The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-10-01
Sketch of Col. Robert p. Dechert.


Col. Robert Porter DecheTt, who is the
nominee of the Democratic party for the Of
fee of Auditor General of Pennsylvania, is a
native of the city of Reading, but is now a
resident of Philadelphia and a member of the
bar i'm that city. At the breaking out of the
rebellion he was only eighteen years of age,
but yielding to his patriotic impulses he ell
listed as a private soldier in the Twenty
ninth Regiment OF Pennsylvania volunteers.
Before the regiment took the field, Col. John
X. Murphy, commanding, appointed young
Dechert to the position of Sergeant Major ON
his staff. This position he filled with great
credit until February, 1862, when he was
promoted to be First Lieutenant of Go. & of
the same regiment. His promotion was made
over all the Second Lieutenants of the regi-
ment by the selection of the Colonel and was
considered to be meritcd by his ability and
attention to duty. IN this rank lie served
with his regiment in the campaign Of Major
General Banks I'm the Valley Of the Shenan-
dOah in Virginia, and in the memorable re-
treat of that General. He also served with
his company in the Army of Virginia under
Maior-Gencal Pope, including the battles of
Cedar Mountain Second Bull Run and Chan
tilly, and subsequently at Antietam and
Charlottesville. Immediately after the bat
tie OF Antietam, he was selected by Briga-
der Genera! George L. Andrews, now pro-
fcssor at West Point, to serve as his Aide-de-
Camp and Assistant Adjutant-General,a and
on that Office being transferred to the Depart
ment Of the South, Lieutenant Dechert per
formed the same duty on the staff OF Brevet
Major-GencTal Thomas IL. RugcT, now
Colonel in the regular army, and prominent
" named for the position of Chief of the Sig
nal Corps TO succeed the late BrigadieT-Gen-
eral Myer-betteT known as ''Old Probabili-
ties" At the great Pennsylvania Battle of
Gettysburg. Lieutenant Dcchert served as
Assistant Adiutant General of the First Di-
vision Of the old Twelfth Corps at Culps
Hill, and was honorably mentioned for gal
/ liant service in the official report Of that i'm
pOrtant engagement
Immediately after that battle the Western
troops of the Army Of the Potomac were sent
to the city OF New York under the command
of General BUger to enforce the draft that
had been temporarily suspended by reason of
the removal of the troops from that city for
the defense OF Pennsylvania in the Gettys-
burg campaign.
The draft being successfully accomplished
these troops were returned to the Army of
the Potomac on the Bapidan, in Virginia.
ard few days afterward, in consequence Of
ourrepulseat Chickamauga, the nth and 10Th
Corps were transferred to tine Western Army
No time was lost in their transportation, and
disembarking from the cars at Nashville,
Tenn, they were marched to Chattanooga.
IL December of tine year 1868, the Twenty
ninth Regiment was the first in the army to
re-eniist for another three years, and Lieu
tenant Dechert concluded to rejoin his regi-
ment for that purpose, and lac was immcdi-
atcly promoted to the Capt5incy of his com
pany The return of this regiment to their
homes, on ayailjng themselves OF the veteran
furlough of thirty days, has not been forgot
ten by the Survivors or their friends. They
were received by the official authorities OF
the city of Philadelphia at Old Independence
Hall and at the Cooper Befreshment Saloon,
and after recuperation and additional enlist
ments, the regiment was sent to the Hospital
building at Chester, and then was removed
to the scene of its former laOOrs at Chatta-
nooga, Tenn.
For several months Captain Dechert was
stationed at Philadelphia for the purpose of
enljsting additional recruits, but he Icjoned
his regiment in tine Atlanta campaign, hay
ing been relieved from recruiting duty al
Philadelphia ut his own request.
After the capture of Atlanta, he was again
selected by his commanding General for i'm.
portant service. Aiajor-General II. W. Slo
cum appointed him the Assistant Adjutant.
General OF the Twentieth Army Corps-that
Corps being the result Of the consolidation oi
the nth and 1871 Army Corps, which had
been shortly before commanded by Major
General Joe Hooker.
When Major General \. ;. Williams was
advanced to the command of this corps. by
reason Of the promotion OF General Slocum
he retained Captain Dechert in the same po
sition on the corps staff.
During the cyentful march of Major Gen
eTal W. T. sherman ''to the sea, - and at IA.
vaunah, Georgia, General SlOcum again rec
ognized the efficient service of Captain Dech-
crt by appointing him Assistant Adjutant-
General of the Army 0f Georgia on his staff
which position he retained until after the
surrender of General joe Johnson at Raleigh
and after the Grand Review Of Sherman,
Army in May, 1865. lie was meanwhile pro
NOTED 10 DC Major OF lsie iNeitS-ilillth i'es
imeut, and at The close OF the war lie was
brevctcd by the President OF the Unite,
States on the recommendation OF Gems. Slo
cum and sherman to be Lieutenant -Colone
sfor gallant and meritorious services during
the war"
In Juiy, 1850, hc being less than twenty.
three yeags of age, hc returned to his home
with his comrades, after an active service ~
the field of over four years. lie immediately
entered upon the study of the law in the of
fee OF his brother, Henry NJ Dechert, Esq
"a prominent member OF the Philadelphia bar
and was admitted to practice i'm November
1856 The same year Ee was the candidat,
oil hie party in Jle Twenty seventh Ward loI