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THE REBELLION RECORD,
EDITED BY
FRANK MOORE,
The only History of the Rebellion that can bo relied on,
CONTAINS
A COMPLETK DIARY OP EVENTS
Krou) the Coinincnoomont of tlio War, All the Official Rki'OKTS nnd Nauiiativks,
llHNiniKDH 01" l.OYAI. AND liEliKL PONflS AM) BAIXADH.
"THE GREAT LIVING HISTORY." a. p. PUTNAM, Publisher.
CI-IARLKS T. EVANS,
Gen. Aqent, 448 Broadway.

THE PLACE

OF

The Ringgold Light Artillery

OF READING,

AMONG THE FIRST FIVE COMPANIES FROM PENNSYLVANIA.
WHICH MARCHED TO THE DEFENSE OF WASHINGTON,

A P n I Li, 18 61.

A PAPER READ BEFORE THE HISTORIOAIi SOCIETY OF BERKS
COUNTY, JUNE 14, 1870.

Printed by order of the Society,
1870.

HigTORicAL Society of BEnits County,
Reading, June I4, 1S70.
At a meeting of tho Society, lield this evening, Jesse G. IIawley, Vice-
President, in tlie chair, on motion of Henry May Keim, it wa.s unanimously
Resolved, That the thanks of the Society arc due to Hon. Wm. M. Hiesteh,
the President, for the interesting paper he has read relating to the Ringgold
Light Artillery of Reading, and that, as the subject is one of general interest to
our citizens, as well as of historical importance, the paper be printed for the use
of the Society. From the minutes, Attest, II. MALTZBERGER, Secretary.

GeNTTjEJIEN :
I propose, in tlic paper wliich I read tliis evening
before the Historieal Society of Berks County, to vindicate
the truth of liistory, and to establish the right of priority
to be with the Ringgold Light Artillery, in the contest for
precedence that has sprung up between the first five compa
nies from Pennsylvania, which marched to the defense of
Wa.shington. On the 4th of July, 18G6, at a military celebration of the
Anniversary of our Independence, held at Philadelphia, it was
understood that the five companies, the Ringgold Light Artil
lery, from Reading; the Logan Guards, from Lewistown ; tlie
"Washington Artillery and the National Light Infantry, from
Pottsville, and the Allen Rifles, from Allentown, would be
present to participate, and the question of precedence in these
companies being likely to arise. General Hoffman addressed a
letter to Adjutant General Ru.ssellfor information on this point.
General Russell wrote the following letter, a copy of which he
kindly furni.shod from his office :
Ad.iutant General's Department,
llarrisburg, June 23, 1866.
Brio. Gen. J. W. Hoffman, Philadelphia :
" General : — On my return to-day from Williamsport I found on my table
your letter of the 20th inst. I did not take charge of this department until
September, 18C1, nnd did not come to llarrisburg until June of that year,
from which latter date until September I was on duty as aid-de'carop to the
Governor. I am tlierefore unable to furnish any personal knowledge of the
" reporting for duty or muster" of the f 'e companies of which you write, and
as no records of them under the title given can be discovered, I cannot give
you the transcripts desired. Colonel Slifer, however, Secretary of the Com-
mimwealth, who at that period was actively assisting the Governor in tho
Military Department, is clear in his recollection of the fact that the " Logan
Guards," from Lewistown, was the first to report for duty, this company havini;
reported in the morning or forenoon of the 17th of April, 1801, and tlie othei"
companies at later periods of tlie same day.

' I am also informed that thb company occupied the right of the line on their
march through Baltimore, This, if so, was at that time, when facts and cir
cumstances were fresh and properly understood, a concession of seniority.
I am, Ac, &c., A. L. RUSSELL, Adft Oen. Fenna."
The Adjutant General in his letter is equally at fault in his
information about the line of march in Baltimore, as in the
information he communicates from the Secretary of the Com
monwealth. The truth is, the U. S, Regulars occupied the
right of the line, and the Ringgold Light Artillery the left.
But in the confusion and danger of the passage of the unarmed
troops through the infuriate mob at Baltimore, little regard was
had to the order of inarch.
Whatever other facts and considerations entered into the de
cision then made, it cannot be doubted that this letter controlled
the result, and the military authorities on this occasion decided
upon giving the right of the line to the Logan Guards of
Lewistown. On the announcement of this order through Major
General Hancock in command, the Ringgold Light Artillery
refused to participate in the parade and Avithdrew. Thus the
post of honor and of priority was established by this precedent
against the Ringgold Light Artillery most unexpectedly, though
not unaccountably.
When I have presented, as I shall do in the performance of
the task I have undertaken, the statement of facts and proofs at
my command, it will be evident that had Adj't Gen. Russell
examined the records and papers within his reach, and not relied
upon the treacherous recollection of the Secretary of the Com
monwealth, he would not have misled the military authorities
at Philadelphia with the erroneous statement that the Logan
Guards was the first company to report at Harrisburg, having
arrived on tho morning of the 17tli of April, when the iiidii-
bitable fact was, that the Ringgold Light Artillery had arrived
and reported at Harrisburg on the evening of the IGtli of
April. But the question now a.ssunies a higher .significance and im-
jiortance than a mere point of military precedence, and arises
to the dignity of a luitioiial historical question. In the IJoiise

of Representatives at Washington General Cake, a representa
tive from Schuylkill County, who himself, as an officer of the
" National Light Infantry," of Pottsville, marched with his
company to AVashington, in hi.s remarks made upon the intro
duction of a resolution relative to the bestowal of medals upon
the battalion first to arrive at AVashingtop from Pennsylvania,
as I find in the report of the Congressional Globe of the 18th
of April, 1870, said :
"The services of the Lewistown Logan Guards, Captain Selhcimcr, were
offered the Governor on the 15th of April, accepted the same day, and eighty-
five strong, marched to Harrisburg on the ICth, the first to arrive in that city."
Some excuse may be found for the error into which the
Secretary of the Commonwealth fell in giving his recollection
in 1866 of the date of the arrival of the first five companies at
HarrLsburg, but I can find no excuse or justification for the
falsification of history by General Cake, after the publication
of the text and notes of " Bates' History of Pennsylvania Vol
unteers," which appeared in 1869.
It was impossible that the Ringgold Light Artillery or their
friends or the friends of historic truth could rest content with
this unjust military decision, and with the falsification of history
upon the floor of Congress, upon a point of so much interest
and so much pride to soldiers and citizens.
At the request of Major James McKuight, I cheerfully ac
companied Major Muhlenberg, a member of the corps, to
examine the records and proofs bearing upon this controversy
at Harrisburg. The result of our searches was so satisfactory
and so conclusive, that for the purpose of closing up this pend
ing question of military precedence, and of establishing historic
truth in behalf of our own brave soldiers, I determined to
prepare this paper on the subject, to be read before the Society
nnd to be placed among its archives.
President Lincoln issued his proclamation for 75,000 men
April 15, 1861. On that morning the Ringgold Light Artillery
were drilling with full ranks, armed and equipped, on their
parade ground, a short distance from the city, when telegraphic
news reached tho corps on parade of the proclamation of the

President. The following dispatch was forthwith sent to Gov
ernor Curtin and appears in the record of dispatches in the
office of the Adjutant General at Harrisburg: Reading, April 15, 1801.
Governor A. G, Curtin :
"The Ringgold Light Artillery ore paroding this morning with their guns
for practice, have ninety men on parade, every one of them expecting to be
ordered on duty for the U. S, service before they leave their guns.
11. A. LANTZ."
The Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth, as appears by
the first dispatch recorded on that day as sent, answered :
IIarrisduro, April 15, 1801.
H. A. Lantz, Reading :
" Dispatch received. Will answer more fully as soon as possible.
S. B. THOMAS, Dcp. Sec'y."
This waa followed by another dispatch from tho Secretary of
the Commonwealth, omitted in the record of disjiatches at
Harrisburg, but found transcribed in the minute book of the
company. IIarrisburci, April 15, 1801.
Capt. Jasies McKnigiit :
" Bring your command to Harrisburg by first train. If any of the men need
equipments, they will be provided here by the General Government. Lose no
time. By order of the Governor. ELI SLIFER,"
This dispatch was received by Capt. McKnight, at 11.20
A. M., April 13. By first train after its receipt, the Ringgold
Light Artillery, 101 men, took passage, fully uniformed, armed
and equipped, for Harrisburg, and reached there at 8 o'clock
P. M. They at once reported for duty to the Secretary of State,
(the Governor being absent at Washington), who by telegram
reported the Ringgold Light Artillery at Harrisburg, awaiting
ordcns, to the Secretary of AVar at Washington. The Secretary
of AYar telegraphed in answer : " Push forward the com[)any
by first trains." This telegram conveying orders to march, was
transmitted by tho Secretary of Commonwealth to Cajttain

^IcKnight. Orders in obedience thereto were then issued to
the command, to take tho train for AVashington at 3 o'clock
A. M., Ajiril 17. If these orders had not been countermanded,
the Ringgold Light Artillery would undoubtedly have reached
AVashington safely in advance of all troops from Pennsylvania
and elsewhere, and before the Logan Guards and the comi^anics
from Pottsville reported at Harrisburg. At midnight, however,
the order to march was countermanded in the following counter-
order. IIarrisduro, April 10, 1801.
Captain James McKnight :
' You will please delay your marcii to Washington until ordered by the
Governor. Eespectfully yours, ELI SLIFER."
This written order of the Secretary of the Commonwealth,
addressed to Captain McKnight, dated April 16, 1861, so in-
disputablj- fixes the time of the arrival and the report for duty
at Harrisburg by the Ringgold Light Artillery, that any cumu
lative evidence is wholly superfluous. If any is needed it will
be found in the following extract, from the Pennsylvania Daily
'Telegraph, of Ajiril 17, 1861, an evening paper published at
Harri.sburg :
"Last night about eight o'clock the Ringgold Artillery, Captain James
McKnight, numbering 100 men, arrived. They took up quarters at Ilerr's
Hotel. They are a fine body of men and are fully prepared and determined
to do their whole duty in the present crisif". Our citizens welcomed them with
cheers." Now, permit me to interpret these proofs in the light thrown
upon them by the account of the events given in Bates' History
of Pennsylvania Volunteers. This writer says :
"On the afternoon of the day of tho President's I'rochimation for 75,000
men, tho Secretary of War telegraphed tho call to the Governor of Pcnnsyl-
nia, and it was telegraphed by tho Executive to all parts of Pennsylvania-
Among the first to respond was tlio Ringgold Artillery, Captain McKnight, of
Reading, tho Logan Guards, Captain Scllieimcr, of Lowistown, tho Washing
ton Artillery, Captain Wren, and the National Light Infantry, Captain
McDonald, of Pottsville, and the Allen Rifles, Captain Y'eager, of Allentown,"

The telegram from the Ringgold Light Artillery was sent on
tho morning of the day of the President's Proclamation, and the
reply of Dep. Sec. Thoma.s, indicates that it reached the Execu
tive Department at Harrisburg before the Secretary of AVar had
telegraphed the call to the Governor. Subsequently the dis
patch dated April 15, received on tho 16th, was sent by the
Secretary of tho Commonwealth, ordering the Ringgold Light
Artillery to Harrisburg, which resulted in bringing the com
mand there on the evening of that day.
" On reporting," continues the same writer, speaking of the Ringgold Light
Artillery, " at the Executive office, the Governor being absent in Washington,
orders were sought from the Secretary of War, wlio telegraphed to push com
pany forward in earliest trains. That order, for prudential reasons, was almost
immediately countermanded by the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
I have before shown, beyond the possibility of successful
contradiction, that all this occun'ed on the arrival of tho Ring
gold Artillery at Harrisburg on the evening of the 16th of
April, and I will now adduce equally conclusive proofs that the
IjOgan Guards did not reach Harrisburg till midday of the 17th
and the Pottsville companies till the evening of the 17th :
[From the Pennsylvania Daily Telegraph April 17, 1861.]
" More Military. — ^The Logan Guards of Lewistown arrived here this
morning. Several Allegheny companies are expected here to-night."
[From the Pennsylvania Dally Telegraph, April 18, 1861. J
We give below a list of the companies that arrived last night :
Washington Artillery, Pottsville, Captain Wren, 110 men.
National Liglit Infantry, Pottsville, Captain McDonald, 104 men.
Allen Infantry, Allentown, Captain Yeager, 64 men."
[From Bates' History of Pennsylvania Volunteers.]
" The Logan Guards were in line and ready to march at 10 P. M. of the
lOtli of April, and move to the station, but for lack of tran.sportation did not
reach llarrisburg till the morning of the 17th.
"The two Pottsville Companies under marching orders left Pottsville on the
17th, and arrived in Harrisburg at eight o'clock in the evening."
I submit that I have proved these facts incontrovertibly.
That the Ringgold Light Artillery of Reading, uniformed,
armed and equipped, first among the companies from Pennsyl-

9
vania, after and under tho President's call, tendered their
services, were accepted by the Governor, and reported for duty
at Harrisburg.
That tho Ringgold Light Artillery of Reading first reported
through tho Executive Deiiartment to the Secretary of AVar as
awaiting orders at Harrisburg, and received the first orders
from the Secretary of AVar conveyed to troops from Pennsyl
vania under the President's proclamation,
I come now to comment briefly upon the chiini for precedence
made by the two companies from Pottsville, on the ground that
they had offered their services to the government prior to the
l)romulgatiou of the President's proclamation. The National
Light Infantry alleges that the ofliccrs, by resolution of the
company, tendered their services on the 11th of April to the
Secretary of A\''ar, and were notified of their- acceptance on tho
13th of April, The AVashington vVrtillory allege they tendered
their .services on tlu; 13tli of April and wore accepted by tho
governinciit. No authority existed on the [lart of the Secretary of AVar by
any law or provision of the Constitution of the United States
to accept the offer of troops 'till the proclamation of President
Lincoln on the 15th of April, That the military authorities
recognized no right of iirecedence because of prior acceptance
by the Secretary of AV'^ar, was made manifest by the fact, that in
the order of jiarade on the 4th of July, 1866, at Philadelphia,
the post of honor, the right of the line, was given to tho Logan
Guards, to the exclusion of both companies from Pottsville, on
the ground that this company had reported first for duty at
Harrisburg. The tender of .services by the officers or by resolutions of a
company, and the acceptance of such .services, has little signifi
cance or importance. On the 16th of April, the day after the
proclamation, the Secretary of the Commonwealth published in
the Pcnmrylvania Daily Telegraph, at HarrLsburg, a list of troops
comprising one or two regiments, and about fifty companies.
whose services had been offered and accepted by the Governor
under the call of the President, Some of these troops failed to

10
report for duty, and in regard to others which entered into ser
vice no pretence of claim for priority of rank was set up over
others which had begun their march and reported for duty at
rendezvous, at earlier dates.
I may here remark that In the publishe<l list of companies
accepted by the Governor, which I have mentioned, the names
of the Ringgold Light Artillery from Reading and of the two
companies from Pottsville appear, and the name of the Logan
Guards is omitted for the reason, as appears distinctly from
telegrams on record at Harrisburg, that the company Avas not
full at the time.
This paper would be iiieonqilete, and fail to do justice to the
patriotic .spirit of the gallant Ringgold.s, If I neglected to place
upon record tlie history of the corps during the three months
preceding the call of the President, although M'hat I now add
has, in my judgment, no weight in the decision of this contro
versy. Major Jaiue-s AIcKnight assumed the command of the Ring
gold Light Artillery In August, 1850, and by his zeal and
ability, aided largely by the experience and services of Sergeant
George AV. Durell, who afterwards succeeded him in the captaincy,
had raised the company to a distinguished position among the mil
itary organizations of the State in the month of January, 1861.
The character of the corj)s was well known to General AVilliam
H, Keim, the Major General of the division, and it mu.st be
attributed to this fact that application was made by Governor
Curtin, tho Commander-in-chief, for their service.s, and to the
patriotism, diseij)llne and efficiency of the corps, that it was In
condition to place Itself and did place itself under orders to
march upon twenty-four hours' notice, on the 21st of January,
1861. The circumstances connected with these contingent marching
orders, and with the movements of the Ringgold Light Artillery,
from that date uj) to the time they reported for duty at Harris^
burg, are so honorable to all the parties, and of so much historic
interest and value, as I find them detailed and substantiated by
Major McKnight in his statement dated June 14, 1870, and

11

transmitted to AVashington, that I beg leave to append as a
part, and in conclusion of this paper, that portion of it which
covers these points, together with the certificate of citizens of
Reading, to M'hich lie refers.

Statement of Major Jambs JNIcKnioiit.
I commanded the " Ringgold Light Artillery" from the year
1850 until June 14th, 1861, when I was appointed to a
captaincy in the 5th U. S. Artillery.
On or about the twenty-first day of January, 1861, I was
visited by AVilliam H, Keira, then Surveyor General of the
State of Pennsylvania, and Major General of the 5th Division,
Pennsylvania Militia.
The General, first meeting me in a public place at my resi
dence, stated that he had a subject of much importance and
great secrecy in regard to which he desired to advise me, and
requesting at the same time that I Avould suggest some place to
which we could both retire, where the nature of the commu
nication, which he Avas about to make to me, would be unheard
by others. AVe then both withdrew to a private apartment.
The General then proceeded to state that the Government was
in posesslon of facts tending to develop an Intention on the part
of the rebels to seize AVashington on the 22nd of February, and
not, as was at first supposed, upon Mai'ch 4th, 1861. He came
to me (he further stated) by direction and under the orders of
Governor Andrew G. Curtin, Commander-in-chief of the Penn
sylvania Militia, who had commissioned him to select, from the
best volunteer organizatloiLS of the State, such companies as
could be relied upon. If the emergency should arise, and who
would be ready to move upon twenty-four hours' notice.
Upon my satisfying the General not only of tho willingness,
but also of the ability of my command to start whenever de
sired, he then and there directed me to consider myself and
my command as under orders.
The General about the same time imparted similar information
to other volunteer organizations of this county.

12
My orders, coming as they did from the Commander-in-
chief of the Pennsylvania troops, were so imperative in their
nature, and admitted of so little delay that I immediately set
about perfecting and equipping my command for active field
duty. The same day upon which my orders were received, the
company was divided Into squads, for the purpose of more effi
cient and effective drilling, which was continued uninterruptedly
(save on Saturdays and Sundays) up to the day before we
left for Harrisburg, Ajn-Il 16th, 1861. The drills were not
confined to the .service of the guns, and the duties Incident to
drivers and the care of horses ; the men "were also well in-
instructed in the use of the sabre — the only legitimate arm of
defbn.se of an artilleryman when dismounted anda>vay from his
guns. During the month of January, a number of the leading citi
zens having been apjn'iscd of the secret orders under which my
command -was placed, purchased for the use of the men one
hundred overcoats, Avhich were worn on the 22nd of February,
at a general parade of the company. Upon the 15th day of
April, 1861, M'hile at drill some three miles from the city, in
telligence was received of the Proclamation of the President of
the United States, calling for 75,000 men.
The Governor of the State was immediately telegraphed that
the "Ringgold Liglit Artillery" was ready to move without
any delay whatever, I then susjiendcd drill, returned to the
city, and after directing a certain signal to be sounded upon
receipt of orders, dismissed the command.
At 11,20 o'clock, A. M., April Ifitli, 1861,.tlie fiillowing
telegram M'ns reoeived by nu': HAitnisni-RO, April ICth, 1801,
To Capt. James McKnight:
Bring your command to Ilnirisburg by first train. If any of the men need
equipments and ar.ns, they will be provided licre by the General Government.
Lose no time. By order of the (lovcrnor, ELI SLIFER.
At noon of the same day, forty minutes after the receipt of
the order, the command declared itself ready to move at 1
o'clock P, M.

13
A committee having been appointed to make all arrange
ments for the transportation, reported that after conferring with
G. A. Nicolls, Gen. Supt. Philadelphia and Reading Railroad,
they were advised by him to take the regular passenger train
at 6 o'clock P. M,, as a special, being subject to unavoidable
delays, would in all probability not reach Harrisburg until
after the arrival of the regular train.
Acting upon this advice, I left Reading with my command,
numbering one hundred and one men, fully armed and equipped,
on the evening of April 16, 1861, at 6 o'clock, reaching Harris
burg at 8 o'clock.

Certificate of Citizens of Reading.
Reading, Pa,, May 21, 1870.
AVe the undersigned citizens of Reading, Penna., hereby
certify, that during the month of January, 1861, information
having been received by us that the Ringgold Light Artillery
was ready to move to AVashington, a meeting was held at
which we were present. That at said meeting a fund was
raised for the purpose of obtaining overcoats for the men of
said company.
We further certify that said overcoats were purchased and
distributed among tho.se belonging to the said command,
John IMcManus,
G. A, Nicolls,
David McKnight,
Edward AVallace,
Horatio Trexler,
H. H. Muhlenberg,
AVm. M. Hiester,
James Millholland,
C. H. Hunter.

RINGGOLD LIGHT ARTILLERY,
RECRUITED AT READING, MUSTERED INTO SERVICE AT HARRIS
BURG, APRIL 18, 1881.

Officers.
.Tames McKnight, Captain.
Ilcnry Naglo, First Lieutenant.
William GraefF, Second Lieutenant.
George W. Durell, First Sergeant.
Daniel Kreisher, Second Sergeant,
Henry Rush, Tliird Sergeant.
Jeremiah Seidcrs, Fourth Sergeant,
Levi J. Iloman, First Corporal.
F. W. Folkman, Second Corporal,
Jacob Womert, Third Corporal.
Horatio Leader, Fourth Corporal.
John A. Plook, Bugler,
Privates,
AbIi, Solomon D.,
Anthony, James M.
Ammon, Anthony.
Ansart, Charles B.
Bergor, Augustus.
Bickley, George S.
Burkhart, Reuben R,
Bouse, Harrison G.
. Bowers, William W,
Bechtel, David.
Bechtel, Aaron.
Bitting, Charles A.
Coleman, Henry.
Christ, AVilliam F,
Drenkel, Amos.
Dickinson, Daniel M.
Ebling, Edward G.
Ermentrout, Benjamin F,
Eisenbeis, Henry E,
Eckert, George B,
Pben, WiJIiaro Q,

Privates.
Evans, Samuel.
Eltz, Robert.
Fleck, Henry.
Frees, Adam.
Frees, John, Jr.
Fox, Harrison.
Frantz, Christian C,
Faust, Adam.
Fix, William W,
Fox, James A.
Gehry, Addison.
Gebhart, Charles W.
Geiger, Henry.
Gries, Lemuel.
Gcntzler, James II.
Hamilton, Samuel.
Herbst, William.
Iluyett, Amos.
Hill, Nathaniel B.
Helms, Andrew S,
Ilaberacker, William.
Ilcsslcr, Jacob J.
House], Franklin.
Kennedy, John L,
Knabb, George W,
Koch, John D.
Leeds, Jacob.
Lutz, Harrison.
Lantz, Peter A,
Lcvan, Daniel J.
Leaf, George D,
Levan, Aaron II.
Loeser, Christopher,
Lauman, George S,
Leeds, Isaac S,
Lev^p, Charles,

16

Maltzberger, Daniel.
Muhleuberg, Charles P,
M'Knight, Joseph H.
Miller, William M,
Mock, William P.
Mast, James L,
M'llvaine, Howard,
M'Lenegan, John H,
Neihart, Henry.
Pearson, Edward P., Jr.
Pfleger, James.
Peck, Frederick.
Phillippi, Frederick II.
Ritter, Ferdinand S.
Rush, ITeiiry.
Rapp, William, Jr.
Rarabo, Francis.
Rambo, Isaiah.

Rhoads, George B.
Sherman, Jackson.
Shaefler, Franklin,
Smith, Edward L,
Smeck, Franklin,
Silvis, George AV.
Scull, Edward.
Spangler, Charles.
Shearer, Jonathan.
Smith, AVilliam H.
Shirey, Albert H.
Sauerbicr, AVilliam,
Seyfert, Albert II.
AVitman, Daniel,
AVhitcside, Henry,
Yolin, Daniel S.
Yohn, John L.
'Yeager, Frederick M.

VAI.E

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