The Red Cloud chief., 1913-07-03
CAMP FIRE
IS Ml$A|A5SnpREIES E
NM!gAaA
OLD GUN IS VALUABLE RELIC
Piece Of Artillery In Cemetery at Ken
dali, N. ", Was Once Used by
nth Pa. Artillery.

Referring to your article by George
W. Sweet. Troy. N. Y, asking about
the history of a gun In the cemetery
at Kendall N. Y, on the soldiers plot,
the gun being marked on the muzzle
No. g. 18th Pa. l.. A.. and came from
the Rock Island arsenal. the history
Of the 18th Pa. Battery is as follows:
The 18th regiment. known in the
State Militia as the 1st Pa. Art. was
originally formed as a battalion. Sept.
16. 1914. at Camp Dupont. under the
command Of Maj. Andrew NJ. Provost,
writes Andrew 8. Collum of Bald.
mount, Pa. in the National Tribune.
Nov. 19 OF that year 1t was organ.
lied as regiment. when Maj. Pre-.
vost was chosen lieutenant.co colonel,
Cornelius Stevenson first major and
Thomas w. Duffield second major,
Col. A. j. Pleasanton succeeded Col.
Provost In command. and upon his
resignation Col. Henry Bohlen was
elected.
This regiment was always relied on
by the civil authorities to respond
promptly at their call in case Of dis.
turbance which they were unable to
suppress.
In 1874, under Col. Pleasanton, II
rendered efficient service in prevent.
ing the destruction Of public and pri.
vate property by mob.
June 6. 1859, an election Of field OF
ficers was held and under this organ.
ization it was mustered into the serv.
ice Of the United States by Maj.
Charles F. Run. April 25, 1861.
The following were the field Off
GERS: Francis f. Patterson, colonel;
Robert o. Tyler, lieutenant-colonel;
VIM. A. Leech, major; Gideon Clark
was appointed adjutant. Recruiting
was commenced April Is. and 1t was
ready with the maximum number for
muster-in on the 18th.
The companies had armories where
they were quartered and the new re
cruits drilled. rendering It unneces
sary to 60 into general camp OF
rendezvous. The officers served under
their old commissions. and the regl'
ment was known In the service as the
LIST Pa. Art. until the order of Gov.
Curtin. dated May Is, 1861, changed
its designation to that Of the 18th Pa,
Since the 10th Of April, when the
9Th Mass. was fiercely assailed in the
streets of Baltimore. Md, no troops
had passed through the city and nc
attempt had been made to force a pas
sage. Troops which had reached the
capital from the north had pro
ceeded via Annapolis. The necessity
Of holding the direct route had be
come imperative. and Gen. Patterson
determined at all hazards to open 1t
He accordingly ordered Col. Patter
son to proceed with the 18th Pa. or
May s to Perryville, there to he Joined
by Capt. (since GEM T. W. Sher'
mans light battery and five compa'
nies OF the Sd Y. s.. all we'll armed
and supplied with ammunition. thence
to embark on transports for Balti
more. landing at Locust Point. Col
Patterson made such disposition OF
his force as to enable him most sue
cessfully to repel attack, and com
menced his march through the city
which for nearly three weeks had been
subject to mob rule. Without moles
tation or any symptoms Of hostile
demonstration he arrived at Camden
Station fve days later, May l3 Gen
Butler took permanent military pos
session Of the city. through which the
tide Of volunteers soon began to flow
not again to be disturbed.
June 10 the 18th Pa. was sent tt
the Rockville expedition. and latel
were at Point of Rocks. Bunker Hi
and other places, and was mustered
out Aug. 2. Therefore. you will SCI
the comrades have secured one Of thu
most valuable relics OF the Civil war
as II dates back to 1914.