John Elliott Arthur
Birth Apr 25, 1826, Muncy Creek Township, Lycoming County, PA Death Mar 11, 1900, 127 South Fourth Street, Reading, PA Death Memo Cause: "Disease of Heart" (from Death Certificate) Burial Mar 15, 1900, Buried in Charles Evans Cemetery, Reading Enrolled in Company B, 93rd Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers Sept. 13, 1961 at Reading PA as Captain John E. Arthur Promoted to Lt. Col. Commission dated July 10, 1862. Washington DC Nov. 25, 1862 Resigned due to disability at Stafford Court and honorably discharged Nov. 14, 1862 Lt. Col. JOHN E. ARTHUR - John Arthur, the father of Lt. Col. John E. Arthur, was of worthy Scotch-Irish ancestry. He emigrated from county of Tyrone, North Ireland, to America in 1810, and engaged in the profession of teaching in Chester County, Pa. He was married, in 1813, to Rebecca Parker, who was of English descent. They soon after moved to Lycoming County, Pa., and he there continued his chosen occupation until his death, in 1830. Mrs. Arthur survived her husband forty-eight years, and died in 1878, at the advanced age of ninety-two years. The subject of this sketch was born in Muncy Creek township, Lycoming County, April 25, 1826; attended the public schools, and then was apprenticed to learn the blacksmith's trade. He came to Reading when nineteen years old and secured employment as an apprentice at blacksmithing in the Reading Railroad shops. When the war began between United States and Mexico, he enlisted in Captain Thomas Leoser's company, at Reading; went with it to Philadelphia; was transferred by railway to Chambersburg; marched from thence to Pittsburgh, the place of rendezvous, where they were assigned to the Second Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, and were taken down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers on steamboats. This regiment joined General Scott's army at his place of rendezvous, on the Island of Lobos, in the Gulf of Mexico. With his regiment he participated in the siege of Vera Cruz, and after its surrender joined the triumphant march of General Scott's army to the city of Mexico; on the way he took part in the battle at the mountain pass of Cerro Gordo, and was garrisoned for a time at the city of Jalapa, to keep the road open to furnish supplies for the army above. He joined the army again at the city of Pueblo; assisted in storming the fortress of Chapultepec, two miles from the city of Mexico, and at the Belen Gate, one of the entrance-ways to the city, he was wounded in three places by pieces of a rifle, shattered by a cannon-ball. There were five men near him killed at the same instant. After the capture of the city he remained there six months in the hospital, during which time his wounds were dressed by a Mexican surgeon. He returned to Reading with his company after an absence of one and a half years. Of this company, twenty of its members are living in 1886. In 1854 he became assistant foreman of the blacksmith department of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company's shops.
At the battle of Fair Oaks he was commended for his coolness and bravery by his brigade commander, General Peck, after which event for several months he had command of the regiment, and in July, 1862, was promoted to lieutenant-colonel. Later in the year 1862 he was engaged in the battle of Chantilly and was present at the battle of Antietam. After about two years' service, owing to physical debility, caused from a chronic disease, contracted in Mexico, he was discharged from the service on a surgeon's certificate. He then returned home, recuperated his health, and in 1863 became foreman of the blacksmith department of the railroad shops at Reading. During the second Confederate invasion of Pennsylvania he recruited a company for the emergency, composed of prominent business men of Reading. This company was assigned to the Forty-second Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, of which he was chosen lieutenant-colonel. After a term of about three months' service, he again resumed his duties at the railroad shops, in which position he rendered very efficient service for several years. In 1870 Colonel Arthur was chosen city treasurer for the term of two years. At the next election he received the unanimous nomination of both political parties, and owing to fidelity of purpose and integrity of management of the finances of the city, was re-elected six successive times, serving in all fourteen consecutive years. He retired from that position in 1885.
On May 3, 1851, Colonel Arthur was married to Rebecca P. Moyer, daughter of Amos Moyer, of Reading. Their children are Mary, married to John H. Keppelman, of Reading; Frank M., draughtsman for the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, at Easton; Amos A., a Methodist clergyman, stationed at Port Clinton, Schuylkill County; John E., a practical machinist; and Emily.
93RD. PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY at FAIR OAKS HDQRS, NINETY-THIRD PENNSYLVANIA REGIMENT, Camp ----, Va., June 2, 1862. CAPTAIN: In compliance with orders received from brigade headquarters on Saturday, May 31, 1862, the Ninety-third Pennsylvania Regiment left their camp at Seven Pines at 1 o'clock p.m. to take position in an open field some 500 yards in advance of their old camp. They were under the command of Col. J. M. McCarter, assisted by Capt. J. E. Arthur as lieutenant-colonel and Adjutant Lewis as major. After the regiment being formed in line of battle, heavy firing was heard on our right. By direction of General Peck three companies of the Ninety-third, under the command of Adjutant Lewis, were posted along by the road to the right of the regiment. From this line a clear view could be had of the clearing in front, together with the woods on the right and left. After a few minutes the entire regiment was ordered to the extreme left of General Casey's division, being compelled to force their way through a thick woods to attain that point. Upon coming into position, and in fact before the men could be thrown into line, the enemy, who were in overwhelming force in front, opened a heavy fire. This was answered in good style, and evidently with great effect, by the Ninety-third. After holding this position for nearly an hour our regiment was compelled to fall back a distance of 30 yards, where they again opened fire. From skirmishers who had been thrown out from our left we found that the enemy had outflanked us at that point. This was the occasion for the regiment falling back, which we continued to do, fighting at each halt, until the enemy were upon our extreme left. This position was held until the enemy again flanked us on the left, when we retired to a distance of 150 yards to a road running through the woods. The Ninety-third formed on this road to prevent a farther advance of the enemy. After remaining in this position for some time two regiments of the enemy were seen coming toward our right at a double-quick, and knowing that a force of the enemy was on our left, and General Casey's center falling back at the same time, the Ninety-third were compelled to retire, though in good order, to the position first occupied by them. By direction of General Peck the regiment was placed in line on the left of the One hundred and second Pennsylvania Volunteers on the edge of the woods on the right of the first position. We remained in this position for a short time, engaged in throwing up breastworks of logs and brush as a protection against the enemy's fire, whom we expected every moment to advance from the woods in front. From this position the One hundred and second and Ninety-third Pennsylvania Volunteers were rapidly pushed forward to the right of General Casey's line, being compelled to attain their position to pass through a perfect storm of shell and bullets. Upon attaining their position the Ninety third opened a heavy fire upon the enemy who were in front. At this point the enemy's fire was hotter than at any other along the line. The enemy's force was much larger than our own, and they pushed forward in a most determined manner. The Ninety-third maintained their position until nearly all their ammunition was exhausted, when they were ordered to fall back a short distance to a ravine, where they made another stand, and remained until they expended the remainder of their ammunition. They then very unwillingly retired to the woods, where they took position, being unable to make longer fight except by the bayonet. The remnant of the regiment was formed in the rear of the rifle pits, where they still remain. During the fight the horse of Colonel McCarter was killed and the colonel himself wounded. General Heintzelman supplied him with a second, which was also shot. He was a second time wounded by a shell from the enemy, and has since been sent home unfit for duty. Adjutant Lewis' horse was also shot under him. One commissioned officer was killed, I mortally wounded, 3 wounded, and I is missing, supposed to have been made prisoner. The officers and men throughout the regiment displayed great gallantry and are deserving of all praise. Many of our killed and wounded we were compelled to leave on the field, the enemy pushing forward so fast and in such overwhelming numbers that we were unable to get them off. Accompanying is as correct a list of the killed, wounded, and missing as I am able to furnish at present. Parties are now out in search of the bodies of their comrades, and when they report I will be able to give a correct list.(*)
I have the honor to be, &c., your obedient servant,
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At the outbreak of the Civil War, in 1861, he recruited Company B, of the Ninety-third Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, which was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, and he participated with it in the siege of Yorktown, battles of Williamsburg and Fair Oaks, and in the terrible fighting for seven days before Richmond. All of these were memorable engagements in the Peninsula campaign of 1862.