APPENDIX "B"

 

 

REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION

OF THE

BUCKTAIL OR FIRST RIFLE REGIMENT OF THE PENNSYLVANIA RESERVE VOLUNTEER CORPS.

 

 

439

 

Owing possibly to the wide scattering of the survivors of the Bucktails, no .re-union was held until 1887. In May or June of that year, the desirability of such a meeting, and of the formation of a regimental association, seems to have impressed itself almost simultaneously upon General Hartshorne, Captain John P. Bard, Sergeant Jonathan V. Morgan and Sergeant William H. Rauch. After some desultory and disconnected efforts it was decided to hold a preliminary meeting at Harrisburg to formulate plans for the projected meeting. A circular was issued by Sergeant William H. Rauch, and upon August 2, 1887, the first meeting of the survivors of the regiment was held and a temporary organization effected; Lieutenant-Colonel Niles being elected President and Sergeant Rauch Secretary, both pro tem. The object of the meeting being stated by the President to be the making of the arrangements necessary for a re-union to be held later in the year, committees were appointed to further that design. Before adjournment, Williamsport was decided upon as the place, and October 20th and 21st as the dates of meeting.

So well did the committees work that when the First Reunion was called to order, in the room of the Reno Post, G. A. R., one hundred and nineteen survivors answered to the roll-call.

 

440

 

A permanent organization was effected under the name of the "Regimental Association of the Bucktail or First Rifle "Regiment of the Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps," a constitution adopted and officers elected.

Since that time re-unions have been held annually and each has been characterized by the good feeling and friendship that dominated the first. In every town or city where the meetings have been held, the Association has been the recipient of lavish hospitality. Parades have been held, excursions undertaken, and orations and speeches delivered. Lasting two or three days, the re-unions have been terminated by campfires, at which the recitals of military reminiscences have been enlivened by vocal and instrumental music.

The officers elected and the dates and places of meetings are as follows

FIRST RE-UNION, WILLIAMSPORT, PA., OCTOBER 20-2I, 1887.

President-Brigadier-General W. Ross Hartshorne.

Vice-President Lieutenant-Colonel Alanson E. Niles.

Treasurer-Lieutenant-Colonel Edward A. Irvin.

Secretary-Orderly-Sergeant William H. Rauch.

SECOND RE-UNION, BRADFORD, PA., SEPTEMBER 26-28, 1888.

President-Brigadier-General W. Ross Hartshorne.

Vice-President-Sergeant Jonathan V. Morgan.

Treasurer-Lieutenant-Colonel Edward A. Irvin.

Secretary-Orderly-Sergeant William H. Rauch.

THIRD RE-UNION, PHILIPSBURG, PA., AUGUST 2I-22, 1889.

President-Brigadier-General W. Ross Hartshorne.

Vice-President-Sergeant Jonathan V. Morgan.

Treasurer-Lieutenant-Colonel Edward A. Irvin.

Secretary-Orderly-Sergeant William H. Rauch.

 

 

441

 

 

FOURTH RE-UNION, WELLSBORO, PA., OCTOBER I4-I6, 18890.

                        President-Brigadier-General W. Ross Hartshorne.

                        Vice-President Lieutenant-Colonel Alanson E. Niles.

                        Treasurer-Lieutenant-Colonel Edward A. Irvin.

                        Secretary-Orderly-Sergeant William H. Rauch.

FIFTH REUNION, MAUCH CHUNK, PA., SEPTEMBER I6-18, 1891.

President-Brigadier-General W. Ross Hartshorne.

Vice-President-Lieutenant-Colonel Alanson E. Niles.

Treasurer-Lieutenant-Colonel Edward A. Irvin.

Secretary-Orderly-Sergeant William H. Rauch.

SIXTH RE-UNION, WASHINGTON, D. C., 1892.

Held in conjunction with the Grand Army of the Republic.

SEVENTH RE-UNION, WILLIAMSPORT, PA., OCTOBER I2-I3,

1893.

President Comrade Firmin F. Kirk.

Vice-President-Corporal Thomas H. Ryan.

Treasurer-Lieutenant-Colonel Edward A. Irvin.

Secretary-Orderly-Sergeant William H. Rauch.

Assistant-Secretary-Mrs. William H. Rauch.

EIGHTH RE-UNION, KANE, PA., AUGUST 23-24, 1894.

President-Comrade Firmin F. Kirk.

Vice-President-Comrade Lewis Hoover.

Treasurer-Lieutenant-Colonel Edward A. Irvin.

Secretary-Orderly-Sergeant William H. Rauch.

Assistant-Secretary-Mrs. William H. Rauch.

NINTH RE-UNION, LOCK HAVEN, PA., SEPTEMBER 4-5, 1895.

President-Comrade Firmin F. Kirk.

Vice-President-Comrade Lewis Hoover.

Treasurer-Lieutenant-Colonel Edward A. Irvin.

Secretary-Orderly-Sergeant William H. Rauch.

Assistant-Secretary-Mrs. William H. Rauch.

 

442

 

TENTH RE-UNION, EMPORIUM, PA., AUGUST 26-27, 1896.

President-Captain B. Frank Wright.

Vice-President-Major John A. Wolfe.

Treasurer-Lieutenant-Colonel Edward A. Irvin.

Secretary-Orderly-Sergeant William H. Rauch.

Assistant-Secretary-Mrs. William H. Rauch.

ELEVENTH RE-UNION, SMETHPORT, PA., AUGUST I9-20, 1897.

President-Major John A. Wolfe.

Vice-President-Comrade W. Wallace Brown.

Treasurer-Lieutenant-Colonel Edward A. Irvin.

Secretary-Orderly-Sergeant William H. Rauch.

Assistant-Secretary-Mrs. William H. Rauch.

TWELFTH RE-UNION, KENNETT SQUARE, PA., AUGUST I4-I5, 1898.

President-Comrade W. Wallace Brown.

Vice-President-Comrade Thomas H. Ryan.

Treasurer-Lieutenant-Colonel Edward A. Irvin.

Secretary-Orderly-Sergeant William H. Rauch.

Assistant-Secretary-Mrs. William H. Rauch.

THIRTEENTH RE-UNION, PHILADMPHIA, PA., SEPTEMBER 5-7, 1899.

President-Corporal Thomas H. Ryan.

Vice-President-Captain Leander W. Gifford.

Treasurer-Lieutenant-Colonel Edward A. Irvin.

Secretary-Orderly-Sergeant William H. Rauch.

Assistant-Secretary-Mrs. William H. Rauch.

FOURTEENTH RE-UNION, RIDGWAY, PA., SEPTEMBER 13-15, 1900.

President-Orderly-Sergeant William H. Rauch.

Vice-President-Captain Leander W. Gifford.

Treasurer-Lieutenant-Colonel Edward A. Irvin.

Secretary-Mrs. William H. Rauch.

Assistant-Secretary-Mrs. Ellen W. Foster.

FIFTEENTH RE-UNION, GET'I'YSBURG, PA., OCTOBER 11-I2, 1901.

President-Sergeant Jonathan V. Morgan.

Vice-President-Captain J. Elliott Kratzer.

Treasurer-Lieutenant-Colonel Edward A. Irvin.

Secretary-Orderly-Sergeant William H. Rauch.

Assistant-Secretary-Mrs. William H. Rauch.

SIXTEENTH RE-UNION, DUBOIS, PA., SEPTEMBER I6-I8, I902.

                        President-Captain J. Elliott Kratzer.

                        Vice-President-Comrade Michael Gannon.

                        Treasurer-Lieutenant-Colonel Edward A. Irvin.

                        Secretary-Orderly-Sergeant William H. Rauch.

                        Assistant-Secretary-Mrs. William H. Rauch.

SEVENTEENTH RE-UNION, HARRISBURG, PA., JUNE 24-25, 1903.

                        President Comrade Lewis Hoover.

                        Vice-President-Comrade Henry C. White.

                        Treasurer-Lieutenant-Colonel Edward A. Irvin.

                        Secretary-Orderly-Sergeant William H. Rauch.

                        Assistant-Secretary-Mrs. William H. Rauch.

            EIGHTEENTH RE-UNION, LOCK HAVEN, PA., 1904.

                        President-Comrade John Norris.

                        Vice-President-Comrade Sheldon Jewett.

                        Treasurer-Lieutenant-Colonel Edward A. Irvin.

                        Secretary-Orderly-Sergeant William H. Rauch.

                        Assistant-Secretary-Mrs. William H. Rauch.

NINETEENTH RE-UNION, CURWENSVILLE, PA., OCTOBER 3-4,

                                    1905.

President-Comrade Cornelius J. Smith.

Vice-President-Comrade Henry H. Taggart.

Treasurer-Lieutenant-Colonel Edward A. Irvin.

Secretary-Orderly-Sergeant William H. Rauch.

Assistant-Secretary-Mrs. William H. Rauch.

 

 

444

 

At the meeting in 1888 a committee was appointed to act in co-operation with committees of the other regiments of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps relative to the erection of a Memorial Building at Gettysburg for the Pennsylvania Reserves. After some years' discussion, however, the matter was dropped by the State authorities. A marker to indicate the spot where the Bucktail Colonel, Charles Frederick Taylor, fell, having been erected by the Charles Frederick Taylor Post 19, of Philadelphia, incorrectly lettered and inaccurately located, a committee of three was appointed to confer with the Taylor Post and arrange for the necessary corrections. In 1903 this committee was increased to five-Captain J. Elliott Kratzer, Comrade Firmin F. Kirk, Corporal Thomas H. Ryan, LieutenantColonel Edward A. Irvin and Secretary William H. Rauch-and was instructed to arrange for the cutting of a new marker and for its erection upon the correct spot.

After the final adjournment of the Nineteenth Annual Reunion of the Bucktails, held at Curwensville, Pa., October 4th and 5th, 1905, a large committee was formed to go to Gettysburg, Pa., to dedicate the new marker which had just been erected on the battle-field under the direction of the committee of five, previously mentioned, designating the exact spot where Colonel Taylor fell.

At Gettysburg the party was met by delegations from Philadelphia, Kennett Square, Lebanon, Reading and other places.

Friday, October 6th, 1905, had been designated as the time for the ceremonies to take place, and on the afternoon of that day the comrades, with their wives and children, assembled in the woods adjoining the well-remembered wheat field.

 

 

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The marker, probably one of the finest on the battle-field, is of dark Barre granite, three feet four inches long, two feet two inches wide and four feet six inches high. On a polished panel on the front, surmounted by a cap and bucktail is the following inscription

HERE FELL,

CHARLES FREDERICK TAYLOR,

July 2, 1863,

Age 23 Years 4 Months 26 Days,

COLONEL OF "THE BUCKTAILS"

FIRST RIFLE REGIMENT, P. R. V. C.

Erected by his Comrades and Friends.

1905.

And on the reverse side

CHARLES FREDERICK TAYLOR,

Born February 6, 1840.

Enrolled May 15, 1861.

CAPTAIN CO. H, 13TH PENNA. RESERVES

(FIRST RIFLES), MAY 28, 1861.

COLONEL, MARCH 1, 1863.

KILLED IN ACTION  JULY 2, 1863.

 

Comrade William H. Rauch called the assemblage to order and invoked a divine blessing upon the present undertaking and introduced Lieutenant-Colonel Edward A. Irvin, who spoke as follows

COMRADES, LADIES AND GENTLEMAN:

I have looked forward to the arrival of this day with considerable anxiety, as it was selected as the time when we as Bucktails and friends, would be called upon to unveil this handsome marker, which designates the spot where fell one of the most gallant American soldiers who ever drew sword.

I was pleased when I learned my comrades had selected me as their representative on this occasion, as the  relations between Col. Taylor


and myself were of such a character as to afford an opportunity to offer a tribute to one who was very dear to my heart.

I am sorry, now that the day has come, that some other comrade is not here to take my place, as illness has overtaken me, and I feel almost unable to undertake the task assigned.

My comrades insist, however, and I beg you to bear with me in the few words I shall have to say of our fallen friend and fellow Bucktail.

An acquaintance which ripened into the warmest kind of friendship began at Camp Curtin, upon the very first day we commenced drilling our respective companies for the arduous task that followed later on during the three years that were to come.

Col. Taylor called upon me at my quarters, and we talked together of some of the difficulties that surrounded us. From that day we became firm and fast friends.

When Col. Taylor was on parole and I was recovering from wounds, I visited beautiful Kennett, his home, and there I learned to love this loyal American soldier and gentleman still more. I found how true a patriot he was, and after many a heart-to-heart talk, I was convinced that the Government had indeed found in Col. Taylor a gem of the first water.

Our military lives were so close that it is a pleasure in these after years to dwell upon them. We were both wounded at Fredericksburg and carried to the same hospital, and our promotions occurred at the same time, he to the Colonelcy of the regiment, and I to LieutenantColonel.

My one regret has ever been that I was not with him on this memorable field, where he gave up his young life that his country might live.

But this was not to be. The Surgeon-General refused to entertain my desire to rejoin my regiment, which was a source of disappointment to me then, and has been ever since.

On the march to Gettysburg, I received a letter from Col. Taylor, in which he told me of the wonderful efciency the regiment had attained. His prediction then was that the regiment, in the event of an engagement, would add another star to those already on the Bucktail flag.

Comrades! Bucktails ! I do not feel able to utter what I so much desire to say regarding the second day of July, 1863.

I can, however, see in my mind, our noble Bucktail chief leading his regiment in a charge down yonder hill, giving to you, my comrades, an example of heroic courage never before witnessed. How he led you on, meeting the enemy in the conflict, how you received with cheers the command, "Forward, Bucktails, forward," on, on, ever on, crossing Plum Run, up to, and over the slopes to the stone fence, always forwat d. Glorious Bucktails ! Gallant Taylor! What a great day it was.

But in that advance of the regiment the bullet came that silenced our gallant Colonel's voice forever. History and poets must do the rest. I can say no more.

I shall now ask you to unveil the stone, on which is inscribed the record of the youngest Colonel of the Army of the Potomac, Charles Frederick Taylor, who was killed when only 23 years, 4 months and 25 days old.

(Comrade Thomas H. Ryan here removed the covering from the stone.)

Col. Taylor was born at West Chester, Pa., February 6, 1840. His parents were Joseph and Rebecca W. Taylor. They were descended from Quaker stock, were married in 1818, and moved to Kennett Square.

Col. Taylor was the youngest of ten children. He was educated in the schools of the neighborhood and at Ann Harbor University.

Of the family surviving are Dr. J. Howard Taylor, of Philadelphia; Mrs. Charles Carey and Mrs. Charles Lamborn, of Kennett Square.

At the first call to arms young Taylor formed the company which afterwards became Company H, of the Old Bucktails.

This stone is but a slight testimonial from his surviving comrades, and will last long after we too have gone to the great beyond, and will tell those of after years the whole story of a young life given for his country and its flag.

Mrs. Charles Carey, of Kennett Square, Pa., a sister of Colonel Taylor, responded to the address of Colonel Irvin in a feeling manner.

The marker was then decorated with flowers and ferns, and the comrades scattered over that portion of the field where they had fought over forty years ago and recounted to the visitors and younger generation the story of the Bucktails and their famous charge at Little Round Top.

The Regimental Association has also given birth to others -.an honorary membership, a Bucktail Band, composed chiefly of sons of Bucktails, a Bucktail Drum and Fife Corps at Grand Rapids, Minn., and the "Junior Bucktail Association," the latter composed of lineal descendants of Bucktails, and having for its President Mr. Frank L. Beeby, son of the late Comrade Richard Beeby, of Company H.

 

 

448

 

At the meeting held in 1894, Mrs. Elizabeth D. Kane, widow of the organizer of the Bucktails, was formally elected the "Mother of the Regiment."

A notice of the Association would be incomplete without mention of the printed reports of the re-unions which are issued each year. Comprising sometimes as many as sixty pages, they are compiled by the Secretary, and contain not only transcripts of the minutes, reports of the meetings, copies of the addresses delivered and summaries of the doings around the camp-fires, but also each year the names and post-office addresses of all the surviving members of the regiment. A necrology, added annually, gives briefly the outlines of the lives of those who pass away between the re-unions.