May 27, 2022
2—The Sentinel
Stephen D. King-Supervisor, Director Roger G. Barr, Director
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Work of Mark DeVecchis made magazine possible For those of you who read our newspaper regularly — especially the Saturday Living section — the name Mark DeVecchis is a familiar one. From reading his “History Rekindled” column, Brian Cox Managing it’s clear editor Mark is a history buff, especially when it comes to the history of our own local region. In past years, this magazine has been targeted toward more-recent military engagements and those who served during them. And while we have and will again express our deepest gratitude for those who
have served, whenever that may have been, we felt like we wanted to do something a little bit different this year with the magazine. That’s where Mark came in. We thought, why not focus on the early military history of our region? Obviously there are some challenges, the biggest one being that no one who served or was even alive during events like the French and Indian War and the American Revolution are still around today. But, Mark has a nose for research and research he did. In the pages that follow, you’ll read about several events you learned about in school, but from much more local perspective. We had no doubt Mark would come through as he always does, and he delivered for you, our readers. We think you’ll enjoy
learning perhaps some things you didn’t know before and can better tie the formative years of our nation to events that happened right here in the Juniata Valley. We want to thank Mark for his hard work, not only on this edition, but on his regular column in our Saturday Living section. We know there are plenty of you out there who enjoy reading that, because we regularly hear from you about the fine work Mark is doing. And if you are among those who enjoy Mark’s column, you’ll certainly find the content of this magazine to be a worthwhile and entertaining read. ¯¯¯ Brian Cox is managing editor of The Sentinel. He can be reached at bcox@lewistownsentinel.com.
This magazine is a special publication of
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352 Sixth St. Lewistown, PA 17044 (717) 248-6741 www.lewistownsentinel.com Ruth Eddy ........................................................................... publisher Brian Cox .................................................................. managing editor Ed Williams .................................. business and circulation manager Matthew Bolich .................................................. advertising director
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Introduction ............ 5 Chapter 1: The Mayflower ......................... 6 Chapter 2: The French and Indian War ......... 9 Chapter 3: The Revolutionary War .............. 13 Chapter 4: Thompson’s Rifle Battalion ........... 15 Chapter 5: Among Others, Civil War Event Memorial Day ................ 19 Chapter 6: Local Events ....................... 21 Footnotes .................. 22 Cover image: A MAP OF PENNSYLVANIA EXHIBITING NOT ONLY THE IMPROVED PARTS OF THAT PROVINCE BUT ALSO ITS EXTENSIVE FRONTIERS: Laid down from actual surveys and chiefly from the late map of W. Scull published in 1770; and humbly inscribed to the Honourable Thomas Penn and Richard Penn... London. Printed for Robt. Sayer & J. Bennett, 1775. This version of William Scull’s 1770 map (1770.1) was published separately and appeared in Thomas Jeffreys’ The American Atlas published by R. Sayer & J. Bennett 1776 and later. It also appeared in William Faden’s North American Atlas of 1777 which is the image here from the Library of Congress. The same image was used for map 1770.1 and the only difference between the two is in the title. Sellers & van Ee #1296, Phillips page 674. Retrieved from www.mapsofpa.com on May 9, 2022.
4—The Sentinel
We Honor Those Who serve Our Country
PAST PRESENT
&FUTURE
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Early military history of the Juniata Valley By Mark DeVecchis INTRODUCTION Memorial Day: May 30, 2022 (last Monday in May) we honor those U. S. Soldiers who have died in service to our Country. Veterans Day, November 11th: We honor all American Veterans In this introduction I will focus on some early American history, The Mayflower, the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War. Some content can be confusing with wars, dates, and years. It is essential to start earlier in our “land’s” history – back to the Mayflower (1620), because it seems like a good starting point not only for the first Pilgrims coming to our Country but also its effects on Mifflin County. The French and Indian war began in 1754 at Jumonville Glen and ended in 1763 with the Treaty of Paris. Many of the same people would fight in the Revolutionary War only on opposite sides. There were only 12 years between them. The Revolution-
ary War started April 19, 1775, and the British Surrender at Yorktown was October 17, 1781. However, the surrender of the British didn’t end the war, the 1783 Treaty of Paris did (a different Treaty of Paris). We don’t need to get hung up on the dates and “Paris” Treaties. What is interesting is what happened in the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War that affected the colonies including the land that would become Mifflin County. But here is the twist — Mifflin and Juniata counties did not exist as a county in either the French and Indian War nor the Revolutionary War. At that time, we were part of Cumberland County which was formed in 1750 with Carlisle as the county seat. Cumberland County encompassed almost 2/3 of the State of Pennsylvania, including the land now known as Mifflin and Juniata counties. Mifflin County was formed from Cumberland County in 1789 and Juniata County from Mifflin County in 1831. If you are confused, you are not alone. It would
take more than one history book to explain everything from King Phillip’s War (1675), Queen Anne’s War (1702), Pontiac’s War (1763), Lord Dunmore’s War (1774) and others to make sense of it all. The date the United States Army was “born” was June 14, 1775, when George Washington was appointed as general by the Continental Congress to head up an army to fight the Revolutionary War. Knowing that the Revolutionary War started on April 19, 1775, at Lexington and Concord and lives were lost on both sides, before there was an American Army or a country, I am going to take the liberty of saying these militia soldiers were part of the effort to free us from British control and therefore cannot be excluded on Memorial Day. I also believe we have to look back to see what led to the Revolutionary War and that goes back to the French and Indian War and the cost to the British Government to support it. The French and Indian War started in Western Pennsylvania in 1754 by none other than Colonel George
Washington of the British Army, back when colonists were British subjects. That War became part of the Seven Years War. The dates are not that important. Just keep in mind that references to Mifflin County prior to 1789 are in regard to the land area that it encompasses today and those living there at the time. In considering who is honored on Memorial Day, where should we begin? We can add or think of those who fought in the French and Indian War and the Battle of Lexington and Concord along with other wars and skirmishes among those who fought for our most basic foundational freedoms of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Many fought and many died for the same goals that fed our nation’s beginnings. What you read here today is only a very small sampling of those who gave it their all. From those days of the Mayflower until today, you can count eight wars historically and about 19 conflicts from 1600 to 2000 on the land of the continental United States.
6—The Sentinel
Chapter 1: The Mayflower In the year 1620 a courageous group was willing to sacrifice all on a small ship and endure the treacherous ocean to reach this land, a new land, a new life, in a wild country that we now call home. Wild perhaps by this group, but not to native Americans who called it home. Boldly this group set out from England on a ship called the Mayflower. We start here because this is where we see some of the first formations of what will become our national government – where people were more than explorers looking to find riches, jewels, treasures and gold. While some early explorers looked for those things, native Americans were currently living and surviving on the continent in tribes. Survival will be essential for those seafarers coming on the Mayflower, and they will need rules to live by. The Mayflower left England on September 16, 1620, after several attempted starts. One hundred and two people on a small ship. I can’t even begin to imagine what life was like at that time. All in all, there were 50 men, 19 women and 33 children, or 102 total on board. The
Two Mifflin County military veterans – Jan Snedeker, left, and George Anderson – can trace their ancestry back to indentured servant John Howland, who came to America aboard the Mayflower. Howland is the 17th great-grandfather of both men. (Photo by Mark DeVecchis)
ship was 25 feet wide and about 100 feet long (the size of six of today’s tractor-trailers – two long, three wide). The make-up was Pilgrims (true religious separatists looking to break away from the Church of England), indentured servants, merchants, craftsmen and orphans, making their way and contributing to a new land and society. [1] Added to the human load, there needed to be food and water for the voyage. Once they arrived, they would need firearms and powder, gifts for any natives encountered, cattle, animals, plants and tools – saws, hoes, rakes, and shovels to plant to grow food and build shelter
1946- 2022
Stroup-Alexander Post 5935 Veterans of Foreign Wars 76th Year of Service to the Community
The Belleville VFW would like to thank all who support us, and honor our veterans.
The Sentinel—7
against the elements and potential enemies. They set out to cross the ocean recognizing the potential for violent storms, starvation, shipwreck or sinking, attacks by pirates, or falling overboard — not to mention just being on deck on cold, windy, and rainy days to escape the stomach revolting stench below deck, seasickness, illness and death. They did this for almost two months — finally arriving at Cape Cod on November 11, 1620. A few weeks later they sailed up the coast to Plymouth to an abandoned Wampanoag Vil-
lage, and realized they needed to create a form of government in what is now Plymouth. This resulted in the Mayflower compact – whether you were a Puritan, a merchant, or an indentured servant, all were given the option to sign, as long as they were of age. How desperate they must have been to take this journey. This Compact would create laws for both the Pilgrims and non-Pilgrims alike. Consisting of about 200 words, it established a form of government that: 1. The colonists would remain loyal subjects to King James, despite
their need for self-governance. 2. The colonists would create and enact “laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices…” for the good of the colony and abide by those laws. 3. The colonists would create one society and work together to further it. 4. The colonists would live in accordance with the Christian Faith. [2] The original document does not survive. It first appeared in Mourt’s Relation, a pamphlet about the first year of settlement at Plimoth (sp). In 1669 Plymouth’s town historian, Nathaniel
Morton, reprinted the agreement in his book, New England’s Memorial. Interestingly, he included a possible list of the men who signed it, even though these men’s names were not included in earlier copies of the Mayflower Compact. According to Morton, the document was signed by 41 of the male passengers — all but one of the freemen, three of the five hired men, and two of the nine servants. [3] And that really, is where this begins to affect us here in Mifflin County as I am sure it did in other areas. On that voyage to
8—The Sentinel
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America was an indentured servant man by the name of John Howland, who “quickly discovered that the deck of a tempest-tossed ship was no place for a landsman under sail. The Mayflower lurched suddenly to leeward. Howland staggered to the ship’s rail and tumbled into the sea. But dangling over the side and trailing behind the ship was the topsail halyard, the rope used to raise and lower the upper sail. Howland ... found the halyard,
and he gripped the rope with such feral desperation ... he never let go. Several sailors took up the halyard and hauled Howland back and used a boat hook to haul him in..”[4]For most people this story is interesting, and it ends here, but not for us. “John Howland became a successful businessman, married and raised ten children, who would, in turn, produce an astounding eightyeight grandchildren.” [5] Two of John How-
land’s descendants live in Mifflin County today. John is the 17th great-grandfather of George Anderson who is a Vietnam veteran and whose father served under General George S. Patton in World War II. Jan Snedeker is a U.S. Navy veteran from 1968 to 1974, followed up by serving in the Reserves until 1979. He also recognizes John Howland as a 17th great-grandfather! That one indentured servant, who had a near death experience on a small ship in 1620,
led to two honorable United States military veterans — from Mifflin County, who both owned local businesses! Jan’s father was also a veteran of World War II. Mifflin County today has obviously been affected by The Mayflower. And Mifflin County has had a long line of people who have honorably fulfilled a commitment and served their country. We are and have been a county (or “a people”) committed to our nation.
Chapter 2: The French and Indian War The French and Indian War lasted from 1754 to 1763, followed shortly by the Revolutionary War — 17751781. Historically, excluding the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War, on the US continental soil you can count six major wars (dependent on definition of a war), and a disputed list of another 19 engagements such as native American wars and conflicts up to 2001. We will only look specifically at our early major wars. Pennsylvania was governed by William Penn and a Quaker government. Quakers are
pacifists and do not believe in fighting and this was part of the problem prior to the Revolutionary War. During the French and Indian War, we were colonies under British “protection and rule.” While under British Rule we as British citizens fought in the French and Indian War with British soldiers who looked upon us not as British citizens on an equal level, but as those who left Britain and came here to extend the realm on plantations. The French and Indian War started by an attack on a so called “French Diplomatic Mission” of armed
French soldiers, by Colonel George Washington (as a British officer) who was alerted by native American Tanacharison, to the group of French soldiers hidden in a secluded glen (present day Jumonville Glenn in Western Pennsylvania). In this fight, the French officer, Jumon de Villiers was killed. Washington was later required to surrender Fort Necessity to the French officer Louis Coulon de Villers after being attacked by French and native American forces. He was the brother of Jumon de Villiers. Louis Coulon de Villers is
the only person to ever have Washington surrender to him. In that surrender document written in French, de Villers deceptively had Washington admitting he assassinated Jumon. It stated in part: …Our Intention…” was never to disturb the peace and harmony which exist between two friends as two Prince allies, but only to avenge the assassination of one of our officers…” [6] Two years later General Braddock took a British Army to push the French out of Fort Duquesne (now Fort Pitt) in present-day Pittsburgh. Braddock
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was defeated by the French and the native Americans. Washington, who was again on the scene with Braddock’s Army, showed his strength and leadership with the Virginia Militia that saved the day from a total catastrophe. As a result of Braddock’s defeat, native Americans now came east to attack settlements on the Frontier, resulting in a line of frontier forts being constructed across parts of Maryland and Pennsylvania; Forts Cumberland, Frederick, Loudoun, Lyttleton, Shirley and Granville. Frontier being defined as “specific sites that emerged when invasion
N E
W S
Fort Granville was located along the Juniata River, near the present-day site of Lowe’s. The approximate location is shown by the X on the map. Due to topographic changes, the exact location cannot be determined. (Map image from Google Maps)
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threatened, prone to contraction rather than expansion, and most people fled from the frontiers….” Fort Granville was one of those sites. “This marked the outline of the frontier for people living in them, fear and uncertainty rather than hope and opportunity filled their lives, and they looked to their government for military aid and security.” [7] Fort Granville was built by the militia under George Croghan in 1755-56 as part of that frontier defense. It being located along the Juniata River about a mile from Lewistown (in the vicinity of the present-day Lowe’s store), next to the river where “there is a bend in the river that a man could shoot across” [8] The exact location is still unknown because of changes in topography. Of the French and native American war parties spurned by Braddock’s defeat; “the greatest single success achieved by these French-and-Indian parties was won about the end of July when a party commanded by Captain Coulon de Villiers, the officer who had defeated Washington
at Fort Necessity, took Fort Granville (near present Lewistown, Pennsylvania).” The French account continues, “De Villiers left Fort Duquesne about July 22 with a detachment of twenty-three Frenchmen and thirty-two Shawnee, Delaware, and Illinois Indians; and he began his attack late on the morning of August 2 (July 30, according to English accounts). Part of the garrison had left earlier that morning with Captain Ward (Eward in the French report), (The Pennsylvania Gazette reported the soldiers had gone to protect harvesters) leaving only twenty-four men under command of Lieutenant Armstrong. On the following morning the French succeeded in setting the fort afire, the Lieutenant was killed” [9] … then “ the enemy called upon the besieged to surrender and told them that they should have quarter if they surrendered … one John Turner immediately opened the gates…”[9] Those within were taken prisoner, including 22 soldiers, 3 women and a number of children. The Gazette, further noted that “they
The Sentinel wants to thank all military veterans for their service to our nation. (717) 248-6741 or online at www.lewistownsentinel.com
set off, after setting up French colours near the fort on which they left a shot pouch, with a written paper in it.” [10] Captain Jacob, a noted Delaware war leader, then completed the burning of the place and the party set off homeward. De Villiers returned to Fort Duquesne on August 21 with twenty-seven prisoners and four scalps.” [11] Because of Fort Granville being burned, Lieutenant Colonel Armstrong, brother of the Lieutenant killed at Fort Granville and 300 men from various troops along the Susquehanna, made a surprise attack
on the native American village of Kittanning. The village in large part was destroyed. This village had been a headquarters for the Delaware Indians who had made continual raids on English settlements. This was the home of Captain Jacobs who burned Fort Granville. It was also stated by John Hogan, “One of the escaped prisoners was taken to Kittanning ... at which time John Turner, one of the prisoners, was burnt…. The deponent further says that the Indians sold a prisoner to the French for which they received a nine-gallon keg of brandy.” [12]
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12—The Sentinel
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Chapter 3: The Revolutionary War The Fifth Battalion Cumberland County Militia, commanded by Colonel Arthur Buchanan, was drawn from the area known as the Kishacoquillas Valley around present Lewistown, Pennsylvania. Because of its position, elements of the battalion were often called out, in rotation, to march west for the protection of the frontier. Because the Kishacoquillas Valley was not directly threatened on most occasions, but yet within practical marching distance of areas that were, its manpower was often utilized in this manner. Their duties included garrisoning the county’s most important western fort, Fort Standing Stone, at Huntingdon, and also protecting farmers working in their fields. Usually, from March until November constant watch had to be kept for native American war parties. Lewistown (originally Old Town) and Carlisle were both frequent meeting points for the militia when they were called up. In our area it was at Squire Brown’s, who was a commissary who frequently sent ra-
‘The Spirit of ’76’ by Archibald M. Willard, 1876 (Image from National Archives)
tions and horses over to Penns Valley from Kishacoquillas Valley for the troops who were stationed there. One of the most notable actions of the Battalion came in the spring of 1778 when two classes, the 7th and 8th, marched west under the command of Colonel Buchanan to put down a Loyalist uprising in Bedford County. While in service, they assisted in the protection of a lead mining operation under the command of General Daniel Roberdeau and helped build a fort in
Sinking Valley, Pennsylvania for the protection of the mines. This recreated Fort (Fort Roberdeau) can be seen and toured in Altoona, today. Roberdeau began the expedition to the mines at Carlisle, assembling workmen and supplies necessary for his mining project, and with the help of John Carothers, Cumberland County Lieutenant of Militia (an administrative position not to be confused with the subaltern military rank), he enlisted two companies of militia to
provide military protection for the project. Writing to President Thomas Wharton of the Supreme Executive Council, Roberdeau reported on April 17, 1778. “I find the state is guarding against the incursions of savages. This confirmed me in the preconceived intention of erecting a stockade fort in the neighborhood of the mine I am about to work. Mr. Carothers, convinced of the necessity of the work, condescendingly offered one company of the militia which he would expect to consist of 40 men, under my command, to co-operate in so salutary a business.” [13] Roberdeau also referred to one additional company which could be diverted from an assignment at Standing Stone unless council objected. These companies were the 7th and 8th classes of the Fifth Battalion. John Carothers stated in a letter to President Wharton dated April 24, 1778, “I have been obliged to send up to Sinking Valley and Bald Eagle the marching classes of the Fifth Battalion, which will amount to near 70 privates.” [14]
14—The Sentinel
In Honor and Memory of those who have and do sacrifice so much so we can be safe and free..
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Chapter 4: Thompson’s Rifle Batallion Thompson’s Rifle Battalion was formed in response to a call for Riflemen to join the cause. “On June 14, 1775, The Continental Congress acted to send additional troops to the support of the New England Army. This was done by calling for the recruitment of 10 companies of riflemen in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia ... within 10 days after news of the battle of Bunker Hill had reached the Province of Pennsylvania her first regiment was officered and completed ... Colonel Thompson’s battalion were filled to overflowing…” [15] Two who responded to the call from William Thompson who was putting together Captains for his soon to be rifle company were William Hendricks and Robert Cluggage. Hendricks had been selected by Thompson of Carlisle as was Robert Cluggage. Both were appointed Captains. Under these men were men from present day Mifflin County and were among the first to enlist. Serving under Cluggage was John Davis and under Hendricks was William
A pair of Pennsylvania historical markers recognize Thompson’s Rifle Battalion. This marker tells of Captain James Chambers’ company. This marker can be found in Falling Spring Park in Chambersburg in Franklin County.
Small. While many men were enlisting to help those fighting in Lexington and Concord, this particular unit was different. The flintlock rifle in expert hands
was capable of consistently hitting a target at between 150 and 200 yards. Possibly Captain Hendricks with whom Small was under, devised a contest to
weed out the less skillful. An unnamed captain drew the figure of a nose on a board and placed at a distance of 150 yards. Sixty riflemen hit the target and
16—The Sentinel
were chosen. Quite a feat for anyone, even in that time period. That is the distance of one and one-half football fields! “This Battalion of Thompson’s is cited by the official lineage book of the U.S. Army as having furnished six of the first 10 companies of the Continental army.” [16] Surgeon James Thacher in his: A Military Journal During the Revolutionary War from 1775 to 1783, describes this battalion: “They are remarkably stout and hardy men; many of them exceeding six feet in height. They are dressed in white frocks or rifle
A pair of Pennsylvania historical markers recognize Thompson’s Rifle Battalion. This marker tells of Captain John Lowdon’s company. This can be found on North Front Street in Sunbury in Northumberland County.
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shirts and round hats. These men are remarkable for the accuracy of their aim, striking a mark with great certainty at two hundred yards distance. At a review, a company of them, while on a quick advance, fired their balls into objects of seven inches diameter, at the distance of two hundred and fifty yards. They are now stationed in our lines, and their shot have frequently proved fatal to British officers and soldiers who expose themselves to view, even at more than double the distance of common musket shot.” Edward Hand of Pennsylvania was a commanding officer who spoke of their first loss at the Battle of Bunker Hill. From a letter he writes on the 20th: “Poor Simpson (beau) had one of his legs shattered by a cannon ball. The director general took it off, but the poor lad was buried this evening.” [17] This unit was made up of “men born in Ireland or the sons of Irish immigrants. The other two companies were predominantly of German birth, or the sons of German immigrants…there were even a few of English birth or descent scattered throughout the battalion, among which was the brother and son of
John Harris, founder of Harrisburg. Within this unit also were Catholics and Protestants, but all were vehemently anti-British.” [18] Captain Hendricks company, which would have included Andrew Small, went to Cambridge and then to Quebec. The hopes were that Quebec would become the 14th, Colony; however, the ill-fated expedition was a disaster resulting in working their way through swamps, getting lost, almost dying of starvation only to arrive and not have the expected support from the Canadians. The invasion collapsed. Captain Hendricks would be killed in that expedition. Thompson’s Rifle Battalion would become the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment of the Continental Line, the first regiment of the newly formed United States Army. Commanding the eighth company of the Sixth Pennsylvania Battalion of the Continental Line, was Captain Robert Adams from Mifflin County. He was killed at Isle Oxnaux on June 21, 1776. Also in that company were other Mifflin County men including William Place a CLASSIFIED AD in
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Bratton as the first lieutenant. Men from Mifflin County went to New Jersey in December and were followed in January of 1776 under the command of Captain Arthur Buchanan but were later ordered back to protect the frontier. A company of 50 men went to defend against the native Americans in Frankstown. After the Spring of 1778, the frontier demanded the attention of all available forces from the county. [19] Our Militia was officially organized July 31, 1777, which was the Fifth Battalion of
Cumberland County Militia, again with Arthur Buchanan as colonel. The Battalion was to protect the frontier. Four of these companies were sent to the Continental Line and the regular army at Marcus Hook and were involved in the Battle of Brandywine. That battle was a defeat for the Americans, but this unit was assigned to meet and annoy the British on their march from Brandywine into Philadelphia. Captain Thompson’s company went to Valley Forge in January 1778. They were discharged from there in March of 1778.
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18—The Sentinel
‘Map of the Province of Pensilvania’ circa 1775 shows local features including the Juniata River, Raystown, Shermans Valley and the Augwick Creek. (Retrieved from www.mapsofpa.com)
FLAGS FOR HEROES n Please Joi When:
Who is your HERO? Is it a member of our Military, past or currently serving? Is it a Police Officer, Fireman, EMS or maybe a Doctor or a Teacher? If you ask a dozen people, you will hear 12 different answers. They walk among us daily and everyone has a HERO! The Rotary Club of Lewistown will be honoring your heroes with their “Flags for Heroes” event. On June 14th at 12:00 pm, we will invite our Heroes, their sponsors, and the public to attend a Grand Presentation of Heroes. The flags will be displayed at Kish Park in Burnham from June 14th - 20th.
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The Sentinel—19
Chapter 5: Among Others, Civil War Event Memorial Day Memorial Day events only happened in the United States in the late 19th century (1800s). Similar types of events have been held the world over for thousands of years. “The ancient Greeks and Romans held annual days of remembrance for loved ones (including soldiers) each year, festooning their graves with flowers and holding public festivals and feasts in their honor... Among those, one of the earliest commemorations in the United
States was organized after the Civil War, by recently freed African Americans. Thousands of Union soldiers were prisoners of war in POW camps in Charleston, South Carolina. Two hundred and fifty prisoners died from exposure and disease and were interred in a mass grave. Three weeks after the Confederate surrender, an unusual procession entered the former camp: On May 1, 1865, more than 1,000 people recently freed from enslave-
ment, accompanied by regiments of the U. S. Colored Troops and a handful of white Charlestonians, gathered in the camp to consecrate a new, proper burial site for the Union dead. The group sang hymns, gave readings, and distributed flowers around the cemetery, which they dedicated to the ‘Martyrs of the Race Course’” [20] General John Logan issued a decree in 1868 (Decoration Day) to commemorate the deaths of 620,000 sol-
diers killed in the Civil War asking Americans to lay flowers at the graves of the war dead. Memorial Day did not become a National Holiday until 1971. The date, May 30 had been selected because it was a date that did not fall on an anniversary date of a Civil War Battle. Boalsburg, Pennsylvania is one of 20 towns that make the claim of Memorial Day starting there. Even from these times, Americans were associating May 30
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with the arrival of Summer and a long weekend, and this date had been challenged until 1971. As you celebrate this Memorial Day having the day off work, going fishing, to the pool, or attending the National Moment of Remembrance with the Sounding of Taps, please remember those who are not here today. Remember those on our front lines. Remember those names from Mifflin County who sacrificed and died in our country’s wars, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Enduring Freedom, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan to name
only a few. Look at the names on “The Vietnam Veterans Memorial,” listing those killed. These aren’t names of the men we see in paintings from the French and Indian War or the American Revolutionary War. These soldiers were from Mifflin County who lived among us not that long ago — our fellow neighbors, friends, students, countrymen. Fellow citizens who many never knew and would never have that opportunity. It continues in those areas of conflict where Special Forces go today that we don’t know about — to fight those
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who would try to destroy us. Except for a few names, we will never know who made the immense and ultimate sacrifice. There are those in Special Forces from here, protecting us even as you read this. Please remember them, their sacrifices, their days, months, years, and some, a lifetime away from their families. Children who will lose a parent — or a parent who will lose a son or daughter. Hard losses that they know deep in their hearts had to be given. We owe an immense gratitude to them and to ourselves to keep
this country free from our known enemies, and also from those enemies within. At some point think about being in that wet, muddy, dirty foxhole, mud soaking through to your feet, your clothes are wet, and you are being shot at. Think of the booby traps, a close hit by an RPG or an IED exploding under your vehicle — the resulting sounds, smells, aches, pains, dust and dirt, the loss of a limb, no sleep, the noise, the fear, the marching, running, jumping, screaming — the silence. On Memorial Day we remember those who were silenced.
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Chapter 6: Local Events In our own area we will see celebrations in both McVeytown and Belleville over the weekend, and both are great events. There is one local event sponsored by the American Revolution Round Table of Central Pennsylvania on May 30 observing what is part of the National Moment of Remembrance that takes place across America with the Sounding of Taps. You won’t find a parade or food stands but you will see an afternoon in observance to honor those who have given their lives in honor to our country. This event both in front of and inside the Historic Mifflin County Courthouse on Monument Square in Lewistown, is free to the public, and consists of: 1:30 p.m.: Author Michael Harris speaking on the Battle of Germantown, a Revolutionary War Battle the Americans almost won and was part of the Philadelphia Campaign. You can meet the author and purchase his book if you like. He also wrote the book “The Battle of Brandywine” 3 p.m.: Drum Roll by Logan Guards; Sounding of Taps by Howard Reitenbaugh, Bu-
ABOVE: Stroup-Alexander Post 5935 Officer of the Day Laurie Patterson lays a rose at the base of the Roll Call Monument that sits in front of the post at the ceremony following the 2019 Belleville Memorial Day Parade. BELOW: Tom Fletcher, left, and John Wagner salute a wreath placed on the monument at the square on Memorial Day 2019 in McVeytown.
gles Across America, in front of the Old Courthouse on Monument Square. 3:10 p.m.: Wreath Laying at the Monument, Katherine Nace, Wreaths Across America 3:15 p.m.: 21 Gun Salute by the VFW Post 7011 Honor Guard. 3 p.m.: Scott Hill with the National Park Service will talk on Arlington House (Robert E. Lee Homestead), and Arlington National Cemetery There is no charge for this event. Donations are welcome.
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Footnotes 1. Nathaniel Philbrick, Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War, Penguin Books, Penguin Group, USA, 2006, New York, NY, p.24. 2. https://www.history.com/topics/colonial-america/mayflower-compact 3. Ibid, Philbrick, p. 75. 4. Ibid, Philbrick, p. 33. 5. https://www.history.com/topics/colonial-america/mayflower 6. https://www.nps.gov/fone/learn/historyculture/capitulation.htm 7. Patrick Spero, Frontier Rebels, W. W. Norton Co., New York, NY 2018, p. 40. 8. William A. Hunter, Forts on the Pennsylvania Frontier, 1753-1758, Wennawoods Publishing Lewisburg, PA 1999 p. 389. 9. Ibid. 10. https://www.loc.gov/item/sn84026371/, Pennsylvania Gazette, August 19, 1756 11. WWW.USGWARCHIVES.NET/PA/1PA/1PICTS/FRONTIERFORTS/FF23.HTML 10 12. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/article-abstract 13. Robert Emerson, Cumberland County Militia 5th Battalion unit information. 14. http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/history/tdavis1-3.txt 15. Col. William V. Kennedy, Thompson’s Pennsylvania Rifle Battalion, Keystone of the U.S. Army, pamphlet copyright 1985, second printing 1986, Stone House Studio Carlisle, PA. and Pennsylvania Archives, Series 5, Volume 2, Thompsons Rifle Battalion. 16. Ibid 17. Ibid 18. Ibid, p.1. 19. John Martin Stroup, Raymond Bell, The Genesis of Mifflin County Pennsylvania, Mifflin County Historical Society, 1957, pp 34-35. 20. WWW.HISTORY.COM, ACCESSED April 27, 2022.
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