Prologue - September 11 1862

PROLOGUE

The red hand of Treason had drawn the veil of disunion closer and tighter around the National strongholds.  The stars and bars the emblems of slavery and oppres­sion, waved in triumph over a large por­tion of our common country, and for the time being, the Northern Copperheads boastingly asserted "that the North can never subjugate the South,” and that “one southerner was a match for five northern mudsils."  The grand Army of the Po­tomac, under its then lionized commander, General George B. McClellan, had been defeated upon the Peninsula, and had lost heavily in numbers in battle and from death caused by the malaria of the swamps.  General Pope had met the ene­my in the valleys of Northern Virginia, and the defeat of his Army at the second Bull Run, was the final result.

The Rebels emboldened by their suc­cesses, which alone in the department of the South-west had met with reverses at Shiloh and Fort Donelson, were determined to invade the Northern States.  At this critical epoch, the Government issued call for Three Hundred Thousand Vol­unteers to aid in crushing Rebellion.

The Governor of Pennsylvania issued his Proclamation, calling for volunteers for nine months, as well as for three years.  At this period, about the 1st of August 1862, Charles S. Davis, Nelson Byers and William H. Schroyer, prompted by patriotic impulses, recruited a company for the nine months service.  This company was not accepted, as by the time it was fully recruited Gov. Curtin had given official notice that no more nine month men would be accepted at this time.  Snyder County had then already forwarded Capt. George W. Ryan’s nine month company, and which was subsequently denominated company ”F,” and attached to the 131st regiment, P. V. I.  Thus the first com­pany raised by the above named gentle­men was never organized.

The War clouds grew thicker and thicker, and the time had arrived when every man in the country was required to throw his influence into the scales against treason and Rebellion.  The hour was without exception the darkest in our Country’s  history.  The draft of 1862 appeared inev­itable, already had the enrolling officers issued their notices, which included all able bodied males between the ages of 18 and 45.  At this time another effort was made to raise another company, this time for three years.  A large and enthusiastic meeting was held at Selinsgrove, in the old “Union” School-house, on the evening of August 25th, 1862, and which was fol­lowed by meetings at Boyer’s Tavern, Port Trevorton, Freeburg, Beavertown, Beard’s Tavern and Kratzersville, which resulted in recruiting 80 men..

On the 11th and 12th of September, ‘62, those who had volunteered to enlist for three years, began to concentrate at Se­linsgrove, with Head-quarters at the Keystone Hotel, and by the afternoon of the 12th, all were present or accounted for.

At one o’clock, p. m. on Friday, Sept. 12th, the boys were ordered to “fall in” for the first time, and with raised hands took an oath administered by John Em­mit, Esq., to the effect that “we would obey and respect the officers about to be elected by a majority of our Votes.” This being accomplished, the roll was called and the voting done, resulting in the elec­tion of Charles S. Davis, Captain, Nelson Byers and William H. Schroyer, 1st an 2d Lieutenants respectively. Byers was Davis' competitor, and Isaac Smith contest­ed the honor for 2d Lieutenant with Wm. H. Schroyer.  The result of the election gave general satisfaction and we all de­termined to "stand unto the last,” by the officers of our choice. 

Chapter 1 - The Departure September 12 1862

CHAPTER I

THE DEPARTURE

In the foregoing introduction It has been my aim to be brief, while at the same time, I desire to gave an outline of the cir­cumstances and dangers which threatened the general Government at the time the Company was organized, so that when the child of the future shall read the history of the hardships, privations and sufferings of the defenders of the dear old flag, it may form an intelligent idea of the cir­cumstances under which the above named organization entered the service of the Government, prepared for a long and ter­rible war, believing that we would in all human probability be called upon to serve the full term of our enlistment, and not as some supposed who had enlisted in the early part of the war, believing that the war would only be a trifle, or that the north could settle the rebellion in at least thirty days. The thirty day fallacy had been long ago exploded, and the members of Captain Davis’ company were well aware of these facts.

The night of the 12th of September 1862 will long be remembered by many of the citizens of Selinsgrove, it was the night preceding the departure of the company for Harrisburg.  We shall not endeavor to portray any of the events in particular, only in general -- for what was the history of one, was the history of all.  Mothers took an affectionate leave of the son who was going to meet his country’s foe on the field of battle, as they thought of the many chances against a safe return, tears would chase each other down their patriotic cheeks.  Husbands took farewell leave of their wives and children, which many of them should never more behold, and oh, how dear did those little ones ap­pear to the father who pressed them to his bosom, and impressed the good-night kiss for the last time perhaps; and who can imagine unless by experience, the sad parting between husband and wife, the one filled with sad forebodings, whilst the other felt that though he should never see his help-mete again, be was but doing his duty, and with Spartan firmness, he bade his wife dry her tears and hope for the best; he would do his duty and give the rest over into God’s hands.  Then again we had the lovers, who ere they parted vowed eternal constancy and though death might claim the hero, the heroine nobly bade him go, feeling that it was his duty, and she who had a lover march to the front in Company G, felt proud of him and freely gave her idol to her country.

The 18th of September dawned at last, and the quiet little town of Selinsgrove, was bustle and excitement.  The citizens had kindly furnished a large amount at stores which were contributed as a com­missary supply for the Company until we should become acquainted or accustomed to army rations.

At nine o’clock. a. m., the company was drawn up in line in Market St. when each member of the company was presented with a “housewife”—or needle case—pre­pared for the occasion by the patriotic ladies of the town.  At quarter past nine o'clock a. m., headed by the Selinsgrove Cornet Band, the company made its first march.  Reaching the river the parting scenes became general, after which the company and a large number of citizens were conveyed to the other side of the river by means of a large flat.  Owing to a delay in the arrival of the train, we were compelled to spend several hours awaiting its arrival.  During our wait speeches were made by Revs. Hall, Domer and Parks, and here it was that Rev. Domer gave the company the name of

“KEYSTONE GUARDS,"

and how well we merited the title, we shall endeavor to portray in the following imperfectly written history of the Compa­ny in its thirty-three months service.

‘Tis said, “that there is a time for all things,” and so the train at length arrived. With a hasty good-bye, and a long, long look towards the home of childhood, we were soon seated in the box cars, pro­vided for our transportation, a shrill whis­tle of "up brakes” and we were soon thundering down the Northern Central, en route to Harrisburg, and where we in due time safely arrived.  While on our way to camp, marching through the city we were frequently greeted by the urchins with "there goes another lot of ragged - militia - who were then rushing to the front;” we soon made known that we were three year men, and were greeted by the then popular cry of “bully for you.”

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Lewisburg Chronicle 

(Lewisburg, Pennsylvania)

12 Sep 1862, Fri • First Edition • Page 1

Pittsburgh Daily Post, 13 Sep 1862, Sat, Page 2

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Lamented Comrade’s Writings Tell of Service of Locally Recruited, Civil War Unit in 147th Regiment
By M. S. SCHROYER

Next morning, the 13th, we lined up in Market Street near Pine, ready to depart for the front. Before we left Market Street each member of the company was presented with a “housewife,” donated by the ladies of the town. The gift consisted of a sewing kit, and during the time of our service recalled many pleasant recollections.

Headed by the Selinsgrove band we marched to the river and there boarded flats to be ferried across the stream to the Junction, where we were delayed several hours on account of the lateness of the train. It was at that time that the Rev. Messrs Hall, Domer and Parks delivered addresses, and Rev. Domer baptized the company as the “Keystone Guards.” A rather humorous incident occurred when Rev. Dr. Stephen A. Owen, of Hagerstown, Md., then a student in Missionary Institute (now Susquehanna University), delivered an address to us. At the height of his oratory the stones on the mountain side, where he was standing, began to slide, and the young orator made a sudden and unceremonious descent, cutting short his excellent speech.

We boarded the train at Selinsgrove Junction and arrived at Harrisburg in the afternoon of the above date. To the music of drum and fife we marched up Market Street to Third, and from Third to Ridge  avenue, out Ridge avenue to Camp Simmons, where we camped.

This was my first visit to Harrisburg, and the march up Market Street and out to camp was one of the proudest days of my life. My age was 19 years and five months. So proud was I that I hardly think General Jackson’s overcoat would have made me a jacket.

Chapter 2 - September 15th 1862

CHAPTER II

OUR FIRST EXPERIENCE

Upon reaching camp we were placed in Camp Simmons, under command of Captain William Tarbutton, an ex-Methodist minister, and being the only troops at the time in the camp, we were dubbed Tarbutton’s Rangers, Co., A.  Here we first learned that to be a civilian was one thing, whilst being a soldier was certainly quite another.  While the boys were hav­ing a mouth battle, concerning where they were going to place their tents, Captain Tarbutton informed them that HE would dispose of that matter by ordering them WHERE to place their tents.

This was the first indication that we had of what we might expect in the future from those who would be placed in author­ity over us.  And we there and then first learned that. it was a soldier’s first and last duly to obey, without questioning the reasonableness or unreasonableness of the command.

The first afternoon of our camp life was spent in erecting our tents, after which we drew rations, consisting of sugar, cof­fee, bread, beans, rice,  meat, potatoes,  pepper, sa1t, candles and soap, which were stored under a tarpaulin which had been erected for a cook house.

The tents erected, rations drawn, after which a number of the boys started for Harrisburg to "see the sights” and, as it was the last night that we could really ex­pect to be absolutely free from military discipline, we made the most of it and did not return to camp until the “wee sma” hours of morning.

 The first morning that dawned upon us in camp was that of the holy Sabbath.— We were awakened at the break of day, by the salutation: “Fall in for roll call.”— B. T. Parks had charge of the company, and having been a member of Company B, 6^th Reserves, it was good sport for him to watch us “green ones” falling into line, and growling at the nonsense of playing soldier in earnest, generally muttering that it will be time enough when once in the field.

The first regular meal in camp, who that had the pleasure to partake of it, will ever forget it? The cups that were dealt out to us were common pint tin cups, and it is useless to attempt to enumerate the burnt fingers, in attempting to prepare that meal, and then with what relish it was eaten.  It did not take long to discover that the members of Co. G, were not experts in the art of cooking, and that it would be necessary to hire or detail a gen­eral cook, whose duty it should be to pre­pare the rations for the company.  This was accomplished by securing Peter Lau­benstine, a former resident of Selinsgrove and who was paid fifty cents per month from each member of the company.

The first day spent in Camp after our arrival was the holy Sabbath, and well do we remember it.  It was a beautiful Sep­tember day, the bight sun shown down upon us with the warmth of midsummer.  The beautiful trees on the ridges on either side of us, were merely visible through the hazy atmosphere, the sweet music made by numerous bells, as they called together those who worshipped the “great Giver of every good and perfect gift,” in our front in the city, taken in connection with the novelty of our situation, served to make an impress on our minds, that the finger of time will find difficult to erase.

It was upon this day that our officers opened the box of provisions that had been prepared by our friends at home and “falling in” around their “A” tent caused the same to be dealt out to the men; each one seating himself upon the ground, with his plate and which by the way was a tin one, upon his lap and his cup of coffee near by.  Thus our first Sunday dinner was eaten in camp, and a noble repast it was, fit for Kings to dine upon, and often during the dark and try­ing times, when owing to the scarcity of “grub” in Uncle Sam’s larder, did our imaginations go out towards that Sunday  dinner

On Monday the 15th, we were examin­ed, and this exhibition owing to its novel­ty, was amusing in the extreme, and did the subject permit, a number of ludic­rous incidents might be given, which un­der the circumstances must remain among the unwritten doings of the company.— A number of the men, amongst them old Danny Herbster seriously objected to go­ing through the “ordeal.” but when they found that if they would march with the company they must submit, they grace­fully gave in and were accepted.  W. S. Keller passed twice, once for himself and also for B. T. Parks, and owing to his pe­culiar formation was detected by the ex­amining Surgeon, who as he passed him turned towards Captain Davis and with a knowing wink said: “Captain, you have two men pretty near alike, but they are both sound, which I suppose is all that you care about.”

The Captain saw the point and very po­litely thanked the Doctor for his kindness. Several of the boys who had enlisted, ow­ing to some bodily deformity, were not accepted..

The examination being over we were mustered into the United States service immediately.  This important step in our history took place about 4 o'clock, P. M. on the same day that we were examined and was performed by Captain Norton, who at the time was laboring under the influence of too much benzene, mustered ­us into service as cavalry, “to serve during  the war.” The latter clause was the cause of frequent contention in the company, as scarcely a half -dozen of the mem­bers agreed as to the time and manner in which they had been mustered.

After being mustered into service next step to be attended to was the draw­ing of the Quarter-master stores. Bright and early on the following morning B. T. Parks, acting Orderly Sergeant, detailed a squad of men and who were sent to the Camp Quartermaster, where they received all the clothing necessary to rig us out completely in Uncle Samuel’s toggery.

The sport now began in good earnest, the clothing consisting of pants, dress and overcoats, drawers, shirts, hose, shoes, ponchos, scales, &c., were distributed among the boys, who hastily exchanged their citizens clothes for "suits or blue," and when they next appeared in the com­pany street, a more ludicrous fantastic sight never greeted mortal sight be­fore.  We were raw recruits and had a great many things yet to learn.  The most of us having taken the clothing just as they had been issued to us, without regard to sizes and here was some of the results:  Luther Parks, the smallest soldier in the Company, was lost in a pair of pants large enough for a six footer, whilst Asa B. Churchill, the company giant, was arrayed in a pair of pants that scarcely reached his knees; Ed Fisher had his head enveloped in a monstrous cap, whilst John K. Stuck had a “wee bit" of a thing perched on the top of his head, while six or seven of the boys were trying to put feet that snugly fit a number 10 boot into number 6 shoes.

After considerable trading with one and another, all at last succeeded in getting suited to their various needs, and when we had everything arranged, even to sewing on of the brass scales, the company presented a very (?) martial appearance.

After we were once fully equipped hav­ing received everything excepting arms and accouterments, we began to play the part of the soldier in good earnest.  Drill morning, noon and evening, was the order of the day.  More recruits began to arrive and we were detailed to stand guard over the camp, armed with clubs.  In those days a corporal was a very important per­sonage.  Calls similar to the following: 

“Corporal of the Guard, post number 115, double-quick,” owing to a change of diet, were quite frequent,

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Sunbury American 

(Sunbury, Pennsylvania)

13 Sep 1862, Sat • First Edition • Page 1

Chapter 3 - Our First Lessons

September 17-19 1862

CHAPTER III

OUR FIRST LESSONS

On the 17th of September our officers at attempted to procure arms, and begged for permission to march us on towards the field of action, as the rebels were then in­vading “My Maryland.”

Old Captain Tarbutton, to whom the application had been made, politely informed them that they should rest easy, since they and their men would see fighting enough before their term of service would expire.  A verification that was lit­erally fulfilled.

On the 18th of the same month, the wounded from the battle field of Antietam reached Harrisburg, and part of the com­pany was detailed to assist in unloading the cars, freighted with the mangled and maimed Union soldiers, none of whose wounds had as yet been dressed.

To hear the moans and groans of the poor fellows, was sufficient to convince the most stout-hearted of Company G’s boys, that to play soldier was a very dan­gerous game and to say the very least, we had chosen an avocation that would certainly call us to places where death and destruction stalked through the land in an open and defiant manner.

We have always surmised that the experience gained upon that occasion had a great deal to do with several members of our company getting discharged from service on account of physical disability.  ­We remember one of these chaps who car­ried a beg of sweet potatoes on his shoulder on the day he was discharged, when a few hours before, he had been almost too weak to carry his discharge from one ward to the other.

The first guard duty that the company performed with muskets and accouterments, was on the 19th of September, 1862, in the Capitol grounds, upon the occasion of firing a salute of one hundred guns, in honor of the victory obtained over the Rebel Army at Antietam.

It was upon this occasion that the writer halted A. G. Conic, the then great war Governor. Upon being informed as to who it was that stood at the mercy of our bayonet, we brought the old fuzee to a present, recognizing the salute, his Excel­lency passed on.

At this time we were kept very busy do­ing guard duty on the hill.  The Capitol grounds were dotted with tents which had been used by the Militia, who had flocked in by the thousands to defend the State from the invasion which was then being threatened by the Rebels.

Here the members of the company had ample opportunity of playing the part of Sunday soldier in its brightest light.  The grounds were nearly always filled with strangers who visited Harrisburg to catch a glimpse of army life.

Soldiers are apt scholars, and we believe that we can truthfully claim as much aptitude and shrewdness for the members of Company G as was possessed by any other company, or at least it did not take our boys long to learn that it was a good thing to be provided with a piece of raw bacon, the fattest we could get, with several hard-tack, and whenever there would be any persons about who by their actions gave us reason to believe that they were friends of the soldier, we would seat ourselves near them on the ground, take out our “prepared” grub and commence to eat it with the keenest appetite.  As a general thing the first vender of pies and cakes that happened to pass that way would receive an order for the balance of stock, and as a natural result the soldiers would get something better than bacon for that meal.

Part of the above arrangement is what perplexed Peter Laubenstine our cook.  He reported the case to our officers in about the following words;

“I can’t understand what ails the boys, when they go to town they can’t get their meat fat enough and when they are in camp, why I can’t get the meat lean enough, it just beats the ‘old boy.’”

The officers said that it was strange, but it was impossible for them to tell how this change in the diet was brought about.  And as to the company cook he remained in ignorance until long after we left Harrisburg.

Time passed rapidly, we had been in camp two weeks, and the company under B.T. Parks’ skillful hands, was making rapid progress in the school of the company, and we were pronounced by Capt. Tarbutton to be the most efficient troops in camp.

Up to the 30th of September, our officers had not been announced yet, we had been actually awaiting to hear who the favored ones were to be.  At last the appointments were made, and at roll-call on the morning of November 1st, B. T. Parks called the roll in the following order for the first time. (I have added the officers in order that the company roster may be complete.

Captain      Charles S. Davis

1^st  Lieutenant             Nelson Byers

2nd Lieutenant           William H. Schroyer

        NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS

1^st  Sergeant           B. T. Parks

2^nd      “                   James E. Lloyd

3^rd           “                  George W. Townsend

4^th       “                  Henry W. Baker

5^th       “                  Franklin M. Stuck

1^st  Corporal           Isaac D. Whitmer

2^nd       “                  John R. Reigel

3^rd        “                 Francis W. Wallace

4^th        “                 Frederick B. Ulrich

5^th        “                 Henry Shrawder

6^th        “                 Jeremiah Malick

7^th        “                 Samuel H. Bower

8^th        “                 George W. VonNeida

MUSICANS

           Lewis C. Schroyer

           Antes Ulrich

                  PRIVATES

App, Solomon                    Millhoff, John

App, Jeremiah                    Miller, Elias

Bingaman, Jno. F.   Moyer, Jeremiah

Churchill, Asa B.    Mull, John

Doebler, Henry J.   Miller, Reuben

Eby, Amantes                     Matter, John

Ehrhart, Daniel                   McFall, William

Fisher, Edward                   Napp, Isaac J.

Fausnacht, W. E.    Nerhood, Jacob

Griggs, George D.   Noll, Elias

Garman, Jacob                   Noaker, George

Gross, Daniel W.    Parks, Calvin E.

Henninger, Win.     Parks, Martin L.

Herbster, Win. H.   Reed, Isaac E.

Herbster, Thomas   Reed, John

Hassinger, Allen     Romig, Levi J.

Hafley, Uriah P.     Reigle, Jacob J.

Herbster, Daniel     Reed, Isaac B.

Haas, John P.                      Schroyer, M. S.

Hathaway, Jere.      Shreffler, Henry E.

Jarrett, Samuel                   Stuck, John K.

Krebbs, Jacob                     Smith, James W.

Keller, William S.   Spade, William

Kreamer, Henry      Swab, Jacob

Knarr, Franklin                   Seesholtz, Win. E.

Kreamer, Daniel W. Swartz, John A.

Knight, Fred H.      Sholly, Adam S.

Lahr, Peter             Shaffer, Michael S.

Lahr, Daniel D.      Shiffer, Wm. H. H.

Long, John C.                     Templin, Stephen

Lumbard, Joseph A. Ulsh, Joseph S.

Leider, Jacob                      Ulrich, James P.

Mark, John T.                     Ulrich, Lot

Millhof, Elias

Millhoff, Lewis

     The above is a correct roster of the original company, as well as the first non-commissioned officers appointed by the officers, but by the discharge of Sergeant Lloyd and the transfer of Corp. Shrawder to the 14^th United States Regular, other changes soon followed.

John A. Swartz was the first member of the company to desert, which he did on the 25^th of September.  No effort was ever made to compel him to return. 

The company mustered all told, rank and file 88 men.  An effort was made during our stay at Harrisburg to have it recruited up to the maximum number, 101 men, and the following recruits to the company were secured.

 Bastian, Joseph F.

 Hoffer, Peter H.

Marks, Cyrus

Shearer, Jacob

Waughen, Wm. Henry H.

All of the above, excepting Hoffer, deserted, which take with Swartz, Daniel Lahr who also deserted, and Lloyd , discharged with Shrawder transferred, the company reduced to 80 men.

The name of Rev. Hall, who had died from an attack of small-pox and who lied buried in the Even. Lutheran Cemetery in Selinsgrove never had his name on the company roll, as he was endeavoring to secure Chaplaincy.

Chapter 4 - Life At Harrisburg

September 1862

CHAPTER IV

CAMP LIFE AT HARRISBURG

Immediately after the filling of the various hospitals, by the wounded from the battle-field of Antiem, an order was issued to Capt. Tarbutton, for troops do the guard duty at the hospitals, and our company was selected.  Thus half of the command was sent down to the city every other day.  10 men including a Sergeant and Corporal were sent to the German Reformed Church Hospital, corner of Third and Chestnut Sts., as well as a similar detail to the Walnut St., Cotton Factory and River Hospital.  The boys had the run of the city, all that was necessary was to have a pass countersigned by any of Sergeants’ on duty, and it was surprising to see how many Sergeants the company had.  In the language of Col. Charles Kleckner, then acting Provost Marshal of the city, “every d—d man of them is a Sergeant, for my patrol now have in their possession the hand writing of at least 16 men, all purporting to be Sergeants  in Captain Charles Davis’ Company.

For upwards of two months the Company was on detached duty in the city, and the temptations to which the boys were  exposed were of such a character as to be a snare to the feet of many of the unsophisticated youths of the company, to say nothing of the older ones.

At the time when Company G, known as Captain Davis’ Snyder company, made its appearance on the scene, Bob Edward’s Concert Saloon was in its zenith, and the ballet, as well as the prevailing, eccentricities of the hour were nightly delineated by male and female STARS, to the great delight and astonishment of the gaping crowds of soldiers and among which might generally be noticed a fair sprinkling of Company “G’s” warriors.  Among the pleasant recollections connected with the concert saloon, then occupying the building opposite the Jail, near the State Capitol Hotel, are the now extinct “war songs,” not extinct be­cause they form a large portion of the reminiscences of the times which tried the hearts of the patriots of 1861--5, those charming songs, rendered by Julie Edwards and Lizzie Francis, among which we now call to mind: “We are going to fight for Uncle Sam,” “My Mary1and,” “Hurrah for General McClellan and the. Union Volunteers,” which seldom if ever, failed to draw forth an encore.  While speaking of the “Gaiety songs” we dare not forget “Ever of Thee,” and “Lauderbaugh,” names which carry us back to the time, when clothed in Uncle Sam’s suit of  blue, seated within its “classic” walls sipping lager, we just more than threw ourselves upon the wave of dissipation and lived upon the fleeting pleasures of the day, which were sure to bring us a heavy head in the morning, which would cause us to resolve “never to get drunk any more.”

Every organization has its character and we believe that Company G had its full share of them.  We cannot forget old Danny Kreamer, who wore a monstrous pair of green spectacles, and who upon a certain well-known occasion remarked that “he did not believe that he ever saw Sergeant Baker in a general manner.”

It was the same chap who after being treated to a breakfast on farina, brought to the Chestnut street hospital by Mrs. Small, said: “Well, I am a pretty old man, but I’ll be blamed if ever I eat mush and milk for breakfast.”  While we are speaking of this eccentric character, we may as well mention that Danny dealt in “charms,” consisting of printed slips, on which were printed words which were to protect the person who carried them from violence or dangers of any sort, and when he attempted to sell one to Serg’t George Townsend, for the moderate price of 25 cents, found himself caught by the throat in the iron grip of the Sergeant, who said: “Danny, this is too thin, your papers are no good,” and he choked the charm vend­er until his tongue hung out.

Of course the boys all remember who it was that guarded that “little Bucktail” Sergeant in the guard-house, and the accident which befell the valiant guard who became exhausted for want of sleep, and who rolled down the bank, greatly to the detriment of his clothing, and who was probably saved from freezing by the interference of Corporal Fred H. Knight who kindly assisted him into the “markee” and who just as freely helped him out in the morning, and why it was done.  We know that up to this time be has never been able to clean his skirts of the strange affair, while all those who slept in that markee that night, aver that there certainty was ‘something rotten in Dan(ny) mark.’

We trust that the members of the Company will accept the little pleasantries in the same spirit in which they are written, and not get angry, as we shall endeavor to give a correct account of the doings of the “boys,” and one and all will receive full credit for all that befell them, as far as we can remember the facts, or recall the funny incidents to mind.

The company had a number of accomplished foragers, who not only distinguished themselves in raids upon the enemy, but who made it a point to visit the markets early in the morning, and before the venders were up, take advantage of buying anything “cheap” that they could lay hands on, of course the boys had no money or at least very little, and the edibles displayed were too tempting to be resisted, and so general did this “foraging” become that nearly every member of the company had a large pocket made in the inside of the overcoat, and which was appropriately called the union “confiscation” pocket.

We remember upon a certain occasion that two of No. l’s mess, took sweet potatoes out from under a man who had his bed on them, and then finished up the job by walking off with some ten or fif­teen pounds of sausage, which served to gladden the hearts of the mess.

Nor can we forget the German “Kost­hause,” with its tempting motto: ”Kum do rouse stu dem Deitchen hause,” on the old weather beaten sign, kept by old “Mommy” and Nicholas, he who loved his “schnaps” so well, in the part of the city known as Verbecktown.  It was here that a number of the boys made their head-quarters and many an interesting little squib might be written of the events transpired here.

We could tell as how Daniel Ehrhart upon a certain occasion gave the old lady a two dollar bill in payment for a “bitters” and when she could not change it, he ordered her to give him credit for the bal­ance and how that balance was wiped out that afternoon, so that when Ehrhart in the evening came to get his “night cap,” and ordered it taken from his credit, just how surprised he looked when old Mommy said:

“Du lieber Gott im himmel mon, das geldt ist shunt long aus gedrunken.”

Ehrhart never found out who it was that squandered his credit., although he vowed vengeance on the guilty ones.

It was here that ten and twelve of the company would lodge in one room with three beds in it.  As a general thing eve­rything passed off smoothly as long as there were only three men for each bed, but when the fourth man came, then the circus would commence, and the struggle between the “ins” and the “outs” waxed warm.  We had the pleasure (?) of trying to sleep in the room one night, and we are free to confess that we scarcely received our “levy’s” worth of sleep.  It was the night that Lot Ulrich had placed a large carpet tack in one of Danny Herbster’s shoes, and then invited the old man to go along out to get a drink, knowing full well that if there was a man in the company that would not get up out of bed and put on his shoes for a drink of whiskey, that man was not old Danny.  To judge from the way the old man ripped out the Sny­der county “Dutch” we had no doubt but that the tack got in its work successfully.  Herbster accused C. E. Parks of setting up the job, and it was with great difficulty that the old man was prevented from doing Parks bodily harm.  The difficulty was at last amicably arranged by Parks setting up the “Greek fire,” for Danny and his boon companion, Levi J. Romig.

Chapter 5 - First Foraging Expedition

CHAPTER V

FIRST FORAGING EXPEDITION

Camp life in Harrisburg, was somewhat monotonous, guard mounts in the morning our regular morning detail for city hospital duty, throngs of visitors, pie girls and venders of all kinds, with an occasional dress parade turned off by Adjutant General Russell, made up our every day existence, and we naturally longed for some other excitement to aid us in passing the time.  Never will we forget our first foraging expedition, it consisted of Serg’ts Stuck, Lloyd, Baker, Knight, Witmer, Corp. F. B. Ulrich, Lot Ulrich, W. E Fausnacht, Antes Ulrich and the writer.  Early in the morning we passed out of camp, under the pretext of going for wat­er, taking several camp kettles with us, and which we concealed at the stock-yard tavern near the canal west of the camp.  We crossed the canal and started for the Lunatic Asylum, passing through the ground connected with the Institution we met a number of the inmates, who were out taking their morning walk, under the surveillance of their keepers.  Reaching the building, we rang the door bell and were admitted.  We passed through the building and noticed a large number of unfortunate men and women, who bereft of reason, made their homes within its walls, and who were evidently as well taken care of as it was possible under the circumstances.

We were forcibly impressed with one of the men confined in the Asylum, and we shall never forget the advice given us by the “old General” as he delighted to style himself, owing to the strange hallucinations under which he labored, believing himself to be General Jackson.  He was a fine looking man, tall and of a military appearance, with a snow white beard and hair, his eyes sparkling with the luster of insanity, walking up to where we were grouped he addressed us as follows:

“Soldiers, when you have fought as many battles as the old General has, you will learn the importance of always carrying a bale of cotton with you, and above all, don’t forget to make good use of you bayonets,” and with a graceful military salute he passed into his room and close the door behind him.

After we had spent some time in examining everything in and about the Asylum, we decided to start out into the country to get a good dinner.

Unfortunately for us the citizens had been greatly annoyed by the soldiers, as great numbers had been encamped in the vicinity, from the first days of the war up to the present time, and they were consequently not as ready, and probably not as able as they once were, to minister to our wants.  We walked about three miles back of the Asylum and as it was about dinner time, Serg’t knight and the writer were detailed to go to a farm house and make arrangements for dinner.  We did not succeed at the first two places but at the third place we stopped the family was making preparations to seat themselves at the table, making our errand known, and were politely informed that they could not give us all dinner, but that if we would seat ourselves we should have our wants supplied.

Taking advantage of their hospitality we seated ourselves at the table, and had soon forgotten our less fortunate companions, who were out in the orchard near the house, anxiously awaiting a summons to dinner.

We ate heartily, and when the hostess handed the pie around, we informed her that we believed we would take pie our out to our hungry comrades: The ruse worked well, we were told to eat our pieces, and when we had finished our dinner, we were given two pies, a loaf of bread, about a pound of butter and a crook of milk, to be carried out to our other foragers.  We offered to pay for our dinners, as well as for the provisions given us for the boys in the orchard, but the kind and generous hearted farmer and his wife, positively refused to take any pay for the victuals given us.

Thanking them kindly we gathered up our rations and hastened to where we had left the rest of our comrades. When we came in sight with our arms ladened with the commissary stores, we were received with a hearty three times three.

The provisions were soon dispatched, after which we returned the dishes to the house and started out on our expedition again.  In the rear of the orchard we discovered a large brood of chickens, and at once made an onslaught upon them, capturing several of their number whose heads were soon severed by the aid of a large sheath-knife that Corporal Freddy Ulrich carried with him.  It was here that  Freddy received a name by which he is today best known by to the boys of the company, namely “Kevic.”  He had drawn the knife out of the sheath, to cut the head off of one of the fowls and had dropped it, Lot Ulrich picked it up.  As soon as Freddy missed it, he asked if any one had seen his “Kevic,” which is the German name for sheath.

The next farmhouse we struck there was no one at home, although the door was open.  We entered and at once struck for the pantry, in search of edibles to eat.  We scarcely found the edibles ere the man of the house arrived upon the scene, having been engaged in plowing in a field near the house.

We at once made our wants known and he kindly furnished us with an abundant supply of bread, butter, apple-butter and all the milk we could drink.  After our appetites had been appeased Serg’t Baker who had some of the company funds, realized from the sale of fat and other surplus rations, offered to pay the bill, but the man refused to take anything for it.  We passed through the barn-yard, which was filled with fowls of all kinds, but his kindness, and the fact that he went with us, prevented the boys from going for any of them.

We started for camp by another road, and entering a stable we passed in our tramp, W. E. Fausnacht grabbed an old rooster as did several others of the boys.  The captured fowls made considerable commotion, through which the man in the house was notified of our proceedings, he came running out with a shot gun, and we scampered down the hill taking the chickens with us.  He ordered us to drop the fowls which we refused to do, but one and all breathed much freer when out of reach of his old “fuzee.”  Nothing of any importance occurring we reached camp in due time.

The next question which presented itself was, “who will prepare the chickens?”— This question was answered by Sergeant Stuck. who by the way was a regular “pot rattler.”  Frank succeeded right well, only Captain Davis said that he had more hearts for the same number of fowls, than he had ever before seen. The chickens were at length prepared, and those who were fortunate to be in the crowd of foragers, succeeded in getting a number one supper, we however did not fail in making a clean job of it, even the kettle was licked out so clean that Pete Lauben­stine did not need wash it before he made coffee in it next morning for breakfast.

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Chapter 6 - Excitement In The Camp

CHAPTER VI

EXCITEMENT IN CAMP

About this time a tragedy was enacted in the city which occasioned great excitement in Camp.  It will be remembered by our readers that a little six year old daughter of Mr. E. S. German the Bookseller, was abducted from her home, and after having been brutally ravished, was found dead in a strip of woods near the cemetery, and it was reported that the child had been seen in company with a man dressed in the uniform of a soldier.  As soon as the intelligence was received the guard around the camp was trebeled every precaution was taken to prevent the escape of the miscreant if he was in the camp.

In the afternoon the troops, who by this time had been increased to several thousand, were drawn up in line in “open order”, and two lades who had seen the man, together with the police and military officers, passed through the ranks.  At one time the women halted in front of a man from the Westmoreland company and thought he was the man.  No sooner had the party halted than the greatest excitement ensued.  A large number of the men broke ranks and rushed towards the suspected man, but the officers of the company were able to give a satisfactory account of the mans whereabouts, as he had not been out of camp on the day the tradgedy had been committed.  Order was restored ad the parties continued on their way but were unable to discover the fied, for the very best reason in the world as has since been discovered, he was not in the camp at the time.  Had he been discovered he certainly would have been lynched on the spot.

After the excitement had passed away the guards were reduced to their usual number, and everything again passed in the even tenor of its way.

We had now been in camp about two months and were fast becoming veteran (?) soldiers.  Our evenings in the camp were spent in various ways, the leading attraction was the introduction of the “Kentucky Giant”  which was done by taking a light man, who would seat himself on the shoulders of a tall strong man, after which a blanket was placed over the shoulders of the man on the top and then allow the ends to hang down, this would cause the deception to be complete, representing a man seven or eight feet tall.

Tossing in the blanket was also one of the principal evening sports, and when eight strong men would take hold of a blanket, and placing a man in it, they would be able to toss him ten or twelve feet into the air; this like the fable of the boys and the frogs, “was fun for the tossers but proved to be the next thing to death , to the one being tossed.”

At this time the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Cavalry was lying in camp, they afforded our boys considerable sport, as they were learning their horses to jump over a rail fence.  A number of the men knew nothing at all about riding, whilst many of the horses knew nothing about jumping, and more than one laughable circumstance was the result.  Whenever any of the men made an unusual awkward appearance, he was greeted with cheers, which usually had the effect of getting the cavalry officers on their ears, and the result would be that we would be driven away.

About one of the first mishaps that befell any of the company boys, was the arrest of Stephen Templin and the placing of him in the guard-house for several hours.  One of the sporting ladies of the city happened to find her way into Camp whilst intoxicated, and with her glib tongue attacked all who came within her reach.  Her ribald jests were cheered by the large crowd of soldiers by whom she was surrounded.  About the time that the occurrence was at its height, a number of the boys had secured camp kettles and mess pans and were proceeding to drum her out of Camp, Captain Tarbutton arrived upon time scene and seeing that our Steve was enjoying the affair immensely, had him placed in the guard-house, to appease the dignity of outraged military discipline.

Our officers at once took steps to have him released, and when the matter was explained to Captain Tarbutton, he ordered Templin to be released. We welcomed him back to the company with three cheers and a tiger.

On the 15th of November, Rev. O. O. Hall, who had gone along with the company to Harrisburg, with the intention of becoming the Chaplain of the regiment to which the company would become attached, took sick with small-pox, was sent home and died on the 30th of the same month.  He was buried at night in the Evangelic Lutheran Cemetery in Selinsgrove

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Chapter 7 - Harrisburg Soldier Life

CHAPTER VII

HARRISBURG SOLDIER LIFE

Among the many characters which served to fill up the membership of Company G, we will not forget Sergeant George Townsend.  George was a native of Maine, he had been a soldier in the 8th Massachusetts, had been in the riot in Baltimore on the 19th of April, and participated in the battle of Bull Run, had followed the sea for a number of years, was always ready for a fight or a frolic, and as may well be imagined when under the influence of “grog” which was pretty much all the time, he was rather a privileged character and was allowed to do pretty much as he pleased.

One morning George was Sergeant of the guard, with head-quarters at the Chestnut Street Hospital.  He gave the post in charge of Corp. Witmer, and started out on a lark, and by 10 o’clock was sailing under a pretty heavy head of “steam,” and while promenading one of the streets he fell in with Jack Williams, a notorious bad negro and a very giant in strength.  Just how the affair commenced will never be exactly known, but the result was a fight between the two.  The first intimation that we had of the affair was the announcement made by “Black Dick,” the half-witted colored lad, who for so many years run in front of the trains on the N. C. Railway at Harrisburg, and who but a few years ago met his death by being run over by a locomotive, came up to the Chestnut Street Hospital, where he gave the alarm saying, that the “sojers and de kullud men are fitin,” and that we had better hurry up or they would kill “de sojers.”  The guard hastened to the scene of the conflict, and as soon as they left, all the inmates of the hospital who were able to move, hastened to assist the soldiers.  When we arrived at the place where the fighting was going on, we found Serg’t Townsend under the darkey, bleeding from a stab in the mouth, and surrounded by a large number of negroes, the Serg’t was pretty well played out.  Ed. Fougat a member of Co. “A,” 127^th P. V. I., threw a stone which bare1y missed the darkey’s head, and then seizing a club made for the darkey.  Williams jumped up and run into a negro shanty, into which he was followed and caught up on the loft.  A “Buck-tail” Sergeant had secured a hatchet and with it struck the darkey several strokes on the head sufficient to fell an ox, and which only had the effect of making him shake his woolly cranium.  The boys were determined to finish him, and finding that they had a tough customer on hand, U. P. Hafley attempted to wrench the musket out of the hands of Jacob Leider, who had been on guard at the Third St. entrance at the ­time the alarm was brought to the hospital, and who had taken his gun along.  Leider held on to the gun, and as it had a bayonet attached it was a fortunate thing for the negro as well all concerned that Hafley did not get the gun.  The darkey finally raised himself from the floor with two or three men clinging to him.  He was at last thrown down head foremost, and strange to say escaped without injury.  A number or women had gathered in the shanty, and their screams were frightful in the extreme.  At last the patrol arrived on the ground, and the darkey was arrested and taken to jail.

Court being in session, the following day the darkey was arraigned, indicted upon the charge of assault and battery with intent to kill.  He was tried, found guilty and sentenced to the Eastern Penitentiary for three years and six months.  We have always felt as though the sentence was rather an imposition upon justice.  Jos. C. McAlarney, Esq., formerly of this place defended Serg’t Townsend.

The Company made White Hall Saloon its Head-quarters and almost any hour of the day, one or the other of the boys were to be met in the institution.

Chapter 8 - Harrisburg Life Continued

CHAPTER VIII

HARRISBURG LIFE CONTINUED

We do not pretend to give the entire history of each individual member of the company, since that would be a much more difficult task than we would be willing or able to perform, but we hall endeavor to give all the main facts, as well as many of the minor events as they occurred under our immediate observation, or were related to us at the time of their occurrence.

To show how soon a soldier becomes inured to the hardships and privations of a soldier’s life, as well as becomes hardened to scenes and acts which before his entry into service would have appeared to be almost impossible, and in support of this proposition, we need but narrate an event which took place one evening at the River Hospital, about six weeks after we had been mustered into service.  We generally slept in some of the tents connected with the hospitals, but it frequently happened that the tents were used as dead houses, that is, used as a place to keep those in who died in the hospital during the day, and owing to the number of severely wounded men at the time, there were often as many as three or four dear persons in the outside tent, awaiting the arrival of friends or relatives to take them to their homes for interment.  At first when the tent had any dead in, the boys would sleep on the outside.  This soon however played out, and one night when there were four dead soldiers placed in the tent on stretchers, we prepared to retire for the night, and as the greater part of the tent was filled with the dead, we were compelled to run our feet and legs under the aforesaid stretchers.  We had just settled down for a good snooze, when one of the boys placed his knees on the bottom of the first stretcher and with a steady pressure raised the center of the stretcher up, and as a natural consequence the dead man, without a warning, fell with a heavy “thud” upon us.  He was lifted back upon the stretcher and we prepared anew for sleep, about the time we were nearly ready to drop off to the land of Nod, when one of the boy’s said: “Gol­ly boys wouldn’t we jump up if one of these dead fellows were to commence to scratch around above us.”  No sooner said than up went the knees and down came the dead man. We lifted the corpse up and placed it on its rest, and after passing a number of jokes went to sleep, and were awakened in the morning by Will Seesholtz, who let himself drop upon us, thinking of course that it was the dead man, and raising up we attempted to place him upon the stretcher.  Seesholtz began to struggle, and only being partly awake, we for the time thought the dead had come to life again.  We however soon discovered our mistake, and Billy was pitched out of the tent a flying.

It was certainly an amusing episode in ‘our soldier lives when we caught the first “gray-backs.”  A number of the hospital guards slept in the boxes which contained the clothing of the wounded inmates of the hospital, and the result was that we became kinder over run with the vermin before we knew it.  Not knowing what was the matter, as an eruption was breaking out on various parts of our bodies and thinking that it, might be itch, we called on one of the Hospital Surgeons, informing him that we were troubled with a kind of a rash, which we wished he wo’d give us something for.  He asked us to show him the rash(?) which we did.  He only laughed and stated that the rash was caused by “gray-backs” on our persons, and that just as soon as we would rid ourselves of the “gray-backs,” the “rash” would go away. A statement which we found to be correct.

Time passed pleasantly in the main, the company had its hands full, guard duty during the day and sight seeing at night, and many were the humorous adventures that our boys got into, and here we will mention that one of the boys, D. W. Gross got lost near a red coal pile, for says Dan although a little befuddled his logic was correct, “red looks black at night, and it was the blackest pile that ever I saw.”

The first Rebels that we had the privilege of seeing were encamped for a short time in Camp Simmons, having been captured at Antietam.  They numbered over 200, and from what we afterwards learn­ed were a pretty fair specimen of the Confederate Soldiery.  It was amusing to us to hear them talk in their drawling Southern vernacular, whilst at the same time we were impressed with their martial  appearance.

It was here that a number of our boys found fault with the manner in which the authorities treated these prisoners as several of the Rebel officers were escorted through the city, and even taken to min­strel performance, in which that great negro delineator of the day, Sam Sharpley, gave the Johnnies several home thrusts.  The prisoners in camp as far as drawing rations were concerned lived better than we did, as they drew a superior article of ham, whilst we were compelled to subsist on “sow-belly” and “salt-horse.”  We had every reason to believe that these prisoners rather enjoyed their captivity.

Chapter 9 - French Furlough

CHAPTER IX

FRENCH FURLOUGH

During our stay at Harrisburg, the boys frequently took advantage of the facilities afforded them by the Northern Central Railroad, and left for home on what was then termed “French” furloughs, or in truth and in fact, without furlough or per­mit.  The famous expedition down the Cumberland Valley for ARMS, will no doubt be remembered by many of mem­bers of the Company.

On the evening of the 18th of October, the officers announced to the Company that they wou1d that night proceed down the Cumberland valley, perhaps as far down as Carlisle Barracks, in order to procure arms for the company.

In the language of the day, the story would do to tell Marines, but volunteers would choke on it.  A number of the boys were detailed to keep a watch on the officers, whilst all who had colat suf­ficient on hand to pay their way home made hasty arrangements to take the Cumberland Valley (?) train in order to assist the officers to load the arms.

It was soon determined that the officers were going down the valley via Selinsgrove, and as soon as they got on board the rear car, about 20 of the company’s boys got on the front car.  And when the train stopped at Selinsgrove, the surprise to Capt. Davis and his Lieutenants can be much better imagined than described.

A few words of explanation followed, and then Serg’t Eby informed the Captain that as soon as we had learned that the Company was to be equipped with arms from the Cumberland Valley, the boys had concluded that if they were to see their friends and homes once more, that this most undoubtedly would be their last opportunity.

The explanation was satisfactory, and the Captain laughed and gave them all permission to remain in Selinsgrove until Monday morning, then ordering the boys to “fall in” he moved us forward.  As we crossed the river, Lt. Schroyer remarked: “I am glad that its so early and that but few people are about yet, as they would certainly imagine that the war is over and that the company is returning in a body.”  And to tell the truth the length of the column warranted the expression.

It was during this visit that an affair occurred in town that caused considerable feeling at that time in the company.  It happened that a large number of boys who came home were democrats, and, as they remained at home until after the election, which was the contest in which the Hon. Isaac Slenker was elected Auditor General, a number of the prominent Republicans of the town found fault with the Captain and accused him of having brought them home for the occasion, whilst he had kept the Republicans at Harrisburg.  This charge was so notoriously unjust that it was resented by the Republican members of the Company.  The truth of the matter was that the men came home without the knowledge of the officers.

Chapter 10 - The 147th P.V.I.

CHAPTER X

THE 147^TH  P. V. I.

Shortly after the events narrated in the previous chapter, an event took place which sealed the destiny of our company.

On the 10th of November, Major John Craig of the 147^th P.V.I., arrived at Harrisburg in search of new companies to recruit the Regiment to ten companies as required in order to entitle the regiment to its full compliment of field officers.

The regiment was then lying at Harper’s Ferry, under command of Colonel Arlo Pardee, Jr., late Major of the 28^th P. V. I.  This was Col. John W. Geary’s old regiment and was organized with fifteen companies, and owing to an order from the War Department which called for the consolidation of all regiments with more than the usual number of companies to ten, the officers of the five surplus companies, viz. L,M,N,O and P decided upon organizing a new regiment to be denominated the 147th of the line.

It was with this object in view that Major Craig visited Harrisburg, he succeeded in getting Company “F” which was then lying in camp, having been recruited in Luzerne County, mostly in and around Hazelton, and commanded by Jacob Kreider, who was perhaps better known as old “Jack of Clubs.”

Major Craig made application for our company to join his regiment, and on the morning of the 12th of November, the officers of the company called the men in line and put the question of joining the old regiment, or whether they would wait until a new regiment was formed, to a vote of the company.

The boys were anxious to see service and with but one dissenting voice they voted to become Company G, 147^th P.V.I.  Thus the fate of the company was sealed, and we sincerely believe, when we take into consideration the history of the organization, that an over ruling Providence had much to do with our selection.

At this time there was another company of men in camp, recruited from the whole of the United States including New Jersey, officered by Captain Alfred Schwartz and Lt. Daniel Bower, formerly editor of the Shamokin Herald, better known in after days as “Lt. Walk-Your-Beat.” This also joined the regiment and became Company H.

Our officers on the 14th of November then made application to be relieved from duty at the hospitals, which was promised should be done just as soon as any other troops could be furnished to take our place.

After this step was taken, the boys felt that they would soon be called to perform a soldier’s duty in good earnest, proceeded to make the best of the time allotted to them in Harrisburg.

It was whilst we were waiting to be relieved that Corp. Freddy Ulrich came to the Chestnut Street Hospital with a gentleman of Jewish descent, Freddy having informed him that our company was composed of “pack” carriers.  The Jew tho’t that Freddy meant that we had a Jew company, whereas Freddy only referred to the knapsacks which we were compelled to carry.  The stranger saw the joke and taking a number of the boys to Koenig’s Lager Beer Saloon, soon succeeded in getting them all full of beer and patriotism.  It was whilst in this condition that we visited the brewery and watched the modus operandi of manufacturing the liquid.

Whilst one the employees was up on a platform playing a stream of water through rubber hose from a hydrant into a large stand, containing the “mash,” Freddy Ulrich took advantage of the man when be had his back turned on the hydrant, and shut off the water.  When the man, who was a German, discovered the trick that had been played upon him, his tongue which appeared to be loose at both ends let fly a volley of German adjectives that almost staggered those who heard them.  Freddy nothing daunted, requested him to speak United States, which only added fuel to the flames.  The foreman came to the rescue, and the matter was settled by handing around a big copper dipper filled with fresh lager, which had the effect of restoring peace and harmony.

One of the characters who frequented Chestnut St., was “Fiery Facias,” a per­son whom some of the boys have occasion to remember to this day.

It was about this time, the 18th of November, that the body of John W. McBay, a member of  Captain George W. Ryan’s company, who died in Virginia, pass­ed through Harrisburg; a number of the boys went to the depot out of respect for him.  This event gave rise to the expression by  the “little one” [M. L. Parks,] of  “oh, how can a Selinsgrove man die with­out a bullet in his heart?”

After returning from the train, U. P. Hafley, D. W. Gross and the writer were arrested by the patrol, and taken to the guard-house. When we arrived there we met Levi H. Patterson, formerly a play­mate of ours, and who now was a member of company “A,” 127th, P. V. I., who interceded for us, and we were permitted to bunk with the guards.

On the following morning early we were taken before the Provost Marshal, Col. Chas. Kleckner, who heard us and gave us a paper previously prepared and sealed which he instructed us to give to the first patrol we should meet, and then dismissed us.  As soon as we were out of sight of the office, we opened the document and read as follows:

“Take these men to their quarters.”

Of course we did not think it necessary to have an “escort” since we were only privates, and made our way to hospital head-quarters without meeting a guard, and reached there just in time to go on boat.

Quite a number of the members of the company during our stay at Harrisburg had been arrested by the patrol, but were always released in the morning. One night however Henry Kreamer, Jeremiah Hathaway, Peter Lahr and several more were escorted to camp and placed upon the camp sanitary corps.  They had halted on their way out to camp and purchased penny musical instruments.  They came into camp, fully representing the “Little German Band.”

Upon one occasion, Serg’t Stuck and about 20 of the company were “gobbled” up at the depot.  As soon as the provost guard moved the column, which was in charge of a corporal, the boys decided that Stuck out-ranked the Corporal, and that he must take command, which he at once did.  For more than an hour we pa­raded the streets of Harrisburg.  When the Corporal in charge of the squad gave the command to “file left,” Stuck would countermand the order by a decided ‘right flank,’ and the boys would obey his com­mand greatly to the chagrin of the corporal.  Reaching the Provost Marshal’s office at last, Col. Kleckner informed us that since we belonged to the Snyder County Company, we might consider ourselves discharged, after which he ordered Serg’t Stuck to march us back to our quarters.

Nov. 20th, we received two months pay and two dollars bounty.  Thus equipped a number of the boys visited the Gaiety, and made a famous night of it, Serg’t Townsend and several of the boys got in­to a fight, and had they not been reinforc­ed by Lt. Schroyer and several others, who heard of the fight on the street, they would in all human probability have been ­cleaned out, as it was they came off conquerors.  The boys placed the “little one,” who as usual was conspicuous in jobs of this kind, upon their shoulders and march­ed off in triumph.

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Chapter 12 - Off At Last

CHAPTER XII

OFF AT LAST

At length the officers were informed that the train was ready, and we took our line of march for the Depot, and took possession of the two cars provided for us.  As may be well imagined the boys made considerable noise, feeling very jubilant under the circumstances.  It so happened that a young officer on his way to return to his command, got into the cars with the company, and not relishing the noise and withal anxious to show his authority, intimated to our officers that he would like to have charge of such a company, that he would soon get them under his control, and that the way they were acting was a disgrace to the service.   Captain Davis expressed his entire willingness to transfer the company over to him until we arrived at Baltimore, or as far as he should go with us.  Captain Davis saying that he was only a YOUNG officer did not know much about discipline, and giving the company over to the Major, and after winking innocently (?) at several of the boys he passed out and took a seat in the front car.

 As soon as the Captain left the car, the most of the boys ignorant of the change in Commanders, commenced in good earnest and the confusion was much greater than before.  The Major sprang to his feet and walking to the center of the car, and in louder tones shouted “silence!”  The suddenness of the command brought the boys I who were singing the “Union Volunteer,” in their best style, to a sudden halt.  For a tine the gallant Major’s face was wreathed in smiles at his apparent victory, and like the Irishman it was well for him that he had his laugh first.

As soon as the boys took in the situation there was a perfect shower of questions hurled at him, the most conspicuous of which was “who in the hell are you?”— before he could reply Ed. Fisher had struck him square in the face with a loaf of bread, which be threw at him from his seat, this was the signal for the commencement of hostilities, and the bread, crackers, bologna, cheese, blind robins, &c., &c., flew as thick as hail, whilst the gallant Major was shielding his face from the storm of things which were being pitched at him, someone snatched his cap from his head, whilst Sergeant Townsend caught him by the seat of his trousers and the nape of his neck, Abel Seesholtz pull­ed the bell rope, and as the train slowed up, the Major was unceremoniously hustled out on the platform and pitched out on a bank, the conductor in the mean time had signaled the engineer to proceed and thus the gallant Major was left behind to make his way to the next station as best he could.

Captain Davis soon after came into the car and when told of his successor’s fate, a broad smile illuminated his face, and he went out with the remark:

“Well I declare boys, it is really too bad with you.”

We knew it was, but then it could not be helped.  The train run with its accustomed speed, and when the sky began to be streaked with gray, many of us caught our first glimpse of “My Maryland.” How eagerly we looked for the first indication of anything that looked like real soldering, and when the first soldier was discovered doing guard duty along the railroad near Baltimore, and shortly afterwards a small fort on the right side of the road, the boys rushed for the windows with the same eagerness that they had for Stuck’s pennies at the White Hall.

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