THE COVINGTON FENCIBLES

     The information for the history of this organization was gleaned from the original minute book of the Covington Fencibles.  This book came into the possession of the author’s grandfather, George W. Miller (1832 – 1896), one of the members of the organization.  Just why it was entrusted to him is unknown.

     The minute book was passed on to his son, Redford E. Miller (1873 – 1954), the author’s father.  As a teenager, the author became very interested in the history of Drinker’s Beech as a hobby.

     Of course, the minute book passed on into the custody of the author.  Realizing the importance of this historic document, he turned it over to the Lackawanna County Historical Society in Scranton, where it now reposes in its historic splendor.

     The Civil War histories which follow were located in the pension records and the service records of soldiers found in the National Archives, and also in local histories found in the Library of Congress, both in Washington, D.C.

     The 1860’s were war years, but the men of Drinker’s Beech had been preparing for it.  A group of our citizens called the Covington Fencibles (Home Guards) was organized by Hiram S. Travis, a stone mason and carpenter, who came to Moscow in 1845.  This organization held their first meeting at George Treible’s hotel in Daleville on August 22, 1846.  They were subject to the military laws of Pennsylvania and met several times a year for training.  A special training with other similar groups was held once a year at Scranton or Wilkes-Barre and fines were levied for non-attendance.

     The Covington Fencibles existed until 1861.  During this time most of the able-bodied men of our area had belonged at one time or another.  The first uniform was “scotch plaid coat, white pantaloons, and black hat with white feather, red top and pants.”  Our boys must have looked handsome, indeed.  Probably many a local maiden’s heart fluttered.

     Officers elected at their first meeting were: 

     Other charter members were:  William Albro, Lewis Benjamin, Adam Biesecker, Charles Biesecker, Henry H. Biesecker, Reuben Biesecker, Jeremiah Buck, Samuel B. Buck, Samuel Carter, Abram R. Depew, Israel C. Depew, William Depew, George W. Edwards, Aaron Frey, George Haines, John Haines Jr., Charles Jones, Henry Leader, David McWade, Frederick H. Miller, Samuel Mott, Daniel Noack, William Pierson, John Rhodes, Lewis B. Schoonover, Isaac Silfee, John M. Simpson, Charles S. Swartz, Isaac Swartz, Henry VanCamp, John VanCamp, Isaac Weldy and William Yeager.

     New officers were elected on May 6, 1850.  They were:

     New members who joined between 1846 and 1850 were: Richard D. Hodgson (in 1847); Isaac Bird, Joseph Bird and George Lown (in 1848); Abram Biesecker, Joseph Hornbaker, George W. Miller, Harrison W. Rhodes and William Silfee (in 1849); and Isaac Safford (in 1850).

In 1851, Oscar F. Beemer, William LaFrance and John M. Miller became members.  Isaac Biesecker, George W. Edwards, Thomas Seward, Frederick Wombocker and Justice Wombocker joined in 1852; and in 1853, a membership drive added twenty four to their rolls:  Levi Biesecker, William D. Brown, Isaac N. Buck, Charles Colgizer, Silas D. Coleman, Thomas Dyson, William M. Edwards, James D. Hendershot, Irvin Ives, Augustus M. Jones, Jacob Keller, Benjamin Krotzer, James Lee, Alanson Phillips, Benjamin Silfee, John Summers, Taylor D. Swartz, Edward Treible, Edward T. Wardell, Henry F. Wardell, Thomas A. Wardell, John T. Webster, Thomas Webster Jr. and David Weldy.

No new members were added in 1854, but by this time a total of ninety six men had become members.  However, after nine years of existence, many of the older members had dropped out; some had moved away, and, of course, others had lost interest.  At a meeting on July 4, 1855, only seventeen members showed up.  Something had to be done.

     A re-organization took place at a meeting on May 5, 1856.  New officers were elected, six new members were taken in and the uniform was changed.  The Covington Fencibles would now wear “blue coats trimmed with red and yellow, with red belts.”

     George Krotzer, the dependable, the organization’s first Captain was re-elected Captain, but other officers elected in 1856 were newer members:

     New members included: William H. Biesecker, Daniel Evans, William Evans Jr., David Hendershot, John Krotzer and John F. Sayer.

In 1856, thirteen new members were added:  Warren A. Beemer, C. Henry Clouse, John Delacy, Peter T. Depew, Erastus Edwards, John W. Fike, Myron Hopkins, James Loveland, Henry H. Lown, Morris H. Rhodes, Henry W. Sayer, Philip Snook and Phillip Swartz.

     No new members were added in 1857, but eight joined in 1858: Andrew A. Biesecker, W. Goodrich Bortree, William Loveland, John O. Tanfield, Robert E. Wardell, Dudley K. Watrous, George W. Weldy and Franklin W. Wombocker.

     New officers were elected again in 1859.  This time, Hiram S. Travis, who had formerly served as Ensign, was elected Captain.  The other officers elected were:

     Twenty five new members were taken in during 1859: John W. Alt, Sanford G. Colgizer, Nodiah Curtis, William T. Dale, Silas Depew, Richard Edwards, Derias Finch, John Finch, Charles W. Frazier, Leonard Frazier, William Glossenger, Dennis Hawk, Peter Hornbaker, Michael W. Hurley, Laroy Latouche, Dilton F. Miller, Egbert Mitchell, Levi J. Owens, James M. Rhodes, Benjamin F. Swartz, Calvin Waderman, John W. Wardell, Major M. Wardell, Nathaniel Wescott and Adam Yeager.

     War seemed imminent by 1860 and the Covington Fencibles responded with another re-organization.  A committee consisting of Charles W. Frazier, Dilton F. Miller, Levi Biesecker, John Finch and Hiram A. Depew was appointed to draw up by-laws and regulations which were approved at a meeting on June 15, 1860.  Among other things, the uniforms were changed again.  This time their dress would include “blue cloth coats, sky blue pants with red stripe and black caps with spread eagle.”

     Officer elected on June 15, 1860 were:

     New members were:  Hiram A. Depew, Benjamin J. Stevens, Halsey W. Swartz and Spencer G. Yeager.

CIVIL WAR RECORDS

8^th PENNSYLVANIA REGIMENT

Company B:

     On April 20 and 21, 1861, soon after President Lincoln’s call for troops, the Covington Fencibles responded by recruiting a body of seventy seven men at Moscow.  It was their last official act.  The group was mustered into service at Wilkes-Barre on April 23^rd for three months’ service.  About half of this group was from Drinker’s Beech, the others mostly from surrounding areas.

     The Officers of the 8^th Pennsylvania Infantry were:

            Colonel, Anthony H. Emley of Wilkes-Barre

            Lt. Colonel, Samuel Bowman of Wilkes-Barre

            Major, Joseph Phillips of Pittston

            Adjutant, Joseph Wright of Wilkes-Barre

            Quartermaster, Butler Dilley of Kingston

            Surgeon, Dr. Benjamin H. Throop of Scranton

            Assistant Surgeon, H. Carey Parry

            Chaplain, T. P. Hunt

     The Officers of Company B were:

            Captain, Hiram S. Travis

            First Lieutenant, Franklin W. Wombocker

            Second Lieutenant, Sanford G. Coglizer

            First Sergeant, Jacob Swartz

            Second Sergeant, John F. Sayer

            Third Sergeant, John W. Fike

            Fourth Sergeant, Dilton F. Miller

            First Corporal, Benjamin J. Stevens

            Second Corporal, David M. Weldy

            Third Corporal, George W. Weldy

            Fourth Corporal, Warren A. Beemer

            Musician, Paul Debler

            Drummer, William J. H. Miller

     James McGuigan replaced Jacob Swartz as First Sergeant during their tour of duty.

     The 8^th Regiment was sent to Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where they drilled for two days, then were ordered to Chambersburg.  Here they were attached to the Third Brigade, First division.  On June 7^th, they were in Greenville on the way to Williamsport to guard the Potomac River.  On July 6^th, they joined the Brigade at Martinsburg, West Virginia, and on July 17^th they participated in a flank movement toward Charlestown.  On July 20^th, they were at Keys Ford.  They returned to Harrisburg by way of Hagerstown and were mustered out on July 29, 1861.

     The members of Company B, 8^th Pennsylvania Regiment, and their Civil War history are as follows:

1.       Albro, William, born 1821, Madison Township, Pennsylvania.  Re-enlisted on October 20, 1862 in Company E, 143^rd Pennsylvania Infantry.  Died at Hart Island, New York Harbor, on March 17, 1865 of pleura-pneumonia.

2.      Aten, James R., (1839 – 1897), Thornhurst, Pennsylvania.  Re-enlisted August 5, 1861 in Company M, 1^st Pennsylvania Cavalry and was discharged September 9, 1864.

3.      Austin, Richard, born 1831, Thornhurst, Pennsylvania.

4.      Austin, Shadrach G., born 1839, Thornhurst, Pennsylvania.  Re-enlisted August 26,   1861 as Sergeant of Company L, 9^th Pennsylvania Cavalry.  Died Springfield, Tennessee, on May 5, 1862 of typhoid fever.

5.      Barclay, Matthias, (1841 – 1876), Elmhurst, Pennsylvania.  Re-enlisted August 26, 1861 in Company F, 50^th New York Engineers.  Badly injured October 10, 1861 at Miners Hill, Virginia.  Frank W. Watson, Second Lieutenant of this company, described the accident: “Barclay was struck by a falling tree and was thrown in contact with an axe he held in his hand, severing the cords of this right leg a little above the knee.  The tree pinned him to the ground until his comrades chopped it away and freed him.”

6.      Barnes, George P., (1832 – 1870), Daleville, Pennsylvania.  Re-enlisted December 20, 1863 as Sergeant of Company E, 61^st Pennsylvania Infantry.  Wounded May 12, 1864 at Spotsylvania, Virginia.  Discharged June 28, 1865.

7.      Beemer, Warren A., (1837 – 1912), Madisonville, Pennsylvania.

8.      Bender, Adolph, (1839 – 1890).  Re-enlisted March 31, 1865 in Company I, 46^th New York Infantry.  Discharged July 28, 1865.

9.      Benson, Thomas L., born 1826, Salem Township, Wayne County, Pennsylvania.

10.  Bird, John, (1839 – 1915), Madison Township, Pennsylvania.  Re-enlisted in Company M, 2^nd Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery.  Wounded in left thumb, June 1864 at Petersburg, Virginia.

11.  Brennan, Thomas, born 1835, Carbondale, Pennsylvania

12.  Chrisman, George, born 1839, not identified.

13.  Clouse, Henry C., (1837 – 1923, Moscow, Pennsylvania.  Re-enlisted October 14, 1863 in Company G, 88^th Pennsylvania Infantry. Wounded in left arm February 6, 1865 at Hatcher’s Run, Virginia.  Discharged May 11, 1865.