History of Company K. 1st (Inft,) Penn'a Reserves — Context and Discussion

Organization of the Company.

On the 15th day of May, 1861, a Bill was passed by both branches of the Penn'a Legislature, received the Governor's signature, and became a law of the commonwealth, authorizing the organization of a military corps, to be called, the Reserve volunteer corps, to be composed of Thirteen regiments of Infantry, One of Cavalry and One of Artillery, to be mustered into the State service, and to be liable to be mustered into the service of the United States at any time. (See Bill.)

In response to orders issued to local military organizations in the state, the "Adams county infantry," of Gettysburg, accepted the call. The ranks were filled to the maximum number, in a few days, from all parts of the county, and was officered as follows:--

Edward McPherson, Captain; J. Finley Bailey, 1st Lieut; J. J. Herron, 2nd Lieut.

We rendezvoused at Gettysburg on Friday June 7. 1861, having been accepted by Gov. Curtin, under the provisions of the Bill above recorded.

On Saturday June 8th, at 7:30 a. m. the command took the train, and proceeded to Camp Wayne, at Westchester, Pa., where a Camp was organized under charge of Capt. H. M. McIntire, as a rendezvous, for a portion of the Reserve corps.

We reached Camp at 6:30 p. m. and entered upon an experience, which few suspected would last for the whole term of three years.

An Organization was effected, by the appointment of non-Commissioned officers, on Tuesday June 11th as follows:--

W. W. Stewart, 1st Sergeant, and J. J. Duey, Peter H. Henry, and H. N. Minnigh, Sergeants, in the order named; also, the following Corporals:--J. D. Sadler, P. L. Houck, Jacob Resser and D. D. Bailey.

The Record will prove whether these were judicious selections or not.

"After muster into the State service, our progress in the drill was so marked, that Col. Roberts, on account of the character of the men and their proficiency, selected us as Company B, of the Regiment," says Capt. McPherson in a recent letter, "an assignment which was overruled by Gen'l McCall, when the regiment reached Washington. The Union guards of Lancaster, which had originally been Co. B, was thereby restored and we were made, as at first, Co. K, which position had naturally fallen to us, having been the last company of those forming the First regiment, that arrived in camp."

Well! we have the consciousness today, that as a company we were not inferior to any other command in the regiment, and Company K. never did and never will, ask for unmerited favors.

On June 18, a slashing and cutting affray took place in camp, for on that day a general vaccination of the members of the company was ordered. Probably the Surgeon wanted to get a little practice. He got there.

June 20, the ladies of our native county, sent us a full complement of Havelocks, and a useless appendage they were. Barney D. said, they were "Moighty noice to corrie me tobaccy in." We sent home thanks and threw the "head-bags" away.

Drill, drill, drill! was the order of the camp, and we soon became proficient in all company movements, principally under the command of Lieut. Bailey.

Col. Roberts took command of the Regiment, and also of the camp, on June 20th, and on the 21st, Capt. McPherson visited Gettysburg, returning on the 25th, bringing five recruits for the company, which added to the 69 who had passed the examination previously, increased our number to 74.

June 28th, we again received a donation from home, consisting of needle-cases, which were very convenient, but one of the boys said, he wished his sister, or somebody else's sister, had come along to do his mending.

On Monday, July 1st, the regiment was partly uniformed; white duck pants and flannel shirts, furnished by the state, and a fancy gray Jacket, sent from home, while Caps and Overcoats, were issued by the government; arms and accoutrements, were also distributed.

"The Glorious Fourth," came on, and with it came an invitation to a neighboring grove, where the good people of Westchester furnished us with a No. 1. dinner. After dinner the "shoulder straps" gallanted the girls, while the "low private" soldiers looked on, or perhaps thought of "The girl I left behind me." Some took a bathe in the Brandywine.

July 5th, an order was issued, requiring all companies to be filled up to the maximum number, by recruiting officers, sent out for that purpose. It should have been stated before, that at the original examination, a number of men had been rejected, on account of physical defects, even the slightest, as only men of perfect physique were taken to fill the quota.