Civil War Blog

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on December 7, 2010

Not everyone supported the draft.  One case that was noted in a Philadelphia Inquirer article on 25 October 1862 was a group of law resisters in the coal mining area of Schuylkill County referred to as “The Collieries.”  Exactly where the group was located in Schuylkill County was not known, but they were allegedly responsible for seventeen murders as well as acts of violent intimidation.

This map of unknown origins of the coal regions shows the area between Pottsville and the Susquehanna River – and the route of the Dauphin and Susquehanna Railroad.  The newspaper reported that a mob boarded the afternoon train that was taking a number of draftees to their muster point in the Harrisburg area and tried to get the draftees to join the mob and resist the draft.  There was no follow-up on this story, so, whatever the result of this incident, it wasn’t reported.

The Dauphin and Susquehanna Railroad roughly followed the ridge line of Peter’s Mountain, which is the southern boundary of the greater Lykens Valley area triangle, the geographic area of this Civil War Project.

For those who wish to research this further, the text of the article is reproduced below.  If anyone finds anything of interest about this incident or other groups in the Lykens Valley area that openly showed resistance to the draft, hopefully, it can be reported here.

Your special telegraphic despatches [sic], last night, informed you of the most painful intelligence received here, yesterday afternoon, from Schuylkill, Luzerne and Montour counties.  In seems that in certain regions of these counties known as the “Collieries” an organization has existed for sometime past, reaching back for perhaps two or three years, which has steadily and stubbornly resisted the due and proper execution of the laws of the land.

During the past two years, it is asserted, by gentlemen of veracity, who are perfectly acquainted with those regions, that there have been no less than seventeen most cruel and atrocious murders committed there, the murderers escaping the penalty of the law for the reason that no man could be found with courage enough to execute a legal process on them!  They will not even allow the election of constables in their districts.

It appears, however, that more recently these men have become most bitterly opposed to the draft.  You will remember that the Marshals who were appointed for the purpose of enrolling the names of all the able bodied men in these districts were violently opposed in the performance of their duty, the inhabitants asserting that they would resist to the bitter end any attempt to take them away from their homes.  It was thought, however, that this was only the idle vaporing of a few excited men, and that finally, when the active extension of the draft would commence, sober reason would take the place of excitement and frenzy, and there would be really no violent opposition.  But the intelligence yesterday and today is positive and reliable, and pouts beyond controversy the fact that there is a very prevalent determination to resist the execution of the drafting system.

Yesterday afternoon the regular train on the Dauphin and Susquehanna Railroad, containing a number of men on their way to Harrisburg to enter Camp Curtin, was stopped and entered by an armed mob, who offered “protection” to any one who would accept it, and who wished to join the mob in resisting any attempt to carry off drafted men.

Category: Queries, Stories | 1 Comment »
Tags: Draft, Railroad

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on December 6, 2010

At the start of the Civil War in April, 1861, there was great enthusiasm and support in many places in the north.  President Abraham Lincoln’s call for 75,000 volunteers was answered and it appeared that these men would be sufficient to end the rebellion quickly; life could then go on as before.  After the shocking loss in April 1861 at the 1^st Battle of Bull Run, the reality set in that this would not be a short war and victory would not be easy.

So long as volunteers appeared to fill the ranks of the state regiments, a military draft did not appear to be necessary.  Gov. Andrew Curtin of Pennsylvania believed well into 1862 that volunteers would supply the state quotas.  But by October 1862 a limited draft had to take place in Pennsylvania.  The names of drafted men were drawn from a large pool of those who were eligible..

Now, the question occurred of what to do with all the drafted men in the camps throughout Pennsylvania.  A decision had to be made that preserved the rights of the men while meeting the needs of Pennsylvania and of the National Government.  Governor Curtin, after consulting with officials in Washington, provided a solution.

The issue was discussed in the Philadelphia Inquirer on 6 November 1862.

What disposition should be made of the drafted men now in camp throughout the Commonwealth is a question of great importance, and which has been made the subject of much agitation here.  Under the Militia laws of Pennsylvania, it would seem to be the right and privilege of the drafted militia to select their own field and company officers, and they have construed it as their right and privilege to remain in organizations by themselves.

On the other hand, the National Government claims the right to separate these men into squads and place them wherever desired by the military authorities.  Hence some days ago, the Central Government issued an order that the drafted militia in the State of Pennsylvania should be sent to the army for the purpose of filling up the decimated ranks of the old regiments.

At this disposition to be made of them, the drafted militia her have manifested much dissatisfaction, claiming it as their indubitable right to remain in organizations of their own.  They pointed to the chief magistrate of the commonwealth, on whose promise the relied, that their rights should be recognized and protected.

The Governor, in turn, manifested his desire to have these men protected in every right and privilege to which they might be just and Constitutionally entitled.  Officers from the old regiments were here awaiting, with some anxiety, the decision of the authorities in regard to the disposition to be made of the drafted militia.  Among them were regularly constituted authorities and agents of the United States, appointed to confer with the State authorities.  Adjutant-General Thomas was one of them.  They contended that the drafted militia, if placed in the old regiments, would be of greater efficiency as soldiers, would be better cared for physically, and would be in a position to win greater honor and glory for themselves, than if they remained in organizations composed entirely of their own numbers.

Both parties, however, were persistant [sic] in their claims.  On the one hand the drafted militia asserted their rights, on the other, the National Government claiming jurisdiction and the right o their disposal.

For the purpose of obtaining a final understanding in reference to this subject, Governor Curtin left Harrisburg, yesterday morning, to consult with the chief authorities at Washington.

His mission excited a lively interest among the civil and military circles here.  Pennsylvania wants an adequate force to protect her borders from invasion, while the enemy is near her line.  This the civilians urge in favor of the drafted militia, with whom the citizens, as a general thing, sympathize.

We have now encamped along our Southern border some five thousand drafted men.  In response to this order, even these men must leave the State and leave it unprotected.  The old regiments could have been filled by a special draft for that purpose, which indeed, the State authorities earnestly urged.  Why was it not done?  Because the National authorities refused to order it.  Why should the drafted militia be now required for the purpose?

The Governor returned from Washington this morning.  He was besieged by an eager multitude with anxious inquiries.  The result of the conference was this: – The Governor, with the Federal authorities, recognizes the necessity, which is absolute, of filling up the old regiments now in service.  It must be done soon.  The material must be found.  It is quite evident that it cannot be done by volunteering.  At least eighteen thousand men are required to fill up the Reserves.  A plan was determined upon.  The drafted militia have already been organized into companies, but few into regiments, with the field and company officers already appointed and selected.  These men are not to be deprived of their rights.  These officers are not to be deprived of their commissions, which have already been issued.  Old regiment, whose ranks are decimated, will have their companies consolidated without doing injustice to the old commissioned officers.  They are few in number and no new commissions have been issued in these regiments, in anticipation of some such event as this.  Thus room will be made in each regiment for three or four new companies.  In this room will be placed the new militia companies, with their organizations complete and unaltered.

This arrangement, it is thought, will be satisfactory, as no injustice can result therefrom.

Adjutant-General Thomas now presents his instructions, with positive orders, to fill up the old regiments with the drafted militia.  Thus the matter rests.  The final decision is made; there is no other appeal.

One of the newly created companies of the drafted militia elected as their Captain, Benjamin J. Evitts of the Lykens Valley.  Most of the men from the company were neighbors of Evitts or knew him from the area.  At about age 44, he was also older than most and knew how to read and write, seemingly a requirement for an officer!

Officially known as Company I of the 177^th Pennsylvania Drafted Militia. This company was in service from 25 Nov 1862 through 5 August 1863 when it was mustered out.  The photo below is believed to be of Capt. Benjamin Evitts.

After starting at Camp Curtin in Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., Pennsylvania, the 177^th was sent to Washington, D.C., and from there ordered to Suffolk and assigned to the brigade under Col. Gibbs.  After spending the winter in camp on the Nansemond River, in clearing a pine forest on one side of the river, and joining small expeditions in the surrounding area, they were sent to Deep Creek on the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal to stop the contraband trade. I n July they were sent back to Washington, D.C. and following a short tour there they joined the Army of the Potomac in Maryland.  Their last assignment was at Maryland Heights.  They had no major engagements.  [Information from The Union Army, Volume 1].

Category: Stories | Comments Off on Pennsylvania Drafted Militia & the Draft of 1862
Tags: Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Curtin, Draft, Evitts family, Regiments

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on December 5, 2010

Along many of the lesser-traveled roads and bi-ways of the Lykens Valley are a fair number of small cemeteries.  These cemeteries once were family burial plots on family land or were grave yards aside churches that have long ceased to exist.  They are not marked by signs, or are not easily accessible.  Previously mentioned was the Hoffman Monument to John Peter Hoffman that is in the middle of a cornfield along the Crossroads.  It marks the spot where Hoffman and twenty-six of his contemporaries are buried.  A small cemetery, just off Route 209 (west of Loyalton) on Rakers Mill Road, with about two dozen or so marked graves is both easy to locate and generally maintained.  The graves of several Civil War veterans are clearly recognized.

On an 1875 map of Washington Township, Dauphin County, both a church and school are shown.  They appear to be on or around land owned by G. A. Boyer.  The current President of the Gratz Historical Society, Catherine Kieffer, referred to the cemetery as the Boyer cemetery, the name that it is still known by among the locals. The church and school don’t exist anymore, but the cemetery can be easily seen from the road and the cornfield around it has been respectfully stopped around the graves to allow clear access.  The Civil War graves are recognized by the G.A.R. star and flags, a sign that an area veteran’s group knows about the cemetery and has taken the responsibility for recognizing the patriotic deeds of those interred there.

One of the most interesting graves in this cemetery is that of Andrew Robison (1843-1864).

Andrew was born in or around the Wiconisco Township area of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania on 11 December 1843, the son of John and Mary Robison.  John was a Forge Man.  In 1850, Andrew, age 6, and his younger siblings, Mary, John and Martha Jane, were living in Wiconisco Township in an area surrounded by others of the same trade.  By 1860, Andrew’s occupation was Helper, no doubt to his father or to one of the many Forge Men or Blacksmiths in the area.  At this point, the mother Mary is no longer named in the census.  We learn from a stone in the Boyer cemetery that Andrew’s mother, named as “consort” on her grave marker, had died in the early 1850s (the date on the stone is difficult to ready)  Two additional siblings of Andrew appear in the 1860 census:  Rachael, age 8, and Peter, age 6.  Andrew’s father John may have also remarried to a woman named Phebe.  [The younger two children could be the children of Phebe or the children of Mary, depending on the death date of Mary].

On 19 Sep 1861, at Berrysburg, Dauphin County, Andrew enrolled in the 9^th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company B.  He gave his age as 20, although other records show he was probably only 17, a few months shy of his 18^th birthday.  His muster records indicate that he was 5 foot 6 inches in height, had light colored complexion and hair, and gray eyes,  His occupation was given as “Forger.”  Andrew reported to camp on 7 October 1861 along with others from the Lykens Valley area.

Whether his choice of regiment was due to his occupation – forgers and blacksmiths were needed in the cavalry – or due to friendship with others from the area is not known.  What is known is that training was difficult, especially without horses or weapons.  The procurement of horses and equipment was going more slowly than the enlistment of the men.  A diarist of the 9^th Pennsylvania Cavalry noted that Andrew was disciplined for fighting with a man named Hoover. Both were required to stand on a board on a half-barrel for a few hours but they continued to fight while on the board.  After the training period the 9^th Pennsylvania Cavalry went off to war

We don’t know much specific about Andrew during the remainder of the time he served in the regiment.  Following the map route that this regiment took, it can be assumed that Andrew, with the 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry,  crossed Pennsylvania into Ohio and then Indiana and then headed south into Kentucky where fighting would take place.

Following the regiment as a constant threat to its safety were loosely organized groups of Confederate guerillas, or bushwhackers.  These rebel bands fired shots into the camp of the 9^th Cavalry and ambushed them along the roads. The difficulties faced by the regiment because of these guerillas are recounted by the diarist and are reported in histories of the 9^th Cavalry.  It was Pvt. Andrew Robison’s misfortune that these rebels were still a threat into August of 1864.  The diarist wrote:

George Burkle came into camp this morning.  He was taken prisoner near Taylorsville on Our Last Scout by Guerillas.  They took His Horse and arms and parolled him.  He saved his money By throwing it away and after Being paroled found it again After the Guerillas Left him.  He Had to Walk to Louisville.

Andrew Robison of our company was Brought Dead into the City to day.  He was along with the Scout.  It is supposed That He was shot by Guerrillas on His road Back to the City with a Dispatch.  He was Shot through the Heart and Drawed up to a tree 7 miles from the city on the Salt river pike.

Andrew’s date of death is given as 4 August 1864 and the place of death as Louisville, Kentucky.  Fortunately for Andrew’s family, his body was recovered and returned to the Lykens Valley.  For many other families, the dead were never identified or given a burial in a marked grave.  On the stone marker for Andrew Robison are the words:  “And was shot by Guerillas August 4, 1864.”

Note:  Some of the information for the above post was taken from John W. Rowell’s Yankee Cavalrymen:  Through the Civil War with the Ninth Pennsylvania Cavalry.  The diarist who is mentioned, and through whose words most of the stories in the book are told, is Corp. William Thomas of Lykens, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, who served in the same Company B as Andrew Robison.

Category: Memorials, Resources, Stories | 2 Comments »
Tags: Cemetery, G.A.R., Robison family. Regiment, Thomas family, Washington Township

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on December 4, 2010

Across from the Civil War Soldier Monument in West Park, Market Square, Millersburg, Dauphin Co., Pennsylvania, is the All Wars Veterans Monument.  A bronze plaque rests on a polished stone base.  Chiseled in stone are the words:  Duty, Honor, Country.

The plaque reads:

Dedicated to all veterans of all wars,  Men and women who bravely served our country to preserve our freedom.

On the plaque are the emblems of each of the branches of the armed services.  Flanking the memorial are the official flags of each the five branches of the armed services.

At the base of the monument are commemorative bricks that were purchased by family and friends to honor individual veterans.

Since the memorial recognizes veterans of all wars, those who fought in the Civil War would also be included, even though the Civil War monument is just across the walk from the All Wars Veterans Monument.

Adjacent to the All Wars Veterans Monument is the Governors Island Cannon.  The tablet across from the cannon shows a picture of the square circa 1900 just after the cannon was installed.

In October 1897 a cannon, obtained by W. B. Meetch through his friend Congressman Olmstead, arrived at the railroad depot.   W. B. Meetch was a local businessman and Dauphin County Prison Warden.  The cannon, a condemned government relic, came from Governors Island, N. Y.  It weighs 3500 pounds, is ten and a half feet long with a four and a half inch bore.  After a suitable base was fashioned by local men and with the consent of borough council, it was placed in West Park in Market Square.

William Buchanan Meetch (1845-1919) was born in Halifax, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  At age 18 he enlisted in the 1862 Emergency Militia, Company E of the 6th Pennsylvania Infantry.  Later he served in the 192nd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company H.  His name appears in the list of veterans of the Civil War on the Millersburg Civil War Soldier Monument opposite the walk from the cannon. He was a member of the Kilpatrick Post 212 of the G.A.R.   During his lifetime he worked as a farm hand, a general laborer, a school teacher, a prison warden and a lumberman.  He is buried in the East Harrisburg Cemetery, East Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., Pennsylvania.

Category: Memorials | Comments Off on Millersburg All Wars Veterans Monument
Tags: Meetch family, Millersburg, Monument, Upper Paxton Township

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on December 3, 2010

Standing proudly, polished and clean, in West Park of Market Square in Millersburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, is the Civil War Soldier Monument.  West Park is dedicated to the veterans from the Millersburg and Upper Paxton Township area, but the Civil War monument is the only one that recognizes the veterans of a single war – and honors them all by naming them on a bronze plaque.

On a tablet marker which was contributed by Leona Feidt Lemmons, there is an explanation of the origin of the monument.  It reads as follows:

The G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic) Post 212 and the Millersburg Sentinel together have raised the money to have a Civil War monument erected.  The soldier and the base were quarried and cut in Italy.  The soldier stands 6 feet and weighs 900 pounds.  The overall height with base is 14 feet, 6 inches.  The bronze plate bears the names of the 126 men who served in the Civil War.  The total cost of the monument was $740.00 and the cost to ship it from Italy was $55.00.  The soldier arrived in Millersburg in August 1913 and was erected in October 1913 in West park by J. S. Heckert, a local marble dealer.  The dedication was to be held on Thanksgiving, but was postponed until May 30, 1914.  The unveiling was done by florence Cordes Jusy, daughter of HenryCordes, veteran and active member of the G.A.R. post.  The speaker for the occasion was Pennsylvania Adjutant General Thos. J. Stewart.

A photograph of the members of the G.A.R. Post 2212 who were present at the unveiling is also included on the marker as is an old picture post card view of West Park in 1900 showing the Governors Island Cannon.

The bronze tablet reads:

Erected to the memory of the Millersburg soldiers of 1861 to 1865 under the auspices of the Kilpatrick Post, No. 212, G.A.R.

Joseph Alleman  *  S. P. Auchmuty  *  A. M. Bassler  *  J. F. Bassler  *  Jacob Beller  *  W. H. Bender  *  David Beistle  *  E. Bettleyon  *  Henry Billman  *  Michael Bobb  *  M. W. Bowers  *  J. H. Bowers  *  Chas. S. Bowman  *  S. S. Bowman  *  J. F. Bowman  *  Byron Brock  *  G. W. Brown  *  P. A. Campbell  *  Simon Cluck  *  J. W. Collier  *  Henry Cordes  *  W. H. DeHaven  *  T. E. Detrich  *  D. D. Ditty  *  J. B. Ditty  *  W. H. Enders  *  A. Etsweiler  *  George Feidt  *  D. S. Feidt  *  B. M. Frank  *  David Fox  *  Christian Fox  *  J. L. Freck  *  G. W. Freeland  *  T. S. Freeland  *  Wm. Furman  *  George Geesey  * Mahlon Giffen  *  Archibald Griffin  *  J. S. Hain  *  H. H. Harman  *  W. H. Hartman  *  Michael Haverstick  *  Jeremiah Hawk  *  M. P. Hawley  *  J. H. Heckert *  Josiah Henninger  *  John Hess  *  Wm. Hetrick  *  J. T. Hoffman  *  Benjamin Huff  *  J. M. Johnson  *  Theodore Jury  *  J. H. Jury  *  Joseph Kawel  *  Joseph Keen  *  Jacob Keener  *  Jacob Kline  *  Henry Knouff  *  L. Koppenhaver  *  J. P. Koppenhaver  *  I. Koppenhaver  *  J. E. Lambert  *  William Lehman  *  E. H. Leib  *  D. Y. Lenker  *  J. Y. Lenker  *  S. E. Light  * Henry Martin  *  C. C. Martz  *  W. H. McDonald  * N. C. Meck  * Morris Meck  *  W. B. Meetch  *  Isaac Miller  *  Joseph Miller  *  W. C. Mills  *  D. C. Neagley  *  Isaac Neagley  *  Thomas Norton  *  M. Novinger  *  Daniel Oberholtzer  *  Theodore O’Neill  *  A. J. Pontius  *  John Rathvon  *  S. W. Reinhart  *  Jacob Ritzman  *  Anthony Rutter  *  Lewis Rutter  *  J. H. Rowe  *  W. P. Seal  *  J. L. Seebold  *  Abraham Seiler  *  W. H. Sites  *  P. H. Shaffner  *  John Shaffer  *  George Sheesley  *  W. H. Sheesley  *  S. I. Shortess  *  B. F. Smith  *  J. W. Sneeder  *  C. H. Snively  *  Aaron Snyder  *  Joseph Snyder  *  J. S. Snyder  *  John Speece  *  Jeremiah Starr  * J. J. Steever *  W. L. Steever  *  Wesley Steever  *  W. D. Stites *  Daniel Toy  *  Michael Ward  *  Jacob Weaver  *  Henry Weaver  *  A. J. Williams  *  I. M. Williamson  *  George Wilver  *  G. F. Wingard  *  W. C. Wingard  *  James Wise  *  J. M. Witman  *  J. B. Witman  *  Wm. Woodside  *  Benjamin Zeigler  *  David Zeigler

A big challenge to anyone is to locate information on each of the above-named veterans.  About two-thirds are easy, as the names appear in published articles or genealogies, or they are buried in area cemeteries in G.A.R.-marked graves.  Others will be quite difficult, especially if they moved out of the area.  Also, unless someone has previously identified all the G.A.R. members in the 1914 photo, it may be very difficult to identify them now.   Perhaps articles appeared in local newpapers, particularly in the Millersburg Sentinel which helped raise funds for the monument.  Any responses with further information are very welcome!

Category: Memorials, Research | 2 Comments »
Tags: G.A.R., Millersburg, Monument, Upper Paxton Township