The Reading Artillerists was a militia organization formed in Reading, Pennsylvania during the late 18th century. Mustering in for the first time during the presidential era of George Washington, members of this artillery unit went on to serve tours of duty in the War of 1812, Mexican–American War and, as members of the Union Army during the American Civil War, before later disbanding.
Having determined that Reading needed to improve its military readiness, civic leaders of the 1880s authorized the formation of a new artillery unit, and also chose to name it as "Reading Artillerists" in deference to the original unit's storied history. That militia unit then mustered in for the Spanish–American War, and continued its service during the early part of the 20th century.A Condensed History of the Reading Artillerists, in Reading Times. Reading, Pennsylvania: October 20, 1859.Montgomery, Morton L. Historical Sketch of Reading Artillerists, Read Upon the Occasion of the 102nd Anniversary in Metropolitan Hall, May 25, 1896. Reading, Pennsylvania: Press of James E. Norton & Co., 1897.Reading Artillerist articles and meeting notices, The Reading Eagle. Reading, Pennsylvania: May 17 and December 7, 1881; March 9, 1882; and August 2, 1886.
Founding An 1859 Reading Times article, "A Condensed History of the Reading Artillerists", reported that the Reading Artillerists was founded in 1799 for the purpose of quelling the celebrated Whiskey Rebellion,"Reading Artillerists, Condensed History, in Reading Times, 1859. but the exact founding date was half a decade earlier on March 23, 1794, according to Berks County historian Morton L. Montgomery.Montgomery, Morton L. Historical and Biographical Annals of Berks County Pennsylvania Embracing a Concise History of the County and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families, Vol. I. Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1909, p. 143.
Known as the Reading Union Volunteers when mustered in for the Whiskey Rebellion, this militia unit quickly gained a reputation for skill and dependability, as evidenced by its having been accorded the honor, just seven months after its founding, of serving as the escort for U.S. President George Washington.Reading Union Volunteers, in Historical and Biographical Annals of Berks County, pp. 143, 158. During George Washington's visit to Reading, on October 1, 1794, a parade was held in Washington's honor, "and the distinguished visitor reviewed the troops from the second story front window of the building over the doorway. The 'Reading Union Volunteers' participated in this military parade, and on the next day when President Washington continued his journey towards Carlisle, they accompanied him as an escort. While at Carlisle, they served as his body-guard...When they returned, the name of the Company was changed to 'Reading Washington Guards,'" according to Montgomery. The commanding officer of the unit at this time was 22-year-old Captain Daniel de Benneville Keim, a Reading native.Reading Washington Guards, in Historical and Biographical Annals of Berks County, p. 143.Reading Artillerists, Condensed History, in Reading Times, 1859.
Mustering out after the rebellion's end, members of this unit continued to maintain their readiness as a functioning militia, and mustered in again formally as the Reading Washington Guards in 1799 in response to the Fries's Rebellion, which erupted when Congress attempted to tax house windows.Montgomery, Historical Sketch, pp. 12-13.
War of 1812 Just over a decade later, the Reading Washington Guards were called upon during the War of 1812. During this phase of duty, the group changed its name yet again, this time becoming the Reading Washington Blues sometime in or before October 1814.Reading Artillerists, Condensed History, in Reading Times, 1859.Montgomery, Historical Sketch, pp. 13–14.
Departing for Philadelphia by boat on the Schuylkill River on September 16, 1814, the unit helped defend the city from threatened invasions by British troops. When those threats lessened, the seventy-four militiamen from Reading were ordered to Camp Dupont near Wilmington, Delaware, where "they became a part of the 'Advance Light Brigade,' in the First Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, which was under the command of General Cadwalader."Montgomery, Historical Sketch, pp. 13-14.
Ordered from Camp Dupont to Baltimore, they were assigned to artillery duty, and given charge of four brass, six-pound cannon, one of which they would bring home with them to Reading when they returned to the city. They were officially mustered out from service in March 1815.Montgomery, Historical Sketch, pp. 13-14.
Sometime between their service in Baltimore and 1820, the members of the unit opted to change their name again – this time to the Reading Artillerists. Keim was re-elected as the group's captain in 1820 with William Darling, Peter Aurand, and Peter Reitzel serving, respectively, as first, second, and third lieutenants. The unit strength at this time was ninety-eight.Reading Artillerists, in Historical and Biographical Annals of Berks County, p. 143.
1820s–1830s In 1824, the Reading Artillerists were among the Pennsylvania soldiers who were on hand in Philadelphia to welcome the Marquis de Lafayette, the last living French general who fought beside George Washington during the American Revolution. Sometime after this, the unit's blue uniforms were exchanged for dark gray with yellow facings. On July 19, 1828, the unit's leadership adopted "a code of laws for the better government of the corps.Reading Artillerists, Condensed History, in Reading Times, 1859.Montgomery, Historical Sketch, p. 15.
In 1830, the Artillerists' longtime commanding officer, Daniel Keim, ended his tenure of leadership. He was succeeded by his nephew, George May Keim, who served as captain from 1830 to 1834.Reading Artillerists, in Historical and Biographical Annals, p. 143. A former manager of the Reading Library Company, George Keim later went on to become Colonel of the 53rd Pennsylvania and, in 1835, "Major-General of the Sixth Division," according to The Biographical Encyclopaedia of Pennsylvania.Keim, General George May, in The Biographical Encyclopaedia of Pennsylvania of the Nineteenth Century. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Galaxy Publishing Company, 1874, p. 331.
Elected as captain by the group's membership in 1834, William H. Miller then served as commanding officer until 1839.Reading Artillerists, in Historical and Biographical Annals, p. 143.
Before the decade was out, the Artillerists were bidding a sad, but fond farewell to their former leader. Following his passing on March 16, 1837, at the age of sixty-five, Daniel Keim was eulogized by the Democratic Press as someone with an "enviable reputation for honesty" and a "generous disposition," which "made him generally known as 'the poor man's stay and the soldier's friend."Montgomery, Historical Sketch, p. 21.
1840s In 1841, the organization's leadership changed again when Thomas S. Leoser was elected as captain and commanding officer in February. At their next meeting in March, members of the unit unanimously agreed "to adopt the full dress uniform of the United States Artillery," according to Montgomery.Reading Artillerists, Condensed History, in Reading Times, 1859.
Called up during the religious riots rocking Philadelphia in 1844, the Reading Artillerists guarded the Girard Bank and state arsenal there, and were attached to the First Battalion of the Reading Volunteers, along with the National Grays and Washington Grays.Reading Artillerists, in Historical and Biographical Annals of Berks County, p. 143.Reading Artillerists, in Condensed History, Reading Times, 1859.Montgomery, Historical Sketch, p. 15.
Upon their honorable discharge in July 1844, Major-General Robert Patterson, commanding officer of the Pennsylvania Militia, described the Reading Artillerists and their fellow members of the First Battalion as "gallant and well-disciplined" men who exhibited "exemplary and soldier-like deportment," and thanked them for "their alacrity in reporting for duty."Montgomery, Historical Sketch, p. 15.
Mexican–American War The day after Christmas in 1846, ninety Reading Artillerists headed off for what would be one of this militia unit's most challenging and dangerous duty assignments. Mustering in for federal service at Pittsburgh on January 5, 1847, they formed Company A of the 2nd Pennsylvania Infantry. Their officers included Captain Thomas S. Leoser, First Lieutenant William Wunder, and Second Lieutenants Levi P. Knerr and H. A. M. Filbert.Montgomery, Historical Sketch, pp. 15–17.Reading Artillerists, in Historical and Biographical Annals of Berks County, p. 143.
Transported by boat to New Orleans, Louisiana, they were stationed initially on the Island of Lobos in Mexico. Attached to the command of General Winfield Scott during the Mexican War, the Artillersts then engaged with their fellow 2nd Pennsylvania infantrymen in the Siege of Veracruz from March 9 to 29, fought in the Battle of Cerro Gordo on April 18, garrisoned Jalapa from May through mid-June, skirmished at the Pass of Latoeya June 20, and were also present at Contreras, Cherubusco, Perote, Puebla, and Tepeyahualco, as well as the Battle of Chapultepec. They were also on hand for action at the Gate of Belen and Citadel on September 13 and at the city of Mexico from September 14 to 15, 1847.Reading Artillerists, Condensed History, in Reading Times, 1859.
According to a 1915 Reading Times recap of the Artillerists' service during the war, "Col. John W. Geary in his report to General Winfield Scott after the taking of the city of Mexico stated that the Reading artillerists allowed no one to surpass them in the performance of duty and in crossing from Garita to the breast work of the citadel acted with great coolness in exposed positions."Company A Has Long and Varied Military History: Name Has Been Changed Five Times Since Organization in 1794, in Reading Times. Reading, Pennsylvania: January 23, 1915.Montgomery, Historical Sketch, p. 16. Thirty-nine casualties were incurred by the Reading Artillerists in Mexico.
Their tour of duty ended, the Reading Artillerists mustered out from the 2nd Pennsylvania on July 28, 1848, and returned home to their families. The next day, "they were given a brilliant reception by a military parade of eight hundred men, consisting of two companies of cavalry and eight companies of infantry," according to Montgomery.Montgomery, Historical Sketch, p. 16.
1850s As with prior peace-time periods, the Reading Artillerists' membership continued to fluctuate over the next several years. By 1855, the entire slate of officers had been replaced. Commanding the unit moving forward were Captain W. I. Clous, First Lieutenant W. W. Diehl, Second Lieutenants S. T. Ketterer and J. D. Hain. Their places were then filled on the November 2, 1857 by Captain George Warren Alexander, First Lieutenant W. H. Andrews, and Second Lieutenant H. R. Myers. Alexander would continue to lead the Reading Artillerists through the earliest days of America's Civil War.Reading Artillerists, Attention!, in Reading Times. Reading, Pennsylvania: September 12, 1861.Reading Artillerists, Condensed History, in Reading Times, 1859.
U.S. Civil War