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Franklin Repository: 08 12, 1863 Go To Page : | | | |

Return of the 158th Regiment
(Column 1)

Summary: Explains that the 158th Pennsylvania has returned to be mustered out of service. Provides lists of the regiment's commissioned officers, dead, transferred, discharged, and deserted.

Full Text of Article:

The 158th regiment of Pennsylvania drafted men returned here to be mustered out of service on Thursday evening last, when the men were furloughed to go home until Monday. On that day they returned and were mustered out by Lieut. C. M'Kibben, U.S. army, and it was expected they would be paid to-day. As soon as paid they will be discharged.

This regiment is composed of most of the drafted men of this county--all but one company, we believe, which joined the 165th regiment--and all the drafted men from Cumberland and Fulton. It is conceded on all hands that in point of discipline, efficiency and behavior generally, it was unsurpassed by any regiment in the service. The men, as a class, were of our own best citizens, and they were most fortunate in their officers. Col. David B. M'Kibbin, of the regular army, was entrusted with the command, and while he enforced the most thorough discipline, he commanded the respect and affection of his men. Indeed it has rarely been the fortune of an officer to bring such a high degree of drill and order generally raw troops, and at the same time preserve the ardent attachment of his command. We would indeed that no worse officers than Col. M'Kibbin wore the stars of Brigadiers. He was ably seconded in all his efforts by Lieut. Col. Troxel, of this county, and Maj. Hale, of Cumberland, both efficient, untiring and brave officers.

The following is a list of the commissioned officers of the regiment.

Field and Staff.

Colonel--David B. McKibbin, reg. army.
Lieut. Colonel--Elias S. Troxel, Franklin.
Major--Martin G. Hale, Cumberland.
Surgeon--B.F. Wagonseller.
Asst. Surgeons--N.T. Leet, A.R. Nebinger.
Chaplain--Rev. Daniel Hartman.
Adjutant--R.C. Dubois.
Reg. Q. Master--R.E. Longsdorf.
Line Officers.
Co.A--H.A. Longsdorf, Captain. W.E. Karns, 1st Lieutenant. M.A. Leidig, 2d Lieutenant.
Co. B--E.K. Lehman, Captain. M.S. Miller, 1st Lieutenant. A. Franklin, 2nd Lieutenant.
Co. C--Charles Householder, Captain. Samuel Mohler, 1st Lieutenant.
Co. D--A.R. Rhea, Captain, Jacob Snively, 1st Lieutenant, John Hassler, 2nd Lieutenant.
Co. E--W. T. Barnitz, Captain. W.S. Maxwell, 1st Lieutenant. S.M. Hoeflich, 2nd Lieutenant.
Co. F--Samuel Diehl, Captain. P.G. McCoy, 1st Lieutenant. J.L. Ritchey, 2nd Lieutenant.
Co. G--Joseph Rock, Captain. Wm. Stover, 1st Lieutenant. J.A. Stover, 2nd Lieutenant.
Co. H--Thomas Sipes, Captain, J.T. Donnelly, 1st Lieutenant. J.R. Fisher, 2nd Lieutenant.
Co. I--W.E. McDowell, Captain. John Beaver, First Lieutenant. John Beaver, First Lieutenant. J.W. Jones, 2nd Lieutenant.
Co. K--J.W. Whelen, Captain. J.C. Abright, First Lieutenant. Leonard Eisenbower, 2nd Lieutenant.

Companies B, D, E, G and I are from Franklin county; companies A, C, F and K are from Cumberland, and company H from Fulton.

There were forty-four deaths in the regiment during the nine months service; viz--16 from Franklin; 14 from Cumberland, and 14 from Fulton. It is strange that the mortality in a single company from Fulton should equal the mortality in four companies from Cumberland, and nearly equal the mortality in the five Franklin companies; but it is nevertheless true. We subjoin a list of the dead with dates:

Jas. Cunningham, A, Cumb'd, Jan. 25, 1863.
Henry Oatman, A, Cumb'd, June 30, 1863.
David Burnhill, A, Cumb'd, June 27, 1863.
Jacob Bricker, A, Cumberland, July 7, 1863.
Abram Myers, A, Cumberland, Aug't 3, 1863.
Jonathan Creamer, B, Frank., Dec. 30, 1862.
Amos R. Kegrun, B, 2d Sergeant, Franklin, January 23, 1863.
Charles Bea, B, Franklin, June 15, 1863.
Ephraim Lindsay, B, Franklin, July 2, 1863.
Daniel Deckert, B, Franklin, July 18, 1863.
John S. Sells, C, Cumberland, May 8, 1863.
Wm. Wetzel, C, Cumberland, May 27, 1863.
Jos. A. M'Caskey, C, Cumb'd, July 11, 1863.
Wm. Peterman D, Franklin, Feb'y, 1 1863.
Pearson Berket, E, Franklin, Nov. 17, 1862.
Henry C. Bitner, E, Franklin, Feb'y 19, 1863.
Amos Snowberger, E, Frank., April 18, 1863.
Zac. Ford, F, Cumberland, Jan'y 24, 1863.
Hugh Campbell, F, Franklin, Jan'y 26, 1863.
Dan'l A. Zigler, F, Cumb'd, April 27, 1863.
Eli Ford, F, Cumberland, June 26, 1863.
Joseph Stine, F, Cumberland, June 27, 1863.
Samuel Mixel, F, Cumberland, July 6, 1863.
Jacob Lesher, G, Franklin, Nov. 7, 1862.
Sam'l Hollowbaugh, G, Frank., May 27, 1863.
John Hullinger, G, Franklin, July 11, 1863.
Wm. Hullinger, G, Franklin, Aug't 1, 1863.
Wm. B. Slusher, H. Fulton, Dec. 17, 1862.
Geo. P. Barnhart, H, Fulton, Jan. 19, 1863.
Amos Hockersmith, H, Fulton, May 7, 1863.
Isaac Winters, H, Fulton, May 10, 1863.
Robert Beaty, H, Fulton, May 2, 1863.
John Correll, H, Fulton, May 28, 1863.
Martin Morgret, H, Fulton, June 2, 1863.
Wm. Straight, H, Fulton, June 13, 1863.
Jacob R. Mellott, H, Fulton, June 27, 1863.
George Trott, H, Fulton, June 28, 1863.
George W. Dishong, H, Fulton.
Jacob Wink, H, Fulton, July 27, 1863
Jacob Shoeman, I, Franklin, Jan'y 20, 1863.
Samuel Glass, I, Franklin, July 11, 1863.
Charles L. Henry, I, Fulton, July 8, 1863.
Wm. P. Smith, K, Cumberland, June 15, 1863.
Lewis Peck, K, Fulton, July 31, 1863.

A number who went out with the 158th were of course discharged during the term of service because of disease and other disabilities, and quite a number deserted. Most of the desertions occurred, however, before the regiment moved from this place, and a large proportion of them were substitutes who doubtless entered the service for the purpose of getting the substitution money and then running off. We give a complete list of the discharges, transfers and desertions from the regiment from the date of its muster until its discharge.

Company A.

Discharged--George R. Duey, Henry B. Webbert, Martin Burget, Henry Beistline, James Divin, Lewis Filler, George Harlan, William Hunter, Hezekiah Morrett, John C. Swiler, Jacob Brindle, Levi Brindle, Joseph Strawbaugh, John Heckman.

Deserted--Peter A. Baker, John Cronk, Martin L. Eppley, Samuel Morrett, Peter Shetron, Samuel Bear, Daniel L. Smyers.

Company B.

Discharged--John W. Campbell, Cyrus Allison, Solomon C. Burkhart, Abraham Grove, John Irvin, Solomon Lightner, Edward McVitty, Jeremiah Piper, Noah Piper, Jacob Rhone, Solomon Rhone, William Scriby, Samuel Snively, William Stake, Eli Stake and Lewis Glass.

Transferred to Artillery--Jacob Frey.

Deserted--John W. Bender, Nicholas Brown, Stephen Collum, Levi Crider, Jacob Dechert, Jacob Fleagle, John Funk, Samuel Hull, Robert C. Harvey, William McCannon, John G. Ocker, Robert L. Patterson, James Patterson, Daniel Slaighter, Henry Suders, Aaron Treher and Henry Williams.

Company C.

Capt. W.K. Linn, resigned June 9th, 1863.

Discharged--Levi Bender, William F. Kuntz, Peter F. Mears, David S Miller, John N Mourer, Samuel Myers, Michael H Natcher, Cristopher Orris, Corporal John Z Paul, William Peck, Jeremiah Sells, John M Smith, Samuel A Tritt, Joseph Umberger, John Zeigler.

Deserted--Philip Baker, Wm Flowers, John Gruver, John Kuhns, John Shughert, Levi Yohst.

Company D.

Discharged--Daniel A. Miller, William Buckson, Jacob F. Baker, Samuel Bair, Jacob Brewbaker, Peter Byers, John Christ, David C. Deatrich, John Heagy, Bassel Izer, George Richason, Martin Ritter, William A. Shatzer, John C. Shoup, David Criswell, David Hoffer, Lewis Risner, David Talhelm.

Transferred--Samuel Serbert, John C. Whitmore, Washington Winters, John Phreaner.

Deserted--Thomas Donaldson, Frederick Baker, David P. Burkholder, John Barns, Levi Berger, Martin Closser, William Cutchall, John J. Stains, Joseph Stayly, Thos. Taylor, Levi Yous, David Gardner, Peter Mertts, William Quest.

Company E.

Discharged--Augustus Fisher, Joseph Freeland, Christian Henneberger, Henry McGinnity, David Martin, John Row, William K. Segrist, Reuben M. Sheets, Caspter Wickey and Lewis Haney.

Deserted--James Eigan, Arthur Bennet, Washington [illegible], Benjamin F. Bradley, Joseph Harper, William D. Hughes, George A. Isler, Charles Lagrand, James Parker, John Rensman, Samuel Snider, Martin West, Jacob Bigley and John Taylor.

Company F.

Discharged--James D Bay, Andrew Blistline, Isaac S Black, Frank Bolan, George W. Evilhock, William Ferree, Andrew Fickes, John Heagy, James Lawyer, Ross Meredith, William Middleton, William F Ocker, John L Searfoss, Samuel Yocum, Jacob Warner, George Weaver.

Deserted--Henry E Bigler, Sam'l Ferree.

Company G.

Resigned--Captain M.W. Trair.

Discharged--Sergt. William F. Orndorff, George Burkholder, William George, John Horn, Cyrus Peterson, William M'Donald, Levi Sailich, Jacob S. Smith, Jacob Wilt, Jeremiah Wilt.

Transferred--James Ranken, Josiah Mentzer.

Deserted--Benjamin Boulinger, Patrick Burns, Jeremiah Kauffman, Ephraim Moats, Daniel Misner, Jacob Mann, Henry Newman, Jacob Pass, Henry Row, Jacob Summers, Adam Stule, Melchor Speelman, Jas. P. Forbis, Jacob Wagaman.

Company H.

Transferred--Isaac Eichelberger, Joseph Eichelberger and George Younker.

Discharged--Andrew Daniels, Andrew J. Dunlap, Abraham Plasinger, Benjamin Stevens and Abel Brown.

Deserted--George Bishop, Morgan Burton, George Dishong, George Garland, Geo. Sipes, Bartimeus Smith, Jacob Smith, George S. Wilson, Joseph Conner, John Hare and Aquillan Hixon.

Company I.

Discharged--Corporal John H Campbell, Michael Bushey, Henry W Byers, William Byers, William Canaval, George Deck, Robert Divilbiss, Peter Finoff, Nicholas Finoff, Jacob Fox, James Giles, John Heckman.

Transferred--Corporal Samuel E Smith, Alfred A. Rodskey.

Deserted--John P Feltenberger, David Bowser, James Hastings, William Johns, Emanuel Keyser, Jonathan Myers, Washington McGowan, David Poe, Peter A J Snider, Henry Stumbaugh, Jno Stine, Wm. Swears.

Company K.

Discharged--Hugh Boyd, John G. Baker, Samuel Bowman, Zacharias Basore, John Fahnestock, William F. Hefflefinger, John Hefflefinger, Joseph Hefflefinger, Daniel Henry, Isaac Hershey, John Hollar, George Hurley, Samuel Henry, Adam Heberling, William Jumper, John M. Miller, Samuel Mitchell, Samuel D. McKinney, John A. Oiler, William Shope, John B. Shulenberger and James W. Watson.

Transferred--William A. Wammer.

Deserted--John R. Dishong, William Guise, John B. Litch, Samuel Lore, James Macasharan, Nathan Peck and John Rynard.

Union Meeting
(Column 4)

Summary: Describes a recent meeting of Union supporters, directed by the local Union league.

Full Text of Article:

A very large and enthusiastic meeting of the Union men was held in the diamond on Monday evening last, under the direction of the Union League of this place. Hon. Wm. D. Kelly, of Philadelphia, was the speaker of the occasion, and he vindicated the cause of the government in a truly masterly and eloquent manner. He is a bold, fluent and most impressive speaker, and is second to none in his ability to grapple great questions and elucidate them triumphantly. He showed clearly to whom must be charged the responsibility of this bloody fraternal war, and also demonstrated that the last lingering hope of the new desponding traitors is in rebel sympathisers in the North who decry negro enlistments, condemn drafts and defy the laws as far as their cowardly instincts permit them. His able speech was a most conclusive vindication of the war policy of the administration, and his appeal to Pennsylvania to maintain her fidelity to the cause of the Republic by the re-election of Gov. Curtin, was most earnest and convincing. The Union men of the "Green Spot" are grateful to Judge Kelly for his address, and bid him God speed in the good work. Resolutions were read by Isaac H. McCauley Esq., endorsing the administration of President Lincoln and the re-nomination of Governor Curtin.

Governor Curtin
(Column 1)

Summary: Celebrates the pro-Union record of Governor Andrew G. Curtin's administration, approves of his renomination, and urges his re-election.

Full Text of Article:

The nomination of Gov. Curtin, at Pittsburgh, by more than a two-thirds vote, in the face of the skill and appliances employed to compass the selection of a new and negative man, is a tribute to the Union candidate for Governor such as has rarely if ever been awarded to an Executive officer in Pennsylvania. Some four months ago, for reasons personal to himself, he formally withdrew from the contest, and we are well assured that none regretted more than himself the necessity, as unlooked for as it was imperative, that compelled him to become the Union standard-bearer, or disregard a high and holy duty to his country in an hour of deepest peril.

The administration of Gov. Curtin stands out in bold relief in the history of administrations, with none but itself its parallel. Called into power when the dark clouds of fraternal conflict overshadowed us, it had first to withstand the treachery of the faithless, who came in the name of Peace to betray the Republic; and then it had to grapple with appalling, bloody war--a war that aimed with parricidal hands at the vitals of the parent government--a war that has entombed in untimely graves, amidst a Nation's tears, full thirty thousand of Pennsylvania's noblest sons. It came, too, in the deep shadow of financial gloom, when the timid and perfidious alike sought transitory peace and prosperity over the ruins of our Free Institutions.

It has done its work. How well, let the fame of Pennsylvania from the Atlantic to the Mississippi; from the Peninsula to Vicksburg; from Roanoke to New Orleans and Port Hudson, inscribe its matchless fidelity to a bleeding country's cause. Scarcely a battle-field but is crimsoned with the blood of our heroic men; scarcely a record of noble deeds and daring sacrifice, but weaves old Pennsylvania in the chaplet of honor. How bravely her sons have fought; how nobly died; how her wounded have been ministered to and solaced by the often unseen but ever present official hand; how her martyrs have found graves in the homes of their kindred--all these stand as historic monuments of the ceaseless care, the patriotic devotion of Andrew G. Curtin to his country and to its defenders. His great State has, in the dignity of its patriotism, answered every call of the government, in peace and with proverbial promptness and in the darkest hour in the history of this bloody drama, when traitors swept in triumph over the patriot army and almost clutched the National Capitol in their murderous embrace, Pennsylvania alone was ready to rescue it, and her now famed Reserve Corps was the only unbroken, undaunted column that stood between treason and its crowning victory.

It was the brilliant, the faithful record of Gov. Curtin's administration that triumphed at Pittsburgh--when the light of day is about to dawn upon the Republic as the legitimate fruits of the unfaltering Executives of the loyal States, and when financial prosperity has taken the place of disaster and gloom, the popular heart pointed to there nomination of our present Executive with a distinctness and earnestness that no combination could defy. In obedience to the call of the loyal men of Pennsylvania he is again before the people for their suffrages. The responsible trust has been accepted, and unless Pennsylvanians shall turn upon themselves with suicidal hands, when the Old F[l]ag is about to wave again over a United Republic, he will be chosen by the largest popular majority ever cast in the State.

Loyal men! the battle cry is Forward for the Union! Forward for the Flag! Forward for Victory!

Gloom in Rebeldom
(Column 2)

Summary: Draws from pessimistic assessments of the Confederacy's prospects in southern newspapers to argue that the Confederacy is gripped by despondency, and that if the North remains united, the South will soon collapse.

Full Text of Article:

Never before in the history of the war have the traitors of the South so widely felt the utter hopelessness of their bad cause as now. From one end of the so-called Confederacy to the other, there comes up a universal wail of despondency, and the arch-fiend of the bloody drama pleads as if in the midnight despair to have himself sustained still a little longer in his career of crime. He has issued a long proclamation, in which he whines piteously to his lesser comrades in treason to rally to their shattered and despairing ranks, and complains that there is a want of alacrity in responding to the call for men. He grants an entire amnesty to all deserters who may return to the ranks in twenty days.

The Richmond papers are now discussing the probable fall of Charleston. They seem to have recognized the hand-writing on the wall, and most reluctantly are preparing to give up the hot-bed of treason. The Enquirer thinks that the loss of Charleston "will be a fatal blow to the Confederacy." So Jeff. Davis said of Vicksburg some months ago, and considering that several other equally fatal blows have been dealt at Helena, at Port Hudson, at Gettysburg, at Tullahoma, &c., how many lives has the bogus Confederacy? The truth is it has received its death blow and wants but a little laying out and a first-class funeral, and the rebellion will be a matter of history. The Enquirer has a significant article on "our domestic traitors"--the men Vallandigham didn't see when in the South--and complains that men boldly demand peace and propose submission. It says that what the South wants is the firm resolution to perish rather than submit upon any terms whatever." The Savannah News is alarmed about Georgia, and insists that unless the people respond with more heart to the call of the Confederacy, Georgia will soon be under Federal rule. The Augusta Constitutionalist thinks that the rebel armies "may be forced to fall back and that invasion will extend itself" and recommends the destruction of all provisions which cannot be removed. The Montgomery Advertiser complains that the Southern people have lost their spirit, and asserts that their companies for home defence, although full on the rolls, do not muster a squad of men. Pemberton's army, paroled by Grant, has pretty much deserted, and the rebel papers are denouncing Pemberton relentlessly because he opened the way for their desertion. The Mobile News says that "Pemberton's army is dispersed and the Texas and Alabama troops have crossed, and the Mississippi river is lost beyond recall." A Memphis dispatch says that all the late rebel papers "denounce the spirit of the people for crying for peace and a return to the Union." The Mobile News says that the people of East Tennessee "have nothing to eat and their sufferings in all other respects are equally severe." Gen. Lee publishes an appeal to his deserters to return and be forgiven, and one of the Southern papers exhorts the ladies to discountenance every man who is not in the army.

The Richmond Examiner seems to regard the destruction of the rebel armies as probable, and is putting the best possible face on that last extremity. It says that if their "great armies are destroyed" they will carry on guerrilla warfare on land and on sea. The Enquirer still cries for the blood of Sawyer and Flynn, and denounces Davis as cowardly for not promptly executing them. The Dispatch says that "the capture of Morgan's men is a distressing blow to the Confederacy," and denounces the raid as "rash and fool-hardy." Indeed on all hands, the tone of the rebel papers, and of rebel officers in their proclamations and orders, is that of utter despair, and, however unwillingly they virtually confess that the vital power of the rebellion is broken. Let Union men North stand shoulder to shoulder, and soon we shall again bless the Union of our fathers, re-united and strengthened in the bonds of Unity and Peace.