THREE YEARS, OR THE WAR. Immediately upon the return of the three months' volunteers, Colonel JAMES NAGLE, Colonel HENRY L. CAKE, Colonel BENJAMIN C. CHRIST and Colonel GEORGE C. WYNKOOP, of Schuylkill County, received authority to raise regiments "for three years, or the war." Recruiting became active, and during the months of August, September and October, 1861, the drum and fife of recruiting officers were seldom idle in our streets, while their rendezvous were almost as numerous as our stores. In addition to the volunteer officers several officers of the regular army were here, and did quite a brisk business. We hazard nothing in saying that' in the space of three months over three thousand men were recruited in this County. Colonel NAGLE'S Regiment, the Forty-Eighth, P. V., was encamped at Harrisburg, while being organized, and was composed entirely, of Schuylkill County companies. Colonel CAKE's Regiment, the Ninety-Sixth, P. V., also composed of Schuylkill County companies, was encamped at Pottsville, until November. Colonel CHRIST and Colonel WYNKOOP encamped their Regiments, the Fiftieth, P. V., and Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, at Harrisburg. These Regiments were only partially made up of companies from this County. Single companies and individuals from the County, were scattered through other Regiments of the State. On Monday, September 2d, 1861, the Citizens' Cornet Band, numbering twenty-five members, left Pottsville for Harrisburg, to join Col. NAGLE'S Regiment. While Colonel NAGLE'S Regiment was lying at Harrisburg, the "Tower Guard," Capt. PLEASANTS, of Pottsville, joined it. An exceedingly liberal and patriotic act on the part of Capt. TOWER, in connection with the raising of the Company, merits notice and perpetuation. It is thus spoken of by the Harrisburg Union: THE TOWER GUARD."-On Monday afternoon Captain C. Tower, of Pottsville, who brought one hundred and sixty men from Schuylkill County to Camp Curtin last April, and attached them to the Sixth Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, and who served through the three months' service as Captain of his Company, called the "Tower Guard," which he uniformed handsomely at his own expense, in that regiment, was in Camp Curtin again, and paid five dollars apiece, or $430 in all, to eighty-six men who have come there from that County anew, and are enlisted, under the name of "Tower Guard," for three years, or during the war, in the United States service. Mr. TowER had offered this sum as a bounty, and has now paid it out of his own pocket to men who would enlist, as these have done, under the command of HENRY PLEASANTS, also of Pottsville, his former Lieutenant, as their Captain. This Company contains now eighty-nine men, officers and all, being six more than the required number. It is attached to the Forty-eighth Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, Col. JAMES NAGLE, and is made up of young, hardy, and in every way remarkable men; and it has been assigned to bear and guard the colors of the regiment. Mr. TowER made a short and suitable address to the Company after the bounty was paid. From the appearance of the men, and their enthusiastic cheering while they listened to his patriotic exhortations, we look to see this Company foremost among the first in duty and skill, and always steadfast and effective around the flag of our country in battle. We are glad to see such men as Capt. PLEASANTS brought to command our volunteers. We learn that he is a civil engineer of considerable experience, and is well educated and intelligent. We could see that he is, while modest and considerate, at the same time firm and ambitious; and we believe that with such unflinching men as are under him, he will do such service to the country as will bring him more worthy notice hereafter than we now give him. In the meantime, the country may well appreciate the services and expenditures of Mr. TowER, both heretofore and now also, in helping to enlist this new Company of rare men under such a Captain as HENRY PLEASANTS, to serve until the great rebellion is at an end, and freedom shall be endangered no more. In September, the officers and members of the late Sixth Regiment, P. V., prepared for presentation to their late Colonel, JAS. NAGLE, a fine field-glass, bearing the following inscription: TO JAMES NAGLE, COLONEL 48TH REGIMENT, P. V., From the Officers and Privates of his old command, the late 6th Regiment P. V., as a Tribute of regard for his Gallantry and Patriotism. POTTSVILLE, OCTOBER 3d, 1861. The Regiment moved from Harrisburg to Fortress Monroe, before the glass was ready for presentation, and on the 10th of October it was received with the annexed letter, by the Colonel, at Camp Hamilton : COL. JAMES NAGLE, POTTSVILLE, October 8th, 1861. DEAR SIR:-A number of your friends, officers and privates of the late Sixth Regiment, P. V., commanded by you during the time it was in service, desire to present the accompanying field-glass, for your acceptance, in token of our high personal esteem, and the exalted opinion we entertain of your military knowledge and capacity. Though your characteristic modesty may shrink from any public eulogy of your conduct and services, our gratitude and admiration will not permit us to pass them by, without this tribute of affection and respect. For may years past the military spirit and organization of Schuylkill County have been chiefly sustained by your exertions. When the Nation's honor was to be maintained on the plains of Mexico, you with a well disciplined corps under your command, sprang to arms and hastened to the field of conflict; in Cerro Gordo's terrific fight you stood calm and unmoved amid the leaden storm of death which fell on every side, and by your presence of mind and courage saved many gallant men from the fearful carnage. During the long season of peace which followed the closing of that war, in your own quiet and happy home, you faithfully discharged the duties of a husband, father and citizen, endearing yourself both to your family and the community in which you dwelt. But now the tocsin of war sounds through the land, and her valiant sons are called to defend her against foul rebellion's deadly blows. Speedily a regiment of your fellow citizens take the field, and confer upon you the command, During the three months we served together, though inflexibly firm and persistently industrious in the performance and requirement of every camp and field duty, yet such was the kindness of your demeanor, and your tender regard for the health, safety and comfort of your men, that we regarded you rather as a friend and father, than a mere military commander. And now, that you have, at the head of a Schuylkill County Regiment-Pennsylvania's 48th-again taken the field at your country's call, and may soon be in the thickest of the most eventful battle the world has ever witnessed, on the issue of which the destiny of human freedom and progress is suspended, we present you with the accompanying glass, as well in token of our esteem and admiration, as that your eye which never dimmed with fear as it gazed upon a foe, may more readily perceive his approach and prepare for victory. Praying that the God of Battles may preserve you in the midst of danger, and return you unharmed to your family and friends, when our glorious Union shall be firmly re-established, and covered with still more illustrious renown, We remain, yours truly, CAPT. C. TOWER, LT. COL. JAS. J. SEIBERT, To which Col. NAGLE replied as follows: HEAD QUARTERS 48TH REGT., P. V., CAMP HAMILTON, Near Fortress Monroe, October 11th, 1861. GENTLEMEN AND BROTHER OFFICERS, SOLDIERS AND FRIENDS:-Your favor of the 8th inst., came to hand yesterday, with the beautiful field glass you saw proper to forward for presentation, to me. I can assure you it affords me much pleasure and satisfaction to receive and accept this tribute of affection and respect, coming from those whom I had the honor to command in the three months' service. I always tried to discharge my duties faithfully, to the best of my ability, and am led to believe that you were all satisfied with my conduct. I therefore, accept the token of respect you send me, with feelings of gratitude and thankfulness, and hope I may be able to gain the confidence of the 48th to the extent you, gentlemen of the 6th, have expressed in your letter, and manifested in your beautiful present. It is a source of great pleasure and gratification to me to know that my services have been appreciated by the officers and soldiers of the 6th Regiment. In conclusion, allow me again to return you my most sincere thanks for this valuable gift, praying with you, that the God of Battles may preserve us in the midst of danger, and return us unharmed to our families and friends, after our glorious Union shall have been firmly re-established, and the Stars and Stripes shall again be floating proudly over the whole of our country, I remain, Gentlemen, Very Respectfully, Your Obedient Servant, JAMES NAGLE, Colonel commanding 48th Regt., P. V. To CAPT. C. TOWER, COL. JAS. J. SEIBERT, MAJOR JOHN E. WYNKOOP, CAPT. H. J. HENDLER, LIEUT. THEO. MILLER, LIEUT. D. P. BROWN, and others. The first Schuylkill County Company mustered into the three years' service, was the Schuylkill Guards, Captain HORACE C. BENNETT, of Minersville. It was mustered in, August 28th, 1861. On Wednesday, September 25th, 1961, the Forty-eighth Regiment, P. V., left Harrisburg, for Fortress Monroe, via. Baltimore. On the road between Harrisburg and Baltimore a fiendish attempt was made to throw the train from the track. Only two of the cars were thrown off, and beyond a few bruises, none of the members of the Regiment were injured. After the departure of this Regiment for the seat of war, J. T. WERNER, ESQ., of Pottsville, presented to it a fine American Flag, which cost $60. The name and number of the Regiment were inscribed in the centre, with an appropriate motto in the blue. Col. NAGLE acknowledged the receipt of the beautiful present, in a communication, of which the following is a copy: HEADQUARTERS 48TH REGT., P. V., EDITORS OF THE MINERS' JOURNAL:— DEAR SIRS :-I desire to acknowledge, through your Journal, the receipt of a beautiful Flag, forwarded and presented to my Regiment by our fellow-townsman, JOHN T. WERNER, ESQ. We feel very grateful to him, and return our most sincere thanks for the beautiful National Flag he saw fit to present us with-the flag we all swore to defend, and I have every reason to believe that the 48th will do its duty; believing our cause just, and trusting in Him who rules all nations and armies, we will be able to have our National emblem once more floating proudly over the whole of our beloved country. Very Respectfully, Your Obedient Servant, Colonel commanding 48th Regt., P. V. On the 1st of October, the friends of Colonel HENRY L. CAKE, whose Regiment was then encamped on Lawton's Hill, Pottsville, presented to him a field glass, bearing the following inscription: Presented to COL. H. L. CAKE, by a few friends. POTTSVILLE, PA., OCT. 1st, 1861. On Tuesday, October 1st, the Fiftieth Regiment, P. V., Col. B. C. CHRIST, left Harrisburg, for the seat of war. Just before its departure, says the Harrisburg Telegraph, the regimental colors assigned to them by the State authorities were presented by Gov. CURTIN. The regiment was drawn up in position of a three square, in the centre of which Col. CHRIST and aids received Gov. CURTIN and staff. Gov. CURTIN at once proceeded to present the flag in the name of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He reminded those who were to march beneath its glorious folds, of the sacred trust thus confided to them, and assured them of his confidence in their strength to bear aloft, and their valor to defend that flag, while there was life in their limbs and blood in their hearts. They were going hence on no common mission to sustain the aspirations or lust for power of any man. They were about to march to no war of conquest; but called forth by the summons of the chief magistrate of the nation, they went to maintain and defend their nationality, and evidence the devotion of Pennsylvania to the constitution and laws of the land. The flag that they were about to receive would be the proof of their valor and devotion, because upon its folds their record, with the names of those who have earned fame, would be inscribed, and on the return of the soldiers of the regiment to their homes in Penn |