Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1872-04-17
SKETCH OF OUR CANDIDATE FOR GOV.
pj bss.lEamao IislENOR. oAR sseas yd

John Frederick Hartranft was born in
New Hanover township Montgomery
county, Pa on the 10Th Of Decembe-,
1850. He received his educationa at I'm
ion College, Schenectady, n. Y, where he
graduated in 1858 For some time there
after he was employed as a civil engineer.
In 1854 he became deputy sheriff of
Montgomery county, holding that posi-
ton, under two successive incumbents of
the sheriffalty, untillS5S. He then turn
ed his attention to the study of law, and
was admitted to the bar in 1860. The
outbreak of the Rebellion found him Just
entering ,npon the practice of his profes-
sion ,... .9. O., --.- 90. ........,.,.4.
He had early become interested in mil
itary affairs. and after serving success
sively and as captain and lieutenant colo
mel, was elected colonel of the Mont
gomery county militia in 1859. Pre-
-vious to the war he had been an active
.
democrat, but upon the first call for vol
unteers he protfered his services to Gov
Curtin His entire regiment followed
his lead, and was at once equipped and
armed, and mustered into the service as
the Fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers
The regiment rendezvoused at Harris
burg on the goth Of April, 1861, and
when ready for service entered the field,
moving forward to Perry sville. Annapolis
and Washington. in succession. The
three months term of his regiment had
expired and it was on the homeward
march when the disastrous battle of Bull
Run occurred. Colonel Hartranft, on re-
ceiving tidings of the forward movement
of our army, rendered his services to Gen.
Mcdowell, and was by him assigned to
duty on the staff of Colonel, afterward
General William b. Franklin, who then
commanded brigade. In this ca
pacity he was engaged in the first strug.
gle of the war. --i 'A'+-.5'
Previous to the battle of Bull Run Col
Hartranft had applied for and obtained
permission to recruit regiment for three
years service. This regiment was
promptly filled up, and on November l6,
1861, was mustered into service at Har-
risburg. as the Fifty first Pa. Volunteers,
with Harlranft as colonel His new regi
ment was ordered to duty under General
Burnside, and joined the latters expedi-
ton to North Carolina At the head of
the regiment Hnrtranft took part in the
battle of Roanoke Island, in February,
1862, and also in the brilliant charge by
which the town of Newbern was carried
in March following This achievement
of the Fifty first was highly praised by
the general in command. When the |
Ninth Army Corps was recalled to Vir-
ginia in August, 1862 Colonel Hartranft (
and his regiment fought gallantly at the
second battle of Bull Run and at Chantil- |
ly, and also in the battles of South Noun.
tain and An:ietam. -rrs
In March, 1868, the Ninth Corps was
transferred to General Grants army,
then operating against Vicksburg, The
regiment re-enlistiug in March, 1864,
Colonel Hartranft was detailed to take
OF the rendezvous at Annapo.
lis for the Ninth Corps, then in progress
Of reorganization for the May campaign.
Soon after he was assigned to the COM
mand of the First Brigade of the Third
Division of the corps He was subse-
quently appointed brigadier general, to
date from May II. 1864, for gallant and
services during the war"
While the country was, late in March,
1865, anticipating news of the fall of
Richmond, it was startled by the report
that Lee had suddenly assumed the Of
rensive and attacked our lines. But this
assadlt was gallantiy and brilliantly re-
pulsed after one of the severest struggles,
sor its duration, of the war. General
Hartranft at the time was in command of
he Third Divi sion of the Ninth Corps,
which was made up of Pennsylvania
regiments. raised for one year and just
'ent into the field At the head of this
resh force, Hartrantt on the 25th of
March, made an attack upon the Rebel
ines and drove the enemy headlong from
Fort Steadman, position which they
lad fancied to be securely in their grasp.
For this brilliant achievement Hartranft
vas breveted major general of volunteers
md became popularity known as "The
Hero of Fort Steadman Subsequent
Y his skruishers were the first Union
oldiers to enter Petersburg. and one of
lis brigades was also the first body of
oyal troops to enter the city. His com
nand saw no more fighting during the
var, bat his military career was not yet
nded. During the trial of the assassins
# President Lincoln he was specially de
allied to take charge Of the arrangements
or guarding the military commission, and
o execute its mandates. {
Returning to civil life at the clGee of
he struggle, General Hartranft. having
lbandoned his Democratic allegiance, in
S65 received the Republican nomination
or Auditor General of Pennsylvania,
nd was in that year elected by ma {
ority of 22,6OO over w. H. H. Davis.
he Democratic nominee In 1868 he ;
vas renominated for the same position,
nd was again successful by majority
f 9499. his Democratic competitor being
Jharles E Boyle In 1871 he was not
candidate for denominations but on the I