The following article is adapted from a speech given as part of the commemoration of the role of the Union Fire Company of Carlisle, Pennsylvania in the American Civil War, read before the Union Fire Company on April 21, 2011. Much of the material is derived from research for an upcoming book, "The Union Legacy," that will be published for the 225th anniversary of the company.
The Union Fire Company, originally formed in 1789, emerged as one of Carlisle's leading organizations after the company's rebirth in 1821. By 1859 the company had matured to the point that it built a new two story fire house at 34 West Louther Street, to replace a wooden shed on land it had leased since the Town Hall fire in 1845. Several leading attorneys and politicians were active in the affairs of the company from the early 1840s up to the start of the war, including Lemuel Todd, Theo Cornman, John Hays, Ephraim Cornman and Robert Henderson. These men, and others, led members of the Union Fire Company (hereafter referred to as the Union), and other young men from Carlisle to war. In so doing they would link the Union Fire Company to many major battles in the eastern theatre and bring the brutal reality of the war home to Carlisle.
The war began with the shelling of Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, and three days later President Lincoln issued a call for troops to defend the country. Lincoln initially called for 75,000 troops, thinking the war would be short and easily won.
April 1861 was a very anxious and active time in the history of Carlisle and the Union Fire Company. The Civil War had started, shots had been fired, rumors of a pending rebel invasion were rampant and the town was energized to respond. Several members had already enlisted and departed for war and others were busy organizing additional companies of volunteers.
On April 2 1st, three companies of90 day militia were mustered in at Carlisle. A day late r members of the Union met in the fire house across the street from the Union's present station, to organize the "Union Guard", a local militia company pledged to defend the town.
What follows is a brief history of the units in which Union Fire Company members enlisted.
9th Pennsylvania
The first company raised in Cumberland County was Company C of the 9th Pennsylvania. Seven members of the Union joined and were mustered into service by April 23, 1861. They did not see combat but did march extensively along the Potomac during their 90 days of service. The majority re-enlisted in three year units after they were discharged in July.
11th Pennsylvania
Another early unit from Cumberland County was the 11th Pennsylvania and three members of the Union enlisted in Company A in September 1861 when it was re-organized as a three year regiment. Known as the "Bloody 11th", this unit saw extensive combat until the end of the war, including Falling Water, Cedar Mountain, 1st Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, The Wilderness, Spotsylvania, The Salient, Cold Harbor, Weldon Railroad, Five Forks and were present at Appomattox for Lee's surrender. Nearly all re-enlisted as Veteran Volunteers in 1864.
The 11th fought at Gettysburg and played an important role in the fighting on the first day. It was part of the repulse of Iverson's Brigade on Oak Ridge and their monument is located there. An interesting and romantic part of this brigade's history is Sally, the dog that traveled with the unit throughout much of the war and died in combat. Sally is featured on the monument at Gettysburg.
A 30-foot stone sculpture of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is now open to the public on the Mall in Washington, D.C., to commemorate the sacrifice for freedom that defined Dr. King's life. The monument showing Dr. King emerging from stone is surrounded by walls with inspirational quotations from his speeches and writings.
The Union Fire Company was organized on April 6, 1789 by a group of citizens that had joined together to order a fire engine after a devastating fire in the fall of 1788. By January of 1790 the engine was housed in a shed built to the west of the Court House in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Interview of Pete Ellerman of the Union Fire Company by Randy Watts on March 21, 2016. The interview focuses on the Union Fire Company in Carlisle, Pennsylvania as well as fire fighting in general.