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Subj: Former Troy residence Date: 2/4/99 12:49:44 AM Eastern Standard Time From: JChap1929 To: JoyceTice
My grandfather was raised around Troy and Sylvania. He wrote letters to the editor of several newspapers and spoke dearly of Troy. He was in what he called the "Troy Guards" for four years of the Civil War. He wrote a couple of poems about his unit. I would be glad to share them with you.
My wife a I stopped in to visit Troy and left copies of his articles and poems with the library there. If you want any info about these articles please let me know.
John Chapman
(Probably 1882 or Sept. 1884.)
Soldiers Reunion in Troy
The annual reunion of Troy Guards, Co. C, 12th P.R.V.C, took place at the residence of our townsman Mr. G. H. Mason, on Wednesday, Sept. 6th. Fortunately the day was one of our fairest September days. Mr. Mason's home was elaborately decorated with wreaths and festoons, flowers and flags, and here and there were large placards upon which was painted in handsome style, the following: Troy Guards, Co. C. 12th Regt, P.R.V.C. Welcome.
One of these formed the Keystone of the arch over the entrance way. At 11 o'clock A.M., Mr. Mason invited all to assemble on the grounds near the south porch and in a short time all were comfortably seated. A number of soldiers were present with their wives and children, some having come great distances. A number of our citizens were also present, especially several members of Gustin Post No 154, G.A.R.
Lieutenant Jewell, called the roll and the following responded: Capt. H. S. Lucas, Williamsport, Pa: Lt. D. B. Jewel, Penfield, Clearfield, Co. Pa: Lt. J. B. Granteer, Canton, Pa. : Sgt.’s W. E. King, Troy, Pa: Lyman Douglass, East Covington, Pa.: Frank Fish, Troy, Pa: Corp’s G. M Mason, Troy, Pa, E. D. Benedict, Austinville, Pa.: Samuel Ryan, Forksville, Sullivan County, Pa.: Pr’s Thomas Bush, West Granville, Pa: John Rossinger, Lock Haven, Pa.: Wn. A. Corzatt, Painted Post, NY; C.D. Chapman, Central City, Neb.: Horace Fenton, Mound City, Kan.: George K. Matson, Carpenters, Pa.; John S Oster, Froksville, Pa.; Ebben R. Packard, Fields, Pa. ; Phillip Petty, Jackson summit, Pa.; N. H. Robbins, Arnot, Pa.; H. A. Vaughn, Pine City, N.Y.; Chas. K. Wright, Canton, Pa.. Prayer was offered by Rev. H. C. Mayer; Mr. Mason gave hearty words of welcome to his comrades and then introduced Rev. H. C. Moyer, who continued in a short address of welcome, which was eloquently responded to by Mr. C.D. Chapman of Central City, Nebraska.
Capt. M. S. Lucas, gave a very interesting history of Co. C. 12th Regt. P.R.V.C. and it became evident to those who listened that the Pennsylvania Reserves were reserved for all the hard fighting in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, and was not surprised to learn that only thirty-two of Co. C’s original one hundred and nineteen members were "mustered out" at the end of the war and that several of the thirty-two carried in their person, the evidence of more lead than was comfortable. It is to be hoped that Capt. Lucas' address will be published. It is well worth a careful reading and the facts it contains may become useful material for some future local history.
The tables groaning under the weight of substantial and delicacies prepared by Mrs. Mason and her assistants, were now surrounded by the veterans, their wives and children and friends, and during the repast may incidents and adventures were recalled and related. The early hours of the afternoon were spent in conversation, in singing and having a good time generally and it was evident that a strong bond of friendship continued to exist between those who side by side had "borne the battle."
Honor to the Old Soldiers, may they live may years and have many happy memories.
NEBRASKA LETTER
Central City, NE. Dec. 28th 1884
Editor Troy Register:-
I have followed the Star of the empire over fourteen hundred miles from the home of my childhood and though as I have gone into winter quarters away out on the plains of Nebraska, I might write a few thoughts to my far away home friends in Pennsylvania. A pleasant recollection still lingers in my mind of the visit and the reunion of my old Company last September.
Since I wandered away from the lofty hilltop and beautiful valleys of Pennsylvania I have married and have a family of five boys and two girls. My old father and mother still live and their ages combined add up 148 years. They live with me and so you see with the hired man we foot up a dozen. We have a cottage home and 500 acres of prairie land. And the North Nebraska M. E. Conference have just located a college at Central City which is lucky for us. Central City is a young growing town of about 1500 people and is strictly a temperance town. Not a saloon but lots of churches.
The Register comes to me regularly and brings to me tidings from afar. Tell Comrade Frank Fish the marriage of his daughter tells us that we are growing old. When the war was over we came home single men. We feel young but our eyes are dim and steps more moderate. We could not take those hard matches and weary soldier battles over again. Our children's children will soon call us grandpa.
We like the society here. We have pitched our tent to stay. We have lived on this homestead of 160 acres for over twelve years. This 160 acres cost us fourteen dollars for the patent. There is no more government land near here. The climate is soft and somewhat dryer than in Pennsylvania. Not as much snow as there. Times are quite hard here. Produce in abundance but very low. Corn from 15 to 20 cents.
We have had a very warm and nice winter here until about ten days ago. Since then we had a regular Penn. winter with about three inches of snow. B. W. Baker, a son of R. D., is our county superintendent and nearest neighbor. He is a brother of Mark C. Baker of Elmira the musician. R. F. Baker and wife Larancy who is a sister of Lafayette Gray, of Sullivan, live in Central City and are doing well.
Our young state is fast settling up. We are all contented and happy and if we are prospered another summer I expect to step off the train in Troy next September and attend the reunion of Co. C. 12th P.R.V.C.
C.D. Chapman-
(1882)
The re-union of Troy Guards, held last week Wednesday on the Fair Grounds, in this place, was attended by 20 old soldiers, who were present with their wives and little ones to greet each other. The "boys" had a splendid time. Prayer was made by Rev. H. C. Mover, a capital patriotic address by Lieut. J. B. Granteer, which was ably responded to by C. D. Chapman, of Central City, Nebraska. A few other short addresses were made, after which a charge was made by the whole troop, upon the tables groaning under their lavish load. After dinner there was a fine social time long to be remembered. About June, 1882
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Visitors Present at the Next Reunion
Cpl. C.D. Chapman, who is some kind of an executive officer in the Grand Army-we have forgotten precisely what-having been instructed to invite Ass't Q. M. Ekin, of the U.S.A. to be present at the reunion this fall, has received the following answer, which he requests us to publish "for the good of the order":
Jeffersonville, Ind, June 21, '82
Cpl. C.D. Chapman,
Central City, Neb.,
Dear Friend Chapman:-
Your very cordial letter of the 3rd inst. has been on my table for some days: but a pressure of business has prevented an earlier reply. I am very much obligated to you, and trust I may have an opportunity of taking you by the had at Grand Island, Neb., and renew our very pleasant acquaintance, formed at our never-to-be-forgotten encampment at Lincoln. That was a grand time, and I look forward with joyful anticipation to a renewal of the scenes and events of that memorable occasion. With sentiments of the highest regard, I have the honor to be,
Very respectfully and sincerely,
Your friend
James A. Ekin
Ass't. Q. M. Gen. US Army.
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Views of a Soldier Farmer. - How the Old Settlers on Nebraska Roughed
It.
NEBRASKA
From the Tall Forager of the Seventh Pennsylvania Reserves.
AROUND THE CAMP-FIRE,
Short Contributions from Comrades
THE TROY GUARDS, OF THE 12TH P.R.V.C. (some formatting lost in conversion to html)
I'm thinking, comrades, of Drainesville,
What memories crowd around
Those trying scenes that we passed through,
Upon that sacred ground!
Then, Comrade Mason, our first fight
'Mong those tall pines, you know,
With boyhood homes in mental sight,
More than twenty years ago.
What scenes of blood were acted round
The mill-dam and the lane.
When, from Mechanicsville's high ground
The rebel army came!
'Midst crushing shell and mur'drous balls
They melted there like snow,
When by our hands the old bridge falls,
More than twenty years ago.
The Troy Guards, of the gallant Twelfth,
With Fish's Pioneer Corps,
And Grantier's ten undaunted men,
Like Romans famed of yore,
With axes, bars and bayonets fixed,
Rushed to the bridge below,
Demolished it and stopped the rebs,
More than twenty years ago.
Remember, Frank, the mill-dam cut
That rippled through or line,
Where Gustin did the danger's post
To the Troy guards assign;
Comrades, I still remember well
The Ellerson mill, also,
It sheltered us from many a shell,
More than twenty years ago.
Captain Lucas, on Gaines' Hill,
Next day they ope'd the ball_
I hear their cannon thundering still,
I see our brave boys fall!
The rebels make a dash for us,
But we sustain the blow;
We rallied round the Kenstone flag
More than twenty years ago.
'Twas there that Comrade Cooper fell,
Our line here wavered, too,
As Private Forde, struck by a shell
Was nearly torn in two,
Ed, here those brave boys breathed their last,
We saw the life-tide flow,
And wounded comrades dying fast,
More than twenty years ago.
My vision flies back through the years
To White Oak Swamp and fence,
'Twas at new Market Cross Roads that,
Boughton, we faced them thence;
The rebels make a dash for us,
But sadly missed their blow;
Then Sergeant King, we halted them,
More than twenty years ago.
They charge us at the Nelson Farm,
But Greek encountered Greek,
Sword crashed up sword, gun locked with gun,
Red death did vengeance wreak;
Frank Fish, we saw the grindstone struck
That hid you from the foe,
And scattered by that bursting shell,
More than twenty years ago.
These scenes are vivid in my mind,
I see my comrades still,
Grantier and Robbins, they like me,
Will mind Mechanicsville;
The injuries of that days's fight
We never may forego;
We fought for Union, God and Right,
More than twenty years ago.
How many toilsome marches were ours,
How many a battle raged,
How or Reserve Corps' victory crowned
Wher'er we were engaged,
O, Comrades! we remember well
The rebel retreating foe,
How many of our brave guards fell,
More than twenty years ago.
C.D. Chapman
Co. C, 12th P.R.V.C., Troy Guards.
Central City, Neb.
SOLDIER'S MEDITATION
G. H. Mason, Dear Comrade:
I am sitting to-day in my new home,
The Sun is running high;
And thinking, dear Jack, of comrades,
That we messed with in days gone by.
'Twas many a time we stood on picket,
All the dark and weary night;
And watched for the dawning morrow,
And dreamed of the coming fight.
As I sit and think dear Jack,
Other forms I see;
That stood in line of battle,
By the side of you and me.
The Troy Guards met the foe on many fields,
And did their duty well;
But nought is left to mark the spot,
Where many of the Troy Guards fell.
No camp fire burns to day, dear Jack,
Along Virginia's shore;
No picket keeps his weary watch,
As in those days of yore.
But in that land where war is unknown,
Where strife never came;
May you and I with them at last,
Find our eternal home.
As we gathered around the camp fire,
We thought of the days to come;
When we could stack our guns,
And return to our dear homes.
Now we think of the reunion, dear Jack,
The one that is to come;
We long for the time, dear Jack,
In Troy, where the boys will beat the drum.
Yours in F.C.L.
-Cyrus D. Chapman
Central City, Neb., June 18, 1884.
From a Pennsylvania Soldier living in Nebraska
Central City, Neb., Oct. 27, 1884.
Editor Scout and Mail:
Your paper is one for the Grand Army boys, wherever they may be, or from whichever State they may hail, but it has been some time since we have seen anything in it from these parts.
The Scout comes regularly to my far-away Western home, and bring me tidings from that of my boyhood which are gladly received. While I like and enjoy the society here in my adopted State, yet there is something about the hills and valleys of my youth in Pennsylvania that makes me love it above all other places.
One of the most pleasant months of my life was last September. Myself and wife, who is a Western woman, and our three smallest children, (for we have seven), boarded the train at Central City, and were carried over rivers and prairies, through Iowa, across the grand Mississippi, through Illinois, to Chicago, and then still on, and on until at last we stepped off the cars at Troy, Pa., and I was home again. Do you wonder that I could pass old friends and not be recognized, when it had been seventeen long years since I had left Pennsylvania?
Nearly the first good time we had was a reunion of the Troy Guards, Co. C, 12th Penn. Reserve Corps, which took place Wednesday, Sept. 10, 1884. The following seventeen were present out of one hundred and nineteen who went into the company in 1861: E. D. Benedict, of Austinville: C.D. Chapman, Central City, Neb., G. A. Comfort, Sullivan: Wn. A. Corzatt, Painted Post, N.Y.: Frank Fish, Troy: J. B. Grantres, Canton, Pa.: D. R. Jewell, Pendield, Pa.: W. E. King, Troy, Pa.: V. M. Levalley, Covington, Pa.: E. W Snell, Forksville, Pa.; Philip Petty, Jackson Summit, Pa.; C. R. Write, and Richard Watts, Caution, Penn.; Seemly William’s, Beruinton, Penn.; Geo. K. Matherson, Carpenters, Pa.; G. H. Mason, Troy, Pa.; and John Bossringer, Lock Haven, Pa.
After a splendid dinner prayer was offered by Rev. D. W. Smith, of the M. E. Church. W. E. Chilson. Esq. made the address of welcome which was responded to by C.D. Chapman, of Nebraska. Hon. Delos Rockwell was then introduced and made an address in which he spoke feelingly of the boys in blue in their successful efforts to preserve the Union. The Troy Guards helped to win the first victory in VA, in '61, at Drainesville. The balance of the day was spent in telling stories and short speeches by the old soldiers.
The occasion will long be remembered by the soldiers present, and we will ever hold in kind remembrance the citizens of Troy, Pa., for the manner in which they treated us.
Yours in F.C.L. C.D.C.
