,/ I>UBLIC SERVICES OP Brevet Major-General JOHN F. HARTRANFT, ' Inion Candidate for Auditor General. E 467 Nerer Negligent, Never too Late, Nerer Defeated! NOKKISTOWN, PA.: WILLS & IREDELL, STEAM-POWER BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS. 1868. E^-l. 7 ■rl^Ti ^ f Tlie Flae of Antietam Bridge and Fort Steadman — The Banner of Victory -when. Hartranft Leads ! A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH -OF — BYT. MAJ. GEN. JOHN F. HARTRANFT, U. S. Y, tmON CUOIDATE FOR ADDITOK GENERAL OF FENNSYITANIA. The name of Hartramtt has penetrated •Tery recees of the whole country, and in our Commonwealth has become a household word. Our people do not need this or any similar publication to bring it to their notice. But there is yery generally felt a desire to know more of the man than has yet been told, and to be more fully informed concerning those keroic deeds which hare won for himself, his natire State, and our glorious cause, such bright and unfadins laurels. His fellow- citixens, desiring to repay, to the extent of their ability, his exertions in their behalf, or at least to show that they appreci- ate them properly, hare placed him in nomi- nation for a high and responsible position in the popular gift, and it is now no less appro- priate than we beliere it will be acceptable, to giTe to the public this little pamphlet, con- taining a brief record of the public serTices of o&« of PennsylTania's noblest sons. EARLY LIFE. Bretet Major General John Frederick Haft- ranft is a native of New Hanover townK^p* Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and was born December 16, 1830. He graduated at Union College, at Schenectady, New York, ia 1853, and was employed as a Civil Engineer for some time. He assisted in running the line of the Mauch Chunk and White HavflB Railroad, which has since been conataucted, and had charge ef the working party who sur- veyed the route of the proposed Railroad f5roni Chestnut Hill to Doylestown or New Hope. In 1854, Sheriff Boyer, of Montgomery county, secured his services as Deputy, and he continued in the Sheri£f'3 office in that oa- paeity during the remainder of Mr. Boyer's term of of&ee and the whole of that of Sheriff Rudy, who was elected in 1855, and continued till 1868. In this position he became ao> quainted with the people of his native county »ad acquired a general reputation among all who met him as a prompt, careful and efficient tosiness man. Having pursued the study of the law the aecessary length of tiiae he was admitted to practice at (he bar of Montgomery county in the fall of 1860. IN THE MILITIA. He was elected Colonel of the First Regi- SBcnt of Montgomery County Militia in 1859, liaving previously been Lieutenant Colonel and Captain. The position, though neither arduous nor dangerous in time of peace, was ao mean honor, and showed the high appreci- ation which his fellow-citizens had for a young man of less than thirty years. THE TESTS OF '61. The call to arms in April, 1861, when, after Sumpter was fired upon, President Lincoln is sued his first appetil to the heroism and devo 4ion of the people, found Colonel Hartranft & Democrat, attached to the political princi pies in which he had been reared. But it found him none the less a patriot. From the day in which he took up arms in defence of Ms country, he laid aside all ideas and theo- ries of partizanship and became alone a ieroic soldier, striving always to do his duty, irherever and whenever that might call him io action. He losi no time in tendering the services of Ms militia regiment to Governor Curtin, hav- ing visited Harrisburg for that purpose on Tuesday the 16th of April. It was as prompt-, ly accepted, and became the Fourth Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers. Rendezvousing at Harrisburg on the 20th, it was speedily armed, equipped, and sent forward to Perry- Tille, in Maryland, thence to Annapolis, and finally to Washington. Of his service in this campaign it is not necessary to speak, since no action with the enemy took place around Washington, as is well known, till the FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN. The term of service of his regiment had ex- jiired, and it was on the homeward march when the Battle of Bull Hun took place. Ine forward movement of our army to meet the rebels in that first grand encounter attracted Hartranft's attention and he determined not io b&left behind when, for the first time, his tountty. needed his services in actual battle. He offered himself to Gen. McDowell to serve in any capacity in the approaching struggle where he could be useful. The General re- marked that it was scarcely "regular" to do so, but that his appreciation of Col. Hart- ranft's noble conduct was so high that ho would assign him to d-uty on the Staff of Col. Franklin, who commanded the brigade to which the 4th Regiment had been attached. Through the excitement and dangers of the day thg volunteer Aide performed good service to the army and the cause, and when at last the disgraceful and disastrous retreat commenced he distinguished himself to stay the torrent.* Sword in hand he sought to restore order to the panic-stricken and disorganized masses. Col. Franklin, in his report, spoke of his ser- vices with warm words of commendation, and Gen. McDowell expressed regret afterward that he had not done justice to his valuable exertions by especially mentioning him in his otficial report of the battle. General Cameron, then Secretary of War, also referred with high encomiums to his con- duct on this occasion, and it formed a gal- lant commencement for a grand career. "FOR THREE YEARS OR THE WAR." Colonel Hartranft had no intention of re- tiring from the service at the close of his three months' campaign. A week before the battle of Bull Pvun he had applied to, and ob- tained permission from, the War Department, to recruit a three years' regiment. He lost no time in commencing its organization. Gov. Curtin having added his authority to do so, and on the iGth of November it was mustered into service at Harrisburg, with Hartranft aa Colonel, and became the Fifty-First Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. With its name and achievements our hero maintained a close connection for two years, since he was its leader and its father, to whose care and per- severance were due its efficiency and disci- pline, qualifying it to perform good service in the great cause, and to occupy a place among the best and foremost sons of our State. Valuing his high qualities as a comrade and' ;?ader, his men soon learned to repose the utmost confidence in their Colonel. His coal black hair and moustache gave him the title of "black John," while regardless of youth- ful years they dubbed him with that other mark of a soldier's confidence, *'Old Johnuj." 5. IN Bt)TlNSIDE'S CAMPAIGN. posted on the left of the Centreville road, pro- tecting Graham's battery, till the retreat com- His regiment was assigned to Burnside'sl^^^^j y^r^^^ ^^^ ^^-^^^^^ l^ft ^1^^ g^U it Army, which was then organizing at Annapo-I ,3 ^^^5^^^^ one regiment only marching wUJr. lis for serTice on the coast of North Carolina. Iq^^^^^j Ferrero, while the other two were It became a part of Reno's brigade, and par-|^^^^j.^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^ ^,^^,j ^^^^^ command 0/ ticipated in the whole of Burnside's campaign. L^ Hartranft. On thia, as on the former The expedition left Annapolis early in Janu-|^^^^^„j^j^^ when everything was confusion, aaif. •ry, 1862, and on the 10th of the following |^^j ^^^^^^j ^.^^^ ^^^.^^^ ^^^ alarmed, Colonel month Col. Hartranft led his men up through j^^^^^^^^^^ remained cool, collected, and eelf- a swamp which the rebels had supposed im-|^^jj^^f j^ ^j^j^ ^^^j^^ his regiment lost eight passable, to storm the rebel works on Roanoke l^j^j^^ ^^^ wounded, and thirteen missing. Island. The contest was short, sharp, andj Again at Chantilly Hartranft met the ene- decisive. The rebels were nearly all captured, ^^.^ ^^^ ^^^-^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^ laurels to his fame. and the eflfects of 80 signal a success, in thejp^^ ^^^^^^ struggles did not overcome the enemy. Tired, foot-sore, and exhausted as 1 our men were, they took up the line of march. once more, on the 7th of September, and. joined the march of the Grand Army, agaiH 'under McClellan, up through Maryland, to I SOUTH MOUNTAIN AND ANTIETAM. The engagement at South Mountain, though initial contest of the campaign, were excel- lent. The rebel fortifications at Newbern were attacked and carried on the 15th of March, and here again Col. Hartranft bore a con- spicuous part. The contest was a severe one, and the loss on both sides serious. The cor- respondent of the i^. Y. Tribune, disposed naturally to speak more favorably of the New 'apparently but a prelude to the greater con- York troops, in his letter said:—" The move- j test .■^t Antietam, was distinct in its character, ment of Col. Hartranffs regiment was eie- It was fought on Sunday, September 14th. and cuted in the most deliberate manner, andli's result transferred the grand battle from, proved a complete success." Nine of his|the little mountain pass to the banks of the command were wounded. Istream beyond. „, . T. .J • J i v V I The struggle for the possession of the pass The army of Burnside remained at Newbern 1 && 1 r ^., ^, , . i. HI- ni 1, , J. 1 iWas protracted and severe. Early in the •ntil the conclusion of McClellan s disastrous! ^ ■' ,, Ti • 1 u 1 I morning the skrimishins; commenced, and all campaign on the Peninsula, when a large, ° ° „ .^ , . J . XT » XT I day the gallant man under Reno pushed the portion of it was shipped to Newport News, j & f , . . ,, . - i. T. 1 rebels steadily before them, till the crests of to join the Army of the Potomac. •' 1 J ii- J J lu < -J -CI j'i- ,, the hill were won and held, though at a heavy And thus ended the "Burnside Expedition. ' ' ^ -^ TT .<■ 11- •. • 1 J 1 • ti- i« loss, for the gallant and chivalrous Reno had •Henceforth it existed only in History ' ^ 'fallen mortally wounded. Col. Hartranft POPE'S CAMPAIGN. 'commanded his regiment as usual, leading it Early in August the force at Newport News I to the attack up the side of the mountain, . was transferred by transports to Acquia Creek, with his accil^omed bravery. That night our ^ and thence by railroad to Fredericksburg, men occupied the important position they had j where Reno's Division arrived on the 4th of jcarried, sleeping on the summit of the hill, j that month. Here they joined the army under whence the ground sloped away to the valley j Pope, and thence participated in all the bat- of the Antietam. ties and skirmishes of his unfortunate cam-: Two days occupied in short movements, and paign. The service, during the three weeks, the morning of Wednesday, September 17th, h of his command, was arduous in the extreme. ;found our army confronting the rebel hosfc. ^ From Fredericksburg to the old battle ground jSoon the intrepid Hooker, on the right, was at Bull Run, the movement was almost a con- engaged. On the left Burnside waited orders tinuous struggle, and when the second battle, till nearly noon and then was directed to on that renowned locality took place, Colonellstorm the enemy's position on the opposite Hartranft found himself posted on almost theibank of the stream, crossing his men over same ground that he had fought upon in July the narrow stone bridge that spanned the of the preceding year. His regiment was' creek in his front. The position occupied, by 6 the rebels was one of wonderful natural strength. The road on the East bank around up Bear the stream for some distance before reaching the bridge, and troopa marching on it at this point were exposed to a terrible flank fire. On crossing the bridge it met an abrupt steep bank, and deflected, nearly at right angles, up and down the West bank The bridge was therefore entirely commanded by the rebels. They had bad ample time for preparation, and their artillery was posted to sweep the causeway from end to end, while the riflemen screened from view behind trees and rocks, or in well-prepared rifle pits, wait- ed the attack, to open a most destructiye fire. Thus posted were the enemy. But the orders came (o " Take the Bridge.'' At about 11 o'clock Burnside ordered an at- tack. First two regiments essayed to cross this bridge of death. They struggled forward a little distance, terribly cut up by the fire in flank, paused, staggered, and came back. It seemed impossible that mortal men could cross by so terrible a path and live. Again the at- tempt was made by fresh troops, and again they were repulsed by the terrible fire. Still the Bridge must be taken. Then General Ferrero rode up to Hartranft, who lay with his regiment behind a knoll a short distance from the stream, and said to him " General Burnside directs you to take your regiment, and cross the bridge." Hart ranft never questioned the orders of his supe riors. It was his rule always to obey. Amid the cheers of his own men, and the shouts of all those who witnessed the attempt, he led forward his regiment, alone, and unsupport. ed. Avoiding the unsheltered road below the bridge they reached the wing walls of the structure, and lay a few moments skirmish- ing, holding the ground thus gained. A regi- ment was hurried up to support them, but the situation was a terrible one. On all sideg men and oflficers were falling. Capt. Bolton, of Hartranft's regiment, was shot through the eheeks. Two other officers were killed. Hartranft led his men to the charge, and they dashed gallantly into the storm of leaden hail. Lieut. Col. Bell fell mortally wounded, the little stream of heroes was fearfully thinned as they struggled forward, but by words and example Hartranft urged them on and The Bridge w.».s Carried. The war, with its multitude of heroic and grand examples, has none more noble than this. And we say no more of it than History warrants and justice demands when we give to the man who headed that splendid charge the title of a heroic man and great leader. When the bridge was crossed the rebels abandoned their position and fled down the other side of the hill. The men of Hart- ranft's command occupied it. There was a lull in the contest on the left, and the Colonel visited for a few moments his wounded com- rades in the temporary hospitals on the east bank of the creek, giving each a word o en- couragement and sympathy as he took him by the hand. That night, as his men lay on the ground they had won, he went through the Regiment and took the names of all those who had fol- lowed him through the terrible path across the bridge. Of five hundred who were in the ranks in the morning, scarcely two hundred were on the hill that night. Most of that fearful deficiency were killed and wounded. Thus, Hartranft at Antietam. AT FREDERICKSBURG. During McClellan's inactivity while Lee was escaping to a safe distance, the army lay in Pleasant Valley, in Maryland, and at length crossed into Virginia. Burnside was placed in command of the Army of the Poto- mac, and it commenced the movement through Virginia, toward Fredericksburg. The dis- tance was long and the march toilsome. At Fredericksburg, when Burnside made his bold and nobly conceived, but disastrous attack in December, Col. Hartranft once more led his regiment into battle. Crossing on the .pontoon bridge in front of the town, his men, who formed a part of Sturgis' Division, as at Antietam, were sent to storm the heights just back of Fredericksburg. The rebel works were carefully constructed and very strong, scarcely less so than their position at Antietam. But the Division, in the face of a most terrible fire, reached within eighty yards of the crest o f the hill it aimed to take, but having been fearfully weakened in numbers, during its advance, had to halt. But it held the point gained for three hours. Notwith- standing it was confronted by vastly superior numbers of infantry, and enfiladed by batte- ries on each flank, even after its ammunition "IH had all been spent it did not gire iraj, but hare been told, however, Col. Hartranft,iritli* finalljheld its ground till properlj rsIicTad shortly after sunset. Amid^the terrible storm that net them as thej rushed up the hill, and irhile they stub- bornly held their position under th« galling fire concentrated upon them, Col. Hartranft was with his men, coolly and calmly giving his orders, and fearlessly exposing his life. That there was no child's play whete h« fought at Fredericksburg, will be testified by the eurviyors of that terrible fight. Hartranft's regiment alone lost tweWe killed, and seren- ty-four wounded. Among the former was Captain Bell of Company B, from Easton, Pa. MOVING TO THE WEST. Fredericksburg was Hartranft's last battle in the Army of the Potomac, till it was com- manded by the invincible, unyielding Geaht. His regiment lay on the Rappahannock for some weeks, and then the 9th Corps was sent to Newport News, preparatory to a new cam- paign. Haying remained here a short time to recover from the effects of its recent hard marching and fighting, it was ordered to the West, and thither of course went Col. Hart- ranft and his regiment also. CAMPAIGN IN KENTUCKY. They left Newport News on the 26th of out the title, has been the general, in field and oamp, through all the campaigns from North] Carolina through Virginia, here. His popu-' larity is coextensive with the Division, at least, as well as his reputation for ability. I had some curiosity to see him. He is a tall, black-haired, thin-faced man, with a heavj black moustache, forehead rather low, com- plexion bilious — one of those quiet, undemon- strative men who think twice before they speak, and oftener don't say anything at all. Nothing appears to escape his watchful eye, and you can never surprise him with news, for he always appears to know all about every- thing. He never appears to make a mistake in the selection of men to perform any duties; he never shows anger or passion, except you may see the whites of his eyes get yellow on provocation. Quiet and modest, the long, sure test of worth has got him the esteem and ad- miration of the ofiBccrs of his brigade and di- vision. He is personally good-looking, and especially handsome on horse-back, for he is the most elegant rider in the division." The return of Ferrero placed Hartranft again in command of his regiment, although a Colonel junior to him had command of the first brigade of the division. The matter was brought to his notice but he declined of course to complain of the injustice, since it would result to the disadvantage of a brother officer. Gen. Burnside urged upon him that he had long since earned his promotion, and offered to give him lejve of absence to visit Washington, March, and were conveyed by transports to but lie refused, while his services were need- Baltimore. Thence the railroad arteries oi cd in the field. He was never the man to pre- our gigantic system carried them to Cincin- bcuI his own claims, nati, where they crossed the Ohio and entered AGAIN TO THE FRONT. on a brief campaien in Central Kentucky, ^ , . -r .^. n i j. , . , , , ■ Early m June the Corps once more set out engaged in watching the movements ofthei, ,, ^ , . i ., /-. x i • , ° to " travel on Its muscle. Grant was closing rebels, and punishing the guerrillas. The . , . ,. ^ v.v i i i i i j ' ^ o o ,jj jjjg iineg stubbornly ana resolutely around service was not likely to produce much dis-L,. ^ , rrx. v * i •' ^ Vicksburg. The enemy were about to sue- tinction, but it was arduous and severe. Inl ^^^ before the superhuman exertions of the April General Ferrero was relieved of i^^^\^rti^t QenevHl, find his \hnteui,nt, the tevvihle command of the brigade, and the commander^gt^g^n^^^ B^t a rebel army under Johnston of the Division being absent. Col. Hartranft. ^^ hurrying forward to raise the siege, and succeeded to the charge of that until June.j^^o^ ^^^^ in blue were needed in Mississippi. . when Ferrero returned. From a letter written j ^he Corps left Kentucky by railroad to to one of our daily journals at that time, wejcairo, and thence passed down the Mississippi copy the following reference to Hartranft.lgQ gteamers to Sherman's Landing opposite with the pen and ink sketch it gives of his vicksburg, where they landed on the 14th of personal appearance :— june. In a day or two they went up the Ya- " The corps is commanded by Gen. Wilcox, zoo river, to Haines' Bluff, and thence across and the 2d division by Col. Hartranft, of ths^ountry, operating principally in the rear of 61st Pennsylvania Regiment. I can't tell „• i v . /-. i. • m. where the generals have got to, but I suppose' ^^'^^'^"'"S *° *="^^^ ^^''''^ ^ «^«S«- ^^^ ''^'^^ the history of the changes and shifting mustiP^igii ^as brief but very severe. The marches be left until the end of was. From wh^C- ^waro frightful. In the langaaga of an officer. 8 "no pen can describe the Bufferings of tbt nen." The heat Tras intense. Immens* elouda of dust rose CTcrywhere at the least moTcment, choking the mouth and nostrils, and making respiration almost impossible- The water was Tery scarce, and almost un- drinkable when found. At the close of a day's march, or at the occasional pauses to rest, the men would throw themseWes upon the ground and hide their heads among the sparse shrubbery scarcely knee high, seeking shade, and relief from the heat. Amid these scTcrities, Col. Hartranft was prostrated by a sun-stroke, as were many of the men. But he remained on duty, haying for about a week the command of the brigade. On the Fourth of July, after the glorious con summation of Grant's operations, the surren- der of Pemberton and his garrison, the more ment against Johnston at Jackson commenced and on the lOlh skirmishing began between the forces. Hartranft had been riding in an ambulance on the march, but when the first ehots of the action ??ere fired, he mounted his horse and took command as usual, though really unfit to be anywhere but in the hospital. His men remarked, as he exposed himself to the shot and shell that were flying, that he eeemed determined to lose " the little life there was left in him." Jackson was captured after eight days' operations, and the campaign in Mississippi was at an end. In a special order, General Grant highly complimented the courage and discipline of the Eastern troops, and thanked them for the valuable services they had ren- dered him. He ordered that the names of "Vicksburg" and "Jackson" should be placed upon the regimental colors. TO KENTUCKY AGAIN. The Vicksburg campaign was closed, and the presence of men was more severely need- ed again in Kentucky. On the 9th of August the Corps left Vicksburg for Cairo add came by railroad from that city to Cincinnati. At that city Colonel Hartranft, still very much prostrated by his attack in Mississippi, re- n»ir, in Tennessee, where they were just about being attacked by Longstreet. His passage through Kentucky and over the mountains, ; which had to be made on horse-back by th© road used for transporting supplies, was just made in time, for a day after the operations of the rebel cavalry and guerrillas cut off* communication entirely till after Longstreet abandoned his siege of Knoxville. The arrival of their beloved Colonel at Le- noir was hailed with delight by his men, for? they desired his cool head and undaunted heart to lead them in battle. He at once, ia the absence of senior officers, took command of the Division and led it during the whole of the battles constituting THE DEFENCE OF KNOXVILLE. Burnside knew the staunch qualities of the lieutenant he had to support him in keeping Longstreet at bay. The skirmish at Lenoir commenced the campaign. Hartranft was ordered to move forward to Campbell's Sta- tion, and bold the roads which cross there. He marched promptly in the night with hia division, and some artillery and cavalry, an4 occupied the important strategic point. Other troops were hurried up to his support, and at 9 o'clock in the morning the action com- menced, continuing for two hours, at the end of which time the discomfitted rebeis retired with terrible loss. Hartranft during the en- gagement had four brigades under him. Ifc» was a battle fought against terrible odds, for the Union army numbered only six thousand men, while Longstreet led at least three times that many. Hartranft's own division con- tained only about twelve hundred men. , Burnside's only eifort was to hold out, and. save Knoxville till reinforcements could reach him. In the night after the battle, therefore, he withdrew towards that city, and immedi- ately set abaut fortifying it. In this work Hartranft was a most valuable assistant. Hia engineering knowledge came into full use. Under his direction a large dam was thrown across a stream called "First Creek," which falls into the Holston river, near the citjp. ceived a sick leave and returned to his home The water in the stream was raised to a eon- at Norristown, to recover his shattered ener- siderable height, a thousand yards along the gies. front of our army, and for at least one halJt Having partially recovered he left again of that distance it became too deep and wid» for the field of action in. October, and on the|t» be crossed by the enemy without bridge^^ 16t]» of November, found his Regiment at Le-J^li jfn therefore a most valuable means of do 9 ^ fence, and assisted not a little in repelling the i assaults of the stubborn Longstreet. The siege continued for three weeks. Mean- while the suffering of our men for provisions was very great. Supplies could not be brought through from Crab Orchard, as they had been, for the communication was cut off by the rebels. There was no resource but to de- pend on the country,. and this was a very poor reliance, for the people themselves had an insufficient allowance of the barest neces- saries of life. At length, however, about the 7th of December, Longstreet gave up the siege and withdrew. Entirely baffled by Burnside, and fearful of being cut off by Sherman, who was marching from Chattanooga, he retreated in haste, abandcning the coveted prize of Knoxville, and the control of its great line of railroad. During all the hardships of the siege none had less idea of retreat or surrender than Hartranft. To some one who inquired our ability to hold out, he answered with bis usual modest confidence, "Forty thousand men, sir, cannot take Knoxville." We have before us, as we write this, a letter from the veteran officer of a Massachusetts regiment, who for- gets his State pride, and writes thus appre- ciatively of our Pennsylvania soldier : — " Here, in Tennessee, at the beautiful battle of Campbell's Station, where we were twice outflanked by the enemy, Col. Hartranft was the man who, by charging with his Division, relieved our peril. This was done nobly, promptly, quietly, and in order, thus saving the army from confusion and disaster. At Knoxville, his management and actions seemed to me equal if not superior to those of any other officer, and this is saying much, where all did so well. I regard Colonel Hart- ranft as entirely competent to command a "Brigade, a Division, or even a Corps." RE-ENLISTMENT OF HIS REGIMENT. The country never needed men worse than she did in the great campaigns of 1864, and in the winter previous the Government, with admirable judgmentand forethought, began to make preparations for the contingency by oflFering inducements to the three years' regi- ments, whose time would expire in the sum- mer and fall, to re-enlist for another term. Many regiments did so, and among them Colonel Hartranft's Fifty-first P. "V., which «ince the siege of Knoxville had been station ed in the vicinity, principally at Blaia's cross roads. Here, on the 4th of January, they were mustered, and all but a few men agreed to re-enlist. The "veterans" received their usual furlough, and the Regiment was ordered home to recruit. At Norristown, on the 9th of February, at the formal reception given to Colonel Hart- ranft and those companies belonging to Mont- gomery county, they were welcomed by B. E. Chain, Esq., an old Democrat like Colonel Hartranft, but the determined friend of his country, instead of partizan politics. One paragraph from Mr. Chain's remarks may properly be quoted here : — " It is to you. Colonel, the regiment owes the character it bears. Your discipline in the camp, your foresight on the march, your cool- ness, bravery and judgment on the battle- field, have won their confidence and love, and made them heroes in the fight. They knew you never ordered when you did not lead. Your pledge has been more than redeemed. Your actions have spoken louder than words." PREPARING FOR THE NEW CAMPAIGN. The furlough having expired Col. Hart- ranft's regiment rendezvoused at Harrisburg, on the 10th of March, and remained at Camp Curtin, under charge of Lieut. CoL Schall, till the 19th, when they were sent forward to Annapolis. Here the soldiers of Burnside's command were once more assembling to em- bark, as was supposed on some new expedi- tion to the South. The Camp here was very extensive, for many of the regiments had been recruited to their maximum strength, and there were a num- ber of new organizations, among them the colored troops. Col. Hartranft was made act- ing Brigadier General and placed in command of the post. The remainder of March, and most of April, was spent in organizing, drill- ing and disciplining the new men, embracing not only the new organizations, but the recruits in the old ones. Soon after, Col. Hartranft received his long merited promotion, as Brigadier of volun- teers. He fairly earned it at Antietam, and nothing but his modest determination not to urge his own claims had prevented him from receiving it long before. He was placed in command of the Ist Brigade, 3d Division, 9th Army Corps, consisting of six regiments — the 2d and 8th Michigan and 51st Penna., all : veteran regiments, and the 17th Michigan, 10 109th N. Y., and 27th Michigan. His com- mission as Brigadier dated from May 12th, 18G4. GRANT'S GRAPPLE WITH TREASON— THE WILDERNESS. On the 7th the men were principally occu- pied in intrenching, though there ir&s consid- erable skirmishing with the enemy, and on the 8th they again moTcd to the left in pursuance of Grant's grand plan of flanking, and march- The operations of Burnside were not to be|i»g through Chancellorstille, encamped two crriedoninanynew "Expedition." Grant's, ""ile^ ^^yo""!- The army was beyond "tho plans assigned him an entirely different fieldjWilderness," and th« first epoch of the fearfu . of service. Late in April the arrangements, struggle was over, of the Lieut. -General were all made, and hej SPOTTSYLVANIA. stood ready to engage in that terrible grapplej Qn the 9th, Hartranft was again on the with the armies of the Rebellion, which willmove with his Corps. Near the Ny river the be celebrated in History for all time to come, ; Ung of battle was once more formed in the rear as the most fearful fighting ever done in any of Christ's brigade, which was at once thrown age. On the 23d of April, Burnside's forces, across the stream, and engaged the enemy, moved from Annapolis, marching across coun-jThe rebels came down upon him in front and try to Washington, and Alexandria, wherekegan to push his flanks severely, when Hart- they encamped on the 25th. They became a|ranft threw two of his regiments over the portion of Grant's army, actually in the field, stream, and the enemy was handsomely re- about the 29th. With Hartranft, active operations began on the 4th of Jlay, when he broke camp near Warrentou Junction, and took up the line of march, crossing the Rappahannock and en- camping a mile beyond. The following day he crossed the Rapidan at Germania Ford, and hurried forward with the rest of Burn- Bide's forces to the support of the troops who had been all day engaged at the Wilderness. pulsed with severe loss. Sickened by his se- vere reception he made no further attacks on our lines during the day. On the 10th and 11th there was an advance and retrograde movement across the Ny, but on the 12th at daylight our troops again ad- vanced beyond the river, and here ensued a desperate engagement in the course of the day. The enemy opened on our troops with artillery, but two guns of Captain Twitchell'a The next day — Friday, May Gth — a move-ibattery soon silenced them. Pushing reso- ment was made toward the left, and Hart-jhitely forward theenemy continually gaveway ranft's brigade was placed on the left of the'and Hartranft won two email hills', where they 5th Corps. Farther still to the left was the 2d had attempted to stand. At 2 o'clock orders Corjfe. Here the enemy were soon encounter- ed, and Burnside ordered Hartranft to carry the enemy's works in his front. They were very strong, and the rebels were in force. The advance was made at 10 o'clock, in fine style, and the works were carried and held for a moment, but a sudden panic seized the left of the line, and the whole brigade fell back. A large number of prisoners were captured on both sides. Col. Graves, of the 8th Michigan "Volunteers, was killed in the enemy's works. The attempt, however, was not relinquished; were given to attack, and our troops moved gallantly forward. The position, like nearly the whole battle field, was wooded and over grown with thickets. The movements of the enemy could not be clearly perceived, and he fell in greatly superior numbers on Hartranft's left. There ensued a most desperate hand-to- hand fight. Prisoners were taken by both sides. The General in his oificial report says of it:— "The enemy's cannon poured their shot through my lines from the front, and his in- the line was again formed, and at half-pastiff^i^ry being in superior force on my left, my #/^.,- ;^ *T,« „<•. TT I ru • , line was compelled to retire. The enemy four in the afternoon Hartranft s men earned ..i.- e <-.« I were wilhm a few feet of Wright's two guna the works, though with severe loss, more men | on the left but the 2d Mich., under the corn- being killed and wounded than in the charge mand of the gallant Capt. Farran, repulsed in the morning. They gallantly held their po-'^e enemy most handsomely. After all the .;♦;«,, v,«™,X„^« ^^A ^i A 1 1-1, igunners were killed and wounded, he manned sition, however, and at dnek were relieved bvi?!^ ^ u- • * v i t, i -n j ' 1 cYcvx w^ -^^ guns from his regiment, but he was killed other troops, while they moved to a new posi-L.goon after while bravely directing the fire tion. [of the piece he had so hastily manned." Six ri' ;guDa further to the right and rear, under thel On the 17th and 18th his command angaged perBonal direction of the General Command- the enemy with severe loas, the contest, on the ing the DiTision, opened fire upon the enemy, and did good execution in driving him back. This was a repulse to my line, but the enemy failed equally in his object, with a slight ad- fantage of prisoners in his favor. My loss in killed and wounded was heavy. The 2d Brigade, under the command of Colonel Hum- phrey, moved upon the attack to my support. Lieut. Col. Swift 17th Mich, was taken priso- ner, with the colors of his regiment, while et- tempting to rally the same. Capt. Allebaugh, 6l8t, P. v., seized the colors of his Regiment after two color bearers had been shot, with determination to rally his men. The enemy latter day, being at the Norfolk and Peters- burg Railroad. At both places General Hart- ranft exposed himself with his usual gallant- ry, and at the latter, while the balls flew thickly about him, one cut through the skirts of his coat and another tore his coat, rest and shirt, slightly grazing the skin. His position,' carried from the rebels, on the 18th was the nearest to the enemy's lines occupied by any portion of our army on that day, and consti- tuted a most important portion of our works appeared in oTerwhelming numbers and he f^^ the siege of Petersburg. Immediately iu was forced to yield.' , , . , , x? iu lOiui It, -iQii. iL -D • J J the rear of it the celebrated "mine" was From the 13th to the 18th the Brigade made no movement. On the 19th it moved to the extreme left of the army and took up a posi- tion immediately on the left of the 6th Corps On the 21st the flank movement was again per- formed, and marching all night it crossed the Po river at 4 o'clock and encamped at 6, A M., on the 22d. The 23d found our troops at the North Anna, where they remained till the 27th and again moved off. The 1st of June found them near COLD HARBOR, and on that and the 2d there was severe skir- mishing with the enemy. On the following day Hartranft withdrew toward the left and formed line near Bethesda Church and once more engaged the enemy. Agreeably to orders, he assaulted the enemy in his front|'^^° <^^ff^^^°^ '^^^^'^'^^ "P°° °"^ ^'^e" *«" ^e- and retook a line which had been lost by our P'^^^^'^' i° ♦^^ ^""^^^^ ^^<^ assaulting column, worked into the hill, under the enemy's works. THE MINE EXPLOSION. In the unfortunate action at Petersburg, on the 30th of July, after the explosion of the mine, Hartranft again took part. Early in the morning his brigade advanced to the "crater' caused by the explosion, and pushed as far to the left as possible to occupy that portion of the enemy's works not blown up. Here two guns, partially covered with the ex- ploded dirt, were dug out by Hartranft'a orders and turned upon the enemy. But it was impossible to get any further forward and the enemy began to press severely upon our men, who were rapidly becoming exhausted. army the preceding evening. Theenemy fled precipitately from their position and Hart- ranft's men occupied the rifle-pits. In the movement Lieut.-Col. Schall, of the 51st P. V. was killed. The position gained was within two hun- dred yards of the rebel main line, and was exposed to an enfilading fire from their in fantry, which told severely upon our ranks. To procure cover, in default of better en- trenching tools, the men used their bayonets, tincups and plates *o scoop up the soil into earthworks, and thus partially protected them- selves. ACROSS THE JAMES. The successive movements by the left flank [this sketch, to do full justice to the grand op- brought the brigade of Hartranft across the orations of General Grant in the sKege of Chickahominy on the 1-lth of June, and on Petersburg, and the several movements by the 15th the Jamea was also crossed. 1 which he extended his left •areas Le^** Wa about five hundred strong, was almost ani- hilated. But, strange enough as it seems, no sup- ports were sent forward to assist in holding the ground, and there came instead an order to retire. This was done at a terrible cost, for the enemy's fire swept our troops in flank as they fell back. Four regimental officers of the 1st Brigade were seriously, and one mor- tally wounded, and Capt. Shorkley, of Hart- ranft's Staff, lost his right hand. Two order lies in attendance upon the General were killed GRANT'S OPERATIONS BEFORE RICH- MOND. It will be impossible, within the limits of 12 of communications, the Weldon and Danville Railroads. To present a proper record of them, or even to give the reader an intelligent Late in March, 1865, the nation was >rait- ing patiently for the news of the surrender or capture of Richmond, when it was startled by idea of their full nature, would swell our de-jthe report that Lee had assumed the offensive Bcription beyond the limits to which we mustland had boldly attacked our lines. A few confine ourselves. During the movements upon the Weldon Railroad, on the 19th, 20th and 21st of Au- gust, General Hartranft commanded his bri- gade and did good service in the three days' fighting there. Major Belcher, of the 8th Michigan, was killed, and Major Hart, of the 51st Pennsylvania, was three times wounded in the engagement. The brigade lost fifteen ki'lled, seventy-nine wounded, and twenty- three missing. In the engagements near Poplar Springs Church, commencing on the 30th of September and ending on the 8th of the following month, Gen. Hartranft had command of the 2d Bri- gade, instead of the 1st, and participated. In the first day's fighting his little command was almost Burrounded, the troops on the right having been forced to give way before su perior numbers. The Brigade formed the ex. trcme left of the army. Two regiments on the right came rushing toward his line in confu eion, but he checked them, restored order and re-formed them near his command. The nature of the ground and dense growth of timber and sorghum prevented a view of the operations ol other troops. As a consequence, the enemy had pushed back those on the right far in the rear of the position of Hartranft's brigade before he was informed of it. It was only by the greatest skill and resolution that he brought off his command in safety and re- joined our main body on the new line which had been formed. At Hatcher's Run, on the 27th and 28th of October, General Hartranft commanded the 1st Brigade of the 1st Division, 9th Corps, which contained several of the old regiments previously under him in the 3d Division. THE BATTLE OF FORT STEADMAN. Grant's gigantic combinations and resolute perseverance were beginning to effect the de- sired result. Richmond tottered to its fall, and the campaigns in which we had so long fought for its possession were about drawing to a close. But before giving up entirely, Lee made one more desperate effort, like the enrao-ed boand of a eavage animal driven to madness. hours later, and the report was confirmed, but with the cheering and encouraging addition that our troops had most brilliantly repulsed the attack in one of the hardest engagements, for its duration, of the war ; that this magnifi- cent feat had been performed by a Division composed of new regiments only recently re- cruited from Pennsylvania, but disciplined, trained, and led by a Pennsylvania General, now, for his skill and courage, named " Thk Hero of Fout Steadman." Gen. Hartranft, at this time, was in com- mand of the 3d Division of the 9th Corps. It was composed, as just stated, of Pennsylvania regiments, raised for one year, and just sent into the field. To organize and discipline them no better man could have been selected than Hartranft, and his choice for the position was most appropriate and fortunate. Of the character of this battle we shall present some idea by copying from a General Order issued by Gen. Parke, commanding the 9th Corps: — "At four A. M., on March 26th, the enemy haVing massed three divisions in front of Fort Steadman, in the lines of the Third Brigade, First Division, of this Corps, by a sudden rush broke the picket line, and after a gallant de- fence by the garrison of Fort Steadman, over- powered it and gained possession of the Fort and a portion of the parapet on either side. He then assaulted Fort Haskell and Battery 9, but was repulsed with much loss. He at- tempted to advance toward the Railroad, but was speedily checked, and the First Brigade, Third Division, coming up, he was forced back to the fort. From thence he was driven by a charge of the Third Division, and the Second and Third Brigades, First Division, with the loss of many killed and wounded, 1,949 pris- oners, including 71 commissioned officers, and nine stands of colors, and the entire line seized by him was reoccupied, "To Brig. -Gen. J. F. Hartranft, command- ing Third Division, who had charge of the as- sault, great credit is due; and his Division is specially congratulated on the distinguished success which their good conduct has met with in this, their first, engagement." The "charge" and " the assault," as it is termed by Gen. Parke, was the grand exploit of the day, and that which will naturally most be dwelt upon, though the courage with which Hartranft rallied his troops and stubbornly 'fe held* his position earlier in the day, was no less of importance. By the first achieTcment disaster wag averted, by the pecond a grand victory was obtained. Gen. Hartranft, in his official report, thus describes his assault upon the enemy, though he refers with less fullness than we could wish to its entire success : — ** It was now about 7. SO A. M. when I re- ceived an order from General Parke, through one of his staff, to retake the line. . My plan of attack was as follows : Orders were sent out that an assault would be made by my (irhole division in 15 minutes, and that the signal for the assault would be the advance of 'the 211th P. V. from the hills in the rear to- ward Steadman. " Captain Hodgkins was directed to advance with the 2d Brigade under Colonel Mathews — Major Bertolette with the 200th and 211th Pa. ^Vols. on the right, and as soon as the 211th ^P. V. could be]" put into position it was ad- vanced toward ^Steadman under the direction of Captain AVatts, A. D. C, in full view of the enemy. This was done for the purpose of at- tracting the attention and fire of the enemy, and cover the movements of the balance of the Division, which was to carry the works. This ruse was a complete success. The ene- my, seeing the advance of this regiment num-, bering about 600 muskets, in such handsome, manner, commenced to waver, when the bal-; ance of the Division charged with a will 'in; the most gallant style, and in a moment Steadman, Batteries 11 and 12, and the entire line which had been lost, was recaptured, with a large number of prisoners, battle-flags and small arms. ♦' After the troops had commenced moving to make this assault, I received orders not to make it until a Division of the 6th Army Corps, which was on its way to support me, had arrived. But I saw that the enemy had already commenced to waver, and that success was certain. I therefore allowed the lines to charge. Besides this it was doubtful whether I could have communicated with the regiments on the flanks in time to countermand the movement. " From the reports of my subordinate com- manders as well as from my own observa- tions, at least fifteen hundred of the prisoners, ■ and all the battle-flags captured, were taken by and passed to the rear through the lines ofi my Division, but were afterward collected by other troops, while but one battle-flag was credited to my account. The otScersaud men| were so eager to regain the lost ground, and Regimental commanders so desirous to main- tain their several organizations, which had been somewhat broken after charging through the bomb-proofs and old works around the forts, that little or no attention was paid to the trophies of this brilliant victory." At Fort Steadman, xiartranft iron hia Vttrrel of Major General, an honor well-deserved. A communication from Gen. Meade, command- ing the Army of the Potomac, to Gen. Parke, commanding the 9th Corps, was enclosed by the latter to Gen. Hartranft, rnd in sending it used the following complimentary lan- guage :— "He [Gen. Parke] bids me [A. A. G.] say in connection therewith, that such prompt re- cognition of your services, on the 25th inst., by the President, the Lieutenant General, and the Major General commanding this Army, affords him the greatest pleasure, and he begs you will accept his hearty congratulations, on your well-deserved promotion." • Gen. Meade's letter is as follows : — Head Qks. Army or the Potomac, March 27th, 1865. To Major General J. G. Parlce, Commanding Ninth Army Corps : General — The commanding General directs me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this date, recommending Brig. Gen. Hart- ranft U. S. Volunteers for the Brevet of Major General of Volunteers, for his conspicuous gallantry in recapturing Fort Steadman, du- ring the action of the 25th inst., as well as for his industry and eSiciency in organizing and disciplining his division composed of new regiments. In reply, I am directed to inform you, that before the receipt of your letter, a recommen- dation of this same effect had been made by the Commanding General to Lieut. General Grant, to which a response wns received, that, this nomination had been made to the Secre- tary of War, and a telegraphic answer return- ed that the appointment should be made. Since then the Commanding General is in- formed by telegraph that Brig. Gen. Hartranft is brevetted Major General, and the appoint- ment has been forwarded by mail. Your re- commendation is, however, forwarded to com- plete the record. I am. General, very respectfully, Your Obdt. Servt., (Signed) GEO. D. RUGGLES, Asst. Adj't. Gertm THE FINAL ASSAULT. In the final grand assault on Petersburg, when the " Confederacy" of traitors crum- bled away at last, like a rotten shell. General Hartranft bore once more a distinguished part. On the 2d of April, in command of his Di- vision, which had fought so well at Fort Steadman, and assisted also ky the 1st Brigade of the 1st Division, under Colonel Harriman, he assaulted tho enemy'i works ia nr««l *t 14 Fort Sedgwick, his column hftTing formed onlburg, alxtng (he line of the South Side Rail- the right of the Jerusalem plank road. At road, as guard to the wagon train of the army. 4.30 A. M., just at dawn the attack was made. Until Lee's surrender his men were employed On the left was Gen. Potter's Division. Thelin guarding diflFerent parts of the line of rail- works in front were known as "Miller's Salient" and were very strong, protected by every device of engineering skill. They ex- tended over a line of about five hundred yards, but all fell into our hands in Hart- ranft's impetuous charge. The pioneer part- ies cut and tore away the abattet, and chavaux de-frise, with great difficulty, but complete success. All the guns in the works, three battle flags, and a considerable number of prisoners fell into our hands. *' Three determined charges to retake the " works," says Hartranft in his report, " were " made by the enemy during the day, one at «« 11.15 A. TA., the second at 1.05 P. M., and «' the last at 3. In the last charge the left of " the line held by my command was forced to ♦♦retire for a short time, owing to the fact "that part of the works held by 2d Division •* were r«t»ken by the enemy, giving a sweep- •« ing i*»k fire on my left, but upon the ad- '* vance of fresh troops on the left, my men "regained confidence and the line was re " established." Later in the day a brigade of the 6th Corps under General Hamblin, was placed under Hartranft. During the night the position was Btrengthened, the *hevaux-dt-friae taken from the rear being placed in front. At 3 o'clock next morning Ekirmishers were thrown out, but found no enemy. The rebels had fled. Grant's assault on Petersburg was successful, for that stubborn city was evacuated. Gen. Hartranft's command entered the suburbs a few minutes before five A. M. His skirmish •rs reached the city at 4.16, a short time before. Some little question as to who is entitled to the honor of first entering Petersburg, need not be argued here. Hartranft says " I urn *' satiefied that my skirmishers were the first " Union troops in the city, and Colonel McCal- "mont's brigade [of Gen. H.'s command] was •• the first which entered the limits of the city ♦♦in a body." CONCLUSION OF THE CAMPAIGN. General Hartranft and his command saw BO more ff 'ating during the campaign. On 4k# M «f Af rU ke marched through Peters- road, having moved as far as Nottoway Court House, where they arrived on the 8th of April. DETAILED AT WASHINGTON. Among the many gallant men who had done the country signal service during iti hours of trial, only a few could be retained after the rebellion succumbed at BurkesTille. Among those whom the Government desired to remain in the service was General Hart- ranft. He was specially detailed by Presi- dent Johnson to take charge of the arrange- ments for guarding the Military Commission which sat for the trial of the Assassins of the President, and to execute its mandates. In the performance of this unpleasant but important duty he succeeded, as ever, admira- bly. He entered upon the charge of the ar- rangements at the Arsenal, when the Com- mission commenced its sittings early in May, and under his direction, as subordinate to General Hancock, the wretched malefactors, who had incurred the highest penalties of the law, received their merited punishment. All who had occasion to meet Gen. Hartranft dur- ing his attendance on the Commission, testify to the faithfulness, politeness, and vigilance of his conduct. Even the wretched Harold and' Atzeroth returned thanks in their last mo- ments to him for the uniform courtesy and justice of his conduct toward them. GENERAL HARTRANT'S SERVICES. In his statement of his services in the army, rendered to the War Department according tO' order, in July, General Hartranft gives the record of his participation in the following battles : — On the Staflf of Col. Franklin at 1st Bull Run, commnnded Regiment at Roanoke Is- land, Newborn, 2d Bull Run, Chantilly, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Vicks- burg (not engag-jd) ; commanded Brigade at Jackson ; commanded Division at Campbell Station, and Siege of Knoxville ; commanded Brigade at the Wilderness, Spottsylvania,^ North Anna, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Wel- don Railroad, Poplar Spring Church, and Hatcher's Run, No. 1; commanded Division »* Hatcher's Run, No. 2, (not engaged,) Fort Steadman, and Assault on Petersburg. Thi» 15 embraced a period of service from April, 1861, to April, 1865, during which he received forty- five day's furlough, and one sick leave, and, except on these permits, was never absent from the field. By an order of the War Department, Gen. Hartranft was assigned to duty under General Palmer, in Kentucky. Nomination fob Auditor General. The Union State Convention of Pennsylva- nia, which met at Harrisburg, on the 17th of Sept., 1865, was composed of the best men of the State, and had before it the names of nu- merous gentlemen, in both civil and military life, for nomination to the positions of Auditor General and Surveyor General. The name of Hartranft had been mentioned in connection with the latter position , but he declined to ac- cept it. It then seemed to be the general de- sire of the Convention that he should be the candidate for Auditor General, and having consented to become so, he was unanimously declared the choice of the Union party for that position, after one ballot, in which he had a large plurality of votes. Hartranft Serenaded. — A Speech. A few nights after his nomination, a number of his fellow-citizens waited upon him at his residence in Norristown, with a band of music. An address was delivered on behalf of the party by Benjamin F. Hancock, Esq., father of Major General Winfield S. Hancock, and General Hartranft replied as follows : Jfy Fellow Citizens :— I thank you most sincerely for this compliment to-night. It assures me that you e» dorse my past public life, and that I hold your confi' dence and support in the public contest goon to be in augurated. I also thank you, Mr. Hancock, for the kind mention of my military history. Of this I will act speak nor detain you but a moment. As a soldier I fell it my duty to give my humble aid to the great party which has during the rebellion so nobly supported the Government in the struggle for its existence and national honor. It put forth its strong arm and assisted the Government in filling our depleted ranks. If this had not been done we would still be digging in front of Petersburg, or perhaps been compel led to Accept a dishonorable peace. To do this in a righteous cause, would have been a disgrace to every soldier. If the soldier is true to himself he must be true to the Union party. His pension list, his bounty tor his early enlistment, his right of suffrage, his pro tection through life, all appeal to him. I need not say that every tffort should be made now to protect and encourage labor. You well understand that it ie th« wealth of a nation. And, while this is so. also from patriotic considerations see that the returned soldier is honorably employed. It is the highest favor that can be bestowed upon him or his country. He will then soon forget his camp life, and become an indus- trious and prosperous citizen. The military power of the rebellion is crushed, I majr say forever, and tbe nation looms up amidst the ruins more grand and powerful than it ever seemed before. But remember that the spirit of rebellion is still alive and must be carefully guarded. Let it be shorn of all political power, for in that is concealed all it.s strength and danger. I hope soon to see the immense armies of the North and South engaged in civil and peaceful pursuits, all adding their energy to restore our happy, glorious country to its former wealth and prosperity. Allow me again to return my thanks for your compliment. When the Regular Army was re-organized, in 1865, General Grant sent into the War De- partment the name of General Hartranft for a Colonelcy. The President approved the re- commendation, and Hartranft was appointed Colonel of the 34th 'U. S. Infantry, part of which was then in Tennessee. His private affairs not permitting his absence from home, and the urgencies of the times not demanding his services, he declined the appointment in October. The result of the election of 1865 is well known. The name of Hartranft was a tower of strength, and resulted in his election by 22,660 majority, being 2,585 more majority than Mr. Lincoln received in 1864. Since liis introduction into office he has discharged his numerous and responsible duties in such an impartial and competent manner as to win him hosts of friends in both political parties. The interests of the State have never been more zealously guarded, as is shown by the fact that notwithstanding the extraordinary ex- penses incurred by the war, the State debt has been reduced more than FIVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS during the administration of General Hartranft. The Republican party owes a debt of gratitude to our candidate for thus giving the lie to the charge of extrava- gance so often made by our opponents. That debt was partially paid by his unanimous re- nomination, on the 11th day of March last, without a single opposition. Such an honor is without precedent in our State, and shows with what favor our candidate is regarded by the party. His military as well as his civil record is without blemish, and we feel satisfied that the people of the State will re-elect him to hia I present position by a large majority. OUR LEADER RISEN FROM THE RANKS! A WORKING MAN, FIRST IN THE FIELD, AND EVER READY WITH SWORD AND PURSE TO DEFEND HIS COUNTRY. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH or COL. JACOB MILLER CAMPBELL, UNION CANDIDATE FOR SURVEYOK GENERAL. Jacob Miller Campbell is a native of Alle- gheny township, Somerset county, Pa., and was born on the 20th day of NoTember, 1821. When a mere youth his parents removed to Allegheny city, where he went to school until 1835. In that year, being fourteen years old, he became an apprentice in the oflBce of the Somerset Whtj, a Democratic newspaper, in which he remained until he had mastered as much of the printing business as could be learn- ed in a country office of that day. In 1840 he left Somerset and worked for some tima "at case" in the office of the Literary Examiner, a monthly magazine of considerable merit published In Pittsburgh. From here our "jour printer" found his way te New Orleans and into another printing office. But his ac- tive nature was not satisfied. The steamboat trade on the lower Mississippi presented in 1840, as does the oil business in 1865, tempt- ing inducements to enterprising spirits who care less for hard knocks than the sub- Btantial benefits which they sometimes pro- duce>' Laying down his composing stick the boy of nineteen became a steamboat- man, and for several subsequent years filled successive- ly the positions of clerk, mate and part own- er of a vessel, always, however, making Penn- sylvania his home, which he frequently visit- ed. In 1847 the iron business of our State attracted his attention, and he embarked in it at Brady's Bend. In the same year he married. In 1851 he followed the course of empire to California, but did not long re- main there, and in 1858 we find him in Johns- town, assisting in the conetraction of our mammoth rolling mill. . "With this splendid enterprise he remained connected up to the breaking out of the war, holding all the time an important and responsible position. He was one of the few men who knew Aoto to build and manage successfully the greatest iron es- tablishment in the Union. In April, 1861, Fort Sumter was bombarded and the first call appeared for volunteers to "rally round the flag." At the time Mr. Campbell was first lieutenant of a volunteer company in Johnstown, and this company at once tendered its services to the Governor, who promptly accepted them. It xvai thefirtt com- pany to enter Camp Curtin. Upon the organi- zation of the Third Begiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, Lieutenant Campbell was ap- pointed Quartermaster, a position which he filled with great acceptability until the regi- ment was discharged. While yet in the "three months' service," the State of Pennsylvania asked for a loan of three millions of dollars, for the purpose of raising and equipping the " Pennsylvania Re- serve Corps," which the Governor was author- ized to call into the service of the State. This was at a time when those having money were loth to lend it to the Government, as it was difficult to see or foretell what would be the result of the contest just commenced. Lieut. Campbell, however, did not share in the feel- ings of doubt and uncertainty expressed by many of the community. He at once placed at the disposal of the State $30,000 (all that he possessed in the world, except his family residence.) At the time the papers of the city of Philadelphia spoke of the matter and said: One of the noblest among the noble ofFer- ings in this particular, is that of J. M. Camp- bell, of Johnstown, Cambria county. He sub- scribed and has paid to the Treasurer of the State, thirty thousand dollars, while he is at the same time serving as a volunteer in the army. This is truly pledging life, fortune and sacred honor in the cause of the country. Soon after Ms subscription to the State and whilst our troops were yet at Camp Scott it became evident that s«nie arrangement would be necessary to provide for the want of the officers of his Regiment as the Govern ment had not made any arrangement for their pay. Many of them were without uniforn]? and were without the means to procure them. Lieut. Campbell obtained a three dnys' leave of absence, went to Pittsburgh, raispd on his own responsibility $6,000, took it to camp and distributed it among such oftheoiGcers and men of his Regiment as stood in need of it. At the time this generous act was noticed as follows, by the correspondent of the Pitt-burgh Dls- palch : — On last Saturday Quartermaster Campbell, who was formerly a resident of Allegheny City, visited Pittsburgh, and ruistd, on his own individual responsibility, for the use of his regiment, six thousand dollars, which he to-day disbursed to the men. He has also made arrangements for fourteen thousand dollars more for the same purpose, in case tht Government should not make a payment soon. Such noble disinterestedness on the part of Quartermaster Campbell is only in keeping with his general chat acter ; indeed, his devo tion to the interests of the Third Regiment is proverbial throughout the Camp. Lieut. Campbell served with his Regiment in General Patterson's abortive campaign in the mouth of the Shenandoah valley and re- turned to Harrisburg with the troops of thai command. He was mustered out on the 28tl, of July, 1861, and on the oOth of the same month was commissioned to recruit a regi- ment. In due time the regiment wasraiscd, the companies composing it having been mainly recruited through Col. Campbell's individual exertions. Eight of the companies were re- cruited in Cambria and Somerset counties, and two in Lehigh and Northampton coun- ties. The regiment was designated the Fifty Fourth. Whilst the Fifty-Fourth Regiment was in the vicinity of Washington, in March, 1862, ii was selected by General Casey to escort through that city the remains of the lanionted Colonel Cameron, (brother of the late Secre- tary of War,) who fell at the first battle of Bull Run. On the 2ftth day of March, 1862, Col. Camp- bell received orders to report with his Regi- ment to Gen. Miles at Harpers' Ferry, and in accordance with instructions from that ofiBicer proceeded tooccupy the line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, from North Mountain Station, 56 miles westward, to the South Brancl» of the Potomac, the Regiment occupy- ing ten stations at the most important points along the line. The headquarters of the Regi- ment were at first at Great Cacapon, but at the expiration of a fortnight Col. Campbell removed them to Sir John's Run. The Colonel soon discovered that his posi- tion was of a kind to call into play the experi- ence and tact of an administrative and judi- cial officer, rather than the more brusque abili- ties of a military commander. In t.vo of the counties through which his command extended (Morgan and Hampshire), there was no recognized civil authority of any kind — all the officers of both counties, civil as well as military, having espoused the Southern cause. As for the citizens who remained at home, not only were they divided in their political adherence, but personal rancor ran high among them. Nearly all had grievances (real or imaginary) to urge, and all alike sought redress from the only power at hand. Many of the farms along the line of the road were desolate, the fences prostrate, and the build- ings falling to wreck — the owners being in the Southern ;irmy. Many respectable house- holds who remained were without decent shel- ter for their families, their homes having been laid waste by one or the other of the contend- ing factions. The first duty, therefore, devolving upon Col. Campbell, after he had concluded a mili- tary exploration of the country, with the view of guarding against surprise, was to hear and determine many of these cases. As lawwas outof the questionhe resolved todecide iiUcases brought before him in equity, so far as it might be within his jurisdiction to do so. Many of the deserted farms along the line of the road, whose owners were in the Confeder- itc army, he gave out to responsible persons " until such time as it should be otherwise ordered by comp' t-t^nt and lawful authority" — on condition that after the first year, " one- third of the product of said land shall be paid over to such officer as may be designated by the Government of the United States, or other authority legally competent to receive the same." All the fences were to be rebuilt ivithin the first year by the parties farming the land. Thus many families -were enabled to live in comparative comfort, who would otherwise have been reduced to various suffer- ing, perhaps to actual starvation. Col. Campbell also required a number of the most hostile and mischievous persons to give bonds for their future good behavior, and many, who had angry dissensions of a strict- ly personal nature, he persuaded to shake hands in his presence, and enter upon new terms of friendship. The men under his com- mand were subject to the most stringent orders to respect the private property of every citizen, and in no case to obstruct or annoy the people in their lawful pursuits. By such wise and truly patriotic measures, a friendly understanding, expressed in many instances of amicable reciprocity, was established be tween the citizens and the soldiery, and even the most obdurate Secessionists of Hampshire and Morgan learned to regard the quiet Colonel of the Sith as "not so bad for a Yan kee."; On the 25th of May, when Gen. Banks was driven down the Shenandoah Valley, General Miles ordered Col. Campbell to concentrate his Eegiment for the protection of South Branch Bridge, as a large force of the enemy were advancing in that direction from Rom- ney with the intention to destroy it. He promptly carried out the order, and after driv- ing the enemy far beyond Romney, he return- ed to his post at the bridge, and on the 3d of June, again deployed his command along the line of the road as they had been before the retreat of Gen. Banks. Skirmishing with the enemy's pickets was kept up daily with the rebel force occupying Hedgesville and Martinsburg after the battle of Aniietam. Gen. McClellan attached Col Campbell's Regiment temporarily to the com- mand of Gen. Franklin, but with orders to 'retain their position on the road, unless threatened by a very superior force, in which event he was to concentrate his regiment at Hancock, on the north side of the Potomac. Col. Campbell, however, never deemed it neces- sary to availLiniself of (be discretionary power given him and nmintained his position on the road. When the Army of the Potomac moved,, after the battle of Antietam, Col. Campbell ur-' gently requested that his regimentmightbere-l lieved from its present duty and sent with the main army in the " onward march to Rich- mond," but he was not permitted to do so. The Baltimore American, in speaking of the services of this regiment at the time, pays the Colonel and regiment the followiug compli- ment : "Here is a regiment which has held its ground with notable fidelity, in situations alwirys per- plexing, and often most perilous. Here, too, is a commander with a head full of policy and a heart full of spirit. Set to guard, with a comparatively insignificant force, the most important militniy tholoughfare in the coun- try — in a region almost unanimously hostile and overrun with partisan bands — he begins by procuring the favor, or securing the neu- trality, of an embittered and reckless popula- tion, by mea.sures of justice, liberality and for- bearance. With discretionary instructions from all of his superior officers with whom he has correspondence, often under circumstances that would have abundantly justified him in abandoning the road, he invariably exercises that discretion on the side of duty, and sticks fast by his lonely post, while the locality, and almost the existence, of his regiment is un- known to our army. Moving day and night from one post to another, as' often as he is threatened, cleverly escaping when des- perately beset, frequently throwing out his whole force as pickets when he hasnoreserves to fall back upon, again and again ingenious- ly befooling his enemy by almost amusing de- vices, he has shown himself a capable strate- gist, a vigorous commander, a faithful soldier, and a brave man. Col. Campbell has on several occasions re- quested to be relieved from duty on the rail- road (where, unhappily for him, he is exact- ly the right man in the right place), and sent into active service in the field. Had he availed himself of the discretionary orders given him the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company would h