NEWS: Items from The Alleghanian, July 3, 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, July 3, 1862 Volume 3, Number 2 Letter from Johnstown Another of those disgraceful occurrences which cast a foul blot on the name and fame of a town, transpired here one day last week. The circumstances are briefly these: Two men, named Philip Torpy and Edward Burns, became involved in a dispute which resulted in a fight. Burns knocked Torpy down and kicked him in the abdomen, injuring him severely and rendering him entirely senseless. He lingered in this condition for two days when he died. An inquest was held and a verdict in accordance with the above act returned. Burns succeeded in making good his escape. These disgraceful street fights are becoming quite too common and steps should be taken to put a stop to them forthwith. A Welshman named Evan Evans was found drowned in the canal near the weighlock on Friday last. He was last seen leaving an ale-shop on Canal street at about eleven o'clock on Monday night previous. Search was instituted on Wednesday but it was not until Friday that the missing man was found. The verdict of the inquest was "accidental drowning." A man whose name I did not learn was killed in the mines on Friday by a mass of slate falling upon him. This is the second accident of this kind that has occurred lately. The great menagerie paid us a visit on Wednesday and as is usually the case with affairs of the kind attracted an immense crowd to town, principally from the "rooral" districts. Lager and gingerbread had to suffer correspondingly. I am informed the number of tickets sold to the menagerie alone reached 4,500. I would like to say a word about the new style of bonnets now being displayed along our streets, but fear of the fair owners almost deters me. However those who have not yet had the exquisite pleasure of seeing them can form a pretty good conception of what they look like by imagining the arched or gothic part of a church window set on the front of a small wooden pail. This comes the nearest of anything I could suggest. Shouldn't wonder if the next agony were an imitation of a church steeple on top of the gothic part. It would look so nice, you know. [Signed] E Fire! A frame house belonging to and occupied by a man named Lily, we are informed, in Munster township, was burned to the ground on Friday of last week. Loss unknown. Strawberries This delicious fruit, the supply of which is quite plentiful in this locality is just now fully ripened. They retail in the streets at the moderate swindle of a fip a quart. Strawberries smothered in cream, who wouldn't indulge under the circumstances! Report of the Superintendent of Common schools of Cambria County for the Year ending June 1, 1862 [extracts from lengthy report] New School Houses: This year, Alleghany, Jackson, Clearfield, Summerhill and Richland each erected a new house, five in all. Of the one in Clearfield, nothing is known, but the remaining four are of a much better style than the old-fashioned uncomfortable structures they replaced. They are all frame buildings, sufficiently large to accommodate all the pupils in the districts in which they are located, well ventilated and comfortably and tastefully furnished, but with the exception of the one in Alleghany, as yet unpainted. Those in Alleghany and Jackson are built after the plans of the Penna. School Architecture. School Houses: The whole number of school houses in the county is 143. For reasons I already given [Trans. Note: he is a new superintendent on the job], I am unable to state the exact number unfit for use; but we have a great many that are objectionable, either in themselves or their location. The most prominent of these, that have come under my notice, are two in Jackson, one in Summerhill and two in Chest. Have heard of no houses being refurnished during the year. The Directors of the Carrollton district intend to furnish their building the present summer according to the plans of the Penna. S. A. The number yet with wholly unsuitable furniture cannot be given but is very large. A majority of the school houses in Cambria are without suitable furniture. Have heard of no house being furnished with suitable or considerable apparatus. About one-half the school houses are furnished with good blackboards; the remainder are either without or are furnished with blackboard surface too small to be of any service. One- fourth are supplied with Orthographical Charts and these, with the addition of a few maps and globes in Johnstown and maps in Ebensburg and Wilmore, make up the sum total of school apparatus in Cambria county. Schools: No graded schools were established during the year. The only Graded Schools in the county are in Ebensburg and Wilmore boroughs. About one-fourth of the schools are well classified without being graded; the remainder are neither graded nor classified. This want of proper classification will continue to exist until Directors not only adopt uniform series of books, but afterwards observe carefully that no other kind is brought into the schools. Some Boards have failed to comply with the requirements of the Common School Law to adopt a uniform series of books, while others having adopted such series by resolution have failed to exact compliance with it; and the schools in such districts have derived no real benefit from the action of the Board. During the summer and fall, the necessity of observing this section of the School Law will be urged upon all Boards that have hitherto failed in so doing. Examination of Teachers: The whole number of applicants examined publicly by Mr. Swank from 1st of June, 1861, until his resignation on the 13th of November was 188. Number examined privately, 7. Total, 195. To 180 of these applicants, Provisional Certificates were granted; the remaining 15 were rejected. Since my appointment, 14 teachers have been examined privately at the request of the Board of Directors employing them and received certificates. At public examinations 48 Provisional Certificates have been issued. Acting under the instructions from the Department, I also issued at the County Institute, Professional certificates to 9 teachers holding first-class Provisional from Mr. Swank. It thus appears that during the year ending June 1, 1862, 257 applications have been examined, 242 Provisional, 9 Professional certificates granted and certificates of any kind refused to 15 applicants. Visitation of Schools: Previous to his resignation, Mr. Swank had visited 18 schools. Since my appointment, 90 schools have been visited once, and 14 twice, making a total of 104 visits. Whole number of schools visited once during the year, 108. Number visited twice 14. [Snip] In my visitations in different districts, I was accompanied by 41 Directors. I found no trouble in securing the company of Directors; the only difficulty experienced being want of time to hunt them up. District Secretaries and Superintendents: I am unable to give the exact number of Secretaries who acted as District Superintendents during the year, but it was small, not more than four or five. [Snip] Moral Instruction: The Bible was used the past winter in about one- fifth of the schools and the Catholic Catechism in about one-third. All of our teachers profess to give oral moral instruction, but with what success I am unable to say. Am inclined to think that teachers generally do not pay sufficient attention to this essential part of their duties. Examinations: Of the two public examinations held, one was oral and other a combination of the oral and written method. [Snip] "Summer" and "Winter" Schools: Two districts, Wilmore borough and Susquehanna, had Summer and Winter schools. The time of opening these schools immediately after the beginning of the school year appears to be suitable. The Wilmore schools are kept open four months in Summer and Fall for pupils under 13 years of age and four months in Winter and Spring for scholars over that age. This arrangement is rather popular in the district. In Susquehanna one-half of the schools are kept open in Summer and the other half in Winter. Have had no means of ascertaining whether this arrangement is popular or otherwise in the district, but it seems to be objectionable for the reason that in those districts having summer school, the larger pupils, obliged to work at home at this season of the year and having no opportunity to attend school in Winter lose their schooling entirely. The better plan would seem to be to keep all the schools open in summer for small pupils and all open in winter for large ones, the summer and winter terms being of the same length. Effect of the War: The educational interests of the county seem to have been little affected by the disastrous condition of public affairs. Last year a few districts had shorter terms than usual and the salaries were smaller in nearly all. This year Johnstown will have eight months, three more than last year. Conemaugh, eight months, three more than ever before. Millville, eight months, two more than heretofore. And Summitville, six months, an increase of two months on the usual session. All of these districts pay liberal salaries. The prospect now is, that next winter, all of the schools in the county will be kept open four months and that the term will be considerably lengthened in many districts that last year only had their schools open long enough to secure their Appropriation. Quite a number of subscription schools are now open. Some ten or twelve of these have been visited and the remainder will be as soon as possible. My visitations of winter schools will commence about the middle of October and continue until every school in the county has been visited once, and as many twice, as time will permit. Public Sentiment: Although in some districts there is considerable opposition to the system and only a lukewarm feeling in its favor in others, the prevailing sentiment is favorable and that opposition is fast dying away as indicated by the disposition of the past and present year to build better houses, pay better salaries and have longer school terms. [Signed] W. A. Scott, Co. Supt. Political The People's Convention of Indiana county have nominated Wm. M. Stewart for Congress, Harry White for Senate, and John W. Huston for Assembly. In Blair county the People's Convention have nominated R. A. M'Murtrie for Assembly. Hon. S. S. Blair secured the Congressional conferees. Pennsylvania Soldiers' Relief Association Whilst so many gallant sons of the Old Keystone State have enlisted in the War, and risked their limbs and their lives in behalf of our glorious Union, it is a source of true pride that Pennsylvanians, whether at home or abroad, are ever ready to minister to their many and pressing necessities. A week or two since a meeting of Pennsylvanians, residing and sojourning in the city of Washington, was held at Willard's Hotel, the object being to extend relief to the wounded and sick soldiers connected with the army of the United States. A temporary organization was then effected and a Committee appointed to prepare and submit a Constitution and report permanent officers. On Thursday night last a second or adjourned meeting was held when the Committee made their report, a Constitution was adopted and the following officers selected: President: Hon. J. K. Moorhead Vice Presidents: Hon. Jos. Casey Hon. Ed. Cowan Hon. W. D. Kelly Hon. D. Wilmot Hon. J. Patton Treasurers: Jay Cooke & Co. Corresponding Secretary: S. Todd Pugly Recording Secretary: J. K. Sullivan Executive Committee: Col. J. H. Puleston Dr. Wm. Elder David Haines Wm. A. Cook J. W. Forney Hon. John Covode Jasper E. Brady D. B. Lippencott Titian J. Coffey Dr. C. Robb J. B. Sheridan J. M. Dixon Finance Committee: D. L. Eaton Chester Turtle A. H. Derrick A. L. Kerr D. Wilton Haines A. L. Rennershotz Robert Morris The Hon. Mr. Moorhead addressed the meeting, returning his thanks for the honor conferred upon him in selecting him as its President. Addresses were also made by other gentlemen present who have been with the army and in the hospitals and a number of eminently practical suggestions were thrown out. Subscriptions were then received and when the book was closed the amount of the fund had reached over $1,300. Since then we see it announced that subscriptions have been going in from all quarters, the firm of Jay Cooke & Co., Bankers, in Philadelphia having subscribed $250. It was fully understood at the meeting that the operations of the Association are not to be confined to the District of Columbia alone but that they shall extend to all divisions of the army where in Pennsylvania soldier are to be found. Nor will the Association, as a extemporary well remarks, confine itself to Pennsylvanians in one army or another army, but it designs to pour the balm upon the wounded limb, whether in the extreme South or the distant West, on the Shenandoah or the Mississippi, no distinction being made betwixt the soldiers from Maine and the soldiers from Pennsylvania, but wherever a loyal man is in want or in misery, the effort will be made to relieve him. Prosperity and success cannot fail to attend an institution with such bright and noble objects in view. The Pennsylvania Reserves A correspondent of the Philadelphia PRESS writing from before Richmond under date of June 16th, says: On Wednesday last, Gen. M'Call with his splendid division arrived at this place in the army of the Potomac. By gradual marches he has come from White House, stopping on Tuesday evening at the centre of Gen. M'Clellan's army and Wednesday, early in the morning, leaving for the right wing. The extreme right is the position assigned to the Reserve Corps and they will hold Mechanicsville and the line of the Chickahominy to New Bridge, relieving Gen. Franklin from this duty. No body of troops in the army are superior to the Pennsylvania Reserves. Excellent health, strict discipline and a complete armament, qualify them, under the lead of their gallant general to meet any number of troops the enemy can bring into the field. Experienced officers are in command of all the regiments and companies and the whole division is capable, if necessary, of reproducing the gallantry which, amid gloom, and despondency electrified the country at the battle of Dranesville. Col. Simmons' 5th Regiment were on the march to the picket lines within five minutes after their arrival at the ground, and the colonel, whose military ability has been an invaluable aid on the Potomac and Rappahannock, stationed his sentinels with unequalled skill. It were invidious to mention any of the officers of this corps, but perhaps the friends of some would be gratified to learn their whereabouts. Col. March of the 1st and Lieut. Col. M'Candless, Major Woodward, Adjutant Cross and a host of others were all of them on the ground when the corps arrived and though of course somewhat sunburned and swarthy, were ready to perform their duties on an instant call. The Reserves hold a most important post, and no one knowing their high character is fearful of their not holding it well. Battle of Fair Oaks The official report of Gen. M'Clellan in relation to the recent battle before Richmond, in which, in the most sweeping manner, he reflected upon the troops of Brig. Gen. Casey, was well calculated at the time to create the most intense solicitude in the minds of those having friends in that division. Gen. M'Clellan himself has since officially admitted the injustice which was done upon the imperfect information of the moment and has stated that there were "exceptional cases," of good conduct during the engagement to all which he will in due time refer more especially. In the meantime those desiring information in the premises must look to other sources. As apropos, we make the following extract from a letter, dated at Seven Pines, June 7, and written to the BEDFORD INQUIRER by 2d Lieut. Cowley of the 101st (Col. Wilson's) Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers: "Our own gallant little regiment was all the time in the thickest of the fight, our men behaving like veterans. We at times charging upon and repulsing the enemy and again being ourselves driven back by overwhelming number. The distance between the opposing forces at no time during this desperate engagement was more than one hundred yards, while at others it was not more than twenty-five yards. And when at last our cartridges giving out, we fell back before this overwhelming force by order of Gen. Casey. It was only to rally again when Couch's Division formed the second line of battle. Here another desperate engagement took place. But here again our forces were driven back until Heintzleman's and Summer's corps came to our assistance and the fate of the day was turned. Our gallant leader, Lieut. Col. D. B. Morris was wounded early in the engagement and carried from the field. Although Gen. M'Clellan has said that 'Except Casey's Division, the troops acted elegantly,' yet we, the 101st feel that we can point with pride to our Colors, which came from the field at half-past five that evening, riddled by eighteen Secesh balls. And it is with pride, mingled with sorrow, that out of 400 men we took upon the field, we can point to 12 known to be killed, 113 wounded, 69 missing, total loss out of 400, 194. We believe this list alone will vindicate us, before the country, Gen. M'Clellan's dispatch to the contrary notwithstanding. Captain Compher and Lieut. Beegle (Lieut. Evans being sick) acted with the greatest coolness and bravery, all the time cheering on their men. Our Captain being absent, Lieut. D. W. Mullin was in command of our company and bore himself through with the undaunted courage of an old "regular." I might give many incidents which came under my own observation of courage and deeds of daring by men in our company but my communication is already growing too long. Our own company went into the fight with twenty-eight men rank and file, nine of whom were wounded. The names of the wounded in our company from Bedford Co. are: William B. Hoffman, arm, shoulder and side, three wounds; Augustus Lightningstar, hit by shell; H. Boerkamp, flesh wound in thigh; W. H. Knipple, slight in chest; J. L. Brown, slightly in arm. None of the wounded are dangerous. We have a large sick list, our men having undergone hardships and exposure until they are worn out, but notwithstanding this the few who are left of us, are still ready and willing to do all we can to crush out this unholy rebellion even should it cost our lives. The only mark your humble correspondent received during the fight was a hole through his coat." General War News [extracts from lengthy article] The Army of the Potomac in front of Richmond has had another most terrific engagement with the rebels and although the accounts are very meager, it is clamed as a most brilliant victory for the Federal army. Below we give the latest intelligence received by telegraph: "A severe and most determined battle was fought on the right wing on Thursday and Friday last which is clamed by our officers as a successful strategic movement, driving the enemy unwittingly into a trap which has doomed the city of Richmond and the whole rebel army to a speedy capture. The attack was made by the enemy in immense force who crossed the Chickahominy near the railroad above Mechanicsville on Thursday afternoon. The rebels fought desperately but were unable to drive our men a single rod though the enemy were ten to our one. The only force engaged that day was Gen. M'Call's Division, the battle lasting from two o'clock till nine P. M. when the division was ordered back. Gen. M'Clellan was on the field and expressed himself as satisfied with the result. The object of the movement was to bring Gen. Porter's and other divisions into close connection with the rest of the army, changing the front of the whole of our forces, with our central and left pressing immediately on Richmond itself, which could be done, it was expected, on Saturday. It was a virtual surrender or vacating of a long line of defense, heretofore, kept up to Mechanicsville, in order to have the whole force within more effective also to allow the rebels to follow and if possible, to capture them. Gen. M'Clellan ordered Gen. Porter to withdraw to two miles this side of Gaines Mills early on Friday morning, which was done, the enemy following and thinking they had gained the victory. Our troops moved slowly back in good order, fighting as they went, crossing the Chickahominy and reached the position designated for their occupation by Gen. M'Clellan. The rebels followed in great force and by three o'clock in the afternoon a general and heavy engagement occurred here, lasting till seven o'clock where a lull took place but the rebels again renewed it with greater ferocity having been reinforced. Our brave men stood the unequal contest like heroes and the shell, grape and musketry did fearful havoc. Our forces were increased by Gens. Slocum, Palmer, French and Meagher's brigades, and the rebels were badly beaten. Meagher's Irish brigade went into the battle with their coats off and sleeves rolled up, fighting like tigers. The ground which Gen. M'Clellan ordered Gen. Porter to occupy and hold was occupied and held in the first part of the day. Gen. Porter's corps only contended against the rebels, but subsequent reinforcement swelled our numbers to 45,000 men. The rebels had 60,000 men under Generals Lee, Hill, Anderson and Branch. The correspondent of the Associated Press has returned from Gen. M'Clellan's headquarters and is preparing a detailed account of the events of the past four days before Richmond and on the Peninsula. We have the grandest military triumph over the rebels and Richmond must fall! The loss in officers is very large. Among the killed are Col. Samuel Black of the 62nd Pa., by a ball through the head, while leading a charge through a piece of woods; Col. M'Lane of the 83rd Pa.; Col. Magilton of the 4th Penn. The mortality among other officers is fearfully large.