AREA HISTORY:  Military, Borough of York, York County, PA

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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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MILITARY – Page 554

The Americans generally are a military people, and ever ready to obey the maxim of Washington:  
“In time of peace prepare for war.”  The militia of Pennsylvania have always been the subject 
of appropriate legislation, and the militia of York County were well organized in brigades, 
regiments and battalions, with field and commissioned officers of every grade.  In order to 
keep up a martial spirit and teach discipline, the legislature, by the act of July 11, 1822, 
required the militia to be trained and paraded in companies on the first Monday of May, and in 
battalions of the second Monday of May, called the muster and battalion days.  It did not 
matter at the muster what arms were brought to the field, whether the broomstick, or the 
cornstalk, or a combination of either with small fire arms, or the genuine musket.  This 
militia training was continued, to the delectation of the exempt, and of urchins, until was 
abolished by law in 1842. 

In the meantime the true military spirit of some citizens induced the organization of 
companies, uniformed, armed and equipped, who would have resented the term militia, if applied 
to them.  These were thoroughly exercised in the manual of arms and regimental maneuvers; not 
only exciting admiration, but constituting that great home growth of military power which made 
the American volunteer so efficient in war.  The companies above named indicate the military 
spirit of York.

The year following the visit of La Fayette was the semi-centennial anniversary of American 
independence, and the 4th of July, 1826, was celebrated by a memorable military and civic 
demonstration; its enthusiasm inspired by that visit, as well as by the attainment of fifty 
years of independence to the nation, and the yet recent results to the national glory in what 
was then called the late war, wherein our soldiers were matched with veterans of European wars.  
The oration on the occasion was delivered by Hon. Charles A. Barnitz.

The funeral of Capt. Michael H. Spangler, on the 9th of September, 1834, was attended by the 
officers of the Ninety-fourth regiment, P. M., by the survivors of the “York Volunteers,” and 
the following volunteer companies of the borough:

The “Washington Artillerists,” commanded by Capt. Jacob Upp, Jr.

“The Pennsylvania Volunteers,” commanded by Capt. John Evans.

“The Citizen Guards,” commanded by Capt. Samuel Hay.

“The National Greys,” commanded by Capt. Alexander H. Barnitz.

“The York Rangers,” commanded by Capt. Samuel E. Clement.

During the year 1839, the York military paid a visit to Baltimore, which was returned by the 
Independent Blues of that city, on the 4th of July, in the same year.  The Baltimoreans 
considered themselves treated with so much kindness, attention and hospitality by the citizens 
of York, that they were prompted to make some acknowledgement; and, on the 31st of August, 1839, 
the Independent Blues presented a splendid United States flag to the volunteer companies of 
York.  That beautiful flag was in the possession of Gen. George Hay, and was frequently 
suspended in front of his residence on patriotic occasions.  The material of the flag is of the 
finest silk; the head of the staff is a spear of massive silver, elegantly chased with two 
silver tassels.  On the head is the following inscription:

“Presented by the Independent Blues to the York Volunteers, August, 1839, as a mark of esteem 
for the unbounded hospitality extended to them during their visit, July 4, 1839.”

It was presented on the 31st of August in front of the White Hall Hotel, in the presence of the 
military and a concourse of citizens, by a committee of the “Blues,” and accepted on behalf of 
the soldiers by Hon. Charles A. Barnitz.  The companies in York at that time were the 
Washington Artillerists, Capt. Upp, the Washington Blues, Capt. Barnitz, the York, Penn., 
Rifles, Capt. Hay, and a company of horse, the Washington Troop, Capt. Garretson; the admirable 
hearing and drill of which companies many well remember.

An incident that may be noticed in the year 1841 was the removal of the remains of President 
Harrison, passed through York on the way to North Bend, under a large escort of military from 
Washington and Baltimore.  The citizens of York manifested deep feeling on the occasion.  The 
military and civic associations of all kinds joined the passing escort, the entire pageant was 
one of the most solemn character and is strongly impressed upon the minds of all who 
participated in it, on account of the occasion itself, as well as the apprehended momentous 
political results of the untimely decease of the new president who held his office but one 
short month.

On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, August 23, 24 and 25, 1841, there was an encampment of 
military on the York common, at which there were seventeen companies present from different 
parts of the State.  Maj. Hambright of Lancaster, an experienced military commander, was 
commandant by invitation, and reviewed the troops, and also organized new companies.  A 
Lancaster book of biography says, “it was the finest military display in the State.”  There 
were present companies from Baltimore City.  The York County companies were the Susquehanna 
Rides, Capt. Druck, of Wrightsville; the Dover Artillery, Capt. Worley; the Independent Blues, 
Capt. Bott, West Manchester; the Jackson Greys, Capt. McAbee, Shrewsbury; the Hopewell Rifles, 
Capt. Smith; the York Pennsylvania Rifles, Capt. Hay; the Washington Blues, Capt. Barnitz; the 
Washington Artillerists, Capt. Upp.  Lieut. Alex. Hay was aid-de-camp to the commanding 
officer.  There was present, Gen. Diller, adjutant-general of the State.  On Wednesday the 
troops were reviewed by his excellency Gov. Porter, who headed the parade in full uniform on 
horseback.  In the year 1841, Col. Thomas Jameson was brigade inspector.  There was at this 
time a company of cavalry in York, called the York County Troop.

The election of officers of the militia took place on the first Monday of June every seven 
years.  The election of 1842, held June 6, resulted as follows:  brigadier-general, Albert C. 
Ramsay; First Brigade, Fifth Division, York and Adams Counties; Ninety-fourth Regiment P. M., 
colonel, Daniel A. Stillinger; lieutenant-colonel, Andrew W. Spangler; majors, John Eppley and 
Michael Gohn; Sixty-fourth Regiment, P. M., colonel, John M. Anderson; lieutenant-colonel, 
Edmund Connellee; majors, Thomas S. Williamson and Samuel Gilbert; Twenty-fifth Regiment, P. 
M., colonel Jacob S. Bear; lieutenant-colonel, Joseph Hartman; majors, Samuel Eisenhart and 
Daniel Miller. Chanceford Battalion, major, George S. Murphy.

On the 15th of July, 1844, there was a call for volunteers from York for the suppression of the 
great Native American riot in Philadelphia.  The three companies of York already mentioned, the 
Washington Artillerists, the Washington Blues and York, Penn., Rifles, together with companies 
from the county, in all 3,000 men, under the command of Gen. A. C. Ramsay, marched as far as 
Wrightsville but returned the same day.  The report of the auditor-general, in 1845, gives the 
expense to the State by the Philadelphia riots at $45,252.72.  The York County troops cost 
$7,367.50, and there was paid to the railroad company for transportation, $512.20.

The adventure, brief as it was, is remarkable for the expense it occasioned.  Through our 
troops were not required to suppress the riot, there was bloodshed in Philadelphia before quiet 
was restored.

After the return of Thomas A. Ziegle from the Mexican war, in 1849, he raised a military 
company called the Worth Infantry, which was celebrated for its proficiency in drill.  Col. 
Thomas A. Ziegle, whose name is intimately associated with the military history of York, was 
born September 8, 1824.  He graduated at the Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg, studied law with 
James E. Buchanan, Esq., and was admitted to the bar May 28, 1850.  His great predilection for 
military affairs, absorbed a considerable portion of his time, and he attained great 
proficiency in the discipline of the men and corps under his command.  His record during the 
late war is given in the general history.  The Worth Infantry and the York, Penn., Rifles were 
for many years the military companies of York.  The latter had disbanded, but a company was 
organized under the same title in 1860, with some of the members of the old corps.  The names 
of the officers are given in the history of the war. 

Of the general officers of the Fourth Division, P. M., elected, may be mentioned Gens. Jacob S. 
Stahle, George Hay and A. Hiestand Glatz.

In the year 1860, the brigade inspector was Daniel A. Stillinger.  On the 3d of September, in 
that year, there was an encampment, under the general orders of the adjutant-general of the 
commonwealth, of the uniformed volunteers of Pennsylvania, called Camp Patterson, held at York, 
which continued until Saturday, the 8th of September.  Maj.-Gen. William H. Keim was commanding 
officer.  The tents were pitched on the common.  Two field pieces, a six and a eighteen-pounder 
which were then captured at Cerro Gordo, were there.

The camp consisted of seventeen companies – 766 men.  The National Rifles of Washington, the 
Worth Infantry, Capt. Thomas A. Ziegle; the Washington Guards, Lewisberry, Capt. John Crull, 
the York Rifles, C apt. John W. Schall; the Marion Rifles, Hanover, Capt. H. Gates Myers; the 
Hanover Infantry, Capt. J. M. Baughman, and companies from other parts of the State, were 
present.  Of the officers present were E. C. Wilson, adjutant-general; Lieut. A. N. Shipley, of 
the Third United States Infantry; acting assistand-adjutant-general; Maj.-Gen. Kimmell, of 
Frederick, Md.; Brig.-Gen. I. C. Wynkoop, Brig. Gen. Bartram S. Shaeffer, of Lancaster; Maj.-
Gen. George Hay, of York.  There were general parades, in one of which all the surviving 
soldiers of the was of 1812-1814, of the neighboring towns participated.

This was the last demonstration of its kind.  The next year the war breaking out, all the 
military skill and experience available in the country was required to save the Union, and the 
noble response of this community has been recorded.  After the war several military 
organization were effected without permanent success.  The organization of the National Guards 
of Pennsylvania, in 1870, has created a system by which the active militia are enlisted in 
volunteer companies to serve a limited period – five years.  The York City Greys, Capt. E. Z. 
Strine, is attached to the National Guards, from York, as Company A. Eighth Regiment.  The 
Wrightsville Greys, Capt. Frank J. Magee, is Company I, Eighth Regiment.  Capt. Magee is the 
colonel of the regiment, having been elected in 1884.