Schuylkill County Pennsylvania Military History

ALCATRAZ MILITARY PRISON

2012-01-16T21:49:00.002-05:00

ALCATRAZ MILITARY PRISON

Pottsville soldier sent to Alcatraz as a guard.
Miners Journal November 11, 1900

Private Charles R. Schatstein of Pottsville was brought home from fighting in the Philippines, were he saw active service fighting against the Filipinos. He was in a very serious condition and admitted to the hospital at San Francisco. After he recovered he was assigned to duty with Company No.2 of Convalescent stationed at Alcatraz Island.

Dear Parents:
Alcatraz is a small Island situated northwest of San Francisco direct by north of the Presidio. It lays in about the middle of the bay and has a swift current running around it so that a small boat has a hard time to land.
The U.S. uses it for a military Prison, but before but before they got it was an old Spanish Fort. Its area is about 12 acres and is solid rock. Known in and about San Francisco as the Rock.
It is well fortified and has quite a few large guns on it. Most of them being 12 inch . To me it looks like a large stationary battleship.
The prisoners are men who have been soldiers but have been dishonorably discharged from the service. Their imprisonment ranges from six months to 50 years. They are divided into three classes according to their conduct in and about the prison. When they enter the prison they are all second class and are made first class or third class according to the way they conduct themselves while at work. They are distinguished by the bands on their hats, white, red and yellow, meaning 1st, 2nd and 3rd class respectively. The first class are trusted men and allowed to go around without a sentry. Some work on the dock, some drive teams some are painters, bakers, farmers, general police, lamp lighters and almost everything imaginable.
Second Class haven’t got it quite so good. But third class is kept to work from 7 to11:30 a.m. and from 1 to 6 p.m... They are not allowed to talk, smoke or even stop work for a minute and must walk lock step to and from work.
There are six different prisons and the will accommodate about six hundred prisoners. Three prisons being old and three being new. There are at present about 400 hundred prisoners.
To guard these prisoners there are two companies, Co H of the 7th Infantry and Convalescent Co. No 2 composed of men who have been sent back from China and the Philippines sick or wounded. I have become well enough to do duty in both companies which are not full, there are about a 150 men for duty giving us about four night in the duties of a guard and other military duties which give us little time to ourselves. Out near the eastern part of the island is a light house kept by an ex soldier. And right at the end is a fog bell and tide gate all kept by the same man. The fog bell is wound up by a large key and runs down like a clock. This bell is kept wound up and as soon as it begins to get foggy it is started and will keep going for 24 hours unless stopped.
We also have two life saving crews here composed of soldiers out of the two different co0mpanies. But our boat is gone now. The other day three prisoners escaped from the prison ward of the hospital picked the lock holding the boat and they haven’t been heard of since.
The beginning of last month a trusted prisoner who worked in the carpenter shop made a box and got some one to nail him in and carry him down to the dock so that night when the boat came to get the guard that brings the prisoners back that go to Presidio to work, he was put on the boat and put out off on the main land. He had it nicely arraigned to have some person open it, and in that way he got a way, but we got him back a few days afterwards, he was caught at Sacramento. He said some one gave him away to get the award of $15 dollars. Poor fellow has ten years to serve now.
We also have a reading room and pool room, shooting galleries, dance hall and last but not least a canteen where the boys go to get on their jollification so you see we have lots to keep us busy.

I guess that will be it for a while

C.R. Schatstein Conval. Co. No 2 Alcatraz Island.

For My Dad On Veterans Day 83 Footer 83-301 U.S.Coast Guard WW2....An Iron Sailor

2011-11-10T12:42:00.001-05:00

My Dad Seamn 1/C G. Stuart Richards as a Seaman In the USCG. 1942-1944

“Semper Paratus”

ALWAYS READY

Dad.

Iron Sailor of the Wooden Patrol Boats
The 83 Footer
CG-83-301

The 83 footer story began in 1940 when the first of 230 cutters was built for the USCG. The wooden cutters were used for convoy duty in the Gulf and ASW patrol off the east coast of the U.S.

The 83 footer USCG vessel the type my dad served on. His was CG-83-301

My Dad Seaman 1/C G. Stuart Richards enlisted as a seaman in the United States Coast Guard on September 24, 1942. He entered the USCG at Curtis Bay, Md. And was subsequently stationed at Ocracoke Station, N.C. located near Cape Hatteras. Dad served as a sonar operator and a 20 mm gunner on board an 83 foot sub-chaser. They were assigned the duty of patrolling the east coast of the U.S. looking for German U boats.
My Dad told me this info:
“I was assigned duty on board an 83 foot sub-chaser with the designation CG-83-301. They were too small a craft to have a name. They were made of wood and had a top speed of about 30 knots. We carried 12 Depth charges on board, 2 on each launcher and 2 set on a Y gun located in the center of the ship. The crew consisted of 22 men and officers. Our skipper was a commander. The ship was pretty confined and you slept on a rack that hung from the ceiling by chains. The enlisted men slept in the forecastle. My job on board was as a sonar operator who listened for the underwater sounds of a sub. The equipment we used consisted of a sounder that sent out a signal and a wheel that was located between your legs. This had a compass rose on it. By turning in it you could tell what direction you were listening in. if any subs were out there, the sound would echo of their hull and return to the gear. Sometimes you would pick up the sounds of fish or the propellers of other ships. You had to learn the difference between the sounds. You got a bearing from this information that could guide the ship toward the sub. The sonar room was a small room located aft of the forecastle and you could only fit two men in there. After a sub was found, we went to general quarters where I manned a 20 mm gun.
We helped chase down a few German subs, we think, we saw a lot of oil slicks when we fired depth charges but you never knew. I picked up a German life preserver and light that I kept. We also got a commendation medal for helping to get a yacht out of a mine field. We had to go in there and tow them out. What they were doing in there during wartime was pretty unusual and really dumb.

On Patrol
My last trip on CG-83-301 was on September 30, 1944. we were on a patrol when we had a fire in the engine room and were called to general quarters and then started to fight the fire. I was using a fire hose in the hold above the engine room when there was a big explosion. The boiler blew up and threw me backwards pretty far. I landed against an ammunition can for the 20mm. I broke my back, crushing three vertebrae. I couldn’t move my lower body. The ship was pretty well damaged. The whole side, from mid ship to the stern, was wrecked. We didn’t sink because all the water tight doors were closed. It took 4 to 5 hours to get us into Portsmouth where I went into the Naval hospital and spent the next 20 months recuperating. I was then discharged from the Coast Guard.

My dad’s vessel CG 83-301 CG 451 WAS WRECKED IN TYPHOON 0N 9 OCT 1945 near Okinawa.

Dad At the World War ll Vetrans Memorial in Washington DC. 2004

My brother Rick and his wife Sally took Dad to visit the memorial in June of 2004. He was so happy, many people came up to him and thanked him for his service.I am so glad he had this pleasant experience.

My dad was very proud of what he did in the USCG and World War ll, he devoted his whole adult life to the VFW and the Disabled American Veterans. Dad was 100% disabled from the injuries he received while on CG 83-301.But I never once heard him complain of his injuries. He was a great dad to both myself and my brother devoting his time to trying to make our lives happy, sports, vacations, etc. He was a hard worker and I truly miss him. He died in 2006.

G. Stuart Richards 1921-2006

SEMPER PARATUS DAD!

Tribute to Sgt Harold Messerschmidt, 3rd Infantry Division Schuylkill County MOH Holder WW2

2011-09-23T18:46:00.005-04:00

This is a recent tribute to Sgt. Messerschmidt who was KIA at Raddon, France.

American Forces Network Europe Home Article Display (DD)
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The Vosges Mountains are located in the northeast portion of France. Heavy fighting took place there in August and September of 1944. The fighting there would terminate the foot hold German troops had on France. Fighting in this area was the famous 3rd Infantry Division. Because of their fierce fighting methods the Germans still held a portion of the Belfort Gap in the Vosges. On the 15th of September the 3rd ID was on the move marching north toward the French town of Faucogney.

Fighting with the 3rd ID was Schuylkill Countian Sgt. Harold O. Messerschmidt born in Grier City, Schuylkill County. Sgt. Messerschmidt enlisted in the U.S. Army at Chester, Pa. On the 17th of September Messerschmidt’s unit, Company L 30th Infantry Regt. was in the process of trying to capture a small village west of Faucogney named Raddon. Company L had just taken a heavily forested ridge that dominated an important and strategic road. About mid day a heavy tank and artillery fire swept the ridge immediately followed by advancing German infantry over 200 strong. One member of the unit stated” They rushed into our fire in an insane manner, as if they had been given liquor or drugs.” For six hours Sgt. Messerschmidt and the men of his squad held the right flank of the company and resisted wave after wave of the fanatical German troops. Sgt. Messerschmidt ran out of ammunition and was the only member of his squad still standing, he used his Tommy gun as a club to kill as many Germans as he could. A last ditch charge by the enemy came rushing up the slope and caught Sgt. Messerschmidt still wielding his empty weapon were upon he was killed. At the end of this engagement Company L was down to only four squads and very nearly out of ammunition, but they held the ridge.

Sgt. Harold Messerschmidt was awarded the Medal Of Honor posthumously on 17 July 1946.

The Citation:

Sergeant Messerschmidt, Harold O. Army
Medal of Honor

SERGEANT HAROLD O. MESSERSCHMIDT

Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company L, 30th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Radden, France, 17 September 1944. Entered service at: Chester, Pa. Birth: Grier City, Pa. G.O. No.: 71, 17 July 1946.

Citation: He displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. Braving machinegun, machine pistol, and rifle fire, he moved fearlessly and calmly from man to man along his 40-yard squad front, encouraging each to hold against the overwhelming assault of a fanatical foe surging up the hillside. Knocked to the ground by a burst from an enemy automatic weapon, he immediately jumped to his feet, and ignoring his grave wounds, fired his submachine gun at the enemy that was now upon them, killing 5 and wounding many others before his ammunition was spent. Virtually surrounded by a frenzied foe and all of his squad now casualties, he elected to fight alone, using his empty submachine gun as a bludgeon against his assailants. Spotting 1 of the enemy about to kill a wounded comrade, he felled the German with a blow of his weapon. Seeing friendly reinforcements running up the hill, he continued furiously to wield his empty gun against the foe in a new attack, and it was thus that he made the supreme sacrifice. Sgt. Messerschmidt's sustained heroism in hand-to-hand combat with superior enemy forces was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service .

Sgt. Harold O. Messershmidt is buried in the:
Christ Lutheran Church Cemetery
Barnesville
Schuylkill County

JACK THE MASCOT OF COMPANY C 109TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 28TH DIVISION

2011-09-22T23:29:00.006-04:00

A Wired Hair Terrier The Type Jack Was

JACK MASCOT OF COMPANY C 109TH INFANTRY REGIMENT 28TH DIVISION.

EX DOUGHBOY FROM MAHANOY CITY FINDS HIS DOG FRIEND OF WORLD WAR 1 BATTLEFIELDS DEAD.

United Press.
Philadelphia Jan 27, 1930

This is a great story about a dog, a mascot of the 109th Infantry regiment, 28th Division during WW1. Jack a little wired haired fox terrier will be buried near Radnor today with all the honors of a warrior. His broken little body will rest in a flag draped casket. At least one squad from Company C, 109th Infantry, Pennsylvania National Guard, will be in attendance and a regular bugler will blow taps on a silver tongued coronet. Twelve years ago Jack was a precious little puppy who didn’t understand a word of the very expressive English used by the members of Company C, when their dust coated hobnailed boots awakened the echoes in a little battle scared village in the Condrecourt area. The language of bones, nice juicy bones with meat attached is universal, however and Jack permanently attached himself to the company and to Corporal James C. McCool, of Mahanoy City, Pa. in particular. Following the soul stirring months of the summer of 1918 with fighting everywhere from Flanders to the Vosges and the 28th Division in the thick of it. So was McCool and Company C and his buddy Jack, dodging across a machine gun swept wheat field one sunny morning in July, Jack got his “Blighty” It resulted in the amputation of his right foreleg. Regimental surgeons fixed him up. Two months latter at St. Mihiel, cool was seriously wounded. Before being evacuated he gave strict orders to his squad to take care of Jack.

The 213th Coast Artillery Schuylkill County Men During the Years of Peace. 1922-1941

2011-09-13T22:29:00.015-04:00

During the years of Peace
1920-1941
The 213th Coast Artillery

In 1922, both Pottsville’s companies were reorganized, Co. C and D of the 103rd Engineers, The old First Defender Company the Washington Artillery of 1861 became the service battery of the 213th Coast Artillery, And Company H of the 112th Infantry Regiment of WW 1 fame, the old National Light Infantry of 1861 another of the famed First Defenders, became the Headquarters Battery, 213th Coast Artillery. Again August of 1924 they were reorganized to arm the 213th Coast Artillery. During the years that followed the units became highly proficient in there new roll as anti aircraft artillery, with its intricate problems of three dimensional gunnery, tactical organization, material and fire control instruments. Adapting itself to its new assignment and concentrating on training, the companies and regiment soon attained a technique and tactical proficiency which made it second to none and which placed it high among the vital instruments essential to the National Defense of the Nation and State.
The companies along with the regiment followed an intensive training program which include annual field training camps at stations in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Delaware and New Jersey. It participated in the III Corps maneuvers at Heuvelton, New York, near Ogdensburg, and conducted firing practice from Fort Ontario New York. It received a citation from headquarters 28th Division, during the First Army Maneuvers for its High Spirit and usual initiative” and for “the efferent manner in which the regiment gave anti aircraft protection.”
In early December 1942, the 213th Coast Artillery moved from Camp Stewart into the New York Metropolitan area for the defense of the Coast Line. In April 1942 the 213th was split up, many men moved into different branches of the Army; some went into the Engineers, Infantry and other branches. Some cadre stayed behind and rebuilt the 213th coast Artillery. It is hard to trace the men or unit at this point. We know the 213th served in Northern Ireland, Scotland, North Africa, Italy and France. They also participated in the following campaigners: Tunisia, Naples, Foggia, Anzio, Rome-Arno, North Apennines, Po valley Rhineland, Algeria, French Morocco. Eventually the unit was inactivated in 1944 after being in the service of our country for four years. We are quite sure, even though the unit and men from Schuylkill County went in different directions during the war; they served their country and state with dignity and honor, as did their forefathers.

From A History of Pottsville’s National Guard Units.

HQ Battery, Schuylkill Haven Pud Fager 1st Sgt. In Front.

213th Coast Arty Band From Pottsville, Pa.

Machine Gun Battery Firing at Balloons Grand View Beach, Va.

Gun ready for action 213th CA.

Front Row Left to right Irvin MArtin, Ed Armbuster, Norman Golden Francis Francis,unknown , Bob Rowe Vaughan Hipple. 213th

The Boat that took the 213th from Phila, to Fort Monroe Va.

On Board the Chateau Thierry

F.W.D. Trucks taking the boys to the pistol range Ft. Monroe, Va.

PINE GROVE MARINE PILOT. LT. LARRY HAWKINS VMF-311 ESCORTS TED WILLIAMS CRIPPLED PLANE IN KOREAN WAR.

2011-09-01T01:42:00.006-04:00

Ted Williams

Red Sox’s Ted Williams Escorted By Schuylkill County Flier.

The Article in the February 19, 1953 Issue of the Pottsville Republican stated: Ted Williams Escorted By County Flier.

A Pine Grove boy piloted a jet fighter bomber that escorted Ted Williams back to an advanced Korean Base after the ball Player’s fighter plane began to burn after participating in a recent raid against an enemy base in North Korea.
He is 2nd Lieutenant Lawrence Hawkins, 75 east Pottsville St. Lt. Hawkins marked his 22nd birthday last Thursday.
News of Lt. Hawkins feat in escorting Williams to safety was contained in a news dispatch from the war area.
Hawkins a graduate of Pine grove High School, class of 1948 enlisted in the Marine Corps following his graduation from High School. He served in the Marines for 21 months and was stationed at Cherry Point, N.C. He then switched to the naval air arm and took flight training at Pensacola Fla. Where he received his wings early 1952. He went to Korea last November and in the last letter received by his family he related he had completed 44 missions, had two air medals and a rest leave in Japan.
From Ted Williams Book ,”My Turn At Bat The story of My Life ” he relates the story of his rescue.

F9F
Somebody wrote one time that I had privately resigned myself to my fate, that I thought I was going to Korea to die. That’s not true. The thing that always brought me to my senses about relative danger was the F9. When I flew it, I always marveled at how good a plane it was and how much better I had it than some of the guys in the South Pacific who flew over water al the time ad in equipment that wasn’t as good.

After about eight or ten missins, I began to get real sick. The weather was miserable, cold, foggy, misty. My ears and nose plugged up. I was going to the infirmary every other day. Well, I was out on this one mission, far above thirty-eight Parallel. Our target was an encampment a large troop concentration. We were nearing the target when I lost visual reference with the fellow in front of me. I swung out to pick him up, and when I got back on target I was too low.
We were supposed to be pretty low anyway, using daisy cutters that day, anti personnel bombs that hit and spread out. But now I was a target for I don’t know how many thousands of gooks in that encampment, and sure as hell I got hit with small arms fire. When I pulled up out of my run, all the red lights were on in the plane and the damn thing started to shake. I knew I had a hydraulic leak. Fuel warning light, there are so many lights on a jet that when anything serious goes wrong the lights almost blind you. I was in serious trouble.
I started to call right away, I had a plane in front and one to the side, but I couldn’t pick anybody up. All of a sudden this plane was right behind me. The pilot was a young sandy haired lieutenant named Larry Hawkins, from Pine Grove, Pennsylvania. He could see I was calling, nodding my head, and the last I heard was, “I can barely read your transmission,” and the radio pooped out. Later he told me he was yelling for me to shoot the canopy and bail out, and if I‘d known I was on fire I probably would have. He came up close and I saw he was pointing like mad, trying to show me I was leaking fuel or something. He signaled with his thumb: “Let’s get up,” So we climbed. Altitude is a safety factor. The thinner air helps in case of fire, and if you get another 10,000 feet you can glide thirty five to forty miles if the engine fails.
Meantime, I had taken off my leg strap which holds the data for the trip, I was sure I was going to have to bail out. I’d gone off my hydraulic system. (When it’s damaged it is safer to fly without hydraulics, even though you really have to wrestle the stick.) I got up to 18,000 feet and I could see the frozen water on my right. Any minute I expected I’d have to bail out, and I always dreaded the prospect. It was the only real fear I had flying a plane, that if I had to bail out I wouldn’t make it. Among other things, the cockpit is small. For a big guy, crammed in like I was, I thought I’d surely leave my knee cap right there.
Lieutenant Hawkins did a great job. He led me back to the field and called in to warn them. From the target to the base, flying time was about fifteen minutes. All of a sudden I was over the field. Not the same field I had taken off from but one nearer the target. It was a mad house.

Williams landed successfully at the base, thanks to Schuylkill countian Lt. Larry Hawkins.

CAPTAIN CHARLES C. ZALONKA ....BOMBARDIER KNOWN AS 'THE SILENT SUCCESS-O-METER

2011-08-31T22:38:00.008-04:00

B-17

Pottsville Bombardier Earns Oak Leaf Cluster to The Distinguished Flying Cross.

1st Lieutenant Charles Zalonka
Pottsville
April 21, 1945

“Target time in two minutes,” came over the interphone. A shower of steel peppered against the wing and fuselage of the Flying Fortress that was leading the mission. The weather was hazy and the smoke pots set up a screen that further obscured the target. First Lt. Charles C. Zalonka of Pottsville, took a final look at his target chart and bent over the bombsight. His skilled hands set meters, turned knobs, last minute corrections were made. A dozen 500 pound bombs tumbled from the belly of the 15th Air Force B-17 Flying Fort. Crewman’s eyes strained as they followed the course of the explosives. Someone laughed and yelled, “Mr. Hitler, recount your oil refineries”. Smoke and flame billowed heavenward. The planes came off the target, rallied and headed home. Tail gunners watched the smoke and flame grow to 20, 000 feet and could still see it a distance of 250 miles. It was the last gas producing target within the operating area of the 15th Air force in Italy. Following this mission Charlie added one more oak leaf cluster to the Distinguished Flying Cross.

The Citation read in Part.” On this and many other occasions, Lt. Zalonka has displayed superb skill and inspired leadership.” The man who wrote that citation has seen Zalonka records. There was Schwartsheide Synthetic Oil Refinery, 15th March, 1945 “good Results” Sopron Hungary, railroad Yards, “Very well hit” Linz Austria, railroad Yards “well Hit” in Italy. Zalonka has flown 23 missions; Five times he has lead his squadron as lead bombardier.

1945
On March 25, 1945 1st Lt. Zalonka was promoted to Captain.

Captain Zalonka is known as the "The Silent Success-O-Meter", Officers who know him insist that he is a born bombardier. When a flight is in the preparation he studies the maps, target charts and photographs, memorizing all identifiable buildings, landmarks and approaches within several miles of the target.And on the bomb runs he watches for these points. That is why he is considered one of the outstanding egg droppers in the Mediterranean theatre and is credited with hitting the target point blank out of 22 times.

Captain Zalonka is flying from a 15th Air Force B-17 Flying Fortress base in Italy, and has led his squadron many times over oi refineries, rail yards and such important targets many times. He says he prefers not to wear a flak suit because it is so bulky and a touch of it against the adjustments of the bomb sight throws it out of calibration. This he thinks has some bearing in his success. His citation reads: "On this and many other occasions Lt. Zalonka has displayed superb skill and inspired leadership"

Note:

Tragically in 1955, then Captain Charles Zalonka was killed in an accident while flying as a navigator on board the B-36 Bomber.
A B-36J-5-CF Tail Number 52 2818A assigned to Walker AFB New Mexico, crashed on a training flight. They encountered sever turbulence and weather over Texas while flying at 25,000 feet.

B-36
The Aircraft began to disintegrate in flight resulting in the loss of control and went into a flat spin, and struck the ground at high impact resulting in the aircraft exploding. This made location of the bodies and identification very difficult.
Zalonka was the 2nd Navigator on board the aircraft.
One theory stated that the Fifteen airmen died in the flaming crash of the B-36 bomber in rugged territory 60 miles from San Angelo, Texas. Air Force spokesmen said apparently the big craft was snapped up by a howling tornado skipping high above the ground.

Schuylkill Counties 33 Casualty During the Vietnam War Pfc. Thomas P. McKerns, Mahanoy City.. August 28, 1969.

2011-08-28T11:49:00.002-04:00

Three days after Sgt. Paul F. Kostick was killed at Tay Ninh August 25, 1969, Schuylkill County once again suffered another casualty in the Vietnam War. On August 28, 1969 at Quang Tin Province South Vietnam, while sprinting through an open field to help wounded members of his platoon who were pinned down by the North Vietnamese. Pfc Thomas P. McKerns was hit with a hail of machine gun fire and killed. Pfc. McKerns was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star with V device and Oak Leaf Cluster, among other medals.
Tom was from Mahanoy City, he was 21 years old at the time of his death. He was a member of Company B, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry.
The 4th Battalion went to Vietnam in the spring of 1966, operating initially in War Zone D and around Tay Ninh near the Cambodian border. In 1967, the battalion moved north to help form the 23d "Americal" Infantry Division. Operating at Quang Ngai, Chu Lai, and the Que Son Valley for most of the rest of the war, the 4th Battalion fought to keep Viet Cong guerillas and the North Vietnamese Army from capturing the coastal lowlands. Two of the battalion's members earned the Medal of Honor almost a year apart near the bitterly-contested village of Hiep Duc. When American forces departed, the 4th Battalion 31st Infantry was part of the last brigade to leave Vietnam. It was deactivated in 1971.

96th P.V.I at Camp Northumberland. Virgina. 1862

2011-08-26T22:19:00.005-04:00

The 96th in Regimental Formation At Camp Northumberland, Wearing Their Regulation Frock Coats, Dark Blue Trousers And Hardee Hats. A Fine Example Of A Fighting Regiment During The Civil War.

Pottsville Miners Journal
January 14, 1862

Camp Northumberland

Here is an interesting article written to the Miners Journal concerning the 96th P.V.I.'s camp in the Virginia country side outside of Washington.

Camp Northumberland, Jan. 4 1862

Dear Journal- It being sometime since a communication has appeared in your valuable columns from the 96th. I thought that a few lines would not come amiss at this present instant. The more especially as many in and around your borough have relatives or friends serving in the ranks, for whose personal welfare they have and feel a warm interest.
We are at present encamped about 2½ miles from the city of Alexandria , and about the same distance from the Long Bridge, near the line of the Louden and Hampshire Railway, where it crosses Four Mile run, which is about three hundred and fifty yards below us.
The spot is a most admirably adapted for the purpose intended, situated as it is, near to good water, and completely sheltered from the weather by hills which are well wooded.
The streets are laid out with mathematical precision, and the tents of the men are, in their way, models of comfort. They are placed on good log foundations, the inter-space plastered with clay, and are as a general thing floored. Each tent contains a fire place built of brick, which our efficient Regimental Quartermaster was so fortunate as to obtain for the hauling at no great distance from the grounds. Altogether we have one of the handsomest, best regulated, and cleanest camps on this side of the Potomac.
Each man has been supplied with two blankets and an overcoat which though in some cases of rather inferior quality is sufficient to make them comfortable. The provisions provided for the men according to regulations are good, and as to quantity, ample, as many of your citizens who have visited us can testify to.
The health of the men is most excellent, but few being at present in the hands of the surgeon, and the majority of those who are there, being so from their own indiscretion.
Some two weeks ago we had a trial of picketing on the Little River Turnpike, our outposts being within cannon shot of the rebels The officers and men seemed to like this duty so much that they were sorry when they were relieved, wishing that they may be detailed for especially for that purpose. Nothing of special note occurred during the trip; but the stories of hair breadth escapes, gallant forays, and daring adventures that circulated among the men on their return, would excite the admiration and envy of Sylvanus Cobb, Emerson Hounett, and the other storiests of the New York Ledger, generally.
The health of our Colonel has for some days past been delicate, but we are most happy to say that he is now convalescent, and will be able, shortly to resume the arduous duties of his new profession. The health of the other officers as a general thing is excellent. Lt. Col. Frick never looked better, and Major Martin flourishes finely. Our kind and most respected Chaplain seems to endure the hardships of the camp well., and our Surgeon who by the by is in common parlance, a splendid fellow. He cures the many pains that our human flesh is heir as much by his exuberant humor and attie wit, as he does with his strengthening compounds.
We have lately been furnished with new Austrian musket, which though rather clumsy in construction, owing to the imperfect finish, is a most efficient weapon.
As yet the majority of the men have not been paid since we were formed into a regiment, why, I know not. Neither will pretend to say, doubtless good reasons could be assigned, if it were necessary. John Bruns Esq., has been appointed paymaster, and the probability is, though uncertain, that we will be paid off.
We have had several attempts to snow lately, but until last evening they did not amount to much. At present there is about inches of snow and sleet on the ground.
Owing to the continued inclemency of the weather, we have done little duty lately; but prior to this, we were kept steadily to work. Our men begin to drill well and bid fair at rival the crack regimental of the reserve. Brig. General Slocum, who, by the by, has won the hearts of the men by his humble and soldierly bearing, honored the regiment a short time ago with his special attention, trying that they did honor the brigade; and that they were fit at any moment to be led into action; hinting that the same time, that the day was not far distant when they would have a chance to display their loyalty and show their mettle.
There are rumors of an onward movement, and report says, that we are to be in it. How soon we know not, but wait in expectancy. The Potomac is to be opened; Richmond is to be occupied; so look for stirring times shortly. When the time does come, your readers can rest assured, that good old County of Schuylkill will not be disgraced by her children of the 96th.
Yours Ninety-Sixth.

Pottsville Miners Journal
January 19, 1862

Camp Northumberland

This is a letter from Major M. Edgar Richards the Adjutant of the regiment describing the conditions of the 96th's camp at Camp Northumberland. The letter was written on January 19, 1862 while the regiment was still encamped.

I thought I new what muddy was were from traveling experiences, but I find since my introduction to the sacred soil that I am commencing to learn. It is a soil that readily becomes mud- the water is not absorbed, nor does it seem to run off. There is also no limit to the depth of Virginia mud- It is difficult to find a hard place..
We are noted for having the cleanest and driest camp in the division, and from personal experience I should judge, tat the mud in our camp is the thinnest place it must be about three inches judging from what I saw riding through them to headquarters this morning, the mud in the other camps must be about knee deep, and how they walk about at all is a marvel to me.
We are situated with our camp, on a side hill, and have taken care by grading and leveling and rolling with a very heavy iron roller, to get the ground firm and hard before the rainy season came on, but the water absolutely refuses to run off, even down a pretty steep grade. We are infinitely better off than our neighbors on the flat, who have no grade, and did not take the trouble we did. The ground is best described by comparing it to a sponge.
It is surprising how people accustom themselves to circumstances, here we walk about through the mud and pouring rain, with the same non chalance and indifference as if we were walking on Brussels carpet in the parlor at home. I have to laugh at it every day, and although I have come accustomed to doing it myself, I can't help noticing it in others- You see them wading about in it like ducks, never even looking for shallow places.
Every day or two it clears up for an hour or so, and then takes a fresh start, and rains with renewed energy.

IN MEMORY OF SGT. PAUL F. KOSTICK

2011-08-25T08:55:00.000-04:00

IN MEMORY OF SGT. PAUL F. KOSTICK

Paul Francis Kostick
Sergeant

PERSONAL DATA
Home of Record: Gilberton, PA
Date of birth: 01/10/1948

MILITARY DATA
Service: Army of the United States
Grade at loss: E4
Rank: Sergeant
Note: Posthumous Promotion as indicated
ID No: 172409241
MOS: 11C20: Indirect Fire Infantryman
Length Service: 01
Unit: A CO, 1ST BN, 12TH CAVALRY, 1ST CAV DIV, USARV

CASUALTY DATA
Start Tour: 12/14/1968
Incident Date: 08/25/1969
Casualty Date: 08/25/1969
Age at Loss: 21
Location: Tay Ninh Province, South Vietnam
Remains: Body recovered
Casualty Type: Hostile, died outright
Casualty Reason: Ground casualty
Casualty Detail: Artillery, rocket, or mortar

URL: www.VirtualWall.org/dk/KostickPF01a.htm

ON THE WALL Panel 19W Line 113

Charles N. Taylor Co. E 84th Indiana Volunteers..."Oh the life of a soldier is the life for me"

2011-08-14T19:11:00.003-04:00

The following letter was written by Charles N. Taylor a young man who lived in Minersville before moving to Indiana. During the Civil War Taylor enlisted in the 84th Indiana regiment and wrote many letters to the Miners Journal.

This letter is such a good example of the life of the common soldier in the civil war. This letter could have been written by a soldier from any war past or present.

FROM THE 84TH INDIANA VOLUNTEER REGIMENT

HEADQUARTERS COMPANBY E 84TH INDIANA REGIMENT

2nd Div, 2nd Brigade, 4th A.C.
Okrrwah Station, Feb. 4th 1864

Editors Miners Journal: Since my last letter to you I have taken a long march and changed my place of encampment. We were seeing easy time and had good and comfortable dog house erected: were drawing full rations and had drawn light bread three times. After we had drawn twice, the boys said we would leave in a few days. Why? Because we are drawing light bread? It is ever so. I have ever known it to fail, that when ever we draw light bread, and had good and comfortable quarters, that we were sure to leave in a few days. Such was our day when we were at Shell Mound. On the morning of the 25th ult. At reveille we had orders top be ready at 10 a.m., to march. After breakfast all was in an uproar in the camp, packing boxes. At 10 a.m. the brigade took up the line of March., the 1st brigade in the advance. The 2nd Brigade only marched 3 miles. The weather clear and pleasant. Early the next morning we took up the line of march again. Today our road runs through what is called the narrows. The dirt road runs between the railroad and the river. And is only wide enough for one wagon to run on. The first brigade being in the advance with their teams, together with Division teams they cut up the road so badly that it was almost impossible for teams laden as ours were, to come through, therefore we made slow progress the first two days having only marched about six miles. The next morning early, we again took up the line of march and passed through Whiteside. This is a small station on the K&C R.R. and before the taking of Lookout Mountain. Was a post of the utmost importance and extreme danger though it was fortified and garrisoned by old and experienced soldiers, viz: 36th and 30th Indiana , 77th Pa. and 84th Ill. With the 4th U.S. Battery, Col. Grosse, of the 36th Ind. Commanded the Brigade. The troops here also had good and comfortable quarters erected and like ourselves had to leave them. So it is with the soldier. After he has himself comfortably fixed and about to compliment himself upon his good workmanship upon his dog houses he receives orders to leave. He takes it all easy and thinks that if he has to go some of his brother soldiers will receive the benefits of them.

Oh the life of a soldier is the life for me,
He takes his duty merrily,
The winds can whistle, while he can sing,
Still faithful to his friends and kin.

We marched until about 4 p.m. when we went into camp for the night, on the bank of Lookout Creek, we having marched 12 miles today. Moccasin point is plainly to be seen and as I look across the Tennessee River and see our old camping ground, it recalls to my mind the dangers and hardships we endured while there. There are built there now good and comfortable barracks. While we lay there five weeks without blankets and tents and on half rations, our duties were so heavy we had no time to erect barracks. There is Lookout Mt. how different it looks now. How different this place looks now from that it had in Sept. 1863. The railroad has been completed and the trains loaded and rations and running daily. The commissary stores are stored away in all directions, and in general it presents quite a military appearance. We marched some tree miles south of town, where we went into camp for the night at the foot of mission ridge, on the battleground of November last.
The next morning we took up the line of march, crossed the ridge, Chickamauga creek, and then went into camp on a ridge among the trees. We lay here in camp for three days, when we again took up the line of march for this place, distance from our camp some 8 miles. It was about 10.a.m. when we started, and we went into camp here about 2 p.m. pretty fast march8ing I thought. And all of use obliged to labor under great disadvantages .viz: knapsacks or all our wardrobe and furniture, an advantage we posses that when we move we are able to take all our goods and chattels with us upon our backs. We are now lying at the above mentioned station. Enjoying ourselves as all soldiers should. The rebels are only seven miles distant, but what cares the soldier for them? We fear them not.

“Tis much he dares
And to that dauntless temper of his mind
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valor
To act in safety”

There is a small stream here named Wolf-teaver. The railroad crosses it by means of a bridge, built mostly of stone. The wood work has been destroyed by the rebels, but as I am writing, I look down toward it and see an engine is there and competent hands at work who will so repair the same in six hours that the cars can run across in safety. In the course of a few days, should nothing unexpected turn up the cars will run through to that contested place, Knoxville.
How does the war fever rage in your peaceful town? Is there a prospect of this cruel war being over? As I am, writing how my memory wonders, I am away there in your quiet town, then at home with my parents. Then in another moment all is over, and I find myself here in east Tennessee, in my dog tent. Paper, pen and ink before me and surrounded on all sides by brother soldiers, who like, myself, have responded to their country’s call and to protect that flag, which in the opinion of a few mean an unprincipled politicians and demagogues, ought to be trampled into the dust. Never shall that be done though, while there are left a few young patriots, though many have fallen and are now quietly sleeping beneath the green sward. Yes, many a brave companion I have lost, but they were fghti9ng for a good and just cause, the maintenance of the constitution, and for that blood bought emblem the stars and stripes bestowed on us by or forefathers. Still these stay at home cowards and politicians would fain see it go down. That never shall be, No never !
Prate on vile traitors,
Thou can’t hurt no soldier’s fame with thou ill words,
Though tongues are as harmless as thy swords,
But keep clear of us boys
I will close this letter by stating that the heath of the regiment is good and mine also.

C.N.T. 84th Co. E Indiana Volunteers

The War Horse “Dollie Slocum”

2011-07-12T22:31:00.003-04:00

Me and My War Horse "Savage" In Memory of "Dollie Slocum"Dr. D W. Bland 96th Pennsylvania Infantry And His War Horse “Dollie Slocum”

Death of Dollie Slocum
August 3, 1883

The old gray mare, the property of Dr. Bland, was found dead in her stall on the farm of James Kilpatrick, near Schuylkill Haven, Thursday morning.
She was about thirty years old. The Doctor purchased her in October 1861, previous to entering the Army of the Potomac.
This mare had an eventful career. She never lost a day of duty during the three years of active service in the field. She was present at all the general battles of the Army of the Potomac. Also in numerous skirmishes and reconnaissance’s of the old Sixth Corps.
When the army was sent to the Peninsula in 62 she in company with a number of other horses, stood on board of a schooner for twenty five days and was then hoisted from the deck and thrown into the water to swim ashore. At Gettysburg she was a conspicuous target for a rebel sharpshooter positioned near round top. The Doctor used her through the Wilderness and Spotsylvania campaigns, down to Petersburg then back to Washington, down the Shenandoah Valley to Winchester, Fishers Hill and back to Harpers Ferry.
For the past six months she has been leading a retired life on the above mentioned farm.
She was very much admired by different officers in the army among whom may be mentioned. Generals Slocum, Franklin, Sedgwick, Wright, Bartlett and others.
The doctor had her properly buried on the farm, where she lived. Peace to the ashes of “Dollie Slocum”.

2011-07-04T10:57:00.002-04:00

The cost of freedom is always high, but Americans have always paid it. And one path we shall never choose, and that is the path of surrender, or submission.
John F. Kennedy

In memory of all those from Schuylkill County who have kept America Free!
Happy 4th of July everyone!

Schuylkill Countians Killed In Vietnam During The Month Of June 1967-68-69

2011-06-16T21:14:00.007-04:00

19 year old Pfc. Dennis E. Hoffman, Orwin
23 year old Sgt. Frederick W. Schaeffer, Potsville
20 year old Sgt. Michael J. Kaplafka, Mahanoy city
19 year old Pfc. Richard D. Roberts, Pottsville

TAG PHOTOS TO ENLARGE

DEAR OLD STANDARD BATTLE TORN AND GORY.. THE STORY OF THE 96TH PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY'S FIRST FLAG

2011-06-14T08:32:00.004-04:00

Today is Flag day,
This stirring poem was written about the battle flag of the 96th P.V.I. and states with pride and honor what an important part the flag played in the make up of this regiment.

The regimental flag was to be protected at all costs, even with the lives of the men entrusted with its care, the color bearers and the color guard. To be selected as a member of the color guard was one of the most distinguished honors bestowed upon a Civil war soldier. To carry the colors into battle meant that one was in the fore front of the regiment. One knew that enemy fire would be focused on one's position and the possibility existed that one would be killed or wounded. It took a man of extraordinary courage to be a color bearer, and men from Schuylkill county courageously filled this post of honor often paying with their lives. Not once in battle did a Schuylkill county regiment permanently lose their colors to an enemy regiment.

The 96th Flag as it looked and today

TO OUR OLD BATTLE FLAG

By J.T.B.
November 21, 1863

Dear old standard, rent and torn,
Tattered, soiled and gory;
Hallowed banner, battle worn,
Let me tell your story.

True hearts own! By patriot hand
To valor thou wast given,
When the union of our land
By rebel blows was riven.

A thousand freemen followed thee
Mid sighs, and tears, and prayers,
To shield their true love, Liberty,
And scourge her base betrayers.

West point saw your folds baptized
With the waves of battle-
Saw your dreamings realized
Amid the muskets rattle.

By Chickahominy’s sad stream,
In Richmond’s air you quivered:
And, in the sparkle of its gleam,
Our serried ranks, were shivered.

O’er Gaines Hill your ensign beamed;
Waved high at Savage Station;
At Charles City Crossroads streamed,
An honor to the nation.

Next, where Freedom’s son retired
Before foul treason’s minions
By Red Bull Run, you rose inspired,
And stretched your shielding pinions.

Then at Crampton’s Gap you led
Our charging ranks to glory;
Drooped o’er fierce Antietam’s dead,
And made yourself a story.

Thrice, at Fredericksburg, your stars
Gleamed on the Rappahannock;
Cold and Chill your Crimson bars
Lit Salem’s sanguine bannock.

At Gettysburg, where the true cross’d corps
Hurled back the foe victorious,
Mid powder smoke and cannons roar,
You waved serene and glorious.

And ever since, through storm and rack,
Unterrified, undaunted,
You’ve followed on curs’d treason’s track,\
Where’er its rag was flaunted.

Scarce a shred of you remains;
Your stars have ceased to sparkle;
Your virgin white bears battle stains;
Your bars no longer darkle.

Yet, with soldiers pride we look
Upon thy tattered splendor,
And read our trials, as from a book,
With feelings sad and tender.

Green be mem’ry of the braves
Who fell, thy cause maintaining,
A nation’s prayers illume their graves,
Their praise be ever gaining-

But let public finger wag
And scout the regiments proudest,
Who left thee desolate, old flag,
When treason’s storm sway’d loudest.

May bitter thoughts corrode their minds, ‘
and let their foiled ambitions
die with their names, like passing winds,
their lives be kind contrition’s.

Honored flag of Auld Lang Syne!
Fall Union’s foes before us,
Whilst a thread or star of thine
Remains to waver o’er us.

In camp September, 1863

To read about the individual color bearers from Schuylkill County se my post for
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Schuylkill County Color Bearers During the Civil War Only the Brave were Chosen

Fleetweek, 2011 Trip To U.S.S. Intrepid Walk Around

2011-05-31T13:42:00.082-04:00

Took my grandson on a trip to New York for Fleetweek on Memorial Day Weekend to the U.S.S. Intrepid. If you get a chance don't miss this excellent tour of one of America's finest ships.

Some of my photo's

Photo's inside the Intrepid

Some of the aircraft displays on the flight deck of the Intrepid and flying in the area.

IT WAS THE FINEST LITTLE FIGHT I EVER SAW...Schuylkill Countian Lieutenant Edward H. Lieb And The 5th U.S. Cavalry at Kellys Ford March 17, 1863

2011-05-24T22:09:00.009-04:00

In March, 1863, in a fierce cavalry fight at Kelley's Ford, the rebels under Lee, were handsomely whipped. Lieutenant Edward. H. Leib,of Pottsville, of the Fifth United States Cavalry, participated in the engagement, and subsequently wrote us the following account of it:

On the 16th of March a cavalry force under the command of General Averill moved up the Rappahannock to the Orange and Alexandria Railway for the purpose of crossing the river at Kelly's Ford and marching in the direction of Culpepper, where a strong force of the enemy's cavalry were assembled under the command of General Fitzhugh Lee. The column arrived at the ford on the morning of the 17th, and, after a sharp skirmish, overwhelmed the enemy's pickets, effected a crossing, and then moved in the direction of Culpepper Court-House, and about one mile from the ford a stubborn and desperate combat ensued, and during a struggle of four hours' duration the enemy were driven back about six miles. General Averill, finding that his ammunition was about exhausted, then withdrew his troops and recrossed the ford at dark, the enemy following him with some slight demonstrations.

This was the first cavalry engagement of the war in which a division was engaged on each side. The National forces consisted of seven volunteer regiments, the Sixth New York battery, and detachments from the regular cavalry which included three squadrons (C, E, G, H, I, and K) of the regiment under the command of Lieutenant Leib. The enemy's forces consisted of five regiments of cavalry and a battery.

At the second attempt of the enemy to rally, the regiment seized the opportunity and made a brilliant charge which forced them into a rapid retreat and won the commendation of General Averill. The National loss was eighty-four killed, wounded, and missing. The enemy's loss was one hundred and thirty-three. A large number of horses were killed and wounded on each side.

A letter from Lieb to the Miners Journal:

Camp Near Falmouth, March 20, 1863. I suppose you have heard of the cavalry, and of the success of the last trip we were on over the Rappahannock. We crossed at Kelley's Ford; had quite a fight with the rebels, and have taught them one thing, that we can whip them in a fair stand-up fight. We left camp for our trip on the 16th, and arrived at Morrisville at dusk. There we camped over night, and at two in the morning we started for Kelley's Ford, and there met the enemy. We had quite a time in crossing, but we were determined to cross, and we did. I am sorry, however, to state that we lost some good men while effecting the passage. We took about twenty-five prisoners and killed several of the rebels. We then, after getting the artillery over safely, moved on the road for Culpepper Court House; but we had not gone far before our cavalry came upon General Lee's brigade with himself at its head. They made a charge, but our men met them splendidly and drove them back. But they were not satisfied, and soon came over on our right flank. I must here state they made a grand mistake. The Fifth and First Cavalry were there, and your humble little friend had the honor of commanding the Fifth on the occasion. I was ordered to charge, which 1 did, leading the gallant regiment. We drove them, and I suppose they will admit that they were never driven so before. We kept it up until they got out of sight, and we were ordered back by the General, or rather Captain Reno, who commanded the brigade. Captain liaker had command of the First Cavalry. I was then ordered to move up in line of battle with the regiment, which I did through the thick woods and marshy ground, into a clearing. It was hot work to get there, but we made them leave, and obeyed our orders to drive them. As soon as we arrived about two hundred yards in the opening, they opened one whole battery on my command. It was rather a hot place, but the men stood it like Spartans, and held their ground until ordered to fall back, which was done in splendid style. We again foiled the enemy under the hottest fire I ever saw. The men were a little confused, but did not break or straggle. When the enemy saw our line moving back, their cavalry made a charge down the road. We could see that they meant to do some tall charging, but we moved up to meet them with drawn saber, and they turned and tied. They do not like our eold steel. They here broke and ran up to their entrenchments, scattering in every direction. It was the finest little fight I ever saw, and the old Fifth had the work to do. The regiment had the advance after crossing the ford on the other side, and in conjunction with the First United States Cavalry, had the rear guard in crossing the ford. On this side of the river I had the rear guard back to Morrisville.

I would not have missed the fight for a great deal, and hope soon to again show the country that we can whip the rebel cavalry every day in the week. The army is now in fine spirits, and our cavalry fight is all the talk in camp. The cavalry arc for the present the tigers of this army, and hope soon again to meet the rebel cavalry. Yours, E. H. L.

EDWARD H. LEIB

Was born in Pennsylvania. He was engaged in civil pursuits at the beginning of the rebellion against the United States, and at once enlisted in the Washington Artillery (an independent organization) April 16, 1861, and marched with his company, which was the first to arrive at Washington from the North, for the defense of the capital, where he served until May, when he was appointed, from Pennsylvania, a second lieutenant in the Fifth (old Second) Cavalry, to date from April 26, 1861, and was promoted a first lieutenant June 10, 1861. He joined on the 18th of May, and participated, five days afterwards, in the capture of Alexandria. He served in the Manassas campaign and was engaged in the battle of Bull Run, where he re-established the picket-line after the battle, and held it until relieved by volunteer infantry, when he returned with the detachment of the regiment to the defenses of Washington, where he served during the winter of 1861-62, and participated (commanding a company) in the Manassas, Virginia Peninsular, Maryland, and Rappahannock campaigns, and was engaged in the skirmish at Cedar Run, the siege of Yorktown, the battle of Williamsburg, and in almost daily skirmishes with the enemy during the advance towards Richmond, the battle of Hanover Court-House, the reconnaissance towards Ashland, the action at Old Church, where he won the brevet of captain, to date from June 13, 1862, for gallant and meritorious services; with the advance-guard when General "Stonewall" Jackson made his movement to join General Lee, and brought up the rear-guard before the battle of Gaines's Mill, and with five companies disputed the movement of the enemy; the battle of Gaines's Mill, the skirmish at Savage Station and the battle of Malvern Hill, on picket-duty at St. Mary's Church and in front of Malvern Hill, with the regiment as a part of the rear-guard of the Army of the Potomac during the evacuation of the Peninsula, the battles of South Mountain and Antietam, and the skirmish near Shepherdstown.'
He then marched to Old Town and Cumberland, Md., and thence in the direction of Romney, Va., until he was ordered to participate in the pursuit of the enemy, who was raiding in Maryland. He marched two hundred miles in that State and Pennsylvania, when he was sent to St. James College, near Williamsport, Md., and soon thereafter was engaged with the enemy near Halltown, the skirmishes near Union and Upperville, the action at Markham's Station, the skirmishes at Manassas Gap, Snicker's Gap, and Little "Washington, the actions at Amissville and Hazel Run, the battle of Fredericksburg, and the reconnaissance near Falmouth.
He served during the winter of 1862-63 near Falmouth, Va., and was employed on picket and outpost duty until March, when he was engaged with the enemy at Kelly's Ford (commanding a detachment of the regiment), the first cavalry battle of the war, and which resulted in a decisive victory for the National troops. He was complimented on the field by General Averill for the gallant conduct of the regiment. He participated, April and May, 1863, in General Stoneman's raid towards Richmond, and was engaged in the combat near
Brandy Station, the skirmish at Shannon Hill, and the engagement at Fleming's Cross-Roads, where he was distinguished for gallantry.
He was promoted a captain April 13, 1863, and joined his company on the 17th of May, and participated in the Pennsylvania and Central Virginia campaigns, and was engaged in the battle of Beverly Ford, the skirmish at Aldie, the actions at Middletown and Snicker's Gap, near Upperville, the battle of Gettysburg, the actions at Williamsport, Boonsboro, Funkstown, and Falling Water; the action near, and battle of, Brandy Station, the action at Morton's Ford, the combat of Bristoe Station, and the opera. tions at Mine Run in November and December 1863.
He served at the winter camp near Mitchell's Station, Va., until February, 1864, when he participated in the actions near Barnett's Ford on the Rapidan, at Charlottesville and Stannardsville, and the skirmish near Morton's Ford. He was then assigned to Baltimore as a mustering and disbursing officer, and when General Early invaded Maryland in July, 1864, he reported to General Lew. Wallace for active service, and was engaged in the battle at Frederick, Md., on the 7th, and in conjunction with other troops brought up the rear-guard, on the 8th, to Monocacy Junction, and on the morning of the 9th he assumed command of a detachment of mounted infantry and assisted in holding the Baltimore Pike, which was the only road on which General Wallace could retire his defeated army.
Upon the termination of these operations he returned to Baltimore, and was appointed, on the 13th of July, inspector and chief of cavalry of the Eighth Army Corps, and served in that position until about the end of November, when he rejoined and commanded the regiment from the 3d of December, 1864, to the 13th of January, 1865, during which time he participated in General Torbett's raid to Gordonsville and was engaged in the skirmishes near Madison Court-House, Gordonsville, and Paris.
He participated in General Sheridan's last raid era route to join the closing Richmond campaign, and was engaged in the skirmishes near Staunton and Bent's Creek, captured a quantity of ammunition and provisions at Scottsville, and destroyed the canal-locks and some boats at that place; in the action at South Anna Bridge, where he destroyed the railroad; and finally arrived at the White House, and crossed the river at Deep Bottom and rejoined the Army of the Potomac. He was severely wounded, while commanding the regiment, in the action between Dinwiddie Court-House and Five Forks on the 31st of March, 1865. He was made a brevet major, to date from April 1, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services at Five Forks, and a brevet lieutenant-colonel, to date from April 1, 1865, for gallant aud meritorious services during the war of the Rebellion.
He rejoined the regiment at Cumberland, Md., on the 25th of June, and commanded it until the 19th of September, when he was transferred to the Southern States and served during the reconstruction period in Tennessee aud Kentucky, commanding a detachment of the regiment at Nashville, and his company at Gallatin, Franklin, and other stations, and had some field-service against guerrillas. He captured, in June, 1866, a noted outlaw near Memphis, and in October captured the guerrilla Harper and five of his men; and in November he had a successful encounter with a party of guerrillas near Black Jack, Tenn.
He was on a leave of absence from August to December, 1868; commanded Fort Harker, Kan., from December, 1868, to June, 1869; and served at Fort McPherson, Neb., and Fort Laramie, Wyo., from November, 1869, to November, 1871, when he marched to Fort D. A. Russell, Wyo., and accompanied the second detachment of the regiment, by the way of San Francisco and the Gulf of California, to Arizona, and arrived at Camp Grant February 10, 1872, where he served until February, 1873. He then availed himself of a sick-leave of absence until March, 1874, when he rejoined his company at Camp Grant, where he served until October, when he again availed himself of a sick-leave of absence until September, 1875, when ho rejoined his company at Fort Lyon, Col., and served at the station, having some field-service, until June 5, 1876, when he moved by rail to Cheyenne and participated in the Sioux campaign in Northern Wyoming, Montana, and Dakota, and was engaged in the affair at War Bonnet (Indian Creek), Wyo., and in the skirmishes at Slim Buttes, Dak. Upon the disbandment of the expedition at Fort Robinson, Neb., in October, he was assigned to Fort McPherson, where he had station until May 9, 1877, when he ceased to be an officer of the army. He is now employed as a special agent in the office of the Commissioner of Pensions at Washington.

Schuylkill County at the Battle of Chickamauga

2011-05-23T09:16:00.003-04:00

Schuylkill County cavalrymen, members of the 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry open the Battle of Chickamauga, Ga. And the first men killed in the fight are two men from Schuylkill County.

On the morning of September 18, 1863 Captain Heber Thompson of the Seventh Pa. Cavalry was ordered to lead a reconnaissance of 100 men toward Ringgold Ga. with orders to proceed to that place and make contact with Union General Granger. Before arriving at Ringgold Captain Thompson and his detachment met the confederate advance about three miles from Reed's Bridge on the Pea Vine Creek and fired into the rebel infantry and opened the famed battle of Chickamauga about 5:30 A.M.
Captain Thompson's small detachment held off over 4,000 infantry and three batteries of artillery. Captain Thompson held this position until 10:00 A.M. Credit was given to the men of the Seventh Pa. Cavalry for opening the battle of Chickamauga. Interestingly Schuylkill Countian Pvt. John Ward was the first Union soldier killed in the battle.

Reeds Bridge

A Illinois regiment that was sent to burn the bridge noticed the body of a dead cavalry man and also his horse. The body was probably that of Owen Brennan, who was struck by a cannon ball while the regiment was charging Longstreet’s men on the other side of the bridge. Brennan was on horse back when he was struck; also John Ward was killed in this charge. Ward was a splendid horseman according to Sgt. Samuel Winn, and always took delight in breaking to the saddle spirited horses. The horse that Ward was mounted on this day was also a spirited animal and became excited while under fire and ran ahead of the detachment in the charge and John Ward was struck by a ball from a confederate sharpshooter. Both Ward and Brennan were from the west end of the county and are buried in the National Cemetery in Chattanooga.

Miners Journal Oct. 26, 1914
Pennsylvania At Chickamauga and Chattanooga 1897

Two County Servicemen Are Casulties In The Vietnam War On May 16,17, 1965/1966

2011-05-17T09:28:00.011-04:00

On this date May 16, 1965, 46 years ago Tech. Sgt Donald J. Seaman became Schuylkill Counties first casualty of the Vietnam War. When a 500 pound bomb exploded aboard a B-57 bomber and Bien Hoa Air Base RVN.

Story From Vietnam Air Losses:

Capt.C.N.Fox and his Navigator apt. V.L Haynes, were sitting in their B-57B at Bien Hoa about to start engines to lead a flight of four aircraft on a strike, Fox’s aircraft was loaded with four 750 Ilb bombs under the wing and in the bomb bay had nine 500Ilb bombs. Without warning Fox’s aircraft exploded and debris hit other aircraft on the flight line causing further explosions in what seemed like a chain reaction. When the smoke cleared the scene was one of utter devastation with dead, dying and wounded airman and wrecked aircraft everywhere. A complete J65 engine was hurled a half mile and smaller fragments were found at twice that distance from the flight line.
27 airmen were killed in this the worse accident suffered by the USAF on the ground during the entire war.
The cause of the accident was thought to have been the malfunction of a time delay fuse on one of the bombs carried by the aircraft.

Capt.C.N.Fox and his Navigator Capt. V.L Haynes, were sitting in their B-57B at Bien Hoa about to start engines to lead a flight of four aircraft on a strike, Fox’s aircraft was loaded with four 750 Ilb bombs under the wing and in the bomb bay had nine 500Ilb bombs. Without warning Fox’s aircraft exploded and debris hit other aircraft on the flight line causing further explosions in what seemed like a chain reaction. When the smoke cleared the scene was one of utter devastation with dead, dying and wounded airman and wrecked aircraft everywhere. A complete J65 engine was hurled a half mile and smaller fragments were found at twice that distance from the flight line.
27 airmen were killed in this the worse accident suffered by the USAF on the ground during the entire war.
The cause of the accident was thought to have been the malfunction of a time delay fuse on one of the bombs carried by the aircraft.

One year later on, May 17, 1966 Pfc. Dale E. Umbenhauer US Army was killed in a Mid Air Helicopter collision. His UH1-C, (Huey) gunship flying out of the Mekong Delta collided in mid air with another Chopper. He flew with the 121st Aviation Company., 12th Aviation Group. Dale became Schuylkill county’s sixth casualty of the Vietnam War.

Local Boy One of 32 who survived Ambush in Korea. Joe T. Cescon

2011-05-10T16:30:00.002-04:00

This is a Fantastic story about serving in the Korean War.

July 23, 1951
Pottsville Soldier One of 32 Who Survived Ambush

The Republicans own personal interest in the Korean “Police Action” has returned to the United States after spending six months in the cold and muck of Korea adding his own little bit to defend democracy against any aggressor.
Joseph (Joe) T. Cescon from Pottsville, up until nine months ago the rural circulation manger of the “Republican” has returned to Indiantown Gap where he is due for probable separation from the Army.
Right after WW2 Joe spent some 18 months in the American Occupation Forces in Japan. When he was discharged he joined the reserves. When the Chinese Communist began to act up last year. Joe received a letter from the War Department telling him that he was going right back into military service.
On October 15 he recev3ed orders to report to Fort Campbell, Ky. For refresher training. He then embarked for Camp Stoneman, Cal. And in little less than a week was on his way to Japan. And eventually a period of six months in a literal “hell” dodging bullets and always wondering if the next breath he’d take would be his last.
One week of his time was spent at Camp Drake, south of Tokyo, Japan and then he travelled through the central mountains of Japan by train, bound for Sasebo, a former Japanese Naval Base. On December 29, 1950 Cescon arrived in Sasebo and the next day departed for Pusan South Korea, and the beginning of the end of many of his buddies.
For nearly a month Cescon, after reaching Pusan, was sent to Andong, S. Korea where he joined the Second Infantry Division on January 7, this unit was the reserve for the next three weeks and then received orders to the central front on January 28, nears Wonju.
In less than a week Cescon and the patrol of which he was a member had their first taste of action. Advancing toward Wonju with one light tank and two jeeps the patrol ran into an ambush of from 250 to 300 “Reds” in a hill just around a curve. “Hitting the dirt” was the by word for the men in the jeeps while the tank began to blast the Chinese from their ambushed positions in the hills. No casualties resulted from the first bit of action for the men in the group, but they found that it was just criterion of things to come.
It didn’t take long for the Second Reconnaissance Company, with which Crescon was serving to get their first real taste of fighting at the worst. From February 12 to the 17 the company suffered it worst casualties of the war, but also accounted for the death and wounding of nearly 1000 Chinese Communists. Of 110 men who entered into battle with the company only 32 survived the tremendous onslaught of the Commies.
After that terrific pummeling, the second recon group was sent back 30 miles to Chechon for replacement, regrouping and new equipment. During the one mission, the recon group lost six tanks, three personnel carriers, and from 23 to 28 jeeps.
From that time until Crescon began his trip home on June 6, the outfits which he was serving with were engaged in patrol duty the greatest majority of the time. At one time the second recon group was the only protection for the supply route serving the 23rd Infantry Division which was trapped for two days near Wonju. After saving off the second communist offensive in the spring of the year, Crescon and his outfit advanced 10 miles into North Korea, reaching the Hwachon Reservoir. The last action in which he was engaged was at Inje, four miles north of the 38th parallel.
The Division left Inje on June 4 and went into reserve once again at Hoengsong. On June 25, Cescon and his group left Korea with bitter memories, and went to Japan via ferry, landing at Sasebo June 28. Three days later the group departed from Japan and arrived at Seattle, Washington on July 11.

In his battle experiences, Joe found that on many occasions the Chinese Communists were very poorly equipped. On one banzai attack near Chipyong, a horde of Chinese swarmed over a hill. Only one half of the group had rifles, while the others were empty handed. When one of the men with a rifle would be wounded or killed, one of his buddies would take the rifle and continue the suicidal charge.
Others of the fanatical Chinese would carry a long stick on the end of which would be a box filled with ignited dynamite. This box they would hold under the tracks of a tank or Army truck, the explosion blowing up the truck or tank and also killing the fanatical soldier.
During the winter months the temperature averaged zero all day long, according to Cescon. During the night s the mercury would dip to far below zero, but during the days the temperature would climb to a warm “15 or 20” degrees above zero. It snowed practically every day thus adding to the hazards of the fighting in the mountainous central Korean front. At particular time during the winter months the group with which Cescon was serving did not see the sun for more than 21 days in a row.

Lieutenant Lawrence W. Riegel B-17 Pilot Killed In Action

2011-05-10T09:18:00.003-04:00

Lieutenant Lawrence W. Riegel
350th Bomb Squadron, 100th Bomb Group

Pottsville Journal
Sept, 11. 1944

Riegel a 20 year old pilot for the Eighth Air Force, stationed somewhere in England has been awarded the Air Medal in recognition of “exceptionally meritorious achievement” in the air war in Europe.
Lt. Riegel has to his credit three missions to Merseberg, Germany where important synthetic oil plants were blasted, and attacks on targets at Berlin, Hamburg, Kiel and Magdeburg, as well as other industrial citadels in Germany. At Magdeburg his B-17 Flying Fortress suffered severe damage from the flak badly damaging the tail, so that he had extreme difficulty in bringing the bomber back to its base in England.
He graduated from Port Carbon High School and was a student at Penn State Central before entering the Army Air Corps.

Note the day this article was in the Pottsville Journal September 11, 1944 Lt. Riegel was on a mission to the Rhuland Oil fields flying the B-17 Leading Lady this crew was lost at Ruhland September 11, 1944 with six members KIA..

According to info from the 100th Bomb Group archives, The plane 44-6089 "LN-B" flown by Lt. Riegel's was heavily damaged and lost altitude the crew partially bailed out before the plane finally crashed in forested hill close to Kovarska. CZ. Six crewmembers were killed during the crash. Including Lt. Riegel.

Eyewitness Report(: "The group in which A/C 089 was flying was attacked by 50 to 70 enemy aircraft. The attack caused at least three of our aircraft to explode and most of the others appeared to be damaged, some were attacked again as stragglers. In a few minutes all but one disappeared beneath the undercast. Since none of them returned no account of the loss of specific aircraft is available. About half of them appeared to be under control as they disappeared into the undercast. Two chutes were seen before the aircraft disappeared, but from which one they came is undetermined,"

Following is a statement by Lt. Dolby in a letter dated 23 July 1945.
"We were attacked by German fighters, Southeast of Dresden, Germany, while on a mission to Ruhland, Germany on Sept.11, 1944 at about 12:20. After the first attack we had our interphone knocked out and the oxygen supply under the pilots compartment was on fire.. Due to lack of interphone we could not carry on a conversation and I know nothing of what took place in the rear of the ship. The Navigator, Lt. Prater and I jumped due to the burning condition of the plane. According to our ball turret gunner who I met at Camp Lucky Strike in France, he said he was blown out of his turret and parachuted to safety, also he mentioned that our vertical stabilizer and horizontal stabilizers were blown off." He is S/Sgt Nestor Celleghin.

1st Lt Lawrence W. Riegel P KIA 11-Sep-44 Ruhland
2nd Lt Joseph R. Johnson CP KIA 11-Sep-44 Ruhland
2nd Lt George H. Prater NAV POW 11-Sep-44 Ruhland
2nd Lt Charles L. Dolby BOM POW 11-Sep-44 Ruhland
T/Sgt Ray S. Deming, Jr ROG KIA 11-Sep-44 Ruhland
T/Sgt Edgar L. Herrick TTE KIA 11-Sep-44 Ruhland
S/Sgt Nestor A. Celleghin BTG POW 11-Sep-44 Ruhland
S/Sgt Phillip D. Mangan WG KIA 11-Sep-44 Ruhland
S/Sgt Jewell D. Spruell TG KIA 11-Sep-44 Ruhland

The Missions Lieutenant Riegel flew with his crew.

# Date Aircraft Nbr & Name Target
01 7/17/1944 3413-HARD LUCK AUXERRE & MONTGOURNOY
02 7/18/1944 106986-SACK ARTIST KIEL & HEMMINGSTADT
03 7/19/1944 3413-HARD LUCK SCHWEINFURT & DUREN
04 7/20/1944 31220-FLETCHER'S CASTORIA II MERSEBURG
05 7/21/1944 31903-HARD LUCK II REGENSBURG
06 7/24/1944 31220-FLETCHER'S CASTORIA II ST LO (GND SUPPORT)
07 7/25/1944 31220-FLETCHER'S CASTORIA II ST LO (GND SUPPORT)
08 7/28/1944 102657-BOSS LADY MERSEBURG
09 7/29/1944 102657-BOSS LADY MERSEBURG
10 8/02/1944 31220-FLETCHER'S CASTORIA II TERGNIER/LAFERE
11 8/03/1944 3413-HARD LUCK TROYES (RAIL YARD)
12 8/04/1944 37882-HAPPY-GO-LUCKY HAMBURG (OIL)
13 8/05/1944 97924-PARTY TONIGHT MAGDEBURG
14 8/06/1944 97924-PARTY TONIGHT BERLIN
15 8/07/1944 37994-MY BLUE HEAVEN BEAUTOR (BRIDGES)
16 8/08/1944 37994-MY BLUE HEAVEN ST. SYLVIAN
17 8/14/1944 37994-MY BLUE HEAVEN LUDWIGSHAVEN (OIL)
18 8/15/1944 37994-MY BLUE HEAVEN VENLO
19 9/05/1944 37994-MY BLUE HEAVEN STUTTGART (AERO ENGS)
20 9/10/1944 37994-MY BLUE HEAVEN NURNBURG
21 9/11/1944 6089-LEADING LADY RUHLAND (OIL)

PORT CARBON SAILOR HELPS SHOOT DOWN THREE JAP AIRCRAFT

2011-05-09T21:44:00.002-04:00

U.S.S. Eisele
PORT CARBON SAILOR HELPS SHOOT DOWN THREE JAP AIRCRAFT.Gun Captain
Adam P. Rowcotsky.
August, 1944

Adam Peter Rowcotsky, BM2 U,S,N. Port Carbon, Has received a well done by his Commanding Officer for his part in a recent action with enemy. As a gun captain on one of the crews of the U.S.S. Eisele, a destroyer escort shares credit for shooting down a Japanese dive bomber and two twin engine bombers without damage to his own ship. In the face of determined enemy attacks, the Eisele’s gunners performed with smoothness and efficiency, sending three enemy planes crashing into the sea, and assisted in kills on additional aircraft. He entered the Navy in May 1943, and received recruit training at Sampson N.Y. He has been aboard the Eisele since her commissioning in October, 1943.

Spec. 1/C James G. Anderson

2011-05-04T14:47:00.005-04:00

ON THIS DAY MAY 4, 1970 SPEC.1/c JAMES G. ANDERSON , SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, PA. WAS KILLED IN VIETNAM
MAY WE NEVER FORGET THOSE WHO SACRIFICED SO MUCH.

Tag Photo To Enlarge

Captain Dennis Leary's Continental Marines And The Neiman Massacre, 1780

2011-05-02T18:11:00.010-04:00

A Continental Marine
It is nearly sunset, August 27, 1780, on what is destined to be the site of Pottsville. If we could be transported back to this date and time and place, about all we would recognize would be topographical, contours of our hills and mountains and the course of the Schuylkill River, which was then vastly different from the narrow, black stream of today. It was wider, deeper, and crystal clear and bordered by giant trees and overhanging rhododendron. The stream narrows as it rushes through the gap in Sharp Mountain.
Would we, on a summer evening 231 years ago see any signs of a man and his works on the site that is now Pottsville? From old records and maps we can reconstruct the scene fairly well. Leading up from the south through the mountain gap, we see a road, or rather a large path on the eastern side of the river. It will be hard to follow through the forest, but we shall endeavor to trace its course. We know that the Kings Highway, that was built in 1770 when the land was under English rule and that it started at the saw mill of one Ellis Hughes which was situated in a ravine back of the present County Home situated in a ravine near Schuylkill Haven.

The saw mill was the terminus for the road coming from Philadelphia to the settlements north of the Blue Mountain, prior to 1770. Tracing the road through the eastern side of the Gap, we see that it fords the Schuylkill about where the old Philips and Jones factory once stood, and then it went up the eastern side of Norwegian creek and up the valley to Fishbach, near North Center St. then up to Bulls Head. To its terminus many miles away at the forks of the Susquehanna, were Sunbury is located. There has been much controversy about where the Kings Highway surveyed by Benjamin Lightfoot.
Now, near the ford across the Schuylkill and about 50 yards west of the site of the Pottsville Hospital, a cabin in a clearing might be seen, with nearby what appeared to be a young Orchard. On the bank of Norwegian Creek, about 100 yards from its mouth and about the point where the Washington St. Bridge use to stands. A small water powered saw mill was visible, perhaps, There near the saw mill lived a man and his family, Henry Neiman, the first white settlers that lived on the now site of Pottsville.

Two Living Historians As Continental Marines, How Leary's men looked.
Today we know that Neiman settled here between 1770-1780, when Balzar Gehr, Major General of the Militia in Berks County, obtained a warrant to cut timber and build a saw mill on the site that is now Pottsville. He engaged Neiman to operate the mill and provided him with 200 young apple trees which Neiman was to plant and care for. We have no reco9rd of anyone else living on the site of present day Pottsville on this August Sunday in 1780. I am sure Neiman had some help to work the saw mill, but there names are all lost to history.

Where the Neiman Massacre took place on Mauch Chunk St. Pottsville. Near Pottsville Hospital

Down the Gap, between Sharp and Second Mountain and on the west side of the river across from where the old A&P, or unemployment office is. once stood was a military post. We have no record of what it looked like but its situation is well authenticated. Probably there was a few cabins and shelters and perhaps a stockade surrender the post,. Assigned there were 80 Continental Marines under the command of Captain Dennis Leary. Along with the Marines were a few wood cutters assigned to cut down pine trees, which in this valley crew straight and tall suitable for masts on sailing ships. The felled trees were trimmed and then rafted down the Schuylkill River, to Philadelphia where they were used to refit ships of our French Allies. At this time wee were at war with England.

Area where the Marines had A Fort.

The Marines were stationed here for two reasons, to guard the workers cutting the trees by day and the stock pile of felled trees by night, for the Indians and Tories allies of the British would try to notch the trees rendering them use less for masts on ships. The other reason was to hold and patrol the gap in the Schuylkill against any actions by the Tories and Indians wanting to check the Schuylkill. Sharp Mountain formed part of the frontier of our new Republic. Imagine, all of Pennsylvania north of this gap was in the hands of the British and their Indian allies. As far as we know there were no settlers north of where Neiman lived.
Neiman felt safe enough, only a few miles away from the Marine post. He worked the little saw mill, tended his little orchard and raised his family.
Then the long August twilight was drawing to an end over the Neiman cabin located in the wilderness. Looking down at the military post you would see a detachment of Marines wearing green coats with white facings, with a high leather collar to protect them from saber strikes of the neck, hence the name Marines still carry “Leathernecks”.
The patrol was setting out to protect the recently felled trees.
Then musket fire is heard to the Northeast of the post, five or six marines rush out of the post and up the road through the gap.

Looking toward the gap

What happened next is well documented in the written report of Captain Dennis Leary. On September 1, 1780, he wrote his commanding officer that on the preceding Sunday after sundown, he was alarmed by the sound of musket fir4e near his post at the gap of the Schuylkill River, and that he and four of his men rushed to the house of one Henry Neiman about a mile from the Post. They found Neiman and two of his children dead. One child a little girl was reported as missing carried away by the Indians. A party of Indians had been seen on the King’s Highway the day before this massacre, but although Captain Leary sent out a detachment of 50 men who scoured the woods for two days no trace of the Indians was found. Captain Leary immediately buried the bodies of Neiman and his two children where he found them, and for all anyone knows they may still be buried and sleeping under Mauch Chunk St., which was the site of the Neiman Family. Actually located near the wall of were the Pottsville Hospital parking lot meets Mauch Chunk St.
Contrary to their usual custom the Indians did not burn the Neiman cabin which stood for many years and was occupied at one time by the father of Jeremiah Reed, the first white male child born on the site of Pottsville.
In his report to his commanding officer, Captain Leary appealed to his commanding officer for more men to defend the post where he was stationed. It is curious to note that no mention is made in anyway of the reports or records of the wife of Neiman, whether she was away from the cabin at the time of the massacre, whether she was captured by the Indians or whether she died before the massacre, we will probably never know. This then is the story of the Neiman massacre at Pottsville, based upon a careful study of existing records.

Bin Laden Wasted What A Great Day For The U.S. Military

2011-05-02T11:10:00.005-04:00

THIS EQUALS THIS

WELL DONE!

It's God's Job to Forgive Bin Laden - It's The U.S. Navy Seal Team 6 To Arrange The Meeting

Things Never Really Change!

2011-04-28T23:16:00.004-04:00

On Good Friday, 1865 a few hours before President Lincoln was assassinated, the Copperhead anti – administration newspaper the “Constitutional Advocate” of Ashland, Pa. printed a story blaming President Lincoln for the “slaughter of two millions of people, and the crushing of unborn generations beneath the mountain of his debts.” In its next issue, it piously observed that “President Lincoln died just when the nation needs the parental guidance of a moderate, unassuming, unambitious man.”

This story is so funny its as though I am reading the same type of reporting that is reported by the liberal press of today.
I guess things never really change.

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY BANDS AND THEIR REGIMENTS DURING THE CIVIL WAR

2011-04-23T10:10:00.005-04:00

THEIR MUSIC WAS INSPIRING.
SCHUYLKILL BANDS AND THEIR REGIMENTS.

One of the most popular pastimes for people of the 1860's was music. Families sang around the fire place, concerts were held by local brass bands throughout the summer months in almost all the communities in the county. And with the news of the capture of Fort Sumter, and the southern states' talk of succeeding from the Union, bands were utilized by the captains of local militia units to entice men to join their ranks.
After the three months regiments fulfilled their tour of duty, and President Lincoln called for men to enlist for three years, two bands composed of men from Pottsville and the surrounding area played martial airs for the 96th P.V.I. and the 48th P.V.I.
According to letters written from soldiers and books concerning different regiments in the civil war, many of these army bands just made a lot of noise. But the two bands from Schuylkill County were composed of excellent musicians who had been playing together for years prior to the out break of the war.
From an article printed in the Pottsville Republican on April 18, 1900 entitled “Schuylkill County Bands with Some Famous Regiments", we take the following items.
The Forty - eighth Regiment Band with J.W. Souders as its leader and twenty three members known as the Citizens Band of Pottsville, were mustered in on September 2, 1861.

THE 48th REGIMENTAL BAND.
Wm. A. Maize, Staff Major. J.W. Souders, Leader.
Wm. J. Feger, Eb coronet. Daniel Kopp, Eb coronet.
John T. Hays, Eb coronet. Chas. Hemming, Alto.
Levi Nagle, Alto. Wm. Birt, Eb clarinet.
John Cruikshank, Alto. Thomas Severn, piccilo.
Chas. A. Glenn, Alto. John George, Tenor.
Wm. Lee, clarinet/cymbals. Edward L. Hass, baritone.
James Aikman, Eb bass. Fred'k Brown, tenor.
Nickolas McArthur, Eb bass. Albert Bowen,snare drum.
Jas. N. Garrett, snare drum. John Aikman, bas drum.
Wm. Hodgson, Tenor. Chas. Singluff, alto.
Wm. H. Gore, Tenor. C.T. McDaniel, cook.

The band soon got down to work playing for the different military movements in a style which called forth praise from commanding officers.
They were next called to duty at Fort Monroe, next to New Berne, then Newport News, where they were placed on transports several times to be taken to the seat of war, only to be recalled.
Their impatience was finally appeased by the regiment being ordered to Fredericksburg and later Culpepper Court House, from which place the band received the order to muster out.
During this year of service with the regiment they had played at receptions and gatherings of many distinguished army officers.
At one time a grand ovation was tendered by General Burnside, a corps commander of remarkable ability, at which the band held the place of honor in the musical department.
Many gatherings of Union officers were assisted by the 48th Regiment Band. At Brigader General Nagle's headquarters on numerous occasions the band did the honors for leading Generals of the U.S. Army.

THE NINETY - SIXTH REGIMENTAL BAND.

The Ninety - Sixth Regt. Band, with N. J. Rehr, leader, left for Washington on Friday, November 8, 1861. The roster follows:

N.J. Rehr, Leader H.K. Downing, drum major.
Horace G. Walbridge, Eb coronet. Christian Ferg, Eb coronet.
Amos F. Walbridge, 1st coronet. Christ Rodman, 2d coronet.
H.M. Law, 2d clarinet. Henry Rodman, clarinet.
Henry Hoffman, clarinet. John W. Morgan , clarinet.
Fidel Fisher, piccolo. Adolphus Walbridge, alto.
W. McDaniel, cook Henry Walbridge, alto.
George W. Roehrig, alto. John Ward, teno.
Charles Oberlies, tenor. Andrew Smith, baritone. H. Curtis Shoener, 2d baritone. John Rodefield, Bass.
J.N. Lauer, 1st bass. Joseph Kepley, snare dr.
Augustus Pfaltzgraph, snare dr. Samuel H. Parker, bass dr.
Cornelius Trout, cymbals.
THE REGIMENTAL BAND SHIPPED IN ROOFLESS CARS.

The freight car had its roof broken in, and it rained all day. The train went via Gordon, where the regiment got out and walked down the plane, and then on to Sunbury, Harrisburg, and arriving at Washington on Saturday, November 9th 1861 at 2 a.m. in anything but good condition.
They were immediately given quarters in an old stable, and Oh, how cold it was! Wet to the body, and with no covering, they shivered until daylight appeared, at which time they took up the march to new quarters through mud knee deep, for several miles, arriving at Camp Blatensburg Toll Gates, having gained in the meantime the knowledge that it was much better playing for the regiment on Lawton's Hill, Pottsville than through which they had just passed.
The band remained here with the regiment for sometime, until they received orders to go into winter quarters at Camp Northumberland. While the weather permitted, their duties were guard mount at 8 a.m. drills at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. and dress parade at 5:30 p.m.
After almost a year's service, the band received its discharge August 14, 1862 all bands being mustered out, and the regiment having been given marching orders.

A Civil War Band

AT LEXINGTON WITH THE 48th REGIMENT.

After both bands had received their discharges from the service and returned to their respective duties at home, they formed a new musical organization called the Pottsville Coronet Band.
They received a three months engagement with the 48th regiment which was then stationed in Lexington Ky. with H.G. Walbridge as leader. During their stay with the regiment they gave many concerts which were highly appreciated in that section of the country.
A local entertainment at Cynthiana, Ky. had the band assist them at one time. At another time they were engaged for the High School commencement at Paris, the county seat of Bourbon. During the commencement someone cried out in the audience, play "The Bonnie Blue Flag." The boys refused and for a time it looked as though there would be trouble, so the Sheriff escorted the band to the county prison where he remained with them over night, and the following day they returned safely to the regimental headquarters, feeling that they had better remain nearer the Union lines in the future.
When the subject of a picnic at the Henry Clay homestead at Ashland, Ky. they jumped at the chance to play a concert and the banquet which followed has left a train of pleasant memories which can never fade.
PRESENTED WITH A FLAG.
Before the regiment broke camp to proceed on marching orders, two ladies residing near the camp, purchased a handsome silk flag and presented it to the band. They thought it a handsome and appropriate gift, and resolved to keep it in a safe place until they got home. Having a little money in their treasury, several hundred dollars, they decided to visit some of the principal cities of the United States before returning home. They started east, and among the places visited was Cincinnati and they say they will never forget it. They put up in the Galt House during the night, and when they got on the train the next day, discovered that their much beloved silk flag had taken wings during the night; someone had removed it from its accustomed place. Telegrams were immediately sent on to the hotel to hunt up the flag, but a gentleman on the train asked, "What house did you stop at?" "Why the Galt House," responded the boys, "Then you will never see the flag again,"
said he, "for that is the worst rebel house in the city of Cincinnati." And so it proved, they never saw their flag again, and secretly hold Cincinnati responsible for it.

The above stories were taken from the Pottsville Daily Republican. April 18, 1900. There were numerous stories in this issue pertaining to the 39th anniversary of the First Defenders that was being held in Pottsville.

The band would remain in active service to the community and the military for many years after the war and on August 2, 1881 Gen J. K. Sigfried would muster the men into the National Guard of Pennsylvania, as the Third Brigade Band of Pennsylvania. This Band is still in existence today, marching in many a parade and providing the county with many a pleasurable concert.

The Fighting Men of The Civil War. William C. Davis.
Pottsville Daily Republican. April 18, 1900.

Lt. Jacob A. Bonawitz, Company K, 6th Pa. Reserves Fights at The Battle Of Drainsville, December 20, 1861

2011-04-23T01:05:00.006-04:00

Dranesville.

One of the first engagements after the Union defeat at Bull Run was a small engagement by Federal and Confederate foraging parties, five days before Christmas of 1861, at the town of Dranesville, Va.

The confederate command consisted of a foraging party of infantry and cavalry of Joseph Johnston's command. With the foraging party was a 150 men of J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry, and 4 regiments of infantry. The Union forces consisted of 5 Pennsylvania infantry regiments and a battery of 4 cannons. Both commands moved out simultaneously and meet in combat near the farm lands of Dranesville, Va.
Serving with the 6th Pennsylvania Reserves was a Schuylkill countian, Lieut. Jacob A. Bonawitz, who wrote a descriptive account of the fight, which would become a big morale lifting victory for the Union forces.

Langlytown Camp, Pierpont January 8th, 1862.

Dear --- We had a little fun on the 20th of December last in Dranesville with the rebels. I shall not enter into details, as I suppose you have seen the particulars of the fight in the papers.
We left our camp a little before daybreak on the morning of the 20th and started for Dranesville on a foraging expedition. We got as far as Difficult Creek when began throwing skirmishers out in front of our regiment. As company A, and our company K, are the two flank companies, we were thrown out on the left of the pike. Company A near the road, and my company on the left of the former. We started through the woods on quick time. I was the only officer in our company that day. The Capt. was in Washington, and the other Lieut. was at home on leave of absence. As I said before we started through the woods on quick time for some three miles, when we came out into a large clearing. I was about one mile from the regiments on a double quick. I started my skirmishers on a full run in order to keep in advance of the regiments, and we kept this up for four miles. Some of my men gave out, and fell back on the reserve that was coming on. It was pretty severe but we had to do it. After getting within a half a mile of Dranesville, there were some twenty shots fired at us, doing no damage, we kept on. I was now in an open field and just about to enter a pine thicket, when I discovered something wrong in there. I passed the word along the line of skirmishers to halt, which was done immediately. I then looked in the woods again, and saw one regiment of infantry, and one of Cavalry laying there not more than five rods from left hand man, while a Sergeant was not more than 20 paces from myself. I then passed the word along the line again, to rally on the road, and on the Regiment. When the Rebels observed this, they opened fire on us with muskets, and shot one of the men through the arm, this however did not frighten him much. He followed us. We got on the road and meet the Regiment. We were then ordered across the hill to support the left-our Battery. The balls were now flying like hail from the rebel infantry. When they saw us try to cross the hill, they opened their large guns on us. The shells and canister poured upon us. After getting near half way across, two of my men fell. One was shot through the side, and the other in the leg. They crawled behind a small bank near the pike, as we had no time to lose going over there. When I got a little further a piece of shell struck me on the leg tearing off one of my pantaloon legs, and scratching my leg slightly. We got a little further, when two more dropped, that had got in my company (strangers) They died in a few minutes: but we got across and now came our time for operation. Our Battery opened on them and the Rebels were soon laying in all kinds of shapes. Some with no heads on; some with no arms, no legs, and some you could not tell what they were. We soon silenced their battery. We then made a charge on them through the woods. I must admit they can run faster than we can by a good deal, but they could not run out of sight of our balls. The woods were full of them. There was one spot were we could scarcely get over the dead and wounded rebels. Our loss was 10 killed and 30 or 40 wounded. The Rebel loss was severe. There were 170 rebels buried the day after the fight and we brought in some 40 of them wounded and 14 prisoners. All in all, it was a complete victory for Uncle Sam. Our wounded are doing well in the hospital; are in good spirits, and express themselves anxious to have another chance at the rebels soon. In our Regiment their were three killed, and thirteen wounded, of which three belong to our company. The Bucktail Regiment; our Regiment, and the 9th suffered the most. The 10th and the 12th I believe, did not lose a man, as they were not in the hottest of the fire.
Yours &c.
Lieut. J.A.B.

Miners Journal February 15, 1862.

FRACKVILLE SOLDIER PFC JOHN J. ALLEN IN ACTION, KOREA

2011-04-12T22:29:00.003-04:00

FRACKVILLE SOLDIER PFC JOHN J. ALLEN IN ACTION, KOREA

This is one of the greatest photo’s of a Schuylkill County soldier in action that I have ever seen.

Pfc. John J. Allen of Company E in the 25th Infantry Division leads his men in attack on the west central front in Korea, March 30, 1951. (AP Photo/Cpl. Don Doucette/U.S. Army)
A Frackville boy whose dramatic battle action photo recently appeared in a Philadelphia newspaper advertisement and in other periodicals throughout the U.S.

Allen, who served a 21 month hitch in the U.S. Army several years ago, was recalled to active duty last October and trained at Camp Campbell Ky. And Camp Stoneman, Calif. Before going to Japan and then on to Korea.

THE FOLLOWING STORIES CAME FROM THE KOREAN WAR WEB SITE KOREAN WAR EDUCATOR.

May 07, 2000 - by Tony Nauroth, The Express-Times
Lehigh Valley veteran John J. Allen is to be immortalized in bronze on June 25. That's when a Cape Cod, Mass., veterans group will dedicate a statue modeled from a famous photograph of Allen shot near Suwon, Korea, in 1951.
The only thing that might be missing at the June ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the outbreak of "America's forgotten victory" is Allen himself. Despite a search through a thicket of people with the last name of Allen gleaned from Lehigh Valley telephone books, Internet searches, and contacts with local veterans organizations, little information on the man or his relatives, has been found. Several potential contacts actually named John J. Allen have denied any connection to the Korean vet.
Stan Jones, a member of the Korean War Veterans Association of Cape Cod & Islands Chapter I, said he has exhausted his resources. He turned to The Express-Times several months ago for help. "We would like very much for Mr. Allen, or his surviving relatives, to attend the unveiling," Jones said.
It seems Allen has dropped off the face of the Earth. The photographer who snapped the famous photo last saw Allen on a railroad platform somewhere in a small town in California at a newsstand where they both peered at a magazine cover featuring Don Duquette's photo.
"It was a coincidence," former Army combat photographer Duquette, now of Massachusetts, said last week. Both men were on their way home from the war. That was the second and last time they saw each other, although Duquette said he did write to Allen once afterward. "But it turned out we had little in common," Duquette said. Asked if he still had Allen's address, Duquette said, "I did have it in an old address book, but I threw it out a long time ago ... I wish I
hadn't."
Duquette said his photo was on the cover of "Look" or "See" magazine. It also appeared in several books on the Korean War, such as "In Mortal Combat -- Korea, 1950-1953," by John Tolland. "I wish I was collecting royalties," Duquette said.

The photo remains an icon of the spirit demonstrated by the infantryman in Korea. With rifle at the ready and bayonet fixed, the heavily shadowed Allen climbs a scrubby Korean hillside. He seems to be saying, "Follow me, boys!" It has been compared to the much more famous photo of Marines raising the American flag at the peak of Mount Suribachi on the island of Iwo Jima near the end of World War II.

In February and March 1951, the U.S. Eighth Army was recovering from the Chinese onslaught that had driven United Nations forces from the Yalu River down to the midpoint of the Korean peninsula. Duquette took the photo near the town of Suwon. Duquette said he was assigned by the Army to document the actions of the 25th Infantry "Tropic Lightning" Division, which included Allen's unit, the 35th Infantry Regiment. "My job was to go anywhere in the division to take photos," Duquette said. "I don't remember too many specifics of the photo. I talked with him for maybe a half hour."

Duquette says Allen came from Allentown and would be between 68 and 70 years old now. A check with William Allen High School yearbooks from 1945 to 1952 -- the time frame when Allen is likely to have graduated --reveals that no one by that name was in any of the senior classes at the city's only public high school at the time. He could have graduated from a parochial school, from another school somewhere else in the Lehigh Valley, or perhaps he did not graduate at all.
The mystery of the whereabouts of Allen or of his surviving family members comes at a time when Lehigh and Northampton county officials are searching for additional yet-to-be-identified Korean War veterans so they may be honored locally. On Friday, veterans and government officials kicked off the search near the women's Korean War memorial in front of the Lehigh County Courthouse. John J. Allen is only one among the missing.
The 8-foot-tall bronze statue will rest atop a 3-foot tall pedestal next to the memorial to John F. Kennedy overlooking Hyannis Harbor. Sculptor Robert Shure, whose work includes the Irish Famine in Boston, is casting the statue.
--
No longer missing in discharge
John Allen, whose photo is a model for a Korean War memorial, died in 1985.
By Tony Nauroth
The Express-Times
They called him "Jack" back where he went to high school in Frackville, Pa., about 50 miles northeast of Allentown. John J. Allen, whose famous photo is being used as a model for the Massachusetts Korean War memorial, was tracked down Tuesday to the Pennsylvania coal region in Schuylkill County where those who knew him say he was a nice guy. But his final destination is most likely under a plot of ground in Lantana, near Palm Beach, Fla. According to a Palm Beach Post obituary, Allen died Jan. 6, 1985. He was 58.
Elsie McHale of Kintnersville read of the search for Allen in a story Monday in The Express-Times. She read of the Cape Cod memorial organizers' unsuccessful efforts to find Allen in Allentown, where he was believed to have grown up. McHale knew better as soon as she saw the photo accompanying the story.
"That's Jack," she said. "He's not from Allentown. He's from Frackville." McHale remembers her mother shopping for stockings at Allen's mother's hosiery shop not far from where the Allen family lived at 9 Frack St. "I remember passing their house as a child and seeing them sitting on their porch all the time," she said. McHale e-mailed The Express-Times to steer the search in the right direction. She included the name of Roy Mengel, who is in charge of annual high school alumni reunions.
"I graduated in 1950," Mengel said Tuesday. "Jack graduated in 1946. I didn't know him that well, but I remember him as a real nice boy." Frackville historian Lorraine Stanton is the author of two books on Frackville history and included chapters about Allen in both of them. "We all called him Jack," said Stanton, who was one year behind Allen in high school.
When contacted by phone Tuesday, she flew to her Allen files, pulled out a "New York Times Magazine" article that was published in 1951, and insisted on reading from it. She said the photo was used with the story. The article said Allen was climbing a ridge near the present-day border
between North and South Korea when Don Duquette of Massachusetts, assigned as an Army combat photographer to cover the 25th Infantry "Tropic Lightning" Division, took the picture. The dramatic photo, compared in its power to the raising of the American flag on Iwo Jima in World War II, is actually named "The 38th Parallel," according to the article.
Allen was awarded the Bronze Star for heroism May 20, 1951. He was an only child and he never married. Allen attended the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theater under the GI Bill and moved to New York City where he performed with the Lighthouse Theater for the Blind, according to his obituary. He appeared in several productions including, "Picnic," "The Glass Menagerie" and "Brigadoon."
Stanton's books, "Images of America: Frackville Book I" and "Book II" feature the photo. "I wanted to honor him because of the famous photo," Stanton said, "and because he was from Frackville. We only have 4,000 people. I'm really excited about it." Asked if she ever dated Allen, Stanton said, "Oh no, he was older. It just wasn't done but he was a great dancer."
Stan Jones is spearheading the June 25 dedication of the 8-foot bronze statue that will be placed next to the Kennedy Memorial in Hyannis looking out over Cape Cod Bay. Jones is a member of the Korean War Veterans Association of Cape Cod & Islands Chapter I. "The picture was chosen because of the dramatic action it portrays, and Don (Duquette) was a local guy who took the picture," Jones said Tuesday. "Basically it was nameless, and the statue is dedicated to the missing and killed in action, so we wouldn't want to individualize it. But it does make it more special now that we know what happened to him."

Despite the purposeful anonymity of the memorial, Jones originally wanted to find either Allen or a relative to attend as guests of honor. He now realizes chances of that are slim. With Allen dead, and with no siblings or offspring to represent him, only distant relations might still be found. So far, none has turned up. But Jones opened the door to anyone who might want to represent Frackville at the dedication.

Pottsville Was The First Town In The North To Receive The News Of Fort Sumter

2011-04-12T19:49:00.009-04:00

Fort Sumter

“The Ball Is Opened.Fort Sumter Fired On, Fighting Like Hell!”

On this day April 12, 1861 the Civil War started, and Schuylkill County had another first in the history of this country.

Pottsville Was The First Town In The North TO Receive The News Of Fort Sumter

Several years before the opening of the rebellion, Mr. John C. Beck of Pottsville, recently diseased, accepted a position as foreman on the Wilmington N.C. Herald. As the time drew near when it was apparent that war must come. Mr. Beck quietly began to make arraignments to return north. There was a strong Union sentiment in Wilmington, but not enough to secure absolute protection to advocates. The editor of the paper fervently was apposed to secession but there were controlling interests in the papers directorate that loved him to its course of supporting the south. On the day on which Fort Sumter was fired on, April 12, 1861 Mr. Beck was in consultation with the editor of the Herald. When the assistant entered the editorial room entering under extreme excitement. As Mr. Beck turned to the stairs leading to the copy room he overheard the editor say, “Tell Beck.” Mr. Beck was recalled into the office and he was there informed that the Herald was just in receipt of a telegram announcing the firing on Fort Sumter. He was advised to consider his sentiments and to remain with the paper and denied further inducements being offered.
But there he refused. He asked a special favor permission to telegraph the news to the Miners Journal, but was told that all communications north had been stopped, and that it might be impassible to gratify his request.

However, he was advised that if it was at all possible to get the news through it might be done for him. He then completed the message as received by the Herald. “The Ball Is Opened. Fort Sumter Fired On, Fighting Like Hell!”. The message did get through to the Journal. On its receipt Mr. Benjamin Bannan, was greatly excited took the telegram up to the Miners National Bank, and showed it to Mr. Isaac Beck, saying, “I have just received this message from John, I can near believe it!”
Whatever John has said must be true, try to have it confirmed,” was the reply. Mr. Bannan immediately got a communication with Philadelphia, and then New York and they had heard nothing, saying it was very difficult to hear from the south. But that if there was any thing within the message they would have immediately heard... But they did not until they had the actual message. So Pottsville was the first place in the north to hear of the opening of hostilities, and a fellow townsman Mr. John C. Beck, had the distinction of being the sender of the message.

John S. Beck
1908

This letter is in the files of the Historical Society of Schuylkill County.

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY SOLDIER LETTERS FROM THE FRONT IN CHINA August, 1900

2011-04-09T23:11:00.008-04:00

This is a letter written to Mrs Wolfe, of Port Carbon. The letter is written by her son Joseph who is a member of the 9th Infantry Regiment. The 9th was serving in China at this time. Private Wolfe participated with his regiment which was in advance in the battles that occurred during the march to Peking and its capture. The letter though brief is one of the only letters I’ve found during the Boxer War. This letter was written after the 9th had participated in the Battle of Tientsin
Tien Tsin
July 21, 1900

Dear Mother: Today I find time to write to let you know I am well, hoping you are all in as good of health as I am. We left Manila 27th of June, stayed three days in Magaska Japan, and then sailed for China. We had a good hard fight for a start, lousing 10 officers, killed and wounded among them our Colonel and Acting Brigadier General Liscum killed. and about 30 enlisted men. It is reported the 17th Infantry will reach here shortly. We were brigaded with it and the 12th in the Philippines. We live good here. As there are lots of Chinese farms to draw supplies from. I am felling first rate. The climate is about the same as our own part of the world. There is a rumor we will be sent to the U.S. before the year is out. Well we won’t be sorry. I must close with love to all.
Joe Wolfe 9th Inf.

9th Infantry in China

The fight in which Wolfe mentions is the battle of Tientsin:

Tientsin, 13 July 1900. The so-called "Boxers" were fanatical members of a Chinese secret society who wished to drive all foreigners from China and eradicate foreign influences. The Boxer movement gained momentum in the final years of the nineteenth century. By early June of 1900 the foreigners in China, especially those in Peking, found themselves in grave danger.
An international column of sailors and marines, including 112 Americans, made a hurried attempt to go to the relief of Peking, but met with severe resistance after it left Tientsin and failed to get through (10-26 June). The movement against Westerners in Peking reached a climax on 20 June 1900 when the German minister was murdered. About 3,500 foreigners and Chinese Christians, fearing for their safety, took refuge in the foreign legation compound, where they were besieged by thousands of Chinese. A composite military force of 407 men (including 56 Americans) plus about 200 civilians defended the compound. The Great Powers took immediate steps to organize a large relief expedition for Peking, to stamp out what came to be known as the Boxer Rebellion.
Using Manila as a main base, the United States promptly dispatched to China Regulars intended for use in the Philippine Insurrection. The 9th Infantry and a Marine battalion landed at Taku on 7 July 1900. Two battalions of the 9th joined contingents of other powers in an attack on Tientsin, which fell on 13 July, the Americans suffering 95 casualties.

How the soldiers looked during the Boxer Rebellion

Pekin China,
1900
October 13.

Dear father:
I take pleasure in penning you a few lines. Hoping they will find you alive and well as I am. We reached this place on the 14th of August. And yesterday I had my first chance of getting outside of our walls to see the sights, and visited the British legation compound. And let me tell you it is a sight to see. To look at it you would think it impossible for five or six hundred men to hold it against the attack of thousands of thousand bloodthirsty devils that were howling about it for weeks. There is scarcely a square foot of surface that was not bored with bullet and shell. It is a sight I shall never forget. Most people had the idea that the Chinese were armed with clubs and knives, but they have modern arms and plenty of them. And any number of up to date Krupp guns, the same as the German Army uses today. We did not have much of a scrap taking the city. We reached here the evening of the 14th f August, and started marching through an open gate. The Chinese were waiting for us on top of a wall about 250 yards to the front. About a company of us got through when they gave us a volley that came like a big wind. We did not have any time to fire a shot in return before our Colonel gave the order. FOUR RIGHT, ABOUT MARCH.
And we slid out without a man hurt. Early next morning we carried the walls with the lost of one killed and four wounded. The Russians were expected to take the sacred city, but their commander said his men were to tired. They were always too tired when there was fighting to be done. And before they go into a fight they start singing and praying for fair play. You ought to see them you would think it was a crazy house broke loose. Well we pitched in and took four gates of the sacred city that day. The English over here seem to be very jealous of the Americans and the Hindu troops they sent here are good for nothing but looting. But the Japs, the brace little Japs, are just the finest soldiers in the world and much good friends of the Americans. Why you would think like an American. Their commander said: Put the Americans behind them they would storm a wall on top of a hill. I am in the best of health and never felt better, and I’ve got so tall you would hardly know me. I weigh 20 pounds heavier than when I left home.
Your Loving Son
Joe.
Company I 9th Infantry Regiment.

The other story during the Boxer Rebellion is”
My Post of November 27, 2007 …..A Marines Marine MOH Holder Alexander Foley In Boxer Rebellion

Schuylkill County Marine, Private Amous T. Biesel onboard the U.S.S. Benton During the Civil War.

2011-04-06T23:32:00.005-04:00

Island No. 10

Schuylkill County Private Amous Biesel U.S. Marine Corps was a marine on board the U.S.S. Flagship Benton. He was on a 9 inch Dahlgren gun. Biesel fought at the famous 1862 battle of Island No. 10.

On March 15th , the U.S.S. Benton and other Federal naval units commenced daily bombardment of Island No. 10 and the Tennessee shore, but without too much effect. Attempts to pass westward through a chute to the north of the island were thwarted by the
sinking of the CSS Winchester there. The Confederate defenders suffered more from high water, particularly in the area around Battery No. 1. Magazine storage of ammunition was almost impossible, due to water. Some effective force came from Federal batteries along the west bank of the river south of New Madrid.

The Confederate defenses received heavy bombardment on March 18 and 19, but effective counter-battery fire caused a slackening of this fire by March 20. But, by Apr. 2, flood waters had forced the virtual abandonment of Battery No. 1. That night, a Federal landing party from USS Benton rushed the position and spiked the guns.

On Apr. 5, USS Benton, Cincinnati and Pittsburg each with a mortar boat in tow, shelled Confederate positions on both sides of the river, cutting adrift the floating battery.

On the night of Apr. 4-5, Commander Henry Walke took the Carondelet downstream past the island, anchoring at New Madrid at dawn. The Pittsburg duplicated the maneuver the following night.

On Apr. 7, these two vessels steamed downstream and attacked and silenced Confederate batteries along the river as far south as Tiptonville.

This is an excellent letter written by Biesel to his cousin Erasmus Seitzinger, from Fountain Springs.

U.S.S. Benton

It’s a Beautiful Thing To See the Shells Thrown At Night

U.S.S. Flagship Benton
Pvt. Amous Biesel U.S.Marine Corps
Off Island No. 10
Friday March 21, 1862

Dear Erasmus:
I suppose you have heard through he papers of our attack on the first battery of the enemy on the main land above Island No. 10. We commenced fire at one o’clock and continued till dark, when it was necessary for us to retire; which I believe they now boast of as driving the Yankee Gun Boats back. I was on a nine inch Dahlgren that throws an eighty-pound ball. You better think we were tired when night came, as we loaded and fired as fast as we could during the whole engagement. Their first shot all 64 and 125-pound balls fell short. Then they began to throw over us. Now I tell you when the big fellows came whizzing over our heads it was enough to make a fellow juke, which I did until I got used to them. We received three shots, which made things crack. The first a 66 pounder struck midway on the upper deck came through and struck on a heavy timber on the main deck glanced upward against one of the cross timbers falling down on a deck of the Commodore breaking through into the drawer were it still lies. The next one struck almost directly in front of my head aside of the porthole for our gun. It made a big hole in the 2 ½ in. iron. Had it been three inches more to the right it would have come through. We have kept up a continual fire on them every day since. They only return at intervals. We have sixteen mortar boats which thrown shells across the point at them. It is astonishing how things can throw so much iron. It is a beautiful thing to see the shells thrown at night and bursting over the rebels. We cannot make another attack until we get land forces. We could easily take their batteries, but have no troops to hold them. We are expecting forces every day and then we will give them fits with Yankee Gun boats. You may expect to hear a good account from us. I think we will bag their whole forces , as Polk has procession of the river below us. I have no doubt they would like to get out if they possibly could. They have a large encampment right in our sight. And a great many large steamboats which we consider as good as ours. It is rumored that Beauregard is there if its only true. We will settle wise bills for him and Polk.
I will give you a short description of our own and there positions. Their first battery, which mounted seven guns, we have dismounted all but two. I anticipate some hard fighting to conquer them at this point. Pope is a short distance below them but cannot assist us so he has no way to get his troops across the river. We tried to get a tug and some mortars down through the Bayou but could not do it. We can hear them at their gunboats almost every day. They are trying to open the way, I think, to get men out of this place.

Amous T. Biesel

Expecting Every Moment To Be Blown Out Of The Water

U.S.S. Flagship Benton
Marine Pvt. Amous Biesel
Above Fort Pillow,
Mississippi, Flotilla
April 27th, 1862

Cousin Erasmus:
Instead of being at Fort Wright as the Philadelphia papers have it, we are at Fort Pillow, which is eighty-five miles above Memphis, on the first line of Chickasaw Bluffs, which strikes the Mississippi River at the mouth of Hatchen River. Island No. 10 was surrounded on Wednesday night at twelve o’clock, the 7th of April, of which you have read the whole account of the surrender and fortifications.
Previous to giving you the particulars of our trip from Island No. 10 here. I wish to correct one of the most exaggerated engravings in Harpers Weekly, of the spiking of the guns of No. 1 battery. It represents a terrible storm raging, and many of our men on the ramparts firing at the fleeing rebels. All the firing that was done was by rebel sentries. One volley was fired so high it did no damage. After which they made tracks for parts unknown, leaving the fort entirely at the mercy of the Yankees to accomplish their object with the hammer and axe. As for the raging storm, all the boats had returned to the Benton, and reported their successful trip to the flag officer and it was not until after all the boats had returned to their respective gunboats that the storm commenced raging. I was on watch during the whole work, saw the fire of musketry and was just about turning in when the expedition returned. I must say for Col. Roberts a braver man the Western Army cannot produce. After the surrender we remained at anchorage until Friday afternoon at three o’clock when the word was given to up anchor. You can imagine how that order was received after staying in one position in the middle of the river for four weeks. We were all in hopes of getting on the island and main land to get trophies of some kind to send our friends. After many hard days of fighting and patience we were sadly disappointed. As we passed their fortifications, it appeared almost impossible that such formidable defenses were easily overcome, but the Yankee boys were too much for them. We arrived at General Pope’s headquarters about sundown, when once more we cast anchor, and awaited until the following day and twelve o’clock for Pope’s forces to be ready to follow on the transports.
We came down so far as the Obyne River, when the fleet moored for the night. About twelve o’clock one of the rebel gunboats rounded the point below us, but on the discovery of the black iron monsters, it came to a halt, and remained until morning. About eight o’clock four more made their appearance. As soon as the flag officer heard of the arrival of the distinguished Commodore Hollins he came upon the spar deck looked down and smiled at them showing their bravery, keeping a distance of seven miles. He then gave Captain Phelps orders to signal the fleet to get under headway, the Benton taking the advance. They kept their position until we got within two miles of them, when we opened on them with our rifled Dahlgren’s, which made them get up and dust. They fired quite a number of shot at us. One shrapnel shell bursted over the boat, the contents fell on the forecastle of the boat. The men gathered them up after the firing was over. Instead of being leaden bullets, they were filled with marbles. It was a grand chase as we passed by the plantations on the Tennessee shore. We were cheered on with the waving of many white handkerchiefs. About 10 o’clock all hands were ordered to muster on the spar deck, when we had a short sermon form the Commodore for the first Sunday in four weeks, without being disturbed from shots fired by the enemy. We proceeded on our way giving them chase until we run them under the guns of Fort Pillow above which place they have not shown themselves since. We ran under the guns before we were aware of being close to the fort. We were running very fast, anxiously watching what was to make its appearance around the next point which we were approaching when almost in an instant we passed the point, in full view of their works and escarpments on the heights of the bluff. Expecting every moment to be blown out of the water, but they never fired a shot. We took a good view of the place and saw that the whole side of the hill was thrown up into fortifications. We returned two miles up the river, moored the ship and still remain in the same position. On Monday the mortar boats were put into position. They have ever since put up continual fire both night and day. The bushwhackers call the mortar shells, flower barrels. I do not know the cause of our delay here, unless it is for the purpose of waiting to know how they are going to make at Corinth.. twenty five thousand of General Pope’s men have been taken from here to Pittsburgh Landing, which leaves us but five thousand troops, they are as much service to us as fifty thousand would be as we cannot effect a landing on this side of Pillow. Since we have been here there have been many deserters from them. They give a gloomy account of their army. They have become perfectly demoralized since they met with so many defeats. There was one deserter from the 21st Louisiana regiment, his name was George Hurter; he learned his trade in Pottsville, with Daniel Hill and was working there during Elias’ apprenticeship. He had a fifty-dollar bill on the Confederate States of America payable at Richmond six months after peace is declared with the United States. If ever there was a happy man he was when he got aboard of the much-dreaded Benton. They do not appear to fear any boat in the fleet, but this one. After the passage of the conscription law, there were six very intelligent young men left Memphis on last Sunday night, in a skiff with provisions, blankets and a change of clothing. They came up across the overflowed land, to escape being pressed into service. They say that when our men in Pittsburgh, passed through Memphis southward the ladies gave them more than they could store away. They would go into the confectioners; buy them all kinds of delicacies, and cigars and then get them to sing the Happy Land of Canaan, the Star Spangled Banner, Hail Columbia. During all of this General Prentis went out on the platform and told them to have a little patience; that it would not be long until they would be at liberty to sing those National Songs under the protection of the Stars and Stripes.
After General Prentis made that remark, one of the rankest secessionists in the city, went into a store, bought a box of the finest cigars, took them out and presented them to General Prentis. They also say that whenever they hear of a Union victory, you can see the majority of the people going around laughing in their sleeves. Every morning when they rise they stretch their eyes wide open to see if there are the Federal Gunboats in sight. after this place is taken there are no more fortifications this side of Baton Rouge. They say we cannot form how many loyal men there are in the rebel army. I am anxious that we can get down there to relive the poor fellows from tyranny.
There were three deserters came up this morning from Fort Pillow. Two of them are from Jersey Shore, Clinton County, Penna. They have been living here almost six years. They are brothers. Their names Brady first cousin to Samuel Brady. Hartman’s brother in law. They are very fine intelligent fine looking men. They have accumulated considerable property since they have been here. The Commodore is going to give them passes tomorrow to go north to visit their friends.
Well Erasmus, I could write a great deal more, had I the paper to write on. Much that would be of great interest to you, but owing to the scarcity of paper and the troublesome mosquitoes, I will have to close. I am what the sailors call a lazy Marine. When we are not in action we do nothing but stand guard. I will give you an account of a conversation between myself and a Mr. Secesh, previous to the water overflowing the bank at this point. The day after our arrival. I was standing out on the bank, when Mr. Secesh approached the subject on mosquitoes; I remarked, “How are you my friend?”
Secesh. “Well, I can’t complain.”
“You have plenty of mosquitoes here”
Secesh, “Well; no we have a krap of Buffalo nats just now, but after the water goes down, we will have a large krap of mosquitoes.”
Think I, can it be possible this is but a small Krap? I thought it was doing pretty well for a commencement. If such be the case, they are more plenty here, than they were on the lower Mississippi.

Amous Biesel

USS Benton "Largest Of The Union River Fleet" January 15, 1862 - November 1865
The USS Benton began its life on the water as a snag boat pulling up trees and sunken ships that made navigable waters dangerous. Civilian contractor James B. Eads was contracted to convert the sturdily built catamaran into the the largest and most powerful ironclad of the Union's River Fleet. The craft originally had two hulls braced 20 feet apart, but Eads planked them to make one strong hull 72 feet wide and 202 feet long. Space was left in the stern of the hull to allow for a central wheel to be propelled by the two original powerful engines. The sides and how they were protected by a slanting casemate with an armor 3.5 inches thick. The wheelhouse and stern were built with casemates covered with 2.5 inch thick iron. The Benton carried 16 cannon and a crew of 176 men.
Adm. Andrew H. Foote received his powerful flagship on January 15, 1862, from Eads's shipyard in Carondelet, MO. On February 6, 1862, the Benton led the attack on Fort Henry, TN. Realizing defeat was imminent, the Rebels at that point had the fort manned only by a company of Tennessee artillerymen. The flagship opened fire on the fort from 1,700 yards away and closed to within 600 yards. As the seven ironclads and gunboats bombarded the fort, the nine Rebel gun crews returned fire, striking the Benton 32 times. The Rebel fire disabled two of the Benton's guns and riddled her after-cabin, stacks, and boats with shots. But the sturdy Benton moved in without hesitation until the fort commander struck the flag and surrendered.
The Benton aided the Union in its victory at Fort Donelson in February 1862, in the Battle of Island No. 10 in April of the same year, and in the final operations against Vicksburg and the Red River campaign. In December 1862, while securing a landing for General Sherman's troops on the Yazoo River, the Benton was severely damaged by Confederate fire. Her captain, Lt. William Gwin, was killed and nine others were wounded or killed. The ship was repaired and returned to service.
Fascinating Fact: In service to the Union until the end of the Civil War, the Benton was stripped of her plating and sold for scrap in November 1865.
Displacement: 1033 tons
Length: 202 ft (62 m)
Beam: 72 ft (22 m)
Draught: 9 ft (2.7 m)
Propulsion: steam engine

Speed: 5.5 knots
Complement: 176 officers and enlisted
Armament: two 9” smoothbores
seven 32-pounder smoothbores
seven 42-pounder rifles
Armor: ironclad

Monument of 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry Gettysburg.

2011-03-27T10:35:00.007-04:00

As the 150th Anniversary of the Civl War unfolds this April, I will post a lot of Civil War related information concerning the Schuylkill Countians who served during the war 1861-1865.

This is the monument to the 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry at Gettysburg. It is located behind the angle on cemetery ridge. What is interesting about this statue which depicts a dismounted cavalryman of the 1st Pa. Cav. is Schuylkill Countian Joseph H.A.Lindermuth, who lived in Auburn and posed for the sculpture of the cavalryman. As we begin the 150th anniversary of the Civil War we in Schuylkill County can be proud of the many men who fought for and died for the Union cause.

Remains of Schuylkill County native killed in WWI recovered

2011-03-25T20:50:00.005-04:00

It took a long time, but he is home once again. May the grass always be green on his grave. Thank you Private Henry Weikel.

Remains of Schuylkill County native killed in WWI recovered

By John E. Usalis / Staff Writer

Published: December 3, 2010 via Republican Herald

After 92 years in an unmarked grave in France, the remains of Army Pvt. Henry A. Weikel will return to his native Schuylkill County next week for a religious service and burial.

Weikel was killed in action in World War I on Sept. 16, 1918, at the age of 28 in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel, which is in northeastern France. The battle lasted from Sept. 12 to 19, with the American Expeditionary Force reclaiming the area from German forces.

During a 2006 Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command recovery mission in Europe, a local French resident, Elisabeth Gozzo, told the team about possible remains of American soldiers that had been found. The JPAC team visited the site and found the remains of three soldiers, including Weikel.

According to a report from JPAC, the other soldiers who were found were Pvt. Carl H. Willig and Pvt. Thomas D. Costello. A fourth soldier listed as “missing in action” at the battlefield was Sgt. William Wood, but his remains were not found.

There were 29 soldiers killed Sept. 16, with the four MIAs unaccounted for, the JPAC report stated. Battles in the area lasted about four weeks, with three American units engaging the enemy in the same area, which apparently resulted in the loss of the burial marker due to continued shelling and digging for fighting positions. There were subsequent searches of the area after the war, but no remains were found.

According to the JPAC report, some records indicated that Weikel was born and raised in Lavelle, the son of Henry and Eliza Weikel. The report also noted, however, that Weikel “hailed from Mount Carmel,” citing World War I Selective Service System draft registration cards from Northumberland County.

Army representatives recently contacted Weikel’s niece, Rosemary Weikel Wesner, who resided at the Mahanoy City High Rise at the time, and her daughter, Debra Coleman, Maple Hill, Mahanoy Township.

“My mother and I only learned about this a few weeks ago,” Coleman said. “We didn’t even know he was missing in action because it was so long ago. My mom is 80 years old, and she went into a nursing home yesterday (Tuesday). I can’t believe all of this is happening all at the same time.”

Weikel was killed 12 years before his niece was born, which added to the lack of information.

“My mom was born in 1930, so she didn’t even know him,” Coleman said.

After Wesner and Coleman received the news, they contacted Louis D. Truskowsky Funeral Home, Mahanoy City, to make the arrangements, and worked with the military on the planning.

Coleman said the funeral service and interment will bring closure to Weikel’s life and the ultimate sacrifice he made.

“At least now he can be buried with honors, which proves that the United States is one of the best places to live anywhere because we honor our brave soldiers,” Coleman said.

Weikel’s remains will be returned Monday from Hawaii to the Philadelphia International Airport, where he will receive military honors on the tarmac about noon. His remains will travel to Mahanoy City with a Pennsylvania State Police escort, arriving at the Truskowsky funeral home about 3 p.m.

A public viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and the funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Dec. 9 at the funeral home with the Rev. Dr. John Reid, pastor of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Mahanoy City, officiating. A burial ceremony with full military honors, along with an escort by the Patriot Guard and state police, will be held at 1 p.m. Dec. 9 at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville.

Weikel will posthumously receive the Purple Heart, World War I Victory Medal with France Service Clasp, Mihiel Battle Crest with Bronze Service Star, and the World War I Victory Button in Silver. Coleman will accept the medals and the American flag at the cemetery.

jusalis@republicanherald.com

Spec4 Gary C.Geiger Schuylkill County's Last Soldier Killed In Vietnam

2011-03-24T08:41:00.004-04:00

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Schuylkill County's Vietnam Memorial

40 years ago on this date Spec4 Gary C. Geiger was killed in action in Vietnam. Gary became New Ringgold’s only casualty of the Vietnam War-And Schuylkill County’s 38th and last man to die in the war.
Gary was a medic in the 3-5 Cavalry, 9th Infantry Division. On this day March 25, 1971, while flying with his crew mates on a Huey med evac helicopter they were shot down by enemy fire during a rescue mission that went bad.
May you rest in Peace. Brother, and let it be known that you are remembered by all who served with you and you will never be forgotten.
Stu Richards Vietnam 1970-71

Tag to Enlarge

The Fighting Wesner Boys of Schuylkill County

2011-03-22T14:31:00.010-04:00

At our last meeting of the Schuylkill County Civil War Round table, Mrs. Eileen Matthews gave a brief lecture on her Great Grand Father Private William Wesner of the 151st PVI.. She also spoke of his three brothers who fought and died during the Civil War. The brothers all hailed from Schuylkill County Listed below is a brief history of the Fighting Wesner Family.

Samuel was the first brother to enlist, taking the oath on 9-9-61, followed by Charles who mustered in on 9-25-61. William mustered in on 11-4-62 and finally by Andrew who mustered in 4-11-64

Private Samuel Wesner
50th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry
Company C.
Enrolled 8-14-61 at Schuylkill Haven
M.I. 9-9-61 at Harrisburg
M.O. 7-30-65
Age 23
Height 5’9”
Occupation a Miner Laborer
Residence Foster Township.

According to records Samuel deserted in September 1861 and was arrested for desertion in the 10th district by the Provost Marshal and taken to Philadelphia.
According to records he was put back on the muster rolls of Company C, 50th PVI in June of 1864 and fought in all the engagements the 50th was engaged in till the end of the war.

According to his discharge

Camp of The 50th Regiment Penna. Veteran Volunteers
Near Georgetown D.C.
May 29th , 1865

John C Youngman
A.A. Genrl. 9th Army Corps

Captain

I have the honor to report that Private Samuel Wesner of my command has been 12 months in arrest charged with desertion, the above named is a good soldier and has done his duty through the greater part of last campaign. I deem it my duty to say that this said soldier is not worthy of such treatment and would most earnestly beg that he immediately be tried on the above charges. Or at once restore to duty with his company.
Charges have forwarded in the month of September 1864. several requests have been made for his trial but as yet no answer received, please to note the reason of delay, or instructions how to act in this case.

Very Respectfully
Your obdt, Servant
Charles C. Brown
Captain Commanding Company C

For further reading onthe Company C 50th P.V.I read my book

Private Charles Wesner
Company K
96th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.

Charles Wesner was wounded in the advance of the 96th outside Burkittsville, Md. Toward Crampton’s Gap,
He died 5 ½ months from his wounds suffered at Crampton’s Gap. In the Antietam Hospital, Maryland on March 5, 1863
Wesner, Charles.... Mustered In Sept. 25,'61,
Died at Antietam, Md., March 5, 1862-buried in Nat. Cemetery, Antietam sec. 26, lot B, grave, 218

At Crampton;s Gap
Under command of Col. Henry Cake, the regiment charged the extreme Confederate left, unsupported, driving the 10th Georgia of Semmes’ Brigade from its Mountain Church Road defense line into a mountain meadow. In so doing they sparked one of the war’s few recorded hand-to-hand bayonet fights. Driven headlong into the meadow, remnants of the 10th took shelter in the stone farm house of the widow Susan Tritt, converting it into an impenetrable fortification, their fire coming to bear from its windows. Undaunted the 96th surrounded the house, broke into it, and again cleared it with the bayonet.
Pushing on into the wooded mouth of Whipp’s Ravine, Cake’s 96th commenced the arduous ascent toward the gap only to again come under fire from the 15th North Carolina of Cobb’s Brigade above them to their right on Arnoldstown Road. Cake turned the regiment to its right up the near vertical north face of the ravine, clawing their way toward their tormenter. In a twinkling the 96th fragmented the 15th North Carolina, a portion retreating into the gap, most scurrying up the mountain with Cake’s nearly exhausted men right behind. At the summit of the north ridge winded prisoners gave themselves up, and the 96th’s colors were planted in triumph after numerous color bearers had been shot from beneath them.
Unparalleled by any other unit that day, the 96th Pennsylvania had charged and routed both primary and secondary Confederate battle lines unaided, clearing the way for Union forces to reach the gap through token resistance before confronting the Confederate last stand at the summit. In near total darkness the 96th retraced its steps to Arnoldstown Road where it encamped for the night, still somewhat removed from its parent brigade.
In a sense the regiment had fought its own battle on its own terms and had paid accordingly. 96th casualties were highest of any Union unit engaged at Crampton’s Gap, 20 killed, 71 wounded. Only the maelstrom at Spottsylvania would claim a higher number from this regiment. If it can be said that the New Jersey Brigade crushed the Confederate right, then it can be truly said that the 96th Pennsylvania dispersed its left in vertical depth—all by itself. Their feats performed largely unseen in darkened woods, thanks were slow in coming. Several days later division commander Gen. Henry Slocum quietly offered Colonel Cake a congratulatory footnote: "Colonel, your coal-heavers did well!"
Timothy Reese, Burkittsville, Maryland
AotW Member
Following iare two letters written by Lieutnenat Samuel Russel
Of the 96th PVI.
Miners Journal Sept. 27 1862.
By Samuel Russel. Lt.
96th PVI. Co. C

Camp At Crampton's Gap, Blue Ridge Md.
September 15, 1862.

My dear Father:- Yesterday we advanced from this side of Buckeysville. Our regiment was in the advance some two miles. We found the enemy strongly posted on the mountain at Crampton's Gap; the main body of our troops (Slocum's division) soon arrived and we made preparations to storm the mountain pass. The enemy had every advantage and we every disadvantage; we were finally ordered forward and after advancing about a half of mile the rebels poured a tremendous fire of shell and grape upon us, still we kept on until we meet the infantry at the bottom of the hill, strongly posted behind a stone fence. It was perfectly useless to stand and fire at them so there was but one thing left for us to do, and that was to charge and drive them at the point of the bayonet. Col. Bartlett rode in front of our regiment and said, "Now Pennsylvanians do your duty!" Oh ! if 50,000 young men of Pennsylvania who are now still at home could have seen our regiment (very little over 400 strong) make the charge they would remain at home no longer. We were determined to take this place. Just before we reached the fence, we received a terrible fire: our men fell fast. Here our two color bearers were shot down. Two others immediately grasped the colors and were bearing them gallantly forward when they too were shot down. Lieut. John Dougherty of Co. F was killed here, and I believe Major Martin also, but were not to be kept back. On we went and took the fence, but that did not satisfy us we kept on and drove the enemy to the top of the mountain with terrible loss, completely routing them. Our forces were about equal. We could not use our artillery, but the bravery of the men made up for that. On reaching the top of the mountain we formed our lines again, but it was to dark to follow further. He we halted for about three quarters of an hour, when we came down some distance and remained for the night. We had no blankets and it was quite cold. Among the killed of our regiment are Saul Mcminzie, color bearer, and Martin Sipe. Wounded Sergt. Alexander Allison, Corporal Hilton, Privates Arthur Brannegan, C. Bast. D. Thomas, H. Lynch, J.Frasler, and Thomas Oliver color bearer.
None are very badly wounded. The loss in the regiment is 19 killed and 74 wounded. The loss to the rebels is five to our one and about 6 to 900 prisoners. I escaped without a scratch and was in the thick of the fight. I found an opportunity of firing my pistol fourteen shots. It is getting now getting dark. Col. Cake behaved most bravely. I am sorry to say we lost Major Martin, and Lieut. John Dougherty. All the men in the division behaved nobly. I will give you a further description of the battle at the first opportunity.
Your affectionate son,
Saml. R. Russel

Miners Journal: October 4 1862.
Lt. Samuel Russel letter.

Camp near Williamsport, Md. September 23, 1862.
My dear father- We left Sharpsburg battlefield on Saturday night about 11 O'clock and made a forced march of 13 miles, before 4 O'clock the next morning. We passed over a great portion of the battlefield. The bodies of a great number of rebels yet remained unburied up to that time. I thought we piled the rebels up pretty thick at Crampton's Gap, but Sharpsburg took it down. At one place you could count the bodies of 44 of them. The loss on both sides was pretty large but that of the rebels much larger than ours. John Hughes was Capt. of a battery and was at the battle. I do wish the 96th could have a chance to charge that battery. I have been hoping that we would fall in with the Penna. Militia. Dr. Hasseler came to see us. He told us they were between Williamsport and Hagerstown, but it appears they have been sent back to Greencastle. This morning we had orders to march back to Hagerstown at 8 O'clock but it since has been countermanded as to time. We are to march at a minutes notice, so we may go at any time.
I must relate a little incident that I saw during our charge at Crampton's Gap to show how reckless men can get. As we were charging, and just before we reached the stone fence where the rebels were , we came to a field, part containing corn and part grass and two or three apple trees. As soon as we came to the apple trees some of the men began knocking down the apples with their guns, all this was done under the heavy fire of musketry and within 60 yards of the rebels, after getting as many as they could wanted, they came on eating and fighting.
I suppose the bodies of Major Martin and Lieut. Dougherty have reached home before this. Our regiment lost but one killed and one wounded at Sharpsburg. That was done by a shell. We were supporting our batteries and were well protected by trees, rocks and rising ground.
We are all very well. Our wounded men are getting along very well; none of them are wounded dangerously. I send you a list of the wounded of our company. I should like to see it published as their friends might be relieved of a great deal of uneasiness.
Your affectionate son
Samuel R. Russel.

At every step, some poor soul escaped through a bullet hole into eternity, or some brave body fell forward, or sank to the earth, with agonizing shriek or cry of pain.”
John T. Boyle
Capt Boyle of the 96th Pennsylvania talking about the fighting at Crampton’s Gap
Check out John Hoptak’s Interview about the 96th at South Mountain on the website “This Mighty Scourge”
http://thismightyscourge.com/2009/11/07/interview-with-john-hoptak-author-of-our-boys-did-nobly/
Suggested reading about the Battle of South Mountain and the boys of Schuylkill County.
About “Our Boys Did Nobly”
Author: John David Hoptak
Paperback: 358 pages
Distributed by: Ten Roads Publishing, LLC
ISBN-10: 0557088968

Pvt. William Wesner
151st Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment
Company I
Enrolled at Schuylkill Co. on 10-15-62, Mustered in 11-4-62 at Harrisburg and Mustered Out 7-27-63
William was 28 years old when he enlisted ion the 151st, P.V.I.
William was paid a $ 600.00 bonus for enlistment in the regiment.

William Wesner enlisted in the 151st Regiment..
Companies A and C, of this regiment, were recruited in Susquehanna, county, B, in Pike, F, in Warren, D, in Juniata, E, G, H, K, and part of I, in Berks, and the remaining part of I, in Schuylkill.
They rendezvoused at Camp Curtin near Harrisburg. During the month of September, where a regimental organization.

The 151st was known as the “School Teacher Regiment”

Company I, the company that William Wesner enlisted in was commanded by Captain William L. Gray of Cressona. Nearly six feet in height and weighing over 200 lbs. Captain Gray was the oldest officer of the regiment. Highly regarded by Colonel McFarland who commanded the 151st.during the battle of Gettysburg. Another local officer was Henry Merkle, also of Cressona who was the First Lieutenant of the company.
Captain Gray it seems was not particularly liked by the men of his company as a letter from the Pottsville Miners Journal dated April 18, 1863 states:
I am sorry to say that the Captain of Company I is little thought of by his men, and, as regards his military capacity. He is not much in advance of any of his men. I do not wish to injure any persons reputation, but these are my candid sentiments, I, for one, came into the service with the welfare of our country at heart. But I am sorry to see in the army so much tyranny as is shown by some of the officers, and I am of the opinion that if not more than half the salary was paid to officers, and a little more added to the pay of the private soldiers, we would have just as good officers and a great many more soldiers.

151st Pennsylvania Regiment
At Gettysburg.

From A First Defender in Rebel Prison Pens.
By Charles Potts, Late Lieut. 151st P.V.I.
Read before the Society October 29, 1913

In the early part of 1863 our regiment joined the army of the Potomac, being assigned to the first Corps, and doing picket duty until the move on Chancellorsville, when we were sent to the extreme right to occupy the positions vacated by the eleventh corps. Not gaining our object under Hooker, we crossed the river and went into camp near our old grounds overlooking Fredericksburg, but we were not to remain long.
Lee's army was short of food, and he was on his way to Pennsylvania, to have a good time. We struck tents and went after him as fast as possible, on forced marches. Well he got there sometime before us, and was enjoying himself on the fat of the land until he was disturbed early on the morning of July 1, 1863, by the first corps and a brigade of cavalry. Starting early in the morning from near Emmitsburg, we marched rapidly onto Gettysburg, going across fields directly into position. As our forces were being hard pressed for awhile, we supported the battery, but in a short time we were sent to fill up the gap in our lines made by shot and shell.
I could see we could not hold our position long, as the rebel reinforcements were being thrown on to our left flank, and our men gradually giving way. Occupying a position n the centre of the line, while the right and left were being driven back, placed us in a very exposed position, when we, too had to fall back to the rear and took shelter in a grove surrounding the Seminary Building, while all other troops had fallen back, leaving us alone to hold our ground as well as we cold, with one battery of artillery.
We soon found that we must vacate our position, or be surrounded and our whole command captured. Our general officers had all left the field, excepting Col. Chapman Biddle, who commanded our brigade, and was wounded in the head, but he was well mounted, and made his escape. Retreating for the second time, we made directly for the town, thinking we would be able to make another stand, but, to our great surprise, the rebel cavalry had cut off our retreat, and we were well bottled up.
It had never occurred to me that I might be taken prisoner, and when I found out that I was helpless in their hands my feelings can't be described.
Meeting a few wounded men of my company, I took them into the Lutheran church, then used as a hospital and rather than have the humiliation of delivering my sword to a rebel, I hid it in the building.
After supplying the boys with water, I went to the front just in time to see the Chaplin of the 90th Penna. killed, while standing in the doorway of the church. In company, with two others, we picked him up, but he had been instantly killed, the ball entering his mouth and taking an upward course through his brain. The rebels were picking up lose Yankees and sending them to a prison camp north of the town under the command of Col. French of the 14th West Virginia.
He extended us a welcome, taking our names, rank, and regiment, but offering us no further accommodations than the cold ground for a bed and an empty haversack for supper. We found him a good hearted old Virginia gentleman.
Our regiment in a few hours had been completely torn to pieces. We marched into the engagement with 66 al told, and our loss was 337. Our opponents were the 11th and the 26th North Carolina regiments, of which the 11th lost 50 killed, 159 wounded, and the 26th lost 86 killed and 502 wounded. So our boys must have done some good shooting. The official reports show that these three regiments suffered a greater loss than any other regiment in this battle.
The guns had ceased firing; the remainder of our army had taken up a position on Cemetery Ridge, entrenched and waiting reinforcements. As night was approaching we thought it was time to have something to eat, before retiring to a bed of clover. I found my stock of provisions consisted of only three and one half pieces of hardtack.
On the morning of July 2d we were moved to Willoughby Run at the Rebel General Pickett's headquarters, and there remained during the remainder of the fighting, being directly in the rear of the rebel batteries, until the morning of the fourth, when the enemy thought it better to go south.
All this time the rebs gave us no food until the eve of the 3rd, when they gave us a small quantity of flour, which we mixed with the waters of the creek and baked it on flat stones, as best we could, into some kind of bread, the like of which I had never seen before, but would have been very glad to have later on.

Andrew Wesner
Co. F, 48th Pennsylvania Mustered In to the service on 4-11-64 at Pottsville.
Andrew was 18 years old at the time of enlistment was 5’6 ½ “ tall had brown hair, a medium complexion, gray eyes and was listed as a laborer, born in Schuylkill County.

The following information came from:
The story of the Forty-eighth: a record of the campaigns of the Forty-eighth .
By Joseph Gould
SPOTTSYLVANIA
On the 12th, early in the morning, we were moved on to the left of Hancock's Corps. Our division was formed in two lines of battle. The 1st Brigade constituted the second line; the 2nd Brigade, the first line. In front of our regiment was the 17th Vermont Regiment, which had exhausted its ammunition after fighting bravely, and was relieved by us. Our position was on the top of a hill, in front of which was an open field and swamp, through which ran a small creek, and, beyond, another hill, where the rebels had erected a strong line of rifle-pits. On our left was a thick wood extending beyond the swamp to the line of the enemy. As the fog rose, a regiment of rebels was discovered occupying a pit formed by the banks of the creek. The left of the brigade was thrown forward into the woods, cutting off their retreat, except by the open field up the hill in front of our works, which, if attempted, would be certain destruction. A desperate effort
was made to drive us out of our position, but it was steadily maintained under a destructive fire of musketry and artillery. During this attempt the regiment captured two hundred prisoners of Gordon's division. Along in the afternoon the troops made another assault on the rebel line. The regiment charged forward to the swamp, but discovered that it was unsupported. It moved then by the left flank into the woods under a galling fire; and, later, reached its former position.
The report of Major W. B. Reynolds of the 17th Vermont, in speaking of the Spotsylvania engagement, says: "At 7 a. m., having exhausted 40 rounds per man, as well as all that could be procured from the dead and wounded, we were relieved by the 48th Penna. Vols, and withdrew about twenty paces, where we remained with fixed bayonets while ammunition was being brought forward. During this time, about fifty of the 26th Georgia, who had been in our front, were sent back as prisoners of war. The few survivors of the regiment made good their escape from the ravine, leaving in our hands a number of dead and wounded. At 11 a. m. I was ordered to support the 48th Penna. Vols, in an advance upon the enemy's works, having to advance across an open field about one hundred yards under fire from the enemy's entrenchments. The 48th Pa. formed in my rear as a support during the remainder of the day."
An incident occurred just here that shows the inventive genius of some of the regimental commanders. A soldier had not stood up to his work as he should have done, had shown the white feather during this encounter, and, upon his return to his company, after the danger was over, the colonel of his regiment, being made acquainted with these facts, had the culprit brought to his headquarters. Then he was bucked and gagged. This operation is performed by tying the hands tightly at the wrists, seating the person on the ground, putting his hands over his knees low enough down to insert a strong stick or musket under the knees and over the arms. This is the bucking part of it. The gagging consists of inserting a strong piece of wood, or, in lieu of that, a bayonet, into the mouth and tying it tightly around the neck by both ends. In this position, he is at the mercy of any one desiring to have fun at his expense. The colonel now summoned the captain of the company to which the "shyster" belonged and ordered him to fall in his company, single file, and commanded them to march by the comrade seated at their feet, and; as each one filed by, he was to spit in his face. Some of the comrades gave him the full benefit of all that tobacco chewing could bring forth, others scarcely reached his face with any spittle, but the colonel stood by, and as the men filed past ordered them to spit lively.
Our regiment suffered very severely in this fight, and the writer paid a visit to the field hospital to look after some friends, and, while there, came across some of his own company, one, named Lewis Woods, a great, big, noble-hearted fellow, from the northern part of the State, who now lay in a cow stable with his brains oozing from a ghastly bullet hole in his head. As I took the gallant fellow's hand and asked him if he recognized me, his only reply was a smile, and my mind went back to the trip on the steamer from Newport News to Baltimore, when, as he lay asleep on the deck, in a moment of boyish deviltry, I clipped one-half of his moustache completely off. What I would have given at that moment if I had never been guilty of this mischievous act! I had heard of people being shot to pieces, but never saw it until at this hospital. Just outside the fence surrounding the house a battery of artillery was stationed, and one of the artillerymen lay there torn limb from limb, and the sight was a sickening one to those passing by.
Sergeant William J. Wells, of Company F, relates the following:
A SOLDIER'S FAREWELL
"In this fight I was one of the Color Guard of the regiment. Comrade John Morrisey, of my company, came to me just before our charge across the swamp and bade me 'good-bye.' Inquiring why he did so, he replied: 'I shall be killed to-day.' I chided him, and tried to cheer him; then suggested that he remain out of the fight, which we all felt to be at hand. He indignantly refused, and said: 'I have never yet shirked my duty, and will not do it now. After I am dead, write to my sister, Mary, and tell her I died facing the enemy.' Just then the bugle sounded the advance. He ran to his company, and, immediately fell, shot through the forehead. After returning to our position, subsequent to the charge, we dug a hole with the bayonet; wrapped him in his blanket and buried him- Then, upon a piece of cracker-box, we wrote, with a charred stick, his name, company and regiment. While lying in the hospital at Chestnut Hill, Pa., his sister, finding my name among the new arrivals, visited me, and I delivered his dying message to her. She was a poor servant girl in the City of Philadelphia, but I shall never forget her distress."
HEAVY LOSSES
Since crossing the Rapidan on the 5th the regiment had been under heavy fire every day, and had lost, in killed and wounded, one hundred and eighty-seven, amongst the killed being Lieut. Henry C. Jackson, of Company G, who fell on the 12th. Lieut. Jackson was a noble fellow, and idolized by his men; his loss was deeply felt.
The Spottsylvania engagement of May 12th became intensely interesting to us, and Comrade Bob Reid, of Company G, gives a very interesting description of it: "It was a very foggy morning when Captain McKibben of General Potter's staff ordered Col. Pleasants to follow him with the 48th, and it will be remembered that McKibben rode a very dilapidated plug of a horse that day, but he rode right to the front, leaning forward on his horse, as he led us up the hill, until he had us under fire, when we formed line of battle behind one of the advance regiments. There was a rebel regiment behind the brow of the hill, directly' in our front, and our position did not suit our Colonel. We moved forward past the right of the advanced regiment until we got about half way between it and the enemy, which proved to be the 13th Georgia. Before we commenced firing about twenty of the rebel troops came in and surrendered. When within about seventy-five yards of the enemy we were ordered to halt, and commence firing, when for a short time the engagement was very lively. The enemy were at a decided disadvantage, they being down the slope of the hill, we at the top. About the time we opened fire another, or part of a rebel regiment, came to their support. We hammered away at them until some one from the centre of our regiment called out that they wanted to surrender, but Col. Pleasants ordered us to continue firing, which we did until the rebels threw down their arms and came in a body. We captured fully two hundred prisoners. They left one colonel, three line officers and seventy-five men killed, and a large number of wounded on the field.

Captain Hosgins
William Auman Company G, 48th ,wrote the following:
This is the tenth day of the fighting, and from present appearances it will last for some days yet. The 48th has been under fire for seven days, and were severely engaged twice. At the Battle of the Wilderness, we were engaged and lost three killed and twelve wounded. On the 12th, we had a hard fight on the ground we now occupy. Our regiment was in the thickest of the fight and lost heavily. Lieut. Henry Jackson was killed beside me. He was struck in the neck by a rifle ball. I helped to carry him out. He died while we were carrying him to the hospital. When he was struck he fell against me. I asked him where he was hit; he whispered, "I don't know," and then his head fell to one side, and I saw that he was dying" He never spoke again. The loss in the regiment in that day's fight was one hundred and thirty-seven, killed, wounded and missing.
We drove the enemy a mile, when we met the 13th Georgia Regiment. We completely annihilated that regiment, taking many prisoners and killing and wounding nearly all the rest. We then charged on the rebel works, but not being supported by the regiment on our right, and being exposed to a terrible cross fire from the lines of rifle pits and a battery, we were compelled to retire to the left into a wood. Here the left of the regiment was run close to the enemy's earthworks, and a number of our men were shot. We fell back, formed line, and took position on the same ground we were on before we charged. Here we put up breastworks and have been fighting ever since. While I am writing, the bullets are whistling over my head, but as long as we do not expose ourselves, we are quite safe.

Casualties:
COMPANY F.
Killed.—David F. Thiel, John Morrissy, Lewis Woods, Richard Williams.

Wounded.—Sergt. Richard Hopkins, Corp. John Powell; Wm. E. Taylor, Israel Manning, Anthony Carroll, Wm. S. Wright, James Brennan, And. Westner, Henry Holsey, Wm. H. Kohler, John Eddy, John T. Reese, John Crawford, A. H. Whitman.

Missing.—George Kramer.

Andrew Was seriously wounded in the groin during the engagement on May 12th. He was evacuated to the Lincoln General Hospital, Washington, DC by reason of the gunshot wound to the groin. Where he died.

96th Officers

Private Charles Wesner
Company K
96th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.

Charles Wesner was wounded in the advance of the 96th outside Burkittsville, Md. Toward Crampton’s Gap,
He died 5 ½ months from his wounds suffered at Crampton’s Gap. In the Antietam Hospital, Maryland on March 5, 1863
Wesner, Charles.... Mustered In Sept. 25,'61,
Died at Antietam, Md., March 5, 1862-buried in Nat. Cemetery, Antietam sec. 26, lot B, grave, 218

At Crampton;s Gap
Under command of Col. Henry Cake, the regiment charged the extreme Confederate left, unsupported, driving the 10th Georgia of Semmes’ Brigade from its Mountain Church Road defense line into a mountain meadow. In so doing they sparked one of the war’s few recorded hand-to-hand bayonet fights. Driven headlong into the meadow, remnants of the 10th took shelter in the stone farm house of the widow Susan Tritt, converting it into an impenetrable fortification, their fire coming to bear from its windows. Undaunted the 96th surrounded the house, broke into it, and again cleared it with the bayonet.
Pushing on into the wooded mouth of Whipp’s Ravine, Cake’s 96th commenced the arduous ascent toward the gap only to again come under fire from the 15th North Carolina of Cobb’s Brigade above them to their right on Arnoldstown Road. Cake turned the regiment to its right up the near vertical north face of the ravine, clawing their way toward their tormenter. In a twinkling the 96th fragmented the 15th North Carolina, a portion retreating into the gap, most scurrying up the mountain with Cake’s nearly exhausted men right behind. At the summit of the north ridge winded prisoners gave themselves up, and the 96th’s colors were planted in triumph after numerous color bearers had been shot from beneath them.
Unparalleled by any other unit that day, the 96th Pennsylvania had charged and routed both primary and secondary Confederate battle lines unaided, clearing the way for Union forces to reach the gap through token resistance before confronting the Confederate last stand at the summit. In near total darkness the 96th retraced its steps to Arnoldstown Road where it encamped for the night, still somewhat removed from its parent brigade.
In a sense the regiment had fought its own battle on its own terms and had paid accordingly. 96th casualties were highest of any Union unit engaged at Crampton’s Gap, 20 killed, 71 wounded. Only the maelstrom at Spottsylvania would claim a higher number from this regiment. If it can be said that the New Jersey Brigade crushed the Confederate right, then it can be truly said that the 96th Pennsylvania dispersed its left in vertical depth—all by itself. Their feats performed largely unseen in darkened woods, thanks were slow in coming. Several days later division commander Gen. Henry Slocum quietly offered Colonel Cake a congratulatory footnote: "Colonel, your coal-heavers did well!"
Timothy Reese, Burkittsville, Maryland
AotW Member
Following iare two letters written by Lieutnenat Samuel Russel
Of the 96th PVI.
Miners Journal Sept. 27 1862.
By Samuel Russel. Lt.
96th PVI. Co. C

Camp At Crampton's Gap, Blue Ridge Md.
September 15, 1862.

My dear Father:- Yesterday we advanced from this side of Buckeysville. Our regiment was in the advance some two miles. We found the enemy strongly posted on the mountain at Crampton's Gap; the main body of our troops (Slocum's division) soon arrived and we made preparations to storm the mountain pass. The enemy had every advantage and we every disadvantage; we were finally ordered forward and after advancing about a half of mile the rebels poured a tremendous fire of shell and grape upon us, still we kept on until we meet the infantry at the bottom of the hill, strongly posted behind a stone fence. It was perfectly useless to stand and fire at them so there was but one thing left for us to do, and that was to charge and drive them at the point of the bayonet. Col. Bartlett rode in front of our regiment and said, "Now Pennsylvanians do your duty!" Oh ! if 50,000 young men of Pennsylvania who are now still at home could have seen our regiment (very little over 400 strong) make the charge they would remain at home no longer. We were determined to take this place. Just before we reached the fence, we received a terrible fire: our men fell fast. Here our two color bearers were shot down. Two others immediately grasped the colors and were bearing them gallantly forward when they too were shot down. Lieut. John Dougherty of Co. F was killed here, and I believe Major Martin also, but were not to be kept back. On we went and took the fence, but that did not satisfy us we kept on and drove the enemy to the top of the mountain with terrible loss, completely routing them. Our forces were about equal. We could not use our artillery, but the bravery of the men made up for that. On reaching the top of the mountain we formed our lines again, but it was to dark to follow further. He we halted for about three quarters of an hour, when we came down some distance and remained for the night. We had no blankets and it was quite cold. Among the killed of our regiment are Saul Mcminzie, color bearer, and Martin Sipe. Wounded Sergt. Alexander Allison, Corporal Hilton, Privates Arthur Brannegan, C. Bast. D. Thomas, H. Lynch, J.Frasler, and Thomas Oliver color bearer.
None are very badly wounded. The loss in the regiment is 19 killed and 74 wounded. The loss to the rebels is five to our one and about 6 to 900 prisoners. I escaped without a scratch and was in the thick of the fight. I found an opportunity of firing my pistol fourteen shots. It is getting now getting dark. Col. Cake behaved most bravely. I am sorry to say we lost Major Martin, and Lieut. John Dougherty. All the men in the division behaved nobly. I will give you a further description of the battle at the first opportunity.
Your affectionate son,
Saml. R. Russel

Miners Journal: October 4 1862.
Lt. Samuel Russel letter.

Camp near Williamsport, Md. September 23, 1862.
My dear father- We left Sharpsburg battlefield on Saturday night about 11 O'clock and made a forced march of 13 miles, before 4 O'clock the next morning. We passed over a great portion of the battlefield. The bodies of a great number of rebels yet remained unburied up to that time. I thought we piled the rebels up pretty thick at Crampton's Gap, but Sharpsburg took it down. At one place you could count the bodies of 44 of them. The loss on both sides was pretty large but that of the rebels much larger than ours. John Hughes was Capt. of a battery and was at the battle. I do wish the 96th could have a chance to charge that battery. I have been hoping that we would fall in with the Penna. Militia. Dr. Hasseler came to see us. He told us they were between Williamsport and Hagerstown, but it appears they have been sent back to Greencastle. This morning we had orders to march back to Hagerstown at 8 O'clock but it since has been countermanded as to time. We are to march at a minutes notice, so we may go at any time.
I must relate a little incident that I saw during our charge at Crampton's Gap to show how reckless men can get. As we were charging, and just before we reached the stone fence where the rebels were , we came to a field, part containing corn and part grass and two or three apple trees. As soon as we came to the apple trees some of the men began knocking down the apples with their guns, all this was done under the heavy fire of musketry and within 60 yards of the rebels, after getting as many as they could wanted, they came on eating and fighting.
I suppose the bodies of Major Martin and Lieut. Dougherty have reached home before this. Our regiment lost but one killed and one wounded at Sharpsburg. That was done by a shell. We were supporting our batteries and were well protected by trees, rocks and rising ground.
We are all very well. Our wounded men are getting along very well; none of them are wounded dangerously. I send you a list of the wounded of our company. I should like to see it published as their friends might be relieved of a great deal of uneasiness.
Your affectionate son
Samuel R. Russel.

At every step, some poor soul escaped through a bullet hole into eternity, or some brave body fell forward, or sank to the earth, with agonizing shriek or cry of pain.”
John T. Boyle
Capt Boyle of the 96th Pennsylvania talking about the fighting at Crampton’s Gap
Check out John Hoptak’s Interview about the 96th at South Mountain on the website “This Mighty Scourge”
http://thismightyscourge.com/2009/11/07/interview-with-john-hoptak-author-of-our-boys-did-nobly/
Suggested reading about the Battle of South Mountain and the boys of Schuylkill County.
About “Our Boys Did Nobly”
Author: John David Hoptak
Paperback: 358 pages
Distributed by: Ten Roads Publishing, LLC
ISBN-10: 0557088968

THE LAST PHOTO OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY’S SPANISH AMERICAN WAR VETERANS

2011-03-20T10:17:00.005-04:00

This photograph was taken in Garfield Square on May 29, 1961. It is the last photo of surviving Span Am war veterans,
Their ranks thinned by father time these are among the surviving members of the Spanish American War who posed in Garfield Square for this pre Memorial Day picture.
As a 12 year old I was very fortunate to have met and talked with these men. I remember Mr. Steidel, sitting in a car waiting for the Pottsville parade to start. My dad walked me over to him, and introduced me to him, his hand was thin and he looked ancient to me. But I can say with pride, I shook the hand of a Spanish American War Vet.

From Eric Bogle's great Song "AND THE BAND PLAYED WALTZING MATILDA"

"They're tired old heroes from a forgotten war
And the young people ask,
what are they marching for?
And I ask myself the same question.
But the band plays Waltzing Matilda
And the old men still answer the call,
But as year follows year, more old men disappear.
Someday no one will march there at all."

From the Left:
William Warner, 85 .Private Company F, 4th Pennsylvania Infantry. Cressona, Pa. Enrolled June 15, 1898 M.O Nov. 16, 1898.
John F. Krater, 82, Orwigsburg. Private Company K, 8th Pennsylvania Infantry. M.I. June 10, 1898, M.O. March 7, 1899
Gomer Hughes, 88, St.Clair Private Company K, 8th Pennsylvania Infantry. M.I.April 28, 1898, M.O. March 7,,1899.
William Lindemuth 82, Pottsville
George Reichneder, 76, Pottsville
John J. Cantwell 81, Pottsville, Company H, 8th Pennsylvania Infantry. M.I. June 10, 1898, M.O. March 7, 1899
George Steidel, 83, Pottsville
William H. Corby, 82, Pottsville. 8th Pennsylvania Infantry.
Unable to attend was Joseph Starr, of Llewellyn and Albert Bean of Pottsville.

Schuylkill County Korean War Stories

2011-03-07T19:31:00.009-05:00

Sgt 1/C Daniel J. Connelly Awarded the Silver Star For Heroism In Combat

Sgt1/c Daniel J. Connelly, Branchdale has been awarded the Silver Star. August 8, 1951
Sgt Connelly, serving with Company G of the 17th Infantry in Korea, distinguished himself by gallantry in action near Kogai-Ri Korea on May 20, 1951. His company was assigned a mission of attacking and securing enemy held hill positions. With the 1st platoon acting as an assault point. The unit was temporally halted by heavy enemy automatic weapons and mortar fire, and Sgt Connelly’s platoon called forward to give supporting fire. When the platoon leader was became seriously wounded, Sgt Connelly assumed command and personally lead the group foreword, exposing himself to enemy observation and fire. In the midst of the firefight, he was wounded, but continued deploying his men in relief of the distressed platoon. His actions enabled his men and the assault platoon, to move forward and secure the objective.
The presentation of the Silver Star medal was made on the grounds of the 9041st Station hospital in Japan on July 27, by the Command of Major General Ferenbaugh of the 17th Infantry Division.

This is a Fantastic story about serving in the Korean War.

July 23, 1951
Pottsville Soldier One of 32 Who Survived Ambush

The Republicans own personal interest in the Korean “Police Action” has returned to the United States after spending six months in the cold and muck of Korea adding his own little bit to defend democracy against any aggressor.
Joseph (Joe) T. Cescon from Pottsville, up until nine months ago the rural circulation manger of the “Republican” has returned to Indiantown Gap where he is due for probable separation from the Army.
Right after WW2 Joe spent some 18 months in the American Occupation Forces in Japan. When he was discharged he joined the reserves. When the Chinese Communist began to act up last year. Joe received a letter from the War Department telling him that he was going right back into military service.
On October 15 he recev3ed orders to report to Fort Campbell, Ky. For refresher training. He then embarked for Camp Stoneman, Cal. And in little less than a week was on his way to Japan. And eventually a period of six months in a literal “hell” dodging bullets and always wondering if the next breath he’d take would be his last.
One week of his time was spent at Camp Drake, south of Tokyo, Japan and then he travelled through the central mountains of Japan by train, bound for Sasebo, a former Japanese Naval Base. On December 29, 1950 Cescon arrived in Sasebo and the next day departed for Pusan South Korea, and the beginning of the end of many of his buddies.
For nearly a month Cescon, after reaching Pusan, was sent to Andong, S. Korea where he joined the Second Infantry Division on January 7, this unit was the reserve for the next three weeks and then received orders to the central front on January 28, nears Wonju.
In less than a week Cescon and the patrol of which he was a member had their first taste of action. Advancing toward Wonju with one light tank and two jeeps the patrol ran into an ambush of from 250 to 300 “Reds” in a hill just around a curve. “Hitting the dirt” was the by word for the men in the jeeps while the tank began to blast the Chinese from their ambushed positions in the hills. No casualties resulted from the first bit of action for the men in the group, but they found that it was just criterion of things to come.
It didn’t take long for the Second Reconnaissance Company, with which Crescon was serving to get their first real taste of fighting at the worst. From February 12 to the 17 the company suffered it worst casualties of the war, but also accounted for the death and wounding of nearly 1000 Chinese Communists. Of 110 men who entered into battle with the company only 32 survived the tremendous onslaught of the Commies.
After that terrific pummeling, the second recon group was sent back 30 miles to Chechon for replacement, regrouping and new equipment. During the one mission, the recon group lost six tanks, three personnel carriers, and from 23 to 28 jeeps.
From that time until Crescon began his trip home on June 6, the outfits which he was serving with were engaged in patrol duty the greatest majority of the time. At one time the second recon group was the only protection for the supply route serving the 23rd Infantry Division which was trapped for two days near Wonju. After saving off the second communist offensive in the spring of the year, Crescon and his outfit advanced 10 miles into North Korea, reaching the Hwachon Reservoir. The last action in which he was engaged was at Inje, four miles north of the 38th parallel.
The Division left Inje on June 4 and went into reserve once again at Hoengsong. On June 25, Cescon and his group left Korea with bitter memories, and went to Japan via ferry, landing at Sasebo June 28. Three days later the group departed from Japan and arrived at Seattle, Washington on July 11.

In his battle experiences, Joe found that on many occasions the Chinese Communists were very poorly equipped. On one banzai attack near Chipyong, a horde of Chinese swarmed over a hill. Only one half of the group had rifles, while the others were empty handed. When one of the men with a rifle would be wounded or killed, one of his buddies would take the rifle and continue the suicidal charge.
Others of the fanatical Chinese would carry a long stick on the end of which would be a box filled with ignited dynamite. This box they would hold under the tracks of a tank or Army truck, the explosion blowing up the truck or tank and also killing the fanatical soldier.
During the winter months the temperature averaged zero all day long, according to Cescon. During the night s the mercury would dip to far below zero, but during the days the temperature would climb to a warm “15 or 20” degrees above zero. It snowed practically every day thus adding to the hazards of the fighting in the mountainous central Korean front. At particular time during the winter months the group with which Cescon was serving did not see the sun for more than 21 days in a row.

Pottsville Flyer T/Sgt Frederick Bohr Few First Recon Missions Over North Korea
July 24, 1951

T/Sgt Frederick Bohr was spending a 30 day leave at his parent’s home in Pottsville. Sgt. Bohr is a radio operator on a B-29 super fortress in a strategic revc0on squadron, and has been overseas since October, 1949.
Boher was in Okinawa at the outbreak of the Korean invasion. He participated in the first mission over North Korea. Since then he has participated in many missions from bases in Japan. T/Sgt Bohe has over 600 hours flying combat missions to his credit and holds the air medal and four Oak leaf clusters.
He has two brothers also in the military Sgt. Joseph, with the air rescue Paratroops stationed in southern Japan and Jerry, QM 2 based aboard the destroyer U.S.S. Eversole.
T/sgt Bohr will be reassigned to Travis Air Force Base were he will be assigned to the B-36 bomber.

Brothers Crossed The 38th Parallel 13 Times
July 17, 1951

In most cases the number 13 is regarded as an omen of bad luck, but in the case of three Tremont brothers now home from Korea it means nothing but good lick.
The three veterans of the Korean War have crossed the 38th Parallel a total of thirteen times between them. In all the three youths have spent a combined total of more than 125 weeks in the major battles of the war.
They are Staff Sergeant Lamar Tobin, 25 who has gone past the parallel four times; Corporal Ralph Tobin, 20, who made three crossings; and the “Crown Prince” of the crossings PFC Clarence Tobin, 19 who has been back and forth six times.
The three battle wise veterans who have participated in practically every major engagement in the war are now home on a well earned 30 day furlough. After which they will report to Fort Indiantown Gap for reassignment. Of the three men only one is married Lamar. During WW2 he was stationed with the US Army in Germany and met a German lass, Charlotte Shober.
Ralph and Clarence each left the United States on August 5, 1950. Ralph serving with the 15th AAA Bn of the 7th Division while Clarence was attached to the 38th Infantry Bn of the 2nd Division. The third brother Lamar departed from the shores of his native land on August 29, 1950
After more than six months of action the three youths all arrived in the US on nearly the same day.
TRAPPED 24 HOURS
Clarence’s battle experiences are the most noteworthy. At one phase of the most bitter fighting of the entire war the group he was serving with was surrounded near Pohongdomg. The trap was maintained for 24 long hours one full day in which all the men were wondering if they would ever escape. Finally after two days of dodging bullets in the back of an Army vehicle a seven mile retreat was culminated when the group rejoined allied forces.
In addition to that narrow escape from the Chinese Communists. Clarence also was engaged in the battle of Wonju during the allied retreat to the Pusan beachhead, and also in the battle at the Naktong River where the tide of the enemy onslaught was eventually turned during the long allied retreat.
Ralph and Lamar also saw their share of major battle action during the period that they were overseas, Ralph was with the 15th AAA, Bn. In the evacuation of Ham hung, and also was engaged in the battle and was also engaged in the battle for Inchon. He was the brother who advanced farthest into enemy territory, however having been the only one to get as far north as the Yalu River near Manchuria-Korea border.
Lamar’s feats include action at the Ham Hung evacuation and also the battle for Inchon.
In addition Lamar participated in the battle which was valitaly fought to save the city of Seoul from the Communists.

Captain Bernard Reilley 3rd Bombardment Wing earns The Air Medal
July 19, 1951
Captain Bernard Reilley B-26 light bomber pilot from Main St. Cumbola earned the air Medal. Reilley a senior pilot was decorated for meritorious service while flying the B-26 in combat missions over Korea in the Fifth Air Force B-26 night intruders.

Heroic Haven Helicopter Pilot During The Korean War Lt. Joseph L. Bowler

2011-03-05T20:01:00.005-05:00

Type Helo Flown By Lt. Bowler H-13D

Haven Helicopter Pilot Saves 502 lives in Korea
Pottsville Republican
September 4, 1951

Somewhere in Korea.
The U.S. Third Infantry Division claims a world record pilot Lt. Joseph L. Bowler, of Schuylkill Haven, Pa.
The Division says Lt. Bowler pilot of an H-13D, helicopter “Flying Ambulance” has saved 502 lives. He has oiled up 615 combat hours and has come under communist fire frequently in picking up battlefield wounded.
Bowler doubles as a life saver through a devise he perfected for blood transfusions while in flight. A bottle of plasma is set up in the helicopter cockpit. A patient can begin receiving as transfusion as soon as he is pickled up.
Lt. Col William Yuckman of Santa, Barbara, Calif. Said Bowler had given as many as three transfusions on a single flight.

Editors Note:
An article from the Army Times:
March 22, 2004

Duty, Honor, Country
2nd Helicopter Detachment flew hundreds to safety

By Robert F. Dorr
Special to the Times

During the Korean War, the Army�s 2nd Helicopter Detachment rescued hundreds of wounded soldiers with its H-13 helicopters.
�We were the first Army helicopter unit to go into action in Korea,� said retired Lt. Col. Joseph Hely, 78, of Ballwin, Mo., who was a captain at the time.
About three months after the war began, the Army created four helicopter detachments Oct. 1, 1950. Hely�s detachment, after spending its first weeks at Fort Bragg, N. C., was first to operate helicopters in Korea, beginning near Seoul on Jan. 10, 1951.
Capt. Albert C. Sebourn commanded the detachment. The other pilots were Hely, 1st Lt. Willis G. Strawn and 1st Lt. Joseph L. Bowler. The detachment initially was assigned to support the 8076th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, which Hely remembers as being �out on a riverbed far away from any habitation.�
The H-13 helicopter later became familiar to Americans in the movie and television series �MASH.� Typically, the aircraft flew with just a pilot and one or two stretcher patients. The H-13 had limited range and lifting power and was not supposed to be exposed to enemy action. Still, 2nd Detachment pilots flew into harm�s way on an almost daily basis.
According to the book �United States Army Air Ambulance,� by Mark M. Hough, the 2nd Detachment flew a series of critical missions under heavy fire from Jan. 13 to Jan. 15. The helicopters evacuated 23 wounded soldiers under severe enemy fire, Hough wrote.
In an interview, Hely said, �We were not supposed to get into the enemy�s gun sights, but it sometimes happened.�
On April 19, 1951, Hely was wounded when Chinese machine-gun rounds penetrated the �bubble� (windshield) and underside of his H-13D, shattered his radio, sending metal fragments into his arm and causing the helicopter to crash.
There were 62 bullet holes in the bubble, said Hely, who was awarded the Purple Heart. Hely believes he is the first American helicopter pilot to be shot down in combat.
Records of the Bell Helicopter Co., which manufactured early H-13s in Niagara Falls, N.Y., credit Bowler for evacuating 824 wounded soldiers (more than half of the detachment�s 1,506) between Jan. 10 and Nov. 2, 1951.
The following year, Bell gave Bowler its first �Mr. Helicopter� award, an honor it bestowed to a pilot annually until 1960. Bowler had been a World War II Army glider pilot and, at age 40, was the �old man� of the detachment, Hely said.
The 2nd Detachment was redesignated the 8191st Army Unit on May 14, 1951, and was inactivated in late November 1952.
The detachment had operated with several MASH units by then. Its members devised new methods to carry wounded in litters and to give blood plasma transfusions in flight.
�We feel we achieved a lot,� said Hely, who counts himself as the sole survivor among the four original pilots.
Hely often speaks to veterans groups today about his remembrances of early Army helicopter operations.
Robert F. Dorr, an Air Force veteran, lives in Oakton, Va. He is the author of numerous books, including �Air Force One.� His e-mail address is robertdorr@aol.com.

BIG JIM WILSON 7TH PA. CAVALRY TROOPER

2011-02-22T22:06:00.004-05:00

Pride of Pennsylvania Painting by Rick Reeves

Big Jim Wilson, A Cavalry Trooper

James A. Wilson a 19 year old Irish miner born in Kilkenny, Ireland lived and worked in Frailey Township. He enlisted in the 7th Penna. Cavalry on October 19, 1861 at Donaldson, Schuylkill County. Known to the members of Company F as “Big Jim”, he advanced quickly through the ranks and attained the rank of Sergeant.

On June 27th 1863 the Seventh Pa. Cavalry made one of the most daring charges against the rebels at Shelbyville, Tenn. During this charge the 7th suffered numerous casualties. One of these men was Pvt. Felix Herb, from Schuylkill County. Herb came upon two rebel prisoners who threw up their arms as if to surrender. When they saw no one coming to his aid, they changed their minds and shot Herb in the forehead and killed him instantly. Seeing this deadly deed, Sgt. Jim Wilson rode over and shot both of the rebels dead, telling his adjutant “The devils shot Felix Herb after they surrendered, so I made short work of them.” Jim was commended for bravery at Shelbyville stating that “He distinguished himself by acts of coolness and daring.”
Another incident that was well remembered by the men of the Seventh was the time when Jim Wilson was acting as a mounted Provost Guard in the city of Huntsville, Ala. One evening Corp. Wilson came upon a group of drunken officers, who were loud and happy. He asked them for their passes, which brought out the response that they could do and go where ever they wanted and that the provost guard could go to hell. Big Jim, not taking to this type of verbal abuse, drew his saber and came down upon the head of a captain, cutting through his hat and making a deep gash on his head. The officers, surprised and sobered by this event, went back to their camp at the double quick. The next day these officers went to the commanding General and demanded punishment for Wilson. The General told the officers that the provost guard must be respected and not resisted and the offending officer must take the consequences. Corp. Wilson was worried about what he had done to the officer and went to his Col. and asked him if something would happen to him for what he had done. Col. Sipes told him he was safe. Jim replied “Be jabbers, I didn’t mane to cut him so hard, but me saber was so sharp it wint through his hat and into his skull as it wud go through a cheese”. Col. Sipes remembered Jim as “The mildest mannered man that ever scuttled ship or cut a throat.”
Jim Wilson would also be remembered for his kindness. On December 22, 1862, a few days after the battle of Stones River a detail of company F was sent out between the lines to meet a flag of truce, and to escort within the Union lines, Mrs. George D. Prentice. The wife of the then brilliant and famous editor of the Louisville Journal, who had been visiting relatives in the south, and had received permission from the commanders of both armies to pass the lines.
It was a bitter cold day and when the detail of the southern army appeared on the scene it proved to be members of the eighth Georgia, crackerjack fighters who were worthy of brave men’s steel.
The Georgians’ uniforms were tattered and torn and they had little or no shoes on their feet. Their condition moving to compassion their enemies of the Northern army, so much so that big Jim Wilson made the rounds of the Seventh’s ranks and the result was that every Georgian soldier went back to his camp well clad and comfortably shod while the knapsacks of the Seventh boys were that much lighter.
This soldierly action so impressed the Georgians that thereafter whenever the two regiments were opposite each other on the contending army lines the 7th’s men would be hailed thusly. “ Who’s on picket thur?” and if the reply was, “The Seventh Penna. Cavalry,” the confederate picket would call out. “No firing from the Eight Georgia tonight,” and there would be none on either side.
Jim Wilson would fight through hundreds of skirmishes and numerous major battles with the Seventh Pa., and would be only wounded one time. On October 14th 1863 while on a mission to Nashville to procure a lot of horses for the regiment, he was shot in the right shoulder by a member of the 18th Michigan that was acting as a provost guard. They were about to arrest a Pvt. Abraham Van dike for being drunk when he fled and was fired upon, only they missed him and hit Jim Wilson in the shoulder. Jim would suffer from the effects of this wound for the rest of his life.
Big Jim would return home after serving three years in the cavalry, and work in the mines. He died and was buried in Branchdale in 1894 at the age of 52.
Pottsville Republican May 12, 1913
The Seventh Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteer Cavalry, Its Record, Reminiscence and roster.
Pottsville Miners Journal, William B. Sipes

TWO POTTSVILLE BOYS SERVE AS OFFICERS IN THE FRENCH ARMY WW1

2011-02-02T00:28:00.002-05:00

FRENCH OFFICERS UNIFORM WW1

This is an interesting story about two boys from Pottsville who were serving in the French Army during the World War 1

TWO LOCAL BOYS IN FRENCH ARMY

Pottsville Republican June 22, 1918

During the past few days the Republican has been frequently asked for some information regarding Augustus. A. Allenbach and Stephen Kroll, both boys of town, who are serving as officers in the French army. They have been in service over there for a couple of years past and up to within about ten months ago there were regular messages from them. Since the real big German attacks and lengthily drives they have been kept busy to write often but manage once in a while to write to their relatives and dearest friends. There have been many rumors about that they were dead, but all these rumors now vanish with the receipt of communications from both of them this week.
Allenbach has been serving in France and has been in charge of a command of men trying to hold back the German drive in his section. He has had his hands full and in two or three days out of the trenches he has succeeded in writing his folks at home, stating that he is all right. He had been in the hospital for a time but is fully recovered and now in active service again.
Kroll is back in active service again after having been in Belgium for a period of a few months attending a special military school and after graduation was sent back to the front, this time in a higher capacity. Kroll has seen service in many of the German attacks and he to writes home that he is well.
The fact that they are in the French Army keeps down a great deal of information that could come through if they were in the American Army. The friends of both have been so anxious about them and will be glad to hear that they have successfully come out of every battle and were still living on June 3rd.

Allenbach initially enlisted in the French Army as a Ambulance driver in Ambulance Company 20 6th san train.

Ft. Indiantown Gap Battle of The Bulge Living History Weekend 2011

2011-01-31T17:22:00.030-05:00

My wife Danielle and myself took a short trip to Ft, Indiantown Gap near Annville Pa, to check out the living historians who portray WW2 German and alllied forces. This weekend proved pretty good. It also was snowing and added a bit of realisim to the scenes.
Below are some of the photo's I took.

A squad of German troops marching

Some German Military Police and their dog.

I feel like they are going to ask me for my papers!

.

German Fallschirmjager Paratroopers

Guard

SS Soldier in Winter White Coveralls

Close up of the Eastern Front Ribbon on his tunic

SS soldier teaching my wife about the German Potato Masher and a Panzer Faust

German Soldier and Wreath "In honor of all the soldiers who died in WW2"

Canadian Soldiers

German Motorcycles

Kraut Killer

82nd Airborne Troopers

Clayton "Skip" Ahrensfield Goodbye To An Airman

2011-01-28T16:44:00.005-05:00

IN HONOR OF YOU SKIP..THE MISSING MAN FORMATION

I was deeply saddened today when I read this obituary. I got to meet Skip a couple of years ago when he gave our Memorial day speech in 2009 at Orwigsburg, Pa.. He was an interesting man and his stories of Flying B-36's and 52's and working on ICBM's in their silos was fascinating. I will miss him. He was a great Cold War Warrior. He kept us safe for many years through his sacrifices, hard work and love of country.
Good bye Skip

Check out the blog feature on Skip I wrote "COLD WAR WARRIOR M/SGT. E. SKIP AHRENSFIELD "

Clayton E. "Skip" Ahrensfield | Visit Guest Book

January 27, 2011

Clayton E. "Skip" Ahrensfield, 76, of Newport News, Va., and formerly of Lake Wynonah, died Thursday at Hampton VA Medical Center, Hampton, Va.

Born in Orwigsburg, May 17, 1934, he was a son of the late Elmer E. and Agnes M. Hummel Ahrensfield.

He served in the Air Force as a master sergeant during the Vietnam Conflict and completed a 21-year military career when he retired in 1973.

He was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Hampton.

Skip was employed for Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. and after his retirement, he the worked for Reneer Films, Auburn, retiring once again in 1996.

He was past master of the former Mariner Lodger 215 F&AM. He was a member of Warwick Lodge 336 F&AM; Valley of Reading Consistory, OES Chapter 43 of Warwick, Cross of Honor DeMolay and Honorary Legion of Honor, National Sojourners, Air Force Missile Association, Landingville Community Fire Company and Good Will Fire Company, Cressona. He was inducted into the PA All Sports Hall Of Fame-Allen-Rogowitz Chapter, Pottsville, in 1997, for basketball in Orwigsburg High School. He was inducted into the Blue Mountain H.S. All Sports Hall of Fame in 1988.

Skip was preceded in death by brothers, Herman, Robert and William Ahrensfield; and a sister, Daisy Heinbach.

Surviving are his wife of 55 years, Carol Ditzler Ahrensfield; a daughter, Robin Morehart, Newport News; a son, Bradley Ahrensfield, Albuquerque, N.M.; three grandsons, Keith Morehart, Geoff Morehart and Zachary Ahrensfield; a great-granddaughter, Layla Morehart; three sisters, Agnes Cleary, Luther Ridge, Seider's Hill, Jane Leymeister, Poulan, Ga., and Anna Collins, San Bernadino, Calif.

A viewing for family and friends will be held from noon until 1:30 p.m. Monday at Geschwindt-Stabingas Funeral Home Inc., 25 E. Main St., Schuylkill Haven. A Celebration of life funeral Service will follow at 1:30 p.m. Interment with military honors will be at Manbeck Cemetery, Washington Township. The family would prefer remembrances in Skip's memory be made to the American Lymphoma Society, 555 North Lane, Suite 5010, Conshohocken, PA 19428; or American Heart Association , 7272 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX 75231.

“GREETINGS” A DRAFT NOTICE FROM THE CIVIL WAR

2011-01-12T13:31:00.010-05:00

GEORGE SMITH'S 1863 DRAFT NOTICE
TAG PHOTO TO ENLARGE

“GREETINGS”

A CIVIL WAR DRAFT NOTICE

While doing some research at the Historical Society of Schuylkill County I came across the Civil War draft notice for a Mr. George Smith from Pottsville. Smith was drafted in Ocotber 1863. Looking at this draft notice it brought back memories of a day back in 1968 when I received a draft notice from the government during the Vietnam War.
My notice came in the mail on a warm sunny summer day. I remember it well. While standing in the kitchen of our home in Pottsville my grandmother handed me a letter. Opening the letter the word GREETINGS jumped out at me “Greetings” that infamous and forever remembered word that affected so many mens lives. After reading the notice I remember thinking, well there goes the summer! The notice went something like this.

“GREETINGS”..

You are hereby ordered for INDUCTION into the Armed forces of The United States... And to report at The Pottsville Post Office, 3rd and Norwegian St. Pottsville Pa, on August 20, 1968... At 6:30 a.m...For forwarding to an Armed Forces Induction Station...

Fortunately for me I was able to slip under the draft and enlist in the U.S. Air Force. I should have kept that letter but unfortunately I threw it away. During the Vietnam War many men joined the National Guard to hopefully stay away from a tour of duty in Vietnam as a drafted soldier. Many others avoided the draft by staying in school, or faking a health related physical injury. I really didn't care if I went to Vietnam or not. Two years later I was sent to Vietnam for a 13 month tour of duty. Before going to Vietnam the government did away with the old draft system and instituted the numbered lottery system. My number came out as 342! Oh, well.

Now concerning Mr. George Smith, I don’t know what ever became of him or his military career if there was one. Did he get drafted ? or did he pay someone to go as a substitute? I don't know. I will work on his story and if I find anything I will post it on this blog.

Concerning the history of the draft….During the American Revolutionary War, the states sometimes drafted men for militia duty or to fill state Continental Army units, but the central government did not have the authority to conscript. President James Madison unsuccessfully attempted to create a national draft of 40,000 men during the War of 1812.[1]

With the end of active U.S. ground participation in Vietnam, December 1972 saw the last men conscripted, who were born in 1952[46] and who reported for duty in June 1973. On February 2, 1972, a drawing was held to determine draft priority numbers for men born in 1953, but in early 1973 it was announced that no further draft orders would be issued. In March 1973, 1974, and 1975 the Selective Service assigned draft priority numbers for all men born in 1954, 1955, and 1956, in case the draft was extended, but it never was.[47]

The Distinguished Service Cross And The Navy Cross Awarded To Two Men From Schuylkill County

2010-11-30T20:47:00.010-05:00

Pine Grove Soldier Awarded The Distinguished Service Cross For Bravery
T/Sgt Irvin R. Schwartz.
September 1945

Sgt. Schwartz played an important part in halting a German advance into Belgium, near the town of Spa, in a battle lasting from dawn until late afternoon one day last November.
He was awarded the DSC for this action. Withdrawn from rest after the battle of Huertgen forest, the 26th Infantry regiment, 1st Infantry Division formed a line of resistance against a threatened German break through. The 21st Panzer Grenadier Division attacked on force using a fast moving powerful tank infantry team.
Sergeant Schwartz’ antitank platoon fought as riflemen until three German tanks burst through the dense brush, 10 yards distant; firing their antitank guns at point blank range Schwartz and his men destroyed the panzers and mopped up the infantry in a fierce costly struggle. Shortly thereafter three additional tanks were crippled before their guns were smashed. The battle went on from fox holes under the direction of Sergeant Schwartz. Schwartz’s men stalked the German T=tanks with bazooka and poured small arms fire into the German infantry ranks. Stubborn defense and aggressive action stopped the German thrust.
Twenty eight panzer 50 in the sector were destroyed, eight by Sgt. Schwartz’s platoon. Twenty two men remained alive in G Company, and only a handful in his platoon.
For his part in fighting and aggressive leadership Major General Andrus awarded Sergeant Schwartz the Distinguished Service Cross at Asch, Czech. He also wears the Bronze Star and Presidential Unit Citation.

Distinguished Service Cross

Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree to be above those required for all other U.S. combat decorations but not meeting the criteria for the Medal of Honor. The Distinguished Service Cross is equivalent to the Navy Cross (Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard) and the Air Force Cross (Air Force).

SCHWARTZ, IRVIN R.
Synopsis:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Irvin R. Schwartz, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 21 December 1944. Corporal Schwartz's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army.
Headquarters, First U.S. Army, General Orders No. 51 (1945)

Pottsville Marine Gets Navy Cross For Blasting Jap Machine Gun Nest On Iwo Jima
February 1945
Sgt. Robert Sheipe

The Navy Cross may be awarded to any person who, while serving with the Navy or Marine Corps, distinguishes himself in action by extraordinary heroism not justifying an award of the Medal of Honor. The action must take place under one of three circumstances: while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or, while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict in which the United States is not a belligerent party. To earn a Navy Cross the act to be commended must be performed in the presence of great danger or at great personal risk and must be performed in such a manner as to render the individual highly conspicuous among others of equal grade, rate, experience, or position of responsibility. An accumulation of minor acts of heroism does not justify an award of the Navy Cross.

By Sgt Jack C. Smith
Marine Corps Combat Correspondent

Maui, T.H. For wiping out a Jap position with hand grenades on Iwo Jima, although twice wounded in the attempt. Sgt Robert Sheipe 20 Pottsville, Pa. received the Navy Cross.
Sgt. Sheipe a member of the Fourth Marine Division also fought at Roi-Namur, Saipan and Tinian.
“while voluntarily attempting to neutralize the fire of an enemy machine gun nest that was holding up the advance of his company,” his citation reads,”Sgt. Shipe was painfully wounded in the neck by an enemy sniper.
“Realizing that it was impossible to neutralize the position by counter machine gun fire he refused immediate evacuation and worked his way forward under intense sniper fire to a position where he was able to throw hand grenades into the emplacement.
“Although wounded although wounded again, Corporal Sheipe bravely continued to hurl hand grenades until the position. The citation stated.

Robert Sheipe’s Navy Cross
Awarded for actions during the World War II
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Corporal Robert G. Sheipe (MCSN: 457872), United States Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as a Machine Gun Squad Leader of Company L, Third Battalion, Twenty-Fifth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 26 February 1945. Volunteering his services for a hazardous mission, Corporal Sheipe attempted to neutralize the fire of a hostile machine gun holding up the advance of his company. Realizing the impossibility of completing his mission by counter machine-gun fire after he had been wounded, he refused immediate evacuation to work his way forward under intense sniper fire to a position where he was able to throw hand grenades into the emplacement. Although wounded again, Corporal Sheipe bravely continued to hurl hand grenades until the position was destroyed and the occupants annihilated. His outstanding courage, determination and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: SPOT AWARD, Fleet Marine Force Pacific: Serial 41646 ( Signed January 26, 1948)
Action Date: 26-Feb-45
Service: Marine Corps Reserve
Rank: Corporal
Company: Company L
Battalion: 3d Battalion
Regiment: 25th Marines
Division: 4th Marine Division

A few notes on the Battle of Iwo Jima, up to the 26th of February 1945 at which time Corporal Sheipe’s action took place. Sheipe belonged to the Co L, 3rd Battalion. 25th Marines Following info is taken from the “History of the Fourth Marines In WW2”…………………..
Thus by the night of D-day, the Division had all three of its rifle regiments (less some
Support Group elements), two battalions of artillery, and some heavy Shore Party equipment
ashore. Despite the withering enemy fire and extremely heavy casualties, the assault
units had driven ahead and established a line that Included the eastern edge of Airfield
No. 1 and was "of sufficient depth Inland from Blue Beaches to guarantee the successful
holding of the beachhead." Full contact with the Fifth Division had been established,
and adequate supplies were ashore for a continuation of the attack the next day.
The night of D-day was spent In trying to get ready for the next day's operations.
Some units had suffered terrible casualties:
BLT 3/25, for example, had lost 50% of Its men.
Accordingly, reserve companies and battalions were sent in to be attached to or to
relieve the most battered units. On the beach that night, in spite of all efforts, "no appreciable
progress was made in clearing the beaches of wrecked landing craft.** Enemy
harassing fire continued to fall all night long throughout the Division Zone.

As dawn came on February 20 (D plus 1), the men of the Fourth Division prepared for King hour:
At 0830 the assault began with RCT 23 on the left and
RCT 25 on the right. Through bitter enemy opposition, the 23rd Marines, reinforced with
tanks, fought its way across Airfield No. 1 to complete its capture by 1600. On the other flank, RCT 25 made little progress. Minefields prevented the use of tanks; terrain was very unfavorable; enemy resistance was fanatical, and the 25th's left flank was necessarily anchored to the adjoining unit of the 23rd Marines.

These first two days ashore left no doubt In anyone's mind that this would be the
Division's toughest battle. Losses already totaled 2,01l.***

Ashore, the sand proved a nightmare. Foxholes caved in, wheeled vehicles could not
move, and there was no cover from enemy fire. Japs deep In reinforced concrete piliboxes
laid down interlocking bands of fire that cut whole companies to ribbons. Camouflage
hid all the enemy installations. The high ground on every side was honeycombed with
layer after layer of Jap emplacements, blockhouses, dugouts, and observation posts. Their
observation was perfect; whenever the Marines made a move, the Japs watched every
step, and when the moment came, their mortars, rockets, machine guns, and artillery
long ago zeroed in—would smother the area In a murderous blanket of fire. The counterbattery fire and preparatory barrages of Marine artillery and naval gunfire were often Ineffective, for the Japs would merely retire to a lower level or inner cave and wait until the storm had passed. Then they would emerge and blast the advancing Marines.
In spite of all this, Fourth and Fifth Divisions moved ahead. After splitting the Island
on D-day,
On February 21 (D plus 2), after repulsing a night counter-attack by the Japs, the
Fourth Division attacked again. RCT 25 moved forward along the right flank by the East
Boat Basin
The Division combat efficiency was already down to 68%. Although the day's advances averaged only100-250 yards, the enemy had been driven from the cliff heights and Quarry area on the Division right flank0 while the left flank was approaching Airfield No. 2. Furthermore,
reinforcements were becoming available.
The American flag was raised on top of Mt. Suribachi (by the 28th Marines) at 1037
on February 23 (D plus 4)
RCT 24 had regained its detached battalions, and it relieved the 25th Marines on the right flank. RCT 25 reverted to Division Reserve.
Thus It went, day after day. The Zaps would attempt small counter-attacks or Inifitratlons
each night. Every morning after an artillery preparation, the Division would
Jump off in the attack against an endless series of concealed plilboxes and mutually supporting
positions. The three rifle regiments and their battalions were shuffled In and out
of the line In an effort to equalize the burden of assault work. Casualties continued to be
heavy.
Starting about February 26 (D plus 7), the Division began w.orking Its way into the
enemy's main defense line of prepared positions. For the next week it ground slowly forward,
suffering bloody losses, and engaged in the most savage type of close combat. The
Zap line was based on a series of strongpoints known as Hill 382, the Amphitheatre, Turkey
Knob, and the village of Minami.
RCT 25 on the right of the Division had been engaged In equally fierce fighting during
this same period. Its left flank elements (mainly BLT 1/25) had run into a cliff-line and
the Turkey Knob defenses. No amount of shelling, demolitions, flamethrowers, or riflemen
seemed to dent the enemy's fanatical resistance here. Time and again advances
would be made at the cost of very heavy casualties, only to find that the position reached
was untenable at the end of the day, and that a withdrawal was necessary. Every possible
solution was tried. A surprise attack was launched without any artillery preparation. Out flankings and envelopments were attempted. To silence one concrete blockhouse In a
commanding position on top of the cliff-line, a 75mm howitzer was packed up to the front
lines, assembled, and put into action. Nothing seemed to succeed. After days of bloody battering, advances finally were made so that the Zap pocket
at Turkey Knob was nearly isolated. RCT 25, however, was worn out, and on March 3 It
was relieved by the 23rd Marines.
The Division had broken the back of the Jap line, but at a terrible cost. As of March 3,
It had lost 6,591 men. In spite of receiving a draft of replacements, the Division's combat
efficiency had fallen to 50%..

Schuylkill Countian, from Ashland fought with the Rebel 1st Louisiana Artillery and was captured at Vicksburg. Pvt. Matthew Farne

2010-11-09T21:15:00.004-05:00

Listed below is an interesting story of a Schuylkill Countian, from Ashland who fought with the Rebel 1st Louisiana Artillery and was captured at Vicksburg. Pvt. Matthew Farne.

September 5, 1863
An Irishman Experiences The South
Pottsville Miners Journal

Those who think Jeff Davis Confederacy is a pleasant place to sojourn in, and who vote in the north so as to encourage Jeff, to keep up his first class establishment, will oblige us by listening to the experience of an Irishman, formerly a resident of Schuylkill County. Matthew Farne who lived in Ashland, and went t the South several years since, and when the war broke out was forced into the rebel army, 1st Louisiana Artillery. He was taken prisoner at the surrender of Vicksburg and is now in Camp Morton, Indianapolis, Indiana. He is desirous of taking the oath of allegiance, and application has been made to Governor Curtin to have him released. To show the feelings of an Irishman who has tasted the beauties of Rebel Dom , we quote from a letter from him to his brother in Ashland: “You may rejoice that you have never for a moment borne the galling yoke of Secessionism, or the bondage of worse than Egyptian Slavery, that I with thousands of others have been obliged to carry for the last two years, and we thank the providence of God that we are on the road to the land of freedom, where alone a man can act as a man should act. I do tell you candidly, that I know not one Irishman when required to enter the Union service, but will do so with more energy than if they never knew the misguided cause they have been connected with...”
He has a poor opinion of the Secesh Officers:
“I tell you, and you may believe me, that a more cowardly set of men I never saw than the officers at the siege of Vicksburg, for though we stood the fire, famine, and fatigue for seven weeks, they skulked into their hiding places more than common negroes. Such is the chivalry of the South so much heralded. But when they fight a few more battles like Vicksburg the demoralization of their own army will cripple and crush them.”

Editors Note: The prison camp that Farne was held in:

Camp Morton, an Indianapolis civil war training camp and later a federal prison for captured confederate soldiers, was located in the area now bounded by Talbott Avenue to the west, Central Avenue to the east, Twenty-Second Street to the north, and Nineteenth Street to the south. Samuel Henderson, the first mayor of Indianapolis, originally owned this thirty-six acre tract, which contained scattered hardwood trees of mostly black walnut and oak and at least four good springs. This area became known as Henderson’s or Otis’ Grove. A creek flowed through this property upon which, after it was dredged in 1837, become known as State Ditch. State Ditch was later nicknamed the “Potomac” by the prisoners of Camp Morton. State Ditch is no longer visible as it was made into an underground drain some years after the war.

Farnes Regiment: 1st Louisiana Heavy Artillery

Organized 5 Feb 1861 as part of the Louisiana State Army, the 1st Heavy Artillery transferred to Confederate service 13 Mar 1861, with 744 men. Regimental headquarters remained at the New Orleans Barracks while the various companies occupied the forts of the New Orleans defenses.
The Regiment marched out after the surrender of Vicksburg and went into a camp for paroled prisoners. After being exchanged, the Regiment went into service at Mobile, arriving in January of 1864.
The Regiment continued to garrison batteries in the Mobile area until 11 Apr 1865, when they were dismantled and the men evacuated as part of the evacuation of Mobile. When Lieutenant General Richard Taylor's Army surrendered on 8 May 1865, the 1st Heavy Artillery was camped at Cuba Station, Alabama; and the men receivd their paroles as part of Taylor's

VIET CONG RUTHLESS ENEMY COUNTY SERVICEMAN LEARNS

2010-11-01T19:54:00.013-04:00

VIET CONG RUTHLESS ENEMY COUNTY SERVICEMAN LEARNS
From the Pottsville Republican
NOVEMBER 17, 1965 Sp4 John Ferenchick, Minersville, Pa.

Minersville- “I hope and pray the coal region people are different and I think they are.”, Writes a borough serviceman from Viet Nam after reading of the draft card burnings and other such protests by U.S. residents to the war against communism.
Sp4 John Ferenchick, who has been in Viet Nam four months, wonders if these demonstrators realize that Americans are dying so that those who attempt to undermine them may continue to be free.
“What kind of people are they?” he asks.
The people of South Viet Nam know what kind of ruthless enemy the Americans are helping them to fight, Ferenchick notes. To illustrate, he tells of one 12 year old boy he knows.
The lad, one of the youngest regulars in the South Viet army, joined the service because”the Viet Cong kept coming to my village and killed many of my people for no reason at all. They also kept me from going to school and working. I don’t like that, so I decided to become a soldier.
He and his father are members of the same heavy weapons platoon. His mother and a younger brother lived in a Montagnard tribal village outside the camp at Plei Me, but their fate is unknown since the communists attacked the camp in a recent heavy attack.

Ferenchick is a member of the 504th Military Police unit located three miles from Pleiku along route 19 in the Red infested Central highlands north of Saigon.
“Our main functions, “ he writes , “Are to escort convoys on route 19, to check security on incoming vehicles and to help the perimeter defenses of Pleiku, which is under surveillance 24 hours a day. Our part is small but ectremly important both for civilians and our own forces.””The point I want to get across to these people who are demonstrating,” he concludes, “is they should take one look at themselves and ask, What kind of a person am I.”

PART 2

17 DAYS IN THE VIETNAM WAR
NOVEMBER 1965
FROM THE FRONT PAGES OF THE POTTSVILLE REPUBLICANMinersville Soldier writes home about the Vietnam War 1965

While doing research for a musical program on the songs of the soldier 1756-1975, that I plan to do around Veterans Day, I came across one of the best songs I’ve heard, entitled “The 8th Of November”, by recording artists “Big and Rich”. It was recorded in 2006. It deals with the story of one man from the 173rd Airborne who was wounded in a battle north of Bien Hoa, Vietnam on November 8th, 1965.

Big and Rich talk about their Song, “The 8th of November”
Arts & Entertainment | Music
By RONNA RUBIN
Country duo Big & Rich (Kenny Alphin and John Rich) have never neatly fit into any one category or classification. Larger than life, the two came on the scene with the colorful “Save A Horse, Ride A Cowboy,” and have never looked back.
Their latest single, “The 8th of November,” is based on a story so significant that it could not be told in a standard 3-1/2-minute song and video. The track from their “Comin’ To Your City” album has been made into an hour-long documentary that will debut on GAC on Saturday, July 1, at 9 p.m. EDT.
The inspiration for “The 8th of November” is Niles Harris, a Vietnam veteran and Purple Heart recipient who survived a battle that took place on Hill 65 in War Zone D on Nov. 8, 1965. Forty-eight of Harris’ comrades in the Army’s 173rd Airborne were killed and hundreds wounded in a battle that found them outnumbered 30 to 1.
In 1965, Alphin was a 1-year-old and Rich was not yet born, but a chance meeting with Harris in a Deadwood, S.D., bar created what has become a lasting friendship. In 2002 _ before they had a record deal _ Alphin and Rich played at a saloon in Deadwood where Harris tended bar.
Moved by Harris’ tale of life as a 19-year-old Army private shot down in jungle fire, the duo wrote “The 8th of November.”
“The difference between writing this song and writing other songs is that normally Kenny and I would sit right down, have a couple of beers and write a song,” Rich says in the documentary.

Big Kenny and Rich with Niles Harris

“But in this case, it was so important to us that we just wanted to make sure it was right,” Alphin adds. “It’s the pinnacle of all we’ve written so far.”
In 2005, the duo asked Harris if he would be interested in revisiting Vietnam for the first time since his last tour. With a documentary crew of Americans and Vietnamese in tow, the group traveled 34 hours to the exact site of the Hill 65 battle. The boots Harris was wearing the day of the battle were buried at that site in a crater made by a B-52 bomb.
“Niles Harris’ story sheds light on the realities of one individual in the center of a war,” the duo said about the inspiration for their documentary. “There are thousands more out there just like his and we wish to honor all of our military personnel who have represented our country with courage and bravery.”

Check out this video on you tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_OyFoxp_uo

As a sixteen year old Pottsville High School student I remember well the headlines of the Pottsville Republican in 1965. I was always interested in anything associated with the U.S. military and by early 1965 the Vietnam War was escalating into a major full scale war. Unfortunetly the war would last another 10 years. Five years after reading the headlines in the Republican I also would serve a tour of duty in Vietnam, starting on November 1, 1970.

President Lyndon Johnson sent a battalion of U.S. Marines to Vietnam, in April, they landed at Da Nang ;In May, the President submitted an emergency appropriation request to Congress to fund the U.S. effort in Vietnam; in June, LBJ gave General William Westmoreland the authority to commit American troops to ground combat operations in Vietnam. By the end of the Kennedy administration 16,000 troops had been committed to Vietnam By the end of 1965 184,000 American troops were in Vietnam.
This article will take a look at 17 days of headlines from the Vietnam War as reported by the Pottsville Republican centered on the 8th of November battle written about in the song.
It is hard to find any stories from the local men and women who served in the war. Seeing that this war was very unpopular not much was reported, especially during the early years.
THE HEADLINES

92 VIET CONG SLAIN IN PLEI ME MOPUP
November 2, 1965 WOUNDED SERGEANT WANTS TO GO BACK
NOVEMBER 2, 1965

VIET WAR MAY LAST ANOTHER TEN YEARS..U.S. LEADERS MAP STRAEGY FOR VICTORY
NOVEMBER 4, 1965

GI’S AMBUSH CONG
NOVEMBER 4, 1965

EVEN THE CAUTIOUS CAN DIE-AND DO IN VIETNAM
NOVEMBER 4, 1965

HANOI TROOPS IN SOUTH VIET PUT AT 7,500
NOVEMBER 5, 1965

JETS RIP MISSLE SITES NEAR HANOI
NOVEMBER 6, 1965

VIET CONG KIDNAPS FOUR U.S. AIRMEN
NOVEMBER, 6, 1965

PENTAGON CLAIMS 133 PLANES LOST
NOVEMBER 6, 1965

FIVE PLANES LOST MISSLE SITE RAID
NOVEMBER 8, 1965

AGGRESSIVE YANKS OVERCOME 2-1 ODDS
NOVEMBER 8, 1965

TAYLOR WARNS OF LONG WAR
NPVMEBER 8, 1965

HANOI CAN BE WIPED OUT IN MINUTES IF WORD COMES FOR NUCLEAR STRIKE
NOVEMBER 8, 1965 THE STORY WRITTEN BY THE AP ABOUT THE SONG
8TH OF NOVEMBER

FIERCE JUNGLE BATTLE…391 VIET CONG KILLED
NOVEMBER 9, 1965
Saigon, South Vietnam, (AP) U.S. paratroopers fighting in the thick jungle of D zone north of Saigon killed 391 Communists troops, a U.S. Spokesman reported today.
The spokesman said American casualties in the day long battle Monday were moderate but reliable sources said the 173rd Airborne Brigade had suffered its heaviest casualties since it came to Viet Nam.
The bulk of the Communist losses were attributed to air attacks, heavy artillery and automatic weapons fire.
Battle Starts Quick
The battle occurred about 30 miles northeast of Saigon when a U.S. company encountered an estimated 500 men, of the enemy, Within the hour a battalion of paratroopers was fighting.
The spokesman said in one area an artillery barrage killed 60 Viet Cong. The Communists stripped all the bodies apparently to prevent identification.
Unofficial sources said fighting continued during the night. U.S. Air Force B52’s from Guam raided a dense jungle area of D Zone 10 miles to the west, but a spokesman said the raid was not directly related to the paratroopers operation.
Ground action was reported light in other areas. A Viet Cong company attacked a government outpost in the Mekong Delta Monday night but was reported beaten off. The Communists left arms, and bodies behind.
U.S. Air Force and navy planes flew 36 missions over South Vietnam and North Viet Nam, attacking roads, bridges and rail yards and truck parks.
South Vietnamese Gov’t troops reported they killed 25 Viet Cong in an action 80 miles south of Saigon.
Communist ground fire brought down a U.S. Army helicopter south of Saigon Monday, and one crew man was killed. The helicopter was supporting a ranger operation. Rescue helicopters picked up the other three crewmen.
Troops of the U.S. Army’s 101st “Screaming Eagles” Brigade reported seven VC killed, one captured and 106 suspects detained in a mop up operation west of Qui Nhon, in Central Vietnam.
The 173rd Airborne Brigade’s 1st battalion had been scouting an area of D zone for four days before it made its first contact.
The Communists opened up with heavy fire from entrenched positions as a company of paratroopers was searching an abandoned village.
The battalion’s two other flank companied moved in on the flanks in an unsuccessful attempt to overrun the communist position.
The three U.S. companies remained heavily engaged as heavy U.S. air and artillery fire came raining in on the enemy.
The Viet Cong held fast for several hours, and then gradually broke off contact.
An Australian battalion got into a firefight in the same general area late Monday afternoon and reportedly suffered light casualties. Darkness made an estimate of Viet Cong losses impossible.
The Australians said they had killed six Viet Cong earlier in the operation and captured five.
Brig. General Ellis Williamson commander of the 173rd said the enemy troops engaged Monday were not wearing the black pajamas usually worn by the Viet Cong but were dressed in gray fatigue uniforms and had steel helmets and rucksacks.
“The enemy made every effort to strip all of the bodies of everything, including identification, and all usable equipment,” Williamson said, “There is no question but this was a main force outfit.”

70 YANKS DIE IN ONE WEEK OF VIET WAR
NOVEMBER 10, 1965

CONG AMBUSH BACKFIRES
NOVEMBER 11, 1965

100 RED TROOPS DIE IN BATTLE WITH U.S. 1ST INFANTRY DIVISION
NOVEMBER 12, 1965

LBJ OK’S MORE TROOPS FOR VIET
NOVEMBER 12, 1965

VIET CONG CASUALTIES MOUNT NIGHT ATTACK FOILED
NOVEMBER 13, 1965

B52 BOMBERS CLEAR PATH FOR U.S. GROUND FORCES
NOVEMBER 15, 1965

U.S. TO SEND MORE TROOPS…PUT PRESSURE ON ENEMY
NOVEMBER 15, 1965

URGE BOMBING VITAL NORTH VIET HARBOR
NOVEMBER 15, 1965

U.S. TROOPS HOLD GROUND IN BIGGEST BATTLE OF WAR
NOVEMBER 16, 1965

FOUR U.S. PLANES LOST IN NORTH VIET BOMBING
NOVEMBER 17, 1965

MUST RECOVER VILLAGES AS FIRST STEP
NOVEMBER, 17, 1965

WHAT 17 DAYS OF REPORTING THE VIET NAM WAR WAS LIKE IN NOVEMBER OF 1965..

THE LAST NINE...A Mill Creek Soldier’s Heroic Fight During World War 1

2010-10-27T21:42:00.007-04:00

THE LAST NINE
Mill Creek Soldier’s Heroic Fight During World War 1
FOUGHT AT FISMETTE FIGHT
Pottsville Journal September 12, 1918
Stanley Savage, of Mill Creek, Helped to Hold Back A Hun Attack With Salvaged Ammunition...

Stanley Savage of Co. H, 112th Infantry, 28th Division, A Mill Creek boy, is mentioned in the dispatches from France for bravery
He was one of the 100 men who were cut off with Lieutenant Turner. By a dense fog and barrage fire. The force was reduced to nine men. They took shelter in an old house and defended themselves against the Huns by going out in the open and taking ammunition from their fallen comrades. Savage was the man who got the ammunition.
After holding the enemy off for hours in this way the men escaped by swimming the river. Three Schuylkill county boys were among the survivors, they being, Frank Savage, Frank S. Incouski and George Kertitierm the later two from Port Carbon.
Another Co. H man, Ralph E. Lesser, of Ridgeway was orderly to Lieut. Turner and survived the ordeal.
Lesser, Incouski and Kertitier cannot be identified in this region, but Savage is well known. He resided at upper Mill Creek between Colonel Hyde’s residence and the State Police barracks. He served as an orderly with the State Police and was also employed for a time at Joyce Greenhouse.

Officers of the 103rd Engineers

He is the son of Mr. And Mrs. Michael Savage, of Mill Creek, and has a brother and a number of sisters living in that vicinity. He is a fine big soldier and was among the first to volunteer for Co,H when it was drilling at Agricultural Park, last summer.
The Following Account is From the U.S. Army reports at the Front, dated September 9, 1918.
Little has been told of the desperate fight of a handful of Americans against an overwhelming number of Germans for the possession of Fismette. Even with information now available from American survivors and German officers and soldiers taking part in the fight, several phases of the affair, notably the fate of close to 100 Americans who have not returned and have not been accounted for as prisoners is shrouded in mystery.
The fight started at daylight August 27, and raged until noon when the American was driven back across the Vesle for the time being. A plain recital of the “last nine”, an epic which would stand out in any age, shines out from the hours of death.
Lieut. Ben E. Turner, Chicago, a former sergeant, was the last man to cross under a hail of hostile machine gun bullets, high explosives and shrapnel shells. Turner had a platoon of about fifty men at the extreme eastern edge of the village when the German attack, preceded by a terrific artillery barrage behind a smoke screen. Was launched at 4:39 a.m. during a fog. The toll taken by the Germans was heavy. The American officer commanding the company was killed and the men dropped one by one.
Only twenty men were left when at 9 o’clock Lieut,. Turner started to lead the little party towards the bridge. He reached the remains of a stone house the roof of which had been torn off by shells and the walls of which had been partially demolished.
The ruion stood about 300 yards from the bridge. He took account of his strength and found that now he had nine men including himself. Two Chauchot automatic rifles and one army rifle were their only weapons. Turner used the rifle and Frank Sincousky, private Port Carbon and O. H. Hunt, private Logan, W. Va. Worked the automatics.

A Chauchat gunner
Sgt. Richard Moore and William M. Fleishifer and Ralf Lesser privates all of Ridgeway, Pa. and Moses Wallace, private , Factoryville, Pa. and Stanley Savage, Private, Pottsville were the others in the little band that risked their lives collecting ammo from the bodies of fallen Americans. They kept up such a fusillade they gave the impression that building was a perfect nest of machine guns..
SHELLS WRECK BUILDING
Six German officers were wounded and an unknown number of men, Entrenched on the left side of the building another hardy squad worked a machine gun and helped to hold back the attacking force. The building was struck by a German shell at 10:45 o’clock, wiping out the gun crew.
Lieut Turner realized that further resistance meant another Alama. “Make your way across the river,” he said. “I’ll stay here and protect you.”
“nothing doing,” replied his men, “We’ll stick with you.”, “All right, we’ll all make a run for it together,” said Turner.
During the next lull, they slipped out from the rear of the ruins and started dodging along the river bank until they reached the broken bridge. Shells were bursting on all sides and bullets were whistling over the little hollow where Turner stopped. “Over we go boys,” he said. “Lie low on the opposite bank.”
Giving the first man a shove they started across swimming on scrambling along by the remains of the bridge. “I’m going back to fire a couple more shots so that the Germans will think we are still there.” Said Turner as he handed Lesser a piece of paper on which he had hastily scribbled a Chicago address, adding, “write to this party if I don’t rejoin you.” Like a flash he was gone. The other eight reached the opposite side without a scratch.
When lesser climbed dripping up the bank he discovered that their leader was not among them. “I am gong back.” He said. “I am not a quitter.”
The soldiers echoed his words and started back toward certain death. “We could hear his gun going in the house which we had left.” Said Lesser in telling the story.
Then it was silence and every man gulped. Then a couple of minutes later the Lieutenant emerged from the river and splashing through the shallows and joined us. “The Germans shelled us for nearly a mile up the road, but we got away.”
That is the story of the Last nine.

From the History of the 112th Infantry......
"On August 16 the 112th Infantry received orders to relieve the 100th Infantry when holding the left sub-sector of the Pennsylvania sector, the First Battalion of the 112th to take over the left half of the sub-sector on the night of August 17-18; the Second Battalion the right half on the night of August 18-19; the Third Battalion to go into support on the line of resistance on the night of August 18-19 the command of the line to pass to the commanding officer, 112th Infantry at four o'clock, August 19.
'The part of the order affecting the First Battalion had been carried out when the order was superseded by the following changes: the First Battalion to extend its front to include the entire sub-sector on the night of August 18-19; the Second Battalion to take position on the right half of the line of resistance; the Third Battalion the left of the line of resistance. The entire relief was effected in good order. By 5 a. m., August 19, all units were in their assigned positions.
"The disposition of the combat groups in the front lines was completed with Companies A and C occupying Fismette, Company B holding the right flank south of the river and Company D, minus one platoon being used to cover the left flank in support of Fismes. By this time mixed liaison combat groups had been established with the units on our flanks. One company of the 109th Machine Gun Battalion, together with the Machine Gun Company, 112th Infantry, took up a position previously selected in the zone of combat groups. On the night of August 19-20 the enemy attempted to launch a raid on our left flank in Fismette. This was quickly repulsed by our automatic rifles. There were no casualties. "Up to this time the houses on the extreme left of Fismette were being occupied after dark by enemy machine gunners, who were causing considerable trouble to our troops, so, on the night of August 20-21, under cover of our own normal barrage, supplemented by Stokes mortars and one-pounders of this regiment, Company A, after a slight engagement, succeeded in extending its left flank to include this part of Fismette."
On the night of August 22-23 the First Battalion in the front line was relieved by the Third Battalion, the former occupying the position of the Third Battalion on the line of resistance. Companies A and B of the 109th Machine Gun Battalion, and a company of the 112th Infantry were also in the outpost zone, the latter company withdrawing to a position in a ravine.
On the night of August 26-27 the following changes of positions were effected. The First Battalion of the 1 11th Infantry, moved into position formerly occupied by the Third Battalion of the 1 11th Infantry. The latter moved up into the line of resistance and took up a position where the Second Battalion of the 112th Infantry had been stationed. The Second Battalion of the 112th Infantry, relieved the Third Battalion on the front line. The Third Battalion then moved back to the area vacated by the First Battalion of the 111th
Infantry in the barrier zone. The relief of the front line was accomplished in good order without casualties, all units being in position by one hour. Company H occupied the left flank and Company G the right flank in Fismette. South of the river Company F held the right of the sector, Company E the left. Liaison with the flanks was obtained without delay, but a CAPTURED GERMAN MACHINE GUNS considerable interval

Typical German Soldiers
At 4:10 a. m., after a heavy enemy barrage on Fismette which lasted for at least fifteen minutes, destroying many of the American strong points, the enemy launched an attack on Fismette. Following very close to the heavy barrage which was lifted from Fismette and put down on Fismes, they succeeded in entering the town both from the front and flanks before the American machine guns and automatics could put up sufficient resistance.
This resulted in hand-to-hand fighting, rendered difficult because of poor visibility at that hour of the day. Communication was cut off to the rear by enemy artillery. Hand grenades were the chief weapon in the attack, though in the left sector the use of liquid fire was reported.
Our troops collected heavy toll from the enemy before being forced to evacuate Fismette. By this time Captain Lucius M. Phelps, in command of the outpost zone, had been wounded, and Captain Harry F. Miller put in command. The latter spent the balance of the time on the line, organizing a strong defense in Fismes. The streets were barricaded and wire entanglements placed about seventy-five yards behind the barricades so as to be out of range of hand grenades The Stokes mortars were placed to take care of possible river crossings, and these, together with onepounders, would do effective work against any attempt of the enemy to force a crossing.
Survivors of Companies G and H who got across the Vesle and reached Fismes that morning stated that the Germans poured into Fismette by hundreds. As the German force which attacked Fismette was considered not to exceed 2,000, the first statements of survivors were thought to be exaggerations. Not until after the signing of the armistice and the return of Lieutenant Edward Schmelzer, Lieutenant Milford S. Fredenburg and Lieutenant Alfred A. L. Young, from the German prison camps at Rastatt and Yilligen, was it possible to establish with any degree of accuracy just what took place at Fismette on the morning of August 27. The three officers,
Company G had 124 men in the town when the enemy attack was made and Company H had a total of 106 men in the front line. Company G lost as prisoners, twenty-two wounded and sixty-two unwounded men, Company H lost as prisoners, twenty-four unwounded and twenty-nine wounded soldiers; total prisoners taken by the Germans numbered 127, so far as Lieutenant Schmelzer and Lieutenant Fredenburg could ascertain. These officers estimated that of the remaining ninety-three men, approximately seventy-five men were killed in hand-to-hand fighting.
During the night of August 30111-31 st the troops on the line of resistance were subjected to gas attack, which lasted approximately two and a half hours. With the exception of the 109th Machine Gun Battalion, the casualties from the gas were slight.

THE 50TH PENNSYLVANIA AT ANTIETAM

2010-09-17T11:18:00.005-04:00

Rededicating the 50th Monument Antietam

Today marks the 148th anniversary of the Battle Of Antietam. From my book "A History of Company C 50th Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteer Infantry Regiment" I take the following:

Private John Doudle:

“On the night of the 16th of September we were put on picket duty, we occupied a position on the extreme left front of the Corps. On the morning of the 17th we had a fine view of the battle, though a few miles distant.”

The regiment remained on picket duty the night of the 16th; the boys in company C were receiving sporadic fire through out the night. The enemy suffered heavy casualties and the dead and wounded rebels were left lying all over the mountain. Returning to the first brigade and forming up the boys moved out about 7 a.m. on the 17th of September. The 50th Pennsylvania Regiment pushed on toward Antietam Creek.
On Wednesday morning the fight commenced at daylight. The boys were under fire most of the a.m. About 1 p.m. the regiment crossed the Antietam and marched off to the right under the cover of a hill on the opposite side of the bridge. Christ’s brigade now held the extreme right of Burnsides Army. After resting for a short period of time the brigade was ordered to advance. Colonel Christ at the head of the brigade was carrying and waving the colors of “Virtue, Liberty and Independence “ and in a strong voice commanded the boys to “Forward”, the boys moved off into a hail of bullets and shell. They reached the top gaining more ground than the left wing or the center wing. They had to halt and wait till the other wings caught up. Colonel Christ realizing what had happened order his brigade to lie down. While lying on the gropund the boys were subjected to some of the most horrible fire ever endured, but yet the boys stood it with a coolness of veterans. As the left came up, the command again was given to advance and the brigade drove the rebels out of a cornfield and an orchard completely routing them. The fight over for the 50th the boys marched back behind the cover of the hill and bivouacked for the night. Captain Burkert of company C was wounded in the leg in this action .

Corporal Charles E. Brown:

“On September 17th we went into the battle of Antietam. We lost heavy in this battle and among the loss was our drummer boy Jere Helms. In this engagement Helms threw away his drum and took up a musket and charged with his comrades. He was shot through the head and died almost instantly. The rebel army was almost knocked to pieces.
General Burnside told McClellan to give him five thousand fresh troops and he would drive the balance of Lee’s army to the Potomac. McClellan refused to do so, and although he had thirty thousand troops on reserve they never fired a shot in the Battle of Antietam. McClellan stopped the battle and for two days we lay around and in the meantime Lee got his army over the Potomac and put them in good shape again.”

Private John Doudle:

“Returning to the brigade during the morning we crossed the stone bridge and filed to the right, marching to the crest of a hill, where we formed ready for action.
Prostrated on the ground, at the crest of the hill we endured a sever fire from the enemy’s artillery; in a bout an hour after forming the command “Forward” was given. Though tired and exhausted having been on picket duty all night, we entered the battle with the greatest enthusiansim charging upon the enemy and driving them from their position. The engagement was short, but during that time our loss was killed Jeremiah Helms private, Augustus Berger private, Daniel McGlenn, private and Richard Fahl, private. The wounded in the company were Jonathan Brennan, private, Jacob Helms, private John Graeff, private Frank Fenstermacher, private and Samuel Agley, private.”

1st Sgt. William H, Menning:

“My last letter you will remember was dated from Washington City, and was written a few days after the fight at Bull Run. Since then we have again done a little in the fighting line and I am happy to say we did better than we did at Bull Run, for the time we came off first beat and the Secesh party had to skedaddle. I will give you a list of the names of the killed and wounded of Company C in this regiment.
Company C is commanded by Capt. Daniel Burkert and was raised in Schuylkill Haven and vicinity. This company was very lucky at South Mountain, as we did not lose a man. We however suffered severely in the late fight at Sharpsburg considering the time we were under fire. Our loss was 2 killed and 8 wounded.
Killed was Richard Fahl, and Daniel McGlenn, Wounded was Augustus Berger who since has been reported as died, Jeremiah Helms shot in the head, Jonthan Branner, shot in the shoulder, Samuel Agley shot in the leg, John Graff shot in the face, Franklin Fenstermacher, shot in the shoulder and Jacob Hehn shot in the arm.”

In the action at Antietam a tragic situation would unfold when Jeremiah Helms 16 years of age one of the drummer boys of company C was killed in action. Jere Helms as he was known to the men of company C was the youngest son of Mr. Peter Helms of Schuylkill Haven. On this day Jere would lay down his drum and take a musket and charge with his company only to receive a minnine ball in the head that ball would prove fatal. Mr. Peter Helms Jere’s father traveled to Sharpsburg where he retrieved the body of his youngest son. Written in the Pottsville Miners Journal of October 12th 1862 was the sad story of this young patriot.

On last Tuesday a week, Jeremiah Helms, the youngest son of Mr. Peter Helms of Schuylkill Haven, and a member of Company C, 50th regiment P.V. Was interred at Myerstown, Lebanon County, his former residence in the presence if a large concourse of mourners and friends. Rev. Mr. Yengst preached a sermon upon the following text. Found in the 11th Chapter, 25th verse of St. John. “Jesus said unto her. I am the resurrection and the life, he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”
His father brought his corpse home from the late battlefield of Antietam, where he was mortally wounded on the 17th ult. While nobly battling with the enemy in defense of those dear rights which every freeman should enjoy. He was shot through the head with a Minnie ball in line of the eyes. He was perfectly sensible for the first seven days of his suffering, and able to walk about. Thus he lingered, with out a murmur, bearing his pain like a true soldier, with Christian fortitude, until the morning of the 27th, only the day previous to his father arrival, when he breathed his last and became another victim to this cursed rebellion and sacrifices at the star of his country’s choicest blessing, liberty and freedom. He fell a noble hero martyr to the cause he so much loved to defend. His comrades bear testimony of his true soldiery conduct, always cheerful and prompt in performance of his duty. He fought well at the battles of Pocatalico, S.C. Bull Run, Chantilly, Va. And South Mountain and Antietam Md. He prevailed for some time upon his parents to go to war: they could not at first consent to his going on account of his youth, but seeing that he was fired with a zeal of patriotism that was pure and noble, permission was given when he enlisted in Co. C 50th Regt. P.V. at the age of 16 years. He is the youngest of three brothers, all of whom have enlisted in defense of the Union, at the respective ages of 16, 18, and 20 years.
After the battle of Bull Run he was heard in earnest prayer, upon bended knees in his tent. In his last letter, which was after the Battle of South Mountain he wrote his parents not to feel uneasy about him, that he was fighting for the Lord, as well as for the protection of the Stars and Stripes, and his parents to attend a “Camp Meeting” in serving the Lord. His brother James, who is a member of the 48th P.V. visited him during his suffering, when he told him that he should return to his regiment and do valiant service, that he was beyond recovery. He also told his nurse the same, Morgan Pugh of Minersville, and that by his kind and unceasing attentions towards him, he (Pugh) only prolonged his suffering, as he could not recover.
He sees to have been resigned to his fate, and satisfied to die, as a proud defender of his insulted country.
October 7th 1862
Antietam.

Army Ranger From Tower City Killed In Helicopter Crash August 29, 1970

2010-08-30T21:37:00.007-04:00

Lawrence Elwood Scheib, Jr
Specialist Four
L CO, 75TH INFANTRY, 101ST ABN DIV, USARV
Army of the United States

PFC. Thomas P. McKerns KIA August 28,1969

2010-08-24T20:57:00.004-04:00

41 Years Ago Today A Mahanoy City Soldier Was Killed In Actiom Trying To Save His Comrades.

The 4th Battalion went to Vietnam in the spring of 1966, operating initially in War Zone D and around Tay Ninh near the Cambodian border. In 1967, the battalion moved north to help form the 23d "Americal" Infantry Division. Operating at Quang Ngai, Chu Lai, and the Que Son Valley for most of the rest of the war, the 4th Battalion fought to keep Viet Cong guerillas and the North Vietnamese Army from capturing the coastal lowlands. Two of the battalion's members earned the Medal of Honor almost a year apart near the bitterly-contested village of Hiep Duc. When American forces departed, the 4th Battalion 31st Infantry was part of the last brigade to leave Vietnam. It was deactivated in 1971.

45 Years Ago Today Schuylkill County Lost A Marine

2010-08-24T20:37:00.005-04:00

Marine Lance Corporal David C. Ney

The Actual Date Was August 24, 1965
tag photo to enlarge

USMC KC-130F BuNo 149802, c/n 3693, of VMGR-152, MAG-15, veered off runway on take-off from Kai Tak Airport, Hong Kong and hit seawall, and crashed into the sea. No. 1 propeller reversed. This was the first Hercules hull loss in Marine Corps service. It was carrying Marine personnel returning to Vietnam after R & R in Hong Kong - of six crew and 65 passengers, 59 were killed while flying. Aircraft commander disregarded SOP. This is the worst accident at Kai Tak. The airport was relocated to Chek Lap Kok in 1998.

Agent Orange...How We Were Killed In Vietnam And Didn't Even Know It.

2010-08-03T20:35:00.009-04:00

I am a Vietnam Veteran and I am sick of the way we are treated concerning the Agent Orange Issue, Many of my brothers and Sisters have died from the effects of being exposed to agent orange. For years many of them have fought with the VA about getting compensation for the diseases we are now suffering from. And I for one am sick of it.. So I wrote these two letters to the Pottsville Republican Newspaper over the last couple of months, but they chose not to publish them, Why? I don't know. But here on my blog I can publish them.
Recently we were so close to getting compensation for the effects of what we suffer from and then a Senator From Virginia Jim Webb, A Democrat and Vietnam Veteran himself is trying to stop payment on three new AO presumptive diseases. It really hurts when it comes from one of our own Vietnam Vets, But I guess he puts political garbage ahead of honor, and I hope he is not re-elected to the Senate.

Recently, while looking at photos of the guys I served with in Vietnam 40 years ago and seeing the smiles on their faces, I knew we were all going to make it home. Although the Vietnam war has once again reappeared in my life like a bomb shell. Like many of my brothers and sisters who served in Vietnam I now have a major health issue and have had major surgery for this illness. The illness is related to my time spent in Vietnam and my possible exposure to herbicides, such as agent orange.
It is hard to believe but according to Joe Violante, legislative director for DAV, "If you look at the Vietnam veteran population, the diseases we've contracted and the mortality rate, the only group dying at a faster rate are the World War II veterans," Chairman of Government Affairs for Vietnam Veterans of America John Miterko said, "We're picking up diseases by our '60s that we shouldn't be getting until our late '70s, early '80s.
One thing can be assured, the number of Vietnam veteran deaths has almost doubled since 2001 and, according to Department of Veterans Affairs' projections, will hit 103,890 this year -- approaching 300 a day. That's more than five times the average daily number of U.S. combat deaths during the peak casualty year of the war in 1968. Psychology professor John Wilson, at Cleveland State University, said one difference between Vietnam vets and those who served during World War II is that the older vets had closure -- a recognized victory -- for their conflict. The World War II vets came home heroes and were treated as such, he noted. But for the Vietnam vet there was never an end point, psychologically," The impact of war continues long after the shooting stopped.
But it doesn’t end with only the psychological illnesses suffered by Vietnam vets.. During the Vietnam War nineteen million gallons of Agents Orange, Blue, White, and Purple were sprayed in country (over 6 million acres), and it was applied at up to 14 times the recommended domestic agricultural application rate. Subsequently, these chemicals have been banned in the U.S. due to their intense toxicity, being considered, perhaps, the most potent cancer-causing substance ever studied by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, based on studies conducted by the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine, lists 15 conditions -- qualifying veterans for service-related compensation -- that might be connected by exposure to the defoliant. Among them are, diabetes, prostate cancer and various other diseases, and recently as of March 25, 2010, Parkinson's disease, B cell leukemia and ischemic heart disease have been added to the list. Unfortunately many years later many of us veterans have and will be causalities from the Vietnam War.
Fortunately for myself my service officer in the VFW, Carmen DeSanti, informed me of the VA’s proposal to add the three new diseases that are related to agent orange exposure. Without his dedication to the veterans of this state, many Vietnam veterans, myself included would never had known about the current status of these diseases and what help is available.
In closing I want it known that I am not writing this letter to complain. I am writing this letter in the hope that some of my fellow Vietnam veterans, who are suffering from or who think they may have an illness related to their service in Vietnam, get checked by their doctors and the VA medical facilities and get the proper kind of help needed to treat them.

Stu Richards
Vietnam Veteran

Letter 2 July 25, 2010

Dear Editor:
Recently ,President Obama stated, in reference to easing the regulations for veterans to get compensation for PTSD that, “The country has a "solemn responsibility" to ensure that veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder get the help they need”. As a veteran, I applaud his statement in reference to PTSD, especially for those veterans who suffer now and have suffered from its effects for many years. I hope that he follows through with this “solemn responsibility” and that he, as the Commander in Chief, will not let it fall through the maddening bureaucracy and political wrangling that goes on with the Veterans Administration and Washington politics.
Unfortunately, there is a deeper problem going on in this country right now, the battle over the never ending, long term effects from the exposure to Agent Orange. The Vietnam War ended almost 35 years ago, but for many veterans, battles with disease and other maladies associated with defoliants used in the war are only now beginning. For Vietnam veterans, the realization of the dangers of exposure to Agent Orange can be broken into three segments. First, one is totally unaware of the dangers posed by dioxin-laced defoliants sprayed on us in Vietnam. Then, years later, comes the outrage at the discovery of what harm was done to us while serving in Vietnam. Finally, there is the frustration associated with the bureaucracy that wants to forget vets, and the system that is supposedly set up to help one.
For years, the government dragged its feet in recognizing the connection between wartime service and debilitating diseases that strike Vietnam veterans decades later. The compensation Vietnam veterans now receive for herbicide related illnesses was only gained after years of battling between the distorted views of science and the politics of Washington. Unfortunately , all the while, Vietnam veterans were returning home with an invisible killer that would take years to show itself.
Within the Veterans Administration there is a list of eleven presumptive diseases that the V A records as associated with the effects of being exposed to the defoliants sprayed in Vietnam. Recently, the VA added three new diseases to the list making a total of fourteen diseases. The (VA) has irrefutable facts based on studies made by the Institute of Medicine (IOM ) that proves that Agent Orange exposure causes development of hairy cell leukemia, Parkinson's disease, and ischemic heart disease. For many years, Vietnam veterans suffered and died at an early age from the effects of these diseases caused by Agent Orange.
Being a Vietnam veteran, one gets used to some people, or the government, turning against vets and doing their best to make life miserable. But when one of your own turns against you, it hurts even more. Senator Jim Webb (D), Virginia is just such a person. Webb, a Marine veteran of the Vietnam War, has proposed Senate Amendment 4222 to the Senate Bill (HR 4899) Agent Orange Equity Bill for the payment of compensation to veterans and their spouses for their exposure to Agent Orange. Webb wants to stop the payment on claims filed for these new presumptive Agent Orange diseases so that Congress has more time to “study “the VA decision and examine more closely the link found between these diseases and herbicide exposure . He feels there is no connection between these diseases and Agent Orange. How many more studies need to be made? Do thousands of Vietnam veterans have to die each year before the VA acts on behalf of the vets? And now Senator Webb, who deems himself a medical scientist and the champion of the taxpayer, wants to hurt the affected Vietnam Veterans by stopping the paying of compensation. This nonsense constitutes Washington politics with Webb selfishly serving his own political agenda.
If Webb and others delay this compensation, in a few years, thousands of Vietnam vets will have died from the effects of these diseases and, in the view of Webb, their deaths will save the government millions of dollars. Webb has turned his back on his brothers and sisters from Vietnam for the sake of Washington politics.
To you, Mr. President, Senators and Congressmen, and military leaders of this country, if you don’t want to compensate Vietnam vets for being injured in the war or from the effects of Agent Orange afterwards, think hard about your responsibility in sending us to Vietnam in the first place. I contacted Senator Robert Casey, Senator Arlen Specter and Congressman Tim Holden about this travesty and its effects on the Vietnam veteran. As of this date, I received two reply's from Senator Specter ,a veteran himself, and Senator Casey showing concern. How sad!
I leave you with this solemn reflection. Whatever happened to the duty of our government to care for injured vets, personified in President Lincoln’s affirmation, “To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and orphan” ?

Stu Richards
Orwigsburg, Pa.
Vietnam Veteran

This is A Letter I Sent to Senator Webb, Democrat, from Virginia who is stabbing the Vietnam Vets who suffer from these diseases in the back. Webb is claiming that these diseases are brought on by poor heath and natural aging., What a bunch of crap.

Senator Webb,
As a Vietnam veteran suffering for years with Ischemic heart disease, that is NOT brought on by normal aging, I want to say that it is apparent from your arrogant tone and recent self- motivated political actions that you obviously and disgracefully fail to support your fellow Vietnam veterans. You are the point person and orchestrator of the supplement to an amendment to the fiscal 2010 war supplemental funding bill (HR 4899) that requests Congress to “study” ( translate: stonewall, impede, frustrate, deny ) the concerns and long-term costs of expanding the list of presumptive illness related to Agent Orange exposure which include Ischemic heart disease, Parkinson's disease and a rare form of leukemia. You feel, as a layperson, that the science is not strong enough to justify Agent Orange as the cause of the above mentioned diseases. Additionally, you lead the effort to thwart the Veterans Administration `s effort to compensate affected veterans and, in doing so, you deny all vets who suffer from these three diseases their justifiable compensation.
Do you have your head in the sand or in the clouds on this issue and are you devoid of sensibility about the horror stories that Agent Orange has wrought on the health of Vietnam vets? I served in Vietnam during the years 70-71. An athlete before going to Vietnam and for a long time after returning, I now suffer with Ischemic heart disease which was identified in my early fifties. How dare you say that these problems are related to common aging! I have been on different medications for heart related issues since my mid twenties. I recently had triple open heart by-bass surgery. And to think this all started just a few years after I returned home from Vietnam!
How could a reasonable and prudent individual with normal intelligence ignore what has been apparent to just about everyone over the last twenty years concerning Agent Orange? With all the studies completed, and you want more? This farce of your additional “study” insults all of us and is a waste of the taxpayer`s money.
Think about this, Mr. Webb, you, a highly decorated Vietnam Veteran as your biography seems to suggest. Over 300 Vietnam War vets die each day, with an average life span that is ten years less than that of the average non-Vietnam Vet. All this because of natural aging, Mr. Webb?
Your arrogance, selfishness, and fecklessness is to an affront and insult to every vet!

All I got to say to you is that you turned your back on your fellow Vietnam veterans for some hidden political agenda. I will do everything in my power to write to Senators, Congressmen, the President , and Veteran organizations regarding your self serving agenda which includes short changing and cheating well deserving vets of rightful compensation . I will write and call fellow veterans in Virginia and my family and friends who live in Virginia and encourage them to vote you out of office. Do you think your fellow veterans will vote for you again? Remember, there are still Vietnam veterans alive and you are a pariah and a disgrace and disappointment to all veterans. Shame on you for your betrayal of vets!

John Stuart Richards

I WROTE THIS LETTER TO THE EDITOR OF THE POTTSVILLE REPUBLICAN AND WAS PRINTED ON SEPT 10, 2010 CONCERNING THAT WORTHLESS ARTICLE WRITTEN BY AP WRITER MIKE BAKER.

In reading the article in The Republican-Herald printed on Aug. 30, titled "Diabetes now tops Vietnam vets claims," I was angry and dismayed with the way the writer, Mike Baker from the AP, reported this subject.

But being a Vietnam vet has made me much stronger over the years, so I regrouped and decided to address his less than accurate claims. This typical diatribe, filled with inaccuracies, accompanied by his feckless reporting, mirrors the same stereotyping that plagues Vietnam vets since the war ended in 1975.

If people like Mr. Baker cannot attack our honor, our service or our courage, they will try their utmost to write inflammatory articles aimed at undermining the public's sentiment and hence, undermine the important and well-deserved support vets earn.

Recently, the VA passed a regulation that will pay deserving Vietnam veterans compensation for the years of sickness brought about by the effects of exposure to Agent Orange. And now, during times of national economic distress facing this country, some feel it is an opportunity to try and stop these deserving payments by writing inflammatory articles that are baseless in fact, such as Mr. Bakers'.

A fellow Vietnam vet and brother suffering from the effects of Agent Orange recently wrote the following in reply to Mr. Baker's article:

"There have been pros and cons on this war since the '60s and we Vietnam vets don't really care. These are the things we do know. We went to Vietnam and we did our job. We came home. Some of us got sick with these presumptive diseases at an early age. The government has said there is a chance that our poor health may have been caused by Agent Orange.

"They also say they want to pay us for our disabilities. We didn't ask for any of this. We didn't ask to go to Vietnam; we didn't ask to get sick. We didn't blame our sicknesses on AO, and we didn't beg for money because of it. We didn't make the rules that sent us there; we just played by their rules. That's what we will do now, we will play by the rules. For those of you in the world who think the rules are wrong, then change them. The one thing we as Vietnam veterans want to say to the naysayers is just leave us alone. We didn't make any of these decisions; they are made by the government, not us.

"Mr. Baker and the rest of the anti-veteran establishment, how about getting off our backs and after 40-plus years just say 'THANK YOU' and 'WELCOME HOME.' "

I echo the words of my fellow vet. When you or Mr. Baker see one of us Vietnam vets, just say "Thank you" and "Welcome home."

Stu Richards

Orwigsburg

Vietnam veteran