NEWS: Items from The Alleghanian, 18 Jul 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, 18 Jul 1861 Volume 2, Number 48 Movement of the Pennsylvania Troops We learn from the Harrisburg TELEGRAPH that in compliance with an order received from Gen. Scott, the two Pennsylvania regiments commanded respectively by Cols. Simmonds and Biddle, at Camp Mason and Dixon, marched into Maryland on Sunday last and are now in possession of Cumberland. The march was in all respects important. Loco-Foco Nominations The Loco-Foco County Convention convened at the Court House in this borough on Monday, 8th inst., and presented the following ticket: Assembly - Cyrus L. Pershing Sheriff - John Buck Treasurer - Thomas Callan Commissioner - Peter J. Little Associate Judges - George W. Easley, Henry C. Devine Poor House Director - George Delany Auditor - E. R. Dunnegan, John S. Rhey A kind of compromise between the belligerent wings of the party was patched up but whether it will hold water with the "rank and file" is remarkably doubtful. Our contemporary up street may be in "good humor with the world and the rest of mankind" owning to the result and our friend around the corner may be "too full for words" to express himself, from the same cause, but the "spontaneous combustion" dodge failed in a former issue and so it will in this. The above ticket cannot be elected. The Revenue Laws The Governor has appointed the following gentlemen as commissioners to revise the revenue laws of the State: Gideon J. Ball, Erie County Francis Jordan, Bedford County Charles Gilpin, Philadelphia. These gentlemen will at once enter on the performance of the labor assigned them by the Governor. Capt. Doubleday of Fort Sumter celebrity and Lieut. Slemmer of Fort Pickens have been appointed Majors in the regular army. Local and Personal Chaplain - Rev. J. B. Pyatt formerly of this place has been appointed Chaplain of the 8th Regiment. Camp Meeting -The United Brethren in Christ will hold a camp meeting on the premises of Mr. Hileman, near Mechanicsburg, Indiana county, commencing on Friday, August 16, 1861. Third Regiment - The term of enlistment of the three months' volunteers is about expiring and it is expected that the Third regiment, to which are attached three of the companies from this county, will disband on the 20th, inst. Camp Wright - We see by the Pittsburg DISPATCH that the guns for Camp Wright were distributed on Monday. They are the old style flint lock muskets altered to percussion and the same authority says that considerable dissatisfaction existed among the men on ascertaining their quality. The Comet - This illustrious stranger, which as been the subject of so many speculations latterly is rapidly receding from view and will soon be lost sight of altogether. Notwithstanding this, C. R. Jones of the Ebensburg Boot and Shoe Store, still continues to sell hats and caps, boots and shoes, ready-made clothing, and &c., at the unparalleled prices of yore. Drop in and see his assortment of goods. The Weather - The weather has been unusually cold hereabouts during the past week. In fact, so cold has it been that fires and overcoats have become rather commonplace commodities. The question now is, Has the comet anything to do with these atmospherical changes? If so, comet should be abated forthwith. Johnstown Items Our Johnstown correspondent, under date of July 9th, sent us the following items. They were intended for last week's issue and though slightly out of date will still repay a perusal: The glorious Fourth was appropriately celebrated in our town and neighborhood. The day was ushered in at about the time graveyards yawn by a grand salute from all the old pistols, shot guns and muskets that could be scared up and from that time until rosy dawn an incessant firing was kept up. At 9 A. M., the Home guards composed entirely of our German population paraded in the public square where a national salute was fired. After this they repaired to the rolling mill, where the Stars and Stripes were elevated to the top of the stack. A meeting was then organized and several eloquent and patriotic addresses delivered. The programme was varied and enlivened by the singing of the Star Spangled Banner and other national airs by Misses Emma Boggs, Jennie Crouse, and Jennie McCluskey, assisted by Capt. Smith and Col. Crouse. A picnic was also held at Jacoby's Grove at which several speeches were delivered. This morning about 3 o'clock out citizens were alarmed by a cry of "Fire." The flames proceeded from a one and a half story frame house on Clinton street, owned by Messrs. Marbourg and occupied by Mr. Kinney as a cigar shop. The loss is slight. The fire is supposed to have been the work of an incendiary. The Fourth at Wilmore A correspondent, "Mikel," writes that the good people of Wilmore celebrated the eighty-fifth anniversary of our National Independence in dashing style. A Sabbath School celebration was held in a grove adjoining town, at which a large number of the parents, teachers and children were present. The Wilmore Zouaves were also on the ground. Several patriotic addresses were delivered, after which a bountiful repast was served up. The balance of the day was consumed in various exercises and amusements and they returned to their homes in the evening well pleased with their observation of "The Day We Celebrate." The Glorious Fourth in Ebensburg - What was done and Vice versa. The eighty-fifth anniversary of American Independence, the Great and Glorious Occasion, the Day we Celebrate, etc. etc., passed off very quietly in our midst. Indeed such a limited feast of reason and such a frugal flow of soul as was then and there put forth is seldom witnessed in a town embracing ten hundred and twenty five inhabitants and two wards. The reason of this was simply because our citizens, finding no amusement at home, went abroad in large numbers in quest of the article. Which was about the most sensible thing they could have done. The Sons of Temperance had a pleasant reunion in Lloyd's Grove in the afternoon. Prayer was delivered by several clergymen and addresses made by Messrs. D. J. Jones, I. C. Singer, Wm. Tibbott and A. A. Barker. The National airs were effectively rendered by some of the brothers and sisters. The whole affair was well planned and well executed and reflects credit on the patriotic and Union loving confraternity. We noticed several attempts to celebrate the day after the vinous and bibulous manner but these were only sporadic attacks, the effervescing and bubbling over of a year's patriotism in an occasional irresponsible individual and in no case did they cause any inconvenience or raise a disturbance. And this is about all that can be said on the subject. Accident to a Cambria Volunteer George Sweigart, a member of Company G., Capt. Lapsley, Third Regiment Pa. Vols., had his arm dreadfully shattered by the accidental discharge of a musket, while on the march to Martinsburg, Va., on the 2d, inst. The AMERICAN UNION, a paper published at the above named place by the division of the American army under Major Gen. Patterson, gives the following particulars concerning the accident - Dr. Jackson, the Surgeon of the Regiment, without out a moment's delay had the wounded man carried off the road and, under the shade of a tree, amputated the limb. The soldier stood the operation without wincing and after it was concluded was asked how he felt. "Bully," answered, "but very hungry. Can't somebody give me something to eat?" Such is the metal which composes the Union army, when can it be conquered? Promoted - It gives us great pleasure to state that our young friend, John Roberts, who went with the Cambria Guards as a musician, has been appointed Drum Major of the 11th Regiment, P.R.C. John is a good fellow and in this instance is emphatically the right man in the right place. Letters from Our Volunteers Camp Wright, July 8, 1861: Another regiment was organized here on Tuesday out of the remaining unattached companies in camp. It is called the 11th Regiment, P.R.C. The following are the companies composing it: Cambria Guards, Ebensburg, Capt. Litzinger; Independent Blues, Armstrong, Capt. Jackson; Indiana National Guard, Indiana, Capt. Porter; Dickson Guards, Butler, Capt. Louden; Washington Blues, Westmoreland, Capt. Spires; Brady Guards, Jefferson, Capt. Brady; Union Volunteers, Fayette, Capt. Bierer; Westmoreland Blues, Westmoreland, Capt. Kistler; Washington Blues, Blairsville, Capt. Nesbit; Conoquenessing Rangers, Butler, Capt. Stewart. The election for field officers resulted as follows: Colonel - Thomas F. Gallagher, Westmoreland; Lieut. Colonel - J. R. Porter, Indiana; Major - S. M. Jackson, Armstrong. Lieut. P. A. Johns, Fayette, is appointed Adjutant. The Cambria Guards are designated as Co. A., the post of honor in the Regiment. That they will prove themselves worthy of the trust reposed in them is, I think, altogether certain. A large delegation of friends from home visited us on the 4th. It is estimated that, including soldiers, there were seven thousand persons in camp that day. The occasion will be long remembered. Signed - K [Extract from a private letter dated Camp Wright, July 6, 1861 Col. Hayes' regiment left for Camp Wilkins early on Monday morning and Col. McCalmont's regiment came up in the evening to take their place. In the meantime the Cambria Guards, who had been living in tents some two or three weeks, concluded to try barracks awhile. Accordingly, without asking the Captain or saying a word to anybody we quietly took possession. After we were fixed all right, Lieut. McCoy went to the Colonel in command and requested permission to move which was refused. "But," said Lieut. M., "The men have already done so without orders." So the Colonel after giving it as his opinion that "We'd do," said that we might as well remain. A Day at Camp Wright Having nothing particular to do last week, and more than a sufficiency of time to do it in, we paid a brief visit to our "sojer boys," at Camp Wright. We found them all enjoying themselves hugely, and looking haler and heartier than when they left home. Good health was a perfect drug with them, inasmuch as not a single man was afflicted with the slightest indisposition. A happy faculty of being able to accommodate themselves to any circumstance was also observable about them as they appeared as much at home in their "quarters" as if they had lived there for years. Without a single exception they expressed their entire satisfaction with their new mode of life and their willingness to remain in it until Rebellion is completely wiped out. They are a jolly good set of fellows, officers and men, are the Guards, and rank high in the esteem of their fellow soldiers. As proof of this, witness their designation as Co. A. in the Eleventh Regiment, the post of honor. Co. A. is a rifle company and the skirmishers of the regiment. We ate with the Guards and had ocular demonstration of the fact that they receive plenty of the [word unclear]; we slept with the Guards, and know that we could put in fifteen of the twenty-four hours each day with similar accommodations; and we dodged the sentries along the lines with the Guards, and felt almost positive that we could do it as well as any of them after a little practice. The camp is situated on gently sloping ground which successfully prevents the formation of mud puddles within it. Trees are scattered throughout and around the enclosure, affording a grateful and luscious shade from the heat of the sun. The strictest cleanliness is required as to the camp and surroundings and no intoxicating liquor is allowed within gun shot. Altogether Camp Wright appears to be a modern military rendezvous and we congratulate our soldiery on having securing such comfortable accommodations. The Guards expect to be ordered into actual service ere long, but what destination is as yet unknown.