Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Part 65

Author: Wilson, Erasmus, 1842-1922; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926. cn
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : H.R. Cornell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1192

USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Pittsburgh > Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania > Part 65

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).

The Union victories at Roanoke Island, Elizabeth City, Edenton, Fort Henry and Fort Donelson caused great rejoicing here; so much so that on

568

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

February 17th the Mayor, B. C. Sawyer, directed that on the 22d, Washington's birthday, 100 guns should be fired to celebrate these successes. The people had not been stirred to such a pitch of excitement since the battle of Bull Run, but the fever now was of an altogether different variety. As the news spread like a wave from the heart of the city to the suburbs, the excitement grew wilder, and flags were hoisted wherever the stars and stripes were to be had. A tender of boats, physicians and nurses was made by the citizens to General Halleck for hospital services wherever needed. The celebration of the 22d was an extraordinary affair-a spontaneous outpouring of joy and thanksgiving for the glorious victories of the Union army and navy. The entire popu- lation turned out, regardless of the muddy condition of the thoroughfares, while flags floated from every building. The public schools and churches all united in the general joy. At 2 o'clock p. m. the big guns on Seminary and Boyd's hills began to voice in thunderous tones the hallelujahs of the people. In all the public halls speeches were delivered and songs sung. Washing- ton's farewell address was read at several of the meetings with excellent effect. The best and most eloquent speakers in the two cities were called upon and were not backward in helping to kindle anew the fires of loyalty. In the evening the city was brilliantly illuminated, and the bells, great and small, rang out jubilantly. A shouting torchlight procession paraded the streets, add- ing to the intense enthusiasm while the steamboats on the rivers resembled floating palaces of color and light. Gratitude to God for victories won filled every heart.

From February I to April 10, 1862, a total of 155 recruits were raised in this vicinity for the various regiments then in the field. Little else of importance occurred here during that period, except the splendid achievements of the Sub- sistence Committee.

At a large meeting held at the St. Charles Hotel on May 26, 1862, Colonel R. P. McDowell chairman, it was announced that efforts would be made at once to enlist a new regiment in this county, to be under the command of Colonel S. M. Wickersham. It was charged that had not the Home Guards been sneered out of existence by those who never had intended to go to the war, the county would now be in excellent shape to place a full regiment in the field at once. The sad news came about June Ist that Colonel O. H. P. Rippey and Captain Gerard had been killed in Virginia. About a month later came the news of the death of Colonel Samuel W. Black, shot through the head and mortally wounded in the terrible battle of Gaines' Mills. Many other Pitts- burgers in his regiment, the Sixty-second, lost their lives in the same engage- ment.

Under the call of the President, in July, 1862, for 300,000 men, the quota of Allegheny County was fixed at fifteen companies, and the citizens deter- mined that volunteers should be raised, and, if possible, a draft be avoided. A mass meeting, held on West Common, July 24th, was one of the largest and most imposing demonstrations ever witnessed in Allegheny County. Gov- ernor Curtin was present, and all the leading citizens took prominent part in the proceedings. William Wilkins presided, with Thomas M. Howe as chairman of the committee of arrangements. Judge Wilkins delivered an eloquent appeal for volunteers for the preservation of the Nation's life, and was followed by Governor Curtin in a stirring address of like import. A long list of resolutions was adopted to the effect that this county must raise its quota. A bounty of $50 to each volunteer was recommended, and a committee appointed :- Thomas M. Howe, Thomas Bakewell, James Park, Jr., George W. Cass, Isaac Jones, B. F. Jones, William K. Nimick, John Harper, Thomas S. Blair, P. C. Shannon, John H. Shoenberger and James M. Murray. Other speakers on this important

569

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

occasion were W. F. Johnston, William McCandless, Rev. Samuel J. Wilson, Judge P. C. Shannon, T. J. Bigham, Rev. James Priestly and others. A com- mittee was appointed to secure subscriptions to a bounty fund. The crowd was so large (estimated at 15,000) that other stands with speakers had to be provided. This meeting resulted in the formation of the One Hundred and Twenty-third Regiment, nine months' service, under Colonel John B. Clark, Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Gast and Major Hugh Danver. Excepting a small squad of Greene County men in Company 26, the entire regiment was raised in Allegheny County. Company A was commanded by Captain C. D. Willy; B, by H. B. Murphy; C, by David E. Adams; D, by H. K. Tyler; E, by John S. Bell; F, by John Boyd; G, by Daniel Boisol; H, by Simon Drum; I, by R. D. Humes; K, by Henry Maxwell. All were mustered in August 7th, 8th and 9th.

Immediately succeeding this meeting others were held in different parts of the county and subscriptions to the bounty fund began to accumulate. A draft was strongly talked of, and the assessors were required to report lists of those liable to military duty. Many wanted the draft in order that "butternuts" could be forced into the army. At this time Companies E, F, G and H of the One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Regiment, commanded respectively by Cap- tains David Evans, E. J. Seibert, H. W. Larimer and Samuel S. Marchand, were recruited. Thomas M. Bayne of Company H was elected colonel, and Isaac Wright of Company E lieutenant-colonel. Late in the month the One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Regiment, commanded by Colonel F. H. Collier and quartered at Camp Howe, was ordered to move without unnecessary delay to Harrisburg. The ten companies were commanded by Captains Moody, Munroe (D), Jenkins (G), Oxley (I), Sample (E), Donald (H), Marsh (F), McGregor (K), Parr and Snyder. Swords were presented to Colonel Collier, Lieutenants Harbison and Dalgleish, and Captains Munroe and Jenkins, prior to the departure of the regiment. Companies D, G, I and K were wholly from this county, and E, F and H partly. The regiment started from Camp Howe at 3 o'clock p. m., September Ist. After partaking of a sumptuous dinner in the city it inarched to the depot through a drenching rain and was vociferously cheered by thousands of people, who seemed to care little for the inclement weather. So energetic were the solicitors for the bounty fund that by August 29th, $126,444.10 was collected. The wealthy men, with few exceptions, came loyally forward with large subscriptions, and volunteers were reported in goodly numbers. Disloyalty was now manifesting itself in various parts of the county and several persons were arrested for uttering disloyal sentiments. Upon receipt of the news of the second battle of Bull Run, and in response to a telegram sent for that purpose, nineteen surgeons were dispatched to Washington on Saturday and Sunday, August 30th and 3Ist. They were Drs. McCook, Gallaher, Hanna, DeRolette, Arthurs, Wilson, McDonald, Childs, Jones, Dickson, W. H. Kern, Duncan, Rhodes, McCann, W. M. Kern, Thorn, Mowry, Cornman and Finley. The Irish citizens again met and resolved to make the attempt to raise a regiment in this county and vicinity. Stirring speeches were delivered by P. C. Shannon, William Linn, Lieutenant Samuel Harper and others.

On September 3d the regiment under Colonel Edward Jay Allen, Lieuten- ant-Colonel James Collard and Major J. H. Cain left by special train for Harris- burg. Previous to their departure the regiment was drawn up in front of the Second Ward Public School, where a fine sword was presented to Colonel Allen by James Gallaher, on behalf of his old schoolmates. This was imme- diately followed by the presentation of a pair of elegant pistols by John M. Kirkpatrick, on behalf of the Glee Club of 1860. The seven companies in this regiment from Allegheny County were commanded by Captains Pierson (A),

570

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

Kerr (B), Van Gorder (E), McKee (I), Anshutz (C), Hall (D), Markle (F) and Kline (K). A large crowd witnessed their departure. It was now learned that the quota for this county since the commencement of the war, exclusive of three months' men, was 10,593. From this number were deducted all who had since volunteered from wards, boroughs and townships, and the balance, if any, were required to be furnished under the recent calls. By September 5th the bounty fund amounted to $130,924.10.

On account of the threatening aspect of affairs, a public meeting was held in the Courthouse yard, September IIth, with ex-Governor Johnston as chair- man The news that the Army of the Potomac had fallen back upon Washing- ton and that the rebels were advancing upon the capital was sufficient to stir this community from center to circumference. Governor Curtin, in this emergency, called the militia of the State to arms. The mass meeting passed resolutions to carry into effect at once his recommendation to organize and arm the citizens, and requested all business houses to close at 3 o'clock p. m. on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, to afford opportunity to drill. A special committee was appointed to act in conjunction with the Executive Committee of Public Safety of Allegheny County. Much disloyalty was dis- played at this meeting, causing great tumult and uproar. Other meetings similar to the above were held in other parts of the county. One was held in Allegheny September 6th, on which occasion Felix R. Brunot presided, and strong resolutions in consonance with the Governor's proclamation were adopted. The meeting was addressed by James L. Graham, John Magraw, James Park, Jr., Mr. Brunot and others.

The enrollment in the county was pushed rapidly forward, notwithstanding the fact that the enrolling officers met with considerable opposition in some districts. At this time the Corcoran Regiment, the Stanton Cavalry, the Stan- ton Artillery and the Corcoran Battery were rapidly filling up. The Executive Committee of Public Safety called all able-bodied men to come forward and enroll themselves. Meetings were held in all parts of the county and the com- panies began to fill up most encouragingly. The enrollment commissioner reported that the following number of men were liable to military duty, and that not a ward in either of the cities had furnished an excess, but seven boroughs out of fifteen, and seventeen townships out of forty had exceeded their quotas:

Enrollment. Quota. Credits. Deficiencies.

Pittsburg

11,187

3,277

2,016

1,26I

Allegheny

5,709

1,609

1,354

255

Boroughs.

6,870

1,94I

1,752

189

Townships.

13,333

3,766

3,236

530

37,099

10,593

8,358

2,235

From this the draft was seen to be inevitable. Governor Curtin appointed James L. Graham draft commissioner and Dr. A. C. Murdoch surgeon, for Alle- gheny County; but the former having declined to serve, William B. Negley was appointed. It was first intended to have the draft occur on September 15th, but the date was postponed for ten days. Strong, even fiery, appeals were made in many public meetings to fill the quota and save the county from a draft. At a meeting held in the Courthouse much violent language revealed the temper and excitement under which the citizens were laboring. Motions and amend- ments regarding the organization of the militia under the Governor's proc- lamation were voted up and voted down, but it was finally determined that Act- ing Assistant Adjutant-General Thomas M. Howe should, by virtue of his office, have control of affairs.

571

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

The news was received from Harrisburg on the 15th that the rebels had invaded the State, and that a large force of militia must take the field imme- diately to repel them. James L. Grahanı was detailed by the Governor to hasten the organization of the local militia. Colonel Wickersham, then acting as aid to General T. M. Howe, reported that ten companies were ready to leave the same evening, only one of which, under Captain J. M. Cooper, had been raised in this county. He also reported that there were eight other com- panies belonging to the two cities available on short notice. Other companies arrived during the day, so that late in the evening of the 15th no less than twenty-two companies had reported, fifteen of which left the city at 8 o'clock p. m. for Harrisburg, five of which had been raised in this county. Other companies here under Captains Riddle, Gross, Holmes, Reed, Mattern, Dalton, Cooper, Buffum, Frew and Jackson were organized into a regiment under Colonel Robert Galway. The Duquesne Light Infantry, under Captain Samuel Riddle, had already left hurriedly for Harrisburg in response to the Governor's call. Employes of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company were permitted to assemble and drill on Tuesday and Friday afternoons. On the 13th the large cannon, weighing thirty tons, with a caliber of fifteen inches, and throwing a ball weighing nearly 500 pounds, was shipped to the Atlantic coast.

The County Executive Committee, with the assistance of George H. Thurston, ascertained, on September 15th, that the number of men from Alle- gheny county in the service was as follows:

5 companies Ist Regiment, Colonel Rippey. 547

3 companies 8th Reserves, Colonel G. S. Hays 292

8 companies 9th Reserves, Colonel Jackson. 754

2 squads Ioth Reserves . 56

I company 23d Regiment, Colonel Birney. IOI

5 companies 28th Regiment, Colonel Geary. 505

2 companies 46th Regiment, Colonel Knipe. 193

I squad 57th Regiment, Colonel Campbell I5

7 companies 62d Regiment, Colonel Black. 710

6 companies 63d Regiment, Colonel A. Hay. 663

4 companies 77th Regiment, Colonel Stambaugh. 255

I company 82d Regiment, Colonel Williams.

4 companies IOIst Regiment, Colonel Wilson 306

II companies 102d Regiment, Colonel Rowley 960

3 squads 103d Regiment, Colonel Lehman. 72

I company 109th Regiment, Colonel Steinrook.

IO companies 123d Regiment, Colonel Clark. 1,027

4 companies 136th Regiment, Colonel Bayne. 405

7 companies 139th Regiment, Colonel Collier 590

7 companies 155th Regiment, Colonel Allen. 613

I squad 3d Cavalry, Colonel Averill. 43

3 companies Fourth Cavalry, Colonel Childs. 282

2 companies 5th Cavalry, Colonel Campbell I90

Sixth United States Cavalry, Colonel Emory. 300

Union Cavalry, Captain Stewart 105

Moorhead Cavalry, Captain Sahl. .

McNulty Cavalry, Captain McNulty

Davidson Cavalry, Captain Davidson. 35

Stanton Cavalry. 202

Hampton's Battery, Captain Hampton I35

Thompson's Battery, Captain Thompson. 89

572

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

Daum's Battery, Captain Daum. 60

Braun's Battery, 'Captain Braun 50

Young's Battery. I46

First Virginia Regiment. 200

Second Virginia Regiment 345

Sickles' Brigade. . 232

Irish Brigade, Captain Kane

I25

Sigel's Command 93

Regular service by Major Stokes and others. I55

Recruits for volunteer service, Captain Foster and others 225

Anderson's Troop (Lieutenant Ward)

Recruits for old regiments

400

In marine service.

IIO

Miscellaneous 763

Total 12,676

RECAPITULATION.

Infantry

10,662

Cavalry

1,353

Battery

55I

Marine

IIO

12,676

County's quota.

10,593

Excess.

2,083

These figures, however, were not the basis on which calculations were to be made for a draft, because the enrolling officers were the sole arbiters of the number of credits to which the county was entitled. On the face of the Marshal's returns, the county showed a deficiency on September 15th of 2,179. men, less the number who had enlisted since the rolls were made out. It was urged that vigorous action would almost wholly, if not quite, clear the county from a draft. About October 6th the following table was prepared by Com- missioner Negley, and as it was official it became the basis upon which future credits, deficiencies, etc., were calculated, though further credits were added later:

Pittsburg.

Allegheny. 6,169

6,887

13,395

Exempt by law.

377

73I

1,282

Physical disability . 1,047

731

218

233

601

In Pennsylvania reg's .

2,507

1,845

2,02I

3,435

In foreign regiments

I90

136

I20

II2

Subject to draft .....

6,91I

3,593

3,782

7,965

County enrollment.

37,837

Exempt by law. .

· 3,437

Exempt by disability 1,783

5,220

Leaving.

32,617

Boroughs. Townships.

Total enrollment

11,386

573

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

In service -- Pennsylvania regiments. ·9,808

In service-Others. . 558

10,366

Subject to draft. 22,25I

County quota.

10,593

Credits .

9,808

To be drafted. 785

A later report reduced the number required to 784. The borough of Manchester had neither an excess nor a deficiency, and Third Ward, Pitts- burg, had the largest deficiency, 201-more than one-fourth of the deficiency in the entire county. The work of Examining Surgeon Murdoch under the enrollment act closed at noon on September 29th. He had labored day and night under severe pressure from a great crowd, who thought they were entitled to exemption, but was unable to get through. About the 13th of October it was determined by the authorities that no draft should take place in this county, because it was shown that there were actually in the service from this county over 13,000 men. On the 14th Commissioner Negley formally announced that there would be no draft in this county. The Executive Committee having reported the names of 4,000 volunteers to whom they had paid bounty, it was ascertained that the names of 2,094 of them did not appear upon the enrollment lists at all, and, therefore, should be added to the credits of the county. This was an extraordi- nary condition of affairs which has never been satisfactorily explained. The exact number of 4,000 to whom the committee claimed to have paid bounty had a suspicious look, but the figures were revised on the basis of this new credit, and the draft was avoided. The following are the figures of the Executive Committee :

In Pennsylvania regiments. 12,690

County quota . 10,593

Excess over quota 2,097

In Pennsylvania regiments 12,690

In outside organizations. 558

Total volunteers furnished 13,248

Other counties did not escape, and large numbers of drafted men began to arrive at Camp Howe, so that at the end of October 2,500 of them were encamped there. Late in November the drafted men were formed into two regiments, the One Hundred and Sixty-eighth and the One Hundred and Sixty- ninth, the former under Colonel Joseph Jack and the latter under Colonel L. W. Smith. Early in December the regiments of Colonels Jack and Smith left for Washington City. Only three companies remained at Camp Howe.

The One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Regiment (Fourteenth Cavalry) was recruited here by Colonel J. N. Schoonmaker in the autumn of 1862. Prob- ably one-third of the regiment were citizens of this county. On the morning of November 25th orders were received directing Colonel Schoonmaker to report forthwith at Hagerstown, Md., with his command, consisting of 1,100 meni, but with only about 300 horses. They rapidly prepared to obey.

574

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

At 2 o'clock p. m., on the 17th of September, there occurred a terrible explosion at the United States Arsenal at Lawrenceville, by which at least seventy-four boys, girls and women employed therein lost their lives, and the building, known as the Laboratory, was totally demolished. The explosion was heard throughout the two cities, and an immense and agonized crowd was soon at the scene of the catastrophe, which presented an appalling sight. Amid the flames and intense heat of the burning building could be seen scores of bodies, blackened or being consumed. While the firemen were making heroic efforts to rescue those having left any spark of life, the friends of the missing rushed hither and thither, wild with excitement, or were overcome with grief upon recog- nizing the mangled or charred bodies of their children. It was a dreadful scene, one never to be forgotten. The building had been used for filling shells and making cartridges, and contained a large quantity of powder. The force of the explosion was so great that bodies were thrown several hundred feet, and many had legs, arms or heads torn off. Many were killed by the explosion of shells, and no doubt some who had been only severely injured were burned to death. As rapidly as possible the fire was extinguished, and the blackened, burned and mangled bodies of the victims were tenderly taken out and delivered to relatives or placed in charge of the coroner. At the inquest much con- flicting testimony was given touching the cause of the explosion. Many wit- nesses were examined, and the case continued for about ten days. The jury's verdict was "that said explosion was caused by the neglect of Colonel John Syni- ington, the officer in command at the Allegheny Arsenal, and his lieutenants, J. R. Edie and Jaspar F. Myers; and the gross neglect of Alexander McBride, superintendent of said laboratory building, and his assistant, James Thorpe." Two of the jury of six dissented from that portion of the verdict which charged Symington, Edie and Meyers with neglect. So much feeling against the arsenal officials was shown at the trial by relatives of the killed and injured that the verdict of the jury majority was regarded as too severe and did not reflect the views of the public, except that Superintendent McBride was thought guilty of neglect. The authorities of Allegheny Cemetery offered a lot free for the burial of the victims, and later a fund was raised to procure a monument. A sub- scription for the relief of the families of the dead and injured was started, and the money paid out in installments as fast as collected, the distribution being based on the size of the families and the extent of injuries. On September 8, 1863, there had been paid out $5,596.96, with $373.96 still on hand.

On September 25th four companies of volunteer militia under Captains Riddle, Phillips, Gross and Frew, which had gone East a few weeks before for State service, returned and were welcomed home by an address from General Howe. On the 30th General Milroy's Brigade, which contained four companies recruited here, arrived and was warmly welcomed. An immense concourse of people formally received Governor Morton of Indiana, October 3d, who deliv- ered a speech which attracted wide attention and was enthusiastically praised. The great success attending the organization of the Stanton cavalry (Fourteenth Cavalry), under Colonel Schoonmaker, had induced the Secretary of War, about October 9th, to commission Colonel J. A. Stockton to raise another, to be locally known as the second regiment (Eighteenth Cavalry) of Stanton cavalry. At this time there were sixteen companies here intended for the first Stanton regi- ment, four of which were turned over to Colonel Stockton to be used in form- ing the second, and men intended for the Corcoran regiment were assigned to the second Stanton regiment. By October 27th the second had its full com- plement.

From January to October 24, 1862, there were built here thirty-three new steamers, and seventeen more were partly finished; several of which were pur-

577

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

chased by the Government, to be used as gunboats. It also bought five tugs, which were converted into rams and attached to the Mississippi flotilla. One Pittsburg steamer, the "Horner," participated in the naval engagement at Memphis. Little of moment occurred here during the dark and dreary winter of 1862-3. The strength of the rebellion, outspoken disloyalty in this vicinity, jealousies and incompetency in the Army of the Potomac, and want of success of the Union cause generally, rendered the outlook black and forbidding. The demands for relief from the families of volunteers taxed to the utmost the resources and loyalty of the wealthy and middle classes. Like a gleam of sun- light in that dark winter the benefactions of the Relief and Subsistence Com- mittees shone out. Late in April, 1863, urgent appeals were received from Wheeling for troops and guns to assist in repelling a threatened attack upon that city; whereupon action was taken to put the regiment of militia under Colonel Galway in marching condition. Advices were soon received, however, that they would not be wanted. The first squad of colored men to enlist here for the war left for Massachusetts on April 26, 1863. Other colored recruits were called for, and many responded.

Early in May, 1863, the Secretary of War placed at the disposal of this community a battery, to be used in repelling possible raids by guerillas or other marauding rebel bands. In view of the many invasions of the border Union States by such bands, and the possible danger of an attack upon this community, a public meeting was held May 12th to devise means of defense, and reso- lutions were passed to place the regiment under Colonel Galway on a war basis as soon as possible, and to maintain, so far as practicable, the organizations of the regiments under Colonels Clark and Bayne. Captains Stewart, Patterson, Young and King were appointed to organize a battalion of cavalry, and Messrs. Dilworth, Bayne, Bonnafon, Hardtmeyer, Metcalf and Kerr to organize four companies of artillery for home defense. While the Knights of the Golden Circle had become quite troublesome by dissuading men from enlisting, no overt act of importance had been committed. The members of this order, and their sympathizers, were called "Copperheads" and "Butternuts." There were many of these in the community, but they were kept in subjection by the splendid performances of the Union League of Allegheny County, an organ- ization which took special pains to counteract their influence.

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.

Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Part 65

Author: Wilson, Erasmus, 1842-1922; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926. cn Publication date: 1898 Publisher: Chicago : H.R. Cornell & Co. Number of Pages: 1192

Author: Wilson, Erasmus, 1842-1922; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926. cn
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : H.R. Cornell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1192