cameron Guards-Their Services in Mexico-Who raised the first American Flag in the Cita- del of the City of Mexico-R dl of the Cameron Guards.
IT is not necessary in this connection to state the causes which led to the war between Mexico and the United States. Suffice it to narrate that during the
friends of David If Porter, who had receive l'a decided mijonty of the Votes, the Democratic candidate, were determined not to submit, and assembled in Harrisburg in immense numbers. They were led and commanded by about twenty-five officers of the old regular army of the war of 1$12. The mob, if I may use the word, surrounded the capitol and entered the Senate Chamber and tak possession, the Speaker and some of the soritors jmoping out of a back window to save themselves from the fury of the rioters. Whereupon an order was sent to me by the Governor of the State to proceed with my division of fifteen hun- dred men to Harrisburg. 1. of course, wishel to go prepared for mer- gencies, and obtained from the United states arsenal at Frankford & full supply of ammunition, for the infantry mainly buckshot cartridges, which consisted of a cartridge with twelve buckshot, each as good as a bullet. I did this certainly not from any desire to kill many of the- then in possessing of the Senate Chamber, many of whom were personal friends and old associates in the army. Instead, I was prompted by a desire to save my own people, in the event of a conflict att close quarters. by rapidly laying over a few and dieper-ing the remainder. I had good reason for this, as my command con-isted in the uriin of the flower of Philadelphia, the best young mien in it in fact. The excer ling good conduct of the officers and men of thit command prevented a conflict between the troops and the mob. It blood had been shed the whole State would have been involved in a civil war. On my arrival at Har- risburg I. with my staff, reported to the Governor at his r sidence. such was the panic at that time in Harmslong that the Governor decusel it expedient to have his door locked and barrel, and we could not get in until, after repeated knocking , a second-story front window was opened, raised, and the Governor in person le thed ont and asked who was there and what was wanted. I looked up, gave him my name, toll hitn I was there with my division in olanhence to his orders. and had taken pos- session of the arsenal and put my command in a good position. He at once came down, opened the moor, and asked u- in. After we were sent-, I asked for his instructions, and desired to know what he wanted me to do. He said he wished to have his cabinet about him and sent for them. Four or five responded, and be and they asked a variety of questions, among others, if I would obey the order of the Speaker of the Senat -. I replied I would not, for that would be sustaining a party who. in my judgment, bad acted very improperly and who ought not to be sustained. I said that I had not come for any political purpose, and would not sus- tain any party in the wrong ; that my command was comumrel of both parties, nearly as many of the one as the other, who would obey any command I gave, because they knew me well enough to know I would not give an improper one. I was also asked if I would obey an order from the Speaker of the House. I said I would not, for two reasons: Fiist, they had organized themselves into two Honses, a Democratic House and a Whig House, and that I then did not know which was the right one. But if there was a regular speaker I would not they him, as he had no right to give no orders. I was there in the hence to the commands of the Governor, and would obey no one else, but that I would protect the capital and the public property and preserve order.
" I was then asked, and pressed for an answer by some of the council or cabinet, if I would obey the order of the Governor. I replied that I would obey all orders that the Governor had a light to give. One of the questions following was, " What would you consider a proper order?" I replied, ' I will consider that when the onler is given. If ordered to clear the capitol und install in the chair either or both of the Speaker -. I would not do it. That must be settled by the senators and represent .- tives themselves. If ordermi to fire upon those they chose to call rebels, I would not do it, uoi would I permit a single shot to be fired, except in self-defense if assailed by the rebels or in the protection of public prop- erty."
" The result was the entire restoration of order in a few days, both Houses reorganizing and electing their Speakers, and David R. Porter being installed as Governor, as he ought to have been.
" I desire lo exohierate Governor Bitter from all that was wrong in
last days of the Tyler wulministration a joint resolu- tion passed Congress, which was approved by the Pre-ident, providing for the annexation of Texas. although the formal admission of that State dates Dec. 21, 1845. In anticipation of a difficulty with Mexico, which never recognized the independence of Texas, and had repudiated the treaty made by Gen. Santa Anna, the President of that country, claiming the country as her own. Gen. Zachary Taylor, then stationed at Fort Jessup, Louisiana, was ordered to form "an army of occupation." In August. 1845, he advanced with abont four thousand men to Corpu- Christi, at the mouth of the river Neuees, which was claimed by Mexico to be the western boundary of Texas. This precautionary measure was not intended by the United States government as a hostile demon- stration, and strict orders had been given the com- mander not " to commit any overt act." In January. 1846, Gen. Taylor was directed to move his forces to the Rio Grande, the boundary claimed by Texas, and also by the United States. This measure brought on the conflict, and the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma resulted, in which the American arm- were victorious.
President Polk at once announced to Congre-s, then in session, that Mexico had "invaded our terri- tory and shed the blood of our fellow-citizens on our own soil." That body formally declared that war with Mexico existed. authorized the President tu accept fifty thousand volunteers, and appropriated the sum of ten millions of dollars to carry on the war.
In the patriotic enthusiasm which supervened. three hundred thousand men offered their services to the government. To Pennsylvania two regiment- were awarded, and upon Governor Shunk's call for troops, really ere the call was issued, the number of companies tendered exceeded ten times the requisition. At the capital there were several well-di-ciplined volunteer companies, all of whom expressed a will- ingue-s to go to Mexico.
At this juncture, Capt. D. C. Williams, of the Dau- phin Guards, raised a company whose services were offered the Governor. These were the Cameron Guards. It was an entirely new organization, some of the men raw recruits, when Capt. Williams pre- sented the roll to Governor Shunk. As stated. there were offers of old organized companies, drilled and equipped, to the number of two hundred; some, however, hesitated to enli-t for " during the war."
The Governor did not at first accept Capt. Wil- liams' company on account of its not being a regular organization. and absolutely refused the tender of
this matter, and it was altogether wrong. because I believed then an !! believe now that he was forced intoit by a set of unscrupulous officials who hal mirnoled hun.
" I heard afterwards that some of the so-called rebels had given is high as tive lollars for buckshot cartridges to take home with theul fo show the savage disposition of the soldiery and the terrible Jan gers they had gone through."
5
135
GENERAL HISTORY.
men. Nothing dannted, through the earnest solici- tations of Col. James Ross Snowden, Gen. Purviance, Hon. Jesse Miller, Secretary of the Commonwealth, Col. Henry Petriken, his deputy, and Col. Jacob Seiler, chief clerk in the latter department, and that the capital of the State should be represented in the war, Governor Shunk yielded, finally accepting the company.
The Cameron Guards left Harrisburg on the 26th of December, 1848, with one hundred and seventeen men, fully equipped, for Pittsburgh, cio Chambers- burg. From the latter point the company marched the entire distance. arriving at Pittsburgh the fourth day, traveling one hundred and fifty miles, encoun- tering in the mountain- fifteen inches of snow. The difficulties of the march were amply compensated by , which Capt. Williams was ordered one-fourth mile to the hospitable treatment of the citizen- along the entire route.
At Pittsburgh the company were at once mu-tered into the United States service by Lieut. Field. U.S.A., on the 2d of January, 1847. and shortly after embarked on a steamer for New Orleans, which city was reached in about five days. The troops were encamped on the historic battle-field where the Amer- iean army under Gen. Jackson defeated the British force on the Sth of January, 1$15. Here they were detained several days, when they embarked on sail- ing vessels destined for the island of Lobos, in the Gulf of Mexico. The vessel on which were the Cameron Guards was forty-one days on the passage, encountering northeast storms one after the other. and it was supposed that all had gone down in one of the severe -qualls. While on shipboard the small- pox made its appearance through two men who were taken from the hospital at New Orleans. Under the skill of Dr. James Grimshaw. a sergeant of the Cameron Guards, the disease was modified. and all save Capt. Williams took it in its mild form. In consequence they were not allowed at first to land at Lobos, and hoisted the yellow flag until the entire army and navy had left for the island of Sacrificias. Had it not been. - ays Capt. Williams, in hi- " Rent- iniseences of the Mexican Campaign." for the kind- ness of Capt. Samuel D. Karns, the Antler, and Capt. George D. Lauman. the command would have greatly sutlered. but those gentlemen, at the risk of arrest and punishment, supplied gratuitously the wants of the troops.
On the departure of the army the company was disembarked, and the vessel thoroughly di-infected. As soon, however, as it was deemed perfectly -afe the command left for Vera Cruz, reaching there on the evening of the capture and surrender of the fortress, March 29, 1846.
On the 8th of April the American army under Gen. Scott advanced towards the city of Mexico. No resistance was met until the Americans reached the village of Plan del Rio, near the mountain-pass of Cerro Gordo. Here they encountered Santa Anna
and his army strongly intrenched. The Mexicans were routed, and the following day the Americans entered Jalapa. Here the Cameron Gaards and other Pennsylvania troops halted until the arrival of Gen. Cadwalader, when they moved forward towards Pueblo. Capt. Winder's company of the First Artil- lery and Capt. Williams' company were ordered in the advance. On reaching the pass at La Hoya, the former occupied the hills on the left, the Cameron Guard- on the right, where they remained until the entire army passed that point. They were then di- rected to make their way to the front and report to Gen. Childs. They had reached their place in line. the troops having halted, when some scouts came rid- ing in at full speed and reported to tien. Child-, upon
the front on the main road. He deployed his com- pany as skirmishers to the left, encountered over two hundred Mexican, fired upon them, killing a num. ber and recapturing a number of horses belonging to the celebrated Texan Ranger, Capt. Walker. Shortly after, firing to the right was heard, when the company, obeying previous orders, advanced in that direction. Reaching the road, Capt. Williams met Lieut. Coch- ran, of the Voltigeur-, with two mountain howitzers. Moving along together. they soon came upon Capt. Walker and his men, who, dismounted, were in conflict with four or five time- their number of Mexicans. The Cameron Guard- "went in with a yell." when the Mexican- began to retreat in disorder, all the Ameri- can companie- pursuing them as far as Los Vegas. a village which in the conflict was set on fire. Expect- ing to be placed under arrest for the latter accident. the officers were con-iderably relieved when, on the approach of Gen. Childs, he rode up to Capt. Williams and said, "Captain. didn't we show the Mustangs how to fight guerrilla ?" From this time that term was applied to the enemy.
The Cameron Guards remained with Winder in the advance until Pueblo was reached, which was on the 15th of May. Here the inhabitants, flocking to see the troops, were grievously disappointed by the plain blue which contrasted so greatly with the gaudy Mexican uniform. They could account for the defeat of their armies only by saying " the American leaders are gray-headed men." The time of enlistment of many of his regiments (one year) expiring, Gen. Scott was compelled to check his vic- torions career for a while. It was not until the begin- ning of August that he resumed the march with ten thousand men. The route was a toilsome one over steep aseents to the crest of the Cordilleras, where the beautiful valley of Mexico burst upon their view. Rapidly descending, the army soon reached Ayotla, only fifteen miles from the capital. Thenceforward the route bristled with fortification -.
The command under Winder was ordered to move forward by way of Peñan fortified ca-tle, the Second Pennsylvania in advance, the Cameron Guards in .
1
136
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
front of it as they came in full view of the strong. hold. At that juncture orders came that Col. Du- can had discovered a road which flanked Penan, which was taken. .
Shields and Quitman were to hold the enemy in check and not to attack the Garreta, as it was deemed almost impregnable. The first arches of the aqueduct being filled with large stones up to the first Mexican battery Nothing of importance transpired relating to the part taken by the Cameron Guards in the siege of Mexico until the bombardment of the citadel of Chapultepec. At the commencement, Capt. Wil- liams, with two companies, was thrown into a ditch, where they remained a day and a night. On the morning thereafter, having been relieved in the even- ing, they were again ordered into the diteh to protect Drum's battery, with further instructions that when the Second Pennsylvania, New York, and South Carolina regiments would come down the road to that was soon captured, and thus the Americans ap- proached the city, capturing arch after arch until the gates of the Mexican capital were reached. At 4 P.M. the Second Pennsylvania were inside the city, with the mounted rifles on foot. The firing ceased as the darkness east its shadows upon the scene, when the Pennsylvanians filled sand-bags for temporary breast- works for protection. This was a labor of great dith- culty, owing to the scarcity of implements necessary and the hardness of the soil. However, on the ap- prnach of early dawn, a Mexican officer with a flag take their place in line to join the storming party on . of truce appeared, and the city of Mexico-the halls Chapultepec.
As soon as these commands appeared on the road beyond Drum's battery, Capt. William- and Capt. Hire's companies took their place. the Second l'ent- sylvania being in the rear. The regiment- charged in that position. Between the road and the citadel there were numerou- ditches, only one, that nearest the wall of the castle, containing water. The firing was terrific. The New York and South Carolina reg- iments took to the ditches, while the second Pennsyl- vania volunteers crossed the field and ditches by flank and reached the wall in good order. Capt. Fairchild and two or three of his men were all the troops which had reached there when the Second Pennsylvania passed through the breach in the wall made by Drum's battery. It advanced up the hill in the face of a galling fire by right of companies. under command of Maj. Brindle. Col. Geary being wounded. Gen. Pillow's command had just preceded the Second Pennsylvania, and the latter were over the diteh and in the castle almost the same moment.
Capt. Samuel Montgomery and Capt. E. C. Williams raised the first American flag on the citadel of Cha- pultepec, and kept i' flying there natil the commander- in-chief, Gen. Scott, rode up the causeway to the cit- adel. It may be here stated that the Mexican tlag was hauled down by a color-sergeant of the Fifth or Sixth United States Infantry, and he was holding the regi- mental flag at the Hag-tatt when Capts. Williams and Montgomery reached the top of the castle. The only other flag there besides those mentioned wa- one held by a captain of the Voltigeur regiment, who was wounded in the head, and that at the first ditch pre- viou ly referred to. He wa- Capt. Bernard, of Phila- delphia, and the colors a small blue flag.
In this gallant charge the Cameron Guards Inst eighteen men in killed and wounded, and Capt. Wil- liams received a -light wound in the shoulder.
A forward movement was soon made, the regulars advancing on Casa Mata causeway, while Drum's battery and Quitman's and Shickl' brigades were to protect them from being attacked on the San Antonio causeway by the Mexicans from the Garreta de Belina. . The war cost the United States about twenty-five
-
The general immediately ordered Lieut .- Col. Geary to take command of the citadel with his regiment. On reaching there Capt. Williams had the honor of being made officer of the day, and raised the flag which had been raised at Chapultepec, and when Gens. Quitman and Shields marched with the remain- der of their brigade- to the Grand Plaza, the troops saluted and cheered this flag as they passed by. We make mention of these facts, for subsequently in the Senate of the United States a resolution was offered to present a sword to Capt. Brooks, of the regular army, for raising the first American flag in the city of Mexico, but it failed from the fact that a state- ment was presented by Gen. Quitman, Col. Geary, and others to the effort that the first flag raised in the city was by a enmpany in the Second Pennsylva- nia Regiment. Why Col. Geary should have said "a company of his regiment" when he saw Capt. Williams raise the colors of the Union is unaccount- able,-" honor to whom honor's due."
And thus ended the war with Mexico. Within -ix mouths Gen. Scott had stormed the strongest places in the country, won battles against armies double. treble, and even quadruple his own, and marched withont a single reverse from Vera Cruz to Mexico. He had lost fewer men, made fewer mistakes, and caused less devastation in proportion to his victories than any invading general of former times. When the Duke of Wellington was asked by a great soklier what he thought of Scott's Mexican campaign, his reply was, " It was a war of miracles !"
The capture of the city of Mexico finished the war. The treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was concluded Feb. 2, 1848. New Mexico and Upper California were ceded to the United States, and the western boundary of Texas was fixed at the Rio Grande del Norte. In return the United States agreed to pay fifteen millions of dollars, and to assume the debts dne American citizens by the Mexican government to the amount of three million five hundred dollars.
of the Montezumas-surrendered to the gallant Quit- man.
137
GENERAL HISTORY.
thousand men (most of whom had died by disease) and one hundred and sixty million dollars.
The Army of Mexico was soon on their way home- ward, especially the volunteers, the regulars occupy- ing the acquired territory or the boundary on the Rio Grande. The Cameron Guards, out of one hun- dred and seventeen, returned with thirty-two men. From the time the company lett the city of New Or- leans until they reached Harrisburg it was one con- tinuous ovation. At Harrisburg, which they reached on the -- day of July, 1848, the citizens turned out en masse to welcome the gallant survivors of that brave band. The company was met at the foot of Market Street by the citizens and military, who, after escort- ing it through the principal streets of the borough, amid the ringing of bells and the firing of cannon. repaired to the public grounds in the rear of the State Capitol, where the survivors were publicly wel- comed by Edward A. Le-ley. E-q., on behalf of the citizens, in an eloquent speech replete with patriotic allusions. The entire multitude then sat down to an elegant and plentiful repa-t, which had been pro- vided for the occasion tree of all expense.
The Cameron Guards left Harrisburg, as stated, with one hundred and seventeen men. At Pitt-burgh it was found that the company had more than the to other commands. This statement will account for the number on the muster-roll herewith given, which contains the name- of ninety-four men, rank and file. not including three privates subsequently connected with the company.
maximum number, and the surplus were transferred : Alexander, William, 22, 5:6, Montreal, Canada, tailor : deserted at New Orleans Jan. 27, 1547. Brown. Alexander, 21. 5: 11. Bolton. England, phd- dler.
Roll of Cumeron Guards ( Company G, Second Regi- ment Pennsylvania Volunteers). [Age, height, where born, occupation.]
Captain. Edward C. Williams. 27, 5:93, Philadelphia, book- binder.
First Lieutenant. . Peter HI. Me Williams, 25. 5: 11, Harrisburg. printer. Second Lieutenant.
David J. Unger, 24, 5: 8, Dauphin County, merchant. Third Lieutenant.
Isaac S. Waterbury, 27, 5:8. New York City. tailor. First Sergeant.
Henry A. Hambright. 26, 6 : 2, Lancaster. contractor : pro. to 1st lieut., Co. H, Ang. 12, 1847, by order of Geu. Quitman.
Sergeants.
James Elder, 21, 5: 10?, Harrisburg, gentleman ; pro. to 2d lieut., 11th U. S. Int., April 16. 1847, by President of the United States.
William G. Murray, 22. 5:11;, Harrisburg, mer- chant ; pro. to 2d lieut., 11th U. S. Inf .. April 10. 1847, by President of the United States.
John Fleck, 29, 5: 83, Harrisburg. plasterer ; disch. from hospital at Vera Cruz April 21. 1847.
Corporals.
.John Simons, 31, 6:47, Bedford, teamster ; trans. . New York regiment Oct. 31, 1847.
Thomas R. Jordan, 23, 6: 1;, Lancaster, carpenter : disch. from hospital at Pueblo Nov. 5, 1847.
William HI. P. Derry, 27, 5:6, Wilmington, Del .. boat-builder.
George Bres-ler, 23, 5:10, Dauphin County, mill- wright.
Drummer. Samuel Simon -. 28. 5: 10. Perry County, blacksmith ; pro. to drum-major Nov. 12, 1847.
Fifer. George Simons, 22, 5: 73, Perry County. blacksmith.
Privates.
Auchmutz, Samuel S., 22, 5:73. Northumberland County, carpenter.
Auchmutz, Shipman. 24, 5:11. Northumberland County, tailor ; pro. to sergt. Feb. 29, 1848.
Albert, John, 20. 5: 33, Middletown, tailor ; deserted at New Orlean- Jan. 27, 1847.
Bowman, George, 20, 5:113, Lancaster City, car- penter ; deserted at New Orleans Jan. 27. 1847. Brua, Jacob, 38, 5: 7, Harrisburg, printer ; died in hospital, Perote, July 3. 1847; about half an hour after he received a lieutenant's commission in the regular army.
Boden, Hugh, 20, 5:8, Perry County, carpenter ; killed at city of Mexico Oct. 12. 1847.
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