NEWS: Items from The Alleghanian, July 31, 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 31, 1862 Volume 3, Number 45 Robert E. Jones Robert E. Jones, formerly of this place, but lately a member of the 12th regular infantry, is an inmate of Charity Hospital, Philadelphia. He was so unfortunate as to have the index finger of his right hand shot off at the battle of Gaines' Mills. Appointed We are glad to learn that Mr. Abel Lloyd has been appointed Agent of the Ebensburg and Cresson Railroad at this place, his appointment to date from August 1st. He is an excellent business man, able and energetic and will make a tip-top official. We wish him all manner of success. Chapter of Accidents A singular fatality seems truly to have enshrouded Saturday of last week. The number of accidents, all of them of a serious character, occurring on that day are without a parallel in our recollection. The following are such as we have heard: At an early hour in the morning a portion of the mason work of the reservoir which feeds the western division of the Penna. Canal with water, located in Richland township, gave way. The reservoir is emphatically a "big thing," it being three miles long by two miles wide and the water sixty to seventy feet in depth. The vast torrent thus released did considerable damage to property, the most serious of which was the washing away of a portion of the railroad track at South Fork, thereby delaying the trains several hours. The people of Johnstown, which town is situate in a gorge through which the torrent would inevitably pass, were terribly frightened at the prospect of being "wiped out," a la Noah's flood, but beyond a very perceptible rise in the two rivers thereabouts nothing occurred to confirm their fears. A little boy named Young, while driving a wagon containing an iron safe up a hill in the vicinity of Johnstown, most likely in anticipation of the "coming of the waters," was almost instantly killed by the safe slipping from the wagon and falling upon him. A visitor sojourning at Cresson had his nose almost completely severed from his face by a window falling upon him while in the act of taking an observation. A man attempting to get on a freight train in motion at Johnstown missed his hold and fell, the train passing over and cutting off one of his hands. A woman, at the same place, by some means, unfortunately fell off a load of hay thereby breaking her back. A little son of Joseph Cole, in Carrolltown, fell off a tree and dislocated his collar bone. Letter from our Volunteers Late and Reliable from Co A, 11th Reserves, Cambria Guards Their Participation in the Battles Before Richmond List of Killed and Wounded, &c., &c. Bellevue Hospital, New York July 25, 1862 This being the first opportunity afforded me of corresponding since the battles before Richmond, I haste to send you a list of the killed and wounded of Co. A. Our company did nobly. We were first engaged with the enemy on Thursday evening. We were then on picket, but when the battle reached the picket line, our company was ordered in as skirmishers. We shortly discovered the Rebel skirmishers were advancing their lines to a small tailrace which emptied into the Chickahominy. We charged down to it and captured a North Carolinian, who surrendered to Sergt. John E. Scanlan. The 7th Tenn. opened upon our right where the Captain was obliging him to order a retreat, as we were then between two fires. I remained with the 2d platoon, we being under good cover but the Rebels did not advance their skirmishers again. We were engaged two hours when Adjt. M'Coy relieved us with two companies. We did not lose a man and remained upon the battlefield all night. We returned to camp next morning to get provisions and breakfast but got no breakfast by reason that orders came to double-quick back to the battlefield. We did so when orders reached us to retreat to Gaines' house. There was a good deal of dissatisfaction expressed at this order, and we executed it with reluctance, it being known that 6,000 of the Reserves had repulsed time and again 22,000 Rebels (Hill's and Longstreet's divisions) and it was believed that we could thrash them easily by being reinforced. However, back we fell and remained inactive (our regiment being held as a reserve) until a quarter of 4 P.M., when we were ordered to relieve the 4th New Jersey. We went with a yell and many a Rebel bit the dust when the 11th opened upon them with their minies. Capt. Lewis fell the first fire, wounded in the right knee. Nobly did the Cambria Guards stand to the work. Cambria has no reason to blush at the name of her sons. I was wounded below the right knee one hour before the capture of our regiment. When I was carried off the field, there was no one left to command the company but 4th Sergt. Chas. A. Fagan, the rest being either wounded or absent with wounded comrades. Our regiment remained four hours under fire. The Rebels formed four lines of battle during this time, showing that we had been contending against four times our number. The 4th New Jersey and 11th Reserves held the centre while the right and left retreated. The first intimation we had of their retreat was the Rebels in front on both flanks and in the rear of us demanding our surrender! It is the general belief that we were sacrificed to save the remainder of the Reserves. Too much cannot be said in praise of our Colonel and staff officers. They were in all places, encouraging the men by word and example. Adjt. M'Coy was as cool as a cucumber, as much self-possessed as if the battle were nothing but a dress parade. In company with eight of our boys, I lay upon the battlefield twenty days, most of the time in a negro hut. The horrors of the battle are nothing compared with remaining on the field among the dead and wounded. The sufferings of the wounded were terrible, no attention having been paid them or a majority of them for five days. The name of Surgeon White, of Martindale's brigade, serves to be cursed by every Northern man. His tyranny and barbarism were unparalleled. He allowed the men to lie four and five days without dressing their wounds, thus producing excruciating pain to the sufferers! Our wounded who were unable to dress their own wounds got along well. An assistant Surgeon furnished me with lint and bandages and I dressed their injuries twice a day. Our living consisted of flour mixed in water, a half cupful three times a day. We were removed to Richmond on the 17th inst., and remained there three days. We were then conveyed to City Point via Petersburg where we got on board the Vanderbilt, arriving at this city on the 23d. I do not know why we were sent here as two-thirds aboard were Pennsylvanians. I understood the orders were to sail to Philadelphia. Things look terrible in Richmond and prices are enormously high. Coffee, poor article, $2.50 per lb.; tobacco, $1.00 per lb.; dried applies, $5.00 per bushel; shoes, $10 to $20; boots, $30 to $50. Rebel officers have to pay high for their uniforms - coat $100, pants $35 to $40! They are very anxious to get gold and silver. Two dollars in specie brings a five dollar Confederate note. We experienced no difficulty in disposing of our Treasury notes. They passed the same as Confederate notes. Gens. M'Call and Reynolds, together with all the Union officers, lately taken, are in a tobacco warehouse on 18th street, between Maine and Carey. M'Call and Reynolds pay $16 per week board which they receive from the Spottswood House. Lieut. Jones is on Bell's Isle with a portion of our prisoners. Capt. Lewis died July 2; his leg was amputated above the knee. The following is a list of the killed and wounded as far as heard from: Killed: Capt. A. Lewis John Gillespie Richard Jones Jacob Boring George K. Brown Wounded: Sergt. J. E. Scanlan William A. Leavy George M'Broom David T. James Thompson Carney Thomas P. Dumm William E. Brown Thomas Williams John M'Bride Richard R. Davis William R. Powell Wm. W. Evans, slight John Keough Henry Wareham Lieut. James C. Burke Missing: Halarian O'Connell Daniel Helman - supposed to be killed All of the wounded are convalescent. Seventeen men were not in the fight, having been detailed and in the hospital. [Signed] James C. Burke, 1st Lieut., Co. A., 11th Regt. P.R.V.C. Richard R. Davis and William Powell, both of Co. A and wounded, arrived at New York with Lieut. Burke. In a list of Pennsylvania prisoners taken from City Point, Friday, July 25, on board the steamer State of Maine to Fortress Monroe, we find the names of Thos. P. Dumm, David T. James, J. J. Gillespie and Wm. A. Leavy, all of Co. A. The Cambria Guards Annexed is a full and complete list of the commissioned and non- commissioned officers and privates of Co. A, 11th Penna. Reserves, as prior to the battles before Richmond. It will prove interesting at the present time as a mater of reference: Captain: Andrew Lewis Lieutenants: 1st, James C. Burke 2d, Rowland M. Jones Sergeants: 1st, Daniel D. Jones 2d, John E. Scanlan 3d, Chas. A. Fagan 4th James B. Pyatt 5th, William A. Leavy Corporals: 1st, Wm. H. Sechler 2d, Evan D. James 3d, Geo. J. Roberts 4th, Wm. W. Evans 5th, Geo. W. Brown 6th, John M'Feely 7th, George W. Books 8th, Elisha Foultz Musicians: John Roberts Thos. D. Litzinger Privates: Evan Abrams Joseph Bortman William Bolewine Syl'r. C. J. Bradley George K. Brown Nathaniel J. Benden Jacob S. Boring William E. Brown John L. Camp Thompson Carney William Crum David S. Carbaugh Thomas P. Dumm William W. Davis Richard R. Davis George W. Davis Edward E. Davis John Deetz William Elder Edward I. Evans Edgar Evans James N. Evans Frederick J. Evans John J. Foster John Gillespie Edward Gillespie James M. Hoon Daniel Helman Lawrence Helman Samuel Judy Thomas D. Jones Philip Jones David T. James Richard E. Jones John Keough Henry G. Krise Daniel D. Krise Francis A. Leavy Aaron Leff Charles Litzinger Daniel W. Luke Philip A. Lantzey John O. M'Creery Joshua L. M'Creery James S. M'Creery Thomas M'Cammon John M'Clure Nason M'Allister Henry M'Broom George M'Broom John M'Bride John Moore Camp Moore William Miller James A. Orr Joseph Owens Hilarian O'Connell William Powell Joseph A. Pfoff Robert Patterson Casper Shoffner Michael A. Skelly John J. Story Harry Settlemoyer John Stevens Emanuel Urban William W. Wagoner Henry H. Wareham Andrew Woodford Powers Woodford Thomas Williams Letter from Pittsburg Pittsburg, Monday, July 28, 1862 Knowing the anxiety that exists among the relations and friends of those brave men who are mostly unaccounted for since that day of terrible carnage and strife near Mechanicsville on Friday, June 27th, in which the gallant sons of Ebensburg participated, I wish to present to the public in consequence of many conflicting rumors, a statement of what I heard and saw of the Eleventh Regiment. Being engaged on the Sanitary Commission, I visited all the Pennsylvania regiments in the field among whom were (on the 25th of June), the Cambria Guards; the boys were all well with one or two exceptions, and enjoying excellent spirits and were, at that time, anxious to meet the foe and give him battle. That evening, I bid them adieu and little did I think, at that moment, that the few parting words that passed between us would be the last uttered on this vale of tears, but such is, undoubtedly the case with a few of their number. "Dost thou weep For the loved ones that are sleeping, Silent in the grave's dark keeping, Death a cold sleep?" The next day, 26th of June, the right wing of our army was attacked by the rebels, who were greatly superior in force, which was continued on Friday, the 27th. During that first day's fighting, the Eleventh Regiment were all performing picket duty above Mechanicsville, and on the memorial 27th, they were ordered to camp. No sooner had they reached their destination then they got orders to unsling knapsacks and countermarch, at a double-quick, to relieve the Third Pennsylvania Regiment, which was then engaged in the fight. This they did in a short time. They were fighting on the extreme right of McCall's Division, consequently, they suffered more severely than any regiment. It was great exposed to the raking fire of the enemy, but they held their ground unflinchingly and behaved bravely. Nine companies of that (the tenth company, B, was at that time on fatigue duty) regiment were entirely surrounded by a rebel brigade but they, unhesitatingly, refused to surrender, and charged on the rebel lines endeavoring to cut their way out. They were overpowered, a great many fell, killed and wounded, and all were taken prisoners. As soon as I learned of the fate of the Eleventh that evening, I retraced my steps from Savage Station towards the field of action with the intention of giving a helping hand to any of my friends in the Cambria Guards, who might perhaps have been wounded during the day, but all in vain; the rebels occupied the battlefield consequently. I was compelled to return without seeing one of them. On the Sunday following I saw fourteen of the company, who were not in the fight on account of sickness. Frank R. Brunot, Esq., who accompanied me from Harrison's Landing to Baltimore informed me that Capt. Andrew Lewis was shot in the right leg above the knee; the wound being so serious that amputation was necessary. He died in prison at Richmond on Wednesday, July 2d. Capt. Lewis was a good commander and a brave and tried soldier. Although not being personally acquainted with him, I, nevertheless, greatly deplore his sudden death, knowing that the country has lost one of its bravest defenders; the community a good citizen, and his beloved wife a kind and affectionate husband. "Who can grieve too much, What time shall end, Our mourning for so dear a friend?" [Signed] Ellis R. Williams Summary of War News The Rebel report of the battle of Seven Pines has just been issued. It claims the capture of 10 cannons, 6,000 muskets, one garrison and four regimental colors, tents and camp equipage. They admit a loss of about 4,300 but add, as a cataplasm, that the Union loss exceed 10,000. Dispatches from Gen. Pope's army state that Stonewall Jackson is at or very near Gordonsville with a force of 30,000 men and his intention is to break our lines and make a dash at Washington, so as to force M'Clellan to leave the Peninsula. Gen. Ewell commands a part of Jackson's forces. Senator Jim Lane has been commissioned by the Government to raise and organize an army in the Department of Kansas. He has the assurance of the President and Secretary of War that this time his peculiar plans shall not be interfered with. The following order, appointing Gen. Halleck General-in-Chief of the United States armies has been issued by the President: "Executive Mansion, July 11, 1862 - Ordered that Major General Henry W. Halleck be assigned to the command of the whole land forces of the United States, as General-in-Chief and that he repair to this capital so soon as he can with safety to the positions and operations within the department now under his special charge." Morgan, the rebel guerilla chef has been driven out of Kentucky. Gen. Dix on the part of the government and Gen. Hill on the part of the rebels, have made arrangements for a general exchange of prisoners. The first order under the Confiscation bill was issued from the War Department on the 22d. It directs that our commanders in Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas, shall seize any property necessary or convenient for military purposes and employ as many Africans as they can advantageously use, keeping accurate accounts of both property and negroes for future settlement. The negroes are to be paid for their labor. The President has decided that nine and twelve months' volunteers under Governor Curtin's late proclamation will be received only until the 10th August, after that date they will be sworn in for three years or the war. Line of Battle This expression often occurs in referring to the affairs of troops on the battle field and it is doubtless the opinion of many that two armies stand in two lines; but it is not so. The army is divided into two divisions, and there are often great gaps between the divisions. They are posted in positions or in commanding places - that is, on hills or in woods or on the banks of streams, in places where they will be best able to resist or attack the enemy. The divisions are usually so placed that they can support one another. You can understand a line of battle pretty well by imagining a regiment here on a hill, another down in the valley, a third in a piece of wood with artillery and cavalry placed in the best positions. If you want to make it more real, when you are out in the fields or pastures, with the hills all around, just imagine that the enemy is over yonder hill with ten thousand men and twenty pieces of artillery. You are a general and have an equal number. The enemy will come down that road, spread out into the field, or creep through the woods and attack you. You can't exactly tell how many men he will send on the right or how many on the centre, or how many on the left; so you must arrange your forces to support each other. Then, to shift it, you are to attack him. You don't know how his troops are arranged for he keeps them concealed as well as he can. You don't want many of your men killed, but do want to win a victory. Now there is a chance for you to try your skill in planning a battle. You must place your artillery in a position where it will do the most damage and receive the least from the enemy. You must move your infantry so that they will not be cut off by the enemy before they get near enough to cut them up in return. You see that it is no small thing to be a general. These are great responsibilities. About Friction Matches The value of the friction or Lucifer match will never be realized by the coming generation, for they will know nothing of the difficulties of obtaining and preserving fire previous to their invention. So rapidly do we move on that persons that remember the tinder-box are getting old. Then matches made by hand were valuable and carefully preserved; now they are as abundant as dew drops of an autumn morning and almost as cheap. An English writer says that one firm, Messrs. Dixon, in London, constantly employ four hundred workmen in making twenty-two hundred million a year. The average consumption in England is two hundred and fifty million a day or eight to each individual in the kingdom. It is as large as or larger than the United States. There are two manufactories in Austria and Bohemia that turn out forty five thousand million a year. The friction match is therefore one of the institutions of modern times and one that having once known and employed, we could no more do without and move on at the rapid rate we are doing than we could live without air and water. Ex-President Martin Van Buren died on Thursday, 24th inst., at his residence in Kinderhook, N. Y. Only two ex-presidents elected by the people are now living - Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan.