Newspaper Article on the 33rd Reunion of the Roundheads held in 1898, New Castle News?, August 18, 1898 (Transcribed by Tami McConahy)
ROUNDHEADS REUNITE.
Interesting Exercises at Cascade Park Wednesday.
An Impressive Prayer by the Venerable Chaplain - Officers for the Year .
The thirty-third reunion of the One Hundredth regiment, P. V. I., held at Cascade park Wednesday, is now a thing of the past, but its pleasant memories will be engraved in the hearts of its members while time lasts.
Although the weather in the morning was anything but propitious, over 140 gallant members of the Roundhead regiment, as it was familiarly called, were in attendance. Nearly every morning train brought in the boys in blue, and the street cars were busy until well along in the afternoon, taking the crowds to the park. At 1:30 p.m. a business meeting of the regiment was called to order under the trees near the falls, by President J. S. DuShane. The venerable chaplain of the regiment, Rev. Dr. Robert Audley Browne offered the invocation in which he earnestly thanked God for this special privilege, and asked His blessing on the surviving members and on our beloved land and for the recent victorious termination of the war with Spain and the proclamation of peace.
He then made a very touching address during which he tendered all soldiers a hearty welcome to the city and recounted many of the valiant deeds of the heroes of this regiment in the civil war, and referred to the battle of life and its happy termination by conquering sin and living a christian life. The silent tears that coursed down many cheeks that never blanched the battle, showed how well his words were appreciated.
The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, Jacob Pflug of New Castle; vice presidents, Philip Crowl of Beaver, Gen. W. A. Clark of New Wilmington, and E. E. Aiken; secretary, J. C. Stevenson; assistant secretary, H. M. Dunlap; treasurer, Ira Cunningham; chaplain, Rev. Dr. Robert A. Browne. It was decided to hold the next reunion at Cascade park. The afternoon was given over to the pleasures of the park and to shaking hands with each other and talking of the memorable events of the civil war.
The secretary reported the following deaths since the last reunion:
Robert B. Elliott, Co. A
John Scott, Co. D, Jan., ‘98
James T. Lyon, Co. D.
John S. Barker, Co. A.
William Graham, Co. G.
Isaac Pyle, Co. H., Jan. 26, ‘98
William Bay, Co. H., Jan. 26, ‘98
Levi Durban, Co. K., Aug. 29, ‘97
John Clements, Co. C., Aug. 29, ‘97
James Thompson, Co. K., Jan. 9, ‘98
Robt. A. Gilfillan, Co. K., Aug. 6, ‘98
Thomas Jones, Co. I.
William W. Irwin, Co. M.
The following resolution was then passed by a standing vote, and these names added to the “Roll of Honor.”
Resolution: “To these comrades we do not today extend the cordial grasp of hands but tender to their memory the tribute of reverence due the dead. We bear testimony to their faithful patriotic devotion and persistence in the face of peril and endurance of hardships for their country. The offering of their lives to the country was not accepted on the battlefield or among those who died in hospitals during the great struggle. They were permitted to see years of prosperity and glory to the country they helped to reunite and save. Living, they served together shoulder to shoulder with us in widely divided fields. They died, and they sleep in wide apart positions of the country, but they helped to make it their common country, one and indivisible.
Letters of regret were received by the secretary from members of the regiment from all parts of the country.
When, in 1861, the Roundheads entered on their memorable career in the field, it was headed by Colonel Daniel Leasure. His subordinates were Lieutenant Colonel Armstrong, Major David Leckey, Adjutant William H. Powers, Quartermaster Alvah Leslie and Commissary James Henderson. When it returned in 1865 it was officered by Colonel Norman Maxwell, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Wilson, Major Bard, Adjutant Dugan, Quartermaster Holmes and Commissary Isaac Cline. Of those officering the regiment upon its return, not one had gone into the service holding a higher office than that of sergeant.
Of the eleven companies of the regiment, Company A was recruited in Washington, Pa., Company B in New Wilmington, Company C in Wurtemburg, Company D in Darlington, Company E in Harlansburg, Company F at East Brook and Princeton, Company G at Millbrook, Mercer county, Companies H and I in New Castle, Company K in Pollock township (now the Third, Fourth and Fifth wards), and Company M at Monongahela City.
Company H, on leaving the city, was officered by Captain Adam Moore, who died during the war, and by First Lieutenant Ross, now residing in Tennessee. The company not having men enough, had no second lieutenant. Company I was first officered by Captain Hillary Squires, now living in California, First Lieutenant John P. Blair, an ex-judge of Indiana county, and Second Lieutenant John Pomeroy, who entered the regular army later and was killed at Gettysburg.
Company K was led by Captain J. S. Van Gorder, who was killed at the second battle of Bull Run, First Lieutenant J. H. Gilliland, now a resident of New Castle, and Second Lieutenant S. G. Leasure, who was one of the 22 members of the regiment killed at the mine explosion in front of Petersburg, when “somebody blundered,” and many a boy in blue suffered because of it.
When Company K returned its captain was the late Captain Rhodes, its first lieutenant was J. H. Stevenson, now a prominent attorney in Pittsburg, and its second lieutenant was S. M. Dickson, now of New Castle. Company H, on returning, had Isaac Pyle, now dead, as captain, and Hillary Bay as first lieutenant. Company I lost its identity in 1863, its men being divided between Companies H, K and G.
During the war the regiment participated in the battles of Legare’s Point, James Island, Manassas, Chantilly, South Mountain, Antietam, Jackson, Blue Springs, Campbell Station, the siege of Knoxville, the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Ann, Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor, siege of Petersburg, the Petersburg mine explosion affair, Weldon Railroad, Poplar Grove church, Hatcher’s Run and Fort Steadman.
The regiment lost men as follows: Killed or died of wounds, 248; died of disease, 166; wounded, 587. This was out of a total enrollment of 2,014, showing a heavier mortality than any other regiment in the service from Pennsylvania.
Company H lost 14 killed in battle, 11 of whom died of disease and had 44 men wounded. Company I lost 10 in battle and 7 from disease, and had 29 wounded. Company K lost 27 in battle, lost 13 from disease, and had 54 wounded. The total enrollment of Company H was 181, of Company I 82, and of Company K 186.
The regiment’s heaviest loss in any one battle was at Manassas, when 64 men were killed or fatally wounded. At Spottsylvania 42 were lost. Three men of the regiment were killed on the picket line. Sixteen commissioned officers were killed in battle.
Of the first 900 enlisting in 1861 nearly 300 fell in battle, or died in camp, hospital, or prison of the enemy. The regiment is notable, not only on account of its great services and heavy losses, but on account of the long journies it took, and because of the widely separated nature of its battles.
Author's Note: The article below appears to be a companion article to the above article but is dated November 10, 1898, Newspaper Unknown
LETTERS OF REGRET.
Members of the Roundheads who Were Present in Spirit
The following are letters of regret sent by members of the Roundhead regiment who were unable to attend the recent reunion of the regiment at Cascade park:
Denver, Col., Aug. 10
J. Smith DuShane, president of the Roundhead society, New Castle, Pa.
My Dear Comrades - Thirty-seven years ago this month the organization of the Roundhead regiment was completed in this city by a special order from the war department and the name “Roundheads” was conferred by that grand old General Winfield Scott. We were, and now are, a distinctive organization from the fact that we had no predecessor, therefore can have no successor. It depends on us and every comrade should feel it his duty to keep the organization in existence as long as fragment remains. It is with feelings of regret that I cannot meet with you at this annual reunion and once more shake hands with the old boys of camp and march. But, boys, bear in mind, that I am with heart and soul in all of your proceedings, and am willing to do all in my power to perpetuate the history of the Roundheads from 1861 to 1865. Since my last meeting with you at Rock Point I have again located in the west, but while I am isolated from the comrades most near and dear to me, I can never forget you. I frequently meet comrades who will “What regiment did you belong to?” I answer the One Hundredth Pennsylvania, and often they will say: “Oh yes, that was the famous ‘Roundheads’ of General Leasure’s command.” Boys, this shows we made a record that still lives in the minds of the old comrades. Now, boys, I do not wish to tire you with a long letter, but I wish to say that during the past few years I have been collecting all the history of the Roundheads that I could, and in this work I have received the most valuable assistance from Comrade Stevenson, for which I wish to thank him, and further, we all owe our comrade a debt of gratitude for his untiring work in our behalf that we can never repay. After collecting what data I could, I compiled an article of 10,000 words, which I call “Battle Days of the Roundheads.” This article is in the hands of the National Tribune and will soon be published. As a matter of fact, many of you may be ready to criticize my feeble effort in this article when you read it but bear in mind that we do not all see things from the same standpoint, and if we did, we might use different words explaining it. I find that there are three Roundheads here ________(unreadable). One is located in or near _____ Colorado and is a member of _____Denver, Colorado. The other is William M. Watson, Company H. His address is 2619 Gilpin street, Denver, Col. The third is the writer of this letter. I hope this will find you all in the best of health, and ready to shout for the Roundheads. The Grand Army of the Republic, and loyalty to Old Glory. I remain yours fraternally.
John R. Holibaugh
Late of Co. B, 100th Pa. Vol.
J. C. Stevenson, Secretary, 100th Penn’a. Vet. Vol. Association, New Castle, Pa.
Dear Sir and Comrade: - Again as the year goes by, I am in receipt of the usual invitation to attend the reunion of the survivors of the old regiment, and again I am compelled to express the regret I fell, that I cannot be present, by reason of duties here. The office force is small at best and at this season of the year a number are absent on vacation.
I want to impress upon you and the comrades assembled that the absentees from these reunions (when kept away by circumstances over which they have no control) feel keenly and sincerely the pleasure they are denied, in mingling with those whom, as boys, were created friendship, the sincerity of which can never be questioned and the endurance of which will be for aye. Time cannot dim their fervor; separation will not affect them, and, although age creeps on apace and gray heads, wrinkled faces and dimmed eyes, the hearts are forever the same and beat as warmly as of yore. You will understand then how I feel when I write the word “regret.”
This year’s reunion will be fraught with more than ordinary interest to you, by reason of the war now pending, recalling reason of the war now pending, recalling as it will, the stirring days when the Roundheads helped to make history; reviving incidents of camp lie, marches and battles, over which you fondly delight to linger. To some of you, these days will bring the same feelings which animated the breasts of your fathers and mothers; for your sons are now at the front, exposed to bullets and to the dangers of a tropical clime. Happily the end appears to be near and the dawn of peace seems nigh, so that we can rejoice with you and cherish the hope that your dear ones will soon be safely “home again.”
This experience so unlooked for (how many of us expected to see another war in our lifetime?) has brought home to us as we never dreamed, the agony, suffering and grief, endured by those whom we left behind in 1861, - of the sad, weary years of waiting and longing for our return.
It brings another thought: that the sons of their fathers are brave and loyal to the flag; that their patriotism is unbounded; that the seed was sown by the fathers has borne fruit; that the American soldier, be he from the North or South, East of West, stands true; that they are invincible and among them are the sons of the Roundheads who, as their fathers before wear the “red badge of courage.”
Please convey to the comrades my heartiest wishes for their future health and happiness and that I hope to meet them, if spared, at the next reunion.
Very Truly Yours,
John W. Morrison.
Pittsburg, Pa., Aug. 11, 1898
Colonel J. Smith DuShane, president Association of the Roundheads, New Castle, Pa.
My Dear Sir and Comrade - Some days ago I received a circular from your secretary inviting me to the meeting of the Roundheads at Cascade Park, August 17th, 1898. This invitation was renewed and emphasized by you verbally on last Monday evening. I am compelled now to say that in consequence of the work I now have on hand in preparing for our national encampment, which meets on the 14th day of September next, it will be impossible for me to give the time required to attend your meeting. A meeting of the Roundheads on the 17th means the loss of the 16th in getting ready, and the loss of the 18th in sobering up and getting home, but please don’t let latter statement be known to Dr. Browne. I tender my cordial congratulations to all the Roundheads assembled in your beautiful park on the 17th instant, and yes, to all the absent comrades of that historic organization. I also thank you for the beautiful and appropriate invitation leaflets sent out by your commission. They are inspiring and comforting to any one who once wore the blue, and I shall keep them amongst my mementos of reunions and old soldier meetings. But how much you will miss the presence of your comrade and my friend, the Rev. Mr. Gilfillin, so full of life, energy and interesting information, and happy as a schoolboy just out of school at your last reunion and now he lies silent in death. There will no doubt be many others, equally dear to our ---tor of the old church in which I was born, baptised and raised, where my people for many generations slept the sleep that knows no waking. Comrade Gilfillian was very near and dear to me. I have the honor to be faithfully and fraternally yours.
Archibald Blakeley.
Omaha, Neb., Aug. 13, 1898
Hon. J. C. Stevenson, secretary 100th P. V. V., New Castle, Pa.
Dear Friend and Comrade - Yours of recent date notifying me of, and inviting me to attend the 33d annual reunion of the Roundheads at New Castle, has been received, and while it is not in my power to be with you in the flesh, as were are a thousand miles apart, yet no earthly distance can or has for the past 20 years prevented me from being with you in heart and spirit. Your note of invitation to me awakens in my mind recollections of 30 and 36 years ago when as boys of 18 and 20, we left our homes in forests, cities and villages and bounded together 1,200 strong in the grand old Roundhead regiment, which for courage and endurance was never excelled and seldom equaled, and marched forth for four long years, doing valiant battle for that grand old star spangled banner, the emblem of freedom, human liberty and equal rights, for which our fathers fought, bled and died. As our awakened memories unfold, we fight over again our old battles. Aye, and we often camp on the old camp ground. We turn out sometimes for company roll call, very few will answer present. We visit the grave yards and cemeteries of the different states and call, and the answer for many is here, while we will have to visit the battle fields and line of march through the south to get an answer for the rest. But while a great majority of our comrades are dead, the great principle for which we fought and died is grandly marching on. We who are still living have reason to be proud to know that we belong to one of the grandest regiments in the grandest army fighting for the grandest and noblest principles in the history of the world, and that we continued to march with that army through the hot and burning sun and sands of North and South Carolina over the mountains and through the valleys of Kentucky and Tennessee, through the fever-laden swamps of Mississippi and the wilderness of Virginia, through heat and cold, wet and dry, and often night and day, pushing the enemy back until the fall of Richmond and the surrender of Lee, again causing the American flag to wave from every fort, from every public building, and thank God, from every schoolhouse in this reunited country, and now our sons are waving it over the islands of the sea where its dazzling grandeur impels the cheers of even a barbarous people. And no nation on the face of the earth dares to take it down. When our army life was ended we returned to our homes, and by teaching patriotism in our regimental reunions and Grand Army of the Republic, to the rising generations, today from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, 60,000,000 of patriotic hearts cheer and echo the sentiment expressed in this motto: “Our fathers gave us this country. Our mothers covered it with homes, and we will protect them.” Comrades of the 100th, it is now 20 years since I have had the pleasure of meeting with you. How I would like to be able to meet with you on next Wednesday, the 17, but circumstances are such that I cannot. However, if the National encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic should be located at Pittsburg for next year and I shall be so fortunate as to be living. I hope to meet you at that time, and that we may all live to have many such meetings in friendship, charity and loyalty, I remain your comrade,
Elias Gilmore
4109 North 28th avenue
Omaha, Neb.
My Dear Comrade Stevenson: - It would give me more pleasure than I can express to be able to be with my dear old comrades at our 33rd annual reunion next week, but such is impossible for me, but I can assure you that on that day my heart will be with you all and my prayer is that it may be a day of rejoicing long to be remembered by all that are so fortunate as to be present. I know you all will have a grand time and now that “the boys” have won another victory greater will be your rejoicing may the Providence that has been with us in the past be with you all until the last “call” is
W.R. McCormick.
My kindest regards to our dear old Chaplain Browne and all the boys.
“God bless them all.”
Names of members of regiment who attended the 33d annual reunion:
FIELD AND STAFF
Col. N. J. Maxwell, Grove City.
Lt. Col. David A. Leckey, West __ton.
Maj. James H. Cline, Princeton.
Chaplain R. A. Browne, New Castle
Sergt. Maj. Jno. C. Moore, Portersville.
Q. M. Sergt. R. B. McClain, West Middlesex.
BAND
D. M. Cubbison, New Castle.
D. I. Campbell, New Castle.
J. N. Emery, New Castle.
S. C. Nicklin, New Castle.
John D. Wood, New Castle.
COMPANY A
Ed. Bausman, Pittsburg.
Wm. Claffey, Washington.
Wm. A. Gabby, Washington.
George O. Jones, Washington.
Julius P. Miller, Washington.
John W. Kerr, Petersburg, O.
William H. Underwood, Washington.
COMPANY B
John H. Armstrong, New Castle.
Jacob P. Arbaugh, West Middlesex.
Alex. Boyd, New Wilmington.
James P. Byers, Pulaski.
James W. Buchanan, Worth.
William A. Clark, Neshannock Falls.
Alex Donaldson, Mercer.
George B. Forsythe, Beech Tree.
Samuel H. Harris, Pulaski.
James Hunter, Youngstonw, O.
William C. Martin, Volant
James Marquis, Worth.
William A. Munnell, Leesburg.
Thomas M. Neal, Fay.
George L. Preston, Townville.
James S. Palmer, Coatsville, O.
Alex M. Phillips, New Wilmington.
James Pomeroy, New Wilmington.
Reuben Rice, New Castle.
John H. Robinson, Sharon.
William Stafford, Poland, O.
William H. Swagger, West Middlesex.
Henry C. Smith, New Castle.
Noah A. Sewell, New Wilmington.
William E. Van Orsdel, Sharon.
COMPANY C
W. P. Aubenny, Mercer.
Erskine E. Aiken, Portersville.
Frederick Bauder, Portersville.
Joseph A. Craig, Grove City.
Henry Dillman, West Liberty.
John R. Evans, Hazel Dell.
Robert M. Eckles, New Castle.
Hiram M. Gill, Slipperyrock.
John Glenn, Millbrook.
Loyal C. Greaves, Alleheny City.
Henry S. Guy, Wampum.
Hugh Morrison, Pittsburg.
John C. Marshall, Portersville.
Thomas N. Miles, Plain Grove.
William Rutter, Butler.
William Smiley, Ellwood City.
John P. Wilson, Hazel Dell.
Ernest Weyman, Zelionople.
James W. White, Pleasant Hill.
COMPANY D
R. M. Bradshaw, Beaver.
Adam L. Cearfoss, Edenburg.
Thomas A. Cook, Beaver Falls.
R. J. Douthitt, Caylors.
John C. Hart, New Brighton.
Wm. H. Huffman, Beaver Falls.
David Kennard, New Castle.
Wm. F. Lyon, Rochester.
James T. Lyon, Smiths Ferry.
S. S. McClure, Enon Valley.
Alvin M. Reed, Greenville.
R. J. Shurlock, Wampum.
Torance F. Young, Foxburg.
COMPANY E
David P. Book, North Hope.
Harlin Book, Euclid.
James J. Book, Hazel Dell.
Thomas H. Burnley, Grove City.
John P. Breast, Mahoningtown.
Thomas Burton, Youngstown, O.
Jno. W. Cover, New Castle.
Hugh Dillingen, North Liberty.
Wm. Ewing, Harlansburg.
Martin Ewing, Harlansburg.
John Graham, Volant.
John G. Glenn, Portersville.
Wm. H. Gealey, Plaingrove.
John W. Harvey, Edenburg.
George Hinds, Bush Creek.
George W. Heckathorn, Irish Ripple.
J. M. Hennon, East Moravia.
B. F. Junkin, Grove City.
Wm. A. Kerr, Harlansburg.
Alex R. Kerr, New Castle.
George Maxwell, Slipperyrock.
Ed R. Miles, Wampum.
Wm. H. H. Miles, Plaingrove.
James A. McConnell, New Castle.
Ephraim McCommon, Balm.
John L. Pounds, Grant City.
John B. Rodgers, New Castle.
James C. Stevenson, New Castle.
D. H. Stevenson, New Castle.
James C. Weekly, Grove City.
Henry Wimer, Harlansburg.
COMPANY F
William M. Allison, Princeton.
David Barnett, New Castle.
William G. Black, New Castle.
James M. Boyles, New Castle.
George Close, New Castle.
Philip Crowl, Beaver.
Thos. H. Chambers, East Brook.
Jos. B. Chambers, East Brook
Albert J. Dicks, East Brook.
Lewis A. Fisher, New Castle.
David Fox, Rose Point.
John L. Graham, New Castle.
John B. Hezlep, New Castle.
Theo. Humphries, Imperial.
John Knox, New Castle.
Wm. E. Lockhart, New Castle.
John J. Munnell, Princeton.
George Morrow, Branchton.
Hezekiah McCreary, East Brook.
M. L. McCormick, Grant City.
Nathaniel McConahy, Wurtemburg.
C. M. McNickle, East Brook.
S. C. McCreary, New Castle.
M. K. McDowell, Neshannock.
Joseph Patterson, New Castle.
Howard Rea, New Castle.
Samuel C. Stickle, Princeton.
Samuel Stunkard, East Brook.
James W. Smart, Youngstown O.
Stewart Thompson, New Castle.
James M. Vance, New Castle.
Wm. Wigle, Ellwood City.
COMPANY G
Thomas Bestwick, Mercer.
Charles Clawson, Mercer.
Jacob M. Ball, Henderson.
Wm. Eastlick, Mercer.
A. J. Jacobs, Millbrook.
George Kelso, Mercer.
Wm. J. Morrison, Slipperyrock.
Rob’t. W. McCurdy, New Castle.
I.P.C. McWilliams, Youngstown, O.
M.C. Osborn, Henderson
James Wheeler, Henderson.
COMPANY H
L.E. Armstrong, Grove City.
Arch. Barnes, Sandy Lake.
Hillery Bay, New Castle.
H. I. Cunningham, Wampum.
Wm. A. Chapman, New Castle.
George W. Campbell, New Castle.
Thomas Chapins, New Wilmington.
Calvin Gault, Worth.
Ewing M. Hosack, Pardoe.
Andrew Highberger, Pardoe.
T. W. Haus, Pittsburg.
Anderson Jones, New Castle.
Jesse Lightner, West Middlesex.
George Lutz, New Castle.
James Marshall, New Castle.
Alex. B. McCay, Grove City.
George W. McGary, New Castle.
Jacob W. Pflug, New Castle.
Daniel F. Ray, New Castle.
Hezekiah Sankey, New Castle.