NEWS: Items from The Alleghanian, June 5, 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 5, 1862 Volume 3, Number 37 Serious Accident We regret to learn that C. D. Murray, Esq., editor of the DEMOCRAT & SENTINEL, sustained a serious injury on Saturday evening of last week in consequence of inadvertently stepping off the pavement into an open cellar way in the dark. In his fall he struck his head on a stone step, bruising it dangerously and rendering him entirely senseless for several hours. Doubts were even entertained for a time as to his recovery but we understand he is now mending perceptibly. We commiserate him in his misfortune and wish him a speedy convalescence. Personal Our friend, Charles W. Wingard, formerly of this place but now of Lock Haven was in town a few days last week. He looks hale and hearty as though his new home agreed with him perfectly. Success attend him! Letter from Johnstown Johnstown, June 2, 1862 A robbery of a rather serious character occurred here a few nights since. A young man named Baker, while standing on the porch in the rear of the Scott House, was astonished at receiving a severe thump on the back and considerably more so on finding his watch abstracted from his pocket at the same moment. The thief, who evidently was an adroit one, immediately decamped, leaving his victim astonished at the "flight of time." The watch was a very fine one, valued at eighty dollars. The past week has been a quite brisk one, owing to the employees of the mill being paid one-half their wages in cash. "Scrip" has been a great drawback to the prosperity of our city, but better times are now anticipated. With the rolling mill company paying cash and the National Foundry established in this "naturally advantageous" place, we will go on prospering and to prosper. Notwithstanding the many advantages urged in her behalf, however, I fear that Johnstown will not secure the National buildings. But if we may not boast of casting monster cannon, there is one thing that we can and will brag about - our Literary Association. This institution scarcely a month old numbers among its members some of the most intelligent men of our town and bids fair to be a complete success. Mr. John Townsend, one of the rolling mill firm, proposes furnishing $3,000 towards providing a library in case our citizens contribute $1,000. From this you may infer that the "Johnstown Literary Association" will be no one-horse affair. James Sweeny, who enlisted from this place in the Sickles' Brigade, but was subsequently transferred to Bates' Flying Artillery, is home on parole. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Williamsburg and sent to Richmond, where he remained four days, being then released on condition that he would not bear arms until exchanged. He says Richmond looks gloomy enough now, the majority of the inhabitants having left for places of less danger. He had the pleasure of conversing with the gallant Col. Corcoran, whom he represents as being much worn and wasted by his protracted confinement. Yours, &c. [Signed] E Cambria County and the War We have the authority of the CAMBRIA TRIBUNE for saying that Cambria county has three Colonels, one Lieut. Colonel, two Majors, two Adjutants, thirteen Captains, three Surgeons, two Chaplains, one Brigade and two Regimental Quartermasters and from 1,200 to 1,400 lesser officers and privates in the Federal army. Bully for Little Cambria! Temperance We see by the Altoona TRIBUNE that Daniel J. Neff, Esq., a prominent lawyer of Blair county, delivered an address on Temperance in the hall of the Sons of Temperance in Altoona a few evenings since. It is spoken of as having been an eloquent and interesting effort. Our Railroad The work of laying the iron on the last half mile of the Ebensburg and Cresson Railroad commenced several days ago is now about concluded. A number of switches are being constructed at the Depot after the completion of which the erection of the turn-table will forthwith commence. In the meantime our indefatigable Borough officials are having the roads from the city proper to the Depot graded as speedily as circumstances will permit. Briefly, matters and things pertaining to the Railroad are working together harmoniously and expeditiously, for our good, and we may expect in a very short time to chronicle the completion of the enterprise. We learn that Mr. Joseph P. Thompson of Philadelphia has been appointed Agent of the road for this place. He will make a good official. Rarey-ism Wm. Price, the world renowned horse farmer, will be in town during the present week, ready and willing to operate on stubborn and vicious horses, a la mode de Rarey. Those possessing any of the above described variety should bring them along and let the Professor try his hand on them. Military Matters Capt. Jas. Murray of this place, recently First Lieutenant of the celebrated "Silver Grays" is now engaged in recruiting a company in this county for the war. He has thus far secured about fifty men, a portion of whom have been sworn in and sent to camp. He expects to fill out the company within two weeks when it will be attached to the 115th Penna. Regiment, Col. Patterson, now stationed at Camp Curtin. Capt. Murray is an out-and-out military man. He served with credit as Captain of the "Cambria Guards" during the Mexican war and more recently as First Lieutenant of the "Silver Grays." He has the reputation of being one of the best drill masters in the State. Any one possessed with the desire to don Uncle Sam's livery and "go for a soldier" could not do better than enlist under Capt. Murray. The Furlough Question Joe Robison enlisted in the 99th Regiment of State Volunteers. The men were in camp and their friends were often visiting them. Joe's brother, John, came to see him and found Joe very homesick. He begged so hard for John to get him a furlough that his brother went to the Col. and told him that his sister was dead and he wished leave for his brother to go home for a few days. Consent was given and as they were leaving the grounds, one of the men who heard of Joe's affliction, and wished to say something consoling, asked him how long his sister had been dead? Joe answered: "Only about ten years!" The Latest from Gen. Banks A dispatch received this morning at the War Department states that a brigade of our troops, preceded by four companies of the Rhode Island cavalry re-entered Front Royal on Saturday morning at 11 o'clock and drove the enemy consisting of three regiments of infantry and a body of cavalry. We captured six officers and 200 privates. We re-captured eighteen of our men taken prisoners at Front Royal by the enemy. Our advance was so rapid that the enemy was surprised and therefore was not able to burn the bridge over the Shenandoah. A dispatch from Gen. Banks to the Secretary of War states that the Fifth New York cavalry, Colonel Deforest, re-entered Martinsburg on Saturday morning and passed several miles beyond where they encountered the cavalry of the enemy and captured 40 prisoners, a wagon load of muskets and ammunition and an American flag. Colonel Deforest reports that Colonel Kenley is at Winchester, badly wounded. General War News The retreat of Gen. Banks from the Valley of Virginia of which we gave a brief account last week is acknowledged by military officers as one of the most successful on record. The following particulars are given of the commencement of the battle at Fort Royal: The fight commenced on Friday at noon by a strong dash of cavalry under command of the famous Ashby on the position taken by Col. Kenley about a mile east of the Shenandoah. After a fight of two hours, the enemy was repulsed with heavy loss and driven back some distance. Finding that a large force of infantry was coming to Ashby's aid and so as to surprise him, Col. Kenley ordered his men to fall back to the west side of the Shenandoah and to destroy the bridges after them. This was done in good order and the smaller bridge was destroyed but the flanking force of the enemy came upon them before the longer bridge could be destroyed and Col. Kenley immediately got his guns in position and his men in the line of battle to prevent the crossing of the river. Another fight here took place which lasted two hours and the enemy was again repulsed with heavy loss. Finding that no reinforcements arrived, Col. Kenley, wounded by a ball in the neck at the first assault, addressed his men and urged them, that although assailed by a force at least five times their own numbers, to keep together in the last, otherwise they would be run down and slaughtered by the enemy's cavalry. Then, placing his artillery in the rear he commenced to fall back but before he had gone three miles they were again overtaken by the enemy formed in line of battle and the artillery opened a destructive fire on them. At this moment a portion of Ashby's cavalry was observed approaching with a white flag, as if desiring a parley, when Col. Kenley ordered his men to cease firing. They were allowed to advance within pistol range when the white flag was thrown down and a blue or black flag raised a charge from several quarters made on the exhausted men. All of those who escaped persist that the cry of the enemy was "no quarter," and that the wounded were bayoneted as they lay on the field. Col. Kenley is represented as having fought desperately and wounded as he was, succeeding in cutting his way through the ranks of the enemy and had not proceeded far when he fell from his horse from the effects of a severe saber wound that he received in this last engagement. He was lifted up and placed in an ambulance and had not proceeded far before they were again overtaken by the enemy and a volley of musketry poured into the ambulance, killing both horse and driver, and it is supposed impossible for the Col. to have survived this last assault. After our lines were broken, Col. Kenley directed his men to secure their own safety and cut his way through the cavalry who had surrounded him. This course, on his part, gives some color to the assertion that the enemy had declared his intention of giving "no quarter," otherwise this gallant and experienced officer would, in this last extremity, have been justified in surrendering himself and command as prisoners of war. The force of the enemy was estimated at from 15,000 to 20,000 men with very strong artillery and cavalry supports. The Federal force consisted of two brigades, less than 4,000 strong, all told 1,500 cavalry, ten Parrott guns and six smooth bores. The substantial preservation of the entire supply is a source of gratification. It numbered almost 500 wagons on a forced march of 53 miles, 35 of which were performed in one day, subject to constant attack in front, rear and flank, according to its position by the enemy in full force. The panics of teamsters and the mischances of river passage of more than 300 yards, with slender preparation for ford and ferry, we lost not more than 50 wagons, many of them almost worthless. Reported Killed It is currently reported here that Mr. Robert Davis of the 12th regular infantry, with M'Clellan's army, was killed in a skirmish with the rebels a short time since. He was from Cambria township, this county, and enlisted last winter. His friends in this section have as yet heard nothing definite concerning his fate.