Lehigh County PA Archives Military: Civil War.....Yeager, Thomas "First Defenders" 21 Apr, 1861 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Neil Scheidt neilain@dejazzd.com February 5, 2011 ************************************************ Thomas Yeager Jan 2 1825-Jun 1, 1862 April 18, 1861, Captain, Co K, 25th Infantry, Allen Infantry/First Defender Nov 7, 1861 Promoted Major Co. S, 53rd Batt. Killed at Fair Oaks, Va. Jun 1, 1862 Wife Sabina, children Susan J, Stephan H, Ellen, Minerva Transcribed by Neil Scheidt 2 Feb 2011 Reading Eagle, April 30, 1911 p. 17 This is believed to be the first letter sent home by any soldier who went to the Civil War. The letter, never before published in full was written by Major Yeager, then captain, on April 20, 1861, two days after the First Defenders arrived in Washington, in advance of all other troops. It was written to Reuben Guth, who was an Allentown newspaper editor in 1861. After Capt. Yeager's First Defender tour he was promoted to Major. He fell at Fair Oaks, Va. on June 6, 1862. The same day Abraham Lincoln assigned him Brigadier General and called him a indomitable spirit. Major Yeager's Letter Washington, Saturday Evening April 20, 1861 Reuben Guth, Sir, I suppose you heard of the troubles at Baltimore. We were the first men who crossed Mason's and Dickson's line on Thursday last. The Secessionlists in Baltimore retained our box of merchandise that the citizens of Allentown gave us for an outfit. We received all our trunks, but the box is wanting. Two of my men saw it in Baltimore, when it was taken from the Harrisburg Railroad train and placed in a baggage wagon. We just escaped with our lives going through Baltimore. I suppose you have already heard two of my men were hurt with clubs and stones. We have the stones in our headquarters. Where is the other Allentown Company? We have no tidings of them here. The railroad is torn up between Harrisburg and Baltimore and and between Philadelphia and Baltimore. We have no news here. Unless the North sends men here soon, and enough of them, there will be doubts entertained about holding Washington. I presume you are all aware of the arrival of the Massachuttes regiment. They are quartered in the Senate chamber in the same Capitol building as we are. There is doubt whether any more northern troops can pass through Baltimore. Colonel Forney called me personally after my arrival. He took me to his office, introduced me to the Army officers and congratulated me for being one of the first from the Keystone State on the ground. Partook of champagne and brandy. Gave me 109 franked envelopes, and said as soon as they got all he would send more. The loyal citizens are calling every day at our headquarters to render service. A Miss Bache (rest of line unreadable) hurt fellows in our quarters, and white sugar and milk for poultices. The cooking establishment is well fixed. The Government is fixing every minute at it. We got 59 new minnies last night, that is muskets. With each came 15 rounds of ball and cartridges. So there are 1500 rounds in the Capitol. There are 80,000 more in the arsenal. The Northern troops will all have to come by water, 24 hours from Philadelphia. There are three men-of-war stationed at the mouth of the Potomac. That seems at present the only avenue of entrance for the northern troops. I presume you know that the government blew up the Harper's Ferry arsenal to prevent the rebels from recruiting there. A large number of loyal citizens, descendants of Pennsyl- vania residing here, come here and glory in our spunk in fighting through the riot on Thursday in Baltimore, three miles from one depot to the other. But we fought through nobly and stood by the stars and stripes. William Ruhe and William Krebbs brought up the rear of the company, as I had no lieutenant. They showed fight with the butts of old muskets. OH, IT WAS AWFUL: You cannot imagine. Ours was the first riot on Thursday, and on Friday came the second when the Massa- chuttes regiment, about 1000 fought through. They had mini muskets out of the Springfield Armory, all loaded and 15 extra rounds. They killed a good many Secessionists and lost two men and some wounded. Good for Massachusetts! As to questions from the mob, when we passed through, I had my men instructed to say nothing and look around, and stick to me. They did so. "The mob yelled: 'Ay, you traitors! Abolitionist' Abe Lincoln's militia! Hurrah for Jeff Davis! Hurrah for South Carolina. Capital suckers! Hit him! Stone Him! What muskets, no locks, no powder, sponges to wipe cannon for Jeff Davis!" "Right and left on us: their fists on our noses. You have no idea of their language and conduct and danger we were in. The only reply I made was in one case to the question, "Where are you going?" My remark was 'for my country.' The belief in Harrisburg when we left there Thursday morning, of all Curtin's administration, and General Keim, was we will be massacred in Baltimore, as we were the the first Northern troops to cross Mason and Dixon's line, but they did not let us know it. I took the hint but kept it from my men as we were only a few hours in Harrisburg. General Keim, at 1 o'clock at night called at my door saying, "Captain Yaeger, immediately to Washington. Load your guns." Says I, 'They are not in a condition, no locks, no flints.' He remarked, "They are good for clubs." When he said that to my answer, the word 'club' gave me the hint of intended massacres in Baltimore of us, but I left my men drink freely to keep up their spirits, so they should not take the hint. "We were the first Penn's getting to the seat of the government of freedom and not only of Penn's, but of all free states. This courage and brisk move by us won us friends not only in Penn'a but the friendship also of all the Southern and Northern Union papers and particularly that of Colonel Forney, who called on us immediately and rejoiced in our courage in coming through the plotting assasins, especially since we did not have arms. If the Northern men take the stand in this matter, that I did, we will between now and three months march back to our native firesides with the minnies on on our shoulders, drums beating, trumpets sounding, the stars and stripes in our hats and playing 'Hail Columbia' and the perpetual Star Spangled Banner. Hurrah, Hurrah, Hurrah.' But this stand and firmness of our loyal people of the free states must take immediately. Let them come in citizen dress as passengers. They can be organized here. Send me a good, strong, sober and honest Allentown man for a second Lieutenant, with good character, immediately, in citizen dress. When he arrives in Washington let him inquire for Captin Yaeger's Penn'a Volunteers. He will find us in a few moments, as all the free statesmen here know me by reputation already, for the reason that I was the first here. Colonel Forney, since he called on us sent a messenger whether he could do anything more. Forney is a man, and the army officers I am acquainted with are men too. Their acquaintance is gotten in this way. They send messengers to different quarters of the volunteers, who rap at the door of the quarters and inquire for captain so-and-so, is he in? The answer is 'Yes'. The reply of the messenger is 'Captain so-and-so of the United States Army will send a message in a few minutes.' A message comes in writing addressed 'Captain Yaeger, Penn'a Volunteers, I wish to see you in my office in the Capital East North of Agriculture office, as the case may be. In this way you find out where they are. They are all in full uniform, very complimentary, but fierce and savage and resolute. I will have my trunk full of orders, letters, calls and instructions, by the time I get home. I preserved them all for the hereafter, for information which I already have about a hatfull. We are called to Major McDonneck's quarters every few hours through the day and night, the Captains only, to receive instructions. He is the main man, called Mustering Officer, United states Army. Fine man, 6'2" This letter is dated Saturday night, April 20th, but I did not get it finished till Sunday night, so the latest is in and all correct. "(Signed)" Thomas Yaeger, Pennsylvania Volunters P.S. They established a post office yesterday in the Capitol for the benefit for all volunteers. All letters addressed to me or my men must be addressed Captain T. Yaeger, Penn'a Volunteers, Capitol Building, Washington, D.C. Tell Mrs. Yaeger and my dear children and all my friends all is right and feel good. Always immediately send my wife word when I write to pacify her. This is all correct in this letter. You can get notices out of it and editorials as much as you want. The substance is in but I have no time to write scientific. End of article