Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1905-07-13
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 lS7th Regi-
ment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infant
ry. Six months and three years Service,
Civil War, compiled by James M.
Gibbs, Vice President Survivors As
sociation, 1S7 Regiment, p. V. I,who
during a few days past has been So
journing in his old home, Danville.
Although history of large regi-
ment it is nevertheless especially in
teresting to Danville people, as Com
pany Q. under Joseph f. Ramsey was
made up nearly wholly of Danville
men A part of Company *, under
Captain George q. LOvttt and a part
of Company + under Captain John
+. Riley, were also made up of Dan
willie men Typographically and in
point of style and arrangement the
book is all that could be desired and
our former townsman has shown him
self very apt author. The publica-
ti0n was authorized at the sixth an
nual meeting of the Survivors, AssO-
citation of the regiment. held at Wells
boro. Pa, September :. 1904 The His
tory has been examined by Former
Governor William A. Stone President,
Jonathan Jessup, secretary, and f. Is.
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 K
Reilly, Lieutenant Samuel Q. Ilgen-
fritz and Frederick X Ployer and
from the personal recolections OF the
writer " Under the circumstances it
will be seen that high degree of in
terest must attach TO the volume
The history is well illustrated, most
Iy with portraits of the soldiers and
| commanders. The following we'll
known townsmon, 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 b. Patton, Lieutenant OrvilIe
d. Harder, John Hcnry,C p. Harder,
James NJ. Gibbs, David II. Rank,
Arthur f. Award. John +. Roberts.
John Nj. Sechler, Albert b. Werk-
heiser, William Nash, William Bry-
ant. Watkin Morgan, Thomas p
Morgan. John J. Roderick, James ID,
Ware. William Stewart. John @. De
Vine, Charles s. Beaver. Nelson b.
Kase, Jacob Slack and Eugene Len.
hart
In presenting portraits as a rule N
the case OF survivors the portrait OF
the soldier boy is given as well as
picture of the veteran at later date.
This adds much to the interest of the
illustrations The boys, who enlisted
from DanVille figure very largely in
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 Mt 10 !
years when drummer boy in the |
18th regiment. The history devotes |
separate chapter to Mr.. Harder, |
who is accorded the distinction OF |
being the youngest soldier who served !
during the Civil war 1t is true the |
honor is contested by other localities |
but in every instance where the facts /
are verified it is found the youngest .
soldier went into service " hen about I
IL 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-OIville and John II.
Harder-appearing on the same page
with the drummer boy. Mr. Harder
spent over two years in the service
aud had the honor of being one of the
bOys detailed to drum on the occasion
of Abram Lincoln's funeral.
Page l69 contains a group of por-
traits which are Of more than passing
interest to DanVIlle people. In the
upper left hand corner il a fine look
ing portrait of David II 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
bOyish 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 NJ. Sachler, the known car
sides in East Dauvillc. There is also /
very fine portrait of James NJ. Gibbs. /
the author, as he appears at present .
and another, n typical picture of the I
war time. a full length portrait with I
gan in hand. Sergeant A. r. Patton /
is also shown spick and span IN uni I
form along with William Young, W /
f. Mohr and Lieutenant James r. /
Johnson.
The frontispiece is n portrait Of I
Abraham Lincoln, followed a page or |
so further on by portrait of Andrew |
G.. Curtin. TIE history aims to be /
but a simple story of the service of .
the regiment, which has been written
with but one end in view, that to do |
Justice TO all. Nevertheless there |
is not dry or uninteIesting chapter |
in the whole book. 1t gives the young |
er generation an idea of what warfare |
a,,f . 10, -