NEWS: Items from The Alleghanian, January 16, 1862, 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, January 16, 1862 Volume 3, Number 17 The Governor's Message We print in today's paper the Message of Gov. Curtin to the present state Legislature and commend it to our readers as a document worthy of their careful perusal. It touches upon a variety of topics of public interest and embodies much useful information in regard to the State and Federal Government. It is clear, candid and practical throughout and is just such a State paper as might be expected from its distinguished author. News from Gov. Curtin's Annual Message: Read to both Houses of the Pennsylvania Legislature, January 8, 1862: [The following are excerpts from the very lengthy speech:] The following table of the existing Pennsylvania volunteer force is given for information: Regiments in Service: 66 regiments of infantry of which 6 were rifle regiments 71,189 22 regiments of cavalry 12,690 1 regiment of artillery 1,077 TOTAL 84,956 Companies in Service: 7 companies of infantry 707 6 companies of cavalry 578 6 companies of artillery 936 TOTAL 2,221 Enlistments in other than Pennsylvania organizations, estimated. (the officers of which are in course of being commissioned) 6,400 TOTAL IN SERVICE 93,577 Regiments Preparing for Service: 12 regiments of infantry 13,092 1 regiment of cavalry 1,136 1 regiment of artillery 1,077 TOTAL 15,305 Companies Preparing for service: 1 company of cavalry 109 4 companies of artillery 624 TOTAL 733 In service: 93,577 Preparing for service 16,038 Pennsylvania's contribution: 109,615 (Exclusive of 20,175 three-months men now disbanded). The regiments preparing for service are incomplete. Those that may not be filled by the 16th inst., will be consolidated and sent forward. Of the regiments in service: The Eleventh and Fifteenth Regiments of Infantry are at Annapolis The Twenty-eighth; Twenty-ninth; Twenty-first; Sixty-sixth; Sixty- ninth; Seventy-first; Seventy-second and One hundred-and-Sixth regiments and one company of Infantry are in the command of Major General Banks The Forty-fifth; Fiftieth; Fifty-Fifth; Seventy-sixth; and One- hundredth regiments of Infantry are in South Carolina The Forty-eighth Infantry are at Hatteras Inlet The One hundred-and-eighth Infantry and Eleventh cavalry are at Fortress Monroe The Seventy-seventh; Seventy-Eighth and Seventy-ninth Infantry; the Seventh and Ninth Calvary, one Troop of horse; one squadron of Cavalry; two battalions of Artillery are in Kentucky. The Eighty-fourth, and One hundred-and-tenth Infantry are in Western Virginia as are also three companies of Infantry, four companies of Cavalry, five companies of Light Artillery The Eighty-seventh Infantry are at Cockeysville in Maryland One company of Artillery is at Fort Delaware All the remainder of the volunteers are at or near Washington. Upwards of 300 volunteers from Pennsylvania are now prisoners but as arrangements have been made for the exchange of prisoners it maybe expected that they will soon be released. [Material skipped] The care which has been bestowed upon the comfort of the volunteers and the goodness and sufficiency of their supplies of all kinds and the excellent arrangement of the Medical Department under the control of Surgeon General Henry H. Smith are proved by the fact that more than 60,000 men have been for various generally short periods at Camp Curtin, since the 19th of April last, and that down to the 1st of January inst., there died but forty-nine men at that camp, viz.: forty- four from sickness, two (belonging to regiments from other States) who had been injured on railroads, two accidentally killed in Camp Curtin and one shot in Harrisburg. [Material skipped] Pennsylvania has made great efforts to support the Government. She has given more and better clothing and better equipped men than any other State, and has far exceeded her quota of the military levies. The sons of our best citizens, young men of education and means, fill the ranks of her volunteer regiments. Their gallant conduct, whenever an opportunity has been afforded them, has done honor to the Commonwealth. The universal movement among our people signifies that they are loyal to the Government established by their fathers, and are determined to quell the present insurrection and preserve the Union and that they will not tolerate any plan for either the dissolution or reconstruction of it. [Signed} A. G. Curtin Executive Chamber Harrisburg, Jan. 8, 1862 Letter from the "Silver Grays" Camp Curtin, Jany. 11, 1862 During the last two weeks we have had every variety of weather, from mild genial Indian summer to cold, blustering boisterous winter. At this moment the camp grounds present one entire mud puddle. All hands are praying fervently for a "freeze," and that their pedal extremities may once more rest upon the top of Mother Earth and not to be brought into quite so close proximity with those of the antipodes. The Silver Grays are progressing finely. EXCELSIOR is our Motto - onward and upward is our destination. To adopt the converse of an old adage, our numbers are growing large by degrees and beautifully approach the status of a complete organization. The roll today exhibits the names of seventy-three "good men and true" ready to obey their country's call, let that call point in whatsoever direction it may. We have four members detailed in recruiting service upon whose return we feel confident of filling up our ranks to the minimum. In my last I promised a word in reference to the standing of our First Lieutenant, James Murray. I say but the truth when I assert that he is a favorite, not only among the Silver Grays but through the entire camp. He is recognized as the best drill officer here outside the West Pointers connected with the camp and he will lose nothing in comparison even with them. If this war continues his merits as a gentleman and officer will be rewarded by his being called to the performance of higher and more important duties. His promotion would give great satisfaction to every Silver Gray. Capt. Palmer is as "busy as a nailer" attending to the improvement and comfort of his command. Our company being unattached, the captain has all the duties to discharge, so far as the company is concerned, that are ordinarily performed by the colonel of a regiment. He is "on the run" from morning until bedtime, but he pursues "the even tenor of his way" without murmur or complaint. His characteristic equanimity is here exhibited to much advantage. When he is aroused grumblers "shut up" and dyspeptics affect good humor. Let what may come our captain will pass par. [Signed] High Private Military An effort is being made in this place to raise a cavalry company, under the auspices of Geo. J. Rodgers and William Linton. We understand that considerable success is experienced in recruiting for it and no doubts are entertained of the ultimate success of this experiment. Excelsior The citizens of Johnstown are urgently memorializing Congress to have the proposed new National Foundry located at that place. Next to Ebensburg we know of no more eligible situation for it. Teacher's Institute The regular meeting of the Ebensburg and Cambria township Teachers' Association was held in the Ebensburg Union School House on Saturday afternoon last. The following officers were chosen for the ensuing term: President, D. W. Evans; Vice President, John Gittings; Secretary, J. O. Brookbank; Assistant Secretary, D. L. Evans; Treasurer, W. H. Davis. A large number of teachers were present and some interesting exercises were had. The association is in a flourishing condition and bids fair to be a valuable auxiliary to the cause of education. Munster Township This township has only been erected some half a score of years since when it was formed from portions of Allegheny, Cambria and Washington. It is bounded on the East by Washington, on the South by Washington and Summerhill, on the West by Cambria and on the North by Allegheny. Its chief town is Munster, named, not as would be supposed from the Southern Province of Ireland, but from a town of the same name in Germany, renowned as the birth place of the revered Gallitzin. Munster was, at one time, the formidable rival of Ebensburg and Beulah for the Seat of Justice; and though more fortunate than the last named place, her progress was seriously retarded by the growth of her successful rival. At the same time it must be admitted that Munster is a better site for a town or village than either of her rivals. Munster is the centre of trade of Munster township, has a post office, country stores, &c. It is located on either side of the Northern Turnpike on a beautiful plateau. Munster is not adapted to the growth of wheat or corn, but is perhaps the best grazing township in the County. Nearly all the land is tillable. Large quantities of excellent butter is manufactured in this township. This township is also fortunate in her improvements. The Ebensburg & Cresson Rail Road, entering near the residence of David O'Hara, Esq., winds through the center of the township, curving within a few rods of the town of Munster on the North and passing thence to the South Eastern corner of Allegheny. Munster station occupies (or WILL occupy) a triangle on the road from Munster to Loretto, in the land of Aug. Durbin, Esq. In addition to this the Huntingdon, Cambria & Indiana Turnpike Road passes from East to West through the length of the township A public road leads from Munster to Wilmore with a branch to Portage. Another from Munster to Loretto by the Old Ebensburg Road. Another public road passes from the Eastern portion of the village of Munster to the Loretto Mill; and still another, leaving the "Cherry tree," as it is called, at the corner of the O'Hara place, terminates at Hemlock. The township as we have intimated is level. The largest hill only a part of which is within its boundaries is Mullin's Hill. An old Indian plum orchard still shows its remains on the hill North of Parrish's in this township. Its waters are the springs of Conemaugh and Clearfield - the one rising North, the other South of the Turnpike. The population of this township, according to the census of 1860 is 500. [Signed] Jonathan Oldbuck, Monkbarns, January 16, 1862