griffing@fnal.gov
The
Civil War Letters of William Beynon Phillips
House
of Representatives Senate Chamber,
Harrisburg, [Pennsylvania]
August 13, 1862
Dear Annie,
We arrived in Harrisburg yesterday all in good due. I can assure you that it was very hard to part with my dear friends in Hyde Park on the Depot. I shall not attempt to describe it for it is beyond my power. You may say that I put a good face on it, but it was far from being so in my heart. After we got to Pittston we started for the recruiting office, but strolled around until eight o’clock when we were treated in magnificent style by the ladies of Pittston with a silk flag, inscribed Schooley’s Battery. The presentation was made on behalf of the Pittstonians by some gentleman that I forgot his name, so you will excuse me for not giving his name. After the presentation, we were conducted to Phoenix Hall and entertained with refreshments and music. I tell you cake was in immense profusion and variety, ice cream and lemonade also, and the “Red, White and Blue” was sung by the ladies. We all say that Pittston has outdone herself this time.
We started from Pittston with the Scranton Volunteers at six in the morning. Mr. Richards accompanied us to Kingston. I was affected very much at parting with him, the last words he said I’ll ever remember. They came right from his heart, “God bless you boy.” I have faith that the Lord will bless us all and if we fall it will be all right. We have a decent set of men and you may say that I say it. This is going to be the crack company.
At Danville there was tremendous cheering as we passed. It was the same all the way through. We arrived in Harrisburg at 2 o’clock and were marched to Camp Curtin 1˝ miles from town. The road was very dusty, in fact it is hard to recognize your friends for the dust. The first thing we saw in camp was a fellow kicked out of it. It seems that the fellow refused to be mustered in after he had enlisted and the whole company was kicking him and yelling after him. Fine introduction that was, but it served him right. The next thing we saw was our shanties, with about 50 bunks and nothing but hard board to lay on. We did not care for that but they were so filthy. We remonstrated and now we have the finest place in the world in the Senate Chamber of the House of Representatives. I tell you the other regiments envy us. They are now calling off our names to present us with a $5 piece. Good.
We intend starting for Fort Delaware this week. Please give my best respects to all your folks. Hoping to hear from you soon.
I
am happy to subscribe myself yours forever, --
PS. Good bye. God Bless You
Capt. David Schooley
Commander of Schooley's Battery
Annie
Richards was born 18 July 1843 in Pennsylvania, the daughter of Thomas
Richards (born 1812) and his wife Margaret. In the 1860 US Census, Annie
lived at home with her parents and labored as a dress maker. Annie would later
become William Phillips' wife.
Hyde Park, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, was a predominantly Welsh
community across the river from Scranton.
The silk flag (see image in page banner)
presented by the ladies of Pittston, Pennsylvania, to Schooley's Battery now
belongs to a family living in the Pittston area. The flag was irreparably
damaged years ago -- perhaps even before the end of the Civil War -- by the
excision of the emblem in the field of stars that is conjectured to have
contained the inscription "Schooley's Battery." The owner inherited
documentation that accompanied the flag attesting to its authenticity as
described and has taken great care to preserve the flag from further
deterioration. The accompanying documentation reads, "Old Glory, Presented
to Schooley's Battery, August 12, 1862, by the Ladies of Pittston / West
Pittston, Service in the Civil War August 12, 1862 - June 20, 1865."
Schooley's Battery was named after
Captain David Schooley, born April 12, 1824. He was born and raised on his
father's farm. He went to local schools and later attended Wyoming Seminary
where he studied surveying and later engaging in that occupation. Much of his
early manhood was spent in the Pittston [PA] section, and it was from
there that nearly all his battery was recruited. He served through the remainder
of the war [his battery mustered on August 12,1862], nearly one year of which
was spent in Confederate prisons, having been captured at Petersburg. After the
war he held a commission in the Regular Army, and assisted in the U.S. Coast
Survey and later spent 20 years at Army posts in the west with Co. E 25th
Infantry. After his retirement from the Army, he returned to his home, and spent
the remainder of his life there. He died January 17, 1910.
The gentleman whose name William Phillips could not
remember was Theodore Strong, a prominent merchant of Pittston, PA. According to
the local newspapers, Mr. Strong made the presentation at the Eagle Hotel during
the evening hours of August 12th.
There was a Phoenix Hall in nearby
Wilkes-Barre, PA., at the time. It was used for church services and other large
assemblies.
The "Red, White, & Blue of
'61" was written by A. Bachmann, lyrics by G. Gumpert.
Philadelphia, PA: Lee & Walker, 722 Chestnut St. See http://www.pdmusic.org/civilwar2.html
website for audio file.
1. May God bless our flag and our land,
United in strength and for freedom we
stand.
The chains of oppression are broken
in two.
All hail to our Colors The Red, White
and Blue.
CHORUS [sung after each verse]
The chains of oppression are broken in two.
All hail to our Colors, the Red, White and Blue.
2. From North unto South, from the East to the West,
Floats proudly our Banner, o'er the
land of the blest.
Upheld by our brothers so gallant and
true,
All hail to our Colors, the Red,
White and Blue.
3. The blood shed for Freedom by our Sires in the wars
Has crowned high with glory the
Stripes and the Stars
Though barefoot and hungry, they
fought their way through,
For the praise and the honor of the
Red, White and Blue.
4. Great nation of Freedom, Great Land of the Brave,
Unfurl now thy Banner, for e'er may
it wave,
As a sign to all nations, as an
emblem to you,
That no foe is too mighty, for the
Red, White and Blue.
Mr. Richards was the father of Annie, to
whom the letter was addressed. Mr. Thomas Richards was born in Wales in 1812 and
came to America with his wife Margaret in 1833. His residence in
the US Census of 1850 and 1860 is given as Carbondale, Luzerne County,
Pennsylvania. He labored as a shoe maker.
Camp Curtin (see image in page banner) was
named after Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Curtain who occupied the office at the
time of the outbreak of the Civil War. The camp was sited on the grounds of the
Dauphin County Agricultural Society in the northern outskirts of Harrisburg. It
was opened in April 1861, hosting as many as 300,000 soldiers who converged
there to be organized into units, drilled, and sent forward to join armies in
the field or to supply various garrisons.
griffing@fnal.gov