USA > Pennsylvania > York County > York > York County and the World War: Being a war history of York and York County > Part 25
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The 207th Pennsylvania Regiment was organized September 8, 1861. with Robert C. Cox, Colonel. It was assigned to the Army of the James, and in November placed in the 9th corps under Burnside. Later it was assigned to Hartranft's Division, composed of six Pennsylvania Regiments. On Feb- ruary 5, 1865, the 207th was engaged at Hatcher's Run, where a full brigade was commanded by Colonel Cox. In the assault to retake Fort Steadman, Colonel Cox and four comrades were in the advance line, and were the first to enter the ramparts where they captured a large number of Confederates. The loss to the regiment in this attack was only one killed and sixteen wounded.
The 207th was in the front line at the attack and capture of Fort Sedgwick, where Cox commanding a brigade also led his own regiment. The loss in the 207th here was 37 killed, and 146 wounded and eight missing. When Fort Sedgwick fell, Petersburg was evacuated by the Confederates, and one week later Lee surrendered. This regiment was mustered out at Alexandria, May 13, 1865. Company E was commanded by Captain Lewis Small of York, who recruited in York County 100 men.
The 209th Pennsylvania Regiment was organized September 16. 1864, with Tobias Kauffman, Colonel, and sent to Bermuda Hundred, to join the Army of the James. It was first engaged at Chapman's Farm. November 24th. the regiment was assigned to Hartranft's Division, and on March 25, 1865, the 209th was at the assault and capture of Fort Stedman. On April 2d and 3d the 209th and other regiments in company with the Division and Corps, assaulted the Confederate works before Petersburg, showing great conrage in action. Soon afterward the city was evacuated, and on April 9th, Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox.
Company E of this regiment was recruited in the lower end of York County with Henry W. Spangler, Captain, Thomas J. Hendricks First Lieutenant, and William B. Morrow and William Douglass, Second Lieutenants.
Company I was recruited in Caroll Township with John Klugh, Captain, George W. Heiges and Henry Arnold, Lieutenants.
EMERGENCY REGIMENT
When General Lee entered Pennsylvania in June, 1863, Governor Curtin of Pennsylvania called for twenty regiments for Emergency Troops. They soon reported at Harrisburg for service. The 20th Regiment. under command of Colonel Thomas, was formed into two battalions. One was as- signed to the duty of guarding the railroad bridges over the Conewago at York Haven, and the other to guard the bridges over the Codorus near Hanover Junction, until a large force of Confederates arrived when they retreated across the Susquehanna to Columbia.
The 26th Emergency Regiment, commanded by Colonel Jennings of Harrisburg, was sent to Gettys- burg and was stationed there when Early's advance reached that town on July 26th. The advance of the regiment under Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph S. Jenkins of Hanover moved out in a fog west of Gettysburg to meet the enemy. They encountered the 35th Battalion of Virginia Cavalry under Colonel White and a few shots were exchanged. When the fog broke away the Pennsylvania boys saw a large force of infantry coming down the turnpike. They retreated in haste through Gettysburg. In this encounter the 26th lost 170 officers and men all of whom were paroled the next day on account of the approaching Battle of Gettysburg.
Company F of this regiment was recruited by Rev. Frederick Klinefelter of York. Pennsylvania College. Company I was recruited by Captain Forrest at Hanover. Nearly all his men belonged to that town, and included prominent citizens. This regiment showed great courage when it met the enemy at Gettysburg and fired the first shot in that great battle.
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THE GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN
After the reverses of the Army of the Potomae under Burnside at Fredericksburg in December, 1862, and the defeat of the same army under Hooker at Chancellorsville in May, 1863, General Robert E. Lee, commanding a Confederate army of nearly 80,000 men, began to march northward with the intention of transferring the seat of war from Virginia into Pennsylvania. He moved northward from Chancellorsville early in July with his forees composed of three corps. Longstreet commanded one, Ewell the second and A. P. Hill the third. The Southern soldiers had been placed under rigid drill and discipline before they began this march.
Lee crossed into the Shenandoah Valley. met and defeated Milroy with a small force near Win- chester on June 14th, and continued what seemed to be a triumphant movement into the Keystone State.
This movement of Lee alarmed the northern states. Thousands of men enlisted and entered the army. The entire area of Southern Pennsylvania was under intense strain and excitement.
Meantime the Army of the Potomac was placed under General Meade, who followed Lee on his march into Pennsylvania. The two armies were soon to meet in a desperate contest on July Ist, 2d and 3d, in and around Gettysburg, where the Confederates were defeated and driven back to Virginia.
LEE AT CHAMBERSBURG
After General Lee crossed the Pennsylvania line near Hagerstown, Md., he halted at Chambersburg. There on the morning of June 26th, he sent General Ewell to Carlisle with two divisions. The same day he despatched General Early with one division of 10,000 men toward Gettysburg and York.
On the night of June 28th, Early encamped with four brigades near Bigmount in Washington Township. General Gordon with his brigade of 2800 Georgia troops bivouacked the same night at Farmer's Post Office in Paradise Township.
Chief Burgess David Small and a delegation of citizens met the Confederate Commander at this camp, where he received assurance that the Confederate forces would not destroy any private property or molest any citizens when they entered York.
GORDON ENTERS YORK
At 10 o'clock Sunday morning, just as the church bells were ringing for service, Gordon's brigade entered York, marching up West Market Street. At Center Square the advance column halted, took down a large American flag floating from the top of a tall pole in the Square, and continued to march toward Wrightsville.
When Gordon approached Wrightsville, a skirmish took place between his advance guard and some Federal troops. It was an unequal contest and the Federal troops were ordered to eross the river to Columbia.
At that time General Couch at Harrisburg was in command of this Department. He ordered Colonel Friek with a regiment of Federal troops at Columbia to burn the bridge. TIris was done to prevent the Confederates from marching over it.
Meantime, Gordon had shelled Wrightsville with a battery of four guns, and obtained possession of the town. He remained there one night and the following day returned to York.
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EARLY'S ARRIVAL AT YORK
General Early began his march at daybreak on June 28th, from Bigmount through Davidsburg and Weiglestown, despatching four companies of cavalry to the mouth of the Conewago Creek at York Haven. where two railroad bridges were burned to prevent Union troops from coming down from Harrisburg.
On June 27th, Early despatched Colonel White with a detachment of 400 cavalry through Hanover to Hanover Junction, where they burned the railroad bridges over the Codorus along the Northern Central. White then moved to York, joining Early on the 28th.
The Louisiana Brigade under General Hays encamped on the night of the 28th at Loucks' Mills, a short distance above York. Smith's Brigade of Virginia troops took position on Shunk's Hill over- looking the town, and planted cannon there. General Early, in a letter to the author of this story in 1890. said: "I entered York with Avery's brigade of North Carolina troops who encamped on the York Common. where the hospital buildings were stationed, and also the Fair Grounds southeast of town. My object in putting my troops in these positions was to protect myself against the enemy if he approached." The different brigades, on the evening of the 29th, still held the position they first occupied upon entering the town, and remained there until ordered to retreat toward Gettysburg on the morning of June 30th.
EARLY'S REQUISITION
Soon after General Early arrived he made a requisition upon the town for $100,000 in money and $40,000 in provisions and clothing for his troops. A committee of citizens began to raise money, but owing to the fact that the bank deposits and money owned by prominent citizens had been sent to Philadelphia, and elsewhere, the entire amount could not be raised. The committee however raised $28,000 and turned it over to Early, at his headquarters in the Court House. A considerable supply of clothing and provisions were also raised. The situation did not please the Confederate chieftain and he proceeded to collect the money by using stronger efforts.
CALLS .MEETING IN COURT HOUSE
Early then ordered the Court House bell rung for a public meeting. The large audience room was soon filled with representative men of the city. At a given notice, General Early marched up the main aisle and took a seat at the judge's desk. Surveying the audience, he arose from his chair dressed in full uniform of gray, with his sword dangling at his side. He then began to speak, demanding that the committee of citizens proceed at once to collect the balance of the money and turn it over to his Adjutant General. He spoke with earnestness, for the town was under martial law, and the Con- federate flag floated over the Court House.
The leading citizens still persisted that $12,000.00 more could not then be raised, for the money was not in town. In truth, the money might have been collected from some private citizens, but this matter was concealed for the time.
THREATENS TO BURN CAR SHOPS
Because the General did not succeed in getting a faithful promise that the people of York could raise $12.000.00, the balance demanded in his requisition, he went to the residence of the chief burgess and boldly declared that he would burn the car shops near the railroad station, because, said he, "I have discovered that they are making cars for the Yankee Government. This makes them Government
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property." He had already sent a squad of men under Captain Wilson of North Carolina to set fire to the wooden shops. Ilad this been done great destruction of property would have followed.
As General Early and Burgess Small walked down George Street and up North to the shops they found a large delegation of citizens collected there. At this instant Philip A. Small, of the firm of P. A. & S. Small, stepped up to the Confederate Officer and said. "General, if you do not burn these shops, I will give you a draft on New York for the payment of the amount you demand."
At this juncture, General Early saw a Confederate courier galloping toward him. He walked from the crowd and received the message, which was from his corps commander, General Ewell, then at Carlisle. It ordered him to retreat to Gettysburg as the Potomac army was moving toward the town. Ile returned to the depot, told the delegation of citizens that he would consider Mr. Small's proposition until the following morning. well knowing that he would be out of town early the next day. He returned to his headquarters and issued the following Proclamation;
York, Pa., June 30, 1863.
To the Citizens of York:
t have abstained from hurning the railroad buildings and car shops of your town because, after examination [ am satisfied the safety of the town would be endangered; and, acting in the spirit of humanity, which has ever characterized my government and its military authorities. I do not desire to involve the innocent in the same punishment with the guilty. Had I applied the torch without regard to consequences I would have pursned a course that would have been fully vindicated as an act of just retaliation for the many authorized acts of barbarity perpetrated by your own army upon our soil. But we do not war upon women and children, and I trust the treatment you have met with at the hands of my soldiers will open your eyes to the monstrous iniquity of the war waged by your government upon the people of the Confederate States, and that you will make an effort to shake off the revolting tyranny under which it is apparent to all you are yourselves groaning.
J. A. EARLY Major General C. S. A.
This is one of the most presumptive documents known to American warfare. It was printed in York and intended to he widely circulated on June 30th, but since Early had to retrace his steps the address was never distributed. The only original copies now in existence are two. One of them was given to the author of this article by General Early at his Lynchburg home in Virginia in 1890, and is now in the York County Museum; the other copy is on exhibition in a show-case in the Library of Congress at Washington.
NOTED SOLDIERS FROM YORK COUNTY
William Buel Franklin, the most distinguished soldier from York County in the Civil War, was born at York, February 27. 1823. He graduated at West Point at the head of his class in 1813, and entered the army as a topographical engineer. In the Mexican War he served on the staff of General Taylor, and was complimented for bravery by that officer at Buena Vista.
Franklin commanded a brigade at the first battle of Bull Run in July, 1861. May 15, 1862, he was appointed to the Sixth Corps. He commanded the right wing of the Potomac Army against "Stonewall" Jackson, in the Seven Days' Battle in front of Richmond. At the battle of Antietam, his corps came to the support of the Second Corps, and relieved the troops which had suffered so heavily. In December. 1862. he commanded a grand division of two corps at the battle of Fredericksburg, in all 10,000 men. where he again contested with Stonewall Jackson.
In 1863, General Franklin was placed in charge of the 19th Corps in the Red River Expedition. At the close of the war he retired from the army, and spent the remainder of his life in Hartford, Conn .. as president of the Colt Arms Company, and held other high positions of honor and trust. He died at Hartford in 1901, and was buried at York in Prospect Hill Cemetery.
Samuel Rhoads Franklin, Rear Admiral, was born in York. August 23. 1825. At the age of 16, and three years before the naval academy was founded at Annapolis, he entered the U. S. Navy.
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During the Mexican War, he served in the Gulf Squadron as a midshipman. He was at Hampton Roads, Virginia, in 1862, as lieutenant when the Monitor defeated the Merrimac, after the latter had sunk three Union vessels. This battle marked the end of warships made of wood.
He served as commander of different vessels until 1864, when he was assigned to duty in the block- ading squadron at New Orleans, and was at Mobile under Farragut when that city fell into the hands of the American Navy.
Franklin was promoted to commodore in 1880, and to rear admiral in 1885. He retired at the age limit of sixty-two in 1887, and spent the remainder of his life in Washington. He was a brother of General Franklin.
Edmund Schriver was born in York in 1811. He received a through military education and from 1834 to 1837, was instructor of infantry tactics at West Point. During the Civil War he was Lieutenant Colonel of the 11th United States Infantry and next served on the staff of General McDowell in several battles. From 1863 to 1865, he was Inspector General of the Army of the Potomac. After the battle of Gettysburg he was assigned the duty of taking thirty-one Confederate Battle Flags to Washington as trophies of victory. On August 1, 1864, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General and in 1865 to Major-General of volunteers for meritorious services in the army.
After the war, General Schriver was appointed military inspector of West Point Academy. In January, 1881, he retired to private life.
Jacob Lanman, of York, later of Burlington, lowa, commanded a brigade under Grant in the battles of Shiloh and Fort Donelson, and a division of the western army under Grant in the siege and capture of Vicksburg in 1863. He was severely wounded in the battle of Belmont and retired from the army. He died at Burlington, lowa, in 1867.
Walter S. Franklin, soldier, was born in York in 1836, and graduated from the Scientific Department at Harvard University in 1857. At the opening of the Civil War he was appointed First Lieutenant in the 12th U. S. Infantry, and served in the Peninsular Campaign under McClellan near Richmond in 1862. In 1863-4 he served in the 6th Corps. He stood near Sedgwick when that great soldier was struck by a minie ball from the rifle of a Confederate sharpshooter at Spottsylvania. Later he was on the staff of General Wright, commanding the 6th Corps, before Petersburg and under Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley during the latter part of 1864.
After the war, Colonel Franklin was assigned to the 12th Infantry. He retired from the army in 1887 and was connected with the Maryland Steel Company in 1894. Later he was president of the Baltimore City passenger Railroad Company. He was married to Mary Campbell Small of York December 13, 1866.
Michael P. Small, Brigadier General in the United States Army, was born in York and graduated from West Point in 1855. As a lieutenant in the Regular Army he aided in quelling the insurrection at Harper's Ferry in 1859, and during the Civil War served in the Commissary Department of the army in the field. He was Chief of Commissary under Grant from 1864 to the end of the war. From 1865 to 1883 he was Chief of Commissary for the army in the west with headquarters at different times in San Antonio, San Francisco, and other western cities.
Matthew Stanley Quay, soldier and United States Senator, was born at Dillsburg, York County, in 1833, the son of a Presbyterian clergynian. At the age of seventeen he graduated from Washington and Jefferson College. In 1861, he was chosen a lieutenant in the Pennsylvania Reserves. In 1862, he was elected Colonel of the 134th Pennsylvania Regiment, which served in the Army of the Potomac for nine months. In the Battle of Fredericksburg, Colonel Quay lead his regiment in the attack on Maryes Height, a strong point of the Confederate line, with great gallantry.
The following year, Colonel Quay was appointed private secretary for Governor Curtain at Harris- burg. Later he served as Secretary of the Commonwealth and State Treasurer. From 1887 to the time of his death in 1904, he represented Pennsylvania in the United States Senate at Washington.
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YORK IN THE WORLD WAR
BY WADSWORTH M. GEORGE
S (OON after the United States entered the World War in April, 1917, war having been declared against Germany on the second day of that month, which was Good Friday, loyal citizens of York and York County were organized for war activities. Governor Brumbaugh had appointed Grier Hersh, president of the York National Bank, as chairman of the council of national defense and food administrator of York County. Mr. Hersh also was placed at the head of various other administrative committees to engage in the work of helping to win the war. That splendid organiza- tions were formed. is demonstrated by the success that was shown in the various activities. York County more than did its share in responding to the call of the country for finances to carry the war to a successful conclusion. The county has a record of having subscribed a total of $30,482,850 in the five Liberty Loans, or $200 per capita, making it one of the banner counties of the United States in its per capita subscriptions to the Liberty Loans. This money was subscribed largely by the people, "Keep It Out Of The Banks," having been an effective slogan in several campaigns.
Thoroughness of the work of the food administration placed York County among the model counties of the United States in food conservation. In addition to the loyal support given to the five Liberty Loans, there were sold by the War Stamp organization of York County $2,180,000 of War Saving Stamps. A War Chest was created, and while actual apparent needs were about $250,000 the amount subscribed was $425,000. All managers of industrial and business establishments agreed to call upon their employes for contributions out of each week's pay and practically all pledges were kept. Several days after Grier Hersh was chosen by the Governor of Pennsylvania to direct the war activities of this county. the council of national defense was organized and for administrative purposes was divided into 13 districts, with York as headquarters. Originally, chairman of the council estab- lished headquarters where all communications were held with outside agencies and through the chairmen of the districts, the administration extended throughout the county. Subsequent to this, it was found in certain instances that the work was subdivided by the appointment of district directors who administered directly from headquarters to their county committees. A list of districts and chairmen is here given: District No. 1, city of York, boroughs of North York and West York, townships of Spring Garden. Springettsbury and West Manchester, Grier Hersh, chairman; district No. 2, borough of Hanover, townships of Penn, Heidelberg, Manheim and West Manheim. H. S. Stokes, chairmen, succeeded later by H. S. Ehrhart; district No. 5. boroughs of Dallastown, Yoe, Loganville and Seven Valleys, townships of Springfield and York, 1. H. Rojahn, chairman; district No. 4, boroughs of Red Lion, Windsor and Felton, townships of Windsor and Chanceford, C. S. Lamotte, chairman; district No. 5, boroughs of Delta and Fawn Grove, townships of Lower Chanceford, Fawn and Peach Bottom, S. J. Barrett, chairman; district No. 6, boroughs of Stewartstown, Winterstown and Cross Roads, townships of Hopewell, East Hopewell and North Hopewell, the Rev. C. P. Leishman, chairman; district No. 7. boroughs of Glen Rock, Shewsbury, Railroad, New Freedom and Jefferson, townships of Shrewsbury and Codorus, J. Victor Wambaugh, chairman; district No. 8. boroughs of Spring Grove and New Salem, townships of North Codorus, Jackson and Paradise; W. L. Glatfelter, chairman; district No. 9, boroughs of Dover and Wellsville. townships of Dover, Warrington and Washington, W. B. Brongher, chairman; district No. 10. boroughs of Dillsburg and Franklintown, townships of Franklin, Carroll and Monaghan, W. S. Kapp. chairman; district No. 11, boroughs of Goldsboro, Lewisbury and York Haven, townships of Newberry and Fairview, J. Frank Zortman, chairman; district No. 12, boroughs of Mt. Wolf and Manchester. townships of Conewago, East Manchester and
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Manchester, H. A. Kauffman, chairman; district No. 13, boroughs of Wrightsville. Hellam, East Prospect and Yorkana, townships of Hellam and Lower Windsor, R. P. Wilton, chairman.
This organization of the council of national defense was effected: Chairman Grier Hersh; vice chairman, Mrs. Annie S. McConkey; executive committee, F. H. Beard, Dr. James A. Dale, A. B. Farquhar; treasurer. A. F. Fix; assistant treasurer, Laura J. Dice; executive secretary, D. D. Strite, succeeded by H. S. Ebert; assistant executive secretary, Miss M. R. Koons; directors for York County, building and material, George E. Neff; civilian service, A. B. Farquhar; motor transportation, James Rudisill. J. C. Eisenhart; assistant. Miss Mary D. Croll, motor messenger; food supply. Grier Hersh; Four Minute men, George Hay Kain; assistant director of churches, the Rev. Andrew Todd Taylor; home defense police, Adam Garver, county superintendent; Robert S. Spangler, adjutant; public service reserve, W. V. Barnes. examiner in charge; farm labor agent, Jonas Menges; community labor board, Dr. Charles H Ehrenfield. chairman, P. A. Elsesser, secretary; W. V. Barnes, examiner in charge; registration of women, Miss Emma B. Cochran, chairman; women in industry, Mrs. Forry S. Medlar, chairman, Mrs. J. W. Thompson, vice chairman.
Chairmen of the various war activities of the county were: Liberty bonds, Grier Hersh; Red Cross J. C. Schmidt, succeeded by Francis Farquhar; war savings stamps. O. R. Read; food administrator, Grier Hersh; fuel administration, Robert C. Gephart: Y. M. C. A., P. A. Elsesser; Knights of Colum- bus, George Marlow; Jewish Relief, Dr. J. H. Comroe; war camp community service. Edward Leber; women's council of national defense, Mrs. Annie S. McConkey; Y. W. C. A., Mrs. M. L. Hartman; women's Liberty Bonds, Mrs. Carey Etnier. After the fourth Liberty Loan campaign, Mrs. Etnier resigned and Mrs. E. G. Steacy, who was chairman of the women's Liberty Loan committee of the city, became the county chairman and directed the work of the women in the Victory Loan campaign. It was the purpose of the war council of York to assign and regulate the personal services of the men and women engaged in the various campaigns of war activities which were being conducted in the county during the war. It was found that the work was not equally distributed. Too much was devolving upon a few individuals in each campaign and the need of a central organization to conserve energy was seen. It was decided to call a meeting to form a war council. These organizations were asked to send delegates: York County Chapter of American Red Cross, Y. M. C. A., Ministerial Association, Knights of Columbus, Manufacturers' Association, York Federation of Trades Unions, Y. W. C. A., Engineering Society. Women Council of National Defense, York Clearing House As- sociation, American Jewish Relief Committee, Chamber of Commerce and Public Safety Committee. Unorganized labor was represented. A meeting was held, at which all the districts of the county, except No. 2, embracing Hanover, were represented. This district preferred to conduct its own war activities. The war council organized by selecting these directors: George H. Whiteley, Sr., chairman; J. C. Schmidt, vice chairman; James Rudisill, secretary; W. R. Horner, treasurer. Each of the or- ganizations represented at the meeting was given representative on the board of directors. Grier Hersh, P. A. Elsesser, O. R. Read, James Rudisill and V. K. Keesey were named as an executive committee, while the council was further organized into bureaus with five members each. Certain activities in every campaign were assigned to these bureaus according to the work for which they had been formed.
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