NEWS: Items from The Alleghanian, January 23, 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 23, 1862 Volume 3, Number 18 Johnstown Items A Welshman by the name of Evans while laboring under at attack of mania a potu, the other day, jumped from a window in the third story of the Mansion House to the pavement below. Strange to say, however, he was not much injured. One of the Clinton street stores was relieved of the sum of some fifty odd dollars recently by a gentlemanly looking stranger who asked and obtained permission to write at letter behind the counter. Before the theft was discovered the perpetrator had successfully cut a stick and vanished. Mr. Charley Ellis had a narrow escape from drowning in the Stony Creek on Friday night. He accidentally fell into the "raging torrent" and only succeeded in regaining terra firma by the judicious use of a stick of timber which fortunately happened near by. By the report of Superintendent M'Cormick, it appears that the whole number of pupils in attendance at the public schools of Johnstown is 771. [The forgoing items are gleaned from the Cambria TRIBUNE] Personal Our worthy and respected friend, Ex-Sheriff Linton, together with family last week took his departure from our midst for Johnstown where in future he intends residing. Knowing his many good qualities of head and heart we are sincerely sorry to lose him from our list of citizens. He has our warmest wishes for his entire success in whatsoever vocation he may hereafter engage. Mr. John Buck, the successor of Sheriff Linton, last week took up his residence in this borough. Although we opposed Mr. B's election last fall on political grounds, we would be untrue to our personal feelings did we fail to extend to him the right hand of greeting and bid him welcome. Here's to ye, Sheriff! Out and In On last Thursday Mr. John A. Blair, who during the past two years has faithfully served the people of Cambria in the arduous and responsible office of County Treasurer, gave way to his successor, Mr. Thomas Callan. It is admitted on all hands that Mr. Blair made a courteous and accommodating official - we are sure that Mr. Callan will prove himself ditto. Success to both! Oil! It is currently reported and generally believed that the "Ebensburg Oil Company" - a local institution owing its "bornation" to the oleaginous furor of last spring - has succeeded in striking a vein of oil which yields at the rate of six barrels per hour. The well is located on Oil Creek in Ohio. Ichthylogical The drinking water at Chicago is said to be so full of fish that the efforts of the fire department to put the fires out only add fuel to the flames. The fish oil in the water makes the conflagration ten times worse. Attention, Ladies! We are requested to announce that a meeting of the "Ladies' Hose Association" of Ebensburg will be held at the Union School House, on Friday evening next at 6 « o'clock, P. M. A full attendance is requested as business of importance will be transacted. Letter from the 54th Regiment Camp Curtin, Jany. 16, 1862 Seeing that but few notices of our regiment appear in the Cambria county papers, I propose to pen you a note of our doings. We are still in Camp Curtin, and have a very slim prospect of leaving just now. Since early in August we have been bringing in men to fill up our ranks - hence, you perceive, some of us have had about six months in camp. Few additions have been made to our regiment in the way of men for the last three months, but we have materially improved in the art of drill. "Why are we left here so long without pay?" Is the very frequent inquiry of the men to their officers. This is a problem we are not able to solve. There is no disputing the fact that we are the best drilled and (am I saying too much?), the best officered regiment in Camp Curtin since we came here. Our line officers, it is admitted on all sides, are more thoroughly posted in "Hardee" than any other set of officers in camp. As to our field officers, we will let their future history tell the tale. But I may say I have found very few officers who are better posted than they. Camp Curtin is a pleasant enough location and has been extremely healthy considering the vast number of men who have been congregated here at different times. Were we in sight of the Secesh, I would just as soon lie in Camp Curtin as in any place else, but it is decidedly unpleasant to loiter here for six months, far removed from the danger of any attack from the champions of the C. S. A. Besides this, I may also add that it is rather hard for some of "the boarders" to tarry here six months without being provided with a few of Uncle Sam's consolers. The 54th seems to be the favorite with the good people of Harrisburg. We have been visited quite frequently by the "members" and among the rest, the tall graceful form of our worthy Senator Hon. Louis W. Hall - now the popular Speaker of the Senate - has occasionally been seen among us. And here let me say, that our boys have been the thankful recipients of a most gracious gift from the hands of the aforesaid, Mr. Speaker Hall. Long may he wave! And if he again becomes a candidate, I predict for him a swelling vote from the good old 54th. Our little district has been honored by selecting her Senator as Speaker; but since we have seen Mr. Hall preside, we have come to the conclusion that the Senate has also been honored by his selection to fill the responsible post. Whilst writing I have received the cheering intelligence that we are to be ordered to South Carolina via Philadelphia. This is indeed gratifying but the more so when that information is coupled with the important fact that the regiment is to be paid off before leaving Harrisburg. The news that payment is soon to be made lightens the heart of every one of our men but more particularly the married men whose families depend solely upon them for support. Here are men, whose wages whilst at home were barely sufficient to keep their families living, who have been here for six months without receiving a cent. How do their families obtain a livelihood? This question must come home to the heart of every head of family in our county. Reflect for a moment - here are men who have deserted position, home, friends and family and some of those families dependant upon them alone for a meager sustenance, to battle and if necessary to die for the country of their birth or adoption. Should their families be allowed to suffer? Certainly not when there is wealth and plenty in the county to keep body and soul together. Look to this, you who remain at home. If you don't pledge your lives for your country, at least gave a mite of money or a morsel of meal to the helpless families of such as do. [Signed] Horace A Statistical Sketch of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States The first Methodist Society in the United States was formed in the city of New York, A. D., 1766, under the labors of Mr. Philip Embury, who preached the first sermon in his own private dwelling. In the year 1768 the first M. E. Church edifice was erected on John St., in the city of New York, which still stands there as a sacred memento of the rise of Methodism in America. Now there are 9,754 churches worth $20,000,000. The first regular annual Conference held in America was held in Philadelphia, July 4th, 1773, composed of 10 ministers who reported 1,160 members. Now the M. E. Church North holds 51 conferences annually, composed of 6,937 itinerant ministers, who reported for the year 1861; 988,388 lay ministers; 8,352 local ministers - an aggregate of 1,003,677 communicants. Then, taking into account the nine distinct additional branches of the Methodist church in America, we have a grand total of 1,912,102 Methodist communicants in America. Add 3 non- communicants to its congregations for each communicant and there is a population of more than seven-and-a-half-million attending its ministrations upon this continent. Educational Institutions The first adventure in the work of education was inauspicious. Cokesburg College, founded in 1789 was burned to ashes in 1795. The next college was founded in 1824; since that period 154 institutions of learning have risen up, classed as follows: Universities and Colleges, 24 Biblical Institutes, 2 Seminaries, Female Colleges and Academies, 128 Publishing Interests In 1789 a Book Concern was established at Philadelphia on a borrowed capital of $600. On the 17th of Aug., 1789, the first book was published. In 1836 the building, machinery and most of the stock were destroyed by fire. The Book Concern is now divided into The New York and Western Book Concern. This Book Concern is the foundation of a denominational publishing interest of immense magnitude and resources and issues the most extensive catalogue of religious books in the world. During the last 4 years the New York Concern alone printed 3,800,500 bound volumes making 950,125 volumes a year and 27,802,000 pages of tracts, making 6,950,500 per year. This gives the astonishing result of over 2,600 bound volumes and 19,000 pages of tracts per day and about one and four-fifths volumes per minute and 41 and four-fifths pages of tracts in a minute. Periodicals The first Methodist newspaper was published in 1823. After a lapse of 39 years an enviable list of 16 weeklies, monthlies and quarterlies are finding their way to the homes of the rich and the poor. Sabbath Schools Under the auspices of the M. E. Church, there are 13,447 schools, 148,632 teachers, 807,988 scholars. In the libraries of these schools there are 2,275,373 volumes composed of 1300 different kinds of books. The amount paid the last year for the M. E. Sabbath School Union was $11,490. Missionary Society There are 106 Missionaries in foreign fields, viz.: 27 in Africa; 1 in South America; 5 in China; 35 in Germany; 22 in India; 3 in Bulgaria and 7 in Scandinavia. 341 missionaries supply the domestic missions. For the year 1861, the church contributed $325,003 for missionary purposes. All this is the result of less than a century. [Signed] Victor, Wilmore, Jan'y. 17, 1862 Letter from the "Silver Grays" Camp Curtin, Jany. 18, 1862 It gives your correspondent much pleasure to announce the fact that the "Silver Grays" now present a full company as required by the Act Of Congress. Our Roll embraces the number of Eighty-three rank and file, the minimum demanded to warrant the issuing of Commissions to the Captain and two Lieutenants. As one hundred and one members, of all grades, constitute a maximum company, you will perceive that there is room left for a few more recruits. We have information of several making preparations to join our ranks, some of whom will be here on Monday or Tuesday. The company having germinated in "Little Cambria," it is desirable that her hardy sons should have the honor of claiming a majority of its members. Of the eighty-three who have been sworn in to the service, fifty-two hail from our county. Our Cambria "boys" are very solicitous that a majority of the remaining eighteen who may be admitted, shall come down from our hilltops and out of our mountain fastnesses to join us under the broad banner of our glorious country. It is true that we now have the preponderance of a maximum company but it is desirable that the majority should be as striking in a maximum as it is now it the minimum company. Then we proclaim to our friends at home that the present "is the accepted time." Let no one delay who has the remotest intention of "being one of us." The interest manifested in the welfare of the "Silver Grays" among those residing in the vicinity of the camp may be inferred from the contents of the annexed card from our Captain, published in the Harrisburg TELEGRAPH of the 17th inst. The card will speak for itself: "Quarters of Silver Grays Camp Curtin, Jany. 16, 1862 During my absence from camp on Christmas day a number of the kind ladies of Harrisburg evinced their generosity by presenting to the company under my command a supply of luxuries which are not included in a soldier's rations. The "Silver Grays" are most grateful for that timely donation. This morning the old men had another of those "angel visits" in the persons of two of Harrisburg's fair daughters who again distributed their gifts with a lavish hand. I am requested to express to the generous donors the heartfelt thanks of the men under my command for those repeated manifestations of sympathy. Next to the approbation of our own consciences, women's smiles of approval are the most agreeable assurances that our cause is just and that we are in the right line of our duty when arraying ourselves under the banner of the Union. We cannot designate the names of the ladies whose beneficence has awakened in the hearts of every "Silver Gray" a solicitude for their happiness here and hereafter. Their wishing to remain incognito only serves to enhance the value of their gifts as it is convincing evidence that the motives which promoted the acts were an expanded patriotism and a respect for age. I but reiterate the unanimous expression of the members of my company when I salute the ladies referred to in this communication with a fervent, "God bless you." [Signed] Wm. Palmer, Captain." It has been asserted by many who claim to speak by authority that the "Silver Grays" will be detailed by the Governor to take charge of the State Arsenal and Warehouse containing the public stores in Harrisburg. This duty is now being performed by a company under the command of Capt. G. W. P. Davis which was been attached to Col. Wilson's Regiment. If this rumor should assume the proportions of reality, the "Grays" will leave comfortable quarters for a time at least during which they can be perfected in their drill and be prepared for the discharge of more onerous duties. Governor Curtin is evidently favorably prepossessed in favor of the "Silver Grays." He has manifested it by his selection of our company as a guard of the public property. He has also been urged to this determination by the good citizens at Harrisburg who seem to prefer having such as are the "Grays" stationed in their city, to the more vivacious soldiery composing the camp. There is a remarkable fact in connection with our company which is worthy of note and which cannot be said of any other that has been here as long as it has. The fact to which I allude is this: Notwithstanding the average age of the members is a fraction over fifty-two years, not one has been an occupant of the Hospital since the company has been in camp. This is as gratifying as it is true and must dispel any fears that may be entertained by our friends, resulting from the exaggerated stories which have been circulated in relation to the healthy location of the camp. An interesting event took place here on the occasion of the late visitor of our friend, A. C. Mullin, Esq. I will reserve notice of it for my next letter as this one must be necessarily brief, owing to your correspondent's engagements in another direction. For the present, I must bid you adieu, promising your readers to use my best efforts to be more entertaining in my succeeding "friendly talks." [Signed] High Private Military The cavalry company now being recruited in this county, a brief notice of which we printed last week, is getting along finely. We understand that between fifty and sixty men have already enlisted in it, a number of whom have been "sworn in." The company is to be attached to the 12th regiment, Penna. Cavalry, Col. Wm. Frishmuth commanding. Success to it! Our Correspondents As our readers have doubtless perceived, during the past month we have secured the services of a number of new correspondents whose effusions add greatly to the interest and variety of our columns. "Hugh," our Harrisburg correspondent, wields a ready and trenchant pen. He is also fully posted as regards the "ropes" political and is empathically the man to dish up the doings and misdoings of the savans at the State Capital for the edification of the community at large. This he promises to do weekly. "High Private" of the Silver Grays - a gentleman and a scholar as well as a soldier - will furnish us with regular bulletins concerning the welfare of our especial friends, "the Old Men of Cambria." "Horace," of the 54th regiment Penna. Vols. - more familiarly known as the Cambria County Regiment, sends us this week an interesting letter from Camp Curtin which will be found on our first page. Having had some considerable experience in the line, Horace will be abundantly able to "take notes" of the adventures of the 54th - a regiment in which all Cambrians possess a local pride and interest. We hope and hereby request that he favor us with a weekly epistle, if possible. Our reliable as well as racy Camp Pierpont Correspondent, "E," and "Boarnerges" of Camp Wood, Kentucky, will also be on hand as often as circumstances permit. Besides these we expect to add other correspondents to our corps shortly including more particularly one from the Federal Capital - the whole going to make up a spicy first-class country newspaper and one worthy the continued patronage and support of an enlightened public. Now is the time to subscribe for THE ALLEGHANIAN. Change in the Cabinet Simon Cameron, having resigned the office of Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton has been appointed in his stead. Mr. Cameron has been appointed by President Lincoln, Minister to Russia, in place of Cassius M. Clay, who desires to come home and engage in the fight now going on in Kentucky. Both of these appointments have been confirmed by the Senate. The labors of Mr. Cameron have been so arduous that his most intimate friends state that he long since determined to resign his position in the War Department so soon as he could do so without prejudice to the service. He will make an able and influential Minister to the Court of Russia - a Power with which our Government desires to maintain its present friendly relations. Mr. Stanton, the new Secretary of War, has been a Douglas Democrat; he is a man of splendid abilities and has the entire confidence of the loyal portion of the country. He is a warm personal friend of Mr. Cameron and also of the President and is in favor of a vigorous prosecution of the war until this unholy Rebellion is crushed out. His appointment we believe will give universal satisfaction. Pennsylvania and New York The long contest as to which of the two great States of Pennsylvania and New York has contributed the largest force to the army of the Union has at last been decided by the Governors of these Stares respectively. According to Governor Morgan's last message, there are now in the field, for the State of New York, 89,034 soldiers and if there be added to this the volunteers now in the state itself, an available force of 103,307 is shown. According to the last message of Governor Curtin there are now in the field from the state of Pennsylvania 93,577 men and if there be added to this force the volunteers now in the State of Pennsylvania an available force of 109,615 is shown. This is a highly gratifying fact, when we consider that the population of Pennsylvania is one million smaller than that of the Empire State. It will be recollected that much complaint was made by the Western people that so many of the troops from that region were forwarded to the line of the Potomac, when they might have been better employed in the military districts on the Ohio, Missouri and Mississippi rivers. This compliant can no longer be justly made for in all the distant fields of service the sons of Pennsylvania are found in immense numbers. Two of her finest regiments are serving under General Sherman in South Carolina. At least two Brigades have been mustered into the army under General Buell and will undoubtedly form a portion of the advance upon Nashville, under the command of General Grant. It may be claimed by the good old Keystone, that having been the first to send her sons into the national capital, to defend it from the traitors she is also the first and only Eastern state that has contributed of her strength to the great army of the Mississippi Valley.