INTRODUCTORY.
is our purpose, to write a brief History of Company K. First (Inft,) Penn'a Reserves.
The history of a Company, as duty was performed by such command, in the War of the Rebellion, must needs be the History of the Regiment, Brigade and Division to which such company belonged.
It is not a part of our plan, to add laurels to those really won by the company, or to burnish the character of any member thereof, for the record is already made, and this Company needs no boosting into popular favor at this late day.
That the History of the company and of its heroes, may be put into tangible form for distribution and preservation, as well as that a book of reference may be put in the hands of the survivors and their families, is our only object.
Company K. First Penn'a Reserves, takes no second place among the companies that went out from the County of Adams, though other companies performed good and noble service.
I wish to confine myself mainly, to Three points of interest, in the work assumed:
| I. | The Organization and work of the Company. |
| II. | A brief Record of each member. |
| III. | Reminiscences of the Company. |
CHAPTER I.
Organization of the Company.
the 15th day of May, 1861, a Bill was passed by both branches of the Penn'a Legislature, received the Governor's signature, and became a law of the commonwealth, authorizing the organization of a military corps, to be called, the Reserve volunteer corps, to be composed of Thirteen regiments of Infantry, One of Cavalry and One of Artillery, to be mustered into the State service, and to be liable to be mustered into the service of the United States at any time. (See Bill.)
In response to orders issued to local military organizations in the state, the "Adams county infantry," of Gettysburg, accepted the call. The ranks were filled to the maximum number, in a few days, from all parts of the county, and was officered as follows:—
Edward McPherson, Captain; J. Finley Bailey, 1st Lieut; J. J. Herron, 2nd Lieut.
We rendezvoused at Gettysburg on Friday June 7. 1861, having been accepted by Gov. Curtin, under the provisions of the Bill above recorded.
On Saturday June 8th, at 7:30 a. m. the command took the train, and proceeded to Camp Wayne, at Westchester, Pa., where a Camp was organized under charge of Capt. H. M. McIntire, as a rendezvous, for a portion of the Reserve corps.
We reached Camp at 6:30 p. m. and entered upon an experience, which few suspected would last for the whole term of three years.