On the
11th of April, 1861, the Secession movements in the South—already
endorsed by Legislative action in Several States—culminated in a
demand by General Beauregard, commander of the rebel troops, for a
surrender of Fort Sumter, in the harbor of Charleston. The refusal
of Major Anderson to surrender was followed, on the 12th inst., by
an assault on the fort, which, after a two days' bombardment, was
capitulated, and the United States garrison, comprising less than
ninety men, left the fort on-the 14th inst. with the honors of war,
saluting their flag. No loss of life had occured during the
bombardment, but by the bursting of a gun in firing the salute two
men were killed and four wounded.
The most
intense excitement throughout the North followed the announcement of
the attack on Fort Sumter, and on the 15th of April the President
issued a proclamation calling upon the States to furnish 75,000
militia, to suppress the rebellion, and summoning an extra session
of Congress on the 4th of July following. The quota of Pennsylvania,
under this call for troops, was. fixed at sixteen regiments, and the
command of the Western Division of the State assigned to
Brigadier-General Negley, for the purpose of organizing the troops.
The call
for volunteers found Allegheny County, like all other parts of the
State, almost unprovided with military organizations. There were in
the two cities ten volunteer companies-—the Jackson Independent
Blues, Duquesne Greys, Washington Infantry, Allegheny Rifles,
Pennsylvania Dragoons; Pittsburgh Turner Rifles, Lafayette Blues,
Pennsylvania Zouaves, National. Guards and United States Zouave
Cadets—several of which had been organized during the military
furore following the visit of the Chicago Zouaves, in 1860. In the
county there were also a few volunteer organizations—the
Pennsylvania Infantry, at East Liberty, Alliquippa Guards,
M'Keesport, Turtle Creek Guards, Turtle Creek, two companies in
Birmingham, St. Clair Guards, Union Artillery, National Lancers, and
one or two others.
The greatest enthusiasm followed the
announcement of the call for volunteers. Scores of companies were
set on foot and tendered their services to the Governor. On the 15th
instant recruiting began throughout the county, and on the 17th, the
first detachment of Turner Rifles, eighty men, under Captain Amlung,
left for Harrisburg. The remainder of the company, which was
organized from the German Turner Association, left on the following
clay. On the same day, the Hannibal Guards, a company of colored
men, also tendered their services. On the 18th, Trovillo's
In-vincibles, Robinson' Light Guards, M'Dowell's State Guards, and
Gerard's Pennsylvania Zouaves, left for Harrisburg, followed, on the
20th, by a "second detachment," and Rippey's Scott Legion,
Gallagher's Shields Guards, and Alliquippa Guards, of M'Keesport. On
the 22d, the first regiment was organized in Allegheny County by
General Negley:
Twelfth Regiment, Penna. Volunteers.
Colonel—David Campbell, of Pittsburgh.
Lieutenant-Colonel—Norton M'Giffin, of Washington.
Major—Alexander Hays, of Pittsburgh.
Adjutant—G. L. Bonnafon.
Quartermaster—James A. Ekin
Quartermaster Sergeant—Samuel Walker
Surgeons—Drs. A. M. Speer, R. M. Tindle
Chaplain—Rev. J.J.Marks
|
Co.
A--Jackson Independent Blues |
Capt. Samuel
M'Kee |
| " B--Duquesne
Greys |
" John
S. Kennedy |
| " C--Firemen's
Legion |
" John
H. Stewart |
| " D--Union
Guards |
"
William Tomlinson |
| " E--Washington
Invincibles* |
" James
Armstrong |
| " F--Lawrence
Guards+ |
"
Edward O'Brien |
| " G--Monogahela
Artillery* |
"
Robert F. Cooper |
| " H--Lawrence
Guards* |
"
Daniel Leasure |
| " I--Zouave
Cadets |
"
George W. Tanner |
| " K--City
Guards |
"
William H.
Denny |
*
Washington, county +Lawrence
county.
At the same time
a battalion was organized of the companies in excess, some seven or
eight, of which Captain T. A. Rowley, of the Washington Infantry,
was elected Major. A regiment was subsequently organized at
Harrisburg, the tenth company being formed of the men in excess in
the other companies, and Joseph Browne elected captain. This was
afterwards known as the
Thirteenth
Regiment, Penna. Volunteers.
Colonel—T. A. Rowley, of Pittsburgh.
Lieutenant-Colonel—John N. Purviance, of
Butler.
Major—W. S. Mellinger, of
Washington.
Adjutant—J. M.
Kinkead.
Quartermaster—M. K.
Moorhead.
Quartermaster Sergeant—L. Sahl,
Jr.
Sergeant Major—Alex. P. Callow.
Surgeons—Drs. James Robinson, Geo S. Foster
Chaplain—Rev. A. M. Stewart
|
Co.
A--Washington Infantry |
Capt. David B.
Morris |
| " B--Union
Cadets |
" John
W. Patterson |
| " C--Negley
Cadets |
"
Joseph W. Browne |
| " D--Washington
Infantry |
"
William Mays |
| " E--Fort Pitt
Guards |
"
William A. Charleston* |
| " F--Rowley
Rifles |
" John
D. M'Farland |
| " G--Taylor
Guards+ |
" John
H. Filler |
| " H--Butler
Blues++ |
" Alex
Gillespie |
| " J--Shields
Guards |
"
William C. Gallagher |
| " K--Duquesne
Greys |
" John
Poland |
* Resigned at York, succeeded by 1st Lieut. Hamlet
Lowe. +Bedford county.
++Butler county.
A number of the companies which had already been
sent eastward were collected at Camp Slifer, Chambersburg, Franklin
Co., and others forwarded directly to Washington City. Those who
reached Washington were organized into the
Fifth Regiment, Penna. Vols.*
Colonel—R. P. M'Dowell, Allegheny City.
Lieutenant-Colonel—B. Christ.
Major—R. B. Petriken.
Adjutant—R. C. Parker.
|
Co.
A--State Guards |
Capt. G. W.
Dawson |
| " B--Turner
Rifles |
" H.
Amlung |
| " K--United States
Zouaves |
"
George Segrist |
*Seven companies were from Eastern counties.
In Camp Slifer from the troops sent
forward from Allegheny and Berks counties, was organized
the
Seventh Regiment, Penna.
Vols.
Colonel—William H.
Irwin
Lieutenant-Colonel—O. H. Rippey, of
Allegheny.
Major—Frank Robinson, of
Allegheny.
|
Co.
A--Scott Legion |
Capt. Maurice
Wallace. |
| " B--Allegheny
Rifles |
"
Casper Gang. |
| " E--Allegheny Light
Guards |
" H. K.
Tylor. |
| " F--Pennsylvania
Zouaves |
"
Joseph Girard. |
| " K--Pittsburg
Invincibles |
"
William H.
Trovillo. |
The Negley Zouaves, Capt. O. M. Irvine, were
assigned to the 3d Regiment, of which Capt. Irvine was chosen Major;
1st Lieut. Lawson succeeding to the Captaincy.
The
Alliquippa Guards, Capt. Snider, were attached to the 14th Regiment,
Col. John W. Johnston.
While these companies were recruiting,
the community was in a constant whirl of excitement. Public
buildings, stores, and even private houses were profusely decorated
with flags of all sizes and qualities. Private subscrptions for
the benefit of individuals and companies were raised
liberally--amounting in the aggregate to thousands of
dollars. Revolvers, swords, bowie knives, sashes, and other
weapons and military decorations were presented by hundreds,
individuals, companies, and corporations vieing with each other in
liberality. By the efforts of a few individuals, in some instances,
whole companies were uniformed; but we regret to say, the materials
and make, in some cases, soon proved to be of the shabbiest
character. Thus several companies of the three months
volunteers were twice supplied with clothing within a few weeks;
once before leaving home, and again by the State, with "shoddy"
suits, and both of such miserable materials as to fall to pieces
before the campaign had fairly commenced, causing much needless
suffering among the raw recruits.
During this period of
excitement, the ladies took their full share of labor, sewing
gratuitously for the soldiers, making lint and hospital supplies,
and providing such delicacies as their means permitted. Hundreds of
havelocks were made, but the discovery that the white colored stuff
of which they were made had an injurious effect on the eyes of the
rear rank men, put a sudden stop to the manufacture. Private
subscriptions were raised to provide means both for the outfitting
of the volunteers and for the defence of the city. Messrs. Knapp,
Rudd & Co., of the Fort Pitt works, generously tendering the
heavy ordnance for the purpose.
Departure of Allegheny County
Troops.
On the 24th of April--eleven days after the President
called for 75,000 men--the last detachment (excepting two companies)
of the 12th and 13th Regiments, left for Harrisburg. At an early
hour in the day the troops mustered and repaired to the East Common,
Allegheny, where a grand review had been announced to come off. A
slight rain had been falling, which increased to a heavy shower as
the review was about commencing, and continued without intermission,
interfering greatly with the Commanding General's arrangement for a
grand demonstration. The review did not come off, the soldiers
instead plodding their way through the muddy streets and torrents of
rain, to the railroad depot, which they reached in dilapidated
plight, the column marching through Western avenue, Ohio and Federal
streets to the river, across the Suspension bridge, up St. Clair and
Fifth streets to Smithfield, thenc to Sixth and down to Liberty,
where three trains, consisting of thiry-three cars, were in waiting
to transport them to the State Capital. On the route a beautiful
silk flag was presented to the 12th Regiment by the ladies of
Allegheny, and received by Capt. R. Biddle Roberts, of the U. S.
Zouave Cadets. This demonstration took place at the house of Wm.
Bagaley, Esq., on Western Avenue.
Before the troops reached
the trains, the arrangements for supplying a comfortable lunch were
perfected. A day's rations of bread and meat had been placed on each
man's seat, and his tin cup filled with excellent coffee, most
gladly welcomed by the soldiers after their trudge through mud and
rain. In Kier's warehouse, near the depot, a table was bountifully
supplied, and but few failed "to pay their respects" to it. Credit
for this timely supply of comfort for the inner man is due mainly to
the citizens who subsequently organized the Subsistence Committee,
of which we will hereafter speak.
About twelve o'clock, m.,
the first (and largest) trian moved off amid the most enthusiastic
demonstrations, waving of handkerchiefs from the windows and
housetops, and deafening cheers from the spectators, all cheerfully
responded to by the men in the cars. At least ten thousand people
had collected to wave farewell to the "gallant three monthsters."
The smaller trains followed the first at brief intervals, and the
crowd was not cleared off until long after the first car was out of
sight.
The first train arrived at Huntingdon at half-past six
p. m., and simultaneous with its arrival the soldiers were besieged
by citizens bearing baskets of boiled eggs, sandwiches, crackers,
cheese, hot coffee, &c. The second and third trains stopped at
Altoona, and the men were there fed at the expense of the
Government.
The trains arrived at Harrisburg between one and
two o'clock on the morning of the 25th, and the men were quartered
in churches and in the capitol. On the afternoon of the same day the
regiments were mustered into the service of the United States, on
the square fronting the State Capitol on each side of which the 12th
and 13th regiments were formed in line. After the ceremony, Gov.
Curtin passed in review.
Col. Campbell's regiment, the 12th,
left the same evening for "Camp Scott," at York, and Col. Rowley's
left on the following day for the same destination.
At
Camp Scott,
of which Brig. Gen. Wynkoop was in command,
were the 1st, 2d, 3d, 12th, 13th and 16th Regiments, numbering in
all about 5,000 men. Beside the Allegheny county companies in the
12th and 13th, another company, the Negley Zouaves, were, in the 3d.
The men suffered much for the want of sufficient clothing, which was
not furnished for some time after their arrival at York.
On
the 29th of April Gen. Negley issued his first General Order,
assuming command of the 12th and 13th regiments, Capt. Leasure, of
Lawrence county, acting as Adjutant General.
Major General
Keim, with his aid, Col. Schaffer, of Lancaster, arrived at York on
May 6th, and assumed control of affairs. Two days after,
Captain Ekin, quartermaster of the 12th, left Philadelphia, with
requisitions for clothing and accoutrements for all the troops in
camp Scott. He returned on the 12th, having been successful in his
mission.
At this time, the bridges on the Northern Central
Eailroad, (destroyed by the rebels,) had been rebuilt, and trains
began running regularly from Harnsburg to Baltimore, a special train
going through on the 9th.
Gen. Negley, by direction of Maj.
Gen. Keim, had added to his brigade (the Fourth,) the 14th and 15th
Regiments, in camp at Lancaster. The Alliquippa Guards, Capt.
Snyder, of McKeesport, were Co. K, in the 14th.
The
subject of re-enlisting for three years or the war was now agitated,
and excited considerable discussion. The question was not put to the
men, and the reports that they refused to re-enlist are false. Being
half a month in the service without equipments, when other regiments
subsequently organized were already in the field, abundantly
supplied with everything, the men of the 12th and 13th, were in no
amiable mood. On the 3d of May, Governor Curtin was advised that
there were three very fine regiments in Philadelphia ready to go
into service, and was urged to accept them. They were accepted and
at once equipped and sent off. When Capt. Ekin visited Philadelphia,
he was informed that the 12th and 13th regiments were in excess, and
that unless they enlisted for three years they would be sent home.
The acceptance of the Philadelphia regiments had more than filled
the State's quota of three months men, and hence the 12th and 13th,
although fully organized in less than two weeks after the call for
troops, were to be crowded out. But, through the active exertions of
one of our Representatives in Congress, Hon. J. K. Moorhead, the
Secretary of War set all things straight. Who was to blame for this
trouble we cannot say, but it seems, through somebody's inadvertance
or neglect, that the War Department had not been advised of the
organization of the Allegheny county regiments.
On the 10th
of May, (Sunday,) Gov; Curtin, with his Aid, Col. R. Biddle Roberts,
reviewed the troops at York. Brig. Gens. Negley and Wynkoop appeared
with their brigades.
The first instalment of overcoats and
accoutrements reached York on the 19th, another on the, following
day, and from day to day until all the troops in Camp Scott were
fully clothed, equipped and furnished with Camp equipage. The
inferiority and absolutely rottenness of the clothing excited much
comment and not a little indignation.
About this time Gen.
Negley left York for Lancaster, to see after the interests of the
14th and 15th Regiments. His separation from the 12th and 13th
Regiments, it was at first supposed, would be but temporary, but
turned out that they were taken out of his command entirely, as he
exercised no control over them from the time of his leaving York,
and during the remainder of the campaign he had but one company from
Allegheny county under his command—the Alliquippa Guards. This was
much against his wishes, as well as against the desire we believe,
of a majority of the Allegheny volunteers.
On the 25th—having
remained at Camp Scott exactly one month—the 12th Regiment received
marching orders and was stationed along the Northern
Central Railroad, guarding it from the destructive intentions of the
rebels. The regiment remained there until the expiration of their
term of service.
On the 3d of June, the 13th received
marching orders, and on the following day left Camp Scott for
Chambersburg, at which place it arrived on the morning of the 7th,
and went into "Cantonment Rowley," west of the town, in the Fair
Grounds, where it remained a few days, removing thence, on on the
12th, four miles South, to "Camp Brady." Here the regiment was
placed in the brigade of Col. Dixon S. Miles, U. S. A., composed of
the 9th and 16th P. V., and detachments of the 2d and 3d Infantry,
(regulars.) The 15th found the regiment at "Camp Riley," in Md., a
mile and a half from the Potomac, and on the following day it was at
"Camp Hitchcock," in Berkeley County, Va., two miles South of the
Potomac, which river it crossed, with Gen. Patterson's army, at
Williamsport.
Before daylight on the 17th, the regiment, with
the brigade to which it was attached, retreated across the Potomac
to Williamsport, and took up quarters at " Camp Miles," adjoining
the town. Here Col. Miles and his regulars were detached and left
for Washington City. The regiment remained at this point, spending
the time most agreeably, until the 4th of July.
At the Ledger
office, in Williamsport, some of the 13th boys printed a newspaper,
entitled, "The Pennsylvania Thirteenth," dated "Camp Miles, July
4th, 1861."
M. Swartzwelder, Esq., having paid the camp a visit,
witnessed the spectacle of a company parading in drawers, a supply
of which they had just received. He was convinced, after examining a
few of the pantaloons worn by the soldiers, that it was not the
warmth of the weather that induced them (the men) to come out in
clean drawers in the presence of spectators, rather than in pants
which would not cover their nakedness.
As an evidence of the
feeling concerning the " shoddy" clothing, the "local" of the
"Thirteen" thus dilated:
"We advertise for sale a choice lot
of rags, (material unknown) formerly put together as soldiers'
clothing. If Mr. Neil, of Philadelphia, wishes to assist in a
speculation, he will find his services appreciated by applying to
the 13th Regiment."
On the day of the publication of the
paper, and while Sergt. Maj. Callow was working the press, without
positive orders the 13th crossed the Potomac the third time. Being
short of rations, and directed not to move until his commissary
department had been replenished, Col. Rowley formed the regiment in
line on the bank of the river, and put the question to the men
whether they would be content to live for five days on three day's
rations. An affirmative reply was given, and five minutes later the
regiment filed into the Potomac, while Doubleday's guns were
belching forth salutes in honor of the day. Arrived in Martinsburg
on the same day, (the second after the fight at Falling Waters,) and
remained there until the 15th, when Patterson's army moved to Bunker
Hill, twelve miles distant from Winchester. Here it rested in
quietude, barring the nightly alarms, (caused by timorous picket
guards) until the 18th, when the army moved, not to Winchester, as
was generally expected, but to Charleston, in the direction of
Harper's Ferry. Remaining at Charleston for a few days, the line of
march was taken up for the Ferry, where the Potomac was crossed a
fourth time. Encamping for a night opposite Maryland Heights, the
regiment headed for Hagerstown, marching some twenty-two miles in
nine hours. The men knew they were going home, their term of service
having expired. At Hagerstown they took the cars for Chambersburg,
thence to Harrisburg, arriving in Pittsburg on the 29th of July.
They were regularly mustered out and paid off a few days afterward.
So ends a brief history of the bloodless campaign of the three
months men.
The 13th regiment, together with the companies in
the 3d, 7th and 14th, saw quite as much service as any of the three
months troops attached to Gen. Patterson's division, while the 12th
regiment did most efficient service in performing the duty to which
it was assigned.
The companies in the 5th remained about
Washington City, and were among the very first troops which arrived
to defend the National Capital.
The 7th regiment went from
Harrisburg to Camp Slifer, near Chambersburg, and was assigned to
the Brigade of Gen. Williams. It crossed the Potomac with
Patterson's army, and continued with it in the marches from
Williamsport to Harper's Ferry, whence the three months men were all
sent home.
While at Charleston, the battle of Bull Run took
place, and on the day previous the 13th was ordered to proceed some
twenty miles in the direction of Winchester to burn some bridges and
tear up railroad tracks, and had started on their mission. The
order, however, was countermanded, while Capt. M. K. Moorhead, the
Quartermaster, was endeavoring to procure the necessary
tools.
The Alliquippa Guards, of McKeesport, Capt. Christian
Snyder and Lieut.'s F. Shaum and George Haast,—attached to the 14th
Regiment, Col. J. W. Johnston, of Westmoreland, remained at
Lancaster for a considerable time, going thence to Chambersburg and
participating in the campaign through the Cumberland Valley and
Virginia. On the 14th of July, at Camp Negley, near Hagerstown, Md.,
the officers of the Guards resigned, because, as they stated, no
provisions were furnished their men. The resignations were accepted
by Gen. Negley, who appointed other officers, viz: Capt. Jas. A.
Lowrie, and 1st Lieut. Alexander Forsyth, both of whom were on the
General's staff, and the latter afterwards assigned as Quartermaster
of the 14th Regiment, with James H. Snodgrass, as
assistant.
The Negley Zouaves, of East Liberty, Capt. Lawson,
also actively participated in the three months campaign, doing,
guard duty on the railroad at Hagerstown for a short
time.