Remembering a War Hero

As we remember those heroic soldiers who gave their lives to gain and maintain our freedom, one in particular comes to my mind each year. The following information came from several sources including war records, historical documents to include a few letters I now have in safe keeping as well as on-site personal touring of battlefields and military prisons. I have the reference material available if scholars desire, but for briefness, I took a literary license and removed them in this posting.

Many never heard of Silas Hagerty, who was born circa 1821 and at about age 19, married Eliza Downing May 9, 1840, in Rockland Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania. At the time of the wedding, Eliza (Downing) Hagerty was 18 years old.

Silas Hagerty worked at the different iron furnaces in Clarion County, Pennsylvania. With his son Saul A. Hagerty (age 17), Silas (age 40) enlisted in Company G of the 103rd Regiment of the Pennsylvania Infantry thereby joining one of the more unfortunate Regiments in the Union Army during the War Between the States (Civil War). According to the Adjutant General's Office February 3, 1868, Silas Hagerty enrolled December 1, 1861, in Clarion County, Pennsylvania and was mustered into the Army as a Corporal February 22, 1862, at Camp Orr, about a mile north of the Kittanning town limits, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania.

The Regimental History book identified entry as January 10, 1862. Later, Silas Hagerty became a Private, although no documentation explains the reduction in rank. Silas Hagerty, an infantry Private and Saul A. Hagerty, a Regimental Musician stayed within Company G throughout their service.

Over 400 pages detail the account of the 103rd Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers in History of the 103d Regiment Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteer Infantry 1861-1865; Luther Dickey; Chicago, 1910. An interlibrary loan may be required for reading and may be retained only in the reference area. That history condensed here indicates that at 10 a.m. Monday February 24, 1862, this regiment including Silas and Saul A. Hagerty embarked aboard a train, traveled and then stayed in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, and Baltimore, then arrived in Washington March 3, 1862.

While in Harrisburg at Camp Curtin; named for then Governor Curtin, the Regiment marched to the capitol building and during the afternoon, February 26, 1862, received their flag directly from the Governor. Otherwise, their trip to Washington via Baltimore was uneventful. Assigned (Chain of Command) to the Second Brigade (Brigadier General William H. Keim who later died and was replaced by Brigadier General Henry W. Wessells), Third Division (Brigadier General Silas Casey), 4th Corps (Brigadier General Erasmus D. Keyes), Army of Potomac (Major General George B. McClellan), they camped on Meridian Hill just north of W Street and between 14th and 16th Avenue now known as Columbia Heights, Washington, DC.

Beginning March 28, 1862, they began "The Peninsula Campaign" by first marching across the "Long Bridge" to Alexandria, Virginia when about noon March 31, 1862, they boarded the transport Hero landing at Ft. Monroe, Virginia April 3, 1862. By April 16th, the 103rd Pennsylvania Volunteers began their march towards Richmond and saw minimal action during the siege of Yorktown as well as the later battle of Williamsburg (May 5 - 7, 1862), became separated from their full complement of tents, knapsacks and blankets, and were exposed to wet and cold.

Between May 7 - June 4, 1862, the Regiment became heavily engaged culminating in retreat May 31, 1862, after the Battle of Seven Pines or Fair Oaks - same battle; two different names. Controversy occurred related to this regiment reportedly "running from enemy fire". At the start of the battle a few minutes past noon Saturday May 31, 1862, three Confederate cannon balls passed overhead landing 3/4 mile to the rear. General Casey ordered General Wessells to send the 103rd Pennsylvania Regiment forward to support the advanced Union pickets (guards) 3/4 of a mile ahead of the redoubt (fortification containing several cannons). The regiment hurriedly moved forward with the various Companies filling numerous spots along the front. Company B and G were placed south of the Williamsburg Road to protect the Union's left flank. Members of this regiment who were on the front lines were the closest any Union forces had come to the Confederate capital. The Regiment maintained its position until the attack pressed them from the right. Ordered to fall back slowly, then ordered to fall back quickly, the tangled undergrowth prevented the regiment from falling back in an orderly fashion and caused them to emerge from the woods fragmented. Casey's Division on the south bank of the Chickahominy River, just east of Richmond, Virginia and heavily outnumbered by 20,000 to 5,000, held the overextended front line for three hours even though grossly exposed and unsupported before eventually being overwhelmed; thereby permitting capture of Casey's redoubt. Nonetheless, the entire Division; the 103rd Pennsylvania Regiment in particular gained an undeserved poor fighting reputation. The Union forces failure during this battle rests solely with the Generals at the highest levels - McClellan who was eventually fired by President Lincoln.

General Casey described the battle appropriately: If a portion of the division did not behave so well as could have been wished, it must be remembered to what a terrible ordeal they were subjected. Still, those that behaved discreditably were exceptional cases. It is true that the division after being nearly surrounded by the enemy and losing one-third of the number actually engaged, retreated to the second line. They would all have been prisoners of war had they delayed their retreat a few minutes longer. In my humble opinion from what I witnessed on the 31st, I am convinced that the stubborn and desperate resistance of my division saved the army on the right bank of the Chickahominy from a severe repulse, which might have resulted in a disastrous defeat.

One footnote from the Battle of Seven Pines, a Confederate Sergeant who was an aide-de-camp to Confederate General Joe Johnston was allegedly wounded in his right wrist and subsequently received a commission. That soldier, Henry Wirz, would eventually be held accountable for the sufferings at Andersonville Prison.

During the ensuing Seven Days Battle, the Regiment supported the "controlled" retreat by the Army of the Potomac from White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, to Harrison's Landing on the James River. This same regiment had the privilege of standing in solid line of battle and witnessing McClellen's Army of the Potomac flee from an inferior force almost as badly disorganized as was the "rawest" division of the army on the afternoon of May 31, 1862. For two days, these discredited troops stood guard between the entire army and a victorious foe, and succeeded in bringing off in safety all the wagon trains of this army, and placing them at Harrison's landing two days after the battle of Malvern Hill. For 48 hours without sleep, except as it could be snatched by small groups here and there, a few minutes at a time; drenched to the skin and chilled to the marrow by the cold drizzling rain, covered with mire to the knees, though which they had waded in following the trail of the army; at times so close to the enemy that orders were communicated in whispers; this same little group of men was the last to take its position with the rest of the army, which it did about midnight July 3, 1862.

While at Harrison's Landing, reportedly, the first playing of Taps occurred. Also, the Army of the Potomac was visited by President Abraham Lincoln July 8, 1862 for a review. Retreating east, by August 18, 1862, the 103rd PA Volunteers again passed through Williamsburg this time through Yorktown and returning to Ft. Monroe, Virginia. Their records, supplies, and other essentials were shipped down the James River, but were lost when the vessel sunk. Later, the soldiers themselves would have to pay for replenishment. The majority of the Army of the Potomac left the Peninsula eventually engaging in more notable battles at Antietam, Maryland, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and Petersburg, Virginia. Some remnants of the 4th Corps including the 103rd PA Volunteers stayed at Ft. Monroe until September 18, 1862, when they headed for Norfolk and Suffolk, Virginia. The autumn of 1862 saw the regiment involved in several expeditions and minor skirmishes in the Blackwater area of southern Virginia. Eventually, they left Suffolk December 5, 1862, reaching the Chowan River and boarded the transport Northerner; arriving in New Bern, North Carolina December 8, 1862.

Early on December 11, 1862, they began a march westward towards Goldsboro, North Carolina; defeated the Confederates December 14, 1862, across the Neuse River at Kinston, North Carolina and "behaved in an exemplary manner". They continued to advance the next day towards Whitehall; by the morning of December 17, 1862, within 2 - 3 three miles of Goldsboro, they formed a battle line overlooking the target (the railroad line and bridge). Their mission was to cutoff supplies between the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia and the rest of the south. Bridges and railroad lines were often cut and quickly rebuilt during the war. Upon successful completion of their mission, the regiment began their return to New Bern, North Carolina arriving December 21, 1862, and camping east of the Trent River until February 2, 1862. During that time, they engaged in several raids and expeditions as part of the US designs of preventing or disrupting the Confederates use of the North Carolina ports.

The regiment left New Bern, North Carolina May 2, 1863, aboard the transport Thomas Collyer and arrived the next day at Plymouth, North Carolina located on the Roanoke River near the Albemarle Sound, and whose inhabitants totaled less than 500. The town of Plymouth gained importance as an area for coastal trading and a shipping point including an established Customs House. The residents like much of North Carolina citizens were drawn into the Rebellion by the leaders of North Carolina, but were friendly towards the US facilitating a peaceful occupation by Union forces who first arrived in early 1862. By December 10, 1862, however, the first of three battles for Plymouth occurred when Confederate forces attacked. The battle involved significant street fighting. Resulting largely from the firings of the Union gunboats, a fire occurred which burnt much of the town leaving barely a dozen buildings. Confederate forces also caused some burning to discourage refugees from going to Plymouth.

By the time the 103rd Pennsylvania Volunteers arrived, May 3, 1863, the town looked rather desolate. The regiment pitched camp and began building defensive fortifications around what remained of the town. A set of earthworks (walls built out of dirt) pretty much connected four forts. In the center, Fort Williams employed three thirty pounder cannons. Placement of the other forts, Comfort, Wessells, and Gray formed a small semi-circle around the town. Company A and G were assigned to reside inside Fort Williams. During these days, time did permit the individual soldier to take care of necessities like writing letters home.

Two of the letters written by Silas Hagerty to his wife from Fort Williams remain within the family; the first surviving letter written June 2, 1863.

Plymouth North Carolina

June 2nd 1863

Fort Williams

My dear I take this chance to let you know that we are both well at this time and I hope this line may find you all well also well.

I send you sixty dollars move to Rimersburgh and if you haint got that other fifty you can wait about - 3 - days after you get this and you can go and get the money all at once we got two months pay to day. Now ther will be one hundred and ten dollars that I have sent to you in the inside of 2 week, now my dear I want you to take good care of this money use it to the best advantage if Isabella needs any money give her some. She is a good girl and all the girl we have and rite as soon as this comes to hand and tell me how much the postage is on this money and how you are all getting along. I have got but one letter from you since we came here and none from any others. Well I will quit riting for this time I remain your affectionate husband Silas Hagerty to Eliza my dear and all of my dear children give my respects to Mrs. Isabella Briggs, and James if he is at home be shure and give us some news in your next letter well be good to yourselves and remember us at a throne of grace. Goodbye.

Fone this time oh I could rite all night to you. I have you and the children standing in front of me and I talk to you all but none of you will say one word to me. Well I must quit.

I send you a tract we have no preacher of our ohn now but we have preaching once a week.

While in Plymouth, the regiment conducted several expeditions often making use of the Roanoke River for transportation. July 5, 1863, using the gunboat Commodore Perry, Company G was included on a mission towards Williamston, about 28 miles upriver from Plymouth. Upon finding Confederate forces camped out of range of the gunboats and unwilling to evacuate, the Union forces re-boarded the gunboats and returned to Plymouth. They staged raids from Plymouth at least weekly. July 10, 1863, for unknown reasons, Company G relocated outside Fort Williams. While on an expedition four days later, the company captured a rebel artilleryman who was foraging 12 miles from Plymouth. August 8, 1863, the regiment received their Springfield rifles replacing their Austrian muskets.

The swamps near Plymouth caused a malarial effluvium that depleted the effective numbers of troops available for service. Because of the widespread numbers taken ill, those not excused for duty were often on picket (guard duty). The other letter that remains within the family written by Silas Hagerty to his wife from Plymouth appears to have been hand delivered by William R. Graham of Company F 103rd PA Vol:

Plymouth North Carolina

Nov 12th 1863 co G. 103

Well my dear Eliza I take this opportunity to inform you that we are all well at this time and I trust this line may find you all enjoying the same blessing. I received your short letter that came by the hand. WM Graham it was 19 days on the way well my dear I am truly that you are out of money I have tryed to borrow some money to send as I didn't like to rite without sending you some but without succes I could not borrow any from anyone in our regiment but I think we will be paid in a few days, now we are clear out too for the last three weeks, and it is hard getting along but I don't care for our selves for we can get along better without money than you ones can but try to do the best you can till we get our pay it won't be long well take good care of your self and the children and rite often if you want me to rite often for I have rote three letters to you for every one I have got since I was home oh my dear think some times that this is a hard way of living a married life the one living about 1300 miles from the other but it is as it is. and there is no one to blame but myself I want you to rite soon and rite a big long letter and put in all the particulars let us know all about how you are and how you are off for wood and coal and what it costs and the price of flour and meat and what Silas is doing and if you have school and who is teaching well Saul has that ring ready as soon as he rites he will send it and I think it is a real nice ring and he put the letters on it that you said to put on it. I don't know when he will rite and perhaps he has rote I will know in the morning. But I will rite this and seal it to night.

The surviving letters appeared to have a gap; believe the following is a continuation of the above letter:

have had this foul we have had about five or six white frosts and varry cold nights but no appearance of snow. The nights varry cold but the days are varry nice and warm the roads are dry and dusty and the ground is dry for two foot down - our men are pretty near all well again well I think I have told you all I have rote twice to my Brother Saul since I left home and got no answer I have wrote twice to Elias too and got no answer either. Well I must conclude for tonight it is past ten oclock and I have to go on picket tomorrow and I will get no sleep tomorrow night.

Re-enlistment January 1, 1864, promised large sums of money and a furlough home; many soldiers became "Veterans" including Silas and Saul A. Hagerty. Although the previous year included numerous rumors about a formidable iron-clad boat named Albemarle being built on the Roanoke River, the early months of 1864 included a feeling that General Wessells, Commander at Plymouth, North Carolina and Naval Commander Charles W. Flusser would be able to "handle the boat". Most of the Union soldiers were looking forward to the promised 30 day furlough having received new clothing; a neat appearance home was of utmost concern. That spring, the Regimental flag was sent north to have battle honors added.

April 17, 1864, US General Ulysses S. Grant decreed the ceasing of prisoner exchanges. His reasoning was that exchanging of prisoners benefited the Confederacy since those soldiers would typically rejoin units and resume fighting against the Union whereas the Union soldiers were often broken down in health from poor prison treatment making them incapable of rejoining the fight. About 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon that same ideal spring day, when the weather was neither too hot nor too cool, in Plymouth, North Carolina, soldiers who were not on duty were in their tents awaiting the call for dress parade, writing letters home, or talking about their anticipated visits home.

The second battle for Plymouth, North Carolina began when a few shots were fired in advance of the picket lines where upon US cavalry on the Washington Road (present day Wilson Road) was attacked and pushed back. It quickly became apparent this was more than an ordinary picket raid as frequently encountered. Company G of the 103rd Pennsylvania Volunteers, commanded by Captain James J. Morrow along with details from other regiments were sent out and engaged the enemy skirmishers. Except for some exchanges during the night, fighting largely ceased by darkness. Accompanying the initial assault was the firing upon Fort Gray, just above the town on the Roanoke River.

Upon daybreak Monday, April 18, 1864, cannonading resumed on Fort Gray; continued for several hours, and then resumed in the afternoon. At 8 o'clock that morning, Company F of the 103rd Pennsylvania Volunteers relieved Company G on the Washington Road. Fighting continued as the Confederate forces began to surround the town. About 3 a.m. Tuesday, April 19, 1864, the Confederates again opened fire on Fort Gray, during which time, the ironclad Albemarle slipped past and subsequently sunk the US gunboat Southfield and in the process killed Commander Flusser.

The remainder of the US gunboat fleet fled the Roanoke for the safety of the Albemarle Sound, leaving the Union forces at Plymouth surrounded. Upon pressing the battle, the Confederate forces caused the complete surrender of the Union forces by General Wessells between 10 - 11 a.m. Wednesday April 20, 1864. Included in the 2800 prisoners were Silas and Saul A. Hagerty.

Following capture, the prisoners were corralled nearby. Within days, they began a march towards Tarboro, North Carolina passing near Williamston reaching Hamilton, North Carolina by April 23, 1864. Monday April 25, 1864, they reached the bank of Tar River near the Tarboro Bridge. Embarking upon a train Friday April 29, 1864, the prisoners left Tarboro, stopping at Goldsboro and Wilmington, North Carolina and arriving in Charleston, South Carolina Sunday May 1, 1864. The stay here was for a couple of hours whereupon they boarded open flatbed train cars and departed later passing through Savannah, and Macon, before reaching Andersonville, Georgia (Camp Sumpter) between 9 - 10 o'clock p.m., May 2, 1864. The next morning Tuesday, May 3, 1864, Captain Henry Wirz made his appearance; by early afternoon, about 400 members of the 103rd Pennsylvania Volunteers including Silas and Saul A. Hagerty entered the stockade. Within months, the overcrowded prison would breakdown men and take many lives.

"The haggard distressed countenance of these miserable, complaining, dejected, living skeletons, crying for medical aid and food, and cursing their government for its refusal to exchange prisoners, and the ghastly corpses, with their glazed eyeballs staring up into vacant space, with the flies swarming down their open and grinning mouths, and over their clothes infested with numerous lice, as they lay amongst the sick and dying, formed a picture of helpless, hopeless misery, which it would be impossible to portray by words or by the brush."

As US General William Tecumseh Sherman was advancing towards and eventually capturing Atlanta, Georgia September 2, 1864, the Confederates needed to relocate the 30,000 Union prisoners for fear that General Sherman would liberate these soldiers and suddenly increase his military manpower; however weakened their condition. Some members of the 103rd Pennsylvania Volunteers may have left between the 10th and 12th of September, in large the surviving members of the regiment within Andersonville "had bid adieu to Andersonville on the 10th day of September [1864]" .

Private Samuel J. Gibson, Company B, of the 103rd said he was among a group of 1380 prisoners who were packed 60 to a railway car and sent from there under heavy guard. The train arrived at Macon, Georgia at 2 a.m. the following morning, Augusta, Georgia, at 4 p.m., and finally arrived in Charleston, South Carolina on the morning of September 12, 1864. There, they were unloaded and marched into the fairgrounds (race course) and stayed until October. September 13, 1864, orders were issued prohibiting additional prisoners being sent to Charleston, South Carolina because of the breakout within their ranks of small pox, yellow fever, and widespread starvation. While confining the 103rd Pennsylvania Volunteers in Charleston, the Confederates were constructing a prison site at Florence, South Carolina. "On October 2, 1864, they moved us to Florence, S.C."

By the middle of October, the 17 usable acres at this prison held over 12,000 Union prisoners. The great majority of them look emaciated and sickly and are full of vermin, and filthy in the extreme. Three-fourths of them are without blankets and almost without clothing. Few have a change of underclothing. As a consequence, there is a great deal of suffering these cool nights and much additional sickness must follow. Most of them have erected temporary shelters, which will protect them to some extent from rain and dew until better shelters can be constructed. The principal diseases are scurvy and diarrhea, which carry off from twenty to fifty per day.

Meanwhile, during the night of October 27, 1864, the third and final battle for Plymouth, North Carolina occurred with the sinking of the Albemarle by Navy Lieutenant William B. Cushing. Following the sinking of the Albemarle, the Navy took possession of Plymouth November 1, 1864 and the Union held it for the remainder of the war.

As US General William Tecumseh Sherman continued his march through the south, his advance near Florence, South Carolina cut the last railroad link to the area February 15, 1865. Although confusion developed the Confederate officials attempted to move all able-bodied prisoners to various locations such as Salisbury and Goldsboro, North Carolina where they were paroled through the Union lines. About this time, Saul A. Hagerty, son of Silas Hagerty, Company G, 103rd Pennsylvania Volunteers was released and eventually returned home to Clarion County, Pennsylvania. By February 22, 1865, the fall of Wilmington, North Carolina to the Union forces permitted this town to be included as a release point. The same day, Charles Mosher, 85th New York Regiment who shared many of the battles and travels of the 103rd Pennsylvania Volunteers reported that the survivors of Andersonville, Charleston, and Florence, typically mere skeletons, were ordered to pack haversacks, board a crowded boxcar headed for freedom. About 3 p.m. March 1, "tears flowed freely, couldn't help it," as the emaciated veterans reached Union lines near Wilmington, North Carolina and were helped out by men of the 25th Michigan. Glimpsing the Stars and Stripes for the first time in over 300 days, some of the men found strength enough to walk towards a grove of trees, flop to the ground and savor a cup of coffee and the once detested hardtack.

February 1865: And by the end of the month, the Florence camp was silent.

Leaving his widow Eliza (Downing) Hagerty and 6 surviving children, Silas Hagerty never returned home. S. Hagerty and George Schell died after being released from disease incurred while prisoners of war. Silas Hagerty; paroled; reported as died March 1, 1865; Veteran.
September 1865, on an Application for Widow's Army Pension, Eliza (Downing) Hagerty states in part that Silas Hagerty whilst in the service of the United States and in the line of duty contracted chronic diarrhea and died of said disease at Florence, South Carolina on or about the 1st day of March A. D. 1865 leaving three children under the age of 16. Pension number 135058 assigned, Eliza (Downing) Hagerty began to receive $8.00 per month plus $2.00 per month for each of the three children under age 16 until they reached the age of 16. December 1865, the Adjutant General's Office reported the lack of evidence related to the death of Silas Hagerty.

In an official ceremony in 1866, the Regimental flag was returned to the regiment. It may now be viewed by appointment through the Pennsylvania Capitol Preservation Committee, Capitol Annex Building, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. April 20, 1866, The Department of the Interior Pension Office requested official evidence of the date and cause of death of Silas Hagerty (appears to have requested this of the Surgeon General). November 10, 1866, Eliza (Downing) Hagerty requests an Increase of Widows' Army Pension as approved by law July 25, 1866. Attesting to her representation is son Saul A. Hagerty, having returned from the war. February 3, 1868, the Adjutant General's Office confirms both the original enlistment and the re-enlistment of Silas Hagerty. February 5, 1868, the Treasury Department reports it issued Treasury Certificate No. 257787 in favor of Mrs. Eliza Hagerty, widow of Silas Hagerty allowing her pay to include the 1st day of March 1865.

In Clarion County, Pennsylvania September 2, 1869, Eliza (Downing) Hagerty sworn to the following statement: that she is the widow of Silas Hagerty late of said County, who was a Corporal of Co. "G" 103d Regt Penn Vol, and who died in rebel prison at Florence, S. C. about the first day of March 1865. He has never returned home, nor been heard from by any of his friends since that time. The last intelligence I had of him he was as the rebel prison aforesaid in the month of February 1865. He was there broken down in health from poor fare and bad treatment, and I have no doubt whatever of his death at or about the date above given. It is impossible for me to furnish positive evidence of the date of my husband's death. I have exhausted all the means of obtaining that information I could think of, but without success. September 21, 1869, the Claim for Widow's Pension with Minor Children was passed stating that Issue certificate for 8 dollars per month, commencing March 2, 1865, and two dollars per month additional for each of the above-named children, commencing the twenty fifth day of July, 1866.

At the age of 77, Eliza (Downing) Hagerty died September 12, 1898. A letter written by her son-in-law, Elijah Slaughenhoupt, dated September 20, 1898, to the US Pension Office stated:

Pollock PA Sept 20th 1898

J. N. Nesbit

U.S. Pension Com

Pgh Pa

Dear Sir My Mother in law Mrs. Eliza Haggerty of Callensburg Clarion Co Pa Died on the 12th of this month and their would be 2 month and 12 days pension due her. Would you kindly addvise me how to proceed to get said pension to pay on the funeral expenses as she had nothing left to bury her.

If necessary to adminsiter it would take about all for expenses.

Please advise by return mail & obligr

Yours Respectfully

E Slaughenhoupt

Pollock Po

Pension Certificate is 135058

U. S. Pension Agency, Pittsburgh, PA September 24, 1898 reported that Eliza (Downing) Hagerty widow of Silas Hagerty, Private in Company G, 103rd Pennsylvania Volunteers who was a pensioner on the rolls of this Agency, under Certificate No. 135058, and who was last paid at $12 July 4, 1898, has been dropped because of death! Date 12 Sept 1898.

Eliza (Downing) Hagerty is buried in the Perryville Cemetery, Clarion County, Pennsylvania beside her son-in-law Elijah Slaughenhoupt. Silas Hagerty was my Great, Great, Great-Grandfather, and now we also know him as a war hero.

This is How Property Tax Bills Work

Say that I sell you a product every year whose ingredients come from me and another supplier. I get to keep the money you pay for that product. Each year, I keep my ingredients the same (no change in substance, nor cost), but my supplier increases the charge for their ingredients. The total cost of that final product increases every year, and you would be paying more. Would you say that your product bill increased? If so, your costs for that product were raised.

Now, the same can be said about taxes. That product is your yearly property tax bill. Like my supplier above, the state increases their assessment (their ingredients) on your property. Like my ingredients above, the county maintains its portion (same tax rate). Just as I may claim I did not raise the cost of my ingredients, the county may claim they are not raising taxes. Given the county gets to keep the money you pay, the county government benefits. Your property tax bill increases, and you pay more. Would you say your tax bill increased? If so, your property taxes were raised.

Considering the county may say residential property taxes are kept low because commercial businesses (those who are the prime job producers) pay a larger share of the property taxes. Yet, we know that no business actually pays taxes, they pass that expense onto the consumer by charging more for their goods and services; or they head towards being out of business. Those increased consumer costs are passed along to the residents who just saw their property taxes rise.

Lastly, the county may claim that your tax bill would be lower if the assessments made by the state were lower. Assessments do not necessarily track closely with the value of your residence. Recently, the assessments increased while the value of residences decreased. The county benefits from your misfortune. If the individuals who lead the county refuse to lower their tax rate (remember their part of those ingredients) during a time when citizens are experiencing a historic economic downturn, they never will.

Adopt a Good Neighbor Policy

Calvert County government owns a golf course, Chesapeake Hills Golf Course, in Lusby. With some fanfare this spring, the golf course held a grand opening.

Will the county government use this golf course as an opportunity to adopt a good neighbor policy? So far, it has not.

There are several homes and cars along Cove Point Road that remain under attack by errant golf balls. I visited these homes and observed the damage myself. One house has so much damage to its siding, that it resembles Swiss cheese. The day I visited, one car had just been struck.

I wondered how often the windshields of those cars were replaced. One question I asked myself was if there was any incentive for the residents to replace that siding. I concluded there is no incentive as long as the attacks remain.

It is long overdue that at a minimum, the county should install proper netting at specific locations near the edge of the golf course. If the golf course management wants to know what specific locations, I would suggest they visit those homes. After all, that is what a good neighbor would do.

Proposed Real Property Tax Increase

PUBLIC STATEMENT, May 18,2010, Calvert Pines Senior Center, 7:00 p.m.

"My name is Evan Slaughenhoupt. My family and I live in the Dunkirk area of the County. I am also a candidate for county commissioner. I appreciate the opportunity to speak at this public hearing regarding the proposed real property tax increase. In this bad economy, our citizens say they are taxed enough already. We need less taxes, not more at the local level as well as the state and national levels.

Terms like "constant tax rate", "constant yield rate", and "assessable base" can be very confusing to the typical homeowner and typical voter. Bottom line, you propose taking an additional 4.6 Million Dollars in taxes from the citizens of Calvert County to spend it on government programs and services. However one may spin the subject, it is a tax increase.

On average, 4.6 Million Dollars of additional tax equates to an additional $150 for each residential home in Calvert County. However, your proposed higher taxes will not be meted out equally. Most affected by the 4.6 Million Dollars tax increase will be seniors living on a fixed income; the very citizens who are having the toughest time during this economic crisis. I believe it is fundamentally wrong to force our Senior Citizens to bear the brunt of this tax increase.

In fact, it is bad fiscal policy to raise taxes on anyone during this historic economic crisis. We need you to reduce taxes, not raise them.

Reducing the real property tax rate from 0.892 per $100 assessment down to 0.857 would result in zero real property tax increase. It is disingenuous to claim you are not raising taxes by keeping the same property tax rate. In fact, it is nothing but a slight-of-hand that citizens see-through. In real-world terms, their taxes still rise.

For anyone to propose raising taxes, whether increased tax rates or through additional taxes completely ignores what the citizens are saying. Citizens deserve the right to know what the extra 4.6 Million Dollars of tax increase will be used to fund.

In summary, during an economic crisis you are raising taxes. The National and State government resisted raising taxes this year. That is consistent with what citizens are saying. I ask that you reconsider the decision that raises taxes and increases spending. The only question remaining is whether or not the Calvert County Board of Commissioners is listening. Thank-you."

Evan Slaughenhoupt Files Official Candidacy

• April 30, 2010, assisted by Christopher, Evan formally files for Calvert County Commissioner. Evan says he views the opportunity to run as a responsibility of good citizenship.
  
  Previously, Evan involved himself in many community activities and organizations that make communities a better place to live and work. He was a member of the Calvert County Ethics Commission which serves as a watchdog on actual and potential ethical conflicts that face County employees and elected officials. Serving 2 terms as the President of the Dunkirk Area Concerned Citizens Association (DACCA), he led efforts to preserve, protect and promote the quality of life in northern Calvert County. Evan is also a member of the National Rifle Association, Maryland Taxpayers Association, Chesapeake Bay Foundation and an associate member of the League of Women's Voters of Calvert County.
  
  
  Evan, pictured at the Board of Elections with his wife Jeanne and Christopher live in Dunkirk, and are active members of Friendship United Methodist Church. Evan began his career with the United States Air Force and then later with the Department of Defense. He received a B.S. from the University of Maryland and an M.S. from the National Defense Intelligence College.
  
  As a hobby, Evan studies history and is an official Civil War Regimental Historian, volunteers for the Special Olympics of Calvert County and is a proud member of the American Legion in Chesapeake Beach.
  
  In July 2009, Evan began visiting homes throughout Calvert County listening to the concerns of fellow citizens. Having visited a couple of thousand, he'll visit several thousand more before Election Day.
  
  Listening to Calvert County Citizens, he hears what they need and deserve:

• Improvements vice Radical Changes;
• Transparency through Genuine Ethics Reform;
• Easy to Understand Zoning Processes to Improve Business Development;
• Redress of Policies whose Unintended Consequences made Land and Water Use More Difficult;
• Improved Public Safety;
• Small Government & Lower Taxes;
• Rule of Law vice Opinioned Views;
• Free Enterprise; and
• Greater Reliance on Family, Church and Charity with Less Dependency upon Government.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Authority: Citizens to Elect Evan Slaughenhoupt. Gregory Kernan, Treasurer.