NEWS: Items from The Alleghanian, April 17, 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, April 17, 1862 Volume 3, Number 30 Cresson We notice that a number of neat little cottage houses are being erected at Cresson for the accommodation of families tarrying there during the heated term. This is an improvement which will commend itself at once to the consideration of the parties interested. Cresson, is emphatically the rural retreat of the list, and her reputation, if we are any judge of such matters, will not wane in the future. Quere Why is it that no reward has as yet been offered for the apprehension of Samuel Welsh, under conviction of the heinous offense of rape who escaped from our county jail two weeks since? Is his recapture advisable or, on the contrary, are we well rid of him? We ask for information. Removal Mr. H. C. Devine has removed his store from its former location near the Diamond to the building one door west of Blair's Hotel where his old customers and as many news ones as may make it convenient are invited to drop in. Our Railroad By reference to the schedule at the top of our local columns, it will be seen that a new arrangement has gone into operation on the Ebensburg & Cresson Railroad to the effect that trains will start from this end of the road in future and not from Cresson as heretofore. Two trips will be made per day, making close connection with three passenger trains on the Pennsylvania Railroad. No connection will be made with night trains for the present. By this arrangement, passengers going both directions are afforded reasonable facilities. We are pleased to learn that Conductor A. B. Scott, than whom a more gentlemanly and accommodating official cannot be found anywhere, and the urbane baggage master, Mr. Richard Peters, have removed their respective families thither with the intention of becoming permanent residents of the Mountain Village. The other employees of the road, Engineer Wm. Warnick and Fireman John Galbraith, both gentlemen of high standing in the ranks of their profession, will also of course become identified with this "neck o' woods." We wish them one and all a profusion of good luck and may they and the Eb. & Cresson RR live a thousand years! Resignation of Maj. Litzinger In consequence of severe and protracted illness, Maj. R. Litzinger of the Eleventh Regiment Penna. Reserves, has tendered his resignation of the above position, which has been accepted, and Capt. Porter of Co. B, (from Indiana) promoted to fill the vacancy. Maj. L. was removed from the Potomac to his home in Belsano, this county, a couple of months since and in the interim has undergone a severe physical prostration. Serious doubts were even entertained for a time as to his recovery, but we are happy to state that the crisis is now past and he mending slowly but perceptibly. He was an exceedingly popular officer and the gallant Eleventh will miss his presence sadly. We wish him a speedy and complete recovery. General War News The news from Yorktown is very important. Information received in the Union camp estimates the rebel force at 80,000 men with 500 guns. They have also several steamers with which they are being constantly reinforced. Gen. Joseph Johnston, the commander of the Department of Virginia, has arrived and taken command of the troops who are said to be the "flower of the rebel army." In consequence of the unfavorable weather, no serious conflict has yet taken place and Gen. M'Clellan's column will not be in a condition for several days yet to attack the enemy's entrenchments and no doubt before that time, the rebels will have 120,000 men. But our troops are confident of victory and desire to emulate the bravery and endurance of their brethren of the West, the news of the glorious victories at Island No. 10 and Pittsburg Landing having been communicated to them. On Friday last the long expected visit of the Merrimac was made to Fortress Monroe, accompanied by the iron clad steamers, Yorktown and Jamestown, with several smaller tugs. The object of their visit seemed to be the capture of three small schooners lying in Hampton Roads. This feat was successfully accomplished by the Yorktown while the Merrimac and Jamestown kept at a safe distance from the Monitor and the iron clad Steven's battery, the Naugatuck, which had been sent there since the previous engagement. But few shots were fired, the enemy being evidently not anxious for a battle. At last accounts the Merrimac could be plainly seen at Sewall's Point and it was thought she was aground. Later news from Island No. 10 makes the victory of our troops in that quarter more complete than at first reported. Nearly the whole rebel force on the Island, numbering over 5,000 troops have been taken prisoners, together with one Major General and three Brigadiers. Immense quantities of cannon, ammunition, quartermaster and commissary stores, &c., were also captured. Gen. Mitchell has made a very important advance after a long and fatiguing march into Alabama; having taken Huntsville, the capital of Madison county, with 200 prisoners, fifteen locomotives and a large amount of railroad stock. On Saturday last two expeditions were started from Huntsville in the captured cars. One, under Col. Sill, went east to Steven's Junction, at which point they captured 2,000 of the retreating enemy with five locomotives and a large amount of rolling stock. The other expedition under Col. Turchin went west and arrived at Decatur in time to save the railroad bridge which was in flames. General Mitchell now holds one hundred miles of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad. By a dispatch we received from General Banks, we hear the report of Beauregard's death. He says he learned from deserters from Jackson's army that the rebels were informed of his death on last Thursday, two day after the great battle of Pittsburg Landing, in which he was reported to have had an arm shot off. The Fifty-Fifth Pa. Regiment Last week we made mention of the report of the capture by the Rebels of a part of a company belonging to the Fifty-fifth regiment, Col. Dick White, at Little Edisto Island, S. C. Subsequent information confirms the report and gives us the additional particular that Co. F., Capt. Bennett, is the company spoken of. A correspondent of the New York TRIBUNE, writing from Port Royal gives the following statement concerning the unfortunate occurrence: "An attack has been made by the Rebels upon a portion of the forces stationed at North Edisto. Information was conveyed to the Rebels of the position occupied by three companies of the 55th Pennsylvania and their capture was attempted by three battalions, each five hundred strong, moving simultaneously last Saturday morning (March 30th) at day break upon their separate positions. It happened that two companies had moved their camps the day before and the two rebel battalions in search of them were obliged to retire having affecting nothing. The third was less fortunate. Thirty men of Company F., Capt. Bennett, under command of their First Lieutenant were at Hannahan's plantation, on little Edisto, separated from the large island and the main force by a creek, the bridge over which was destroyed by the rebels and their retreat completely cut off. This insignificant force thus attacked by 500 rebels maintained a desperate defense for an hour, falling back toward the bridge, of whose destruction they were unaware, availing themselves of the inequalities of the ground as a cover and partially screened by the thick fog through which, however, the flashes of their guns betrayed them to the enemy. They steadily maintained this unequal conflict until when within a hundred yards of the bridge their ammunition gave out and no other defense was possible. Still, they would not surrender, but throwing their muskets into the river, sought refuge in thickets along the banks. Five men escaped by swimming and were afterward picked up by one of the Crusader's boats. Five are known to have been killed during the fight. The remaining twenty, some of them wounded, are missing and undoubtedly prisoners." It will be seen by the succeeding paragraph that Col. White himself made a most narrow escape from falling into the hands of the enemy: "The rebel plans included also the capture of Col. White of the 55th Pennsylvania. He had moved his headquarters, like the two companies, only the day before, and the rebels, in their advance passed unaware by the house in which he and his adjutant and quartermaster were sleeping." Capt. Bennett, we are informed, hails from this county, and a number of Cambrians enter into the composition of his company. The Cambria Guards We have news from Co. A, 11th regiment up to Thursday of last week, at which time the Reserve Corps, with the exception of the 1st brigade, were still encamped near Alexandria, Va. The 1st brigade had departed the day previous for parts unknown and the 2d brigade, to which the 11th regiment belongs, were to follow on Friday, via Warrenton Junction, on the road leading directly to Richmond thro' Manassas. The Reserves are in M'Dowell's division. We expect to hear a good account of them ere long. Pennsylvania Reserves out West It will be gratifying to Pennsylvanians to know that the Union gunboat, Carondelet, which recently executed the gallant feat of running the rebel batteries at Island No. 10 on the Mississippi, getting safely into her desired position under a fire of forty shots is manned entirely by volunteers from the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps', M'Call's division. At least three former members of Co. A., 11th regiment, P. R. C., from this county, are among her complement. The Cambria Regiment Our correspondent, "Horace," sends us a letter under date of 8th inst., from which we learn that the headquarters of the 54th Penna. Regiment has been transferred from near Washington to Great Cacapon, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad from whence they were to be further transferred shortly to Sir John's Run on the same road. Other than this, nothing of important had recently transpired. The letter will appear in our next issue. A Young Pennsylvania Rebel Among the rebels taken at Winchester was Lieut. George C. Junkin, a native of this State, and a son of Rev. D. X. Junkin, a Presbyterian Minister. Dr. Junkin was a resident of Hollidaysburg in this State for some eight or nine years and was appointed a chaplain in the Navy in 1858 by President Buchanan, a position which he now holds and is stationed at Newport, Rhode Island. His son was among the first to join the rebel army and received a Lieutenant's commission. As soon as his father heard it, he secured the necessary documents both from the powers at Washington and the rebel powers at Richmond, with which he proceeded to Harper's Ferry and used every exertion to induce his son to resign and go North with him. This George refused to do under any consideration, and the loyal father was compelled to disown him and leave him to his fate. It is a singular coincidence that in the first battle in which he was engaged after Bull Run, that he was compelled to face and fight against many of his old friends and acquaintances from Hollidaysburg and vicinity, who were in the 84th regiment. Immediately after his capture, his father applied for his release and at his instance, the young rebel has been discharged.