NEWS: Items from The Alleghanian, June 23, 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, June 26, 1862 Volume 3, Number 40 Letter from Johnstown Johnstown, June 23, 1862 As extensive burglary was committed here a few days since. The millinery establishment of Mrs. Clark on Franklin street was entered and goods to the value of $150 carried off. On the same night, fifty dollars in scrip was stolen from R. Derach, a grocer on Canal Street. No clue to the perpetrators of these daring robberies has yet been found. Not a little excitement was created among early risers on Main street the other morning by the appearance of a horse with the front part of a wagon attached coming down the street at railroad speed. They were found to belong to a milk wagon, the coupling of which had broken thus throwing down the hind part and precipitating driver, milk cans and all in every direction. The horse was secured and returned to his owner who was standing speechless, gazing upon the wreck around him and mediating no doubt on the sudden and extraordinary "fall off milk." The Ninevah Pic Nic came off as per announcement. Your correspondent had not the pleasure of being present there at, but understands that it was a large arrangement. Our young gentleman [word faded] of "cussed a few," by reason of missing the train which conveyed the picnickers to the grounds, through the dilatoriness of his inamorata in matters pertaining to the toilet. Another Pic Nic was held at Morrell's Grove on Thursday last. Lager and mutilated music formed the principal attraction and were dispensed with a lavish hand. The coming Fourth of July will be prolific of affairs of this kind. I have already heard of no less than seven on the tapis. [Signed] E Grand Pic Nic Preparations for holding a Pic Nic at the fair grounds on the "Fourth," under the auspices and for the benefit of the Catholic church of this place are being made on an extended scale. The young ladies, we notice have taken the matter in hand and with that energy so characteristic of the sex, are pushing things forward swimmingly. The grounds are being renovated and refitted, platforms for dancing extemporized, swings erected and various other arrangements all looking to the especial convenience and pleasure of visitors, put to working order. A sumptuous repast will be served up on the grounds. The services of an excellent band of music have been secured for the occasion. Last, but not least, several addresses from orators of well known abilities will add zest to the exercise. So that, with this varied, "bill of fare," all who are so inclined should certainly be able to put in a "gay and happy" day of it. We advise our readers, one and all, to attend. Tickets, fifty cents. Newspaporial Mr. James S. Todd, former publisher of the Ebensburg DEMOCRAT & SENTINEL has assumed the editorship of that paper since the decease of its late editor, Mr. Murray. We welcome him to the tripod and wish him a liberal share of success. A Brave Drummer Boy Among the wounded at the Government Hospital at Washington is a little drummer boy named Paul Bower who had his leg shattered by a shell in one of the late engagements on the Peninsula so that amputation had to be performed to save his life. The little sufferer hails from Manchester and is scarcely fifteen years of age, yet he bore himself like a hero on the field and up thro' the time of being struck, had kept in the thickest of the fight. His father and brother are both in the army so that the family would seem to be a fighting one. Paul was getting along finely and had so far recovered as to be able to hobble around on crutches; but he was so unfortunate a few days since, as to trip against something when he fell, bursting open the ligatures which bound the stump of the amputated limb and undoing in a moment the improvement which it had taken days to accomplish. The shock which the little boy's system received was a frightful one and he nearly sank under its effects but after hovering two or three days between life and death his spirits rallied and he is in a fair way of recovery. Little Paul has many visitors and among others who called to see him lately was the Hon. Robert M'Knight, member of Congress from the XXII District. The little hero appeared to bear his sufferings like a martyr and only seemed anxious about his chances of getting a pension and also a wooden leg at the close of the war. He was assured that both the pension and the artificial leg would be forthcoming at the proper time and as he is a brave and deserving youth we have no doubt but they will. Pennsylvania Reserves This excellent body of soldiers who composed part of M'Dowell's division and were stationed at Fredericksburg for some time past, have been sent forward to reinforce Gen. M'Clellan before Richmond. They went down the Rappahannock on transports convoyed by war steamers and at latest accounts were at White House in the extreme front of the union army. They will make their mark when the proper time arrives. The Signal Corps [extracts from lengthy article] A correspondent of the Philadelphia PRESS writes as follows concerning one of the most important yet at the same time most modest branches of the public service of the Army of the Potomac: The Signal Corps is an independent body, under the special and immediate control of the Commander-in-Chief, and is made up of details of officers and men from each brigade of the army. Major Meyer presides over its operations. It constructs and works the telegraph lines, accompanies all reconnaissance and is constantly on the alert for the transmission of intelligence to and from general and division headquarters. All over the extensive field of work apportioned General M'Clellan signal officers are found, each one closely watching for every movement of the enemy. There are two systems of signaling used, by telegraph and by flag. The telegraph is employed on permanent lines, as between White House and headquarters or headquarters and the division quarters of generals, whose ground has been effectually gained from the enemy. Uncertain lines which, though having a prospect of permanency, are nevertheless at any moment liable to be removed, are run by the patented insulated wire which has so often astonished our troops who invariably take it to be some vile Secession invention. This is a small wire, insulated with gutta percha and covered with twisted cotton, the whole making a flexible cord about one-fourth of an inch in diameter. This is carried on a reel, very much like a two wheeled Philadelphia hose carriage. A line, five miles in length can be put in working order in two hours. The reel is run along the fields and roads, the attendants fastening the cord to trees or bushes at points where troops might accidentally disturb it. Where a field is crossed it is left lying on the ground and is found to suffer no harm from the contact. Beardsley's portable magneto electric instruments are used for the transmission of signals. These are light boxes, about the size of a knapsack and are portable. Indeed, the whole telegraph system of the Army of the Potomac is of an itinerant character and the bottled lightening runs about on horseback as rapidly as the operator who controls it. The telegraph system is similar to the alphabetic dial plate of the Philadelphia fire alarm telegraph. Flag signaling however is the form most generally used; and is the most dangerous. Each signal officer is provided with three square flags - a white one with a red center; a red one with a white centre and a black one with a white centre. These colors have nothing to do with the signal code, however - the different flags being employed for different kinds of weather and with different backgrounds, that one being used which will be most conspicuous at the greatest distance. These flags transmit signals by swing and at night a torch is substituted for them. [snip] In battle the signal corps is of the utmost advantage. The general commanding the forces engaged places himself on a convenient spot with his flagman. High hills in the vicinity, out of danger, but excellent for viewing the enemy's movements are selected and flagmen placed upon them. Everything done of by the enemy is indicated. Smoke may hide an approaching column from those on whom it is quickly marching. Some of the signal officers, perched like hawks about the field are sure to observe the enemy and in the next instant the general knows it and has warned his subordinates of the threatened danger. [snip] Signal duty from the exposures of those engaged and their conspicuous flags which are so many targets for the enemy's shots is by far the most dangerous in the whole service. The bravest and coolest then are required to perform its duties. Sharp eyesight, knowledge of distances and judgment are equally necessary to make a good signal officer. The code employed is, of course, known only to those in the secret. Since the beginning of the war, it has been changed once, an alteration being rendered necessary from the desertion of an officer, who communicated the former code to the enemy. [snip] Exchange of Prisoners The insolence of the rebels in regard to the exchange of prisoners is past all endurance. Whilst we hold four or five prisoners to their one, and probably even a greater proportion, they assume the right to regulate the whole negotiation of the exchanges, both on their one side and ours. They coolly tell us what they won't do and just as coolly what we must and shall do in all cases threatening, that, if things are not done exactly according to their dictation, exchanges shall cease altogether. They hold certain prisoners whose release our Government has in vain been seeking to procure for many months and no reason whatever is given for their detention and none can be imagined except a determination to withhold what out authorities are known to desire very earnestly. We hold as prisoners a considerable number of rebel privateersmen. These men, in their operations, upon the high seas, did violence to all the laws of civil land warfare and our authorities pretty much made up their minds to keep them till the end of the war and have them tried for piracy. But the rebels gave formal notice, three or four weeks ago that the semi-pirates must be given up or the prisoners whose discharge the United States Government is so anxiously desired should never be discharged. Our Government after some hesitation, concluded to grant the hard conditions and actually sent the semi-pirates for exchange to Fortress Monroe where the negotiations failed because the rebels backed out from the arrangement which they themselves had proposed. Now the rebels tell us that there shall be no more exchanges unless Gen. Buckner, charged with treason and indicted for it by the judicial authorities of Kentucky shall be exchanged for Gen. Prentiss, the officer who so strangely and inexcusably permitted himself to be surprised by the enemy at Pittsburg Landing. If we were to yield to rebel dictation and rebel threats in this matter, the very next notice would be that there shall be no more exchanges until one hundred and eighty men of Morgan's thieving and marauding band, captured at Lebanon shall be given up. Lieut. Col. Wood of that band is actually boasting now that he will very speedily be exchanged and no doubt his confidence rests upon a knowledge of the determination of the rebel Government to make the release of the robbers of the guerilla bands an absolute condition of any further exchanges at all. [Snip] General War News [extracts from lengthy article] From Gen. M'Clellan's army, the following account of the movements of the enemy and their guerrilla raids is given: A large squad of rebels, after driving from Old Church a squadron of the Fifth Cavalry proceeded to Garlick's Landing on the Pamunkey river, about four miles above White House, where they burned two schooners, some wagons and drove all the mules. Their conduct is represented as barbarous for having killed several of our teamsters without any necessity. Those who failed to make their escape were taken prisoners. From here they proceeded to Tunstall's Station, five miles from White House with the view of burning the railroad bridge. A train, which was resting at the time, was fired into, killing two and wounding several. A Colonel, belonging to the Excelsior Brigade, was there taken prisoner, but succeeded in making his escape during the night. A Paymaster jumped from the train and hid himself in the woods until morning, leaving one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars on the cars. The train never stopped but passed on to the White House. [snip] The latest news from the Army of the Potomac states that quite a skirmish took place on the 19th inst., between the 20th Indiana regiment, Kearney's division, and the rebels, which lasted for more than two hours. The Indiana boys stood their ground and sustained a very slight loss; in the afternoon the regiment was complimented by Gen. Kearney for bravery and discipline. The rebel loss was very severe. [snip] Intelligence is obtained from Richmond and Charleston papers of a bloody battle within four miles of the latter city, stated to have taken place on Monday the 16th inst., lasting during the whole day with heavy loss on both sides. The following account of the fight is taken from Southern papers, they as usual, claiming it as a glorious victory: "A severe battle took place on Monday morning on James Island, four miles from Charleston. Three regiments of Federals with artillery attacked our batteries at Secessionville. Col. Lamar commanded the Confederates and with a few hundred troops repulsed them three times with great slaughter. The enemy fought bravely but were defeated. Our victory is complete. The enemy's loss is supposed to be about four hundred, including thirty prisoners. Our loss is estimated at from fifty to one hundred. Col. Lamar was wounded and many officers killed. The attack is soon to be renewed." [snip]