Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-05-23
DANVILLE IN
WAR Times

W. Fl. Treas, South Danville. las in
his possession copy of the Montour
American of Wednesday, July, /, 1868,
which is of an issue that covers date
relating to one of the most exciting
times in Danville' s history. 1t was the
eve of the great battle of Gettysburg :;
the Confederates had invaded Pennsyl-
vania and on the Sunday preceding
had marched to within few miles of
Harrisburg. Danville. like all other
towns was busy raising volunteers for
the defense of Pennsylvania, for uu-
less the Rebels were successfully re-
pulsed the entire State would be over
run in few days. The excitement of
the town was reflected in the extracts
taken from the old paper printed be-
low:
The stores and business places of
Danville are closed and a general eff
fort is made to raise volunteers for the
defense of the State. Several COM
panies are partly filed, among them
being the Silver Greys, composed of
citizens over 40 years of age.
During the crisis and emergency
while troops were being raised in res
ponse to call from the governor, fifty
four merchants and manufacturers of
Danville signed an agreement to sus-
pend business. In the long list of
names appended are a few we'll remem-
bered at the present day: G.. B.
Brown, Thomas Woods, l.. o. Van
Allen, E. W. Conkling 81 Co., J. @.
Rhodes, Shoop 81 Hullihen, Peter
Baldy. Jr., Daniel Reynolds, William
Angle, A. @. Russell. John Sperring,
Egbert Thompson, John Jacobs, H. L.
Gross, Waterman and Beaver, D. L.
Antrim, Samuel Henrie, H. NJ. Trum-
bower. Joseph Kelley, J. G. Thomp-
son, Hancock & Foley, G. Laubach,
Jacob Seidel, Samuel Goldsmith, D.
Shelhart and others.
That the military spirit was by no
means dead is shown from the follow
ing paragraph quoted:
mand of Captain James +. Ramsey
was mustered into service of the Unit
ed States at Harrisburg on the 10th day
of June for the term of six months.
The material of tine company is of the
very best-all the officers and many of
the rank and file have been in service
and acquitted themselves with honor.
Among the rank and file of the six
months men are noticed such we'll
known men as Bonham r.. Gearhart,
Arthur Award. William Trease, Park
Alexander, David Aten, James Best,
Charles Funston, Wesley Deshsy,
Philip Bright, and Henry Harder.
When the news reached Danville
that the rebels were coming the town
got a heavy hustle on. The old news
paper says:
There was great excitement here on
Sunday last The telegraph Brought
the news that the rebels were ap-
preaching Harrisburg and soon the
whole town was astir. Bells were
rung and drums were beat, until the
people gathered at the court house
where a meeting was organized with
Mr. Joel Hinckley in the chair. The
object was TO raise volunteers and for
this purpose several committees were
appointed-one to confer with she com
missioners, and another to confer with
the iron manufacturers in relation to
suspending operations to facilitate vol
unteering.
Other items in the old paper printed
nearly A years ago will be read with
interest at the present day. One reads
as follows;
The enrolment is progressing in this
district generally pretty quiet but we
learn that n. Ferree Lightner was
shot at several times while in the dis
charge of his official duties
Robert Magill also had close call,
which after A years he may have
difficulty in recalling:
Robert Magill who was seriously in
jured by being Gus with a sharp glass
we learn with pleasure is improving.
The excitement attendant upon the
receipt of the following news can
easily be imagined:
News has arrived that r. NJ Gath
cart, Samuel Pardoe. d. G. Hartman
and Mr.. Sheldon, late clerk in the
Rough and Ready store, were all taken
prisoners by the rebels in the Cumber-
land Valley.
This is the way the old time editor
paid his respects to one of his local
contemporaries
See there just as we expected =
That odorous sour crout vessel, label
ed---has exploded. We expected as
much when we thrust that sharp stick
in the rotten mess.
d. II. B. Brewer was edito- of the
Montour American in 1868.
Notica to flur Cnstnmars