NEWS: Items from The Alleghanian, November 13, 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, November 13, 1862 Volume 4, Number 17 Register's Notice Notice is hereby given that the following Accounts have been passed and filed in the Register's Office at Ebensburg and will be presented to the Orphans' Court of Cambria county for confirmation and allowance on Wednesday the 3d day of December next - to wit: The second and final account of Charles Bilestine, administrator of John M'Closkey, dec'd. The final account of John Stull, guardian of Lydia and Sarah Eye (now Lydia and Sarah Kring). The account of John Stull, administrator of Joseph Strayer, deceased. The account of Samuel Becher and Henry Becher, administrators of Nicholas Becher, deceased. The final account of John Paul, administration of William Paul, deceased. The first account of John C. Noel, administrator of John Noel, deceased. The second account of Catharine Cassiday, executrix of Lewis Cassiday, deceased. The second and final account of William Kittell, trustee to sell the real estate of Thomas Jackson, deceased. The first account of William Kittell, administrator of Robert Flinn, deceased. The third account of Jane Rodgers, acting executrix of John Makin, deceased. E. F. Lytle, Register Ebensburg, November 3, 1862 Local Etchings The Blair county Court House at Hollidaysburg has been tastefully repaired and refurbished of late. Scarce: The commodity known as water hereabouts. It is much scarcer in fact than whiskey. The name of C. L. Pershing, Esq., of this county is mentioned in connection with the Speakership for the next House of Representatives in this State. Rev. A. Torrence of New Alexandria, Washington county, has been appointed Chaplain of the 11th Penna. Reserves and has already entered upon the discharge of his duties. He was formerly chaplain of the same regiment. Wild pigeons have made their appearance in this neighborhood in considerable number and sportsmen are doing a brisk business in the way of bagging them. Squirrels are also quite plenty for this season of the year. Edgar Evans, James N. Evans, George W. Books and Thomas P. Dumm - all of Co. A., 11th Penna. Reserves - have arrived home. The two former have been discharged from the service by reason of physical disability while the others are suffering from wounds received at the battle of Gaines' Hill. From our Volunteers Camp at Snickersville, Va. Nov. 4, 1862 Letter from Co. F., 133d Penna. Vols. On the March Notings By the Way "Circumstances alter cases;" so striking tents and packing knapsacks give promise of a new programme to us and of something possibly of an interesting nature to make up a letter for the perusal of our friends at home. On Friday, 31st ultimo, at noon, we received orders to pack up and be ready to move in a quarter of an hour, to which mandate the boys responded with hearty cheers. In a few minutes, you could observe an unusual stir in the whole corps and shortly after the expiration of the time allotted for packing up, regiment after regiment filed into the road (the aggregate number of which I am not at liberty to state), all heading Dixieward. Moving through Sharpsburg and following the road to Frederick until we had crossed the Antietam bridge, we bore to the right and pushed up the steep sides of South Mountain. On the top of the mountain was opened to our view the grandest and most romantic scenery that could be well imagined. Deep ravines having their origin apparently under our very feet; steep declivities clothed with beautiful evergreens; with an occasional pillar of rocks rearing its hoary head high in air - the whole forming a scene decidedly picturesque and grand. Getting over the mountain we encamped for one night in a beautiful piece of woods, thereunto adjacent - making a march of about seven miles. Next morning reveille was beaten at 4 « o'clock and at 6 we commenced our march down Pleasant Valley - (not such a very pleasant valley to us, however). Arrived at Harper's Ferry at about 12, where we crossed the Potomac into town on a pontoon bridge. Here we were favored with the opportunity of witnessing the immense destruction of public property occasioned by Jackson's followers during their brief occupation of the place. We next crossed the Shenandoah River and filed around the mountain into London Valley, after proceeding four miles up, which, we encamped until Sunday morning. In the meantime we were mustered for pay - but the pay itself hasn't as yet made its appearance. This day's march was about fifteen miles. Sunday morning at 6 « o'clock we moved up the valley, achieving a march of about eighteen miles by 6 P. M. Since then we have remained pretty much dormant, doing a little picketing, however, now and then by way of variety. The village we are now encamped near - Snickersville - is situated in the mouth of Aldie's Gap on the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge and is about twenty-two miles from Harper's Ferry, thirteen from Leesburg, thirty from the Rappahannock, and thirty-five from Winchester. The valley has evidently been exempted from the blasting effects of war. It is highly productive and its general appearance indicates thrift on the part of the population. At the present time however, very few of the males are to be seen and the females do not hesitate to avow their bitter hatred of the Union cause. The boys stood the march remarkably well, being stimulated thereto by the booming of the artillery in our front, occasioned by the Rebels attempting to occupy the gap. Our forces and theirs had a race to secure this position and ours were successful. Batteries were forthwith posted and the Rebels forced back from the coveted gap in the mountain. [Signed] O. K. Camp Exchange, Alexandria Nov. 9, 1862 Paroled Cambrians at "Camp Exchange" Their Conditions and Prospects A few words as to the temporal welfare of the paroled prisoners at this camp may prove not totally uninteresting to your readers. We, of the "Cambria Guards," have been located here for upwards of two months and I am happy to say, are much better treated than we were at Annapolis, Md. - at which place we held forth for a season prior to being removed hither. We have been uniformed anew, washed, combed and cleaned up generally, and the effect is astonishing. So much so, in fact, that we scarcely know ourselves any more. Soap is a great old rejuvenator and affects alike the spirits and outward semblance. "Each, each other's Rough, 'bide rubbing - You scrub me, I scrub you." And that's the way we do - you know. Try it on! The Colonel of our camp, the brave De Korponay, labors night and day to minister to our comfort. He is at present engaged in erecting a theater for our especial accommodation and has promised us "football," "cricket," "skylarking," and various other recreations in due course of time. So that, although we are not allowed by the provision of our parole to drill, stand guard, or follow the enemy, we still have prospect of putting in the winter charmingly. Provided always, however that Uncle Sam don't infer a claim for our services in the meantime and have us exchanged. Although Camp Exchange promises prospective high old times in abundance, I am free to say that the last one of us would much rather be with our respective regiments. There are eight of the Cambria Guards here - all captured by the Rebels at the battle of Gaines' Hill before Richmond, June 27th. As follows: Corp. William H. Sechler, William W. Wagoner, John W. Moore, Richard R. Davis, Charles B. Litzinger, John M'Feely, George W. Brown and Thomas D. Litzinger. Some of the number have been sick, but all are now recovering. Your former worthy fellow townsman, Dr. Wm. A. Smith, is here, officiating in the capacity of Surgeon in the hospital. He is a gentleman, a scholar and the soldier's friend. What more need to be said? And I am, [Signed] "T. D." The Removal of Gen. M'Clellan The great topic of the day is the removal of Gen. M'Clellan from the command of the Army of the Potomac and his retiracy from active service! The order was issued last Friday night and was entirely unexpected to all. On its receipt the command was immediately turned over to Burnside. Gen. M'Clellan and his staff were to leave for Trenton where he is ordered to report. His last official act was the issuing of an address to his soldiers, informing them, in a few words, that the command had devolved on Gen. Burnside and taking an affectionate leave of them. As Gen. Hooker is to take the field, it is supposed that he is to take Gen. Burnside's place as late commander of corps d'armee. Some of the reasons which led to Gen. M'Clellan's removal are given in the following extract from an official letter from Gen. Halleck to the Secretary of War: "Soon after the battle of Antietam, Gen. M'Clellan was urged to give the information of his intended movements in order that if he moved between the enemy and Washington, the reinforcements could be sent from this place. On the 1st of October, finding that he purposed to operate from Harper's Ferry I urged him to cross the river at once and give battle to the enemy, pointing out to him the disadvantages of delaying till the autumn rains had swollen the Potomac and impaired the roads. "On the 6th of October he was peremptorily ordered to cross the Potomac, and give battle to the enemy or drive him South. I said to him: 'Your army must move now while the roads are in good condition.' It will be observed that three weeks have elapsed since that order was given. In my opinion there has been no such want of supplies in the army under Gen. M'Clellan as to prevent his compliance with my orders to advance upon the enemy. Had he moved his army to the south side of the Potomac he could have received his supplies almost as readily as by remaining inactive on the north side." The announcement which conveys M'Clellan's removal assures the public that recent investigations of a most unexpected character are the cause of this step on the part of the Administration. Comment on this would be premature. It is not our business to conjecture the cause. Sufficient for us to know that the step has been taken at a moment when some action was necessary for the success of our military operations and that those who make this removal cannot possibly have any other object in view than that of ensuring the safety of the Republic. We are not now struggling for the rise or fall of men. Rival leaders, however important they may become to their personal friends, are of no consequence to the great issues in which the nation is involved and therefore, he who cannot sacrifice a personal or a political preference in this contest, has nothing worthy within himself of being sacrificed to the good and glory of his country. As the successor of Gen. McClellan, Gen. Burnside brings to his command reputation and ability won and tested on the hardest fought battle fields of the continent. His enthusiasm and his action - his skill and his enterprise will speedily win us victories of the most important character, unless he is embarrassed and thwarted by combinations within and without the army of jealous politicians and military cliques. But let us trust that against all this he will guard by his promptness and the energy which always secures success. One Thousand Loyal Indians in Council From headquarters we learn that Col. Chipman, chief of General Curtis' staff and who is on a tour of inspection in Kansas, recently attended a council of over one thousand Indian refugees at Le Roy. O- po-the-to-he-lo was the leading spirit. The Indians insist on fighting the rebel Indians in their own way. Gen Pike's Indians may prepare for war, as they commenced it at Pea Ridge. Important movements are contemplated by the old chief. [From the MISSOURI DEMOCRAT] Gen. Mitchell Gen. Mitchell, the hero of Huntsville, has fallen a victim to the yellow fever. He died at Beaufort, S. C. on the 30th of October in the 59th year of his age. May he rest in peace!