Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 165, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 July 1913 — CAMP FIRE STORIES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CAMP FIRE STORIES

OLD GUN IS VALUABLE RELIC Piece of Artillery in Cemetery at Kendall, N. Y., Waa Once Used by 17th Pa. Artillery. Referring to yonr article by Georg* W. Sweet, Troy, N. Y., aaking about the history of a gun in the cemetery at Kendall, N. Y., on the soldiers’ plot, the gun being marked on the muzzle No. 6, 17th Pa. L. A., and came from, the Rock Island arsenal, the history of the 17th Pa. Battery is as follows:] The 17th regiment, known in tb» State Militia as the lfct Pa. Art, waa originally formed as a battalion, Sept. 16, 1814, at Cainp Dupont, under th* command of Maj.-Andrew M. Prevost, writes Andrew S. Collum of Baldmount, Pa., in the National Tribune. Nov. 19 of that year it was organized as a regiment, when Maj. Prevost was chosen lieutenant-colonel, Cornelius Steyenson’ first major and Thomas W. Duffleld second major. Col. A. J. Pleasanton succeeded ColPrevost In command, and upon hi* resignation ' Col. Henry Bohlen waa elected. / ; This regiment was always relied on by the civil authorities to respond promptly at their call in case of disturbance which they were" unable to suppress. In 1844, under Col. Pleasanton, it rendered efficient service/in preventing the destruction of publto and private property b/'a mob. June 6, 1859, an election of field oft fleers was held, and under this organization it was mustered Ififa the service of the United States by Ma U Charles F. Ruff, April 25, 1861. The following were the field olfl-t cers: Francis E. Patterson, colonel;! Robert O. Tyler, lieutenant-colonel;’ Wm. A. Leech, major; Gideon Clark! was appointed adjutant. Recruiting! was commenced April 15, and Jt was ready with the maximum number for muster-in on the 18th. The companies had' armories where they were quartered and the new recruits drilled, rendering it unnecessary to go into a general camp of rendezvous. The officers served under their old commissions, and the regiment was known in, the service as th* Ist Pa. Art. until the order of Gov. Curtin, dated May 15, 1861, changed its designation to that of the 17th Pa. Since the 19th of April, when the 6th Mass, was fiercely assailed in th* streets of Baltimore, Md., no troop* had passed through the city, and no attempt had been made to force a passage. Troops which had reached th* capital from the north had proceeded via Annapolis. The necessity of holding the direct route had become Imperative, and Gen. Patterson determined at all hazards to open it. He accordingly ordered Col. Patterson to proceed with the 17th Pa. on: May 8 to Perryville, there to be joined by Capt. (state Gen.) T. W. Sherman’s light battery and five companies of the 3d U. S., all well armed and supplied with ammunition, thence to embark on transports for Baltimore, landing at Locust Point. Col. Patterson made such disposition of his force as to enable him most successfully to repel attack, and commenced his march through the city* which for nearly three weeks had been! subject to .mob rule. Without molestation or any symptoms of a hostll* demonstration be arrived at Camden Station five days later. May 13 GenButler took permanent military possession of the city, through which th* tide of volunteers soon began to flow, not again to be disturbed. • June 10 the 17th Pa. was sent to the Rockville expedition, and later were at Point of Rocks, Bunker Hill and other places, and was mustered out Aug. 2. Therefore, you will sew the comrades have secured one of the most valuable relics of the Civil war, as it dates back to 1814.