By August 1861, the Union war effort that had sputtered to disaster at Bull Run had begun to stir once more. As the summer went on and hopes for a quick victory were dashed, the Lincoln administration turned to recruiting new volunteer regiments to serve for a term of three years or until the Civil War ended.

Among the early units recruited for three years’ service was Colonel John W. Geary’s 28th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Organized at Philadelphia on June 28, 1861, the regiment departed Philadelphia for the front lines along the Potomac River in Maryland on July 27, 1861, less than a week after the disastrous rout on the plains of Manassas.

In that regiment, several companies contained soldiers from the mining communities of Carbon and Luzerne counties. Notably, Company A largely came from Hazleton and was fitted out for service by coal operator Ario Pardee, Sr., who managed collieries in and around Hazleton. His son, Ario Pardee, Jr. served as Captain of Company A as it marched off to war in the summer of 1861.

In August, other units were being organized in the anthracite communities, including numerous companies that were assembling at Mauch Chunk along the Lehigh River.

These two subjects – the assembling of military companies at Mauch Chunk and the role of Ario Pardee, Sr. in establishing Company A of the 28th Pennsylvania – were the subjects of this news article in the Luzerne Union published in Wilkes-Barre in late August 1861. It included a letter from Pardee downplaying his role in the formation of the company from Hazleton.

From the Luzerne Union, August 21, 1861

---

MAUCH CHUNK IN FOR THE WAR. –

The Gazette of last week says that no less than four new companies for the war are in course of organization in Mauch Chunk and vicinity, as follows: 

One under Capt. John Craig, one under Lieut. Wm. I. Connor, one under Lieut. Patrick Hughes and one under Lieut. Jacob Arndt. It is believed that a full regiment can be raised in the Lehigh Valley, – Capt. Eli T. Conner is proposed d for Lieut. Colonel. 

A large number of the three months volunteers have already re-enlisted for the war, and many new ones follow. We learn also that the Carbon County Cavalry under Capt. Horn is nearly full, and has been accepted by the Government. 

Since the above was it type we find the following from Mr. Pardee in the Mauch Chunk Gazette:

Mr. EDITOR: 

A small modicum of flattery is said to be agreeable to every one, and although much more was said as to my connection with raising Company A of Colonel Geary’s Regiment, than was agreeable to me, yet I was disposed to let it pass in silence: but the dose you administered, in your paper of last week, is rather more than I can stand and puts me very much in the condition of the man who was so utterly nauseated that he threw up in his boots.

Others among the citizens of Hazleton took very active parts in raising that company and in equipping it the ladies gave their time and labor.

I did not expend $20,000, or the fourth part of it, and do not expect to spend the tenth part of it on the second company if it is raised. My son will not command it. He thinks himself, as I do, too young for so grave a responsibility.

In taking care of the families of volunteers our citizens no doubt will do their full share.

After all is said in praise of this one or that, he, among the gallant men who joined the first company, or may join the second, who is poorest in this world’s goods, will have given, in giving himself, far more toward his country’s cause than I have done or can do.

A.Pardee [Sr.]

Hazleton, 

August 10, 1861

---

Featured Image: Members of the 28th Pennsylvania training at Camp Pardee in Virginia in early 1862 – (LOC)

Read the previous letter from the Letters from War: 1861 series.

---

This is part of an ongoing series called “Letters from War: 1861” that will share correspondence written on the front lines during the turbulent first year of the Civil War.

---

---