Gloucester-Mathews Gazette Journal,
Thurs, 1 July 1943, p1, c3
Aged Veteran Dies In Mathews
MATHEWS- George Crosby Diggs, 85, veteran of the Indian War and one of the county's most highly respected citizens, died on Thursday morning, June 24th at his home near Moon. Mr. Diggs was State Commander of the Indian War Veterans, of Virginia.
Surviving are a sister, Mrs. George J. Klingelhofer, of Wellesley, Mass.; a brother, Henry K. Diggs, of Baltimore; two foster daughters, Miss Birdie L. White, of Moon, and Mrs. A. D. Legg, of Richmond. He was a member of Faith presbyterian Church in Baltimore and the Oriental Lodge No. 20, A.F. & A.M., at Mathews.
Funeral services were held at Salem Methodist church, Saturday at 3 o'clock and were conducted by the pastor, Rev. S. L. Dumville. Interment was made in Milford Cemetery, with Masonic rites. The active pallbearers were: Granville Hudgins, F. W. Forrest, George H. Sadler, W. W. Morgan, Ned Forrest and W. E. Forrest.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Mathews Journal,
Thurs, 19 Aug 1937,
p1 & 4
Indian Fighter Oldest Veteran
(Photo is of) Geo. C. Diggs, made at the age of 23 when he was 1st Sergeant of his company in the 3rd U.S. Infantry, under Col. John R. Brooks, in Montana, helping to make the Indians behave. (Today Mr. Diggs is) hale and hearty at the age of 80.
Mr. Diggs enlisted in the U.S. Army, as of 21 years of age. The recruiting sergeant, however, set his age up several months as he was in fact barely past 20. There were less than 25,000 men in the entire army at that time. He joined his regiment in the field and won rapid promotion, reaching the rank of 1st Sergeant in three years. He arrived in the midst of the Indian disturbances just two years after "Custer's Last Stand," and saw plenty of service. The various companies of his regiment were scattered far and wide at isolated posts. Four of them he never saw. Communication was maintained by courier. Mr. Diggs did a good deal of this kind of service, once covering 110 miles in one day. Before his release from the army his regiment had built telegraph lines connecting all posts.
Among the tribes which kept the Indian fighters busy were the Grosventris, Piegans, Flat Feet and River and Mountain Souix, and Northern Crees, from Canada. Sergeant Diggs was detailed on many occassions to hold pow-wows with the Indians. On one occassion he and another man sent to interview the chief of a band of 300 and to try to persuade them to go back to their reservations and quit their depredations before it became necessary to drive them back. At first they declared they would fight before they would go back, but later changed their minds and bloodshed with this particular group was avoided. Mr. Diggs says his outfit had more trouble with horse-stealing Indians than any others. Details from his company were kept busy looking for lost horses which were usually found in the possession of some band of Indians. Our ranking veteran was first stationed at Fort Benton, Montana, an old Hudson Bay trading post and was later transferred to Fort Shaw. General Nelson A. Miles, was at that time, Colonel of the 5th regiment and was known as the "fighting Colonel of the plains."
Mr. Diggs tells of having to take 15 men to scatter a herd of buffalo which blocked the line of march of a large detail moving to quell an Indian disturbance. The herd covered five miles. When grazing the buffalo moved about as fast as a pacing horse. As far as the eye could see there was nothing but buffalo and Sergeant Diggs was ordered to break through the herd and make way for the detail to pass through. Except for a few rather exciting skirmishes Sergeant Diggs' regiment saw very little bloody fighting and was quite successful in avoiding battle encounter by persuation and disarmed and captured many bands without firing a shot.
Mr. Diggs was born in Baltimore, a son of William J. Diggs and Katherine Diggs, of Mathews. He has resided in Mathews since the end of the Civil War and for many years has been engaged in the roofing and sheet metal business here. There were seven brothers and two sisters in his family. Those now living are Mrs. Celestia L. Klingelhoffer and H. K. Diggs, of Baltimore.
While not a religious fanatic, Mr. Diggs has never uttered a profane word in his life, never drank alcoholic liquors or used tobacco. During his army days he was a crack baseball player and captain of his company's team, which office he accepted only when it was agreed that no games would be played on Sunday. Through all the temptations of army life he was able to live up to his code. He could not play cards when he enlisted and though he watched many a game for high stakes, he came out of the army as ignorant of gambling as when he enlisted. He is never sick and at 80 is more active than many men half his age. He attributes his good health and strong constitution to the manner in which he has taken care of himself through life and abstinence from liquor and tobacco. He is a Mason and member of Salem Methodist Church.
Mr. Diggs, who is the oldest veteran in the County, was recently elected State Commander, Department of Virginia, National Indian War Veterans, U.S.A.
Thurs, 1 July 1943, p1, c3
Aged Veteran Dies In Mathews
MATHEWS- George Crosby Diggs, 85, veteran of the Indian War and one of the county's most highly respected citizens, died on Thursday morning, June 24th at his home near Moon. Mr. Diggs was State Commander of the Indian War Veterans, of Virginia.
Surviving are a sister, Mrs. George J. Klingelhofer, of Wellesley, Mass.; a brother, Henry K. Diggs, of Baltimore; two foster daughters, Miss Birdie L. White, of Moon, and Mrs. A. D. Legg, of Richmond. He was a member of Faith presbyterian Church in Baltimore and the Oriental Lodge No. 20, A.F. & A.M., at Mathews.
Funeral services were held at Salem Methodist church, Saturday at 3 o'clock and were conducted by the pastor, Rev. S. L. Dumville. Interment was made in Milford Cemetery, with Masonic rites. The active pallbearers were: Granville Hudgins, F. W. Forrest, George H. Sadler, W. W. Morgan, Ned Forrest and W. E. Forrest.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Mathews Journal,
Thurs, 19 Aug 1937,
p1 & 4
Indian Fighter Oldest Veteran
(Photo is of) Geo. C. Diggs, made at the age of 23 when he was 1st Sergeant of his company in the 3rd U.S. Infantry, under Col. John R. Brooks, in Montana, helping to make the Indians behave. (Today Mr. Diggs is) hale and hearty at the age of 80.
Mr. Diggs enlisted in the U.S. Army, as of 21 years of age. The recruiting sergeant, however, set his age up several months as he was in fact barely past 20. There were less than 25,000 men in the entire army at that time. He joined his regiment in the field and won rapid promotion, reaching the rank of 1st Sergeant in three years. He arrived in the midst of the Indian disturbances just two years after "Custer's Last Stand," and saw plenty of service. The various companies of his regiment were scattered far and wide at isolated posts. Four of them he never saw. Communication was maintained by courier. Mr. Diggs did a good deal of this kind of service, once covering 110 miles in one day. Before his release from the army his regiment had built telegraph lines connecting all posts.
Among the tribes which kept the Indian fighters busy were the Grosventris, Piegans, Flat Feet and River and Mountain Souix, and Northern Crees, from Canada. Sergeant Diggs was detailed on many occassions to hold pow-wows with the Indians. On one occassion he and another man sent to interview the chief of a band of 300 and to try to persuade them to go back to their reservations and quit their depredations before it became necessary to drive them back. At first they declared they would fight before they would go back, but later changed their minds and bloodshed with this particular group was avoided. Mr. Diggs says his outfit had more trouble with horse-stealing Indians than any others. Details from his company were kept busy looking for lost horses which were usually found in the possession of some band of Indians. Our ranking veteran was first stationed at Fort Benton, Montana, an old Hudson Bay trading post and was later transferred to Fort Shaw. General Nelson A. Miles, was at that time, Colonel of the 5th regiment and was known as the "fighting Colonel of the plains."
Mr. Diggs tells of having to take 15 men to scatter a herd of buffalo which blocked the line of march of a large detail moving to quell an Indian disturbance. The herd covered five miles. When grazing the buffalo moved about as fast as a pacing horse. As far as the eye could see there was nothing but buffalo and Sergeant Diggs was ordered to break through the herd and make way for the detail to pass through. Except for a few rather exciting skirmishes Sergeant Diggs' regiment saw very little bloody fighting and was quite successful in avoiding battle encounter by persuation and disarmed and captured many bands without firing a shot.
Mr. Diggs was born in Baltimore, a son of William J. Diggs and Katherine Diggs, of Mathews. He has resided in Mathews since the end of the Civil War and for many years has been engaged in the roofing and sheet metal business here. There were seven brothers and two sisters in his family. Those now living are Mrs. Celestia L. Klingelhoffer and H. K. Diggs, of Baltimore.
While not a religious fanatic, Mr. Diggs has never uttered a profane word in his life, never drank alcoholic liquors or used tobacco. During his army days he was a crack baseball player and captain of his company's team, which office he accepted only when it was agreed that no games would be played on Sunday. Through all the temptations of army life he was able to live up to his code. He could not play cards when he enlisted and though he watched many a game for high stakes, he came out of the army as ignorant of gambling as when he enlisted. He is never sick and at 80 is more active than many men half his age. He attributes his good health and strong constitution to the manner in which he has taken care of himself through life and abstinence from liquor and tobacco. He is a Mason and member of Salem Methodist Church.
Mr. Diggs, who is the oldest veteran in the County, was recently elected State Commander, Department of Virginia, National Indian War Veterans, U.S.A.
Gloucester-Mathews Gazette Journal,
Thurs, 1 July 1943, p1, c3
Aged Veteran Dies In Mathews
MATHEWS- George Crosby Diggs, 85, veteran of the Indian War and one of the county's most highly respected citizens, died on Thursday morning, June 24th at his home near Moon. Mr. Diggs was State Commander of the Indian War Veterans, of Virginia.
Surviving are a sister, Mrs. George J. Klingelhofer, of Wellesley, Mass.; a brother, Henry K. Diggs, of Baltimore; two foster daughters, Miss Birdie L. White, of Moon, and Mrs. A. D. Legg, of Richmond. He was a member of Faith presbyterian Church in Baltimore and the Oriental Lodge No. 20, A.F. & A.M., at Mathews.
Funeral services were held at Salem Methodist church, Saturday at 3 o'clock and were conducted by the pastor, Rev. S. L. Dumville. Interment was made in Milford Cemetery, with Masonic rites. The active pallbearers were: Granville Hudgins, F. W. Forrest, George H. Sadler, W. W. Morgan, Ned Forrest and W. E. Forrest.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Mathews Journal,
Thurs, 19 Aug 1937,
p1 & 4
Indian Fighter Oldest Veteran
(Photo is of) Geo. C. Diggs, made at the age of 23 when he was 1st Sergeant of his company in the 3rd U.S. Infantry, under Col. John R. Brooks, in Montana, helping to make the Indians behave. (Today Mr. Diggs is) hale and hearty at the age of 80.
Mr. Diggs enlisted in the U.S. Army, as of 21 years of age. The recruiting sergeant, however, set his age up several months as he was in fact barely past 20. There were less than 25,000 men in the entire army at that time. He joined his regiment in the field and won rapid promotion, reaching the rank of 1st Sergeant in three years. He arrived in the midst of the Indian disturbances just two years after "Custer's Last Stand," and saw plenty of service. The various companies of his regiment were scattered far and wide at isolated posts. Four of them he never saw. Communication was maintained by courier. Mr. Diggs did a good deal of this kind of service, once covering 110 miles in one day. Before his release from the army his regiment had built telegraph lines connecting all posts.
Among the tribes which kept the Indian fighters busy were the Grosventris, Piegans, Flat Feet and River and Mountain Souix, and Northern Crees, from Canada. Sergeant Diggs was detailed on many occassions to hold pow-wows with the Indians. On one occassion he and another man sent to interview the chief of a band of 300 and to try to persuade them to go back to their reservations and quit their depredations before it became necessary to drive them back. At first they declared they would fight before they would go back, but later changed their minds and bloodshed with this particular group was avoided. Mr. Diggs says his outfit had more trouble with horse-stealing Indians than any others. Details from his company were kept busy looking for lost horses which were usually found in the possession of some band of Indians. Our ranking veteran was first stationed at Fort Benton, Montana, an old Hudson Bay trading post and was later transferred to Fort Shaw. General Nelson A. Miles, was at that time, Colonel of the 5th regiment and was known as the "fighting Colonel of the plains."
Mr. Diggs tells of having to take 15 men to scatter a herd of buffalo which blocked the line of march of a large detail moving to quell an Indian disturbance. The herd covered five miles. When grazing the buffalo moved about as fast as a pacing horse. As far as the eye could see there was nothing but buffalo and Sergeant Diggs was ordered to break through the herd and make way for the detail to pass through. Except for a few rather exciting skirmishes Sergeant Diggs' regiment saw very little bloody fighting and was quite successful in avoiding battle encounter by persuation and disarmed and captured many bands without firing a shot.
Mr. Diggs was born in Baltimore, a son of William J. Diggs and Katherine Diggs, of Mathews. He has resided in Mathews since the end of the Civil War and for many years has been engaged in the roofing and sheet metal business here. There were seven brothers and two sisters in his family. Those now living are Mrs. Celestia L. Klingelhoffer and H. K. Diggs, of Baltimore.
While not a religious fanatic, Mr. Diggs has never uttered a profane word in his life, never drank alcoholic liquors or used tobacco. During his army days he was a crack baseball player and captain of his company's team, which office he accepted only when it was agreed that no games would be played on Sunday. Through all the temptations of army life he was able to live up to his code. He could not play cards when he enlisted and though he watched many a game for high stakes, he came out of the army as ignorant of gambling as when he enlisted. He is never sick and at 80 is more active than many men half his age. He attributes his good health and strong constitution to the manner in which he has taken care of himself through life and abstinence from liquor and tobacco. He is a Mason and member of Salem Methodist Church.
Mr. Diggs, who is the oldest veteran in the County, was recently elected State Commander, Department of Virginia, National Indian War Veterans, U.S.A.
Thurs, 1 July 1943, p1, c3
Aged Veteran Dies In Mathews
MATHEWS- George Crosby Diggs, 85, veteran of the Indian War and one of the county's most highly respected citizens, died on Thursday morning, June 24th at his home near Moon. Mr. Diggs was State Commander of the Indian War Veterans, of Virginia.
Surviving are a sister, Mrs. George J. Klingelhofer, of Wellesley, Mass.; a brother, Henry K. Diggs, of Baltimore; two foster daughters, Miss Birdie L. White, of Moon, and Mrs. A. D. Legg, of Richmond. He was a member of Faith presbyterian Church in Baltimore and the Oriental Lodge No. 20, A.F. & A.M., at Mathews.
Funeral services were held at Salem Methodist church, Saturday at 3 o'clock and were conducted by the pastor, Rev. S. L. Dumville. Interment was made in Milford Cemetery, with Masonic rites. The active pallbearers were: Granville Hudgins, F. W. Forrest, George H. Sadler, W. W. Morgan, Ned Forrest and W. E. Forrest.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Mathews Journal,
Thurs, 19 Aug 1937,
p1 & 4
Indian Fighter Oldest Veteran
(Photo is of) Geo. C. Diggs, made at the age of 23 when he was 1st Sergeant of his company in the 3rd U.S. Infantry, under Col. John R. Brooks, in Montana, helping to make the Indians behave. (Today Mr. Diggs is) hale and hearty at the age of 80.
Mr. Diggs enlisted in the U.S. Army, as of 21 years of age. The recruiting sergeant, however, set his age up several months as he was in fact barely past 20. There were less than 25,000 men in the entire army at that time. He joined his regiment in the field and won rapid promotion, reaching the rank of 1st Sergeant in three years. He arrived in the midst of the Indian disturbances just two years after "Custer's Last Stand," and saw plenty of service. The various companies of his regiment were scattered far and wide at isolated posts. Four of them he never saw. Communication was maintained by courier. Mr. Diggs did a good deal of this kind of service, once covering 110 miles in one day. Before his release from the army his regiment had built telegraph lines connecting all posts.
Among the tribes which kept the Indian fighters busy were the Grosventris, Piegans, Flat Feet and River and Mountain Souix, and Northern Crees, from Canada. Sergeant Diggs was detailed on many occassions to hold pow-wows with the Indians. On one occassion he and another man sent to interview the chief of a band of 300 and to try to persuade them to go back to their reservations and quit their depredations before it became necessary to drive them back. At first they declared they would fight before they would go back, but later changed their minds and bloodshed with this particular group was avoided. Mr. Diggs says his outfit had more trouble with horse-stealing Indians than any others. Details from his company were kept busy looking for lost horses which were usually found in the possession of some band of Indians. Our ranking veteran was first stationed at Fort Benton, Montana, an old Hudson Bay trading post and was later transferred to Fort Shaw. General Nelson A. Miles, was at that time, Colonel of the 5th regiment and was known as the "fighting Colonel of the plains."
Mr. Diggs tells of having to take 15 men to scatter a herd of buffalo which blocked the line of march of a large detail moving to quell an Indian disturbance. The herd covered five miles. When grazing the buffalo moved about as fast as a pacing horse. As far as the eye could see there was nothing but buffalo and Sergeant Diggs was ordered to break through the herd and make way for the detail to pass through. Except for a few rather exciting skirmishes Sergeant Diggs' regiment saw very little bloody fighting and was quite successful in avoiding battle encounter by persuation and disarmed and captured many bands without firing a shot.
Mr. Diggs was born in Baltimore, a son of William J. Diggs and Katherine Diggs, of Mathews. He has resided in Mathews since the end of the Civil War and for many years has been engaged in the roofing and sheet metal business here. There were seven brothers and two sisters in his family. Those now living are Mrs. Celestia L. Klingelhoffer and H. K. Diggs, of Baltimore.
While not a religious fanatic, Mr. Diggs has never uttered a profane word in his life, never drank alcoholic liquors or used tobacco. During his army days he was a crack baseball player and captain of his company's team, which office he accepted only when it was agreed that no games would be played on Sunday. Through all the temptations of army life he was able to live up to his code. He could not play cards when he enlisted and though he watched many a game for high stakes, he came out of the army as ignorant of gambling as when he enlisted. He is never sick and at 80 is more active than many men half his age. He attributes his good health and strong constitution to the manner in which he has taken care of himself through life and abstinence from liquor and tobacco. He is a Mason and member of Salem Methodist Church.
Mr. Diggs, who is the oldest veteran in the County, was recently elected State Commander, Department of Virginia, National Indian War Veterans, U.S.A.
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