Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1877-10-18

Pa, Sep. 22nd, 1877.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ANB
COMRADES OF THE VETERAN
CLUB OF CENTRE CoUNTY:-As ap-
propriaJe TO the occasion which
brings us together, / propose to en-
eertam you for short time as Well
rs / can, with statement Of the
organizations which our county sent
into the 1eld under the various calls
FOR troops in the late war of the re-
bellion; and also with brief review
OF the services of regiment well
known 10 you, and to whose career
many of you till glance back with
profound interest and tonest pride.
THREE MONTHS SERVICE.
Under the first call for $4,000
men to serve three months, the
State of PENNSYLVANIA furnished
twenty-five regiments. Centre
county was represented in these reg
imeRts by Eve companies, as fol-
lows: Company II, Sd Regiment;
Company H.s 4th Regiment; Com.
pany Iii, 7th Regiment; Company B,
10th Regiment; Company /, 18th,
Regiment. The aggregate number
OF these companies was about 400
rank and file, and their service, with
the exception of II company of the
4th regiment, was with the army
of General Patterson, in Maryland,
and in the Shenandoah Valley, Vir-
yinia. III company, of the 4th reg
iInent, served at Annapolis, Wash
ington. Alexandria and Fairfax.
In the army of General Mcdowell
the regiment belonged to the 1st
brigade, Sd division.
While it was not the fortune of
these troops to pass through bloody
battles. they doubtless experienced
many of the tolls, hardships and
Privations of an army compaign in
the field. An incident befell Com
pany I, of the 18th re giment. which
caused much excitement in the
county, and extrem anxiety to the
friends of members of the company.
The 18th regiment, with Gen. Pat
tersOn, crossed the PotC mac from
MARYLAND into Virginia, on the I'd
day OF July, 1851. Soon after the
crossing had been effected, de-
tachment of Company L, consisting
of an officer and thirty-fonr men,
was deployed 10 the front as 6kr-
misners. These skirmishers had not
proceeded far until TIA hey we've sur
rounded and the entire party cap
tured by Ashby's cavalry. The
captors were mistaken for Union
soldiers and their approach was not
opposed. When the mistake was
discovered 1t was too late TO resist.
As pisoners of war, these men were
Immediately marched on foot to
Richmond, and as they were among
the first captures they attracted
much attention, and, under the hot
animosities of the hour. were no
doubt the objects of many tannts
aud insults. After some time they
were sent to New Orleans, where
they remained in confinement until
the approach of Butler and Farra-
quit in April, 1862, threatened that
city, when they were removed to
Salisbury. N. G. Soon after their
arrival at the latter place, they were
exchanged, after having been held
nearly year. Six OF the number
died while prisoners; q proportion
OF their number that would scarce.
ly have been greater had they been
obliged to und ergo the chances OF a
great battle.
THE THREE YEARS SERVICE.
The battle of Bull Run was fought
July Goth, 1861, and while its results |
were indeed humiliating to the Un-
soD pride, it had the effect Of arous-
ing the North TO realizing sense Of |
the fact that it had a great war,
probably of long duration, on hand |
1t also demonstrated the utter folly |
of sending levies of raw and undis-
ciplined militia, with short terms of
service, into the field. i'm the expec
tation that armies made up of such
material would fight successful bat
ties. Many Of the illusions OF the
hour were dispelled, and when the
cali for 100000 men to serve three
years came, the patriotic sentiment
OF the country proved equal to the
emergency, and responded with fer
vor and alacrity. In the three years
service the following are the organ
stations credited to Centre county:
Company e. 5th Penn. Reserves:
Company e, 1st Penna. Cavalry.
Company A. 45th Regiment; Com !
pany D, 45th Regiments Company
=, 45 Regiments Company A, 10th
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