Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1905-07-14
HISTORY OF
18TH REGIMENT

We have been permitted to look owe
an advance copy of the History of
the First Battalion. Pennsylvania Six
Months Volunteers and 187th Regi-
ment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infant
ry. Six months and three years Service.
OWL War. compiled by James M.
Gibbs. Vice President Survivors As
sociation, 1877 Regiment. p. V. I.,who
during a few days past has been So
journing in his old home, Danville.
Although a history of large regi-
ment it is nevertheless especially in
teresting to Danville people, as Com
pany O. under Joseph f. Ramsey was
made up nearly wholly. of DanviIle
men. A part of Company X. under
Captain George @. Lovett and a part
of Company f under Captain John
E. Riley. we're also made up of DAN
willie men. geographically and in
point of style and arrangement the
book IL all that could be desired and
our former townsman has shown him
self very apt author. The publica-
| tion was authorized at the sixth an
nual meeting of the Survivors, Asso-
citation of the regiment. held at Wells
boro. Pa, September Z. 1904. The His
tory has been examined by Former
Governor william A. Stone. President,
Jonathan Jessup, secretary and +. X.
Ployer treasurer, of the association,
who announce in the beginning of the
book that they have found it histori-
cally correct and accurate. In the
preface the author states:
"This work has been made up from
the diaries of the following members
of the regiment: Captain John e.
Reilly, Lieutenant Samuel o. Ilgen-
fritz and Frederick X. Ployer and
from the personal recollections of the
writer" Under the circumstances it
| will be seen that high degree of in
terest must attach to the volume.
The history is we'll illustrated. most
ly with portraits of the soldiers and
commanders. The following we'll
known townsmen, living or deceased
figure IN the history: Captain George
g. Lovett, Lieutenant George s. Walk
er, Captain William Young, Lieuten-
ant James johnson, Orderly Sergeant
Albert r. Patton, Lieutenant Orville
D. Harder, John Henry.C. p. Harder.
James M. Gibbs. David H. Rank.
Arthur +. Award. John e. Roberts.
John M. Sechler. Albert B. Werk-
heiser, William Nash. William Bry-
ant. Watkin Morgan, Thomas p.
Morgan. John J. Roderick, James d,
Ware. William Stewart, John O. De.
Vine. CHARLES 8. Beaver. Nelson B.
Kase, Jacob Slack and Eugene Len.
hart.
In presenting portraits as a rule IN
the case of survivors the portrait of
| the soldier boy is given as we'll as a
| picture of the veteran at a later date.
This adds much to the interest of the
illustrations. The boys, who enlisted
the illustrations. The late Captain
Lovett is shown in two portraits
There are also two portraits of Dan
ville's post master, Charles p. Harder,
ESQ.,, one appearing as at the present
day and the other as he appeared at 10
years when a drummer boy in the
18TH regiment. The history devotes
q separate chapter to Mr.. Harder,
who is accorded the distinction of
being the youngest soldier who served
daring the OWL war. 1t is true the
honor is contested by other localities
but in every instance where the facts
| are verified 1t is found the youngest
soldier went into service when about
l2 years old, rarely below that age.
Charles r. Harder enlisted at the age
OF 10 years and 6 months. He was
the youngest of five brothers, all of
whom entered the union army. the
portraits of two-Orvilie and John Fl.
Harier-appearing on the same page
with the drummer boy. Mr.. Harder
spent over two years in the service
and had the honor Of being one of the
boys detailed to drum OH the occasion
of Abram Linooln's funeral.
Page 1859 contains group of por.
| traits, which are of more than passing
interest to Danville people. In the
upper left hand corner is a fine look
ing portrait OF David H. Rank. In
the upper right hand corner is the por-
trait of Arthur Award, in the lower
left hand corner is John Waldron. In
the lower right hand corner are two
boy yish figures seated side by side.
They are two of our best known citi.
zens and although there is something
familiar in the face of each yet one
might guess week and not be able to
identify either of them. They are
John M. Sechler. the we'll known car
penter. and John Il. Roberts, who re-
sides in East Danville. There is also
a very fine portrait of James M. Gibbs,
the author, as he appears at present
aud another, a typical picture of the
war time. a full length portrait with
gun in hand. Sergeant A. B. Patton
Is also shown spiok and span in uni
form along with William Young, W.
E. Mohr and Lieutenant James r.
| Johnson.
The frontispiece is a portrait of
Abraham Lincoln, followed page or
sc. further on by a portrait of Andrew
9. Curtin. The history aims to be
but "a simple story of the service of
the regiment, which has been written