THOMAS L. KANE

[1] The majority of the letters and despatches here given are in pos­session of Mrs. Elizabeth D. Kane, who has kindly furnished copies. Even Colonel Kane hardly realized the determination of the Southern­ers at this time. He apparently believed that the mobilization of troops in the North would be sufficient to quell the rebellion.

[2] This notice was printed at Olean, N. Y., and evidently before the telegram from Secretary Slifer in regard to the Government furnishing muskets reached Kane.

[3] Also called by some of the men "Bob."

[4] At this late day it is extremely difficult to ascertain the exact number of men on the four rafts, but the figure given cannot be far from the actual number.

[5] By the 30^th of April Governor Curtin had succeeded inhavinf twenty-four regiments mustered into the U.S.  service exclusive og the Scott Legion of Philadelphia.

[6] When the matter was straightened out the State returned the check.

[7] ' At this place the McKean County Rifles elected their officers. The officers thus elected will be named when recording the regimental organization.

[8] General McCall was a graduate of West Point. He was born is ISo2, graduated in IBzz, served on Major-General Gaines' staff till 1836, when he was promoted to Captain in the 4th U. S. Infantry. He served against the Indians in Florida, and was recommended by General Worth for the brevet of Major "for gallant conduct at Pelalicaha." He then served under General Taylor in the Mexican War and received the brevets of Major and Lieutenant-Colonel "for gallant and distinguished "services in the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma." In I8$o he was appointed Inspector General, U. S. A., with rank of Col­onel, but owing to ill health resigned in 1853, and resided at West Ches­ter till called upon by Governor Curtin.

[9] Patriot and Union," Harrisburg, June 13, 1861.

[10] Philip Holland was born in Cloghjordan, Tipperary County, Ire­land, on February zz, 1836. With his family he emigrated to the United States while still a youth, and lived for a time in Elmira, N. Y., where he was educated and where he organized a Volunteer Fire Company of which he was elected Chief. At Elmira he also engaged in mercantile business. Shortly before the war he removed to Lawrenceville, Pa., or­ganizing another Volunteer Fire Company at that place, which enlisted and became Company A, of the Bucktails, and of which he was elected Captain. He commanded his company at Dranesville, Mechanicsville, Games' Mill, and New Market Cross Roads. At Gaines' Mill he elicited the most favorable comments from Major Stone for his skill and bravery; at New Market Cross Roads, while bravely endeavoring to rally the disordered troops he was killed.

Up to the time of his death he was a correspondent of the "Tioga "County Agitator," his articles appearing over the signature of "Colonel "Crockett." Since his death a "Phil Holland" Post, G. A. R., has been established in his honor.

[11] Langhorne Wister was born at "Belfield," near Germantown Philadelphia, September 20, 1834. He was educated at Germantown Academy and shortly after completing his studies entered the employ of  the Duncannon Iron Company, Perry County, Pa. Upon the out- break of the war, a company being formed at Duncannon, he accepted its Captaincy, and with it entered the service at Harrisburg, as Company B, of the Bucktails. He took an active part in the early campaigns of the regiment and was slightly wounded at Gainer' Mill, June 27, 1862, but remained in the field. Upon the close of the Peninsular campaign he in company with Major Roy Stone, returned to Pennsylvania on re- cruiting service, the enrollment of an entire Bucktail brigade be­ing contemplated. Owing to the scarcity of time, when two regiments had been recruited, this idea was abandoned, Wister being elected Col­onel of one, the 150th, and Stone the Colonel of the other, the 149th; Colonel Wister's promotion bearing date September 5, 1862. The 150th took but slight part in the Chancellorsville campaign, but at Gettysburg with the other regiments of its brigade fought bravely and desperately. Colonel Wister on July r, after the wounding of Colonel Stone, succeeded to the command of the brigade. Later in the day he himself was wounded in the face, but, though compelled to retire from the command, he remained upon the field, where his presence did much to animate the troops. After a short leave of absence, granted on account of his wound, he returned and resumed command of the brigade but resigned February 22, 1864, and on March 13, 1865, was brevetted Briga- dier-General, U. S. Vols., "for distinguished gallantry at the battle of Gettysburg, Pa.; also for gallant conduct at the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, Va., and for meritorious services during the war."

            Upon returning to civil life he engaged in the iron business at Duncannon and Philadelphia, continuing in that occupation until his death, which occurred March 19, 1891, at Philadelphia. He was never married.

He was a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, Alli­son Post, G. A. R., etc.

[12] John A. Eldred was born February, 1825, at Milford, Pike Co., Pa., at which place he was educated. Upon attaining manhood he fol­lowed the lumberman's calling, but when, in 1861, upon the outbreak of the war, Colonel Kane commenced recruiting a regiment from the lum­bermen in the northern part of the State, he enlisted and was elected Captain of Company C. Owing to rheumatism, which was too severe to permit him to perform his duties, he was compelled to resign on September io, 1861. Subsequently to the war he resumed the occupa­tion previously followed by him.

[13] Roy Stone was born at Plattsburg, N. Y., October 16, 1836. He was educated at Union College, but during his early, manhood removed to Warren, Pa., where he resided till the outbreak of the war, and where, upon the outbreak of the war, in a manner similar to that pur­sued by General Kane, he organized a company of hardy mountaineers and lumbermen, known as the "Raftsman Guards," which became Com­pany D, of the Bucktails. He had been elected Captain of the "Rafts­"man Guards," but after their arrival in Harrisburg upon the organ­ization of the regiment was elected its Major, and participated in the western Virginia, Dranesville, and Peninsular campaigns. In the latter, owing to the illness of Colonel McNeil, the command of the regiment devolved upon him. He was slightly wounded at New Market Cross Roads, and his courage and skill in handling his men earned for him the warm commendation of his superior officers. Upon the close of the Peninsular campaign, accompanied by Captain Wister, of Com­pany B, he returned to Pennsylvania with the intention of recruiting a brigade, to be composed of men similar in quality to the Bucktails. Lack of time rendered it impossible to raise more than two regiments, Major Stone being elected Colonel of the 149th and Captain Wister Colonel of the 150th regiment. Colonel Stone was then assigned to the command of the Second brigade, Third division, Fifth Army corps, composed of the 143d, 149th, and 150th regiments. In August, 1862, he married Miss Mary  E. Marker. His brigade took part in the Chancel­Iorsville campaign, and later at Gettysburg achieved for itself an en­viable record. At the latter battle Colonel Stone was severely wounded, and en May 6, 1864, during the battle of the Wilderness, he sustained a fall from his horse which reopened the wound. Unable to continue active service, he was discharged by Special Order, January 27, 1865, but not until on the preceding 7th of September he had been brevetted Brigadier-General for "gallant service through the war, and especially "at Gettysburg."

Subsequently to the war he was engaged in active pursuits along the Allegheny, but when the Spanish-American War broke out, he served as Brigadier-General of Volunteers under General Miles, taking an ac­tive part in the occupation of Porto Rico. He was honorably discharged December 31, 1898.

For some years previous to his death, General Stone resided at Morristown, N. J., at which place he died on August 6, 1905,

[14] Alanson E. Niles was born on October 5, 1816, at Charleston Township, near Wellsboro, Pa. Inheriting his father's farm, he en­gaged in agriculture during his early manhood, marrying in 1842 Miss Angeline Austin. In 1857 he removed to Wellsboro, where, with Aaron G. Elliott, he engaged in mercantile business under the firm name of Niles and Elliott.

Upon the outbreak of the war he was active in organizing a com­pany, which afterwards became Company E, of the Bucktails, he being elected Captain. He was wounded at Dranesville, his conspicuous brav­ery being mentioned in the official dispatches. Acting as rear-guard on the withdrawal from Mechanicsville to Gaines' Mill he was, with parts of Companies D and E, surrounded, cut off and captured. After forty-five days in Libby Prison he was released and rejoined his regi­ment. On March 1, 1863, he was promoted to Major, and on May 15, 1863, to Lieutenant-Colonel. At Gettysburg he was severely wounded in the thigh during the charge of the Reserves down the front of Little Round Top. His wounds incapacitating him for active cam­paigning, he resigned and was assigned to a command in the Veteran Reserve Corps at Washington with the rank of Colonel, and in this position it fell to his duty to hold  Mosby's Rangers in check. He was then sent to Point Lookout, a depot for prisoners, where he remained until Lee's surrender. Returning to Washington, he had charge of that city, on the day of the Grand Military Review. Commissioned a Cap­tain in the regular army, he was next assigned to command of the bar­racks at Plattsburg, N. Y., but being still troubled by his wounds, he was retired in 1869, with rank and pay of Captain, residing in Wells­boro till his death, which occurred on October 8, 1891, in the German Hospital, Philadelphia, to which place he had gone to undergo a surgi­cal operation.

[15] Dennis McGee was born in 1833 in Ireland, and was educated at a college in that country. After his removal to. the United States he was employed in some furnaces at Mauch Chunk, and also kept a store in that city. When the " Irish Infantry" was organized in Mauch Chunk, he having been elected Captain, went with it to Harrisburg, where it became Company F, of the Bucktails. His discharge from the service was dated May 4, 1863. Subse­quently he engaged in mercantile pursuits, resided in Hokendauqua, and was active in politics. He died in 1878.

[16] While at Harrisburg a few recruits joined the company, among them being William H. Rauch, afterwards known both in the regi­ment and Regimental Association as the "Little Orderly." This soubri­quet was given to him by Captain Dennis McGee. Sergeant Rauch's stature was less than that demanded by the military authorities, but desirous of enlisting he persuaded John Meyers, a man over six feet tall, who had already passed the physical examination, to do so once again in his name. Meyers, nothing loath, did so, and Captain McGee when appointing Rauch First-Sergeant addressed him as "Little "Orderly," a nickname speedily seized upon by the men in the regi­ment.

[17] Unfortunately, efforts to obtain reliable information in regard to Captain McDonald's life have proven futile.

[18] Charles Frederick Taylor, a younger brother of the author, Bay­ard Taylor, was born on February 6, i8qo, at West Chester, Pa. He received his primary education at the local schools at Kennett Square, to which place his father removed in 1846. Though frail in health, he entered the University of Michigan in 1855, somewhat against the judg­ment of his elder brother, and made rapid progress in his studies. In 1856, however, he left the University to join his brother and two sisters in a tour through Europe, hoping in this way to improve his health The party visited England, France, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy, but while Bayard made his celebrated visit to Lapland and Sweden, Charles Frederick with his sisters remained at Lake Geneva.

In the spring of I857 he, with his sisters, went to Gotha, intending to perfect himself in the German language. Returning to America, physically stronger, and mentally broader, in the fall of 1857, he re­turned to college; but owing to private reasons, was compelled to abandon his collegiate ambitions to assume the direction of his father's farm.

With the outbreak of the Rebellion, Taylor was seized with a de­sire to do his part to suppress it. On April 20, 1861, he called a meet­ing of the men in the neighborhood, in the Borough Hall, commencing immediately the organization of a company. When this company be­came Company H, of the Bucktails, Taylor, who had been elected Cap­tain, went with it, participating in the battles of Dranesville and Har­risonburg. Captured at the latter, while making an effort to rescue his Colonel, he rejoined the regiment, and owing to Colonel McNeil hav­ing been killed at Antietam, commanded it during the battle of Fred­ericksburg, during which he was wounded. When he recovered, he again rejoined the regiment, and on March I, 1863, was promoted to the Colonelcy. At the battle of Gettysburg he led his regiment in the charge of the Reserves which saved Little Round Top to the Union Army, but was killed shortly after, while in the woods, beyond and to the left of the stone wall, in front of the wheatfield. He was buried at Longwood. His brother Bayard, writing from Gotha, upon receipt of the news of his death, said "Nobody knows how dear Fred was "to me: through him I knew what a brother's love meant. I had "brighter hopes for him than for myself: he was better and nobler "than I" The Charles Frederick Taylor Post, G. A. R., erected a marker to commemorate the spot upon which he fell, but through lack of data the location selected was erroneous. The Regimental Association of the Bucktails, however, on October 6, 1905, unveiled and dedicated an­other marker, properly and correctly inscribed upon the spot where Colonel Taylor was actually killed.

[19] William Thomas Blanchard was born March 26, 1838, at Palmer, Hampden County, Mass. He attended the common schools and for a time the High School of that town, also spending some three months at an academy at Warren, Mass. Leaving school he entered the mer­cantile house of a relative in Boston. In I860 he went to New York, under the auspices of another relative, then promoting the Bradford arid Pittsburg Railroad in the northwestern part of Pennsylvania. The outbreak of the war caused a cessation of the construction of the road, and Blanchard, who had met Thomas L. Kane, who was engaged in recruiting in the lumber districts and who desired his assistance, went immediately to Bradford. When the men arrived in Harrisburg, Blanchard, who had been elected Captain, became with his men, Com­pany I, of the Bucktails, and took part in the campaigns in western Virginia and the battle of Dranesville.

Captain Blanchard's Company I was one of the four companies of the Bucktails, selected to form Kane's battalion, which was attached to Bayard's "Flying Brigade" during the Valley campaign of June, 1862. On June 6th, at Harrisonburg, Captain Blanchard was wounded in both legs, and upon this account was compelled to resign on December I, 1862. He entered the Veteran Reserve Corps, being made Captain September 6, 1863.

Subsequently to the war, Captain Blanchard was engaged in the life-insurance and coke business, but suffered so severely from the effects of his wounds, that, since 1899, he has been hopelessly crippled, residing at Newport, Campbell County, Ky.

[20] This flag afterwards served as the regimental colors from Second Bull Run to Fredericksburg.

[21] Edward A. Irvin was born in January, 1838, at Curwensville, Pa. He completed his education in 1857 at Edge Hill School, Princeton, after which he was associated with his father in the lumber business in his native town. In 1861 he went into business for himself, but the outbreak of the war caused him to abandon it.

On April 20th of that year, with his father's approbation, he com­menced to recruit a company, which became Company K, of the Buck­tails, Irvin being elected Captain. He took part in the battles fought by his company and with it was captured at Mechanicsville, after holding out in the Chickahominy swamps for almost a week. After being exchanged and rejoining his regiment he was wounded at South Moun­tain, September iq, 1862, and again at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. He was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel September to, 1862, .but owing to the severity of his wounds was never mustered. On May z, 1863, being still totally unable to perform duty, he was discharged. While absent from the army on account of wounds, Colonel Irvin, on October Io, 1862, married Miss Emma Augusta Graham.

Upon the conclusion of the war as he slowly regained his health he resumed his lumber operations. He also became prominent in real­estate and financial circles in his section of the State, and in 1904 was elected to the Senate of Pennsylvania.

He is a member of the Pennsylvania Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, President of the Curwensville Bank, and has held the office of Treasurer of the Regimental Association of the Bucktails since its organization.

[22] While awaiting muster at Harrisburg the first death occurred in the Bucktail regiment, George W. Mattison being accidentally shot by his tent-mate. His death occurring before the date of muster, his name is of necessity omitted from the rolls.

[23] Thomas Leiper Kane was born January 27, 1822, in Philadelphia. His paternal great-grandfather being General Robert Van Renssalaer and his maternal grandfather Major Thomas Leiper Kane, he inherited patriot blood from both lines of his ancestry. Liberally provided for by his father, he completed his college education at seventeen, after which he visited England and France. During a stay of some years in Paris, he acquired great proficiency in the French language and con­tributed articles to several of the French magazines. Inoculated with the teachings of Fourier, he declined to become the heir of a wealthy kinsman, the offer being coupled with the conditions that he assume the name of Morrison and become an English subject. After study­ing law he was admitted to the Philadelphia bar, but rarely practiced. He accepted the position of Clerk of the District Court under his father, judge Kane, and during his incumbency, introduced reforms that incidentally reduced his own income $2500 a year. He was also one of the United States Commissioners.

An abolitionist at heart, he corresponded with Greeley and Emer­son, at the same time writing upon philanthropic subjects in the press of the day. In 1848 he became chairman of the Free Soil State Central Committee, and upon the passage of the Fugitive Slave Law, the duties involved in the retention of the office of United States Commissioner being in conflict with the dictates of his conscience, he resigned the lat­ter office. His letter of resignation was construed by his father as contempt of court, and he was committed. This action was overruled by judge Grier, of the Supreme Bench, and Kane was set free, becom­ing an active co-operator of the " Underground Railroad."

After his return from Europe, he had visited the West in I84y. He became interested in the Mormons, met Brigham Young, and se­cured the confidence of the misguided sect. In 1858 after Young had called upon his people to arm themselves to resist the entrance of United States troops, and Governor Cumming had issued a proclama­tion, declaring the Territory to be in a state of rebellion, Kane went to Utah, entirely at his own expense, but armed with letters from President Buchanan, and by his tact and skill prevented bloodshed.

He founded and laid out the town of Kane, Pennsylvania, laid out routes for some of the railroads in that section and found the low summit over which the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad crosses the Alleghenies.

He supported a Model Infant School, adapted from the French Salles d'Asile; was working manager of the House of Refuge; and director of the Sunbury and Erie Railroad. In 1853 he married Elizabeth Dennistown Wood, since Dodos of Medicine, who survives him. His brother, Elisha Kent Kane, became known throughout the world on account of his achievements in Arctic explorations.

On the outbreak of the war Kane organized the Bucktail regi­ment, but upon being elected Colonel, resigned in favor of the Mexican War veteran, Charles J. Biddle. While with the Bucktails he was wounded at Dranesville, captured at Harrisonburg, and his name was frequently mentioned in the official reports. Appointed Brigadier-Gen­eral for gallant services, September y, 1862, he commanded the Second brigade, Second division, Twelfth Army corps, at Chancellorsville Contracting pneumonia, he was in the hospital at Baltimore just before the battle of Gettysburg, but entrusted with a message from the War Department to General Meade, that the Confederates were in posses­sion of the Union cipher, he secured the services of a daring Kentuckian to drive him to the field. Stopped once by Stuart's men, their Southern accent enabled them to escape, and Kane, though still too weak to sit on his horse, assumed command of his brigade upon the second day's fight. On the third day's fight his brigade, repulsed the charge of Jackson's old division under command of General Johnson. Worn out by wounds and exposure, Kane was compelled to resign November 7, 1863, being brevetted Major-General for "gallant and meritorious ser­vices at Gettysburg." Upon the conclusion of the war he resided at his home in McKean County, but spent two winters in Philadelphia upon inheriting the old family house on Walnut Street, where he died December 26, 1883, of lobar pneumonia.

He was the first president of the Board of State Charities, a mem­ber of the American Philosophical, American Geographical sad Penn­sylvania Historical Societies, in addition to being a Free-Mason. He wan the author of "The Mormons" (Philadelphia, 1850) ; "Alaska" (1868) ; and "Coahuila!' (1877).

Since his death there have been established, is his honor, the "Gea­"eral Kane Post, No. 292," of Mount Union, Pa., the "Thomas L. Kane "Post," of Washington Territory, the "Sons of Veterans, Thomas L "Kane Post," of Titusville, Pa., and the "U. V. L. Encampment, No. 6." 4

[24] "Sir : I this day resign the post of Colonel of the `Rifle Regi­'I'ment of the Reserve Volunteer Corps of Pennsylvania,' respect-

fully presenting for appointment by you, to fill my place, Lieutenant­-Colonel Charles J. Biddle, of Philadelphia, whose merits as an officer "and a gentleman need no other advocacy on my part:" ("History of "Pennsylvania Volunteers," by Samuel P. Bates, Vol. I, p. 909.)

[25] Charles John Biddle was born on April 30, 18ig, at Philadelphia, Pa. After graduating at Princeton University in 1837, he studied law and was admitted; to the bar in I84o. He volunteered in the militia for the suppression of the native American and Catholic riots in 1844. Upon the outbreak of the Mexican War he recruited a company, of which he was made Captain. This company was placed in a new regiment ordered for the regular army, having for its Lieutenant-Col­onel Joseph $. Johnson, who afterwards acquired a wide reputation in the Confederate army. Captain Biddle took part in the actions of Contreras, Churubusco, Molino del Rey, Chapultepec, and was present also at the capture of the City of Mexico. In recognition of his bravery at Chapultepec, when against General Scott's "wish and "orders" he left a sick bed to take part in the action, he was brevetted Major, "for gallant and meritorious conduct," while General Kearney selected him as one of his aides-de-camp.

Upon the conclusion of the war, he resumed the practice of the law, and in 1853 married Miss Emma Mother. When the Rebellion broke out he was appointed a member of the Committee of Safety and took an active part in the drilling of the troops. Upon the or, ganization of the Bucktail regiment, and Thomas L. Kane's declination of the proffered Colonelcy, he was elected to that position, and to his efforts were largely due the shaping and progress of the regiment. In October, 1861, he was elected a member of Congress, and though offered a Brigadier-Generalship, decided that he could best serve his country is its legislature. After the close of the war, Colonel Biddle became one of the proprietors and editor-in-chief of the Philadelphia "Age," in which position he continued till his death, which occurred upon Sep­tember 28, 1873. The bulk of his literary work was editorial, but his essay "The Case of Major Andre," read in reply to Lord Mahon's attack on Washington in his "History of England," drew most favorable com­ments from the critical reviews. The essay was read before the Penn­sylvania Historical Society and was subsequently printed.

[26] History of Pennsylvania Volunteers;" by Samuel P. Bates, Vol. L, p. 909.

[27] 'The regiment was already known as the "First Rifles, Pennsyl­vania Reserves"; "Forty-Second Pennsylvania Volunteers"; "Buck­"tails"; and "Seventeenth Pennsylvania." When it first entered upon active service it was occasionally referred to in the despatches as the "Kane Rifles," but in a short time "Bucktails" became the almost uni­versal designation of the regiment and the one by which it was known throughout the two armies, though both in the organization and cas­ualty reports it appears as the "First Rifles" or "Thirteenth Pennsylva­nia Reserves"

[28] S. D. Freeman was born in Potter County, Pa., on January 29, 1829. His father removed to Shippen Township in 1832, at which place Dr. Freeman attended the common schools. By hard study he fitted himself to enter the office of Dr. Wisner, a practicing physician of the borough, and a year later entered the Buffalo Medical University, from which he graduated with high honors in 1856. He married Miss Lucretia A. Reisdorph in 1855.

Upon the organization of the Bucktail regiment he was appointed surgeon, but his efficiency attracting the attention of his superior offi­cers, he was, in 1862, promoted to the position of Medical Director and stationed at Baltimore, where he remained until the close of the war.

Subsequently he was appointed Medical Director of the North­west Department, filling that position with headquarters at St. Paul, during Custer's campaign against the Indians. He was brevetted Lieu­tenant-Colonel at the close of the war for meritorious services.

In 1876 he was correspondent for the Committee on Foreign Rela­tions of the United States Senate, and visited Mexico with the com­mittee during the complications which existed at about that time. He established a Sanitarium at Smethport, known by his name, in which he died on August 14, 1894.

[29] Quartermaster Patton was not officially made Quartermaster till December. To be eligible to the office a rank of 1st-Lieutenant was necessary; hence, in December, the latter position in Company F being vacant, Patton was elected 1st-Lieutenant and then commissioned Quar­termaster.

[30] 'Hugh Watson McNeil was born on January 10, 1830, in Oswego, N. Y., of Scotch parentage; his father being the Rev. Archibald Mc­Neil, a Scotch Presbyterian minister. At eighteen he entered Yale Uni­versity, and during his residence, which, owing to circumstances, was abridged, stood high in his class. Resuming his studies at Delaware College, he graduated with the degree of Master of Arts, winning in addition to a recognition of his scholarship a reputation as an orator.

After his graduation he taught at the Union Academy for a year; filled a position on the United States Coast Survey under Prof. Alexan­der Bache for two years; and then entered the United States Treasury Department, where he remained for three years.

He was ambitious to enter the legal profession, and spent all his leisure studying law under the preceptorship of William H. Seward, then Senator. Though admitted to the bar in Washington City, his health, which had been impaired by overwork, forced him to return to New York, where he entered the law offices of Blatchford Seward. His health still continuing poor, and pulmonary disease threatening him, he removed to Warren, Pa., in 1858, hoping that such removal from the vicinity of the sea would be beneficial. At this place he filled the position of cashier of the Warren Bank, and rapidly became known and respected by his fellow townsmen.

Upon the outbreak of the war, when Roy Stone commenced the organization, in Warren, of the "Raftsman Guards," McNeil was one of the first to enlist as a private; and upon its completion was elected Lieutenant. When the "Raftsman Guards" became Company D, of the Bucktails, Stone, who had been previously elected Captain, became Major of the regiment, and McNeil thus became Captain of his company. At Dranesville, when for a short time Lieutenant-Colonel Kane was in charge of the brigade, McNeil assumed command of the regiment, and upon the resignation of Colonel Biddle was elected, on January 22, 1862, to the Colonelcy. Stricken with typhoid fever, he was unable to participate in the Peninsular campaign, but rejoined the six companies that took part in the Seven Days' retreat, at Harrison's Landing. These companies he commanded with marked skill at the Second Bull Run. The entire regiment being united before the Mary­land invasion, McNeil at South Mountain directed and encouraged his men on to victory, but at Antietam, on September 16, 1862, while lead­ing a charge, he was instantly killed. His body, escorted by a detach­ment from the regiment under command of Lieutenant McNaughton, was interred at Aubury, N. Y., with military honors.

[31] The dates of the various appointments are confused. The mus­ter rolls show that Captain McNeil received his promotion June I, while the election which made Stone Major did not occur till the 13th. Moreover, they show that Jewett was promoted to First-Lieutenant on June Iz, but fail to show when he became Adjutant. Possibly, if not probably, some elections were held is anticipation of confidently ex­pected results of others.

[32] ' In Company D was a man by the name of Francis Gruay, a Frenchman who had been soldiering in the French army for some eighteen years, and who had been wounded in South Africa. Knows throughout the regiment as " French Frank," he proved of great assist­ance in instructing the men in the use of the sword and bayonet. His dexterity was remarkable, nor, it is said, did he ever lose a contest in which he engaged. He was appointed Drill Master, and though his instruction in the manual of arms was of great value in developing the efficiency of the men, his broken English was occasionally the cause of laughter. He was several times appointed Sergeant, but a too great fondness for liquor prevented his further promotion and caused him to be reduced to the ranks.