Departure of the Applebachsville and Sellersville Volunteers for Camp Washington

INTELLIGENCER   6/18/1861

  Departure of the Applebachsville and Sellersville Volunteers for Camp Washington—The Was for the Union not Popular in the German Townships.—The company of volunteers formed of men residing in the vicinity of  Applebachsville and Sellersville, through the instrumentality of Capt. Joseph Thomas and Lieut. B. F. Fisher, which was accepted under the provisions of the three millions loan bill, received marching orders on Thursday last, and on Saturday afternoon proceeded to Camp Washington, at Easton.  Liert. Fisher had charge of the members of the corps residing in the vicinity of Sellersville.  The men convened at their armory in the village early in the forenoon, and completed their arrangements to go into camp.  Out of a list of about thirty-six men who had put down their names but recently as desirous and willing to go with the company, but twenty were on hand when the hour arrived to march.  Their gallant Lieutenant felt keenly mortified at this state of things.—He did not look for such wholesale backing-out on the part of his men.  A few minutes before 12 o’clock, after partaking of a splendid dinner, provided for them gratuitously, at the hotel of Amos Jacoby, where many of them had also breakfasted, the men formed in line in front of their armory, prepared to march to the railroad depot.  Each man wore a grey flannel shirt and grey pantaloons, made by the women of the neighborhood, which was the extent of their outfit.  Many of them carried in their hands valises or carpet bags, in which they had packed away some extra clothing and a few nicknacks which they thought might be of service in camp.  They all had a soldierly appearance and seemed unusually buoyant in spirits.  There was but one married man in the squad.—Preceded by their offices and a tenor drum, the men moved off to the railroad.  Their exit out of the village seemed nearly as solemn as a funeral march, there being scarcely a dozen persons on hand to bid the gallant fellows God speed on their errand of patriotism.  The men took passage on a freight train for Quakertown. Where they met Capt. Thomas and the members of the company residing in the vicinity of Applebachsville.  Just before the train moved off one round was fired by one of the volunteers from the brass field pieve stationed near the depot, belonging to the Union Blue Artillerists, a company formerly commanded by Liert. Fisher, but now evidently defunct.  The report of the gun reverberated \among the hills and doubtless waked up more than one sleepy or indifferent patriot.  The whistle blew, and the train was in motion.  Three earnest, loud cheers came from the throats of the volunteers as the train moved northward, which were faintly returned by the few spectators on the platform numbering probably twenty or thirty, all told.  Several ladies present, more enthusiastic than their male companions, continued to wave their handkerchiefs until the train was out of sight.  The military spirit is evidently dead in the vicinity of Sellersville.  There was not a particle of enthusiasm manifested on the part of the people—no words of encouragement were spoken to the men, or sympathy expressed for the cause in which they had nobly embarked.  But few persons even deemed the movement of sufficient importance to be present at the departure of the men and bestow upon them an approving smile.  The village preserved its usual quiet, and there were no indications of anything taking place which called for any manifestations of pleasure or sorrow.  This seemed remarkable, particularly in a community where a number of prominent military men reside,  who have been sporting feathers and epaulettes for years, and where wearing soldier clothes, at least in times of peace,  is an amusement indulged in by so many.  The only conclusion that can be arrived at is, that the present war is not popular with the people of that neighborhood.  With this state of feeling prevailing in the community, we can easily account for the twenty or more of Lieut. Fisher’s men turning up missing when the hour approached for their departure for camp.  But few sympathized with his praiseworthy efforts to get up a company of volunteers to fight in defense of the Union.  Nearly all stood aloof, and in the absence of the warm, earnest and sincere sympathy of the community, is it any wonder that the men should become disheartened and drip off by the way?  All honor to the officer—all honor to the men who remained to the last, for their perseverance and energy under such discouraging circumstances.

  Lieutenant Fisher and his men arrived at Quakertown station at one o’clock.  About two hours afterwards they were joined by Capt. Thomas and the balance of the company, who were conveyed there in stage coaches from Applebachsville, preceded by the California brass band.  The cavalcade presented an imposing appearance as it came in sight, and the volunteers were received with three rousing cheers by the comrades in waiting at the railroad hotel.  Applebachsville was the scene of much hurry and activity all the morning.  It was there that the main work of putting the company in marching condition was performed.  It chiefly fell upon a few persons.  A number of ladies worked nearly all night at making up shirts and drawers for the men.  The volunteers were provided with dinner at the hotel of Wm. Kachline.  They were then briefly addressed in German by Gen. Paul Applebach, and exhorted to prove brace and true soldiers, and to stand by the glorious old flag of the Union to the last.  The speaker was enthusiastically cheered, and every man declared he would defend and uphold the Stars and Stripes.  The men soon after entered the vehicles in waiting for them, and amid hearty cheers from a small group of people assembled, they moved off in the direction of Quakertown.  The parting greetings were earnest and cordial, but the crowd of people in attendance was not very large, the inhabitants of the surrounding country apparently taking little interest in the affair.  When Capt. Thomas took a muster of his men, he found that  but thirty-two of them had turned up out of some fifty names on his list.  Several of the missing, however, promised to join the company in a few days.  He had to contend with the same influences which crippled the efforts of Lieut. Fisher at Sellersville.  There was no enthusiasm in the community in favor of the war, and raising a company of volunteers to aid the government in suppressing treason and upholding the laws, under those circumstances, was a task of no trifling nature.—Capt. Thomas, Gen. Applebach, Col. John Maugle, and several other citizens of Applebachsville are deserving of much praise for their untiring efforts to get up the company and provide it with an outfit.  They had a heavy burden upon their hands, and have been subjected to a considerable outlay of money.  Some of the men were boarded there three or four weeks, waiting for the company to move off.  It is no idle task to organize and outfit a company of soldiers for active service in a community where the people as a mass warmly sympathize with the movement; but where a great majority of the people are lukewarm about the matter, or refuse, point-blank, to render any assistance or encouragement, it requires extraordinary and unceasing exertions to put the thing through.  The company is still about twenty-five men short of the requisite complement, but the officers are confident they will be able to make up the deficiency in a few days.  Any recruits wishing to join the company are requested to report themselves to Capt. Thomas, at Easton, at once.  Here is a good chance for men who wish to volunteer.  The company is made up of first-rate, well-behaved men, and under the charge of excellent officers.

  Soon after the arrival of the Applebachsville men in Quakertown, the company formed in line, and headed by the brass band, marched to the borough of Quakertown, made a circuit through the town, and then returned at quick step to the depot, to be in readiness to take the train which was to convey them to the depot.  The weather was oppressively hot, and the march was anything but a pleasant one.  Some of the men nearly melted away under the scorching rays of the sun.  Robert J. Armstrong then delivered a brief address to the men, and as soon as he had concluded the train hove in sight, and in a very brief space of time the volunteers were comfortably seated in a car provided for them, and moving out of sight.  About a hundred people collected at the station to see them off and saluted the brave boys with several rounds of cheers as soon as the cars were in motion.  Mr. E. T. Ochs and several other citizens of Quakertown, finding that the men were not provided with a supply of provisions to satisfy their wants till they would draw rations in camp, proceeded to collect whatever eatables they could find from the people of the borough.  It being just after baking day they found no difficulty in gathering together, in a very short time, a large quantity of fresh bread, pies, biscuits, &c.  Every family called on had a quantity to spare.—The provisions were boxed up and put on board the train.  The men will long remember this act of kindness.  The corps reached Easton about seven o’clock, and were escorted into camp by Capt. Feaster’s Newtown company.  They were accompanied to camp by Gen. Applebach, Col. Maugle, ex-Sheriff Fellman, R. J. Armstrong, and one or two others.  The company is composed of sturdy men, accustomed to work, and will make good soldiers.  A majority of them are young men.  There are but five or six married men in the corps.  They were all equipped in grey flannel shirts and pantaloons, and blue cloth caps.  The uniform looked cool and comfortable.

  There is evident apathy among the people up county in regard to the war which has been forced upon the Government by the Southern conspirators.  It is with great difficulty that men or money can be raised there to aid in is prosecution.  There was no such gathering of the people at the railroad stations to see the company off, as marked the departure of the Doylestown, Bristol, and Newtown companies.  The several committees who have attempted to collect money to provide Capt. Thomas’ company with an outfit, have met with such poor success that they feel like giving up the work.  Many men of abundant means refuse square out to give any thing at all in ?id of the object, among these being several prominent politicians and aspirants for office.  The patriotic people of the county ought to remember the niggardliness of such men when they come up for office.  Thus far the collections ?o not amount to $100.  There have been collected in the vicinity of Richlandtown about $30, at Quakertown a little upwards of $60, and at Sellersville just $5.  This was the sum total of the contributions up to Saturday evening.  This is too bad.  We hope the committees will persevere and give every man in the neighborhood an opportunity to refuse contributing towards paying the expenses of the outfit of the company.  At least $500 should be raised to provide the men with certain clothing and necessary comforts outside of what they will obtain from the State.  Gen. Applebach has already expended $300 in purchasing caps, and flannel for shirts and drawers for the men.  They still need a number of other things, among which are gutta, percha blankets, canteens, stockings, haversacks, havelocks, handkerchiefs, knapsacks, &c.  These cannot be obtained for less than $600.  Area the people of the German townships so unpatriotic or miserly as to permit their soldiers to go into camp without the necessary comforts?  We hope not—we cannot believe it.  Is the apathy which seems to exist throughout the upper end of the county to be attributed to sympathy with the secession movement or to indifference as to the fate of the Union?  God forbid that any one should be so blinded by party prejudice.  A blow is aimed at the heart of the Nation, and an effort is being made by  bold and bad men to dismember the Republic and crush out the liberties of the people.  Who that has the least spark of patriotism in his bosom can remain neutral in such a contest:  Men of the upper townships!  For your own credit, see to it at once that your own soldiers are provided with a liberal outfit.  Do not let it be said of you that you lacked the patriotism and public spirit to do as much for the volunteers raised in your midst as was done for those of other parts of the county.

  No man who takes a proper view of the state of affairs up county can fail to entertain a profound contempt for those men who have been playing soldier for years, and now hideaway like arrant cowards when soldiers are really wanted.  But two of the Union Blue Artillerists and five of the Applebachsville Artillerists, companies that Lieut. Fisher and Capt. Thomas formerly commanded, followed them on their present mission of patriotism.  Not even a representation of any of the volunteer companies existing up county was on hand to do honor to the departure of Capt. Thomas’ company for Easton.  Shame on such soldiers!  They ought never hereafter to wear a uniform.  The following is the roll list of the company.

                           Captain—JOSEPH THOMAS

                           First Lieutenant-- B. F. Fisher

                           Second Lieutenant-- Nelson Applebach

                           First Sergeant – Jacob Bartholomew

                            Second Sergeant—Henry Deihl

                                    Privates:

Marshall Barling,            Henry E. Allaback,                       Jacob Albright,

N. I. Adrian,                    A. Jackson Roberts,                     George Worthington,

Isaac E. Lewis,                J. H. F.A. Christine,                     Michael Hyde.

G. W. Vaux,                    Abraham Groff,                            William Miller,

F. Barthe,                         Ephraim Case,                              Charles Gelder,

Frederick Shelb,               Hallick Hendricks,                       Jackson Backman,

George Hagerman,           Wm. Longenour,                         Wm. C. Klimer,

Grederick Sellers,             John F. Ahlum.                           Wayne Weider,

Benjamin Reiter,               Gilbert S. Sellers,                       Samuel F. Hinker,

Lewis Brown,                    Henry Kemmerer,                       Peter Flinn,

Jacob Stover,                     Geo. Lougenbucher,                   John Foll,

John Kramer,                     George Seifert,                           Charles Klink,

Abraham Gerhart                Frederick Hoof,                        William Mc Carty,

Lewis Zimmerman,            Daniel Wissinger,                      Theodore Peters,

Adam S. Brey,                    Christian Wissinger,                   William Wonder,

Joshua Keeler,                     Milton Scheetz,