MILITARY: Sheridan Troop, Altoona Tribune, January 16, 1916 Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Ruth Curfman USGENWEB ARCHIVES (tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ ___________________________________________________________ The Altoona Tribune Altoona, Pennsylvania Saturday Morning 15 Jan 1916 - Sixtieth Anniversary Issue The Sheridan Troop By H. S. Fleck People Proud of Soldier Boys Record of the Troopers Reviewed by Lieutenant Fleck, Who Was Commander at Home Coming in 1898 In the summertime of 1871, after all the echoes of Civil strife had died away and had been lost in the reconstruction of statehood, patriotic men of Tyrone organized and equipped the Sheridan Troop. The most interested individual in effecting this organization was Major C. S. W. Jones, who had an enviable record in the Civil War, enlisting at the early age of 19 and returning at the close of the war with the rank of captain. Captain Jones served as commander of Sheridan Troop from the date of its organization in 1871 until his death in 1905, a continuous service of thirty-four years excepting the period of the Spanish-American war in 1898, during which time he held a commission as major of the Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry. The Sheridan Troop passed through all the vicissitudes common to organizations of like character, until the year 1897 found it enjoying the unique distinction of having the highest percentage in military rating among the one hundred and odd organizations in the National Guard of Pennsylvania. Of the difficulties encountered in the early history of the Troop, no one has such definite knowledge as the officers then in charge. It was all glory, expense and sacrifice of time. The equipment was incomplete, men in part furnished their own uniforms, and the Troop bought its own horse equipments. Then there came a time when the summer camp was organized and the men were paid for one day of the five that they were required to spend in the tour of camp duty; their came five days' pay; finally eight days' pay was given for eight days' camp, not including the time in transportation. Horses of irregular build from the bucking broncho to the clumsy Clydesdale, were commonly used in former days, but years of patient work improved the mounts of the men till the maximum was reached in the beautiful horses with which the Troop was obliged to part on entering the Spanish war in 1898. The government purchased all of the geldings and they were kept by the Troop for cavalry purposes, but all of the mares were taken from the picket line and sold as mounts for the officers of infantry organizations. A complete review of the workings of the Troop is impossible at this time. Born in 1871, it went to school at the prescribed age of six years and learned its first lesson in active service in the railroad strike of 1877. It attained its majority at the Homestead riot in 1892. Then followed active service at Walston in 1894, Porto Rico in 1898, and Shenandoah in 1902. Wherever it has been called it has performed its duties with the same faithfulness and modesty that characterized its first commander. The duties of the Troop have been many and varied. With the pomp of parade, the clatter of arms and the blast of bugles, it has helped to swell the din and pageantry at the inauguration of four presidents of the United States- and it has marched in the sad procession, headed by a horse with the empty saddle, at the funeral ceremonies of three ex-governors of Pennsylvania. It has answered the governor's call for troops on five different occasions, rendering many weeks of service each time, and it has to its credit in the United States army a tour of duty extending over seven months. It has marched in the biting blast of winter, as well as in the humid heat of a tropical summer. On two different occasions an overland march consumed five days, during which the tents were pitched each evening and struck the following morning. Its marches of one and two whole days can be numbered by dozens. The Troop in Service The Sheridan Troop has been on duty in several of the leading cities of the Union. It has participated in ceremonies pertaining to centennials, semi- centennials, and bi- centennials. It has seen service under generals who were once Confederates; and dignitaries from the president and the lieutenant- general of the armies of the United States to titled officials of less degree, have moved with this organization as an escort. Summons to the labor riot at Homestead on the morning of July 11, 1892, found the Troop in three different counties of the commonwealth, and many of its in the harvest field. The sickle was exchanged for the sabre, the reaper seat for the saddle, and that night at 10'oclock a special train was bearing Tyrone's soldier boys across the Alleghenies to the scene of disturbance. Homestead was reached even before the general of Pennsylvania's National Guard had arrived, and the Troop commander reported for duty to the sheriff of Allegheny county. In the mobilization of the National Guard of Pennsylvania at Mt. Gretna, prior to the Spanish American war of 1898, the Sheridan Troop was the second military organization on the ground although moving a distance exceeding that of many other organizations. In the riot service of 1902 the Troop started to the hard coal region of the same day that orders to mobilize were received from Harrisburg. The organization has always prided itself in answering the call to arms with remarkable promptitude. The fall of 1879 witnessed the first regular camp of the Sheridan Troop; this was held at Braddock. Then follow the other camps as follows: Braddock, 1880; Saltsburg, 1881; Lewistown, 1882; Conneaut Lake, 1883; Gettysburg, 1884; Conneaut Lake, 1885; Roaring Spring, 1886; Mt. Gretna, 1887; Conneaut Lake, 1888; Mt. Gretna, 1889; Mt. Gretna, 1890; New Kensington, 1891; Homestead, 1892; Lakemont, 1893; Gettysburg, 1894; Glencairne, 1895; Lewistown, 1896; Conneaut Lake, 1897; Spanish War, 1898; No camp held in 1899; Mt. Gretna, 1900; Somerset, 1901; Gettysburg, 1902; Somerset, 1903; Gettysburg, 1904; Erie, 1905; Gettysburg, 1906; Tipton, 1907; Gettysburg, 1908; Somerset, 1909; Gettysburg, 1910; Indiana, 1911; Mt. Gretna, 1912; Selinsgrove, 1913; Selinsgrove, 1914; Mt. Gretna, 1915. In the Spanish American War Early in the year 1898 when Spanish cruelties had become intolerable in the island of Cuba, when the battleship Maine found its watery grave in Havana harbor, and when congress passed resolutions in favor of Cuban independence, war with Spain was inevitable. The sons of Lee's veterans vied with the sons of Grant's brave warriors in answering the call to the colors to maintain national honor. Then it was that Pennsylvania's National Guard was mobilized at Mt. Gretna and the Sheridan Troop of Tyrone was the first organization to bivouac her citizen soldiery in that great camp, Battery A of Phoenixville, alone excepted. The boys of the Troop with creditable state pride and national patriotism, sunk their future ambitions, aspirations to wealth and the ties of home endearment and at their country's call engaged to fight her battles. The N. G. P. was ordered to Mt. Gretna on April 27, 1898, and that same night the Troop, with all the demonstration that a town of 8,000 souls could make, left Tyrone, and before the morning of the 28th bivouacked amid the snows of the mobilizing camp. To this point came all the troops of the Keystone state and the task of complete equipment began. The experiences cannot be related in this short history. Early in May a sufficient number of recruits were brought from the home town to make up for those who were rejected and being physically defective, and for those who preferred not to enter the United States army. On May 11 sixty officers and man, with right hand upraised, took solemn oath to support the constitution of their country and enlisted for two years' service or during the war. One month later the Troop was recruited to a war footing of 100 men and three commissioned officers. It is worthy of note to say that of the forty men needed to raise the command to its war footing, 200 men in Tyrone and vicinity applied for enlistment. Event followed event in rapid succession and the Troop moved to Camp Alger, Va., on July 7; to Newport News, Va., on July 23; embarked on the transport Manitoba on August 5; landed at Ponce, Porto Rico, August 10; re- embarked on the transport Mississippi September 2; arrived at New York, September 10; reached Tyrone September 11; enjoyed a reception and picnic September 20; and after the expiration of a two month's furlough it was mustered out at Tyrone on November 21, 1898, by mustering officer, Captain S. W. Miller, Fifth United States Infantry. On approaching the city of Ponce, P. R., in the early morning of August 10, the transport Manitoba carrying 600 men and as many horses and mules, struck a sand bar. Imperative orders from General Nelson A. Miles, who knew nothing of the vessel's predicament, were sent out from the port of Ponce that the cavalry should be at once disembarked and should proceed to the interior of the island of Porto Rico. It was the morning of August 12 before all of the men and horses could be carried to shore by means of boats and lighters, and the transport taken from its perilous position. On this very day the protocol, calling for a cessation of all hostilities pending a peace agreement, was signed. The Troop was thus within a few hours of active engagement. The Sheridan Troop was kept a month in Porto Rico and on September 2, an order was received, and at once obeyed, to return to the states "where the oak and the ash and the weeping willow tree all grow so thriftily in North America." Volumes night be written concerning the doings of the Troop during the '98 campaign, but space is lacking and then, too, some of the "volumes" might not be thoroughly appreciated by all parties concerned. Suffice it to say that it was a great experience, yet one that participants might not especially care to have duplicated. Governor Daniel H. Hastings was in New York to welcome Pennsylvania's boys to their native soil on September 16, and joy reigned supreme when troop after troop and company after company reached its home town. The Sheridan Troop's reception in Tyrone will never be forgotten by the "boys of '98" Promotions were made and commissions received in the month of July, changing somewhat the officers of the Troop. This gave Major C. S. W. Jones command of all the volunteer cavalry of Pennsylvania. It gave Captain L. F. Crawford command of the Sheridan Troop. H. S. Fleck became first lieutenant of the Troop, was detailed as acting quartermaster of the Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, and owing to the illness of Captain Crawford had command of the Troop on its return to the states: Lieutenant A. L. Dickson served as second lieutenant of the Troop. The following is a complete roster of the Sheridan Troop, and the squadron; officers as represented in Tyrone at the time the organization returned from the Spanish American war in 1898: Pennsylvania Squadron Major Charles S. W. Jones, commanding; First Lieutenant H. A. Arnold, assistant surgeon. Sheridan Troop Captain Luther X. Crawford, absent-sick First Lieutenant Harry S. Fleck, commanding Second Lieutenant Adam L. Dickson First Sergeant C. Hayden Fleck Quarter Master Sergeant John L. Brubaker Sergeant Ernest L. Addleman Sergeant John S. Fleck Sergeant Walker S. Meadville Sergeant James E. Coleman Sergeant William E. Moore Sergeant Frank E. Fleck Corporal Robert M. Patterson Corporal Warren Conrad Corporal Alexander Trimble Corporal Horace C. Myers Corporal Adam B. Arble Corporal J. Howard Lotz Corporal J. Kistler Fleck Corporal J. Frank Moore Trumpeter Charles W. Gensimer Trumpeter General W. Stewart, absent sick Blacksmith Newton E. Cole Farrier Charles T. Swigert in Porto Rico Saddler Charles b. Brown Wagoner Walter C. Biddle Troopers Verner C. Addleman G. Conrad Albright Charles F. Bateman Thomas P. Bateman Harry A. Black Lloyd C. Blackburn, absent sick Edwin J. Butler Philip Carper Harry T. confer, absent sick Lloyd E. Confer John S. Chamberlain James C. Crawford John C. Davison George L. Dickson Andrew A. Dixon Harry W. Dixon Charles E. Dolaway Robert E. Dunlap Herbert F. Fleck Wesley W. Fleck Verne C. Fortney Levi H. Funk Robert C. Galbraith Robert C. Gardner Harry H. Gensamer Daniel W. L. Gensamer Jesse F. Gensimore Edward C. Gensimore Roy D. Gillam, absent sick Andrew C. Gingery John H. Grazier William J. Hain John V. Harner John B. Hastings Edward W. Herit Philip H. Hileman Harry E. Kaufman Lannie C. Keefer Harry J. Kocher William E. Macready William R. Matthews Edmund H.Mentzer Howard D. Mentzer David P. Miller Jerry W. Mong Charles E. Morrow William B. Murphy James E. Murphy Edgar McKinney James W. Myers W. Clyde Myers G. Wilkins Owens William P. Owens Samuel A. patersn Rudolph H. D. Raabe David L. Raney David E. Roseberry Samuel H. Ross Harry J. Ross, absent sick Jacob L. Rutherford Edward K. Sheets Samuel C. Stewart, Jr. Jesse A. Stewart, at Bridgeport, Conn. John B. Smith Jesse G. Smith H. Clyde Stryker Ralph L. Stryker Thomas W. Tate William E. Tate Grant Taylor John G. Taylor Jacob L. Thomas George B. Thompson James Trimble Charles B. Waite George W. Way LeRoy Wolfe Ellis S. Young The survivors of this body of 105 officers and enlisted men are at his time (December 8, 1915), scattered from Connecticut to California. Eight of them have answered to the last roll call and have entered the eternal bivouac. Only four of them viz., Captain J. F. Moore, Lieutenant Edgar McKinney, Sergeant James Trimble and Corporal Jacob Rutherford, are members of the present Troop. It is desirable that this brief history contain a word of appreciation for a man who was always a friend of the "boys." Dr. J. L. Brubaker, now a practicing physician of Juniata, Pa., was the surgeon of the Troop, with the rank of first lieutenant, for a period of seventeen years. When the Spanish American war broke out the smaller units of the N. G. P. were dispossessed of their surgeons, and such officers were assigned only to squadrons and regiments. The Sheridan Troop, therefore, lost its popular surgeon, but Lieutenant Brubaker exchanged his shoulder strap for the minor decorations of the "rooky," and Surgeon Brubaker became a trooper in the organization he loved and still wished to serve. Through the vicissitudes of the Troop's early years Captain Jones had the valuable assistance of trusted lieutenants in the persons of George Ginsimer and Thomas M. Fleck. These three men stood together when financing the organization meant a personal loss to the officers. Lieutenant Gensimer with Major Jones, has passed into the presence of the Supreme Commander. Captain Thomas M. Fleck, formerly a lieutenant, is paradoxically living an active retired life on his little farm in Sinking Valley, at the youthful age to him of 81 years. No man among the hundreds who belonged to the Sheridan Troop throughout its life of scores of years, ever enjoyed greater popularity, unless Captain Jones be excepted, than did Lieutenant "Uncle" Tommy. Present Conditions The present condition of the Troop is very good. With the new armory, an administrative building substantially built of native stone and equipment with modern conveniences, much can be done that at one time was impossible. Captain J. F. Moore and Lieutenants Hutchison and McKinney have the interest of the organization at heart. The following is quoted from the general comments of the inspecting officer, Captain James F. McKinley, Eleventh Cavalry, concerning last summer's inspection. "The Sheridan Troop and the Governor's Troop are very efficient militia troops. The Sheridan Troop is the best militia organization that I have come into contact with. Both of these troops are well officered, well disciplined, and have an excellent enlisted personnel. Troop F is inefficient, but well officered and the enlisted personnel seems to be of not as high standard as that of the other three troops in the squadron. Troop H is well officered, but not as well drilled or as efficient as the Governor's Troop and the Sheridan Troop. The Future of the Troop What of the Troop's future? Can the resignation or death of any man or of nay ten men hazard the existence of a protective organization whose name is not confined to the narrow limits of the commonwealth? This is a question for the community to answer. It rests with the active members, the veteran members, and the honorary members to say whether or not its life shall be imperiled. How do we admire General Grant's message to the north in the spring of 1864, via: "I'll fight it out on this line if it takes all summer." He well knew that the home country would respond to this slogan with its ring of determination. He well knew that the sister states among the hills and mountains of the east, as well as those from the plains and prairies of the westland would keep filled those terrible gaps that southern lead and steel were making in the determined fronts with which he was facing Spotsylvania, North Anne and Cold Harbor. It is the moral and material support of the home community that gives strength to any military organization. When the Sheridan Troop moves to the front, it feels the touch and moral support of the people of Tyrone. The town is interested in her soldier boys. We need no other evidence to support such a statement than the sound of the tens of whistles, the waving of the hundreds of flags, the cheers of the thousands of voices, and the glad look on the sea of upturned faces that greeted the Sheridan Troop at the Pennsylvania railroad station when it returned from the Spanish American war on Sunday morning, September 11, 1898. Long live the Sheridan Troop! Long live its membership, active, veteran and honorary! Lon live the flag that suppressed tyranny, brought freedom to the slave, and that carried liberty to the islands of the sea! The following are the officers who have held commissions in the Sheridan Troop, with their rank and years of service: 1. Name 2. Entered Service 3. Years Served Trooper and Non-Com Officer 4. Years Served as Sec'd Lieutenant 5. Years Served as First Lieutenant 6. Years Served as Captain 7. Years of Service 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Charles S. W. Jones 1871 34 34 J. C. Akers 1871 2 2 Rudolph Gingery 1871 1 1 George G. Tate 1873 1 1 George Gensimore 1874 20 20 Thomas M. Fleck 1875 19 4 23 Luther F. Crawford 1880 17 7 6 26 Harry S. Fleck 1880 14 10 2 30 Adam L. Dickson 1882 24 1 25 Daniel R. Fry 1885 4 9 13 E. O. M. Haberacker (surgeon) 1887 5 5 J. L. Brubaker (surgeon) 1892 1 17 18 James F. Moore 1895 10 1 4 5 20 Warren F. Conrad 1894 12 4 2 18 Henry A. Gripp 1898 1 1 Robert A. Zentmyer (quarmsr) 1898 12 12 Milton D. Hoffman 1903 7 2 9 J. Van Taylor 1907 10 1 2 13 Herbert L. Hutchison 1907 5 1 2 8 Edgar McKinney 1898 12 1 13