Reading Artillerists
| Reading Artillerists | |
|---|---|
| Operated as: Reading Union Volunteers (October 1794), Reading Washington Guards (late 1794-early 1800s), Reading Washington Blues (1814), and Reading Artillerists (c. 1820-early 1900s) | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Type | Local militia unit in Pennsylvania |
| Size | 60-100 |
| Garrison/HQ | Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S. (Armory, 5th and Washington Streets, c. 1850s-1860s; Keystone Hall, Penn Street, c. 1888–1896) |
| Anniversaries | Body guard for President George Washington (1794), Whiskey Rebellion (1794), Fries' Insurrection (1799), War of 1812 (1812–1815), Philadelphia Riots (July 1844), surrender of Vera Cruz (March 9, 1847), Battle of Cerro Gordo (April 18, 1847), Battle of Chapultepec (September 1847), Homestead labor strike (1892), Spanish–American War (1898), Anthracite Coal Strike (1902) |
| Equipment | Uniform style changed from blue (c. late 1700s – early 1800s) to dark gray with yellow facings (c. 1830s–1850s) to blue (pre-1890s) |
| Commanders | |
| Commander (1794–1830) | Capt. Daniel de Benneville Keim |
| Commander (1844–1849) | Capt. Thomas S. Leoser |
| Commander (1857–1861) | Capt. George Warren Alexander |
| Commander (1862) | Capt. William H. Andrews |
| Commander (1862–1863) | Capt. Thomas M. Richard |
| Commander (1883) | Capt. Samuel A. Stahr |
| Commander (1885–1895) | Capt. Henry J. Christoph |
| Commander (1895–1899) | Capt. Samuel Willits |
| Commander (1905) | Capt. H. Melvin Allen |
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.