The forgotten men of Company F from Monongahela
A photograph of Capt. William Catlin from “The Civil War in Pennsylvania: A Photographic History,” available at the Sen. John Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh
The entrance to Monongahela Cemetery, where Capt. William Catlin was buried in 1930 at the age of 84
Editor’s note: The brief history of Pennsylvania’s all African-American National Guard unit from Monongahela is based on an eyewitness account by 1st Lt. William H. Jones.
By Walter H. Seal
For the Observer-Reporter
newsroom@observer-reporter.com
Around March 1862, with the Civil War entering its first full year, an African-American named T. Morgan Jones decided to form a company of men, consisting of all black males.
This was not an easy task, since there were not many free black males of recruitment age around Monongahela.
He recruited who he could in Monongahela, then proceeded upriver as far as Fayette City in Fayette County, picking up as many recruits in Fayette and Westmoreland counties as he could to join his Washington County recruits.
Still not having enough recruits to fill his quota for a company, Jones then traveled downriver to the town of Elizabeth in Allegheny County. There, his quota was met.
Morgan Jones was elected captain by his peers, and it was agreed that the company was to be headquartered in Monongahela, with a portion to stay and train in Elizabeth with a competent drill master.
Jones named his company the Invincible Grays, and the two squads drilled twice a week in Elizabeth and Monongahela, with the combined squads drilling once a month in either Monongahela or Elizabeth.
Around March 1863, after a year’s worth of training and a meeting with the entire company, Jones declared the company “fit” for duty. He then wrote Pennsylvania Gov. Andrew Curtin, offering the service of his company to fight for the union.
When a response finally arrived, the company was stunned. It not only stated that their services were not needed, but they would not be accepted, period.
This response drew several emotions: anger, sadness, frustration and confusion. But instead of giving up, they trained harder.
After the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863, and with the war still not settled, the Invincible Grays would get their chance.
The North relented, but still would not allow whole units to enlist, as they could not govern themselves, being childlike in manner and not able to control themselves.
They were thereby enlisted singularly and overseen by white officers. Nevertheless, members of the Invincible Grays, as well as others, made their race proud.
Seeing action in Virginia and South Carolina, two of the Grays were killed: Harvey Jenkins in 1864, and Marshall Holiday in 1865.
Jones, thought by many whites to be a troublemaker and too smart for his race, was deterred from service until September 1864. He quietly served his country until the end of the war.
Military exploits of Mon Valley’s African-Americans did not die with the end of the Civil War. Many of the Grays who returned from the war felt unfulfilled, that they didn’t prove themselves. From their ranks came a new leader.
William Hilton Catlin was one of these Grays. Catlin, whose family moved from West Newton to Monongahela before the war, served as a private with Company D, 32nd United States Colored Troops.
Unhappy with the way things had panned out for the colored troops, Catlin wrote to then Pennsylvania Gov. John W. Geary, who had been in charge of colored troops and knew their capabilities. Catlin pestered Geary to be allowed to form a company of all African-American men for militia duty.
Between Geary, who died early in his term, and his successor, John F. Hartranft, who also commanded colored troops, the request made by Catlin was approved. On Sept. 8, 1871, the Keystone Guard was formed.
By being duly elected by their company peers, as was customary of the day, the following men were commissioned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:
• William H. Catlin – captain and company commander;
• Mark Hilton – first lieutenant;
• William H. Jones – second lieutenant.
For the next two years, things went smoothly. Drills were routine, and the men of the Keystone Guard stayed ready if their services were needed.
In October 1873, the company experienced its first camp duty, held at Greensburg. Shortly afterward, Hilton resigned. Jones was promoted to first lieutenant, and Joseph R. Griffey was elected and commissioned second lieutenant.
On Nov. 28, 1873, the Pennsylvania National Guard was reorganized, and the 10th Regiment was transferred from Philadelphia to Western Pennsylvania. The Keystone Guards were accepted into the Pennsylvania National Guard and became Company F, 10th Regiment, 8th Division P.N.G.
In August 1876, they were ordered to Philadelphia to serve as an honor guard at the U.S. centennial. This also would be a way for the P.N.G. to show off its model all African-American National Guard unit.
In 1877, the National Encampment was to be held at Monongahela, but had to be canceled because of the impending strikes against the Pennsylvania Railroad. These strikes were to be the demise of Company F.
On July 21, 1877, it was expected that if the Pennsylvania Railraod and its employees did not reach a settlement, that the National Guard would be activated to keep the peace.
Catlin received an order from regimental commanding officer Col. John A. Black in the afternoon of July 21, 1877, to keep Company F ready. The order was followed by a second order to board a northbound train from the Monongahela City station and report for duty in Pittsburgh. (Note: the station at that time was the Pittsburg, Virginia and Charleston Railroad.)
Both companies from Monongahela (Company A white troops and Company F black troops) boarded the train, but had to disembark as the leader of the strikers, Herman Schuler, who was a German butcher, took control of the switch and prevented the train from leaving.
Not having orders to fire, the companies returned to their armories, leaving elements of companies A and F under the command of Jones to guard the railroad station. Despite a tense situation, peace was maintained throughout the night.
Early on July 22, 1877, distressing news came from Pittsburg. The union station was in flames, and the Philadelphia National Guardsmen were besieged. Pillage and carnage were everywhere. Orders came down to Capt. J. Dev. Hazzard of Company A and Catlin to board, in Monongahela, the steamboat John Snowden enroute from Geneva.
The Snowden would be carrying Company K out of Waynesburg, in command of Capt. John M. Kent. From there, the three companies were to report for duty at Pittsburg.
When John Snowden arrived in Monongahela, Schuler again came to the front and grabbed the gangplank. Warning shots from Kent were fired. Companies A and F embarked and were on their way to the front.
After traveling downriver less than a mile, a spirited debate broke out, about taking colored troops to such a situation. It was argued that to arrive in Pittsburg with armed Negroes would only incite the rioters and give them a new cause.
Catlin and his officers calmed members of Company F. After distributing their ammo to Companies A and K, and reserving two rounds each for themselves, Company F was left off at Lock No. 3 and had to walk back humiliated five or six miles to Monongahela.
Company F was to be called up one last time. Orders were that they were to rendezvous with Company A at Greensburg, and then proceed to Pittsburg. The people of Greensburg pleaded for at least one company to stay in case an emergency situation arose. Company F was allowed to remain. They stayed from July 25 to July 31, 1877.
On July 31, 1877, Company F received its final order from the division commander. It said, “Thank you for your service, by reason of expiration of term of service, you are hereby disbanded, go home.”
On Feb. 28, 1878, a banquet at Legler’s Restaurant in Monongahela was given on behalf of these pioneering African-Americans.
Almost 140 years later, the Mon Valley still remembers the family names, including Alexander, Catlin, Curry, Davis, Dougherty, Gray, Griffey, Hilton, Holliday, Irwin, Jenkins, Jones, Lowry, Montgomery, Oliver, Ralph, Simmons, Smallwood, Smith and Wheeler.
Walter H. Seal of Carroll Township is an avid collector of military and historical memorabilia.