January 2006, Volume 9, Issue 1
From the
President’s Desk
Recruiting for the Eighth Regiment Infantry
U.S. Colored Troops began in the fall of 1863. The draftees and substitutes of
the regiment were organized at Camp William Penn near Philadelphia. In December
1863, Companies A, D, and F left for Delaware to obtain more recruits. On
January 16, 1864, the regiment left Camp William Penn for New York, where the
men boarded two transport ships and headed for Camp Seymour at Hilton Head
Island, South Carolina. Here they stayed, under the command of
Brigadier-General Truman Seymour, until February 5 when the Eighth Regiment
embarked for a campaign in Florida and landed in Jacksonville on the evening of
February 7. The Eighth Colored Regiment set out on their march the next
evening, and until February 19, was successful in a number of encounters against
the Rebels. On February 19, 1864, the Eighth Regiment joined Colonel Hawley’s
brigade. The Union troops marched from their position toward Lake City, where
the Rebels were known to be posted. Confederate General Finnegan, upon learning
of the advance on his position, did not wait for the Union brigade to reach Lake
City, but instead marched to Olustee, where he surprised the Union forces. The
Eighth Regiment U.S. Colored Troops suffered great losses at Olustee. After the
battle at Olustee, the Eighth participated in the following battles from
February 20, 1864 until they were mustered out on December 10, 1865 and were
discharged from Philadelphia on December 12, 1865: Bermuda Hundred, Chaffin’s
Farm, Darbytown Road, siege of Petersburg, Hatcher’s Run, fall of Petersburg,
pursuit of Lee, and Appomattox Court House. The total loss of men’s lives was:
killed or mortally wounded – four officers, 115 men; died of disease – 132 men
(total dead, 251); wounded, not mortally – 245 men; captured or missing – 72
men.
Alexander McGrew, a draftee of the Eighth Regiment U.S. Colored Troops, was mustered into service as a private on August 24, 1863. On February 3, 1864, McGrew wrote the following letter to his wife, Nancy McGrew. His penmanship was impeccable but he spelled phonetically. For ease of reading, the misspellings have been corrected for printing in this newsletter. McGrew used the word ‘an’ for periods at the end of his sentences throughout the letter – a letter which expresses his love of his wife, longing to receive more letters from her, information about conditions in the camp, and the conclusion – a love poem.
My dear Wife, I sit down and take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well at present and I hope that these few lines may find you in the same state of health an my dear Wife I have wrote you five letters an I have not receive no letter from you since you sent me your kind likeness an I feel very sorry to think that I am so far from home and have not heard from you for so long that I feel very much down heart an I would like to hear from you as often as I can while I am spared to live for my time may not be spared long an my dear Wife I hope that you will try an write to me as often as you can an if I am spared to get home again to live with you again I will try to pay you for your trouble an I don’t know how soon we may have to go on the battle field still I hope to get home some time to see you an I have not got paid of yet but I have hope that we will get our money before long I thought that we’d have get it before we left Camp William Penn an I hope that you are still getting along yet an I will send you some money as soon as I can get it an the small pox is very bad in some of the camps an our regiment has all been vaccinated and I got vaccinated yesterday an there is great many colored people here an they call us smoky Yankees and there is four regiments of colored soldiers camp here an my best love to you my dear Wife an I long to see your kind face an I have your kind likeness an I got a case for it I paid 75 cents for it an I wrote you letter on the 28 of January an I sent ring in it for Ann an when you write to me direct your letter Camp Seymour Hilton Head South Carolina Alexander McGrew Company A 8 regiment U. S. Colored Troops no more at present but still remember your dear husband Alexander McGrew my ink is pale my pen is bad my love to you shall never fail
U.S. Army records indicate that Alexander McGrew was captured (place and date unknown) and that he was considered absent without leave at muster out on December 10, 1865. To date, I have not been able to uncover any other information about his war service or to positively identify him on any census records.
Alexander entrusted the above letter to Rev. George A. Rockwood, chaplain of the Eighth Regiment. Alexander addressed the letter to his wife in the following manner: “Mrs. Nancy McGrew, Green Castle Franklin Co Pa in care of Mrs. Mary Coffey.” The new scholars listed for 1860 in the Greencastle Presbyterian Sabbath School included a Martin McGrew, a John McGrew, and a Nancy Cooper. This letter is part of the Ziegler Family Collection.
January Monthly Exhibit
Elvis is in the building! A friend of Allison-Antrim Museum
has put together an extensive exhibit of memorabilia from a private collection
which commemorates the 50th anniversary of Elvis’ rise to fame in
1956. At the beginning of 1956, Elvis Presley was not well known. By the end of
that year, Elvis’ stage presence and performances, the likes of which had never
before been seen, 
propelled
him into fame and notoriety around the world. This exhibit with unique and rare
pieces explains events and achievements which made this happen and made Elvis
the “King.” Elvis is a member of a very small group of people who are known
worldwide by only one of their names. He revolutionized pop music forever with
his own style of music that was influenced by both the blues and gospel music,
with which he grew up. Elvis was a major influence on the Beatles and their
music a little more than a decade later.
Visitors will learn little known facts about the life of Elvis, as well as receive a sheet of tips on collecting Elvis records, which can be found at yard sales. The owner of the collection has also donated door prizes, which will be given away during the three open houses. One of the door prizes is an unopened, limited edition, collectors card (2 ½” x 3 ½” in a Plexiglas case) of the 1993 U.S. postage stamp which honored Elvis Presley. The Elvis stamp was the first in the series of Legends of American Music.
Come reminisce from a time that seemed much simpler and more carefree.
See Calendar of Events for dates and times.
January Quarterly Membership Meeting
AAMI member, Dr. Joan Applegate, will present a talk titled “Plain Singing,” which will explore several styles of hymn-singing once common in rural America and which is still preserved in parts of the Cumberland Valley among some of the plain denominations. The history and the theology behind the singing will be discussed, along with an exhibit of song-books. The presentation will conclude when she and three musician friends perform a live sampling of sacred-harp singing.
Applegate is retired as a professor of music at Shippensburg University, where she taught music history and literature, and performance courses. She also served as department chair for several terms, and performed as soloist and accompanist on the piano and harpsichord. Applegate earned her undergraduate and doctoral degree from the Eastman School of Music. Her research interests have included American rural hymnody, as well as music at the court of Charles I and through the Commonwealth period in England.
Applegate continues to be active at Shippensburg University, is a member of several Chambersburg area organizations, and volunteers for Menno Haven, the Friends of Legal Services book sale, and the Franklin County Literacy Council.
See Calendar of Events for date and time.
Civil War Trails of History
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in an effort to increase tourism in this part of the state, is initiating a program called “Civil War Trails of History.” The Franklin County program will be kicked-off during Chambersburg’s annual Ice Festival, which is scheduled February 3 – 5. The premise of the program is to link counties adjacent to Gettysburg, a popular historical destination for tourists, by creating Civil War Trails of History packages, which in the case of Franklin County, will include historical destinations in Chambersburg, Mercersburg, Greencastle, Waynesboro, and Shippensburg. The Heritage Center in Chambersburg will be the “gateway” for Franklin County. There, tourists can pick up information, which highlights the Civil War connections in each of the towns in the county. Allison-Antrim Museum will be participating by hosting a special open house on Saturday, February 4, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The exhibit will offer visitors a rare opportunity to view Custer and Little Big Horn memorabilia, which will include U.S. cavalry and Indian weapons and artifacts.
For more information on the extensive county-wide agenda for that weekend, contact the Heritage Center at 717.264.7101 or www.visitPA.com
What’s Been Happening
- On November 17 and 18, along with Ellen Kirkner, chairperson of the GAHS social studies department, Bonnie presented a local history lesson to the first semester ninth grade social studies students, the focus of which was the decade of the 1920s during the Progressive Era.
- Allison-Antrim Museum received a $1,000 grant from the Greencastle-Antrim Education Foundation for a grant proposal written by AAMI board member, Rebecca Elgin, and Bonnie Shockey. The “Time Traveler’s Trunk” program has been designed to meet third-grade curriculum requirements for local history. It will be presented to the students following the annual local history bus trip in the spring.
Who, What, When, Where, and Why?
The answer to November’s question, “Who were they?” is the names of Ruth Hart, Ruth Hale, Eben Taylor, George Dunstan, Archie McCullough, two Dean boys, and four other unknown children are the eleven children who, along with their school master Enoch Brown, were scalped by a group of three young Indians on July 26, 1764. Only Archie McCullough survived with his life, but lived the rest of his years being mentally tormented and physically impaired by the terrorist act. A monument marking the site where the school once stood, the first one in this area, and a monument where the remains are buried is located in the Enoch Brown Park, owned and cared for by Antrim Township.
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Where is this located in town? What will you learn when you find the location?
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Do you know…
which corner of the square, during the earliest years of Greencastle’s history, was known as Barncord’s corner?
The answer to November’s, “Do you know why the intersection of East Baltimore Street and Allison Street is called Cleveland Square?” The intersection is known as Cleveland Square because Henry and Eveline Omwake built the home on the southwest corner of East Baltimore and South Allison Streets. Omwake was a Democrat and on each of the other three corners also lived men who were Democrats. Therefore, the intersection was called “Cleveland Square,” in honor of Grover Cleveland, who, at that time, was in his second term as president.
Recent Acquisitions
- The marble tombstone of George Upton Mathias, son of George and Margaret Mathias, died April 1, 1862, Aged 5 months, 28 days – This tombstone was found in the back yard at 138 North Carlisle Street. It is a gift from AAMI member James B. Oerding.
- Numerous linens, including two very large table clothes, hankies, an apron and a 1947 corporate seal for the Valley Mechanical Co., Inc. Gifts from Nan Conrad Flaherty.
- One 1975 first edition copy of Franklin – A Frontier County by Shirley Fenstemacher and Margaret McDonnell; Fort Loudon on the Frontier by Gary T. Hawbaker; typed histories of the churches of McConnellsburg, Pa. Gifts from AMMI member, Joseph R. Staley.
- An original June 23, 1863 copy of the New-York Tribune, in which a column headlined “The Rebel Invasion,” says, “From all information obtained here, it is believed that the whole Rebel force this side of the Potomac River is advancing in this direction. The enemy occupied Greencastle at noon to-day, with cavalry, infantry, and artillery, and is believed to be in strong force. …”
Website Inquiries
· An inquiry was made about the Nicholas Hicks family history.
· A request for genealogy information on William H. Cooper from Greencastle, who died in Sulphur Springs, MO in 1846 at the age of 53.
- A genealogy request for information on John Davison, one of the early settlers of Antrim Township
- An inquiry about Gingrich family members in Antrim Township during the early 1800s was referred to AAMI member Richard Gingrich.
Calendar of Events
- Thursday, January 5, noon – 3 p.m., Open House: Elvis – 1956 to 2006
- Sunday, January 8, 1 – 4 p.m., Open House: Elvis – 1956 to 2006
- Thursday, January 12, 7:30 p.m., Evangelical Lutheran Church, General Membership Meeting: Joan Applegate on “Plain Singing”
- Sunday, January 15, 1 – 4 p.m., Alternate inclement open house only if it snows on January 8.
- Tuesday, January 17, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m., Open House: Elvis – 1956 to 2006
- Saturday, February 4, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Open House: Franklin County Civil War Trails of History exhibit – Custer and Little Big Horn memorabilia.
- Thursday, February 9, 7:30 p.m., Evangelical Lutheran Church, General Membership Meeting: Martin West, Director of Ft. Ligonier, will speak on “George Washington in the French and Indian War”
- Sunday, February 12, 1 – 4 p.m. and Thursday, February 16, noon – 3 p.m., Open House: Exhibit TBA