The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-06-09
Military Rccord or ,,cu. M,Caudlcss.

Thc Philadelphia FOW tSUUfcIs com
piles the following record Of Gen NJ
CANDLES military services, and other
events of his life:
Gcn. MCANpLEss enrolled himsclfas
q private soldier in Captain Timothy
Mcaley's company, and when the rcgi-
ment was organized rs the ~ Regiment,
Pennsylvania Reserves, he was elected
major. In October, 1861, upon the pro.
motion of Lieutenant Colonel Albert
Magilton 10 tho colonelcy of the 4th
Regiment, Major M'Caudless was cleo.
ted aud commissioned Lieutenant Colo
mel, and upon the retirement of Colonel
William B. Mann assumed command
of the regiment. In the Peninsuar cam
paign he commanded his troops with
skill, and on the first of August, 1862,
was promoted TO the colonelcy for gall
liant and neritorlous conduct. AT the
battle of Bull Run he was severely
wounded and carried from tho field to
Washington. lie rejoined his regiment
at Sharpsburg and participated in Burn
sides campaign. In Meade'5 campaign,
Colonel M'Candless commanded the lst
Brigade of the Reserve Corps; and
during the absence of General Crawford
in the winter of 1868 and the following
On Thursday, the 9TH of May, 1861,
when the lat Brigade was cut of and
surrounded in the Wilderness, Colonel
MCandless was captured, but in the
confusion that cnsucd he eluded his
captors and made his escape through
the dense forests, and arrived safely in
camp at Spottsylvanla Court House.
Whilst leading his Brigade in charge
on Sunday evening, he was wounded in
the arm, and disabled from further ser
vice. lie returned to Philadelphia, and
was subsequently rendered brigadier's
commission, but feeling that while the
War Department acknowledged his gal
lantry and bravery on the field, and
well knowing that Governor Curtin had
long before favored his promotion, his
claims were slightod, he felt impellcd,
from self.respect, to decline the honor.
Accordingly he remained in the privacy
and practice of his profession.
Sypher's History, in speaking of the
battle of Spottsylvania, says: "Colonel
M'Candless, who led the charge with
conspicuous gallantry was wounded, and
Col. Tally assumed command of the
brigade"
The NeW York Uerdld's correspon-
dent, in speaking Of this battle, says:
"On Monday evening, when the roar of
baltic was sounding along the whole
line, Col. M'Candless, who had accom-
panied the Reserve Corps through all
lis battles and campaigns, was carried
to the rear severely wounded to be sent
TO his home in Philadelphia. AS an
officer he had won great distinction, and
was a flvorite with his companions in
arms, who now deeply feel his depart
ure.o
He was twice wounded; the first time
at the second battle Of Bulls Run, in
the groin, and the second in the bloody
battleS leSpottsylvania Court House, where
his left arm was broken by a canister
shot.
Gen. Mcclellan, in his Off icial report
of the battle of MechaIicsburg, compli-
ments the Second Reserves very highly
and especially Col MCandless, their
commander. He says ~ Assault after
assault was made by the enemy, and
three times they succeeded in forcing
their way through on the left of the
regiment and gaining the cleared
ground; but were as often driven back
at the point of the bayonet, Col. Mean
dless gallantly leading the charge"
In speaking of tho battle of Gains
Mill, Bates says: "At 3 p. NJ, the en-
gagement became SO severe, that the
entire second line and reserves were
moved forward to sustain the first line
against repeated and desperate assaults.
Gen. Reynolds soon rode up and ordered
the Second to advance through the
wood, clear it of the enemy and take
up position on its extreme edge. Col
M'Candless, knowing that tho move.
ment would bring the enemy on his
right flank, asked the Generals per-
mission to move in at right angles to
the position assigned it. The General
was silent for moment, his face bear
ing the expression of great perpleXity
and dissatisfaction, when he replied,
Colonel, General Porter is fighting this
battle on certain parallels, and his orders
will have to be obeyed.' l would, re-.
marked the Colonel afterward, l had
not asked him the question, but had
taken my regiment in by mistake"
After the close of the war, and on the
organization of the Pennsylvania Re
serve Corps, General McCandless was
elected its first vice president Governor
Curtin being the president) and deliv-
cred the first address before it at Harris.
bvrg in 1866. lie continued for several
years to fill the position, and, rs Gov
ernor Curtin was absent from the cOun-
try most of the time, he was its presid-
ing officer. He has since, however,
yielded the place to Others equally
worthy of the honor, remaining one of
its most highly esteemed members. In
| 1865 his Democratic friends of the First
Senatorial District brought him out for
| the Senate against Hon. jeremiah Mich
OILS. 1t was confidently asserted that
| 1 nIA 40 ;et lot
usually gave Republican majority OF
some sixteen hundred, but his personal
popularity was egregiously underrated.
He carried the District by about seven.
teen hundred majority, and served his
term in the Senate with acknowledged
ability and discriminating judgment,
acting on the local judiciary, military
and other committees. AT the end OF
his term in 1869, it was the aim of his
friends to push him as an eastern can
didate for Governor, and hence he was
not n candidate for denomination to the
Senate. In 1870 he made the tour o
Europe was in London when the wal
broke out in France, and Immediately
started for the scene of strife, to witness
the European plan of warfare. The
authorities, however, would not permi
him to go beyond Metz, and after re
mainingks Paris until the city had Il
assume defensive position he returned
home, hale and hearty, to meet with al
honest welcome from his very man.
friends. lie is now the unanimous
choice CT his party for the honorable
position of Auditor. General of the ole
Keystone State, and will rally arount
him his old associates in arms us wei
as his old co laborers of the shops ant
railroads, with whom he has alway
kept up friendly relationship, ant
whose interests he has scrupulousl.
laborcd to forward in all his walks o
life. In these associations, and those @
the different orders to which he belongs
lies his great personal strength. ii
comes of the people and is in sympath.
with them, and on election day the,
will not fail to respond to the call of tn
honest citizen and gallant soldier,
Whose honest claims they'll not gainsay,
| Nor treat him as n stranger;
, They know him as his cOuntry's stay,
In day and hour of danger.