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Formed in the Eagle Forge area during July of 1858 through the efforts of Capt. Henry L. Barnhart. There first appearance as a unit was at a Military Encampment held in Bellefonte in September of 1858. After the formality of organizing them as part of the State Militia occurred on Saturday, June 4, 1859, Col. Austin B. Snyder, of Bellefonte, and a veteran of the Mexican War, took charge of the company.
On April 13, 1861, at the call of Pennsylvania Governor, and Bellefonte native, Andrew G. Curtin, the Eagle Guards left Bellefonte for Camp Curtin, at Harrisburg. There went into the service during the Civil War as part of "the three months call." On April 19th, they were mustered into service as Company H, of the Fourth Regiment, which was commanded by Col. John F. Hartranft.
When it left Bellefonte, they numbered 125 men, but on its arrival at Harrisburg, was reduced to 77 men, in accordance with the army regulations. The surplus of the Eagle Guards, Bellefonte Fencibles and Cameron Infantry, were then formed into another company, called the Curtin Guards
The Centre Guards spent almost their entire three months of service in Washington, as part of Gen. McDowell's First Brigade, Third Division which had been dispatched to provide defense of the Capital.
With their term of service expired July 20th, they were mustered out of service and returned home to Bellefonte on July 30th. Announcing the return of the Eagle Guards, the Democratic Watchman wrote: "Although they had no opportunity to try their metal, we have no doubt that they would have showed themselves to be men on the battle field." They returned "in good health, execpt four."
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