NEWS: Items from The Alleghanian, October 10, 1861, Cambria County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ _________________________________________ The Alleghanian Ebensburg, Pa. Thursday, 10 Oct 1861 Volume 3, Number 3, 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: 1. The Cause. We fight for the life of the Nation, the maintenance of free institutions and the protection of our homes and property. Patriotism, love of liberty and self-preservation call to arms. 2. Our common soldiers, under the recent act of Congress are better paid than those of any other nation. 3. The rations provided for troops have been recently increased. They are now more liberal than those given to any other army in the world. 4. The clothing furnished, we hope, will from this time onward, be of an excellent quality. The reign of "shoddy" is over. 5. Camp equipage and hospital furnishments are being placed upon the very best footing. All the modern improvements to secure the health and comfort of the men are being adopted. 6. The weapons now being supplied to all arms of the service are of the most desirable and effective patterns. 7. For all these expenditures, the Government has ample means to pay. Its treasury is full and its credit firm and unquestioned. 8. Special care is being taken to place none but competent officers in command of regiments, brigades and divisions. Imbecility and ignorance are either resigning or being forced out of the service. 9. The Autumn, with its healthy sun and bracing breezes has arrived. The Summer solstice deterred tens of thousands of Northern citizens from following their flag into the sultry rebel States. From this time onward, for the coming eight months, the country below the Potomac and the Ohio will, to our Northern troops be one long genial Autumn. 10. The harvest being over and the hard times upon us, swarms of men can find no employment so profitable viewed as mere work for hire as going into the army. This is true of traders and mechanics as well as farmers and applies with great force to the redundant population of our large cities. 11. Hereafter our troops along the frontier lines will not be compelled to fight against such an overwhelming superiority of numbers as heretofore. It is plain that henceforth the Navy is to give the traitors plenty of employment upon the Atlantic coast. The rebels will be compelled to withdraw large masses of their soldiers now in the Border States in order to defend their menaced and harassed harbors and inlets. From Our Volunteers Camp Tennally, October 4, 1861 We returned to this place on Wednesday evening from "The Great Falls of the Potomac," where we had been ten days on picket duty. The 11th regiment guarded about seven miles along the bank of the river, connecting with the pickets thrown out by Gen. Banks' division near Edward's Ferry. The river, which in many places is less than a hundred yards wide, alone separated us from the Rebel outpost. The 30th Regiment Virginia Cavalry, who were guarding the opposite side made us a proposition that "they wouldn't shoot at us if we wouldn't shoot at them," which proposition after consultation was agreed to by our officers. We soon became quite agreeable with our "Southern Brethren" and had a gay and happy time of it for a [word faded]. But on Monday morning the V. E. V.'s were relieved by a South Carolina regiment who immediately changed the order of the day and commenced firing across at us, seriously wounding one of our men. While the excitement which this occasioned was at its height, a Rebel battery of some six or eight pieces which was crossing up the river, sent a volley of shell right into our midst and kept up a brisk and well-directed fire of some fifteen minutes duration, firing over a hundred pounds of shot and shell. Fortunately the greater part of the regiment were out in the line of picket and no one was hurt although many sustained hair-breadth escapes. We could not reach the enemy with our muskets and having no artillery at hand were unable to give them as good as they sent. Two pieces of rifled cannon arrived after the Rebels had retired with their battery into the woods and we fired a few random shots in the direction they had taken but probably without much effect. Col. Baker's California regiment (raised in Pennsylvania) encamped near us on Monday night on their way to Gen Banks' Division. They are a fine looking body of men but not so well armed nor uniformed as the P. R. C. They were at the capture of Munson's Hill on last Saturday. We do not expect to stay in our present quarters much longer. There is some talk of sending us to Missouri to help fix matters in that region. Should we not go there we will probably be sent into Virginia shortly. I think there will be a "forward move" on the part of Gen. M'Clellan within a few days. We are all tired of inaction and anxious to be doing something for the Great Cause in which we are engaged. Truly, &c. [Signed] J A Cambrian Shoots a Secessionist During the stay of the 11th regiment at Great Falls, a member of the Cambria Guards shot a supposed Secessionist under the following circumstances: Our picket guards, who were posted on one side of the Potomac, were strictly forbidden to fire on Rebel pickets who were on the other side unless in self-defense or in case of an attempt being made to cross the river. On the first night the 11th was on duty, one of the outpost pickets (Thomas Dumm of the Cambria Guards and from this vicinity) saw a skiff containing four persons set off from the Rebel shore. He immediately commanded them to "Halt!" but no attention whatever was paid to the summons. Again he ordered them to "Halt!" with the same result as before. On the third essay, the occupants of the skiff, probably feeling themselves called on to say something, gruffly told him to "go to the D---l!" As the boat was rapidly nearing the shore, Mr. D. felt himself compelled by a sense of duty to fire; which he did with such precision and effect that one of the Rebels with a groan, [word faded] heavily from his seat. The boat was immediately put about and in a few minutes it disappeared from view. It was subsequently ascertained however that the man to whom this act of stern justice was meted out died during the same night, was a Marylander and belonged to the Rebel army. Johnstown Items Our own Correspondent sends us the following jottings: The recruiting business still goes on finely in Johnstown. Last week a number of squads were sent on to fill up companies in Col. Campbell's regiment. Quite a number have joined the 19th U. S. Infantry, Capt. Williams. Some twelve young men have also joined a company intended to compose part of Gen. Anderson's bodyguard. These latter expect to depart for Kentucky this week. The Cambria County Fair – A Complete Success The Seventh Annual Exhibition of the Cambria County Agricultural Society came off at this place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of last week and notwithstanding the many predictions to the contrary, was a success. As many visitors were present as at the preceding Fairs, and the gross receipts were altogether as large as could have been expected. The weather was propitious during the entire three days and nothing occurred to mar the harmony of the occasion. The attendance during the two first days was not very large but on Thursday the number present at one time was estimated at something over one thousand. This is almost equal to the palmy days when Peace and Prosperity smiled on our land and when the Fair was a novelty in our local history. The exhibition in the Stock Department was exceedingly good. Cambria county is famous for her superior horses and cattle and these she contributed in goodly numbers. The exhibition of sheet, swine, poultry, &c., was also large. The Fruit Department was represented by as magnificent an assortment of mammoth apples, peaches, grapes, etc., as ever regaled the eyes of mortal. The opinion has become prevalent that our climate is too cold for fruit growing. This is a mistake – no better apples are raised in the State than in Cambria. The list of articles in the Ladies' Department comprised a little of everything and it would be useless for us to attempt a description thereof. Suffice it to say that all – from the elaborate needlework and embroidery down to such matter-of-fact articles as candles and soft soap – were excellent and reflected credit on the exhibitors. The various other departments were also all well represented. On Thursday at 3 p.m., the Annual Address was delivered by R. L. Johnston, Esq., Mr. J. gave an interesting and instructive account of the progress of Agriculture in Cambria county and was attentively listened to by those present. At the conclusion of his remarks he was complemented by three cheers from the audience. At 4 p. m., the Female Equestrianism came off. There were but two contestants for the honors, to wit, Mrs. I. Crawford and Mrs. Morris Evans. Both ladies acquitted themselves admirably and the easy grace with which they kept their seats on their saddles and the skill they displayed in handling the reins showed them to be adept in the difficult art of horsewomanship. The judges were unable to make any distinction between the merits of the equestriennes and divided the premiums, amounting to the aggregate of fifteen dollars between them. Two interesting episodes of the day were the Sack Race gotten up under the auspices of Mr. Griffith Jones and the Foot Race. In the former some extensive ground and lofty tumbling was performed to the extreme edification of all who could appreciate such matters. Thus passed the Seventh Fair and notwithstanding the fact that the Managers had many difficulties to contend with, it was brought to a favorable termination. Enough money was realized to liquidate all premiums and other indebtedness and it will be honestly and faithfully applied to that purpose. We can only hope that should the Society determine to hold other Exhibition, its affairs may be conducted with as much energy and precision as was this one. In this connection, we should add that the thanks of all who attended the Fair are due the "Glosser Band," for the superior music they discoursed for the occasion. They are, individually and collectively, gentlemen and scholars as well as musicians, the superiors of whom cannot be found. A Laudable Undertaking The Ladies of Ebensburg and vicinity with a patriotism and liberality worthy of all commendation are now making arrangements to form themselves into an association to furnish our gallant soldier with good and sufficient articles of wear for the coming Winter. This is a move as well- timed as patriotic inasmuch as the Government has given notice that the supply of woolen blankets and stockings is not equal to the demand therefore. All honor to the "Maids and Matrons of the Mountain!" - and may they feel doubly rewarded for their pains in the gratification of knowing that they have cast their mote to assist in upholding the Honor or Our Common Country. The attention of our Lady readers is particularly directed to the following bulletin with the suggestion that they respond favorably thereto: To the Editor of THE ALLEGHANIAN: Please announce that a meeting of all Ladies of Ebensburg and Vicinity, favorable to the organization of an Association having for its object the manufacture of Blankets and Stockings for the use of our brave volunteers now in the field, will be held at the Union School House in Ebensburg on FRIDAY EVE, 11th inst., at the hour of 7 P. M. Although we may not fight, we can conduce to the comfort and convenience of those who do. Every lady – be she old or young - is respectfully requested to attend. [Signed] Many Ladies Malicious Mischief We are informed by a friend that on Wednesday night of last week, some malicious scoundrels, with worse than secession principles, committed a series of depradations of the premises of Mr. George Settlemoyer, a respectable farmer in Summerhill township, which for cool premeditation and villainy, almost induces us to believe that we have an organized band of border ruffians in our county. Among other wanton acts, they threw down and destroyed a large amount of fence, laying open Mr. S's field and grain to destruction; tore up the bridges on the plank road near Wilmore, so as to dash to pieces any wagon that might pass in the night; and to crown all, set fire to the school house on Mr. S's land, which, with its contents was totally consumed! This is not the first time that acts of a similar nature have been perpetrated in that section and we hope the guilty scoundrels may be discovered and a punishment meted out to them that will effectually deter them from participation in such devilish pastimes hereafter. Military Capt. Thomas Williams, who is recruiting a company of infantry in this county for the regular army will leave with his men for Indianapolis on Friday next. This company is destined for service on the famous flotilla that is to descend the Mississippi river during the coming winter. Capt. W. has had excellent success recruiting and will probably take with him a full company of Cambria county men.