Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-07-03
CAMP FIRE
MH5AS,JnORIB
MgM{g&
OLD GUN Is VALUABLE RELIC
Piece of Artillery in Cemetery at Ken
dali, N. Y, Was Once Used by
18TH Pa. Artillery.

Referring to your article by George
W. Sweet, Troy, n. Y, asking about
the history of gun in the cemetery
at Kendall, n. Y, on the soldiers plot,
the gun being marked on the muzzle
No. 6, 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 list Pa. Art, was
originally formed as a battalion, Sept.
Is. 1914, at Camp Dupont, under the
command of Maj. Andrew M Provost,
writes Andrew S. Collum of Bald
mount, Pa, in the National Tribune
Nov. 10 of that year it was organ
lied as regiment, when Mai Pre-
vost was chosen observation-disclosures
Cornelius Stevenson first major and
Thomas w. Duf1eld second major,
Col. A. ]. Pleasanton succeeded Gel
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.
rendered efficient service in prevent
ing the destruction of public and pri-
vate property by a mob.
June 6, 1859, an election of field Of
f1cers was held, and under this organ
ization it was mustered into the serv-
ice of the United States by Maj.
Charles F. Ruff April 25, 1861.
The following were the field Off
GERS: Francis E. 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
musterin on the 18th.
The companies had armories where
they were quartered and the new re-
cruits drilled, rendering 1t unneces-
sary to go into a general camp of
rendezvous. The officers served under
their old commissions. and the regi-
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 18th of April, when the
9Th Mass. was fiercely assailed in the
streets of Baltimore, Md, no troops
had passed through the city, and no
attempt had been made to force 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 it.
He accordingly ordered Col. Patter-
son to proceed with the 18th Pa. on
May 8 to Perryville, there to be Joined
by Capt. (since GEM t. w. Sher-
mans light battery and five compa-
MES Of the Sd u. S., all well armed
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 a hostile
demonstration he arrived at Camden
Station five days later. May Is 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 to
the Rockville expedition, and later
were at Point Of Rocks, Bunker Hill
and other places, and was mustered
out Aug. 2. Therefore, you will see
the comrades have secured one of the
most valuable relics Of the Civil war
as it dates back to 1914.