The Territory and County in Five Wars.
[p. 192] War has its glories, and, no less, its tragedies; its surviving heroes and its martyrs. The history of the city of New Castle and of Lawrence County teems with the names of men who went forth valiantly to fight their country's battles in the cause of right and justice, some to return as heroes with records of distinction in service, others to give their lives in the cause they espoused. The pioneer history records the coming of not a few brave men who had seen service in the Colonial Army during the Revolution, and to whom many of the citizens of today trace their lineage. By the time of the second war with England, that territory now comprising Lawrence County had made rapid strides in its development, and was populated by a hardy class whose patriotism carried many to the front. Others were drafted into the service. Two companies were raised in the vicinity of New Castle, one captained by John Fisher and the other by James Hamilton, and were rendezvoused at Mercer. The service of the men from this community was in various companies and brigades, and their course during the war can not be followed. Some were called to Erie at different periods during the war, a number of them going as often as three times. A portion of them were with General Cook's Brigade, which went from Pittsburg in the fall of 1812, and joined General Harrison's Army on the Sandusky and Miami Rivers, in Ohio. During this struggle, the people along the frontier were in constant fear of invasion by the British and Indians, and numerous block houses were erected as places of refuge in case of attack; one of them was built, in 1813, in the city of New Castle, between Mercer Street and Apple Alley, on the north side of Washington Street. It was a very substantial structure, constructed of logs, and stood for many years.
Believing that in time of peace we should prepare for war, there have at various periods in the history of the community been military organizations in which the citizens were trained and drilled in military tactics. About the year 1820 there was a battalion of five uniformed companies in the vicinity of New Castle, each company with a distinctive style of dress. James Cubbison was captain of the Pumpkintown White Coats, so called from the color of their coats, which were of white flannel; Captain James Rigby commanded a rifle company from the neighborhood of Mt. Jackson; the New Castle Guards were commanded by Capt. Nathaniel McElevy; the Parkstown Company, northwest of New Castle, was commanded by Capt. Andrew Robinson; a company in the neighborhood of East Brook was commanded by Capt. John Budd, and Capt. William Young commanded a company up the Shenango, north of New Castle. In 1821, Capt. James Wilson commanded a company in Shenango Township. It was the custom for these various companies, for some years, to meet annually and participate in dress parade, [p. 193] drills and sham battles. These were scenes of great jollification, feasting and drinking, being regarded as a gala day and attended by the people from far and near.
No companies were organized in Lawrence County for service in the war with Mexico, but quite a few are known to have served in companies organized elsewhere.
It was in the War of the Rebellion the citizens of Lawrence County made a record which shines with the greatest lustre. With a population far less than many of the other counties of the State, it sent from the various walks of life some 4,000 in enlisted and drafted men, of whom nearly five hundred never lived to survive the war. Others returned maimed and injured and illy prepared to take up life's battles in the business world, but proud to have rendered their country a service in the hour of its greatest need.
Within a few hours after the arrival of news concerning the capture of Fort Sumter by the Confederates, a company of young men was recruited in New Castle, and shortly went by canal to Pittsburg, where the Twelfth Regiment was being recruited. The New Castle men were organized into two companies, F and H, with Capt. Edward O'Brien in command of the former and Capt. Daniel Leasure in command of the latter. Leaving Pittsburg April 24, 1861, the Twelfth Regiment arrived in Harrisburg the next day, were reviewed by Governor Curtin and mustered into the United States service. They went into camp immediately at Camp Scott, near York, Pa., and were drilled for several weeks. May 19 the regiment was clothed and given accoutrements, and on May 25 was ordered to move and take possession of the Baltimore & Harrisburg Railway, from the State line to the city of Baltimore, which it did, maintaining headquarters at Cockeysville. The regiment was mustered out of service at Harrisburg, August 5, 1861, its work having been performed without strife or bloodshed. Many of the men of Company F and Company H afterward re-entered the army, Captain Leasure going out as colonel of the famous 100th, or Roundhead, Regiment, and Captain O'Brien becoming colonel of the 134th Regiment of Pennsylvania.
Company K, of the Thirty-ninth Regiment (Tenth Reserves), was partially from Lawrence County and was recruited for the three years' service, the organization being effected late in June, 1861. The regiment was mustered in at Harrisburg July 21, 1861, and went by rail to Baltimore, thence to Washington; it was finally assigned to the Third Brigade, and on October 10, 1861, moved into Virginia and took position in line with the army. Their first engagement took place December 10, with the entire brigade in action, and was a victory. About the middle of June, 1862, they were ordered to the Peninsula to re-enforce McClellan, and June 26, 1862, participated in the battle of Mechanicsville. It afterwards engaged in the battles of Gaines' Mill, White Oak Swamp, Bull Run'(second battle), South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, New Hope Church and the Wilderness. Those who survived the stirring action through which they had been were mustered out at Pittsburg June 11, 1864, many of them re-enlisting as veterans.
Battery B, Forty-third Regiment, First Artillery, of Pennsylvania, joined the Pennsylvania Reserves at Tenallytown, August 14, 1861, and was assigned to the First Brigade. It was in the thickest of the fight in many of the most important battles of the war, namely at Mechanicsville, Bull Run (second battle), South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Courthouse and Cold Harbor. Many of the men had re-enlisted at the expiration of their service, others returned home, and in all during the four years there were 334 men connected with Battery B. In that time, 11,200 rounds of ammunition were expended. The battery was mustered out at Harrisburg June 9, 1865.
Company A of the Seventy-sixth Regiment was recruited in Lawrence County, [p. 194] and Company G, of that regiment, in Lawrence and Westmoreland counties. The regiment was organized for three years' service in August, 1861, with D. H. Wallace, of New Castle, as lieutenant-colonel. November 18, 1861, at Camp Cameron, at Harrisburg, it received its colors from the Governor, and the following day proceeded to Fortress Monroe. On the 8th of December they arrived at Hilton Head, South Carolina, where it was armed and equipped and assigned to General Wright's brigade. A part of the regiment participated in the taking of Fort Pulaski at the mouth of the Savannah River, Company A and Company F being left at Hilton Head. June 16, 1862, they made an attack on the city of Charleston, but were repulsed. October 22, 1862, they formed a part of an expedition to sever communication between Charleston and Savannah, by destroying the bridges across the Pocotaligo, and in this undertaking the Seventy-sixth Regiment lost seventy-five officers and men in killed and wounded. July 10, 1863, an attack was made on Fort Wagner, and on the day following the Seventy-sixth participated in a charge on the fort in the face of a withering fire; they were repulsed with terrible losses. The number of killed and wounded from this regiment alone totaled 187, of whom fifty-three were killed. Another assault was made on the fort on the 18th of July, in which the Seventy-sixth lost seventeen in killed and wounded. In May, 1864, the Tenth corps was attached to the Army of the James in Virginia; early in that month they forced the Confederates back from the Weldon Railroad to Drury's Bluff, and in this action the Seventy-sixth sustained a loss of sixty-five in killed and wounded. They sustained a heavy loss in a three days' battle at Cold Harbor. June 23, 1864, they proceeded to Petersburg, where they performed picket duty on the front line of works; they later were in engagements at Chapin's Farm and Hather's Run, and on January 6, 1865, joined an expedition against Fort Fisher, in North Carolina, which was surrendered on January 15. They next took Wilmington and Raleigh, at the latter place being detached for provost-guard duty, They were mustered out at Raleigh on July 18, 1865, and paid off at Harrisburg, Pa., July 23, when they disbanded.
The One Hundredth Regiment of Pennsylvania, which is known in history as the Roundhead Regiment (so called because the territory from which it was recruited was settled by the Covenanters who had followed Cromwell), had more Lawrence County men enrolled in its ranks than any other regiment. It was recruited by Capt. Daniel Leasure, whom we have previously mentioned in connection with the Twelfth Regiment, by authority of the Secretary of War, under date of August 6, 1861. Companies B, E, F, H, I and K were recruited in Lawrence County, and on September 2, 1861, the regiment, consisting of twelve companies, proceeded to Washington and encamped at Kalorama Heights. Upon organization, Daniel Leasure was commissioned colonel of the regiment. The regiment was brigaded October 7, 1861, with the Eighth Michigan and the Fiftieth Pennsylvania, with Colonel Leasure as ranking officer in command. It joined the command of Gen. W. T. Sherman, at Annapolis, destined for the coast of South Carolina. On request of Colonel Leasure to the Secretary of War, the Seventy-ninth New York was assigned to his brigade, and on October 12, 1861, Gen. Isaac I. Stevens was assigned to its command. October 19 they set sail for Fortress Monroe, thence under sealed orders for Port Royal Entrance; they arrived on November 5, and on the 7th the gunboats advanced to the attack on Forts Walker and Beauregard, driving the enemy from the works. The troops were landed and took possession of the forts, and Hilton Head and Lady's Island. Fortifications were erected, and General Stevens' brigade was here stationed for one month, then proceeded further inland to the town of Beaufort. General Hunter, who had relieved General Sherman in this department, undertook the reduction of [p. 195] Charleston. With this object in view, on June 1, 1862, General Stevens moved with his brigade through Stony Inlet to James Island, took possession of the village of Legareville and moved into the interior of the island. They erected forts and performed guard duty, and during their stay were under almost constant fire from the enemy's forts. June 16, they made an attack on Tower Fort, near Secessionville, which was held by a large force and commanded the approaches to Charleston by the James Island causeway. The attack was repelled with heavy losses, and the operations against Charleston were suspended. July 4 the brigade returned to Hilton Head, and on July 13 to Beaufort, thence on the Merrimac, which was on a trial trip, to Virginia, going into camp at Newport News. It participated in the second battle of Bull Run, August 29 and 30, and fought gloriously, but at an awful sacrifice of lives. On the second day they fell back before overwhelming numbers to Centerville, and on September 1 took part in a hotly contested battle at Chantilly, in which the Union Army triumphed.
The One Hundredth Regiment participated in the battle of South Mountain, September 14th, but having lost nearly all its line officers was not engaged actively at Antietam on September 17th, being held in reserve. Colonel Leasure, who had his horse shot from under him on the second day at Bull Run, and had himself been severely wounded, returned from the hospital to the front in October, and was sent by General Burnside to bring up the absentees and convalescents of the Ninth Corps, assembled in camp near Washington. About 4,000 were thus added to the strength of the corps, 200 of whom were members of the One Hundredth Pennsylvania. During the progress of the battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862, this regiment, with its division, was held in reserve, and on December 15th was deployed as skirmishers to cover the retreat of General Sumner's forces. In June, 1863, the Ninth Corps was ordered to the support of General Grant at Vicksburg, and was there placed to guard the fords of the Big Black River, remaining until the surrender of Pemberton, July 4th. After the fall of Vicksburg it was with Sherman's Army on the expedition against Jackson. They were then sent to East Tennessee, going by boat to Cairo, thence by rail to Cincinnati, thence to Camp Nelson, in Kentucky. Owing to the ravages of disease, due to poor water in the south, hot weather and hardships, their ranks were greatly depleted when they left Camp Nelson on September 25th, fully one-fourth of the One Hundredth Regiment being left in hospitals. The regiment got into action about Knoxville, and on January 1, 1864, notwithstanding their hardships and privations, the entire regiment, with the exception of twenty-seven, re-enlisted for a second term of three years. They returned home on veteran furlough, and on March 8th rendezvoused at Camp Copeland, near Pittsburg, with a sufficient number of recruits to raise the regiment to a strength of 977 men. It proceeded to Annapolis, where it was brigaded with the Twenty-first Massachusetts and Third Maryland, forming the Second Brigade, First Division, with Colonel Leasure in command. They participated in the battle of the Wilderness, at Spottsylvania Court House, North Anna River, Cold Harbor, a series of battles before Petersburg, in the engagement along the Weldon Railroad, Poplar Springs Church, Hatcher's Run, Fort Steadman, and the final assault upon Petersburg. The regiment was mustered out at Washington, D. C., July 24, 1865.
Company D, of the One Hundred and First Regiment of Pennsylvania, was largely from Lawrence County, and with the regiment participated in the battles of Williamsburg, Virginia; Fair Oaks, where fully one-third of their number were killed or wounded; White Oak Swamp; Kinston, North Carolina; and in numerous sorties about Newbern and Plymouth. At the last named place the entire regiment, except those absent on furlough or detached duty, [p. 196] was captured, and marched under a strong guard to Tarboro. They were from there conveyed by rail to Andersonville, where the enlisted men were incarcerated, the officers being taken to Macon and held. All of the officers of the regiment at one time or another made escape, some of them making the Union lines, and others, less fortunate, being recaptured. They were moved from Macon to Savannah, then successively to Charleston and Charlotte, being finally exchanged at Wilmington, in March, 1865. Most of the enlisted men were taken from Andersonville, some to Millin and others to Savannah, where a limited number were exchanged. All were exchanged in the spring of 1865 at Wilmington, North Carolina, except those left at Andersonville, they being sent north afterwards, by way of the Mississippi. The regiment was mustered out of service at Newbern, North Carolina, June 25, 1865. The number of deaths in the regiment during its imprisonment, and the enfeebled condition of the survivors, was appalling.
Company D of the One Hundred and Ninth Regiment of Pennsylvania, was recruited in Lawrence County, in December, 1861, and was commanded by Capt. John Young, Jr., of New Castle. It was under General Banks in the operations about Harper's Ferry, took part in the battle of Cedar Mountain, and was on hand at Antietam, although not actively engaged. After taking part in the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, it was sent with the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps, under General Hooker, to the relief of Rosecrans at Chattanooga. It was with Sherman's Army through the Atlanta campaign, participating in the engagements around Resaca, Dallas, Lost Mountain and Kenesaw Mountain. It accompanied the army in its march to the sea, arriving in Savannah December 21, 1864. It later was in action at Averysboro, Bentonville and Goldsboro, and after the surrender of Johnston, March 26, 1865, made its way northward with Sherman's army to Washington, where it was mustered out on the 19th of July.
Companies A, B, D and H, of the One Hundred and Thirty-Fourth Regiment of Pennsylvania, in compliance with a call issued in July, 1862, by Governor Curtin, for troops for nine months' service, were raised in Lawrence County, and Company I of the same regiment was raised in Lawrence and Beaver Counties. It rendezvoused at Camp Curtin and was ordered away before its organization was effected. It moved on to Washington August 20, 1862, and was attached to a provisional corps commanded by General Casey at Arlington Heights. There the organization was effected with Matthew S. Quay as Colonel, and Edward O'Brien of Lawrence County, as Lieutenant-Colonel. It was brigaded with the Ninety-First, One Hundred and Twenty-Sixth and One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Pennsylvania regiments, and the brigade placed in command of General E. B. Tyler. They got into stirring action in the last struggle of the battle of Fredericksburg and in the brief space in which they were in the conflict lost fourteen killed, 106 wounded and sixteen missing. In this engagement, in addition to facing the fire of the enemy in front, they had the misfortune of being fired upon from the rear. In the spring of 1863, the brigade participated in the movement against Lee, which ended with the defeat at Chancellorsville, in which Colonel O'Brien and his men made a brave stand until their ammunition gave out. After this battle, the regiment was shortly mustered out at Harrisburg, May 26, 1863, its term of enlistment having expired.
The One Hundred and Fifty-Ninth Regiment of Pennsylvania (Fourteenth Cavalry) contained many men from Lawrence County, scattered through its various companies. It was organized at Pittsburg, and equipped at Hagerstown, Maryland. It performed picket-duty for some time at Charlestown, West Virginia, during the winter of 1862-1863; and for several [p. 199] months during 1863 did duty in Western Virginia, being attached to the command of General Averell. After the battle of Gettysburg, the regiment, which had been transferred to Maryland, crossed into Virginia, and took up the pursuit of Lee, being actively engaged with Averell's command in the vicinity of the Potomac, at Falling Waters, about Manchester, and White Sulphur Springs. It was in the movements in Western and Southern Virginia during the winter of 1863-1864, fighting at Droop Mountain and destroying the Virginia and Tennessee railway and supplies of the rebel army to the extent of more than $3,000,000. During these raids the Fourteenth Cavalry lost about fifty men in killed, wounded and missing. It continued with Averill's command in their raid through West Virginia and lost many in killed and wounded, particularly at Core Gap. It participated in General Huster's operations on the James River, and was with him when Early, with an entire corps from Lee's Army, compelled him to retreat toward the Ohio River. The march was a severe one and a number of the men died of hunger. From Parkersburg, it returned by rail to Martinsburg. July 20th, Averell attacked Early at Winchester and defeated him, but on the 24th the fortunes of war were reversed when the entire command of Early attacked the commands of Crook and Averell. The commands fell back to the Potomac, contesting every inch of ground, and finally withdrew to Hagerstown, Maryland. The enemy under McCausland, burned the town of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and was followed by Averell from that town to Moorfield, on the Potomac. Averell's command there defeated the combined forces of McCausland, Johnson, Gilmore and McNeill, with heavy loss, and in this engagement the Fourteenth Cavalry lost ten killed and twenty-five wounded. The regiment was afterward in all the engagements with Sheridan, which resulted in the destruction of Early's Army. They participated with the division under General Powell at Front Royal, when McCausland was made to retreat, with the loss of his guns and supply trains. During the winter of 1864-1865, they were in engagements at Millwood, and at Ashby's Gap, and April 18, 1865, was present at the surrender of General Moseby. April 29, it moved on to Washington and participated in the grand review in May, and in June was ordered to Kansas. They were mustered out at Fort Leavenworth, August 24, 1865, and returned to Pittsburg, where they disbanded.
Company A, known as the "Pollock Guards," of the Fourteenth Regiment, was organized in East New Castle, then Pollock township, and was captained by A. L. Hazen. At the time Lee threatened Pennsylvania, the company tendered its services to Governor Curtin in defense of the State, which were accepted September 15, 1862. They arrived in Harrisburg on the 16th, and on that day the Fourteenth Regiment was organized with R. B. McComb, a private in the Pollock Guards, as Colonel, and Forbes Holton, of the same company, as Adjutant. They were ordered on to Chambersburg, and as the battle of Antietam was then in progress, it was their belief they were to be rushed forward to participate in that engagement. They crossed the line from Chambersburg while the men were asleep, and when they awoke to find themselves beyond the line they emitted cheer after cheer. They arrived in Hagerstown, Maryland, on the 17th, the regiment was formed and moved out about four miles on the Sharpsburg road, where it encamped and remained until the following day. It was ordered out on the Williamsburg road, and on Sunday ordered back to Green Castle. They remained in camp several days, then returned to Harrisburg and were discharged. The day after the battle of Antietam they had been within two miles of Lee's lines, in advance of any of the other emergency regiments of Pennsylvania, and were disappointed at not being able to get into action.
In June, 1863, when Governor Curtin called out the volunteer militia of the [p. 200] State, three companies from Lawrence County responded. They were the one under Capt. Joseph Moorhead, the Wilmington Company under Capt. G. C. Vincent, a professor of Westminster College, and one under Capt. T. G. Christy. They arrived in Pittsburg on July 1, 1863, and the first night slept in the woods at Camp Howe. July 4th, the Fifty-Fifth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia, was organized with R. B. McComb as Colonel, and included these three companies. They went into camp near Homewood Station on the Pennsylvania Railroad, and upon receipt of a dispatch from the Secretary of War asking for volunteers to go to Western Virginia, the Fifty-Fifth Regiment was the first to volunteer, and immediately received orders to proceed to Parkersburg and report to General Kelly. July 11, the regiment started and arrived at Parkersburg on the 13th, when Colonel McComb took command of the post, which was the most important in West Virginia, it being the point where supplies were collected and distributed. A dispatch was received from General Burnside, notifying them of the approach of Morgan and 3,000 raiders. Colonel McComb ordered all steamboats and other craft removed from the Ohio side of the river, and took every precaution to prevent Morgan from effecting a crossing near Parkersburg. He sent Captain Moorhead, with Company A, down the river to reconnoitre. July l8th, Colonel Wallace arrived from General Kelly's headquarters, with four guns, and at the same time 400 discharged prisoners arrived under Major Showalter. On the 19th, Colonel Wallace moved down the river with the whole force to intercept Morgan and prevent his crossing the river. On the following day the attempt was made at Point Pleasant, but repulsed by the Connesteag, a gunboat. Morgan, believing escape impossible, proposed capitulation; Basil Duke was sent to arrange the terms of surrender, and while he was so doing, Morgan and 400 men made their escape up the Mnskingum. Duke and 1,400 men surrendered. The Fifty-Fifth Regiment remained in camp at Parkersburg until the expiration of their term of service.
A part of a company of cavalry was raised in New Castle by Capt. R. W. Stewart, and went to Cleveland, where he united with the Second Ohio Cavalry.
Company E, of the One Hundred and Ninety-Third Regiment of Pennsylvania, was raised in and around New Castle for the one hundred days' service, and was captained by John C. Euwer. The regiment was organized at Pittsburg on the 19th of July, and proceeded to Baltimore, where it encamped with Colonel Nagle's brigade. August 10, Company B was detached for provost duty at Wilmington, Delaware, and the remaining companies were stationed at the bridges on the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad, with headquarters at Havre-de-Grace. Colonel Clark, three weeks later, with Companies A, F, D and I, moved to Wilmington and assumed command of the post and district. The regiment was mustered out at the close of its term of service, but many of the men re-entered the service.
There were many Lawrence County men in the Two Hundred and Fifth Regiment, Fifth Artillery, of Pennsylvania, scattered through its various companies. It was recruited in August, 1864, and rendezvoused at Camp Reynolds, near Pittsburg, where it was organized on September 10th. It was soon ordered to Washington and assigned to the fortifications north of the city. September 28, 1864, it was sent out to cover the construction trains engaged in opening the Manassas Gap Railroad, the government proposing to make this the line of supply for Sheridan's Army in the Shenandoah Valley. The First battalion, under command of Major Morton, was attacked at Salem, on October 8, by Moseby with a superior force of cavalry and artillery, and retired to Rectortown in good order, there joining the other battalions under Lieutenant-Colonel Browne. By sharp maneuvering, Moseby was defeated in his plans. After the battle of Cedar Creek, [p. 201] the regiment was again stationed in the forts north of Washington for a short time, then returned to Virginia, where the winter was spent in building blockhouses and stockades, and in drill and picket duty. In the spring of 1865, expeditions repaired to the Bull Run battle ground, to inter the dead who had lain on the ground from the time of the second battle there, fought in August, 1863. Nearly 2,000 were buried, and monuments erected over them. The regiment was mustered out at Pittsburg, June 20 1865.
The Two Hundred and Twelfth Regiment, Sixth Artillery, of Pennsylvania, also contained many men in its ranks who had their residence in Lawrence County. It was organized at Camp Reynolds, near Pittsburg, September 15, 1864, with Charles Barnes as Colonel and two days later was ordered to Washington and assigned to the Second brigade of DeRussy's division, which was garrisoning the defenses of the capital. September 29th, the regiment was detached and ordered to duty in guarding the Orange and Alexandria Railway between Alexandria and Manassas, with headquarters at Fairfax Court House. In November, the regiment returned to Washington and stationed at Forts Marcy, Ward, Craig, Reno, Albany, Lyon and others. Here it was drilled for heavy artillery service, and remained during the winter. June 13, 1865, it was mustered out at Fort Ethan Allen, and on June 17th disbanded at Camp Reynolds.
Company H, of the Seventy-Seventh Regiment, captained by Paul F. Rohrbacker, was recruited from Lawrence and Beaver Counties, and joined its regiment in East Tennessee, March 13, 1865. The regiment had gone out in August, 1861, but contained no Lawrence County men until Company H was recruited. April 25, 1865, the regiment returned to Nashville and was assigned to the First Brigade, First Division of the Fourth Corps, with Colonel Rose in command of the brigade. The regiment with others was ordered to Texas, and arrived at Indianola, in that state, July 27; from there they marched to Green Lake, then ten days later to Camp Stanley, on the Guadaloupe River, four miles above Victoria. There it remained until October 1st, then moved into Victoria. December 5, 1865, orders were received to return home. Breaking camp, they marched a distance of fifty miles to Indianola, where it embarked for Philadelphia. They arrived in that city January 16, 1866, and were there mustered out of service.
The Spanish-American War witnessed the going to the front of many young men from Lawrence County, most of them from New Castle. They were imbued with the same spirit of patriotism and loyalty to the country that characterized the fathers of many of them in the great battles of the Rebellion. Company B, of the Sixteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, was made up almost exclusively of sons of veterans of the Civil War. Before war with Spain was declared, Oscar L. Jackson Camp, No. 249, Sons of Veterans, Division of Pennsylvania, volunteered its services to the State, and to the Federal Government on April 9, 1898. This organization was the nucleus of Company B, of the Sixteenth Pennsylvania.
The Sixteenth Regiment, National Guards of Pennsylvania, was composed of eight companies, located in the counties of Erie, McKean, Venango, Elk, Warren and Crawford. On order of the Governor, it went to Mt. Gretna, Pa., arriving April 28, 1898, and was there reviewed by him on May 3. The officers and men were immediately given an opportunity to enlist, and every man present responded affirmatively. May 10, the regiment was mustered into the United States service as the Sixteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and on the 15th of that month proceeded to Chickamauga; arriving there on the 17th, it was assigned to the Third Brigade, First Division, First Army Corps. July 2, 1898, Lieutenant-Colonel Richards was ordered to Pennsylvania to recruit four [p. 202] additional companies to form the Third Battalion of the regiment; they were recruited as follows: Company B at New Castle, Company G at Kittaning, Company L at Punxsutawney, and Company M at Jeannette. The Third Battalion did not reach the regiment until October 11, 1898. July 21, 1898, it went forward to Chickamauga, and on the 25th orders were received to report at the railroad station at Rossville, eight miles distant, on the following morning. They there boarded a train for Newport News, Virginia, whither they arrived on the morning of the 27th. They received orders from Brigadier General Grant to embark on the steamship Rio Grande, but orders were later received delaying the movement. In the meantime, General Grant embarked, leaving orders that the detachment of the Sixteenth Pennsylvania was to embark the day following. Instead of going to Porto Rico, as contemplated, they were ordered to Camp Meade, Pennsylvania, to which point they moved, August 18, 1898. On September 13 they left Camp Meade for New York City, and in the evening of the following day embarked on the steamship Obdaur for Ponce, where they arrived at 8 o'clock A.M. on the 22d. They were detained on board until Sunday, September 25, then went into camp about six miles from Ponce. October 10 they received orders to return with their regiment to the United States. The Third Battalion joined the Sixteenth Regiment at Playa de Ponce, on October 11, and that day sailed for home, arriving in New York City October 17. They were mustered out of service December 28, 1898. A roster of Company B is here given: Capt. Joseph V. Cunningham, First Lieutenant William Hamilton Dunlap, Second Lieutenant James W. Cook, First Sergeant Charles N. Clark, Quartermaster Sergeant Edward M. Bryant, Sergeants Charles H. Young, James R. A. Pattison, Frank G. Dunlap and Clarence E. Brown; Corporals Mahlon S. Clark, Frank H. Strohecker, William Rogers, Frank S. Nessle, Jr., Lee C. Fisher, Frank J. Andrews, Rufus W. Bell, Frank A. Zinn, Charles L. Daniels, Patrick J. Muldoon, Roy F. Sippy and Alfred Williams; Musicians Fred S. Emery and John A. Seifert; artificer, John W. Allen; wagoner, Daniel F. McCall; clerk, Charles Clark; Privates Truman D. Allen, John C. Ault, Charles H. Baldwin, Charles E. Bartley, Curtis V. Brown, Edward H. Burke, Garve M. Burke, Charles E. Christy, James G. Crum, Frederick W. Davidson, William F. Dickson, Thomas Doyle, Homer C. Drake, Charles H. Durant, David J. Eichinger, Edward W. Eiler, George E. Ford, Max A. Geiger, John F. Genkinger, George T. Gilmore, Archie M. Graham, John F. Greer, Lee Guildoo, Albert B. Haid, John M. Hannon, William E. Harman, Oscar J. Hall, Howard C. Harper, John C. Hennon, James H. Hoover, Louis M. Holt, Matthew J. Howard, Joseph G. Hunter, Lewis R. Jay, Frederick H. Kay, James M. Kincaid, Albert F. Leathers, Andrew B. Mallory, Erasmus H. Martin, David A. McBride, Harry E. McCaskey, John S. McCay, Ebenezer B. McDonough, John J. McDowell, Matthew J. McMahon, Roy W. Mershimer, Edwin L. Mitchell, Clinton K. Myers, George W. Patterson, Frank W. Reed, Henry J. Scott, Theudius C. Scott, George H. Shallenberger, John B, Shelar, Matthew H. Shelly, Charles A. Snyder, Henry Spahn, Thomas A. Spence, Harvey F. Steinbrink, Bert E. Stevenson, Lawrence W. Stevenson, Herbert C. Stockman, John A. Stimkard, Elmer J. Suber, Robert W. Taggart, James B. Taylor, Harry L. Telmosse, Percy Tetlow, William C. Thompson, George E. Tobey, Frederick G. Urmson, John E. Urmson, James W. Vance, Joseph A. VanGorder, Charles R. Walker, John S. Walters, Lewis C. Warnock, William E. White, Harry E. Williams, Robert L. Wylie, Charles Henry Young, Floyd W. Young and Charles E. Zerner.
The Fifteenth Regiment of Pennsylvania National Guards was composed of eight companies from the counties of Erie, Crawford, Clarion, Butler and Mercer, and scattered through these companies were many from New Castle. The regiment reported [p. 203] at Mt. Gretna, Pa., April 28, 1898, was reviewed by the Governor on May 3, and immediately after given an opportunity to volunteer. The various companies were recruited to seventy-five enlisted men, and on May 10 Companies A, B, C, G and K were mustered into United States service, followed on the 11th by Companies D, E and F, and Regimental Headquarters. It was mustered in as the Fifteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, with a total strength of thirty-six officers and 605 enlisted men. It remained at Mt. Gretna until June 11, when it proceeded to stations at Sheridan Point, Va., and Fort Washington, Md. Regimental Headquarters and Companies A, B, D, F, G and K arrived at Sheridan Point on June 12, and the same day Companies C and E arrived at Fort Washington. June 23, Companies A and G were transferred to Fort Washington. Company E was assigned to the care, preservation and drill of Emplacement C, having two 10-inch guns on disappearing carriages to handle; Company C was assigned to the 10-inch Barbette gun and the water battery, one 15-inch M.L.S.B. smooth bore. The men of the entire command continued regular infantry, company and battalion drills. September 9, 1898, the regiment went to Camp George G. Meade, in Pennsylvania, and arrived in Middletown on the 10th, being there assigned to the First Brigade, Second Division, Second Army Corps. September 17, the regiment was ordered on provost duty at the camp, and was relieved on October 2. It participated in the Peace Jubilee Celebration in Philadelphia on October 27, 1898, and was finally mustered out on January 31, 1899, at Athens, Ga. The following is a list of those from Lawrence County who served in the Fifteenth Regiment, and the companies to which they belonged: Harry D. Baldwin, Company A; John D. Barrett, Company G; George Beveridge, Company F; Adam Black, Company D; Harry H. Boston, Company E; Archie K. Campbell, Company B; David F. Campbell, Company B; George Davies, Company D; Robert S. Davis, Company K; Wallace Earl, Company G; Harry E. Eckelbergen, Company D; Thomas Evans, Company K; Clifford W. Fenton, Company E; DeWeese Forrest, Company F; Cowden D. Hetrick, Company A; Abner D. Hood, Company C; Norman McL. Hunter, Company K; Edward M. Kerr, Company C; Forgus F. Knowles, Company D; John T. McDonald, Company F; Michael L. McDonald, Company A; John T. McHenry, Company C; Robert J. McMullen, Company F; John Meredith, Company K; John Mulcahy, Company D; Lorenzo G. Nail, hospital steward of the First Regiment; George A. Rae, Company E; Walter S. Reynold, Company E; James Robinson, Company G; Charles E. Sankey, Company E; Calvin A. Shaffer, Company G; Edward Shatzer, Company G; Frank J. Smith, Company G; Sheridan W. Smith, Company C; George Sperry, Company G; Edward F. Thomas, Company E; John E. Thompson, Company A; Milton S. Tyler, Company E; Walter B. Tyler, Company E; Daniel Waters, Company G; Earl E. Williams, Company D, and thomas L. Woodling, Company G. There may have been others in the regiment from Lawrence County; if so their names were not ascertainable.
Of those who saw service in the Philippines, we find the names of James Robinson, of New Castle, who was a member of the Fourteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry; George Muse, an attorney of New Castle, and Creighton Logan, members of the Tenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and James B. Taylor, who went to the Philippines as member of the Forty-second U.S.V.I., and is now lieutenant in an artillery corps, U.S.A., stationed in New York Harbor.
Those from New Castle, whose names we could secure, who served in the Fourth Heavy Artillery during the Spanish-American War, are as follows: Charles W. Johnson, James J. Dugan, W. E. Jones, James A. Miquel, Nathan C. Patton, Fred D. Reaher, William Watt, George E. Allard, John Graham, C. H. Lusk, Ira S. Rudolph, [p. 204] Martin E. Reno, Harry Cassady, R. B. Barrett, Robert McComb Kerr, H. G. Walker, Van Horn, Charles Black, Charles Watt, Charles O. Stevenson, J. W. McWilliams and Ed. Neal.
The city of New Castle, at the present time, is possessed of a military company in which the people take a just pride, Troop F, Pennsylvania Cavalry, National Guards. It is officered as follows: J. V. Cunningham, Captain; Thomas Armstrong, First Lieutenant; William H. Dunlap, Second Lieutenant; Ralph M. Campbell, Lieutenant Quartermaster; Allen W. Urmson, Lieutenant Surgeon. A hall is rented at No. 107 East Washington street for an armory.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
Chapter XII | Table of Contents | Chapter XIV
Explanation/Caution | Lawrence Co. Maps | Lawrence Co. Histories
Updated: 6 Mar 2002