THE
EARLY ORGANIZATION OF THE 96TH PVI
SCHUYLKILL
REPUBLICAN.
HAS A LARGER
CIRCULATION, AND IS MORE EXTENSIVELY READ, THAN ANY OTHER
PAPER PUBLISHED IN THE ANTHRACITE COAL REGION.
POTTSVILLE,
SCHUYLKILL CO. PENNA. SATURDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 18,
1886.
THE NINETY-SIXTH
REG'T. ITS ORGIN AND EARLY
ORGANIZATION.
A Brief History of
the Several Companies - Whence They Came and When They
Went Into Camp Schuylkill - Recollections of Capt. John
T. Boyle. The Ninety-sixth Regiment Pennsylvania
Volunteers, was organized by Colonel Henry L. Cake, at
Pottsville, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, under
authority derived directly from the War Department at
Washington, under date of August 12th, 1861. It was one
of the regiments thus authorized under the President's
call of July 22, 1861, to serve three years, and which
were thereafter by orders from the same source of 28th
September, 1861, placed under the control of the Governor
of the State.
Pottsville, being
the capital of a large and flourishing county; the
wealthy centre of the Anthracite coal trade of the State,
the nucleus around which gathered a large floating
population drawn thither by its collieries and iron
manufacturies [sic], easy of access by rail and
highways radiating in all directions' in point of health
unrivalled [sic], as thousands of invalids from a
distance, who had drawn a new life from its pure mountain
air and conglomerate crystal waters could testify to -
was selected as the rendezvous, possessing as it did many
and superior advantages overall all the proposed
localities of the region from which it was designated the
material of the regiment should be drawn.
Besides, it's
boasts of a community whose patriotism was as lofty in
sentiment and as deep in conviction as was that of the
fathers of the Revolution, a population whose footsteps
had ever been guided by the light of the constitution,
and whose heart had ever throbbed responsive to the music
of the Union. Early taught the lessons of the Fracmers
[sic] and signers of the Declaration, its leading
citizens had been trained in the school of Clay and
Webster, and the loyal sentiments enunciated by them had
become in their minds fixed and living
realities.
These were the
reasons why, when the life of the Nation was threatened,
a military organization within its limits whose birth was
coeval with its own existence had been the very first to,
officially, offer its services to the National Government
through the Secretary of War and to be accepted by the
same; and the wherefore, that, ere the thunder of the
first gun fired by the hand of Secession at the walls of
Sumpter had died in reverberating echoes among the
mountains and vallies [sic] of the North, it had
sent forth in the ranks of the National Light Infantry
and Washington Artillery two hundred and thirty-four of
the four hundred and eighth [sic] two men of
immortal memory, who, on the 18th day of April, 1861,
passed through the treason-heated furnace of Baltimore,
on their way to the defense of the National
Capital.
The eastern slope
of Lawton's Hill, an eminence immediately overlooking the
borough from the north, commanding from its summit one of
the most delightful mountain prospects to be found in
this or any other State was selected as the most
desirable location for the proposed encampment; and,
during the latter part of August, 1861, all the
preliminaries having been previously arranged, the
National Light Infantry, of Pottsville, an old
established military company whose date was coeval with
the existence of the town, which, under Captain Edmund
McDonald, had been the first company in the United States
to officially offer its service to, and be accepted by,
the Secretary of War which had but recently returned from
the three months service, and which had just been
reorganized and recruited for the regiment by Captain
Lewis J. Martin, its former Second Lieutenant, marched
from its Armory, in Clayton's building on Centre street,
to the hill, pitched tents, posted sentinels, and
inaugurated the duties of the new camp.
The infantry was
almost immediately followed by the Pottsville Cornet
Band, Lieut. Nicholas J. Rehr, leader, number-ing
twenty-four pieces; and shortly after, on the 2d of
September, by Capt. Peter A. Filbert's company of
Pinegrove sharp-shooters. These two companies whose ranks
were full at the time of their going into camp were
thereupon constituted the flanking companies, and
lettered respectively A and B. Almost simultaneously
detachments of men belonging to Companies C, E, and F,
raised respectively by Captains Beaton Smith, James
Russell and Joseph Anthony, the two first in Schuylkill
and Luzerne counties, the latter in Schuylkill, appeared
on the hill and were assigned their positions. These were
at intervals followed by Company D, Captain John T.
Boyle, raised in Schuylkill; Company G, Captain James
Dowden, recruited in Berks, Dauphin and Schuylkill
counties; Company I, Captain Isaac M. Cake, raised in
Schuylkill; Company H, Captain Charles D. Hipple, raised
in Schuylkill and Montgomery counties, and Company K,
Captain Richard Budd, raised in Schuylkill.
Notwithstanding the
difficulties which the organizers had to contend with,
which, at the time were so many and trying; so
successfully and energetically had they and their friends
pushed the work, that on the 23d day of September, 1861,
the ten companies with their officers were informally,
but in a formal matter, mustered as a regiment into the
service of the United States by H.L. Taliaferro, 2d
Lieut. 5th Artillery, U.S.A., who had been specially
detailed for the purpose. Thereafter, on the first day of
October, some thirty men belonging to Captain Wm. H.
Lessig's company, which was being recruited as a battery
to be attached to the regiment come on the hill and
occupied a plateau below the main camp where they pitched
their tents and remained until the ranks were nearly
full. This company at first had no letter assigned it but
when previous to the regiment leaving Pottsville, on an
order of the Governor, Captain Beaton Smith's, Company C,
was transferred to Colonel Dodges, Fifty-Second Regiment,
P. V[sic] it took its place and letter and there
continued until its term of service expired.
CAMP SCHUYLKILL.
The camp was christened Schuylkill in honor of the county
which gave it birth, and from the time that the first
tent was pitched to the period the last was struck, it
presented a busy and animated appear-ance. As the
regiment expanded, people from all parts of the county
drawn thither through curiosity or to visit their friends
or relatives continually thronged its spacious avenue, or
sauntered through its commodious streets, and the scenes
within its boundaries on a gala day, once seen, was not
likely to be forgotten.
Upon their arrival
in camp the men were assigned quarters, and supplied by
their officers with blankets, knife and fork, tin spoon,
plate, and cup, which articles were, in the majority of
instances, thereafter charged to their individual
clothing and miscellaneous account.
Having thus
identified themselves with the regiment they entered
immediately upon the duties of their new vocation, and
day after day, responded with alacrity to the calls of
the company cooks, the commands of the drill sergeants,
and the orders of their line officers. The great majority
of the men and some of the officers were entirely
ignorant of even the rudiments of a soldier's education,
and many and laughable were the mistakes made and
blunders committed, as, under the orders of some finished
veteran of the three months service, they essayed to
attain the correct position of a soldier, to educate
their eyes to cast themselves to the right or left at
will, to master the mysteries of the facings, the
puzzlings of hayfoot, strawfoot, or to unravel the
labyrynthian [sic] intricacies of the
march.
Often were new or
would-be offices placed for the moment in some ridiculous
position out of which with the best grace they could,
they would have to extricate themselves amid the smiles
of their men, or the scarce suppressed titters of the
critical bystanders. Notwithstanding these little
episodes incident to all new military organizations the
officers and men brimful of patriotism and determination
soon posted them-selves in the routine of camp life and
perfected themselves so far as practicable in the
rudiments of drill. Gradually the complicated machinery
was adjusted and set in motion and then the war engine
moved along over the way of regiments with only those
slights jars which pertained to all similar
arrangements.
CLOTHING. for a
time the men, excepting those who had previously served
out an enlistment of three months, were habilitated in
their home garb which was as varied as the tastes and
fortunes of their possessors and strongly reminded one of
the days when militia training were in vogue when our
sires toed the curbstones or gutters, and in homespun
habits of antiques cuts and weapons of domestic utility
went through a manuel [sic] not found in
regulations or exercised in evolutions whose brilliancy
threw those of the line entirely in the shade. Colonel
Cake having been authorized to procure the requisite
material to have the command properly uniformed, on
account of the great pressure and constant demand and
consequent scarcity found it an exceedingly difficult
task and it was not until he had searched Philadelphia in
vain and NewYork almost through that he was able to
negotiate with a party for a complement of clothing, and
when, after much delay, it did come to hand, it was of an
inferior quality was as good as could be procured at the
time.
CAPS. The first
article of wearing apparel distributed and which, for a
time, served to distinguish the men of the regiment, were
blue shoddy forage caps with paper shields coated with
leather, low paper crowns, and red worsted cords for
trimmings. In a very short time by a series of chemical
changes brought about by the weather the shield and crown
underwent a complete metamorphoses and the blue of the
cloth faded to a dirty brick red, the whole presenting an
appearance which Hogarth might have essayed but in vain
to caricature.
HATS. The cap soon
gave place to the regulation felt hat adorned with brass
eagle, black feather, cord and tossel [sic],
which, though of good material and suitable for show,
were afterwards like the brass shoulder scale-plate found
altogether unsuited to the active duties of the field,
and almost universally dis-carded.
SHOES. The shoes
furnished, except-ing such as were contracted for and
made in the town, manufactured as they were out of new
leather were of very inferior quality, and the fact of
many men actually using up, not trading them for whiskey,
for the parts did not hold together long enough to wear
out, two and three pairs in a single month showed
conclusively their character. Concerning shoes nothing
very favorable could be said of them, their contractors,
or the officers whose duty it was to inspect them during
the first two years the regiment was in service,
excepting at rare intervals, they being invariably made
out of "green leather," but after that there was a
decided improvement both in quality and
finish.
ACCOUTERMENTS. The
knapsacks, haver-sacks and canteens furnished were good;
the two former articles much superior to any subsequent
issues made throughout the whole term of
service.
FIRST UNIFORMS.
Through the instru-mentality of Lieut. Ellrich, himself a
superior tailor, who was so fortunate as to secure from
the leavings of the three months' service, a sufficient
number of uniforms to fit out a portion of Company B, its
members were the first of the Regiment who gloried in
blue coats and brass buttons and brass shoulder scales,
and were for the while the pet of the ladies and the envy
of the other men of the command.
CAMP COMMANDERS.
Col. Cake, owing to the peculiar state of his private
affairs, to the multiplicity of causes which were then
incumbent on the organizer of a volunteer regiment; and,
also, because of his taking an active part in a warm
political contest as the nominee of the Republican party
for the State Senate, his competitor being the Hon. B.
Reilly, was frequently absent from camp, therefore the
command until Lieut. Col. Frick appeared devolved on
senior Captain, afterwards Major, Lewis J. Martin, under
whose supervision the camp had been laid out. When,
during the latter part of September Lieut. Col. Frick
took up his quarters of the hill, the command was
transferred to him, and under his guidance the men
unarmed, were several times exercised in battalion
movements.
DRESS PARADES.
After the men were uniformed dress parades were of
frequent occurrence, and owing to a stagnation in
business and various other causes were always attended by
a numerous assemblage of citizens and strangers. The
ladies, particularly, with the sweetest of smiles graced
the scene with their presence, and together with the band
helped materially to enliven the monotony of the
occasion.
INCIDENTS. STORMS.
The month of September was prolific in storms and the
exposed situation of the camp caused it to receive a full
share of their attention. During one which raged on the
afternoon of the 3d, a flash struck the rear pole of a
marque shivering it to atoms and affected five members of
the band, its occupants. By the visitation, the limbs of
Lieutenant Rehr and Drum Major Henry K. Downing were
completely paralyzed, but receiving the immediate
attention of Dr. Charles Haeseler, the then acting
Regimental Surgeon, their rise was soon restored to them.
The others were not so seriously affected. Afterwards, on
the night of the 10th, a "Nor' Easter" struck the camp
overturning all the tents which were not properly
secured, but as there were few persons occupying them at
the time, it discommoded none and did very little
damage.
Again on the
evening of the 27th, a "Sou-Easter" after passing in a
hurricane over a great extent of country, hovered over
the borough and camp for the space of two hours amusing
itself in the meanwhile with dashing in windows,
unroofing houses and stables, uprooting trees or denuding
them of limbs, hurling bricks from dilapidated chimneys,
bending liberty poles and twisting flag staffs,
overflowing streams and flooding streets prostrating
tents or tearing them into ribbons and such other
innocent amusements as unrestrained storms of vicious
propensities delight in. The men in their tents engaged
in various occupations, or amusing themselves as soldiers
generally do, like sleeping sentinels, were illy
[sic] prepared to meet the sudden emergency and
went the spirit of the storm garbled in robes of darkness
drew near in his cloudy chariot, drawn by his
lighting-winged steeds they immediately succumbed to his
resistless fury.
Scrambling from the
ruins of his Marque which had been overturned by the
wild-deamons [sic] after repeated assaults, the
sights revealed by the lightnings to the eyes of the
writer, though infinitely sublime above, were extremely
ludicrous below. Many like himself were scrambling from
the debra of the camp, filling the air as they did so
with barberous [sic] exclamations, laughing with
cisms or echoing shouts. Tent flies flew in every
direction, or slapped their loosened guys on the bellied
canvas with sounding fury. Blankets took to themselves
wings and sought the shades in company with vagrant caps,
hats, handkerchiefs and a motley array of cast off
garments.
Drums rolled
without sticks, while camp-kettles and all the other tin
et ceteras of the mess and cuesine [sic]
clattered in tin-tin abulatory [sic] chorus as
they rattled over the stony ground. Trees creaked and
groaned as their branches were violently wrenched from
their swaying trunks, while birds, startled from their
nests but the sudden uproar, with drooping wings and
melancholy cries fluttered around in evident
distress.
The ground was
flooded with water, which, gathering in torrents rushed
furiously down the steep hill sides, swelling rivulets
into creeks and creeks into rushing, roaring rivers. The
thunder leaped from cloud to cloud in echoing
reverberations and died away in flashes of blinding
electricity. Escaped from their startled subjects, Kings
and Queens on witches' pinions whirled madly away with
Jacks and Aces in the wild Walpurgian dance, while
through the afrighted air, in inexplicable confusion,
flew glittering diamonds, shining spades, dog-eared
hearts and sportsmen's clubs. Bewildered by the din and
almost stifled by the deluge of water, the men sought
safety in ignominious flight, and soon the camp was
entirely deserted for the town.
As if to proclaim
their victory the winds caught up the instruments of the
musicians; and, like Orlando at Roncesvalles, blew some
of them so furiously, that when, next morning, their
owners sought them, they, in some cases, found their
favorites hundreds of yards from the camp grounds,
battered, slit and tuneless. Taking advantage of the
opportunity, bummers and pilferers from the town after
the storm had subsided, scoured the camp and adjacent
ground, and possessed themselves of much private and
public property which in a very short time found its way
into the hands of those who furnished a villainous
decoction which they sold as a "splendid article" of
"real stuff," or a certain of the men designated it
"Paddy's eye water" at ten cents a quart. After this
storm was introduced a system of blanket purloining which
for a while, prevailed to a great extent, eliciting much
feeling and causing unlimited trouble to men and
officers.
PRESENTATIONS.
FLAG. On Tuesday, the 15th day of October, Mr. A. L. Gee,
of Gordon, presented to the Regiment through the writer
of this a large 13x26 and handsome American flag. The
gift was received on behalf of the officers and men by
Lieut. Jenks, of Company C, in a neat and pertinent
speech. The day being very fine many citizens were
present with their families. The regiment was formed in a
hollow square around the speakers stand which was at the
base of a tall liberty pole previously erected. At the
conclusion of the writer's remarks, the flag already
attached to the halyard was given to the breeze amid the
huzzas of the men, the waving of handkerchiefs by the
ladies, and discharges from the field piece of Lessig's
Battery, a two pounder cast at Snyder's shops and a rifle
by A. Schalck, the band at the same time rendering the
"Star Spangled Banner," with fine effect. After the
ceremonies the regiment directed by Lieut. Col. Frick,
went through a few field evolutions to the palpable
delight of those present - especially the
ladies.
COLONEL CAKE. A few
particular friends of Colonel Cake had prepared for him
an elegant field glass, which, being on show for a period
at the jewelry store of Mr. Joseph Elliot, on Centre
street, was presented to him by the donors in an
appropriate manner. The glass bore the following
inscription. Presented to Col. H. L. Cake, By a few
friends, Pottsville, Pa., October 1st, 1861
CAPTAIN BUDD. To
show their appreciation of the services of Captain
Richard Budds [sic], of Co. K, who had so
strenuously exerted himself so far as he was able to
maintain the integrity of the Government, and who had
made great personal sacrifices for the Ninety-sixth and
other regiments, certain of the principle [sic]
citizens of Pottsville, on the afternoon of the 30th of
October, visited his quarters, and, through their
spokesman Lin Bartholomew, Esq., presented him with a
handsome sword, belt and sash. The articles were received
on behalf of the captain by the Hon. James H. Campbell,
M. C. Street Parade. On the 22d day of October, the
uniformed men of the regiment to the number of four
hundred and forty made a street parade under the Lieut.
Col., and on the 7th day of November, with augmentec
[sic] members, and others.
RELIGIOUS.
Spiritual wants. The spiritual wants of the men were
ministered to by their Chaplain the Rev. Samuel F. Colt,
of the Market street Presbyterian church, who, on all
fitting occasions exhorted the men to righteousness and
to the knowledge of him whom to know aright is eternal
life. In these laudable endeavors he was occasionally
assisted by the clergy of the town, who, with a becoming
zeal did that which in them lie to further through the
fitting out of the men, the glorious ends which their
Divine Master had in view from the beginning. Sabbath
afternoon services held in the open air were numerously
attended, not only by the men of the command, but by
crowds of people from the borough and surrounding
country, and the effects produced on the minds of some of
the hearers was marked and distinct. On several occasions
gentlemen and lady members of various church choirs
graced these convocations with their presence and
materially assisted with their singing in elevating the
devotional feelings of the auditors.
SPIRITUAL PABULUM.
Tracts and religious newspapers were frequently
distributed, and the "American Tract Society," through
the hands of the Chaplain, forwarded to the commander of
each company, for the use of his men, a "Soldier's Camp
Library," containing twenty-five small volumes of select
and appropriate reading matter.
TESTAMENT
PRESENTATION. On the afternoon of the fifth of November,
the ladies of the "Schuylkill County Bible Society,"
presented, through their almoner, the Rev. Daniel
Washburn, of Trinity Episcopal Church, a pocket
Testament, and needle book, to each individual member of
the regiment. This interesting spectacle was witnessed by
hundreds of citizens and their families who had assembled
to witness it.
MEDICAL.
Immediately after the camp was instituted, hospital tents
were pitched and provisions made for the bodily ailments
and physical infirmities of the men. Dr. Charles
Haeseler, of Pottsville, a homeopathic physician of
prominence, primarily superintended with very general
acceptance the medical department, over which he had
little or no control, ceased acting about the 12th of
October, after Dr. D. Webster Bland, of Pottsville, had
been regularly examined and appointed Surgeon by the
State board of Medical Examiner, and Dr. Washington G.
Nugent, of Norristown, Pa., Assistant Surgeon. These
gentlemen, respectively, while the regiment remained at
Camp Schuylkill did all which duty required of them; and,
gratuitously, attended to the medical wants of the
families of such of the men who desired it, and whose
pecuniary resources were not sufficient to meet the
requirements of the case.
PRESENTATION OF THE
STATE COLORS. On Wednesday, the 7th of November, Governor
Curtin visited Pottsville for the purpose of presenting
to the regiment the sand of colors provided in accordance
with a resolution of the legislature appropriating fund
donated by the "Cincinnati Society," of Philadelphia, for
the purchase of flags for the Pennsylvania Volunteer
Regiments. It had originally been intended to have had a
grand display, and, in anticipation, a programme had been
prepared for the occasion, but owing to the unpropitious
state of the weather, the rain falling continually, what
would otherwise have been a triumph worthy of the
occasion, was reduced to a mere presentation.
The Governor,
attended by several members of his staff, arrived in town
by the noon train from Harrisburg via Reading.
Immediately after alighting, the party was escorted by
the Reception Committee, and a great crowd of people,
headed by the band playing "Hail to the Chief," to the
"American House" a few steps distant from the depot,
where rooms had been secured for the accommodation of the
visitors. The presentation was to have taken place at
Camp Schuylkill, but owing to the incessant rain it was
resolved that it take place from the balcony of the
hotel. At 2 o'clock the regiment directed by Lieutenant
Colonel Frick, preceded by the band marched from its camp
into town and took its place, first in line, and
afterwards closed en masse in front of the American
House.
Notwithstanding the
rain, a great crown of spectators from the borough and
the surrounding country had assembled to witness the
patriotically interesting sight, and when the Governor
appeared at the door opening on the balcony, graced by
the presence of ladies, and crowded by his many warm
political admirers, it was the signal for waving of
handkerchiefs, and cheer after cheer broke spontaneous
from the lips of the soldiers and their assembled
friends. Advancing, flag in hand, to the railing
overlooking the street, he delivered, as soon as the
plaudits of the surging crowd below him had subsided, one
of his electrical orations which stirred the hearts of
the surging crowd to their deepest depths, and drew out
their latent patriotism in storms of patriotic applause.
At the conclusion of his remarks the Governor handed the
flag to Col. Cake, standing by his side, who received it
in behalf of the officers and men of the Regiment in such
choice and elevated language as to elicit the warmest
applause from the Regiment and their army of
friends.
CONCLUSION OF THE
CEREMONY. The close of the Colonel's remarks was greeted
with cheers of approbation, and as the beautiful banner
was unfurled in the humid atmosphere to the air of the
"Star Spangled Banner," the enthusiasm of the men and
their friends was raised to the highest pitch of feeling.
The ceremony having concluded, the regiment was marched
back to camp. Many of the officers remained to pay their
respects to the Governor who held an impromptu levee,
which was numerously attended in the front parlor of the
hotel. After an hour spent in the interchange of
courtesies, the distinguished visitor and his retinue
left for Harrisburg, conveyed by special train, via the
Mine Hill and Shamokin Railway, to Sunbury and from
thence to his home. Description of Flag. The flag
presented was in dimensions eight feet by six feet. It
was made of silk and bound around the edge with yellow or
gold-colored silk fringe about one and a half inches
wide. The Pennsylvania State Coat of Arms encircled by
thirty-four stars, emblazoned its azure field, and on one
of its white bars was inscribed in letters of gold.
NINETY-SIXTH REGIMENT P. V.
PARADE MARCHING
ORDERS. On the afternoon of the 7th day of November, the
regiment with minimum number paraded through the
principal streets of the borough, in full uniform, and
after executing several movements to the manifest
gratification and satisfaction of their fellow-citizens,
they returned to camp. About five o'clock p.m. to the
great delight of the men, the great majority of whom had
grown weary of camp life so near their home, and who
desired other scenes and more active operations at the
front, the order came to "pack up" and move to the
spacious hall of the Court House, there to remain for the
night. The order, almost instantaneously from the
company, street to street and mouth to mouth, was obeyed
with so much alacrity that ere the dreary night of rain
set in, Camp Schuylkill, the scene of so much patriotic
labor, and of so many pleasant hours now fraught with
delightful reminiscences of the past, was as deserted and
silent as a city of the dead.
GOOD BYE! On the
morning of the 8th, bright and early, after having
previously partaken of a sumptuous breakfast, provided by
the citizens of the town, the regiment moved from the
Court house to Market street, along which it proceeded
towards its immediate destination, the vicinity of the
hamlet of West-Wood, two miles distance. Great crowds of
citizens, friends and relatives of the men, on foot, on
horseback and in vehicles, escorted the regiment along
its way, and many were the endearing expressions of
regret which fell from the lips of those whose hearts
were overflowing with grief. Among the women and children
there was scarcely a dry eye, while the men turned away
their heads to hide their silent grief. The lively music
of the band fell on leaded ears, and the pomp and
circumstance of war on eyes which heeded not. The scene
at the point of departure was mournfully touching and
stirred the hearts of the participants to their deepest
depths. Fancy may faintly recall and reproduce on the
canvas of the mind the picture of the parting, but it is
for the imagination along [sic] to convey that
which words, and pen and pencil but inadequately
express.
This document is a
retyped copy of the original article in the possession of
George Hay Kain, III, 29 North Queen Street, York, PA
17403, whose maternal great-grandfather, J. Jerome
Miller, enlisted as a private in Company G, 96th Pa.
Volunteers, on November 4, 1861, six days after his
eighteenth birthday.