Corporal Rihl
Corporal William H. Rihl of Philadelphia, was a member of
the 1st New York cavalry regiment. On June 22, 1863, Rihl's company with
forty-three men made a dash on Jenkin's advance scouting party and drove them
back to the main command. M.S. Cafferty and Corporal Rihl were struck down in
a volley
from a body of Confederate infantry lying in a wheat field south of the Fleming
house. The result was the wounding of Cafferty in the leg and the death of Rihl,
the first Union soldier killed north of the Mason Dixon line. On June 22, 1886,
the body of Corporal Rihl was removed from the Lutheran graveyard and buried at
the site where he had been killed. Members of the Greencastle G.A.R.Post carried
out this project and later were responsible for raising money that resulted in
the erection of the monument that now marks the final resting place of this
soldier.
Charles Hartman's Diary
1799-1864
(excerpt)
That part of this army which passed through Chambersburg was carefully estimated by competent persons both at Greencastle and Chambersburg, July 8th 1863, while the matter was fresh in the minds of the people, and taking its figures from the several estimates made by citizens as the army marched through here, states the number at forty-seven thousand confederate army which passed through Chambersburg, was as follows. Ewell's corps, fifteen thousand men, infantry, artillery and cavalry with sixty pieces of artillery and over one thousand wagons, A.F. Hill's corps the same. Longstreet's corps twenty thousand men, eighty pieces of artillery and over one thousand wagons, the entire army did not number over forty eight or fifty thousand men, infantry, cavalry and artillery. This is an estimate made by a competent person from his own actual observation, the result being he noted at the time. Now taking fifty thousand, the numbers generally fixed upon by all who estimated them that passed through Chnmbersburg, and add to them Early's division which passed by way of Waynesboro, Quincy Funkstown, and Greencastle. Stuart's cavalry which passed around east of the Federal army, and we [have] here already seventy to seventy-five thousand men. It may safely be said that the entire strength of the invading army did not exceed that number. When within a half a mile of Greencastle, Jenkins' cavalry with the advance of Rhodes' infantry were met, and seeing the scouting party retreating, pursued by Captain Boyd and his troopers, and not knowing the number of Federals who might be near at hand, and upon their line of battle, was hastily formed. Fences were torn down to the right and left of the road. Rhodes' infantry were met, and seeing the scouting party were retreating unaware of the number of Federals who might be near at hand, a line of battle was hastily formed. Rhodes' infantry took position on the high ground of Mr. John Kissecker's farm. Jenkins threw his cavalry forward, and formed a skirmish line upon the land of Mr. William Fleming, about a quarter of a mile in advance of the infantry. Jenkins established his headquarters in Mr. Fleming's house. As soon as the Union cavalry came within range of their guns, fire was opened upon them for a time. The noise and clatter were quite lively. A sister of Mr. Blair Fleming going to the window to look out, barely escaped a ball which came crashing in through the glass close by her head. As soon as the dash and curiosity of these bold riders were satisfied, they withdrew out of range and were then pursued by part of Jenkins’ force. All persons who saw and witnessed this brave engagement, say of all the bold and fearless soldiers they ever saw, these New York cavalry exceeded any in these qualities. Had they gone but a short distance further, they would have come into a cress fire which would have swept them nearly all away. Their foresight, however, was equal to their courage. They knew when to stop. The result of this fight was one man killed and on wounded upon the federal side.
The killed
was Corporal Rihl. He was shot through the upper lip, the ball passing through
his head, his blood bespattering the paling fence in front of Mr. Fleming's
dwelling. Corporal Rihl was buried by the Confederates in a shallow grave. The
citizens of Greencastle, a few days afterwards disinterred his body and placing
it in a coffin, reburied it in the Lutheran graveyard of this place. Sergeant
Coffey was taken in charge and cared for by the Greencastle people. Attended by
one of our physicians, he recovered. Rihl post of the Grand Army of the Republic
of Greencastle was named after this brave soldier who fell in that engagement.
This fight was the first to occur upon Pennsylvania soil during the rebellion,
and corporal Rihl Was the first man to lose his life. It happened in front of
Archibald Fleming's home.
From the time Jenkins' cavalry men fell back to Greencastle, Wednesday 17, until Monday morning the 22nd the whole southern portion of Franklin County was plundered by these men. What they got was sent to Rhodes' division at Williamsport. It would be difficult to estimate the value of property taken by this raid, it coming in the season of the year when the farming interests required the use of the horses, followed a few days afterwards by Lee's vast army. Many croppers who had little else than their stock, were bankrupt. Monday morning the 22nd, Jenkins' command had all rejoined the main body between Greencastle and Hagerstown on that day were joined by Rhodes' division of infantry, when the real invasion of the state was begun at once.