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SHAH BATTLE AT BEDFORD. ‘The Gallant Soldier Boys of Penneylvanla Have a High Old Time—History of a Crack Command.(Special correspondence of the Daily Times.)Bedford, Pa., July 26 —The Fifth Regiment stands at the head of the Second Brigade, and is regarded as one of the finest and best regiments in the National Guard fof Pennsylvania. Col Theodore Burchfield, of Altoona, its commander and a veteran of the late rebellion, was forty-seven years old last Sunday, but does not look forty. This regiment was formed in 1874 by the organization of five companies. Now it comprises eight companies ana is encamped about two and one half miles from Bedford and a half mile from Bedford Springs. The camp is called Camp William Watson, in remembrance of ('apt. William Watson, of Bedford, now deceased. The site is a most beautiful one, apparently formed for an occasion of this kind. The following is a list of the officers:Field and Staff — Colonel, Theodore Burchfield,Lieutenant-Colonel,Amos Mullen; Major, James F. Mickel; Adjutant, William C. Westfall; Quartermaster, Samuel H. Williams; iDspecter Rifle Practice, George W. Crede, Jr.; Surgeon, Andrew S. Stayer; Assistant Surgeons, Walter H. Parcells, Emil, T. Cherry; Chaplain, Rev. Charles M. Stock.Line Officers—Company A, Capt. John S. Bare; Company B, Bellefonte, Capt. William J. Reber; Company C, Hollidays-burg, Capt. Martin Bell, Jr.; Company D, Blairsville, Capt. John P. Kennedy; Company F, Indiana, Capt. Adam C. Braugh-ier; Company (1, Lewistown, Rufus C. Elder; Company II, Johnstown, George Wonders; Company I, Bedford, Robert C. McNamara, of the Bedford Gazette. fc,These companies arrived here last Friday and on Sunday large numbers of persons went out to hear the chaplain preach. In the afternoon the crowd was augmented by Gov. Jomes A. Beaver, Adjutant-General Hastings and the Governor’s staff, these were all in full uniform but were spectators.Monday was set apart for the inspection of the encampment, but the heat being so intense it was put off until 4 p. m., when General Hastings and the Governor’s staff made a very critical examiaation, after which they pronounced themselves as being well satisfied with the condition and proficiency in drill of the regiment. Governor Beaver, however, soon got tired of the wearisome proceedings* and drove over to the Springs. On Wednesday at-ternoon, after dress parade, Captain McNamara, of Company I, Bedford, stepping forward a few paces, presented to Co onel Burchfield a very fine “token of love and honor”—a beautiful sword. The Colonel said he was always on the alert not to besurprised either by friends or enemies, but 3for once he had failed. The scabbard bears the inscription: “Presented by the staff, field and line officers to Col. Theo dore Burchfield, Fifth Regiment, N. G. P., 1889.”Thursday wras for the benefit of the G.A. R., to raise funds to erect their mon- j 0 ument at Bedford, for w hich purpose two j thousand dollars has already been sub- j scribed. The soldiers and officers began n the line of march at 11 a. m., from Camp j j| Watson to the Fair Grounds, a distance of j j nearly four miles. When they arrived in j town they were met by the G. A. R. Post,; ° and then the Post brought up the rear of C the regiment. All companies tried to f( “look nice” marching through tow’n, but1 Company I and its Captain, who is a very fine looking military man, were pronounced the “first,” and well they deserved this compliment. After reaching the Fair Ground arms were stacked, and the process of getting some of the loose sand and dust off their clothes and caps begun.Then all went into a shed wiiere a grand dinner was aw aiting them, and the majority did fairly well while engaged, it being nearly two o’clock and the long w*alk making them anxious for this meeting. After a rest the companies marched to the center of the large field and engaged in field drill, w hich was con inued for quite a while in the lot sun; then two companies and the artillery (two cannon) wrere despatched to the far end of the field and preparatio s were made for the battle—a sham one; very sham indeed.Three of the six companies engaged the “enemy” and the other three were held as a reserve. After considerable skirmishing the reserve was brought up and the cannons were captured. A rest and some more drill and then the campers marched back to headquarters. A pleasant feature was that no one was injured in the least.A small admission of 25 cents was charged, and with this and the profits of the sales of the stands, they made five or six hundred dollars. Chances in an organ were also sold, w'hich increased the amount somewhat.The dinner for the soldiers was free, and was a gift of the citizens of Bedford. Mrs. Woods wras the manager, and she deserves much praise for the way she filled the position. It was estimated that nearly four thousand persons were on the grounds, and all enjoyed the “battle,” and particularly the old veterans who had been in many real ones, said it looked a great ileal like the ones they had been in.only it was not so dangerous.Bedford cuts a great “shine” in her new'attire “electric light.’1 McFadden’s show' was in town, but in the afternoon all went to see the battle, leaving the show' deserted, but in the evening the train to Cumberland being one and one half hours late, many took advantage of the opportunity to see the show while w aiting for the train and the teut was crow’ded. D.
Newspaper Details
Cumberland Daily Times
Cumberland, Maryland, US
Fri, Jul 26, 1889
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Pennsylvania H.
PA, USA 20 Nov 2023
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