Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/336

 CHAPTER IV M IL IT A R Y REC O R D Montour county has a military record of which she may be justly proud. H er citizen­ ship has been represented in the rolls of mil­ itary achievements in the Revolutionary war* the w ar o f 1812* the w ar with M exico in 1846, the great civii struggle from 1861 to 1865, and the w ar with Spain in 1898. Even now she has hundreds o f brave sons who. while re­ joicing in the fact that peace prevails throtighout our land, are ready at any moment to rush to the defense o f our flag and to the preservation o f our national honor. It is with pride she points to the part taken by Gen. William Montgomciy in the war for independence. She remembers with delight that Jacob Sechlcr* one o f her sturdy citizens* stood fo r the defense o f his country in the struggle o f 18 12. She rejoices in the record made hy Dr. Clarence II. Frick and the mem­ bers o f his gallant company in the Mexican war. It is with tears of gratitude slic recalls the names o f Col. Cliarles W. Eckman, Col. Joseph Shreeve. and the long list o f brave boys, officers and privates who so bravely at the front battled for their country’s life. T o ­ day she exults that the brave men of the past left behind them worthy sons who, just as loyally as ihcir fathers, answered the call o f duty* and came to the help o f a distressed ami oppressed people at our door. It is a lact lo be lanKntcd that the early record.s of the military companies have not been preserv^cd. It is hard to give a complete list of the soldiers of Montour county, and any omission in (he lists o f names must be attributed to this fact. F o r the information contained in this chapter, we arc much in­ debted to the research and faithfulness o f D . I L B . Brow er in collecting the necessary statistics* and wc do not hesitate to quote freely from him. The first military company o f which wc have an^ information in the territory now in­ cluded m Montour county was T h e Danville L ight Horse. T his w as a company o f light

dragoons* commanded by Captain Clark* of Derry. The community* especially (he boys, was very fond of these cavalrymen, and the days on which they paraded were great days. T he organization dates back to 18 10 . It o f­ fered its scr*ices to the government at the breaking out of the w ar o f 18 12, but fo r some reason the offer was not accepted, much to the disgust and indignation o f both the com>any and the community. S o fa r as wc have >cen able to gather, the following are (he names o f those composing (his com pany: Charles Claric* captain; John Blue* Elisha B a r ­ ton* Jam es Eloyd* Lucas Brass* Isaac Bear* Jam es Donaldson* John Donaldson, William i)c Pew, Charles Evans* Charles M. Frazer* Charles Frazer* John GuUck, John Gaskins* amcs Hamilton, - Kipp, ---Cing* William Kitchen, Daniel Montgomery* ^ w is Maus. Joseph Maus* Robert Moore* Thom as Moorhead, Peter Pursel, William Sheriff, Jam es Stevenson, Henry Sanders* Daniel Woodside* Jam es Woodside, Thomas Woodstde. The Danvilte B lu es w as a rifle company commanded by CajH. Isaac Blue. Ju st when this company w as oiganizcd wc do not know* but It was in active service in 18 13 on the Canadian frontier during the w ar o f (8 12. Jacob Sechlcr was a private in this company. Samuel Y orks. S r., was a lieutenant, and Dr. David Petrikin was suigeon. When the comj>any left home fo r the scn*ice they halted in front of the old stone mansion on M ill street to give a (larting salute to Gen. WiUiam Montgomcr> A s the old general came to the door the company prcsentt^ arms* whilst they listened to a hnet address. General Mont­ gomery told them to be good soldiers and at the same time take good carc of themselves and be ever* as now* ready to defend and support the government. At the close o f Crcneral Montgomeiy’s address the company fired a salute and m aKhed away. T his company suffered much from what was called “ Black

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