NEWS: Items from The Alleghanian, May 1, 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, May 1, 1862 Volume 3, Number 32 Appointed George Tiley has been appointed Mail Messenger at Hemlock, this county, in place of Henry Reuseh. About a Cambrian The Johnstown TRIBUNE of last week contains the following extract from a Bloomington, Illinois paper, making honorable mention of a former Ebensburger, Rolla N. Evans, in connection with the battle of Pittsburg Landing: "Rolla N. Evans, late Orderly Sergeant of Capt. Pullen's company, having been promoted for gallant conduct at Fort Donelson, to be 1st Lieutenant of Co. I, 20th Illinois, received his commission a short time before the battle, but when the attack was made on Sunday, having not yet reported himself for duty as lieutenant, he shouldered his musket and fought with this old company. He received a severe wound in the foot. The Echo The press, type and fixtures of the Johnstown ECHO establishment, we learn from the TRIBUNE, have been purchased by Mr. J. B. Sansom, late of the Fulton DEMOCRAT who has removed them to Indiana, Penna., with the intention of issuing shortly there from a newspaper of the Democratic persuasion. Teachers' County Institute Wilmore, Cambria Co., April 16, 1862 Pursuant to a call, a Teachers' Institute was organized in the Lutheran Church, Wilmore borough, Cambria county, on the 16th day of April, 1862, at 11 o'clock. A. M. by appointing, temporarily, Daniel W. Evans, Superintendent Ebensburg Union School, Chairman and S. B. M'Cormick, Superintendent Johnstown Union School, Secretary. On motion the following committees were appointed, viz.: On Programme: S. B. M'Cormick, W. A. Scott, E. D. Evans, Mary M. Swank, Sidney J. Postlethwaite. On Constitution: Henry Ely, Jacob Harrold, Rob't. H. Pike, Maria A. Nesbitt, Jennie Cogan. On Organization: Fr. J. Parish, Elias Paul, Mary J. Kenedy, Robert Singer, Louisa E. Vickroy. Executive Committee: Elizabeth Hutchinson, Lizzie Roberts, Jane Jones, Mary Glass, Jennie Snedden, Mary M. Swank, F. J. Parish, E. G. Lewis, D. W. Davis, Frank Condon, Robert Boyle, Adam George, Henry Ely. Committee on officers reported as follows, viz.: President: Wm. A. Scott, Ebensburg. Recording Secretary: S. B. M'Cormick. Assistant Secretary: Adam George. Corresponding Sec'ry: Miss E. Hutchinson. Treasurer: Wm. Little. On motion adjourned to 2 o'clock P. M. Afternoon: Institute met at two o'clock P. M. D. W. Evans in the Chair. Minutes read and approved. Mr. Evans then conducted Mr. Wm. A. Scott, President-elect, to the Chair who returned his thanks to the Institute for the honor thus conferred. Committee on Programme then reported Class Drill on Mental Arithmetic. President Scott, Teacher. Forty-four teachers entered class. After one hour's drill the method of teaching this branch was discussed by Ely, Scott and M'Cormick. Committee on Programme then reported Essay by J. Frank Condon, who was excused from reading. On motion, adjourned to 7 o'clock P.M. Evening: Institute met at seven o'clock P. M., as per adjournment. Committee on Programme reported the following exercises: Essay, Lydia Shaffer; Subject, Composition. Essay, J. Frank Condon; Subject, The English Language. Address, S. P. Bates, Deputy State Superintendent; Subject, The Object of a Teachers' Institute. Essay, Louisa E. Vickroy; Subject, Our Country's Glory. These exercises proved to be very interesting. On motion the thanks of the Institute were tendered to Mr. Bates for his excellent Address; also to Miss Vickroy for her admirable Essay. The members closed the session by singing, The "Red, White and Blue." On motion, adjourned to 9 o'clock next morning. Second Day-Forenoon Institute met at 9 o'clock A. M. and held an informal meeting on the subject of Spelling. Mr. Bates, Teacher. After the arrival of many more teachers, making about eighty in all, the Institute organized. The minutes were read and approved, when the Committee on Programme reported Class Drill on Reading, by Mr. Bates, which proved very interesting. After this followed a discussion on the methods of teaching Reading by Messrs. Bates, M'Cormick, Ely, Parish, Singer and Scott. On motion, sessions were fixed at 9 to 12 A. M.; 1 « to 4 « and 7 to 9 o'clock P. M. On motion, adjourned. Afternoon: Meeting convened at 1 « o'clock P. M. Minutes read and approved and a Constitution reported. Committee discharged and Constitution adopted scriatim with amendments. Committee on programme reported: 1st Class Drill of Geography: H. Ely, teacher. 2d Essay: J. Orlando Brookbank; Subject, Our Profession. 3d Class Drill, English Grammar: S. B. M'Cormick, teacher. 4th Essay: Mary M. Swank; Subject, Music These exercises occupied nearly all the afternoon and were full of interest. On motion the Chair appointed the following Committee on Resolutions, viz.: D. W. Evans, J. Frank Condon, J. O Brookbank, Louisa E. Vickroy, Mary M. Swank. Who afterwards reported the resolutions accompanying these proceedings, which were adopted and committee discharged. After singing, "Annie Lisle," the meeting adjourned. Evening: Institute met at 7 o'clock P. M. and was opened with prayer by Rev. Show. Committee on Programme reported a written Lecture by Mr. Bates. Subject, Intellectual Improvement. On Motion, the thanks of the Institute were tendered to Mr. Bates for his able address. On Motion, Louisa E. Vickroy was invited to read her Essay a second time as the house was now crowded and many desired to hear it. "Our Country's Glory," was accordingly read again and was received with demonstrations of applause. On motion, half an hour was spent in reading select pieces by different teachers. On motion, Prof. J. E. Giffin, of Johnstown, addressed the meeting a short time. After singing a piece, the meeting adjourned. Third Day-Forenoon Institute met at 9 o'clock A. M. and held an informal meeting on the subject of Penmanship. Mr. Bates, leader; after which the meeting was duly organized and the Programme Committee reported: 1st Class Drill: Written Arithmetic, D. W. Evans, Teacher. 2d: Adopting of the Constitution. 3d Essay: A. F. Allen; Subject, Orthography. 4th: Object Lessons, Mr. Bates After these exercises, the meeting on motion adjourned. Afternoon: Institute convened at 1 « o'clock P. M. and proceeded to irregular and unfinished business. A motion to hold the next session at Ebensburg was lost. A motion to leave the matter to the Executive Committee was lost. A motion to meet next at Johnstown was carried. A motion to pass resolution No. 4, as reported by the Committee and which had been postponed, elicited much discussion and was amended as reported in resolutions - the 4th being, the substitute. On motion, a collection was taken up, amounting to $3.65 cts., to pay for the use of the building. On motion, it was resolved that no distinction should be made in the salaries of male and female teachers. On motion it was resolved that no distinction should be made in the salaries of teachers employed in the different Departments of graded schools. County Superintendent Scott then proceeded to make an able address to the teachers, after which Professional Certificates were granted to Henry Ely, S. B. M'Cormick, J. H. Allen, J. Frank Condon, Lizzie Roberts, Louisa E. Vickroy, Maggie Rose, J. O. Brookbank, Mary M. Swank. Resolved, That Misses Louisa E. Vickroy and Mary M. Swank, be solicited to furnish the Institute copies of their excellent Essays for the purpose of publication. On motion, the proceedings of the Institute were ordered to be published in the county papers and "School Journal." On motion, the Institute adjourned sine die. S. B. M'Cormick, Sec'y. Resolutions: 1. Resolved, That Teachers Institutes are beneficial and should be faithfully attended by every member of our profession. 2. Resolved, That the education of the masses is essential to the perpetuity of the Union and the preservation of our Republican Government. 3. Resolved, That we view with pleasure the improvement made in teaching within the last five years and we attribute this improvement mainly to the beneficial influence exerted by the County Superintendency. 4. Resolved, That the members of this Institute view with disapprobation the remarks made by certain members of the late Legislature, derogatory to the dignity and honor of the teacher's profession. 5. Resolved, That the thanks of this Association are due to the Lutheran congregation of Wilmore for the use of their church and to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company for their liberality in granting excursion tickets to the members of the Institute. 6. Resolved, That the thanks of the Association are due to the Hon. S. P. Bates for his valuable assistance. 7. Resolved, That the Board of School Directors of Millville Borough have shown their zeal in the cause of popular education by their attendance at this Institute. 8. Resolved, That the number of female teachers now employed in Cambria county indicates a superior state of enlightenment among her people. Prison Life: Advertisement Prison Life in the Tobacco Warehouse at Richmond By a Balls' Bluff Prisoner, Lieut. Wm. C. Harris of Col. Baker's California Regiment. Contents: Chap. I From Ball's Bluff to Richmond Chap. II Our Prison Chap. III A Day in the Officers' Prison Chap. IV A Day in the Privates' Prison Chap. V Pursuits and Pastimes Chap VI Prison Incidents Chap. VII Sunday in Prison Chap VIII Our Jailer Chap. IX Our Visitors Chap. X Richmond Prison Association Chap. XI Prison Companions Chap. XII Homeward Bound Preface: These sketches were written to lessen the tedium of my lengthy imprisonment; and if they serve to recall to my prison companions the scenes enacted in the old Warehouse and enlist the interest and sympathies of the reader, they will have accomplished all that is desired by the publication of them. With the exception of "Homeward Bound," they were all written within prison walls and brought to the North sewn securely in the lining of an overcoat. I confidently trust to my brother officers for their testimony as to the fidelity of this, the description of our "domestic economy," and the accuracy of detail in the varied incidents in our prison life in the Tobacco Warehouse. Philade., March 25, 1862 W. C. H. Complete in one volume, price 50 cents, or handsomely bound in cloth, 75 cents. For Sale by A. A. Barker, Ebensburg, Pa. From Our Volunteers Camp at Manassas Junction, Va. April 15, 1862 On Sunday evening, 15th March, we arrived at Alexandria, and took up our quarters on a hill densely covered with a second growth of small white oak. This was quite a desirable place for camping, as wood and water were abundant. We were to have shipped from this point on the following Tuesday and gone up the James River, but in consequence of some change in the programme, we didn't. We remained at Alexandria for nearly four weeks awaiting orders to ship. The First brigade, Gen. Reynolds, of our division on Wednesday took the cars and were sent to Manassas Junction. We got orders to follow on Friday morning, also per railroad, but on starting we ascertained that we were not to go to the cars, but per contra, over the "shoe leather route," as the soldiers call it, or on foot. As you probably are aware there is a vast difference between riding in a railroad car and marching on foot on a warm day with sixty or seventy pounds avoirdupois strapped to one's shoulders, so you may be sure the change in our behalf was not in the least relished by the boys. However we packed up and were in line at 7 A. M. when we received the order, "forward!" We marched steadily all day, passing through Fairfax Court House (which was, no doubt, a very pleasant village before the war, of perhaps six or seven hundred inhabitants, but now looking considerably dilapidated) and encamped for the night about three miles further on and within three miles of Centreville. Recommenced the march at six o'clock A. M. and reached the latter place at seven. The town itself does not amount to much, but its location is excellent, the face of the country being extremely level. The Rebels had no considerable fortifications here, other than a long line of earthworks thrown up in front of the village, commanding the road and all the adjacent country, neither do I think they had many guns mounted. I noticed what I supposed to be guns of the largest caliber but upon closer inspection they proved to be nothing but large maple logs shaped so as to resemble cannon! There must have been quite a large army wintered here as the country for miles around is covered with encampments. Their quarters, too, were greatly superior to ours, the huts being large and well constructed. At about noon we crossed the Stone Bridge over Bull Run, where the memorial battle of the 21st of July commenced. The stream is not broad but very deep and rapid. We stopped here to eat and rest and used some of the water to make our coffee. After resting a short time we again got into line and arrived at Manassas Junction about three o'clock. We encamped a short distance from the railroad station where we remained until Monday morning. We then moved a quarter of a mile further back where the ground was more dry with plenty of wood and water. There is now nothing to be seen of the village of Manassas save the charred and blackened ruins of the houses. The country like that around Centreville is level. Not far from the Junction there is a large graveyard where over two hundred Rebel soldiers are buried. On Sunday your correspondent, in company with several others, visited the Bull Run battlefield, lying in a north western direction from Manassas and about four miles distant. The battle field is about a mile square, intersected with numerous ravines and covered with small hills and surrounded by dense thickets of stunted pine and oak. The most notable spot to be seen is where the Ellsworth Fire Zouaves were charged upon by the Black Horse Cavalry. This took place on the knob of a hill and where the Rebel Horse fell can easily be distinguished by a long line of horses' bones left bleaching in the sun. Just below the scene of the charge, a number of the Fire Zouaves are buried, or rather, left to lie where they fell, with a little dirt thrown over them! I saw the bones of several of them protruding from the mold and I assure you it was a most horrid spectacle. We were told by an old negress, whose house stood near by, that Rebel soldiers and particularly the Georgians, used to visit the battlefield and through hated of the Zouaves, pry their bodies out of the graves! The negress, who was quite intelligent, also gave us a full history of the battle from its commencement to its end. She pointed out where the Rebel batteries were placed, the position of the troops and the routs by which Johnson brought up the reinforcements that decided the fate of the battle. We returned to camp in the evening. Bernard Farabaugh, a member of Co. A., died last week at Alexandria Hospital of typhoid fever. [Signed] W The Eleventh Regiment, P. R. C. A couple of weeks since we noticed that Captain Porter of Co. B. had been elected Major of the Eleventh Penna. Reserves, vice Maj. Litzinger, resigned. In consequence of some informality in the proceedings, however, this election was set aside and another ordered to be held. This latter election came off recently and resulted in the election of Adjt. Johns as Major. The adjutantship being thus made vacant, Lieut. Robert A. M'Coy, of our own Cambria Guards, was promoted to that important position. We tender these gentlemen our congratulations, feeling sure that the high trust reposed in them will prove to have been not misplaced. To our fellow townsman, Adjt. M'Coy, particularly, we would say, in the language of Pumblechook to Pip in Great Expectation, "Thank Fortune, and may she ever pick out her favorites with equal judgment." Nineteenth Regular Infantry From a letter written by the Surgeon of the above regiment to the Philadelphia PRESS, we extract the following complimentary mention of Company C, Capt. Williams: "We arrived at Savannah at 10 P. M. (Sunday) and were placed on board a steamer and towed up the river eight miles to Pittsburg Landing. We marched from the boat during a shower of rain and a heavy cannonading from the gunboats at 3 A. M. on Monday morning. We reposed on our arms, in line of battle until 7 A. M. and then entered the woods. Our division was in the centre of the line and bore the brunt of the battle. After the first fire I lost sight of my regiment in the smoke * * * I did not see my regiment again until noon, when Capt. T. C. Williams, of Company C and Lewis Snyder, first lieutenant, led their men into the heart of three blazing batteries and captured them. I saw this and felt proud to be with such a commander." Capt. Williams and Lieut. Snyder are both Pennsylvanians and their company is composed almost exclusively of the hardy mountaineers of Little Cambria. We are glad to hear this flattering report of the prowess of "our boys" from such competent authority. General War News The news of the fall of New Orleans will take the public by surprise and cause a universal sentiment of joy. Simultaneously, we have the no less grateful information that Corinth has been evacuated. Beauregard has been outflanked, outgeneraled and overwhelmed. He has acknowledged at length his defeat at Pittsburg Landing. He has retired the principal part of his army to Memphis; not that that point can be made any more impregnable than the other Gibralters that have been built to be abandoned, but simply because retreat in any other direction was impracticable. Beauregard's career is drawing to a close and Beauregard, so the rebels say, is the sole hope of the Confederacy. It was he who at Island No. 10 and Corinth was fighting the battle for New Orleans. All his strategies have been thrown away. Fort Jackson has been passed by our gunboats and the Crescent City restored to the Union. The war promises to be shorter than the wisest of us could have anticipated. The grandsons of M'Clellan and Beauregard instead of fighting out the final battle as the London TIMES predicted may only have occasion to refer to this strife as a bloody chapter in the country's history, forever buried in the past and never to be recalled without a feeling of regret. Later news received today (Tuesday) from Fortress Monroe confirm the occupation of New Orleans by the combined land and naval forces of the United States. The telegraph operators having fled from the city upon the approach of the Federal army, it is impossible to receive any further intelligence. The news from Yorktown would at any other time be entitled to the appellation of "glorious." But the news from New Orleans has monopolized that adjective and will continue to enjoy it perhaps for weeks to come. General M'Clellan telegraphs to the War Department that on Saturday morning last, a Massachusetts company captured a rebel earthwork at the point of the bayonet with but trifling loss. Fourteen prisoners were secured. The affair must be pronounced a brilliant one. The Rebel General Jackson has undoubtedly retreated to Gordonsville. General Banks is in rapid pursuit but Jackson is so far ahead that we fear Gen. Banks will not overtake him unless the rebel General determines to make a stand. The retreat of Jackson has had a good effect upon the people of that section of Virginia as they were dreadfully persecuted by him. Many are coming out of the eaves where they have been hiding to escape the rebel persecutions and placing themselves under the protection of our soldiers. One of our gunboats shelled Yorktown on Thursday last and must certainly have done some damage though to what extent is not yet known. The rebels promptly answered but their fire was ineffectual. Shots were occasionally fired along the entire line to prevent the enemy from strengthening their position. The Navy Department has received advices that the gunboats Tyler and Lexington, with a land force under command of Gen. Sherman have succeeded in destroying an important bridge on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad at Bear Creek, near Chickisaw, Alabama. Some rebel cavalry disputed the passing of our forces but they were driven off. The news from General Halleck's army is exciting. Gen. Halleck put his whole army in motion and on Thursday they met and drove back the advance guard of Beauregard's army. At latest advices, Gen. Halleck's army were at Pea Ridge, within six miles of Corinth, having on their march destroyed a rebel camp and taken a number of prisoners. Deserters who have arrived in our camp state that Corinth has been evacuated by the rebels and Gen. Beauregard has withdrawn his forces for the defense of Memphis. On Saturday afternoon the pickets of Col. Donnelly's Brigade stationed eight miles from Harrisonburg, Va., on the Gordonville road, were attacked by a large force of Col. Ashby's rear guard and driven back. One man of the Forty-sixth Pennsylvania regiment was killed and three others severely wounded. The reserve of the Forty-sixth Pennsylvania regiment and a section of Hampton's battery then advanced and repulsed the rebels. They retreated to a wood where several of our shells burst in their very midst. A wagon was seen gathering up their dead and wounded. A dispatch from Cairo on Saturday states that passengers who arrived there from Pittsburg Landing report that an engagement occurred on Thursday between the advance guards of the national and rebel armies and that the rebels were driven back towards Corinth. Gen. Halleck was pushing his entire command vigorously forward. A second dispatch from Cairo says that a reconnaissance was made toward Corinth on Thursday and when nine miles out a rebel camp was surprised. Our forces advanced to Pea Ridge within six miles of Corinth, where they remained several hours but no signs of the enemy were visible. It was believed that Beauregard has ordered the evacuation of Corinth. On Thursday over thirty deserters from the rebel army entered our camp and begged to be enrolled into our army. They all corroborated the previously received statement that Beauregard was falling back from his present position and had sent a large portion of the troops under his command to the defense of Memphis. The Merrimac is now daily expected in Hampton Roads.