licited action, they take occasion to assure the subscribers to the fund, that their substantial recognition of a body of citizens, hitherto somewhat neglected, has done much to sustain the spirit, encourage the hopes, and revive the pride of the volunteer organizations of this city.

"Resolved, That the First Regiment, as their representatives in part in the city of Boston, make special acknowledgment for the honor of selection, and are grateful that, through their liberality, they were permitted to appear in column on the 17th of June, 1875, with some of the best disciplined regiments from Massachusetts, New York, Maryland, and other States."

In July, 1877, when the disaffected and riotous spirit of strikers on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad had extended into Pennsylvania, inoculating thousands of violent men with the resolution to take their remedy for grievances (imaginary or real) into their own hands, and when these thousands of turbulent rioters were supported by the sympathy and encouragement of scores of thousands of so-called "citizens" of Pittsburgh, where the first demonstration of this extensive conspiracy was to be made in force, and when this immense and powerful throng began to feel its power, and turbulence had given place to violence, mere threats to mad destruction, and robbery, murder, and confusion reigned, the First was again called upon. When law and order were defied, and the spirit of a peaceful strike was lost in the fierce ardor for a destroying communistic war, the services of the First were again required to stem what seemed to be the gathering tidal-wave that was to sweep over us as over fair France, in one overwhelming flood of ruin.

The gallant part which the First took during these eventful days may be gathered in some measure from the modest report of the Colonel, R. Dale Benson, then commanding :

"In compliance with the verbal instructions of the Brigadier-General commanding brigade, I have the honor to report that verbal instructions were given the 1st Regiment Infantry to be placed under arms the evening of July 20th. Being absent from the city, the communication of the acting Assistant Adjutant-General of division, advising that the troops of this division were ordered to be held in readiness to proceed to Pittsburgh, Pa., did not reach me until 10.27 P.M. that date. I immediately repaired to the armory of my command, and found that Lieutenant-Colonel Clark and the officers of the regimental staff had, with commendable promptness, placed the command in marching order. By verbal orders of the Brigadier-General commanding brigade, the regiment marched from its armory at about 12.45 A.M., fully equipped, numbering 268 total, with 1500 rounds ammunition, and proceeded to depot of the Pennsylvania Railroad, Thirty-second and Market streets; embarked in train there in waiting, leaving depot about 2 o'clock A.M., July 21st. By order of Major-General commanding, about onehalf my ammunition was distributed to other commands. At Harrisburg ammunition was distributed to my regiment, allowing an average of about twenty rounds per man. At Altoona sandwith of bread and ham, also coffee, were issued to my regiment. Arrived at Pittsburgh about 1.30 P.M., July 21, when the same rations were issued. Stacked arms in Union Depot until about 3 o'clock P.M.; when ordered under arms, pro

We would also recall how that true and tried commander on many a field, then Governor of the State, though a thousand miles away, considering the magnitude and significance of these uprisings, hurried back on lightning trains to do his duty and maintain the law.

along the line of Pennsylvania Railroad tracks. The column was constantly halted, owing, I am informed, to difficulty in moving battery of Gatling guns. While on march, a party of thirty or forty citizens moved directly in my front, preventing me from observing what should take place. I ordered them to disperse; a citizen, much agitated, since ascertained to be Sheriff Fife, of Allegheny County, approached me, stating the body of citizens referred to was a sheriff's posse, the troops were to support them in making arrests, and inquiring, Would my men do their duty?' I informed him I had received no such orders, my front must be cleared, and it was not his business

roofs of the cars standing upon the tracks on both flanks, the column was halted at Twenty-eighth street crossing, in the midst of an immense crowd. My command, being still in column of fours, was, when halted, entirely surrounded by the mob, those composing it standing shoulder to shoulder and breast to breast with my troops. The sheriff's posse being upon my right, I was unable to observe what took place in my immediate front. Upon receipt of the order of General commanding brigade to clear the railroad tracks the length of my battalion, I informed the mob on my left flank of the order, that I proposed to execute it, and that there was no necessity for violence;

of Brigadier-General commanding, through a staff officer, directing my front rank to stand where it was, and with rear rank to clear the other track,' to which order I replied that I must protest; is it not a mistake?' Staff officer replied, 'Those are General Matthews' instructions." I replied, 'They will then have to be executed.' It seemed in my judgment extremely hazardous to expose a single line to the crowd bearing against it in such compact masses; and having but one officer to a company, except in two instances, it left my rear rank without officers to command it, and to move the crowd from the other tracks exposed it in the same manner as front rank, and more so, all the

files not being filled, to be broken by the pressure of the mob, if not by attack. The order was executed; the crowd not being as heavy on that flank, now my rear, gave way, and the tracks were cleared and held open by my command until relieved; the distance between my two ranks was about fifteen to eighteen paces. Through my ranks I observed other troops were brought forward and placed upon my right, covering the space between my ranks. A few moments afterward I saw some of the men in those commands open fire; receiving no order, I gave the order to my battalion to load,' as a matter of military precaution, and awaited the order to 'fire,' which was not communicated to me, and which I did not consider I was authorized to give, superior officers being present. Pistol-shots were frequent from the mob, and stones were thrown in large quantities at the troops; two men in my right company were shot, one disabled by a blow in the head from a stone, and some of the muskets of the men were grasped by the mob before my battalion fired; then file-firing commenced in my right company, and I immediately gave the order to 'cease firing' The yelling of the mob and the musketry firing prevented my order from being heard through the entire command at once, but, as soon as heard, it was obeyed. The firing, confined almost entirely to the right wing, had dispersed the crowd. As to the firing of my command without an order from the commandant of battalion, whether the situation of the troops justified it, or self-defense on the part of the men required it, or whether the order to fire should have been given, probably is not my province to decide or express an opinion officially.

"My battalion was then, by order of the Brigadier-General commanding the brigade, moved to the right to more fully cover Twenty-eighth street, where the mob was still in large numbers; and upon the mob refusing to keep back to a line indicated, I brought my three right companies to a ready,' when they scattered. By order, a company was thrown across the entrance to the grounds of West Penn Hospital to protect the rear, and my battalion remained in the position last indicated until about 7 o'clock P.M., several men fainting and others made sick by the extreme heat and want of water.

"The battalion about that hour was relieved, and with the brigade proceeded to the Round

House,' farthest from Twenty-eighth street, formed line and stacked arms; guards were detailed and posted, and the entrances covered by my battalion as directed. Lieutenant-Colonel Clark, of this regiment, was detailed as brigade officer of the day.

"During the night I was ordered to send a company to the windows of the Round House, facing Liberty street, to support the two companies of the 3d Regiment, as the mob had placed a piece of artillery in position. Company D, Captain Wiedersheim, was detailed for that duty, performing the same in an admirable manner, and remaining on duty until the troops left the building. Later in the morning, being ordered to relieve the detachment of the 3d Regiment, I ordered companies F, Captain Huffington, and K, Captain Cromelien, to relieve that command, which was promptly done; they remaining on duty until the brigade moved out of the building. Considerable exchange of shots took place between the troops and the mob during the night, but the mob was unable to fire the piece of artillery or remove it, owing to the skillful and effective manner in which the men on duty kept it covered, and a number of the mob lost their lives in attempting to gain the piece. Rifle-firing, from the cover of a board-yard opposite the Round House, which was accurate and constant, was trying to the men, but was ineffective, as they were instructed to keep themselves covered, and my command lost no men in that building. During the night, hearing volleys of musketry, my command was placed under arms as a precautionary measure, and perfect discipline was maintained.

"About 8 o'clock A.M., July 22d, the order was received to move, and the regiment proceeded on the right of the division, through the carpenter shop to Liberty street, by direction of the Brigadier-General commanding brigade; before leaving the building, I detailed twelve men and one sergeant from my right (E) company, as skirmishers, and upon reaching the street, ordered Lieutenant Filley, E Company, to assume command of same. Column marched, without opposition, on the right, out Penn avenue, and, when near Arsenal building, firing that had been heard in the rear increased rapidly, and, being dismounted, before I was aware of it, most of the other corps of the division came rushing through my column, firing indiscriminately, knocking some of my men down,