Fall Program - The Boys of Butler in the Civil War

In April of 1861, after several southern states succeeded from the Union, President Abraham Lincoln sent out a proclamation calling for the enlistment of 75,000 volunteers from the Northern states to suppress the rebellion. That number meant each county of each state should provide 100 soldiers for a war that was believed to last 90 days. Young men from Butler County flocked to recruiting locations throughout the county to sign up. Men joined groups such as the Butler County Blues, Dixon Guard, Connoquenessing Rangers and the Worth Infantry, which exceeded the quota.

The Cranberry Township Historical Society will have a presentation called “Butler County in the Civil War” with speaker Bradley Pflugh, on September 25th at 2:00pm in the Council Chambers of the Cranberry Township Municipal Center. Mr. Pflugh is a top expert on Butler County in the Civil War. A teacher, author, official civil war tour guide for the Butler County Historical Society and a former Gettysburg resident, Mr. Pflugh has a vast knowledge of 19th century American history.

The Civil War was a unique conflict with paradoxes such as having a soldier with a 1/25 chance of dying from a bullet, yet a 1/10 chance of dying from disease. Come to learn about how the county residents raised money to clothe and arm the local boys, how a nearby town was a Civil War training camp, how if you had a horse, a Calvary soldier was your future with better pay. Learn why Jack, a member of the 13th Pennsylvania, wounded four times in battle during the war went missing near Harpers Ferry in 1865 and a reward of $500 was offered for his return.

Learn why John B. Hood’s men of Texas and troops from Georgia became a thorn in the Butler county boy’s side. Learn about the internal conflict between the Pennsylvania governor and President Lincoln as the governor would demand his Pennsylvania Reserve troops be returned to Pennsylvania any time it looked like the South’s General Lee turned North toward the Keystone state.

The Butler boys fought at key battles such as 2nd Bull Run, Antietam, Gettysburg and the Wilderness. Come and find out if any Cranberry Township boys fought in the conflicts!

Please come and hear Brad Pflugh’s presentation about our 1860 forefathers on September 25th.  As always light refreshments will be served.  Any questions, please call Tom Cully at (724) 316-6320.