NEWS: Items from The Alleghanian, November 28, 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., Volume 3, Number 10, Thursday, November 28, 1861 Local and Personal Letters from Our Volunteers Camp Pierpoint, Va., Nov. 22, 1861 Nothing of interest has transpired since my last letter, barring the grand review at Munson's Hill on Wednesday. The review ground is some eight or nine miles from camp and in order to reach it at the specified time - twelve o'clock - we were in line at six A.M. On our road thither we passed through "Bailey Cross Roads" and "Falls Church," both points somewhat celebrated as being the scene of skirmishes during the present struggle. The former derives its name from the fact that three roads cross and intersect each other there. The latter is a small village of perhaps a score of houses, the principal building being a church which has been converted into a commissary by the Government. It is now nearly deserted, only some two or three families remaining. Munson's Hill is about one mile from Falls Church and has been strongly fortified since falling into our possession. An observatory having been erected here by the Government, a magnificent view of Washington and Georgetown and also of the country for miles around is obtained. The review took place a short distance from Munson's Hill in several large, level fields, embracing about four miles of an area. The review itself was indescribably grand. There were seven divisions of the army present, viz - Gens. McCall's, Heintzelman's, Smith's, Franklin's, Blenker's, Porter's and McDowell's; in all eighty- five regiments of infantry, twenty batteries of artillery,- one hundred pieces - and nine regiments of cavalry forming a grand total of nearly eighty thousand men! The different divisions were so formed as to describe a circle of four miles in extent. Gen. McClellan and staff accompanied by President Lincoln, secretaries Cameron and Seward and a large number of other distinguished personages, rode along the whole line and were loudly cheered by each regiment. Subsequently they returned to the centre and occupying a prominent position, the different divisions passed in review by battalions, McCall's taking the lead. They were four hours passing. All the details of the review were admirably arranged and everything passed off smoothly and without confusion. To guard against any surprise from the enemy the pickets were strengthened all along and every man had one day's rations in his haversack and forty rounds of cartridge. No passes were required during the day over the different bridges from the capital and it is estimated that between twenty and thirty thousand persons took advantage of this fact to become spectators of the grandest review that has ever taken place on this continent. Dr. Russell of the London TIMES and all the Foreign Ministers were present. We returned to camp in the evening, after having been on our feet for nearly twelve hours. The 11th regiment was paid off on Tuesday. Each man received two month's pay or twenty-six dollars. A large proportion of this amount will be sent home. Co. A alone is remitting nearly one thousand dollars! We were paid partly in gold and silver and partly in Treasury notes. We have very agreeable weather here at present, much resembling Indian summer. Signed - E Military We see it stated that the 4th Penna. Cavalry, Col. Harlan, has been ordered to Annapolis to embark in the naval expedition to sail from thence for parts unknown shortly, under command of Gen. Butler. Capt. Jim Skelly's Cambria county cavalry company forms Co. G of this regiment. Accompanying the 76th Penna. Regiment, Col. Power, which left Harrisburg for Annapolis en route to South Carolina last week is Rev. B. L. Agnew of Johnstown as chaplain. Dr. R. M. S. Jackson of Cresson this county has also departed for the same destination as Surgeon of the 11th Penna. Regiment, Col. Coulter. Personal Col. James M. Swank, of Johnstown, having obtained the appointment of a clerkship in the Treasury Department at Washington has resigned the office of Superintendent of the Common Schools of this county, which position he had acceptably filled since February last. We heard the names of Messrs. Henry Ely, and S. B. McCormick of Johnstown and Daniel McLaughlin of Gallitzin mentioned in connection with the vacancy but are not advised as to who has the inside track. A Cambrian Dangerously Wounded Many of our readers will probably recollect the battles at Cross Lanes in Western Virginia on or about the 27th of August last in which the 7th Ohio regiment was repulsed with terrible loss by a vastly superior force of Rebels. Co. C of this regiment was composed principally of students from Oberlin College, Ohio, among the number of whom was Lewis J. Jones, a young man of twenty-three or twenty-four years of age, son of Mr. John O. Jones and resident about one mile north of this place. Lewis took part with his company in the battle and in the thickest of the fight was seriously, and for a time, it was thought, mortally wounded. Being unable to leave the field in the retreat, he was taken prisoner by the Rebels. He remained with his captors for over two weeks, during which period but faint hopes were entertained of his recovery. At about this juncture and when the Rebels were at Gauley Bridge, Gen. Rosecrans made his sudden appearance thereabout. The Rebels, doubtless thinking discretion the better part of valor, immediately destroyed the bridge and executed that celebrated retrogressive movement which has become part and parcel of history, leaving behind only a small squad to guard the prisoners. This squad ultimately followed suit and "skedaddled," after which the prisoners to the number of about twenty-five, erected a raft and crossed to the other shore, where they regained the protection of Union troops. Lewis, who was among the number that thus escaped, was immediately ordered to Cincinnati to undergo treatment for his injury. He is still an inmate of the hospital in that city. His wound, which was caused by a musket ball is located in the region of the right breast and was exceedingly dangerous. Thanks to a naturally hard constitution and kind, efficient treatment, however, he is recovering as rapidly as circumstances will admit and will be able to rejoin his regiment in the course of a few weeks. Letter from Johnstown Johnstown, Nov. 26, 1861 The recruiting service has received a fresh impulse in our midst in consequence of Lieut. Hugh Kelly arriving here and opening an office for the enrollment of names for a company for Col. Thomas F. Meagher's regiment. Quite an enthusiastic meeting was held at Zouave Hall on Friday evening and the prospect is cheering for a goodly number of recruits for the Regiment of this noble patriot. Col. J. M. Power's regiment has left Camp Cameron and is now at Fortress Monroe, Va. It is said to be the finest Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers now in the field. Col. J. M. Campbell's Regiment now at Camp Curtin, is nearly full and they are expecting marching orders daily. It is understood that the following are the staff and field officers of this Regiment - Colonel J. M. Campbell Lt. Colonel B. McDermitt Major John P. Linton Chaplain Rev. Groft M. Pile Adjutant Wm. Linton Quartermaster D. F. Gordon Sutler Jos. A. Garman Mr. Charles Gahegan was run over by the local freight train on the Penna. RR., on Monday morning and seriously if not fatally injured. The injured man was in the employ of the railroad company, and in attempting to pass from one part of the train to the other, he lost his footing and two trucks of the train passed over him, crushing him severely. Old Boreas with his icy reign is upon us and we all expect a merry time going to Ebensburg on Monday next whether it be in sleighs or by your railroad. Sheriff's Sales The following is an abstract of the real estate advertised to be exposed to public sale by the Sheriff of Cambria county on Monday, the second day of December next - Francis K. Herlinger, Croyle township, 49 acres, 3 acres cleared with two story frame or plank house and grist mill. Daniel T. Jones, Cambria township, 118 acres, 45 cleared with frame tavern house, stable and outbuildings. Daniel T. Jones, Cambria township, 60 acres, 50 acres cleared with frame dwelling house, frame barn and saw mill. Andrew Kopp, Clearfield township, 64 acres, 50 acres cleared, with one and a half story hewed log house and double barn. Thomas Kaylor, Allegheny township, 50 acres, 30 acres cleared, with log house and cabin barn. Casper Smith and Lawrence Smith, Jr., Carroll township, 100 acres, 20 acres cleared, with log house, log barn and log blacksmith shop. John S. Rhey, Ebensburg, half lot ground, with two story frame house and stable. Eri Bickford, Wilmore, lot of ground with two story plank dwelling house, two story plank store house and small frame stable. James Myers, Johnstown, lot of ground with two story plank house and small stable. John Thompson Jr., Ebensburg, lot of ground with large two story brick tavern house, frame stable and outbuildings. Augustine McGuire (one of the Defendants) Clearfield township, 108 acres, 20 acres cleared, with two story plank house and small board stable. Thomas Moreland, Hemlock, lot of ground with shoemaker shop and one and a half story plank house Allegheny Railroad and Coal Company, Allegheny township, 10 acres, unimproved. Also, the right of mining coal in a tract of land in same township, containing 245 acres, unimproved. Thomas Yorkey, Millville, lot of ground with small frame house. James G. Dimond, Munster township, 170 acres, 100 acres cleared with plank house, small log house with two log barns. Dominick Dimond, Munster township, 170 acres, 100 acres cleared, with plank house, small log house and two log barns. John J. Skelly, Summerhill township, 209 acres, 100 acres cleared with two story frame house, one and a half story plank house, log barn and saw mill. Margaret O'Donnell, Munster township, one plank dwelling house, fronting on north side of Huntingdon, Cambria and Indiana turnpike Road Stephen Kerns and Philip Kerns, Summerhill township, parcel of land with appurtenances. Andrew Sutton, Susquehanna township, 80 acres, and 414 perches of land with appurtenances. William Henderson Moore (one of Defendants) Allegheny township, 90 acres, 50 acres cleared with two story plank house and log barn. Pennsylvanians in the Field A careful estimate, lately presented to our readers, represented the whole loyal population of the United States to be about twenty-one million. Of this number 2,900,000 are Pennsylvanians. It has just been officially announced that the whole volunteer force in the service of the United States is about 600,000. Pennsylvania alone has furnished about 100,000 men or fully one-sixth of the whole number, while the proportion she could properly be asked for is only about 83,000. Regiments from Pennsylvania are now serving in Kentucky, in Maryland, in Northwestern Virginia, in Southeastern Virginia, in North Carolina and in South Carolina. Probably before long, other regiments may be sent to the Mississippi and the gulf of Mexico. The artillery and cavalry force supplied by Pennsylvania is not equaled by that sent from any other State. The infantry, too, are uncommonly well officered, equipped and disciplined. [Phil. BULLETIN] Blair County Soldier Shot We learn from the Phila. PRESS that a soldier from Altoona, Blair county, named Sybil in Capt. Rodier's company, District volunteers, was dangerously wounded near Washington on last Friday night under the following circumstances - "He was in his camp asleep when a private, in liquor, a real Baltimore Plug-ugly, was brought into the camp in irons. He, however, got his hands through the handcuffs and commenced pulling bricks out of the fire place and throwing them violently at the guard. Presently he seized a musket and aimed it at Lieut. Colonel Towers, who escaped the charge, which was lodged in the thigh of private Sybil, then lying asleep. The limb is horribly mangled and cannot be saved, and the recovery of the man is doubtful. Sybil is from Altoona, Blair county, Pa., where he has a wife to whom a few days ago, he sent twenty-five dollars, out of twenty-six dollars received as his dues up to 1st of November. A dispatch from Augusta, Georgia, dated the 11th says - The report has been current here for the past day or two that black flags have been hoisted at Savannah, Charleston and other places on the coast, which indicates that "no quarter will be given to the invaders, and no quarter will be asked." The XXXVII Congress convenes at Washington for its first regular session on Monday next, and every Member who is not detained by physical inability should be present as a failure to form a quorum would be called decay of the Government. Cambria County Johnstown - continued Having furnished thirty-two papers under the above caption, circumstances beyond my control caused me to suspend my labors for a time; but a polite request of the editor of THE ALLEGHANIAN has induced a resume of my history. And asking the indulgence of the courteous readers for the hiatus of nine months in this veritable history I shall proceed to continue and finish my labors. In the progress of my "history," I stopped right in the middle of Johnstown, and no wonder that I delayed, for it is a pleasant place to sojourn. And if I should be guilty of repetition, or fail to render full justice to this growing metropolis, my excuse is that my former papers are not now before me. I believe I have stated that Johnstown was rapidly "coming to a point," or, in other words, extending towards the junction of Stony Creek and Conemaugh. In this part of the town the streets have been handsomely graded. Here, too, a majority of the finest private dwellings have been erected. Indeed we rarely see a more refined taste than is here displayed in the style of the buildings and in the gardens, terraces and shrubberies surrounding them. If, however, we concede her citizens the need of praise for "palatial" residences, they certainly cannot boast public edifices worthy a place of the growth and commercial importance of Johnstown. True, they have an abundance of churches, but scarcely any of them creditable to the place. Houses of worship at which weekly service is held, belonging to the Methodist, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Baptists, Disciples and United Brethren while the Catholics worship in a church on the hill above Conemaugh Borough. There is a fine brick building in a central part of the town devoted to the Common Schools - much too small to accommodate all the children. I am informed however that auxiliary buildings have been employed. I might state in passing that perhaps there is no portion of Pennsylvania where the Common School System is carried out with more spirit and success than here. A fine bridge spans the Conemaugh, connecting the town with Millville Borough and Taylor Township, while a bridge, rather inferior, but about to be supplanted by a new one performs the same office in regard to Kernville or Fifth Ward, and Yoder Township, crossing Stony Creek, some two hundred yards above the junction. One English newspaper (the TRIBUNE), and one German paper (the BEOBACHTER), are published weekly in the Borough. In patriotism during the late crisis, Johnstown and her suburbs stand unrivalled, having furnished more soldiers than any equal population in Pennsylvania. There are now two full regiments in the service, whose commanders are citizens of Johnstown; one of the regiments composed almost entirely of citizens of Johnstown; while her citizens may be found in almost every regiment of volunteers from Pennsylvania as well as in the regular army. Signed - Jonathan Oldbuck, Monkbarns, November 28, 1861.