NEWS: Items from The Alleghanian, April 24, 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 24, 1862 Volume 3, Number 31 Cambrians in the Battle of Pittsburg Landing By letters received here we learn that Co. C., Capt. Williams, 19th regular infantry, composed almost wholly of Cambrians - participated it the above engagement and covered themselves with glory. Three of their number are reported wounded, viz.: John Lister, in the leg; Cyrus Metzler, in the hip; --- M'Govern, in the head. The two first named were but slightly hurt but the other is seriously injured and will scarcely recover. The 19th regiment belongs to Gen. M'Cook's division. The "Cambria County Spy" Turns Up Again! His capture by, Adventures with and Escape from the Rebels! Our readers may recollect an account published in these columns some ten or eleven months since concerning the adventures at Pensacola and Fort Pickens, Fla., of a young man named Joseph A. Kerbey, son of Geo. W. Kerbey, Esq., the worthy agent of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Wilmore, this county. Young Kerbey, it will be remembered, entered the Rebel lines at the former place in the dangerous capacity of a Federal spy and after obtaining much valuable information regarding the strength of the enemy, their fortifications, guns, etc., successfully made his escape to Fort Pickens, where he communicated the essential facts to the commandant of the post. Returning to New York shortly after, Mr. Kerbey came on home and spent some time with his friends. A life of inactivity being foreign to his nature, however, he took an early occasion to shape his steps for Washington city with the intention of finding employment in the army of the Potomac. Since that period no tidings whatever have been heard of him, until about two weeks ago, his father received the gratifying intelligence that he had just affected his escape from the Rebels at Cumberland Gap and was on his way home! His appearance in proper person in due course of time dispelled all doubts as the truth of the good news and filled the hearts of his parents and friends, who had mourned him as dead, with joy and rejoicing. "Young Kerbey, or "Joe," as he is familiarly called, has truly had an adventurous time of it during the past year and the tales he tells surpass in interest many romantic inventions of fiction. On arriving at Washington after his return from Fort Pickens, he found his peculiar plans in that department spoiled by the then recent Bull Run blunder so he wended his way to Harper's Ferry. While across the river at this latter place one day, viewing the Rebel entrenchments in the neighborhood he was surprised by several of the enemy's picket and obliged to give himself up. He was afterward taken before Beauregard and examined as a spy, but passing himself off as a secesh Marylander, he finally succeeded in escaping death, and was sent to Richmond. Here he was confined in the same prison with Corcoran and Ely for about a month and in common with the Federal prisoners, fared badly. He ultimately succeeded however in convincing his guardians that he was a bona fide Secesh and offered to show his fidelity to the "so-called Southern Confederacy" by doing soldier's duty. This modest proposal was assented to and he was sent to Yorktown to work on the peninsular fortifications. Since February last Mr. Kerbey has been engaged as an artillerist at Cumberland Pass and has been promoted from a private to a responsible command with one of the batteries. He asserts that he had almost given up all hope of escape from his detested associates until the late Federal advance toward Cumberland Gap. Having a fair view one day of the tents of General Carter's forces he determined to reach them. So, with this object in view, he attended a parade of one of the rebel regiments at some distance from the encampment, and amid the noise and confusion of the affair, wandered off unobservedly, until he had succeeded in putting a hill between himself and his late companions, when he forthwith made rapid tracks for Carter's picket. Having a Secesh uniform upon him, a portion of which he yet wears, he was for a time in mortal terror of being shot by prowling Unionists. The Gap, too, being in plain sight for many miles, he was afraid to take the open road for fear of pursuit by the Rebels. Finally he reached the Cumberland River, which he was obliged to swim and soon after arrived safely at General Carter's camp where he was kindly received. Prior to leaving Northward, he gave Carter an exact account of all the Rebel troops in East Tennessee, their positions, guns, &c. During a portion of his "strange eventful career," Mr. Kerbey was stationed at Knoxville, Tenn., where he frequently formed one the of guard detailed to watch over Parson Brownlow's house. On the occasion of the Parson's trip eastward over the Pennsylvania railroad last week that distinguished personage was probably not a little astonished at beholding his whilom guard standing at the station at Wilmore. He recognized him immediately, however, and the two shook hands warmly. The Parson was made the recipient of intelligence direct from his family by Mr. K. They parted with mutual expressions of esteem. Mr. Kerbey professes to be thoroughly acquainted with the rebel lines of defense at Yorktown, the position of the batteries, the number and caliber of the guns and much other valuable information, which he this week intends laying before the proper authorities at Washington. Generals of the West Gen. Henry Wager Halleck is one of the four Major Generals of the regular army of the United States. He is about forty-two years of age and was born in Weston, Oneida County, New York. He entered the Military Academy as a West Point cadet in 1835. He has published some able military and scientific works and is a good lawyer. In 1854 he was appointed Captain of Engineers. He was created a Major General by act of Congress last August. Major General Ulysses S. Grant was born at Point Pleasant, Clairmont County, Ohio, April 27, 1822, and entered West Point Military Academy from Ohio in 1839 where he graduated with honors in 1843 and was attached as brevet second lieutenant to the Fourth Infantry. He was promoted second lieutenant at Corpus Christi in September 1845 and served as such through Mexico. In 1854 when he resigned, he was full captain in the Fourth Infantry. In the present war he has served in Missouri and Kentucky with great credit. General Don Carlos Buell, the commander of the District of Ohio troops in the field, is a native of Ohio and is about forty years of age. He entered the Military Academy at West Point as a cadet in the year 1837 and was brevetted second lieutenant of the Third Infantry July 1, 1841. He served through Mexico, attaining the rank of Assistant Adjutant General. He was confirmed a Major General in March, 1862. Major General Charles Furguson Smith, commander of the Second Division, is a native of Pennsylvania and son of the celebrated Doctor Samuel B. Smith. He entered the Military Academy as a cadet in 1821 and graduated in 1825, standing No. 19 in his class. On the 1st of July of that year he was made a second lieutenant of the Second Artillery. In 1820 he was appointed the Assistant Instructor in Infantry Tactics at the Military Academy. He served through Mexico and in 1855 reached the Lieut. Colonelcy of the Tenth Infantry. He was made a Major General March 21, 1862. Major General John A. M'Clernand has not, previous to the present war, been particularly noted as a military man. He is a man of about forty-three or forty-four years of age. He has always been noted as a Democratic politician and took an active part in leading the Douglas faction in opposition to the Lecompton Constitution of Kansas. He was an active leader of the Douglas party in the House of Representatives in 1860 and also in Charlestown and Baltimore Democratic Conventions. He was made Major General in March, 1862. Major General Lewis Wallace was formerly the Colonel of the Eleventh Regiment of Indiana three-months volunteers, better known as the Indiana Zouaves. It will be remembered that this regiment was stationed in June last at and near Cumberland, Maryland, and that on the 11th of that month, the Zouaves headed by the Colonel, made a dash upon Romney and routed the rebels at that place. He re-organized his regiment for three years, and was made a Brigadier General. His gallantry at Fort Donelson gained his Major Generalship last March. Brig. Gen. Thomas L. Crittenden, commanding a division under General Buell, is a native of Kentucky and son of the noted loyal Kentuckian, Hon. John J. Crittenden. His brother is the noted rebel General, who was in command at Mill Springs - viz.: Major General George B. Crittenden. When the rebels took up arms in Kentucky, Gen. T. L. Crittenden was empowered to take command and at the head of the Home Guards started for Muldraugh's Hill and effectively checked the advance of the rebels on Louisville. Since that time he has been actively engaged in the field under Gen. Buell. His commission of Brigadier General dates from Sept. 17, 1861. Brigadier General William Nelson, commanding a division under Gen. Buell, is a native of Mason county, Kentucky. Having been educated in the Navy and having obtained the rank of Lieutenant he was detailed last spring (1861) to command the Ohio River fleet of gunboats. He entered the Navy in 1840 and was two and a half years at sea as a Lieutenant. Brigadier General William Tecumseh Sherman is a native of Ohio and entered the Military Academy at West Point in 1836. He graduated in 1840, standing No. 6 in his class in which were Generals Van Vliet, Gen. H. Thomas and others of the Union army and General McCown of the rebels, recently a commander at Island No. 10. On the 1st of July, 1840, he was promoted to a Second Lieutenancy of the Third Artillery and on the 30th of November 1841, was further promoted to a First Lieutenancy. He gained a Captaincy in the Mexican War and resigned in 1853. He was made a Brigadier in May, 1861. Brigadier General Stephen A. Hurlburt is a native of South Carolina, but a citizen of the State of Illinois, from which State he was appointed to a Brigadier Generalship of volunteers, having been connected with the militia force of Illinois. He served during the earlier troubles in Missouri and, under Gen. Fremont, held charge of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad. Brigadier General B. M. Prentiss who is reported to have been taken prisoner in the battle of Pittsburg Landing is a native of Illinois or at least, has lived there from his early boyhood. His previous history, until the Mexican War, was unmarked by any very important event; but on that occasion he volunteered as a Lieutenant of the Illinois troops and was selected by the unfortunate J. J. Hardin to act as his Adjutant. General W. H. L. Wallace, who is reported killed at the gallant action at Pittsburg Landing, was formerly one of the earliest three- years volunteer Colonels in the service. He held command of the Eleventh regiment of Illinois volunteers which was organized at Camp Hardin, Pulaski County, Illinois, and joined the depot at Cairo during the early stages of the war. Gen. Albert Sydney Johnson, one of the most crafty and competent in the rebel service and who was killed at the battle of Pittsburg Landing, was born in Mason county, Kentucky in 1803. He was educated at the Transylvania University, Lexington, Ky., under President Holley, graduated at the United States Military Academy at West Point, at the age of twenty-three and entered the army as second lieutenant in the same year. His first service was with the Sixth Infantry with which he was ordered to the West. During the Black Hawk War he acted as Adjutant General, President Lincoln at that time serving as a Captain of volunteers. At the close of the war he went to reside first in Missouri and then in Texas. When war broke out in this latter State he resigned his commission in the United States Army and rushed to her aid, alone and unknown and entered the service as a common soldier. He soon made the acquaintance of Gen. Rusk, commanding that division, who at once promoted him to a command, he rose to be commander-in-chief, was Secretary of War under President Lamar, fought the battle of Neches, defeating seven hundred Cherokees. At the breaking out of the Mexican War, at the urgent request of General Taylor, he again entered the service as Colonel of the First Texas regiment; when this was disbanded, General Johnson became Inspector General of General Butler's division and served as such in the glorious battle of Monterey; he was in the hottest part of the fight and his horse was three times shot under him. After this he retired into private life until in 1840 the United States Government bestowed upon him the appointment of Paymaster in the army. In 1855 he was appointed to the command of the Second Regiment of Cavalry with the rank of Colonel and in 1857 was appointed to command the expedition to Utah and in 1858 was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. He started on the expedition to Utah under orders in September, 1857. General War News Late news from the vicinity of Yorktown state that the siege is progressing admirably. On the 18th there was quite a heavy skirmish near Warwick Court House on the James River, the enemy attempting to turn our left flank. The attack was made in quite heavy force but the enemy were repulsed after a very brisk artillery duel. The loss of the enemy was about 30 killed, including a Colonel. The Federal loss was 15 killed and wounded. Reinforcements were consistently arriving from Richmond, Norfolk and even from North Carolina and it is said by deserters from the rebel army that Jeff Davis has taken command of the troops at Yorktown. The bombardment and capture of Fort Pulaski, defending the entrance to the city of Savannah, is officially announced. The following is an account of the capture: One the morning of the 10th, Gen. Gilmore sent a flag of truce to the fort, demanding its unconditional surrender. Colonel Olmstead replied that he was placed there to defend not to surrender the fort; whereupon our batteries immediately opened fire upon the fort. A few rounds shot away their flag but it was soon replaced and the firing was kept up till sunset. General Gilmore then placed a battery at Goat Point only sixteen hundred yards from the fort to breach the walls, and commenced firing at midnight for that purpose with Parrott and James guns. On the morning of the 11th two breaches were discovered on the southeast face of the fort, which, at noon, assumed huge proportions, and about two o'clock the rebel flag was hauled down, a white flag displayed and the fort surrendered. Col. Olmstead stated that it was impossible to hold out longer, our rifle shots reaching the magazine and most of his guns being disabled. The Seventh Connecticut Regiment took possession of the fort that night. Our loss was one killed and one wounded. The rebel loss was three wounded. The garrison of the fort numbered 500 officers and men who are now prisoners. At Pittsburg Landing preparations are going forward and the two great armies are nearing each other for another and more decisive struggle. On Wednesday the 16th, Gen. Sherman moved his division two miles nearer the enemy and succeeded in maintaining his position after a sharp fight in which the rebel loss was about fifty killed, with but few casualties on our side. The reports from the rebels' conflict, some saying that they are receiving reinforcements and now amount to 100,000 men while others say that the teams which arrive are loaded with stores preparatory for evacuation. Gen. Mitchell is doing his part of the work brilliantly in the southwest. He has reached Luka, Miss., being thus on the flank of Beauregard's army, having burned the bridges on the Charleston and Memphis railroad at Decatur and Florence. At Decatur he took possession of the telegraph office and intercepted a message from Beauregard to Jeff Davis, saying that he must have reinforcement for Corinth or he could not hold the position. Gen. Mitchell promised the reinforcements. We have advices from the Burnside expedition to the 18th. On the 12th four companies of the Connecticut Eighth Regiment were attacked by 150 Rebels who made a sortie from Fort Macon and after a sharp engagement the latter were driven back. Five of our men were wounded and the rebels were seen to take four men into the fort, one of whom was supposed to be dead. Fort Macon is thoroughly invested and it being understood that the rebels were short of provisions, it was thought that instead of attacking them, an attempt would be made to starve them out. Fortifications were building at Newbern in anticipation of an attack by the rebels. The bombardment of Fort Wright, 70 miles above Memphis still continues. On Thursday last the firing was very heavy on both sides. Deserters say that the batteries now mount forty guns and the rebels have sixty more which they are putting rapidly into position. Gen. Bragg is in command of the rebels. The present high state of the river will prevent any immediate cooperation of our land and water forces. From the 55th Penna. Regiment On our opposite page we copy a letter from Edisto Island, S. C., to the Harrisburg TELEGRAPH giving the particulars of the recent skirmish between a portion of Col. Dick White's regiment and the Rebels, as also our list of killed, wounded and prisoners. As the 55th contains a large proportion of Cambrians, a number of whom may possibly be on the list aforesaid, it will prove interesting to our readers. From the Fifty-Fifth Pennsylvania Regiment Correspondence of the Har. TELEGRAPH Camp Dick White, Edisto Island, S. C. April 1, 1862 The 55th regiment has met the enemy for the first time on the soil of South Carolina. On the morning of the 29th ult., the advance of the rebels attacked our pickets under Lieut. Bedell of Company K, and after a sharp skirmish drove them in. The enemy, under cover of a dense fog, advanced to within a few hundred yards of our headquarters, where several companies and one cannon were in waiting for them. They, however, turned to the right and drove our pickets in off the Russell Creek bridge, which connects this with Little Edisto Island and burnt it after crossing. On the latter Island companies E and F, of our regiment, were stationed doing picket duty and the intentions of the enemy were doubtless to cut off and capture these two companies. The rebel force consisted of at least four companies that crossed Russell Creek and they immediately advanced on company F, Captain Nesbit of Indiana county. Captain Nesbit was ready to receive them and a sharp engagement of at least fifteen minutes occurred between them. Captain N.'s men were entrenched behind an embankment. But the greater number of the enemy, enabled them to outflank him, and compelled him to retire with the loss of one man killed and several wounded and prisoners. Among the prisoners is First Lieutenant M'Illheny. During the retreat Captain Nesbit kept up a continual fire upon the enemy until he came to a dense woods where he awaited another attack. But the enemy refused to appear. Captain Bennett's Company E, which was upon the same Island, was in line, awaiting an attack but the enemy were in too big a hurry to get off the Island. The whole object of the enemy was to cut off and capture our picket companies. After driving in our first picket a detachment of the enemy made a hurried advance and surrounded the house which was formerly the quarters of Captain Carroll's Co. The exposed position of the latter company induced Col. White to remove it to more secure quarters, consequently the enemy were foiled in their attempt to capture it. The plans of the rebels were excellently laid and it was only through the vigilance of our officers and the alacrity and courage of our men that they were defeated in their designs. Lieut. Bedell of Company K, who was in command of the advanced picket, obstinately disputed every inch of the enemy's advance and when he returned to headquarters but fourteen men out of sixteen that were with him returned, the others being taken prisoners. Company H's pickets who were at the Russell Creek Bridge, only retreated when an overwhelming force drove them in. they lost seven prisoners, one of whom was wounded. Lieut. M'Illheny, who with eleven men were taken prisoners, was detached with his men to hold a position and prevent a flank movement by the enemy, but the overwhelming numbers of the enemy compelled him to succumb, rather than sacrifice the lives of his band of noble patriots. Capt. Nesbit to whose company Lieut. M'Illheny was attached, deserves the greatest praise for the noble stand he made against overwhelming numbers of the enemy. As an instance of his heroic devotion to his men, he refused to cross Russell Creek to Edisto island on a small raft his men constructed until every man was safely carried over. Lieut. Stewart, his second lieutenant, an excellent swimmer, superintended the crossing, remaining several hours in the water. This gallant company lost everything they had. Company G, Capt. Waterbury, although brought immediately in front of the enemy, very gallantly distinguished themselves, as I am pleased to say as did every other company of the regiment. The line of battle was formed immediately in front of Capt. Waterbury's quarters. Several of the Captain's men were dispatched to bring in the picket, who were skirmishing with the enemy. The detachment fell in with a lot of rebel cavalry who were dispersed by them. The cavalry ingloriously retreated across the bridge to Johose Island. This morning one of Capt. Nesbit's men, who was taken prisoner, escaped from the rebels and returned to camp. From his statement which I have every reason to believe is reliable it appears the rebel loss is very severe. He helped to carry off the island fifteen dead bodies of the enemy and quite a number of wounded. The force brought against us consisted of six companies of infantry and one of cavalry. The force opposite us consists of seven regiments of infantry but from their signal defeat in this their first aggressive movement upon the Union troops in this State, the impression is they won't attempt to make another attack. The following is a correct list of casualties sustained: Killed: Wm. Cunningham, Co. F. Wounded: John Steffe, Company F., and prisoner. Prisoners: Company F Lieut. M'Illhaney Corporal Samuel Moorehead Private Abram Coy Private Robert H. Kritzer Private Samuel Campbell Private Nicholas Cameron Private Wesley Cameron Private John L. Taylor Private Andrew Farren Private Noah Fisher Private L. L. Thompson Prisoners: Company K John Saupp Jonas Ritchey Prisoners, Company H Sergeant Silas Gollipher Walter E. Garlinger Isaac Ream Christian Whitaker John Mars Thomas Lockard John Warning Twenty-one prisoners and one killed. From the Cambria Regiment Camp Cacapon, Va., Balt. & Ohio RR April 8, 1862 It has been some time since I wrote you last, but I have by no means forgotten you. My last epistle was dated from Camp Campbell. Since then we have taken the notion that like all good Pennsylvanians, we would have to make a move about the first of April. So we moved and are now posted as guard along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. We had a very tedious time of it from Camp Campbell until we got ourselves located by companies at nine stations along the road. The B. & O. RR was once one of the principal thoroughfares for freight and passengers from east to west and vice versa, but Secesh took the liberty of making it one grand track of wild desolation as far as they had means and power so to do. Bridges, houses, locomotives, cars, ALL, have been destroyed; the track torn up and carried far way into the interior and in fact everything that could possibly be rendered useless passed through a fiery ordeal. The government, I believe, has built trestle work over the streams where once were handsome bridges and these we are charged with the protection of. It requires us to be vigilant to prevent the Secesh from applying the torch for the country around is full of Rebels who are ever ready to do any act of violence that would be of the least benefit to their unholy cause or of the least disadvantage to the Federal Government. From my own personal observation and from conversations I have had with many persons here tinctured with Secession proclivities, I find gross ignorance of the causes of the war and the intention of the government towards the Rebels. I used to regard the newspaper stories about the ignorance of these people as bosh, but I can now vouch for their correctness. In fact, I have been told even by intelligent persons here that the South had always been heavily taxed by the North, that the North made all the money whilst the South furnished the material. "The South raised the cotton; it is then taken North and manufactured; and after, sent back to the South, and we have to buy it," said an intelligent Southron to me a few days since. "And this is one cause of Secession!" "Well," said I, "Why don't you build your own cotton mills and manufacture your own goods? This you co'd have done easier without Secession than with it. As to your being taxed heavily, all the taxes you pay go into the treasury of your own county and State; and besides, we of the North have to make up your postal deficits which amount to a very large sum every year." All this is true. The South would have been a thousand times more able to have built their cotton mills before they entered upon a terribly exhaustive war, which has beggared thousands of them that they will in any event be for twenty years to come. As to their postal deficits, every intelligent man knows that the North really keeps up the post office in the South. And again, as to their being so heavily taxed by the North, how every shallow the assertion! How childlike the lie! But these are indeed the flimsy arguments used by Jeff Davis and his crew to lead a people into a suicidal war upon a government the most beneficent in the world! Poor, misguided men, when will ye learn that you have been duped and blinded by men whose only object in leading you into this war is to gratify their own selfish ambition! The further we penetrate into the South the more are we convinced that the great mass of the people are entirely ignorant of the cause of the present war and the designs of our Government in waging it. And, as step by step our forces step over the South and the people see for themselves the manner in which the Union troops demean themselves, there will undoubtedly be a revulsion of feeling which will grow stronger and stronger until it eventually breaks out in an unconquerable rebellion against the Rebels. More powerful indeed than Northern bayonets and bullets will be this tide of popular feeling in working the downfall of Treason. Before it the foeman of constitutional Liberty will pale as does the silvery light of the slowly sinking moon before the bright rays of morning. Then will this Union be once more united as firmly as the polar star is fixed in the firmament above us. Ashamed of their past folly the people of the South will be more devoted to the Union than they were when they scouted the very idea of the New England States seceding in the earlier days of the Government. Attached to our regiment for the present, assisting in defending the railroad are four companies of the First Maine cavalry. They are all well armed and equipped. Their horses are those brought with them from Maine and are vastly superior to most cavalry horses in the U. S. service. They are for the most part of the celebrated "Morgan" and "Black Hawk" strain. The company stationed at our headquarters is under the command of Capt. Cilley, son of the lamented Jonathan Cilley, the talented member of Congress from Maine, who fell in a duel at Blandensburg at the hands of Greaves. The murder of Cilley, for such it has always been accounted, was accomplished thro' the instrumentality of the notorious Gov. Wise of Virginia, now in command of a portion of the Rebel troops. Would to Heaven that Captain Cilley could be opposed to Wise on the field of battle that, by taking the life of that notorious Rebel he might after the lapse of many years become the avenger of his parent's murder. Capt. Cilley is a lawyer by profession and judging from a slight acquaintance with him, is yet destined to take a prominent place in the galaxy of intellect in his native State. His noble father fell whilst the Captain was a mere babe and he has worked his way through life unaided by a father's protection and counsel. May he long flourish and meet success in his every effort! Since the above was written we have received orders to remove our headquarters to Sir John's Run, Balt. and Ohio Railroad, to which place all communications intended for us should be addressed. When anything of interest transpires, you will hear from me. [Signed] Horace