May, 2006

Join us in honoring the community and areas rich Civil War history on Memorial Day, May 29th at 11 A:M:

when a monument will be dedicated to the 55^th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry and its "A" Company at the Lilly War Memorial Field

The event will include the unveiling of the impressive monument , music by the 49^th Pennsylvania Infantry Band, a musket salute by Union and Confederate reenactors, a civil war encampment and display along with wreaths being placed from the Sankertown and Ashville VFW;s and the Lilly and Gallitzin American Legion Posts

The Lilly Washington War Memorial Association, the Lilly American Legion and the Lilly/Washington Historical Society worked together to remember this part of the communities history.

Local craftsman Jerry Dunmyer constructed the brick wall while local artist Scott Steberger molded the design for the centerpiece depicting Flanagans Charge from a painting by Steve Barlick now displayed at the Lilly American Legion.

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Memorial Day began shortly after the Civil War when women would place flowers on the graves of Civil War casualties and veterans. It grew in popularity when the Grand Army of the Republic would march that day in memory of their fallen comrades. This became a national event celebrated in all communities.

The Dick White Post Grand Army of the Republic here in Lilly was among the participants Some civil war graves have markers remaining from that era that were provided by the G.A.R.

At the time of the Civil War the Lilly area was known as Hemlock and the archives of those serving in the war reflect this showing many men enlisting at Hemlock..These men and boys would usually board a train here in town that headed east to Camp Curtin , near Harrisburg, that was the induction center for Pennsylvania.

Most of these men from age 16 to the mid forties, and at least 1, John Burgoon, age 60 had never been far from home and this was looked on initially as an exciting adventure. Many were farmhands, others were coal miners and lumberjacks, merchants and coopers. Most were born here but a few were immigrants working on the railroad or in the coal mines like 45 year old Michael Kline who came here from France and who would die in battle.

When President Lincoln issued a call to the governors to provide troops in 1861 to protect the capital Pennsylvania was the first state to respond. The Lilly area was among the first to send men off to war. Company G of the 10^th Pennsylvania Regiment was recruited here and in Wilmore and saw service in Maryland during the summer of 1861.There were no casualties in this first group and after they were discharged some of the men immediately reenlisted in the 55^th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment being recruited by Major Richard White, of Hemlock who had served with the 10^th Regiment.

The ranks of one company, Company "A" recruited here in Lilly and made up of many men from Washington Township along with volunteers from Allegheny Township, Chest Springs and Newry in Blair County comprised most of its rank, another Cambria County company ,"C" ,was recruited in Johnstown..

In late fall of 1861 this regiment was mustered in at Camp Curtin and then dispatched to Beaufort, South Carolina where they remained until 1864.White had been elevated to the rank of Colonel and was named Commander of the 55^th his quartermaster was Lt. Frederick M. George also of Lilly.

One of the first casualties was Michael Short of Lilly who was a veteran of the 10^th Regiment who died at Beaufort. Several others died in South Carolina in skirmishes or of disease. Malaria was ever present at that time in the southern states and many of the 55^th would suffer with its symptoms including Colonel White and his quartermaster.

In early 1864 most of Lillys company returned home on leave and once they returned to South Carolina many new recruits accompanied them. Events of war changed dramatically when they were ordered to Virginia in the spring of 1864 to become part of the Army of the James. War in Virginia was not like the slow pace in South Carolina but instead was almost a daily clash with the enemy.

In May of 1864 near Petersburg Virginia the 55^th Regiment was engaged in battle at Drury’s Bluff. Colonel White led a desperate charge into the Confederate ranks and most of his men, including himself ,were captured and became prisoners of war. Several died in the battle but many more died of wounds days later or at the prisoner of war camps in Virginia and Georgia. Colonel White was exchanged in poor health in the fall and died in April of 1865 shortly after his discharge from active duty.

With its ranks depleted the 55^th was bolstered by draftees from the eastern part of the state and fought on. At Chapins farm, Virginia on September 29^th 1864 the regiment was engaged in heated battle. Sergeant Augustin Flanagan, a Loretto native, the color bearer from Company A led a valiant charge against confederate breast works and was severely wounded while nearly half of his followers were killed or wounded. Flanagan was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery.

The 55^th, its ranks depleted, fought on and was in pursuit of General Robert E. Lees forces near Appomattox when he surrendered in April, 1865. The survivors were mustered out of service in September and returned to their homes, many lived out their lives in the Lilly and eastern Cambria County area.

Company A had lost 51 of its members to battle and disease during the war, including Colonel White. At least 29 of these men have been identified as being from Washington Township. Many of their descendants still reside in the area. with surnames like Sweeney, Brown and Short.

As the Lilly area celebrates its bi-centennial this year Memorial Day ranks high on the activity schedule. Bring the children and grandchildren out to the ceremony on Monday, it will be an education for them of the areas past and they will be able to see a small part of Living History through the re-enactors on scene.