298
COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Mexico the defense o f San Angelo* with ilie military stores* was committed lo die “ Colum bia Guards”; and on the 13th o f Se]>tember« 1847, they were among the first to enter in triumph, with General Scou at ihcir head* the capital city of the Moniezumas. A fte r an absence o f nearly two years, and with ranks thinned and battle flag tom and riddled, the Guards returned home. A wonderful reccjition was given them. N early one half the number who left home answered no longer the roll call on this side; and tears and sadness were mingled w*ith the jo y and cheers that welcomed the bronzed veterans' return. The roll of the company as it left for M ex ico was as follow s: ohn Anthony* William Barlicr, Samuel Baum. Daniel Barber. John Best. Anthony lk>on» Matthew Black well. William Clark. Thomas Colt* William Colt. Jam es Colt* WiUiam Cathcart* Isaac Comelison. Jam es Carson (captain)* .Alexan der l>on3ldson. William Donaldson. William DePew, Frederick Frick* --------- Fisher, Thom as G rier. Charles Goodman. William ( . Hurley, Ellis Hughes, Jacob Iliblcr* Samuel I iunitngdon. larcd Invin. Adolphus Kent, .Amos E . Kitchen* John Lundy, .Asher Lyon, Daniel W. Montgomery* John Montgomery, Henry Marshall. John Moore. Charles Moore. Andrew Y . Moore. Burrows Moore, Samuel Moore, Thom as Moorhead, Hugh M cW il liams, Hector McCallistcr* William S . Maus* Gideon Mellon, M.iuhcw Patterson. George Potter (captain)* John Pcrvln* Orrin Sholes* Jacob S e c h lc r, Savage. John M. Thiel* Casper Thiel, Samuel Underwood. David Woodside* Robert Woodside. Jacob Wicman* Isaac W arner. Thomas W^ilcy* Charles W il son, lohn Voung. A fte r die return of the Guards their ranks were recruited and George W. Forrest was elected captain. He served until his removal from town made it necessary fo r him to give up the command. O scar H|ihlin was then made captain. T his company kept up its oiganization until the breaking out of the Rebellion, in i86t. when it entered the three months’ se n lce under Captain Ephlin. On the expiration of their time many of the memliers rcenlisted in other companies, and (he Columbia Guards, as an organization. ]iassed out o f existence. But the memor)* of their noble deeds in two great wars will ever live: and Montour county is proud of the record of her brave boys. The Montour R ifles was the name o f a com]xmy organized Ju ly 14, 1855. by Capt. J . J . Zulier. August Fogcl was first lieuten j
ant and M. Kosetistine second lieutenant. T his coni)>any seems to have been com]>oscd principally o f tjermans. In 1859* through some disturtiancc and outside influence, the company was disbanded and most o f Us members entered the United States serdcc some months later* m.^ny of them going in a body and enlisting in Comjiany K* 6th R i^ m en t of Rescn*es. Mahlon R . Manly* captain, and John Horn, lieutenant. The C ivil w ar appealed to all the patriotism and loyalty in the American heart. E very community* large or small, was stirred to its depths. Montour county w as intensely loyal* and her residents* on the first af^ieal from President Lincoln fo r men to defend (he nation's honor and to rally round its flag* hastened to respond. Some of her most sub stantial citizens and skilled workmen laid aside their business and the implcmenu o f trade and donned the blue uniform of the citi zen soldiery. T he first military company that left Dan ville fo r the w ar w as recruited and com manded by Capt. William M cG u re. T he company included one hundred of the county’s best and bravest young men. The muster roll of this gallant band has not been pre served. T he enlistment of these boys w as fo r three months, and (hey served Uicir time. They were in the battle o f F a llit^ W aters and of their number Am os Zuppingcr was killed, the first soldier from Montour county to sacrifice his life in the Civil war. Many of these brave men, a fte r being mustered out of the service, reenlisted in other companies. CaiHatn McClure aficrw an ls commanded Company F, iia ih .Artillciy* and fo r brave comluct was subsequently promoted to the jKisition o f colonel of the repment. The B a ld y Guards were organized in D an ville and mustered into the ser*icc of the United States on the 23th o f Septemlicr* i86t* under comnund o f Capt. Josei^i F . Ramsey. T he company was called after Peter Baldy. S r., one of the oldest citizens o f Danville, who took much interest in its welfare. These boys were designated Company H of the famous 93d Regiment* Pennsylvania Volunteers, which regiment was engaged in some of the most important and <lesperate battles of the war* and many of the brave boys o f Montour county lost their lives on Southern fields while fighting in its ranks. Mrs. Charles W. bxkman now has in her possession the beautiful silk regimental flag prc5cnte<l to her hiishand. the colonel, upon
