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After the War, the 7th Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, like other regiments, formed a Veteran's organization. Through my research I have discovered that the 7th was very active in its Veterans Association. Reunions were held yearly at different locations in Pennsylvania. Several reunion images exist and you can see them on this page. As more are discovered they too will be posted here. Maybe you will find the face of your ancestor in one of these rare images!
E.R Backer Post Roseville, Pennsylvania
6th Annual Reunion, May 5, 1883, Pottsville Penna.
Bottom L to R: son of Louis Crossland, Isaac Keith, Charles C. Davis, John E. Wynkoop
Top L to R: Albert Sands, Henry Bausman, Thomas Allan, Thomas Simpson, Samuel Kramer
1883 Reunion Ribbon
7th Annual Reunion, 1884, Lock Haven, PA 7th Pa Cavalry
The reception and ball tendered the 7th Pa Veteran Volunteer Cavalry at the skating rink Wednesday night was a flattering success. Between 8 and 9 o’clock the veterans formed in line at the Fallon House. They were headed by Seltzer Band and Company H. The line of march was up Water to Vesper Street, out Vester to Main, and up Main to the rink. Arriving there, the entire procession marched into the hall where the veterans drew up to one side and Company H went through a very interesting and creditable drill. After it’s conclusion, they left the hall. General Jesse Merrill delivered a speech, reviewing in well chosen words, the history of the regiment. Lieutenant William B. Hays replied on the part of the veterans and made a neat speech which was frequently and heartily applauded. A brass band composed of August Schlotman and family of five children then furnished music. The youngest member of the family, who beats the bass drum, is a girl not over three years old and the oldest child is not over ten or twelve. After music, the floor was cleared for the grand march, which was led by L. R. McGill, and for which, Seltzer band discoursed the music. Dancing was the order of the evening, and was indulged in by not less than 350 persons. The ladies present were among the handsomest of the city, and richly attired. 61 members had their pictures taken later at the baseball grounds.
“Old
Vets” were once again comrades around the campfire, and were given a welcome
with such marked fervor, that the “boys” entered into the spirit of the
occasion with all their old time patriotic zeal and loyal devotion.
The surviving cavalrymen were given their first mark of welcome in the
parade early in the evening of the 22nd.
The organizations formed at Main Street and Bellefonte Avenue, and
shortly after 7 o’clock, Chief Marshall R. H. McGhee gave the word and the
line started up the avenue, back again, and down Main Street to the court house.
All along the streets, the sidewalks were crowded; red fire burned and
rockets were discharged.
Upon arriving at the court house, Company H went through the movements of
guard mount, during which the veterans and people crowded in.
When Captain W. C. Kress called the campfire to order, the court room was
packed. The
Rev. A. R. Miller delivered the address of welcome, after which Captain
Breckbill of Danville, PA, responded by assuring Lock Haven that the welcome was
fully appreciated.
The Trinity male quartet sang with much spirit, “Brave Cavalry Boys,”
and the “Star Spangled Banner.”
Remarks were made by Captain Webster Rank, Captain G. W. Michaels of Lock
Haven, and Colonel Greeno of Cincinnati, OH.
The lights in the court house were extinguished as taps were sounded, and
relit as reveille was sounded by the bugler of the Mill Hall band.
Captain Steahlin continued as secretary of the Seventh Cavalry
Association for the 16th straight year.
The business meeting was held Wednesday in the G.A.R. hall, and was
called to order by President H. D. Loveland.
Steahlin reported the following figures with reference to the members of
the regiment: Living
officers 37, members 848, total 890; not accounted for, officers 5, members 601,
total 613; dead officers 68, members 768, total 836.
The resolutions expressed sorrow for the deaths of 22 comrades who died
during the past year.
After a banquet at the Fallon House, the survivors proceeded to the front
of the courthouse, where Floyd photographed the crowd.
The 25th annual reunion of the 7th Pa Cavalry was held, with a business session Tuesday, and a trolley ride over the local lines on Wednesday afternoon. For the entertainment of the many guests Wednesday evening, a social meeting was held in the Eintract Hall. A special history of the regiment was printed for the reunion, a portion of which is transcribed as follows: In October 1862 a cavalry corps was organized, with General David S. Stanley commanding. The 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry was assigned to the First Brigade, Second Division of the Army of the Cumberland. On June 25th, the army moved to Murfreesboro. The First Brigade of the Second Division of the Cavalry Corps, operated on the right of the army. They charged the entrenchments at Guys Gap, and took 390 prisoners, killing and wounding a large number. The 7th Pa Cavalry charged through Shelbyville, TN, and captured Wiggin’s Confederate battery, and drove General Wheeler’s command into and across the Duck River, with the result that many of the latter were drowned. One hundred men, commanded by Captain Heber S. Thompson, have the credit of opening the battle of Chickamauga, and Penna. Had the first man, John Ward of the 7th Pa Cavalry, killed. The cavalry was mustered out on August 23, 1865 at Macon, GA. We had marched 20,000 miles, and lost in action, nine officers and 93 men. Death claimed five officers and another 185 men along the march, making the total loss to us during the war, 272.
The old soldiers began to arrive on Monday evening and continued to come until Wednesday noon, when the number was increased to about one hundred. R. H. McGhee, of Lock Haven, PA, the president of the association, had his headquarters at the Garman House, and as he is a genial good fellow, the boys in blue rallied around him. Tuesday morning, about sixty old veterans took the train and went to State College, where they were heartily received by members of the faculty. They were taken through the various departments of this institution, and many of them were surprised at the magnitude of the college and the good work it is doing. They returned to Bellefonte in the evening, when a meeting was held in Gregg Post rooms, presided over by Captain Ott of Flemington. The principle event was Wednesday evening, where a campfire was held in the courthouse, of which R. H. McGhee, the retiring president, presided. The courthouse was handsomely decorated for the occasion, and the music was furnished by Deitrick’s orchestra. The addresses of welcome were made by Hon. Wm. C. Heinle; afterwards, D. F. Fortney; Colonel Charles L. Greeno of Cincinnati, and others. It was noted in the Democratic Watchman newspaper that, “There is nothing an old soldier enjoys as to interchange notes of that four long years of struggle, unless it is a good dinner. That the old soldiers appeared to enjoy themselves while here was evident, and it is equally as true that Bellefonte was only too glad for the opportunity and honor of entertaining them.”
The Daughter Of The Regiment
Thanks to the wonderful research of descendant association
member, Mary Weigley, more has come to light on the yearly reunions held by the
7th all over the State of Pennsylvania. Mary researched the newspapers of all
known reunions and graciously sent Larry and myself an extensive collection of
articles pertaining to these reunions!
These articles became wonderful and enlightening windows into these events and
the people who attended them. One person who came to light was Claire Drolinger.
Through study of these articles I believe that Claire attended her first reunion
of the 7th when it was held in Pittsburgh in 1909. Though Claire was not a
descendant of a 7th soldier she was a descendant of, Adolph Drolinger, a
Pennsylvania artilleryman.
I believe that Claire became known to the "Boys" of the 7th when they
held their 1909 reunion in Pittsburgh and she was invited to deliver some of
her musical talent during the festivities. The "Boys" were
so impressed by her talent that they adopted her as "The Daughter of the
Regiment" at the 1910 reunion in Connellsville, Pa. Now Miss Drolinger was
no ordinary musician, she was "The Whistler"!
Her talent was whistling "Military Airs" and the old soldiers of the
regiment loved her. It is believed that she was the first "Daughter of a
Regiment" in the country. There had been daughters of companies but never a
daughter of a regiment! The motion to adopt her was unanimously carried by all
the members on October 26, 1910!
At the 1910 reunion she whistled "Tramp, Tramp the boys are marching"
and "Marching through Georgia". In the 1910 news, it is
learned that Miss Drolinger always attends the reunions and her whistling is
looked forward to with eager delight by the veterans. She is a member of the
Pittsburgh Mozart Club and of the Christ Episcopal Church Choir. It was also
noted that Col. Barnhart said, "If I could whistle as well as Miss
Drolinger I would do nothing but whistle!"
Miss Drolinger attended every reunion and at the 1917 reunion in Connellsville,
Pa she was given a pin bearing her name and the date of her adoption, with a GAR
insignia. After the pin was made the die was destroyed so that no others could
be made! The 1917 reunion opened with Miss Drolinger whistling
"The Star Spangled Banner."
The 1919 reunion in Milton, Pa once again found Miss Drolinger a special guest
of the "Boys." Miss Drolinger exhibited wonderful ability as a
musician and as an expert "Whistler," much to the amusement of the
vast audience which had congregated in the Post Hall. At this reunion she was
once again unanimously re-elected as "Daughter of the Regiment!"
After enjoying these wonderful articles I thought how nice it would be to do a
follow-up on our newly rediscovered "Daughter of the 7th Pa Cavalry."
I wanted to learn more of this most amazing woman. What had become of Miss
Drolinger after all the "Boys" had attended their last reunion? I
decided to simply try the phone! I signed onto the Internet and searched the
Pittsburgh white pages for any Drolingers! To my surprise it returned one hit,
Mr. Gordon Drolinger. I dialed the number and introduced myself and began to
explain my mission. To my amazement I discovered that Miss Drolinger was Gordon's
Great Aunt! He explained to me that she had been a whistler on Vaudeville! Her
full name was Claire Josephine Drolinger; she was born on November 15, 1880. She
was the daughter of Adolph and Francis Drolinger. She had two brothers, Charles
Augustus and Adolph William. Claire never married and worked for the phone
company in Philadelphia most of her life. After retiring she moved back to
Pittsburgh where she died on October 9, 1958, just 5 years before I was born!
During my research I discovered a 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry reunion ribbon. It
was from the 1909 reunion and was in pristine condition. To my amazement I
discovered another ribbon attached to the back! A beautiful "pink"
ribbon made especially for an "Honorary Member" of the 7th
Pennsylvania Cavalry Association!!
Miss Claire Drolinger's Ribbons?
33rd Annual Reunion, 1910, Connellsville, Pa. 7th Pa Cavalry
1910 Ribbon Connellsville, Pennsylvania
On October 25, 1910, the Daily Courier
(Connellsville, PA) reported, “The 33rd annual reunion of the
Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry convened with a reception at the Hotel Wyman,
during which time several very pleasant hours were spent by the veterans. One of the most prominent veterans present is Lieutenant
Colonel Charles Greeno, who is the only living field officer of the regiment.
Captain F. R. Hutchinson, secretary and treasurer of the veteran’s
association, is also on hand. He is
a retired captain of the Pittsburgh Fire Department, being the first captain to
be retired, after serving the department for 32 years.
Lieutenant John D. Jones of Hastings, PA, was the oldest veteran present
up until noon today. He is 78 years
old and is always on hand for the reunions.
J. H. Rhodes of Marysville is totally blind, having lost his sight 20
years ago as a result of the war. Mr.
Rhodes was among the first to arrive in Connellsville.
The death list last year was the largest in the history of the
Association, with 21 veterans being called away by the grim reaper.
Out of a regiment composed of about 2500 men, there are now only 534
known living. “
On October 26, 1910, the Daily Courier
reported, “At 8:30 this morning, the annual business meeting of the 7th
Pa Cavalry was held at the Carnegie Free Library.
The meeting opened with prayer offered by Lieutenant Colonel Charles
Greeno, after which Miss Claire Drollinger of Pittsburgh played and whistled,
“Tramp, Tramp the Boys are Marching,” and “Marching through Georgia.”
A motion was made and seconded that Miss Drollinger be adopted as a
‘daughter of the regiment.’ The
motion was unanimously carried. Miss
Drollinger is a daughter of the late Adolph Drollinger, who was instantly killed
at the plant of the Pittsburgh Steel & Wire Co. four years ago.
Mr. Drollinger was a Civil War veteran, whose daughter always attends the
reunion, and her whistling is looked forward to with eager delight by the
veterans. She is a member of the
Pittsburgh Mozart Club and of the Christ Episcopal Church Choir, Pittsburgh.
At the conclusion of the business meeting, the soldiers and their
friends, headed by the Uniontown Martial Band, boarded a West Penn street car
for Fairview farm, where a basket picnic is being held.”
It was further reported that scores of
veterans of the Civil War made their way to the Carnegie Free Library to attend
the annual campfire of the 7th Pa Cavalry.
The oldest person present was Major Henry Reger, a veteran of the Civil
War, and the only surviving regular army veteran of the Mexican War in
Pennsylvania. Major Reger is 82
years old, and with the aid of two of his comrades, he appeared on stage last
evening, and after being introduced, stated that he was good enough for another
war. The auditorium at the library
was well filled with friends and relatives of the cavalry. Headed by the Connellsville Drum Corps, the Cavalry veterans
marched to the auditorium, where special seats had been reserved for them.
The decorations were very appropriate and unusually pretty.
Large silk flags were artistically draped on the walls, while great
bunches of autumn leaves presented a fall like appearance.
A row of ferns extended the entire length of the stage. Col. J. J. Barnhart, President of the Association, presided.
A brief history of the regiment was
given by Col. Greeno, from the time it was formed in 1861, until the close of
the war. He reported that the first
two men killed in the battle of Chickamauga were from the regiment. Miss Clair Drollinger, a daughter of the regiment, favored
the veterans and their friends with two selections.
Col. Barnhart said if he could whistle as well as Miss Dollinger, he
would do nothing but whistle.
Preceding the campfire, the veterans
took supper at the Christian church as the guests of the committee. Chicken and waffles were served, and it was reported the
veterans still had good appetites, as sample justice was done to everything
placed before them.
The following day, the Daily Courier
reported, “The 33rd annual reunion of the Seventh Pennsylvania
Cavalry Association, which convened Tuesday morning in Connellsville, is at an
end, and the reunion will go down in the history of the Association as the best
ever held.” However it was noted
that Comrade S. G. Barnes of Company K, was very much disappointed that there
could not be five men secured to run against him in a five mile relay race as
advertised in the circulars sent out. His
reputation as the champion G.A.R. runner of the world, had preceded him.
Casper Sherman of Company I, who with his wife is at the reunion, was the personal friend of the late Major Charles C. Davis, who commanded the terrible sabre charge of Rover, TN, against superior numbers, in which Sherman sabred and captured Capt. Stewart, Co. E, 4th Alabama. Sherman gave the horse to Davis, then commanding the company, and retained the sabre and finely silver mounted revolvers. The strange part of this, is that while en route to the Chickamauga monument unveiling, a member of Capt. Stewart’s company noticed the 7th Pa Cavalry badge on Sherman, and Sherman asked if Stewart was still living. “No,” he replied, “Capt. Stewart received a terrible sabre cut across his face and died from the effects.” Sherman refrained from telling him that he had given the cut. Stewart had shot his hat off at close quarters, and Sherman was compelled to use the sabre. They, however, greeted each other as participants in the Rover engagement, and the Confederate and Sherman became good chums on sight. The Alabamian treated Sherman with great courtesy and gave him a royal good time during their stay in Chattanooga.
The Milton Evening Standard reported
on October 29, 1913, “Yesterday afternoon, residents of Watsontown owning
automobiles, took the veterans on a sight seeing tour, showing them the
interesting sites in and about Watsontown, including the manufactories, the new
brick plants, the new Watsontown-McEwensville brick road, Fort Freeland, and Warrior
Run Church. Last evening, led by
the 12th Regiment Band, the veterans marched to the S. of V. Hall,
where a campfire was held. The
campfire was opened by an interesting and exhaustive history of the Seventh Pa
Cavalry by the president of the Association, J. H. Wagner.
After the campfire, the veterans were invited to the Gem Theatre, where
they were the guests of Proprietor Sanders.
The band escorted them to the theatre.”
The following members of the regiment were present: George O. Rowe, Co. G; H. P. Billman, Co. D; James F. Patterson, Co. F; J. C. Sornberger, Co. E; Samuel Jobson, Co. L; C. W. Bicker, Co. E; J. J. Barnhart, Co. K; L. W. Dimock, Co. B; Peter E. Best, Co. E; Jessie Robbins, Co. E; J. H. Wagner, Co. D; Capt. Percy A. White, Co. A; Smith Dobson, Co. K; I. N. Messinger, Co. D; Cyrus Walker, Co. E; H. D. Loveland, Co. E; John T. Thomas, Co. F; Oliver P. Barr, Co. D; Morgan Davis; Lieut. D. W. Ranck, Co. D; Lieut. Samuel M. Blain, Co. D; A. L. Sterner, Co. D; Thomas J. Ellis, Co. D; James Jones, Co. H; Charles A. Dentler, Co. D; James C. Bly, Co. D; J. H. Calhoun, Co. L; L. Breckbill, Co. D; Moses E. Foresman, Co. D; J. H. Rogers, Co. D; John Devers, Co. D; J. R. Fox, Co. E; A. B. Koons, Co. F; John A. Opp, Co. D; A. C. Carlisle, Co. K, J. D. Loveland, W. Hurst Trego, John Mervine, S. C. Bower, and William B. Chamberlain.
The 1st Reunion was held in 1878 at a location not yet found
by our research and the last reunion was held in 1920 at Watsontown,
Pennsylvania.
1st thru 4th Reunions
1878 thru 1881
Location Unknown
5th Reunion's
August 23, 1882
Reading, Pennsylvania
September 13, 1882
Mansfield, Pennsylvania
6th Reunion
May 5, 1883
Pottsville, Pennsylvania
7th Reunion
October 8-9, 1884
Lock Haven, Pennsylvania
8th Reunion
October 6-7, 1885
Watsontown, Pennsylvania
9th Reunion
1886
Unknown Location
10th Reunion
October 25-26, 1887
Mt. Carmel, Pennsylvania
11th Reunion
1888
Unknown Location
12th Reunion
October 22-23, 1889
Danville, Pennsylvania
13th Reunion
1890
Muncy, Pennsylvania
14th Reunion
October 27-28, 1891
Troy, Pennsylvania
15th Reunion
October 25-26, 1892
Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania
16th Reunion
1893
Unknown Location
17th Reunion
October 23-24, 1894
Lock Haven, Pennsylvania
18th Reunion
October 22-23, 1895
McKeesport, Pennsylvania
19th Reunion
October 27-28, 1896
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
20th Reunion
October 26-27, 1897
Port Carbon, Pennsylvania
Chickamauga Monument Dedication
November, 13-15, 1897
Chickamauga, Georgia
21st Reunion
October 25-26, 1898
Mahonoy City, Pennsylvania
22nd Reunion
August 17-19, 1899
Syracuse, Nebraska
23rd Reunion
October 23-24, 1900
Watsontown, Pennsylvania
24th Reunion
October 22-23, 1901
Lock Haven, Pennsylvania
25th Reunion
October 28-29, 1902
New Castle, Pennsylvania
26th Reunion
October 6-7, 1903
Connelsville, Pennsylvania
27th Reunion
October 25-26, 1904
Milton, Pennsylvania
28th Reunion
October 24-25, 1905
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
29th Reunion
October 23-24, 1906
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
30th Reunion
October 22-23, 1907
Bellefonte, Pennsylvania
31st Reunion
October 20-21, 1908
Williamsport, Pennsylvania
32nd Reunion
October 19-20, 1909
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania
33rd Reunion
October 25-27, 1910
Connellsville, Pennsylvania
34th Reunion
October 24-26, 1911
Williamsport, Pennsylvania
35th Reunion
October 23-25, 1912
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
36th Reunion
October 28-29, 1913
Watsontown, Pennsylvania
50th Anniversary at Gettysburg
Pennsylvania Day
July 1-3, 1913
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
37th Reunion
October 27-28, 1914
Williamsport, Pennsylvania
38th Reunion
October 12-13, 1915
Lock Haven, Pennsylvania
39th Reunion
October 10-11, 1916
Mt. Carmel, Pennsylvania
40th Reunion
October 9-10, 1917
Connellsville, Pennsylvania
41st Reunion
October 8, 1918
Altoona, Pennsylvania
42nd Reunion
October 7-8, 1919
Milton, Pennsylvania
43rd Reunion
October 12-13, 1920
Watsontown, Pennsylvania