The
Fifteenth Regiment, National Guard of Pennsylvania,
was composed of eight companies from the counties of Erie, Crawford,
Clarion, Butler and Mercer. The companies were located as
follows: A and C at Erie, B at Meadville, D at Clarion, E at
Butler, F at Grove City, G at Sharon, and K at
Greenville. The Regiment reported at Mt. Gretna,
Pa., in the early morning of April 28, 1898. It was reviewed
by the Governor on May 3d, after which the roll was called and officers
and men given an opportunity to volunteer. The various
companies were recruited to seventy-five enlisted men and on May 10th,
Companies A, B, C, G and K were mustered into the United States
service, followed on May 11th by Companies D, E and F and Regimental
Headquarters. The Regiment was mustered as the Fifteenth
Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, with a total strength of thirty-six
officers and six hundred and five enlisted men. The several
companies were afterwards recruited to three officers and one hundred
and six enlisted men each. The Regiment remained at Mt.
Gretna, Pa., until June 11th, when in accordance with Special Orders,
No. 122, Headquarters Department of the East, it proceeded to stations
at Sheridan Point, Virginia, and Fort Washington, Maryland.
Regimental Headquarters and Companies A, B, D, F, G and K arrived at
Sheridan Point, Virginia, June 12, 1898, and Companies C and E, under
the command of Lieutenant Colonel
Mechling, arrived at Fort Washington, Maryland, same date.
In pursuance to Special Orders, No.
134, Headquarters Department of the East, Governor's Island, N. Y.,
dated June 20, 1898, Companies A and G were relieved from duty at
Sheridan Point, Virginia, and ordered to proceed to Fort Washington,
Maryland, which order was executed on the 23d day of June, 1898, at 5
p.m. Company E was assigned to the care, preservation and
drill of Emplacement C, having two 10-inch guns on disappearing
carriages to handle, drilling regularly from the 20th day of June to
the 8th day of September. Company C was assigned to the
10-inch Barbette guns and the water battery, one 15-inch M.L.S.B., the
men of the entire command continuing regular infantry, company and
battalion drills.
On June 25, 1898, the battery on
Emplacement C was inspected by Major
Crozier, the inventor of the carriage, accompanied by Major Greenough, at which time
the guns were fired twice, with a solid cast of iron shot.
Both the preliminary drill and the firing were done with accuracy and
celerity, receiving the commendation of the inspectors.
Pursuant to telegraphic instructions
from the War Department, the Regiment was relieved from duty at
Sheridan Point, Virginia, and Fort Washington, Maryland, on September
9, 1898, under orders to proceed to Camp George Meade, Pa., and report
to the commanding general of the Second Army Corps for duty.
The command left at 6 p.m., on the 9th day of September, arriving at
Middletown, Pa., September 10th, at 8 a.m., and was assigned to the
First Brigade, Second Division, Second Army Corps. On
September 17th, per General Orders, No. 89, Headquarters Second Army
Corps, the Regiment was ordered on provost duty at the camp, and were
relieved on October 2, 1898, per General Orders, No. 104, Headquarters
Second Army Corps.
On October 22, 1898, pursuant to
General Orders, No. 123, Headquarters Second Army Corps, Brigadier General William C. Oates
was assigned to the command of the First Brigade, Third Division,
Second Army Corps, and the Regiment received its first permanent
assignment in the Division. The Regiment participated in the
Peace Jubilee Celebration in Philadelphia on October 27, 1898.
Pursuant to General Orders, No. 163,
c. s. A. G. O., Major S. D. Crawford,
with Company G, Captain John W.
Smith, commanding, proceeded to Athens, Georgia, on
Saturday, November 5, 1898. The remainder of the Regiment
left Camp Meade, under the same order, on the 11th day of November, for
Athens, Georgia, arriving there on Sunday, November 13, 1898.
The Regiment was finally mustered out of service of the United States
at Athens, Georgia, on the 31st of January, 1899.
From Record
of Pennsylvania Volunteers of the Spanish-American War, 1898, published
under the Provisions of the Act of Assembly, Approved April 13,
1899. Compiled under the Supervision of Thomas J. Stewart,
Adjutant General, 1901.
