Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1904-09-29
.REVISITING His
FORMER HOME

fUnME1 HUME
William NJ. Miller of Washington,
ID. G., will return home today after
several days visit with old friends and
acquaintances in this city. Mr. Mil
Ter was resident of Danvile prior
to the Civil War and this visit is the
first in many years.
Mr.. Miller was born in Mifflinburg
and came to Danville in 1884 when
still a boy. On September 18th, 1896
he enlisted as member of Co. b, 9th
Infantry, United States Army for
term of five years under Captain Fred
Dent The regiment, which was sta
toned at Walla Walla, Washington
territory, participated in many of the
Indian Wars and Mr. Miller's exper-
fences were of very thrilling char
acter. The 9th Infantry was COM
manded by Major William Grier, son
of the late Michael Grier of this city.
Mr.. Miller received his discharge a
short time before his enlistment eX-
pired and he was paid off at Vancou
yer, Oregon. After a visit to San Fran
cisco and other points in the west he
returned to Danville in 1859.
After a short stay here he went to
Philadelphia where he enlisted in the
United States Navy and was assigned
to duty on the cruiser Brooklyn. un-
der the command of Admiral Farragut.
McLain to Vera Cruz, Mexico, during
| the Race and Church War i'll that
country. MT. Miller was one of thir-
| ty marines that were sent ashore at
Tampeco, Mexico, for the protection
| of United States Consul McChase.
He was on shore duty three months at
this point and was quartered at the
best hotel in the city.
Returning to America he was for a
time stationed at Norfolk, Va, later
on sailing for the Isthmus of Panama.
He accompanied a corps of engineers
over the site of the Panama Canal
route before returning. While on the
ocean bound for the States sailing
vessel impaired the news that Abra-
ham Lincoln had been elected Presi-
dent and that great excitement pre-.
vailed in the South.
The Brooklyn, after carrying force
of artillery from Fortress Monroe to
Fort Taylor at Key West, Florida, was
ordered to the mouth of the Mississip-
pi river for blockade duty. But a
short stay was made here, the vessel
returning to the Brooklyn Navy Yard
after which it was taken out of com
mission.
Mr.. Miller, after Is days furlough
which was spent in Danville. was as
signed to the gunboat Westfield com
manded by Captain Renshaw and
again returned to the Mississippi rly-
er. Under Admiral Porter he partic'
ipated in the engagements aud sur
render of Fort Jackson and Fort St.
Philip.
The city of Galveston was the next
place captured but it was retaken by
the rebels and in order to avoid cap.
ture the Westfi. I'D was blown up.
Fourteen men, including three com
missioned officers were killed i'll the
explosion.
Mr.. Miller was then ordered to New
Orleans and assigned to Admira.
Farragut's flagship Hartford. Or
this ship, in March 1862 he participate
ed in the battle of Fort Hudson. Dur
.---, 14 -. .4..o-.o -u'.~ ,7.-s-
sissippi was destroyed aud 400 men
lost Admiral Dewey was Lieutenant
on this i'll fated boat but escaped
with his life. After participating il
the battles of Grand Gulf and Vicks.
burg the Hartford returned to the
Brooklyn Navy yard where Mr.. Mil
Ter received his final discharge.
Mr. Miller was a model soldier anG
marine, a clause in his discharge read
ing, " An excellent man and first rate
soldier" He has enjoyed his visit tC
his old home very much. He is still
in good health and in his reminiscen
ces shows a remarkable memory. Hi,
visit to Danville has been of great in.
terest to him as we'll as to his many
| 81. Il,