The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1868-08-20
GENERAL JOHN F. HARTRANFT.
SKETCH OF THE REPUBLICAN
CANDIDATE FOR AUDITOR GENERAL.


CANDIDATE FOR AUDITOR GENERAL.
Our candidate for Auditor General is
too well known to require at this late day
any extended newspaper mention. The
name of General Hartranft is familiar to
the whole country, and in Pennsylvania 1t
has long since become a household word.
AS slight recognition of his services du-
ring the rebellion, he was elected in 1865
by his fellow-citizens Auditor General of
the State, position of great responsibility
and one requiring the exercise of me-
thodical mind like that possessed by Gen
eral Hartranft. Having served the pub
lie in civil capacity as faithfully and fear
lessly as he served his country on the field
of battle, his fellow-citizens have the sec
ond time placed him in nomination for this
high and responsible position.
Major-General John Frederick Hart
ranft is a native of New Hanover town
ship, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania,
and was born December 16, 1880. He
graduated at Union College, at Schenecta-
dy, New York, in 1858, and was employed
as civil engineer for some time. He assis-
ted in running the line of the Mauch
Chunk and White Haven Railroad, which
has since been constructed, and had charge
of the working party who surveyed the
route of the proposed railroad from Chest
nut Hill to Doylestown or New Hope.
In 1854, Sheriff Boyer of Montgomery
county, secured his services as Deputy
and he continued in tie Sherifs office in
that capacity during the remainder OF
Mr. Boyer's term Of Office and the whole
of that of Sheriff Rudy, who was elected
in 1855, and continued till 1853. In
this position he became acquainted With
the people of his native county and ac.
quired general reputation among all who
met him as prompt, careful and efficient
business man.
Having pursued the study of law the
necessary length of time, he was admitted
to practice at the bar of Montgomery
county in the fall of 1860
He was then elected Colonel of the
First Regiment of Montgomery County
Militia in 1859, having previously been
Lieutenant Colonel and Captain
The call to arms in April, 1861, when,
after Sumpter was fired upon, President
Lincoln issued his first appeal to the he
roism and devotion of the people, found
| Col. Hartranft Democrat, attached to
the political principles in which he had
! been reared But it made him none the
less a patriot. From the day on which
he took arms in defence of his country,
he laid aside all ideas and theory of parti-
zanship and became alone heroic soldier,
striving always to do his duty, wherever
and whenever that might call him to ac-
! ton.
He lost no time in rendering the servi-
ces of his militia regiment to Governor
purpose, on Tuesday, the 10th Of April
1t was promptly accepted, and became the
Fourth Regiment of Pennsylvania Volun-
teers. Rendezvousing at Harrisburg on
the Goth, it was speedily armed, equipped
and sent forward to Perryville, thence to
Annapolis, and finally to Washington.
The term of service of his regiment
had expired, and it was on the homeward
march when the battle of Bull Run took
| place The forward movement of our ar
my to meet the rebels in that first grand
encounter attracted Hsrtranft's attention
and he determined not to be left behind
when, for the first time, his country need
ed his services in actual battle. tie of
fered himself to General MDowen to
serve in any capacity in the approaching
struggle where he could be useful The
General remarked that it was scarcely
regular" to do so, but that his apprecia-
tion Of Col. Hartranft's noble conduct was
so high that he would assign him to duty
on the staff of Col. Franklin, who com
manded the brigade to which the Fourth
! Regiment had been attached. Col Frank
lin, in his report, spoke with warm words
of commentator, and General Mcdowell
expressed regret afterwards that he had
not done justice to his valuable exertions
by especially mentioning him in his official
report of the battle.
Gen. Cameron, then Secretary of War
also referred with high encomiums to his
conduct on this occasion and it formed a
gallant commencement for grand career
| Colonel Hartranft had no intention OF
retiring from the service at the close o1
his three months campaign. A week be-
fore the battle of Bull Run he had ap-
piled to, and obtained permission from the
| War Department to recruit three years
regiment. He lost no time in commencing
| its organization, Governor Curtin having
added his authority to do SO, and on the
10th of November, it was mustered into
service at Harrisburg, with Hartranft as
Colonel, and became the Fifty-First regi
meat Pennsylvania Volunteers.
This regiment was assigned to Burnside'E
army, which was then organizing at An
napolis for service on the COAST of North
Carolina. 1t became part of Reno'E
brigade, and participated in the whole O
Burnside's campaign. The expedition lef
Annapolis early in January, 1862, and OF
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