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EBENSBURG, PA OCTOBER 1861
Thursday, October 3, 1861
An Incident at Cresson An affecting incident took place at Cresson, Cambria county, on the occasion of the arrival of the train bearing Gen. Lyon’s remains at that point. The moment the cars stopped, General Anderson, most unexpectedly appeared on the train, and shook hands with the escort. He said he was stopping at Cresson and could not allow the occasion to pass without taking a final farewell on earth of the remains of so brave a soldier and excellent an officer as Gen. Lyon. The General then passed on to the coffin, and bending his head above it, said with a trembling voice: “We could ill afford to spare so courageous a soldier at this time. America needs all her heroes now.” As General Anderson was leaving the car, Mrs. Plummer, wife of Captain Plummer, U.S.A., one of the escorts and wounded at Wilson’s Creek, rose from her seat and saying she would be most happy to know the hero of Fort Sumter, the General cordially grasped her hands, and gallantly replied, pointing to the Captain: “You need not seek, my dear Madame, to know heroes when you have so brave a one in him you have chosen for your husband.”
To Teachers Co. Supt. Swank gives notice that the examination of applicants of the several schools of Cambria township will take place in this borough on Wednesday the 9th inst.
Maj. Thompson, our worthy and accommodating Post Master, has issued a bulletin giving notice that from and after Monday last, all letters intended for the Eastern or Western mails must be in the office at 8 P. M. as the mails will close promptly at that hour. Business men and others will do well to make a note of this fact.
A public meeting of the people of Cambria county will be held in the Court House on Wednesday evening, 2d inst. (the second day of the Fair). The object will be to afford any person who is so disposed an opportunity to enter the service of his country and help to crush Treason and Traitors.
The somewhat eccentric name of the camp at which the 11th Penna. Reserves, have been until recently stationed, to wit, Tenalley, is not a corruption of Ten-pin-alley. It is simply an abbreviation of the word Tenalleytown, a small village in that vicinity which in lieu of streets has alleys laid out hither and thither through its limits. These alleys are to the number of ten, hence the name, Ten-Alley-Town. Furstay?
As winter is rapidly approaching when our brave soldiers now in arms for the cause of Liberty and Justice will need to be provided with warm and comfortable clothing, it has been suggested that the patriotic ladies of the State be allowed to come forward and contribute a willing share to the Good Cause. Acting on this hint, the Quartermaster General of the State has issued a call for blankets and stockings, and the ladies of many counties have already formed themselves into associations to furnish the articles. The ladies of Cambria should not be behind in the matter. Four or five thousand pairs of stockings could easily be furnished and the time consumed in their manufacture scarcely be missed. Will you not interest yourself, lady reader, in this behalf? Let those knit who never knit before and those who knit, why, let them knit the more. And thus you can show your appreciation for the Government that fosters and protects you, and your solicitude and careful regard for the comfort of the volunteers that are doing battle for the perpetuity of that Government.
On last Friday, during the continuation of a heavy rain storm our old and much respected fellow townsman, John Williams, Esq., met with an accident that came well nigh proving fatal. He is the proprietor of a mill a short distance below town and was returning at the time from an inspection of the damn attached thereto, the safety of which was endangered by the unusually high water. While crossing what is commonly known as the “overshoot” or outlet by which the surplus water escapes and across which a narrow flimsy bridge had been thrown, a plank broke and precipitated him into the seething torrent beneath. So terrific was the force of the angry waters that he was swept over the falls, down into the reservoir beneath and on and on with the current, through piles of logs and brushwood and over rocks and stones, for a distance of a hundred rods or so, in almost an instant! At this point he succeeded in obtaining a foothold and although nearly drowned, managed to regain terra firma once more. He was considerably bruised by his perilous voyage but not seriously injured and at the present date is almost entirely recovered. He lost several dollars in change, a pocket-book containing valuable papers, a bunch of keys and several other articles in the stream.
The examination of applicants for this school was held in the school house on Wednesday of last week. County Superintendent Swank conducted the examination and we are informed that the several candidates acquitted themselves creditably. The following are the names of those chosen by the Directors to fill the schools:
The attendance at the Fair today (Tuesday) is quite respectable. The display of articles on exhibition is large and more will be added to the list today. The “Glosser Band” is in attendance and discourses eloquent music for the occasion. The weather is delightful and the Fair will certainly be a success.
[The following letter was intended for last week’s issue, but came to hand too late for insertion. We hope our correspondents will mail their favors that we may receive them by Tuesday as that is the last day of grace for such matters.]
We were favored with a tremendous storm of wind and rain last week, commencing on Thursday evening and continuing without intermission until Saturday night. That ubiquitous individual, “the oldest inhabitant,” recollects not the time when a greater amount of rain fell in the space of two days. The streets and highways were rendered almost impassible by reason of the vast bodies of water that covered them; little rivulets became metamorphosed into huge streams; and streams took the form of rushing, foaming rivers. Beyond the sweeping away of an occasional bridge, we have heard of no great damage being done in this county by the freshet. We see by our exchanges that the storm was not confined to any one section but extended over almost the entire country.
Ebensburg, October 3, 1861
Flour, per barrel:
The Alleghanian, Ebensburg, Pa.
Why Men Should Enlist
The N. Y. TRIBUNE gives the following as some of the inducements that should impel loyal men to promptly enroll themselves in the army of the Union:
The Alleghanian
Pennsylvania Reserve
The regiments of the Pennsylvania reserve force are now formed into a division and will be known as “McCall’s Division.” The division is divided into three brigades and each of these made up as follows:
Washington, Oct. 12.
During today the rebels advanced in large force in the direction of Prospect Hill, driving in our pickets to that point. The result was that the division of Gen. McCall was soon formed into line of battle, with orders to advance. It was supported by cavalry and artillery. Several shots were fired by the rebel batteries but being out of range, no injury was sustained by our troops.
Dickens “Great Expectations” has passed to its fourth edition in England.
For the information of many persons who come at a great sacrifice of time, money and personal comfort to Washington for the purpose of visiting their relatives in the army on the Virginia side of the Potomac, it is proper to state that, as Gen. McClellan considers such visits inconsistent with the good of the soldiers, as well as prejudicial to the success of the army, generally he has, by positive orders, refused passes.
Nuts The yield of chestnuts in this section will be immense this fall. Large quantities of the article are being gathered and either put up for home consumption or shipped abroad. They retail at the rate of six cents per quart.
The winter session of this institution will open under the superintendence of Rev. A. Donaldson and Prof. S. J. Craigheud on Tuesday, 5th proximo. The academy bears an enviable reputation and we recommend it to the favorable consideration of those of our readers who may desire to secure for themselves or their sons a thorough education. For terms, etc., see advertisement in another column.
On Thursday before last, the steam grist mill of Mr. John Allison and the steam planing mill of Mr. Thomas McAuley, adjoining each other in Altoona were entirely consumed by fire, together with the contents. The fire is supposed to have originated from sparks falling from the stack of one of the mills. Loss to Mr. Allison, $5,000; insured for $2,300. Loss to Mr. McAuley, $4,000; insured for $1,500.
The “Blanket and Stocking” move is flourishing luxuriantly and will soon bear its own good fruit. In accordance with the call published in our last issue, the patriotic Maids and Matrons of the Mountain met at the Union School House in this borough on Friday eve and formed an association. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, a large attendance was present. The following permanent officers were chosen:
Capt. Williams, of the regular infantry, together with the company he has recruited in this county, left for Indianapolis the latter part of last week. Some twenty men from this immediate neighborhood went with him.
On Saturday evening, the 5th inst., while County Superintendent Swank was on his way to the station at Wilmore, where he had been holding an examination of teachers during the day, he was struck on the head with a stone thrown by some person concealed in a fence corner at the road side. The missile took effect over the left eye and although it did not knock him down, it staggered him considerably and inflected a painful wound. Upon recovering he saw his assailant running from his concealment and identified him as a young man named Dimond, who had been before him for examination as a teacher, but to whom the Superintendent had refused a certificate for want of sufficient scholarship. The failure to obtain a certificate is supposed to have been the cause of his cowardly and murderous assault upon Mr. Swank, as no other motive can be assigned. A warrant was promptly taken out for the arrest of the fellow and it is to be hoped he will be speedily arrested and severely punished as he justly deserves. So says the Cambria TRIBUNE.
On last Thursday evening, Hon. Geo. Taylor, President Judge-elect for this Judicial District, was serenaded at Thompson’s Mountain House by the Calithumplan Band. After several appropriate airs, Gen. Jos. McDonald introduced Judge T. and in a neat and patriotic speech extended him the congratulations of the People of Cambria county in the result of the issue just decided at the ballot box. The Judge responded, thanking the band for the compliment done him. He said that he was rejoiced to be afforded the opportunity of returning his sincerest thanks to the People of Cambria for the efficient manner in which they had supported him. He had been elected as an Independent Candidate, apart from politics or political preferences, and the honor was duly appreciated. They had reposed almost unlimited confidence in him and he hoped to prove himself worthy of the trust. In conclusion he assured them that the recollection of the unanimity and concord with which he had been sustained would linger with him until his latest moments as one of the most pleasing episodes of his life.
Camp in Virginia, October 11, 1861
On Monday we started for Great Falls, fifteen miles from Tennallytown, on the Potomac, to do ten day’s picket duty. We started from our camp at about 2 o’clock P. M. and arrived there at 6. This is considered pretty steep marching. On arriving there, twenty-four men were detailed from each company to do guard duty some six miles further up the river and I had the misfortune to be one of that number. We were very much fatigued when we arrived at our destination and to make matters worse, we had neither blankets nor overcoats along, and were also without supper. The night was very cold and the dew very heavy and in consequence we had a disagreeable time of it. Our line of pickets was stationed between the river and canal, which in some places are not a hundred feet apart. We were relieved early next morning and we rode back to the Falls on a boat.
The following is the Muster Roll of the cavalry company recruited in this county and now in camp near Washington City, under command of Capt. James A. Skelly of this place. The company is designated as Co. G., 4th Regt. Penna. Cavalry:
The Alleghanian, Ebensburg, Pa.
Warm Boots It is said that the best boots to protect the feet from cold or dampness are made of calfskin tanned with the hair on. Of course when the boots are made, the hair is on the inside, and while it effectually protects the feet, it does not exclude the air as gum elastic does. To soldiers who may have to march or stand guard in inclement weather this is a secret worth knowing, for when the feet are well protected the whole body is preserved from many ailments.
Generals Rosecrans and Cox are at Mountain Cave, only thirteen miles from Gauley Bridge, with only six thousand troops who are able to perform active duty and are available. Between Gauley Bridge and Camp Lookout there were on Tuesday last one thousand six hundred and forty patients in the hospitals prostrated with the camp fever. At Cross Lanes, near Carnifax Ferry and about twenty-eight miles from Gauley Bridge, are one hundred and sixty patients.
Baltimore, Oct. 16, 1861
A gentleman from near Harper’s Ferry furnishes the particulars of a fight between six companies, consisting of parts of the 28th Pennsylvania Regiment, the 3d Wisconsin and the 13th Massachusetts regiment, under command of Col. John W. Geary and 3,000 Rebels.
Pittsburg, Oct. 17, 1861
Gov. Curtin and suite arrived here in the midnight train and were escorted to the Monongahela Hotel by Gen. Negley and staff and Capt. McNulty’s brigade.
Financial Matters Cyrus L. Pershing Esq. of Johnstown has subscribed $300 toward the 7-30 Government loan. Mr. P., having just succeeded in coming out of the recent exciting game for Assembly with a dull hand, does well in going it a loan.
We learn from the Blairsville papers that John Devinney Jr. of that place was shot and dangerously wounded by some rebels in Western Virginia a couple of weeks since. Mr. D. had an interest in some oil wells in that section and was attending to business connected therewith at the time. It appears that he fell in company with some Secessionists, and being a Union man himself, gave utterance to Union sentiments; whereupon, one of the ruffians drew a pistol and deliberately fired upon him. The ball took effect, below the left shoulder and passed out near the breast. At latest accounts he was doing well and was expected to recover.
The new tunnel, or rather the arching of the road way to prevent danger, &c., from the sides of the cut giving way, on the Pennsylvania Road near Carpenter’s Station in Westmoreland county has just been completed. It is a well constructed, substantial piece of work, which is, however but characteristic of all done by this company. The abutments are all of stone range work and the arch, twenty-seven inches in thickness, is of brick. There are 6,000 yards of masonry in it and there were 800,000 brick used in building it. It is 550 feet in length and is said to have cost $20,000. The work has been under the more immediate charge of John S. Love, Esq., Resident Engineer of the Road on the Western Division and is a credit to his scientific skill, judgment and energy.
George Nesbit, of Co. E, (from Blairsville), 11th regiment, P. R. C., died at Camp Tennalley on the 14th inst. His remains were taken to Blairsville for interment.
The Alleghanian, Ebensburg, Pa.
A Veteran Solider Among the men enlisted with Capt. Williams of the regular infantry, in Johnstown, is an old soldier who has already seen nineteen years and three months service, having served nine years in the British service, ten in the United States service, and three months in the recent volunteer service as a member of the band of the 3d regiment of volunteers from this State. He has also four sons enlisted in the United States service, two in Col. Campbell’s Cambria County Regiment and two in Capt. Williams Company. The name of this veteran soldier is Elisha C. Bennett. He is over 45 years of age, and last week, married a second wife half his age, who will accompany him in the campaign upon which he will soon enter. During his term of service in the British army he visited the West Indies and Canada. His first enlistment in the U. S. service, from 1839 to 1844, was spent principally in Maine and Rhode Island, at Newport Barracks. During his second term he passed through the Mexican war in Gen. Taylor’s division of the army, participating in all old Zach’s battles from Palo Alto to Buena Vista and received his discharge at Newport Barracks, Kentucky in 1849. His entire nineteen years and a quarter’s service was put in as a musician but he entered the public service for the fifth time as a private in the ranks. We are pleased to say however than since his enlistment with Capt. Williams he has been assigned the position of 2d Sergeant and will remain among us for some weeks yet on recruiting service for the Company. We question whether a similar instance of faithful and persevering public service and devote patriotism can be found in the land, even in this most prolific era of patriotic examples. Pass around the name of Elisha C. Bennett, the man who has already given nine years to the country of his birth, ten to that of his adoption and now gives himself, wife and four sons for three years more to the support of the Government. [Cambria TRIBUNE]
San Francisco to New York Greeting
The Great Overland Telegraph to the Pacific has been completed and the first messages from the far off Golden State were received last week. The Atlantic is now wedded to the Pacific in indissoluble bonds and the two great sections of our common country speak to each other with instant and instinctive patriotism. We live in an age of never ceasing wonders: what formerly took months to achieve is now performed it the quickness of a flash. May the projectors of this enterprise, the successful completion of which will be of inestimable value to the whole Republic, receive their full mead of honor and profit.
We have at length an official statement of the casualties to our men in the battle of Ball’s Bluff, which amounts to 620, of whom there were 79 killed, 141 wounded and 400 missing. The officers and men behaved with extraordinary courage and after exhausting their ammunition, they threw their arms into the river to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy.
It appears from official data that Pennsylvania has 70,000 men in the field, and 30 additional regiments organizing, a portion of which are ready to move. All will be in service within a month, making a grand army of over 100,000 men, besides having material for 50 additional regiments if needed.
Typhoid This fever is said to prevail in an alarming extent in the neighborhood of Hemlock, this county.
Among the list of Assistant Surgeons appointed by the Executive Department of this State is the name of Dr. J. L. Marbourg of Johnstown.
An old man, named Adam Weir, living in Indiana county, was ridden on a rail in Blairsville a few days since on account of his having given utterance to Secession sentiments.
We are requested to announce that the Teachers’ Institute will be held in the Union School House in this borough on next Saturday, commencing at one o’clock P.M. Teachers of Cambria and other townships are invited to be present.
Mr. Robert Coleman of White township, Indiana county, was severely injured on Wednesday of last week under the following circumstance: He was engaged felling timber in the woods and the limb of a tree which he had just cut down caught in its descention an adjoining tree and from thence fell to the ground, striking Mr. C. on the head during its progress and inflicting a dangerous wound. He has been unable to speak since the accident but hopes are entertained of his recovery.
At a meeting of this Association held on Friday eve last, it was decided that all stockings manufactured by or donated to it be presented, as a free gift to the Ebensburg company, the Cambria Guards. Some fifty pairs are already on hand and it is proposed to forward them as soon as a sufficient number are secured to furnish each member with at least one pair. Those desiring to contribute in this patriotic behalf are requested to do so immediately as the articles will probably be shipped to Washington during the coming week. We may add that, to prevent any attempt at speculation in the premises, the box will be sent direct to the company and not to a Quartermaster or other official.
The question for discussion at the meeting of the Ebensburg Literary Association on next Friday evening is “Resolved: That the suppression of the cotton traffic in the United States would be beneficial to the country.”
Says the Latrobe INQUIRER. We learn by a letter from a member of Capt. Kistler’s company that Capt. Spires of Co. I, (from Blairsville) 11th regiment P. R. C. was found asleep on picket duty some nights since and the writer believes he has been court-martialed and his commission is taken from him. At least such was the report.
Our old and much esteemed friend, Charley W. Wingard, Esq., was on a visit to this place a few days ago on which occasion we had the pleasure of taking him by the hand. He looks hearty and well and is evidently none the worse for the Brigade Inspectorship recently conferred upon him, the duties of which he is so well qualified to discharge. Henceforth we must know him as Major Wingard and govern ourself accordingly. He will please consider our beaver tipped after the most approved military fashion. We will remark in en passant that he is occupying a very enviable position at the Clinton county Bar. This we have learned from those who know him and who appreciate his sterling abilities and moral worth. May his life be long and Fortune ever smile on this pathway.
This gallant and patriotic body of men as many of our readers are aware met in Wilmore on Friday last for the purpose of effecting an organization. William Palmer, Esq., of Wilmore was elected Captain; James Murray of Ebensburg, First Lieut.; and Isaac Teeter of Johnstown, Second Lieut. It will be seen that the men have been peculiarly fortunate in the selection of their officers. Capt. Palmer, we feel certain will be deservedly popular as the head of the company. He has not, we believe hitherto been a military man, but from the first his heart has beat in unison with the war of the Union. He has been very active in raising the company under his command and with a little discipline we feel confident he will make a most able and accomplished officer. Lieutenant Murray is no stranger to the tented field. When the war with Mexico broke out he was among the first to volunteer his services in behalf of the “Stars and Stripes.” He was captain of the “Cambria Guards” of Ebensburg, a company which made its mark on every occasion. He is considered one of the best drill officers in the State. With Lieutenant Teeter we are not so well acquainted though from what we can learn of him, he is evidently “the right man in the right place.” We do not know that he has seen actual service but he has always taken a deep interest in military matters and is a gentleman of enlarged experience.
Camp Pierpont, October 26, 1861
We are still at the place of my last writing. We have become pretty well domesticated to the “sacred soil,” and make ourselves perfectly at home. During the first ten days we had to sleep at night with nothing but the canopy of heaven for a covering; but we have our tents now put up, which makes it much more comfortable.
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