NEWS: Items from The Alleghanian, May 22, 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 22, 1862 Volume 3, Number 35 Fire! Fire! On Sunday evening a frame stable in the eastern portion of town, in the occupancy of Mr. Benjamin Williams, together with its contents, including a quantity of hay and a cow was totally destroyed by fire. Owing to the extreme dryness of the atmosphere for several days previous, it was for a time feared that the adjacent buildings would become involved in the destruction, but this impression was happily dissipated by the Herculean efforts of those present to stay the progress of the flames. The "Skwist," as is usual in such cases, was on hand in an incredibly abbreviated space of time and after a lapse of diverse minutes, during which hiatus she (a "Skwist" is feminine - ain't it?) was revivified by several applications of lubricator and manual labor, succeeded in pouring an inch stream of water upon the charred embers and the bystanders, more especially of the latter, however, extinguishing both instantly. Since this brilliant performance we expect and confidently hope to hear nothing more said as to the propriety of procuring a new engine for the use and behoof of this great and growing borough of ours. Where would be the use, you know! About Cresson Springs In the editorial chit-chat of that deservedly popular publication, GODEY'S LADY'S BOOK, for June, we find the following complimentary mention of the celebrated summer resort, Cresson Springs, this county. It would appear that the writer had been enjoying the hospitality of that excellent institution, the Logan House, Altoona, for a season, subsequent to which he took occasion to pay his devoirs a little further up the Mountain. With this result: "After having spent a week or more with our friends, the Millers (at the Logan House), jump into the cars in the morning and go over to Cresson, less than an hour's ride; away you go up the mountains at a speed equal to the level; and here you witness one of the most splendid specimens of engineering in the world, crossing a mountain in a rail road car, hitherto thought impossible, until the Pennsylvania Rail Road Company, determined to conquer every obstacle, "went and did it." Arriving near the summit you go through a tunnel and then comes your descent on the other side. Cresson Springs is soon reached and here you have Art and Nature combined - a splendid hotel seated in the midst of the woods, admirable springs, one of the pure water surrounded by almost a field of rhododendrons, which when in bloom add peculiar beauty to the scene. At a short distance from the house, through a beautiful walk winding through the woods is the mineral spring celebrated the country round. Mr. G. W. Mullin is the courteous proprietor of the hotel and those who have once paid him a visit need no other recommendation. The Cresson is a large house and is surrounded by cottages for families who wish to live out of the bustle of the hotel. We have not forgotten our bread and butter days and therefore think that when these articles are good and Mr. Mullin has them in perfection any one need not starve; but it is not only bread and butter that you get at the Cresson, for there is the mountain mutton which this house is celebrated for, but why particularize? Everything that the Philadelphia market affords and some things that it does not are found here in perfection. The scenery surroundings are majestic and beautiful and a sojourn of this mountain house in the summer months is something akin to an earthly paradise." It is evident from this that Mr. Godey is a gentleman of taste and discernment and well qualified to judge of the truly grand and beautiful in Art and Nature. He should visit Ebensburg the next time he comes up this way. From the Cambria Regiment Sir John's Run, Va., Balt. & Ohio RR. May 7, 1862 We had thought that ere this time the 54th regiment would be before the batteries at Yorktown, but still we are here. Gen. Shields was making application to have us transferred to his command and we felt certain that it would have some good effect. But late advices say that Gen. Shields has been made a Major General and we suppose that he has forgotten us in the press of official business. Still we hope for the best. Judging from the tone of the letters some of our men receive from home, nothing short of the blood of the 54th will satisfy a portion of the citizens of Cambria county. Most of these letters, however, come from "stout, able bodied young men," who prefer staying snugly at home to running the risk of getting into an engagement where bullets might whistle around them. Some of these chaps were very fond of saying, before the war broke out, that in case of hostilities between the North and South, there were ready to go in; but when the issue presented itself, they were not quite so ready. They now amuse themselves by writing letters to their friends in the army wondering why they don't get into a fight! Now, these things are decidedly tantalizing to soldiers who are willing to fight, but have had, as yet, no opportunity offered them. We have all taken a solemn oath to obey the orders of the officers placed over us and if they see fit to put us where we cannot shed somebody's blood, neither have our own spilt, we cannot help it. Those persons who write such letters not only make for themselves enemies here, but also show their utter ignorance of military affairs. A soldier may and often does, make for himself a reputation and not fight a single battle. Wars last for years sometimes, with but few battles being fought. It is not the design of our government to kill and have killed as many men as possible, but rather to save the effusion of blood. Again: An army is pushed forward into the enemy's country. Their rear must be protected and their lines of communication kept open so as to enable them to draw supplies. Somebody must guard the roads and who shall it be? This question is determined by the Commander-in-Chief and those who are ordered to do it must obey. Now, we have been placed here to guard the Balt. & Ohio RR., along with the New York, Maine and Massachusetts troops under the command of an officer of the Regular army. Government must keep open the lines of communication and for the time being we have been assigned to that duty. Whose fault is it? Col. Campbell's? The men's? We answer, No! and the letter book of the Regiment, in my possession, will show it. Suppose we are kept upon this duty until the war ends, will it be our fault? Certainly not. There is not a man in the regiment that I know of who desires to remain here. But again: These gentlemen who are so very anxious for us to get into a fight, and who pen insulting letters to our men, should reflect and remember that they once boasted that they were "ready to shoulder a musket," but that when the time came they showed the white feather and did not "shoulder a musket" or anything else. I, for myself, have no desire to lose either my life or any of my limbs, yet I believe I am far more willing to run the risk of doing either than these fancy "stay-at-home-letter-writers." Time alone will solve our fate - whether the 54th will ever get into a battle or not. We are sworn to obey orders and I believe we have carried out every order given us so far and mean to do so until the war ends. I do know, however, that the receipt of an order, directing us to report to General Shields or any other General, will be hailed with delight. We hope yet to let the people of Cambria and Somerset see that our being held back was not our fault. If it is blood they want, we feel like satisfying them to the full extent of our power. But we would say to them, that perhaps, if they would address the Secretary of War, they might have some influence in getting us out for a target for Rebel balls! [Signed] Horace From Our Volunteers Camp near Falmouth, Va. May 11, 1862 Our brigade marched from Manassas Junction on Friday morning, 18th ult. After proceeding a short distance we struck the Orange and Alexandria Railroad on which we marched until about one o'clock P. M., when the order came to "Halt!" We encamped in a large flat field, a quarter of a mile from Catlett Station and some ten miles from Manassas. Warrenton Junction is three miles further on, a branch railroad to the town of Warrenton intersecting the main road at that point. The most interesting occurrence that transpired while we remained at Catlett was the appearance in our midst of the genial countenance of Maj. Gideon Ball, our Paymaster. He paid off our regiment on Saturday, the day after our arrival. We remained at this place ten days, leaving early on Monday morning, 28th ult. Co. A was detailed as rear-guard of the brigade. The duty of the rear-guard is to pick up all stragglers and bring them along. On several occasions during the day, we had the extreme pleasure of up- righting wagons, extricating the same from mud holes and pushing them up steep hills and in one instance we were obliged to pull a wagon a considerable distance, the horses having emphatically refused to perform that duty! The distance traveled this day was twelve miles but seemed twice that long to the rear-guard. Bright and early next morning we were again ordered to fall in. The Eleventh, this time, had the honor of being right in front of the brigade. (The Eleventh, by the way, has gained the reputation of being the best traveling regiment in the division). We halted at 10 A. M. to eat our dinner and rest for a short time. It is a highly picturesque sight to see a brigade on the march at the dinner hour. After the arms have been stacked and knapsacks thrown aside, in less than five minutes, as if by magic, a thousand or more little fires spring up, here, there, and everywhere and fifteen minutes later, you see every man with a cup of hot, smoking coffee to his lips. After an hour's intermission the line was again put in motion. We succeeded in reaching our destination - Falmouth - at 4 P. M. when the brigade marched through the town with colors flying and the bands playing. The "darkeys" appeared excessively pleased at our debut in their midst and fabulous quantities of ivory were displayed from behind grinning sooty faces in approval of our entire proceedings. Falmouth has, or had, a population of about one thousand inhabitants. There is a large cotton mill here at present in full tide of successful operation. Prior to the war, the town was a brisk enough one and considerable business done, but it is now rather "under the cloud." The city of Fredericksburg is on the opposite side of the river - the Rappahannock. Three bridges, one a railroad bridge, connected the two points but were burned by the Rebels on their evacuation of the city. On the 2d inst., a bridge of canal boats was improvised by our force and Gen. M'Dowell and staff crossed the river and took military possession of the city. Fredericksburg is a most beautiful city, well laid out and clean, with a population of fifteen thousand. It at one time enjoyed a large shipping trade and is at the head of tide-water. There is but one paper published here at present - a small Union sheet called THE CHRISTIAN BANNER, edited by J. W. Hunnicutt. It was suppressed by the Rebel authorities on the 9th May, 1861, and precisely one year to the day thereafter, it again made its appearance, the first number being issued on Friday last. It is strongly for the Union and denounces Jeff Davis and his deluded followers in the most bitter terms. The male population of the place are generally for the Stars and Stripes but some of the women are not quite so loyal in their sentiments. The poor white population are not half as intelligent as the same class in the North and many of them do not even know the cause of the war now being waged between the two sections! [Signed] W Promotions in Co. A., Eleventh Regiment Second Lieut. James Burke has been promoted to be First Lieutenant in steed of Lieut. R. A. M'Coy, lately promoted to the Adjutantship of the regiment; Sergt. R. M. Jones promoted to be Second Lieutenant; and Second Sergeant Daniel J. Jones promoted to be Orderly Sergeant. These gentlemen are all from this place and vicinity and were among the first to enroll their names in the muster roll of the company in which they belong. We wish them individually and collectively all manner of success in their advancement. For the Soldiers A box, containing a variety of articles of wear as well sundry little delicacies not usually found in a soldier's fare, were shipped hence to Co. A., Eleventh regiment (the Cambria Guards) by the Ladies' Hose Association last week. The Ladies are doing nobly - all honor to them! General War News The following dispatch has been received at the War Department from Gen. M'Clellan: "The gunboats Galena, Monitor, Aristook, Naugatuck and Port Royal were repulsed from Fort Darling seven miles below Richmond yesterday. A portion of them have returned to James Island near Williamsburg in the James River. Lieut. Morris, commanding the Port Royal, sent overland to us this morning for intelligence in regard to the ports below the Island and also to assist in burying the dead which he brought down with him. Seventeen bodies have been interred on the banks of the river, and there are a number of wounded on board, including Lieut. Morris himself. The 100 pound gun of the Naugatuck exploded at the first fire. The Monitor could not elevate their guns sufficiently to reach the higher battery, which rendered her useless. The banks of the river were filled with rifle pits from which an incessant fire was poured upon the fleet, a part of which was engaged at from six hundred to one thousand yards of the main battery. After an action of four hours, the fleet finding it impossible to silence the battery on the bluff, under the circumstances, withdrew." The latest intelligence from Corinth says: There is a general advance along our lines today towards the enemy's entrenchments. There has been much skirmishing and several severe engagements. Gen. Sherman's Division lost forty-four killed and a large number wounded in attacking Russell's House which the rebels have occupied for some time past, worrying our pickets. We succeeded in driving the enemy from his position back to his works. Our men are under arms night and day and are daily expecting to be attacked. There is skirmishing from the Eighth Missouri, only about three hundred yards from the enemy's breastworks. Several guns were captured in the skirmish on our right, perfectly new and marked, "Breeze & Frilmen, Bremen." They are much superior to the rifles used by our sharpshooters, having a range of twelve or fifteen hundred yards, while ours are only effective at about a thousand. Deserters from the enemy report that a great deal of hard feeling exists between Missouri and Tennessee troops and those from Southern States, the former urging that their states, being restored to the Union, they see no reason why they should be compelled to fight for the Independence of the Cotton States. A dispatch from Cairo says that a Memphis paper has been received which contains the following dispatch from Pensacola, dated May 10: At twelve o'clock last night the Pensacola Navy Yard and forts were set on fire and destroyed. When the enemy discovered what was going on, Fort Pickens opened a furious bombardment and kept it up during the conflagration but without doing any damage. At Pensacola all public property except the Custom House which was incapable of being burned, was destroyed but all moveable Confederate property had been saved. The railroad track leading out of the city toward Montgomery was torn up. A Federal vessel with a flag of truce came up to the city today demanding a surrender. Maj. Belbee refused to comply with the demand, but stated that as all the military forces had left, he had no power to oppose. The Federal officers replied that they would occupy the city tomorrow but that the inhabitants need not be alarmed. The War Department has received the following dispatch from Brig. Gen. John W. Geary, dated Rectortown, Va., May 16: "A company of Infantry of my command was yesterday ordered to Linden to remain stationed there. A detachment of seventeen, guarding the company wagon, reached there a short time before the main body of the company, which was on a train when they were attacked by a body of cavalry, variously estimated at from 300 to 600, coming upon them from four directions. Our men resisted them, keeping up a sharp fire, under shelter of the depot which was riddled with bullets. My men were overpowered. One was killed and fourteen taken prisoners, three of whom were wounded, when the enemy hastily retreated under fire and with some loss. I have been informed that a portion of Gen. Shields' command had a skirmish with them." Late advices from Port Royal state that Gen. Hunter's proclamation had been published in Charleston and a negro insurrection there was imminent. Vast preparations are made to bombard Savannah. Our gunboats have proceeded up the river and our pickets are within four miles of the city. Massive batteries mounting Parrott guns have been erected all around the city. Our troops have a portion of the railroad between Charleston and Savannah in their possession. At last accounts General M'Clellan was vigorously pursuing the retreating rebels and was within fifteen miles of Richmond.