NEWS: Items from The Alleghanian, August 21, 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, August 21, 1862 Volume 3, Number 48 A. C. Mullin, Esq. A. C. Mullin, Esq., has been appointed Commissioner to make enrollment of all persons subject to military duty in Cambria county, preparatory to a draft being made. This is an excellent selection and will give general satisfaction. The quota of this county has not yet been designated. County War News Letters have been received here from Co. A, 11th Penna. Reserves, dated Fredericksburg, Va., 16th inst., stating that the major portion of that company arrived there during the past week. In a list of sick and wounded soldiers who arrived at New York from Harrison's Landing last week, we find the names of Lawrence Helman and Frederick J. Evans, both of Co. A, 11th Penna. Reserves. We are much obliged to our former Johnstown correspondent, "E," for the muster roll of Capt. Kopelin's company. Will try and publish it next week. We hope he will continue his favors. A half company left St. Augustine this county for Harrisburg, last week. Letter from Our Volunteers Camp near Harrison's Landing August 8, 1862 Perhaps some information concerning the welfare of the Cambria Guards - the number killed, wounded and taken prisoner in the battles before Richmond - would not be uninteresting to the people of Ebensburg and vicinity. The 11th regiment P. R. C. went out on picket on the 25th of June. The next day - Thursday - it could easily be seen there were some movements of importance going on within the Rebel lines. Heavy columns of their infantry were being moved on the other side of the Chickahominy towards Mechanicsville and before long, they opened their batteries upon the first and third brigades P. R. C. As soon as the battle had commenced, the second brigade, Gen. Meade's, was ordered to double quick to the scene of action. The batteries of the Reserve were soon brought up and went into action, the men working the pieces with their coats off and sleeves rolled up. The infantry also marched into the rifle pits to give the enemy a bloody welcome. The rebels were soon seen advancing over the brow of a hill and within range of the muskets of the Reserves. Then the battle began in earnest. The rebel force consisted of three divisions, numbering about thirty thousand men. The Reserves numbered about six thousand men. They charged three times upon our batteries but the grape and canister of the artillery and the minies of the men were too much for them and they were obliged to retreat back every time. Co. A occupied the position on picket nearest the battle and the company was ordered to deploy as skirmishers. We advanced to a mill race where there was good cover and discovered the enemy's skirmishers advancing on the other side. We poured volley after volley into them and compelled them to fall back. When Co. A was fighting here, a company of the 7th Reserves was ordered to support us; but owing to the smoke and darkness they supposed us to be rebels and fired into us. Fortunately however they fired too high and no one was hurt. We were relieved by the 9th regiment. We laid on our arms all night. Early next morning, the battle was renewed. After considerable marching and countermarching, we formed in line of battle on Dr. Gaines' farm, where we awaited the approach of the enemy. They were not long coming, but just there the 83d Penna. Regiment executed one of the most brilliant charges ever made, driving the rebels back in confusion. The fighting had now become general along the whole line. The 11th regiment was ordered to the left, to support DeHart's battery, but the fighting having become heavier in the centre, it was ordered up to support that point. We marched to a strip of woods where we were ordered to lie down. In the meantime the bullets and shells were flying like hail about us, but the boys stood it like veterans. We were soon ordered up and marched to relieve the 4th New Jersey. We came to the edge of a ravine in the woods where we halted and commenced firing. The 4th New Jersey fell back through our regiment, the rebels seeing which charged after them. They did not see us, however, and we let them come to the edge of the ravine when we poured a volley into them that sent them back reeling. They charged on us twice but were driven back both times in confusion. Capt. Lewis was wounded in about half an hour after we went into the fight, and in a short time after, Lieut. Burke was also wounded. Lieut. Jones then took command of the company and led it until we were taken prisoners. After fighting about an hour, the balls began to come on our right flank. We were on the right of the regiment consequently we suffered more than any other company. All the men that were killed or wounded in the Cambria Guards were killed or wounded while standing under this cross fire from the right. We fought two hours and forty minutes in the woods when the Colonel ordered us to fall back into the field. When we reached the field, we found four rebel regiments drawn up in line all around us. The rebel officers ordered us to surrender, but the boys wouldn't do it. We were then fired into from every side, the rebels, however, killing more of their own men in the operation than they did of ours. When we saw that further resistance was useless, we broke our guns by striking them against trees and stones. Many of us were marched into Richmond that night while others remained on the battlefield all night and were removed to the city next morning. Our officers behaved with the greatest bravery. Col. Gallagher went into the battle smoking a cigar! Lt. Col. Jackson, Major Johns and Adjutant M'Coy were every where encouraging the men. Capt. Lewis was all the time at the head of his company, waving his sword, cheering the boys and telling them not to fire until they could do good execution. He was wounded in the leg, rendering amputation necessary from the effects of which he died July 2d. A braver man never carried a sword. Lieuts. Burke and Jones were wherever the balls fell fastest and thickest and acted like men that knew no fear. After we had been captured the rebels asked us how many regiments fought against them. We told them one. They said, "We (the rebels) had a brigade and you nearly annihilated two regiments!" The following is a list of the killed and wounded of Co. A. I believe it to be correct: Killed: Capt. A. Lewis Daniel Helman John M'Clune Thomas M'Cammon George K. Brown James Hoon Richard E. Jones Emanuel Urban Wounded: Lt. James C. Burke Sergt. J. E. Scanlan Corp. Wm. A. Leavy Thompson Carney Thomas P. Dumm Richard R. Davis David T. James Camp Moore John M'Bride George M'Broom Hilarian O'Connell William Powell William W. Wagoner Henry Wareham Thomas Williams Yours truly, [Signed] Daniel D. Jones Camp Curtin, Pa. August 18, 1862 Two weeks ago a meeting was held in Ebensburg to raise a company to go forth in defense of the rights most dear to Northern freeman. You recollect the proceedings of that meeting - thirteen men then and there signed the muster roll of Capt. John M. Jones' company. Well, patriotic young men flocked to the standard of the Union and in one week a full company was ready to enter the service of Uncle Sam. On last Tuesday we organized, were sworn in to the service of the Federal Government and elected our commissioned officers. The next morning at half past five o'clock amid the adieux and God speeds of friends, we left the Mountain Village for the term of nine months. At every station along our journey we were welcomed with hearty hurrahs by the men and the waving of handkerchiefs by the ladies. At one of the stations a beautiful bouquet was thrown in at the car window, which your correspondent had the good fortune to secure. Thanks to the fair donor and may her pathway thro' life be sweet and pleasant as the fragrance of her floral offering! On entering the station of Mexico, such a assemblage of bright eyes, fair cheeks and rosy lips greeted us that many of the boys imagined they had, by some mistake, take the back track and were again in Ebensburg! At two o'clock we arrived at Harrisburg depot. From thence we marched to the Pennsylvania House where we partook of dinner; after which we marched to camp. The same evening we received our tents and one day's rations, but nothing else, so the first night's sleep in camp for the greater portion of us was upon the hard ground. Ground, I say and not soft green grass, for recollect there is very little in this camp except soldiers, tents and - dust. This latter article, moreover, is a friend that sticketh considerably closer than a poor relation! Let us all petition for a rain - a great, rousing rain - which shall settle the dust of Camp Curtin and thereby cause the hearts of the soldiers to rejoice. The rations we receive are excellent, and it is only a want of proper knowledge to prepare them that would render them unpalatable to any one. The boys are anxious to receive their clothing and arms, and learn what it is to be a real soldier. Thus far we have received by way of clothing only overcoats and blankets but will get the remainder ere long. The following is the muster roll of the company - to which no name has yet been given, although we generally go by the title of "Cambria Guards No. 2." Captain: John M. Jones Lieutenants: 1st: Wm. A. Scott 2d: F. M. Flanagan Sergeants: 1st: Samuel W. Davis 2d: Nathan Sanders 3d: Meshac Thomas 4th: J. M. Thompson 5th: V. S. Barker 6th: J. H. Humphreys 7th: J. F. Stearns 8th: Peter Urban Musician: Andrew J. Litzinger Teamster: John J. Griffith Privates: Aerhart, Peter Bennet, Richard J. Berkey, George W. Broombaugh, John Burns, Patrick A. Blanchard, Melville G. Burns, Patrick Conrad, Stephen Carland, Henry Davis, William A. Deveraux, Thomas T. Deveraux, Robert Evans, Hosea J. Evans, William M. Evans, Andrew E. Evans, Thomas J. Evans, Hugh E. Evans, Elbridge G. Evans, David I. Edward, Lewis R. Edelblute, James M. Fronk, Cyrus H. Fox, John Gibson, Wm. D, Gallagher, Wilson Hughes, John W. Howell, Wm. W. Horn, Henry P. Humphreys, Edward J. Jones, Richard M. Jones, Alexander Jones, Edward Jr. Jones, John M. Jones, Wm. W. Jones, Milton Jones, Evan E. Keith, Levi Keith, Peter Kinsel, Joseph Krise, Valentine W. Kimball, John Klennelsee, Daniel L. Long, Daniel Lewis, David D. Longwell, James M. Lamer, Samuel M'Closkey, Ben T. G. M'Munnigle, Lawrence M'Dowell, Richard B. Mack, Joseph Makin, Wm. Michael, Evan J. Morgan, David Moore, Levi Melhorn, Peter Miller, Joseph Pryce, David D. Powell, Daniel Parker, Joseph W. Patterson, Edward Roberts, Edwin E. Singer, Robert H. Severance, Levi Severance, Albion A. Snyder, Tobias Snyder, Lewis Shinefelt, Christian Shoffner, Martin Sutton, Francis A. Stiles, Elbridge Thomas, David Thompson, John A. Tibbott, Wm. R. Williams, Ellis R. Whitehead, James W. Weakland, Demetrius Wiggins, John F. Waugeman, Robt. E. B. Yours &c., [Signed] Cambrian [We learn that a new regiment - the 133d Penna. - was organized in Camp Curtin last week, composed of one Ebensburg company, two Johnstown companies, three Perry companies, two Somerset companies, and two Bedford companies. The officers are as follows: Colonel Spiekman of Perry; Lieut. Colonel Kopelin of Cambria; Major Schrock of Somerset. The regiment left for Washington on Tuesday morning.] Our Soldiers - From Ebensburg to Camp Curtin The company which left this place on Wednesday of last week in response to the President's call for "more troops," was a model one in every respect. The men composing it were a portion of the very bone and sinew of the county - men of brave hearts and steady hands, honest, industrious, moral, upright - who, at duty's call, sternly put aside the blandishments of home for a season to brave the perils and privations of the camp and battlefield. [snip] The editor of this paper accompanied the company to Camp Curtin. The route thither seemed a perfect ovation. At almost every station the boys were greeted with hearty cheers from the males while bright-eyed and rosy-cheeked maidens vied with each other in doing them honor. Arriving at Harrisburg, the company was met by Lieut. J. C. Noon, to whose exertions the members are indebted for many favors. After a late dinner the company marched to Camp Curtin, where a suitable location was assigned them. The boys immediately proceeded to make themselves perfectly at home and it was astonishing to see how excellently they succeeded. From this happy faculty of adapting themselves to any circumstance, we have no doubt, that in a few weeks, they will have all become tip-top soldiers. Capt. Jones and Lieuts. Scott and Flanagan were always with the men, attending to their necessities and wants. Although neither of these gentlemen ever "set a squadron in the tented field," yet we predict they will make efficient officers. They are courteous, honorable and brave and possess the affections and confidence of their men in an eminent degree. The non-commissioned officers - list of which we print elsewhere - are also whole-souled, reliable fellows who will do their duty to a man. We took particular pains while in camp to acquaint ourself with the general appearance of companies from other sections and after a careful examination, are constrained to say that, in appearance, intelligence and soldierly bearing, our Ebensburg company will compare favorably with any of them. Indeed the good appearance of all the Cambria county companies was a subject of general remark. That they will give a good account of themselves at the proper time has been reduced to a certainty in our mind. May God watch over them all and bless their efforts. We had the pleasure of taking Capt. Kopelin, of one of the Johnstown companies, by the hand during our stay in camp. He is one of nature's own noblemen and will be a friend indeed to our Cambria boys. We congratulate him upon his promotion to the Lieutenant Colonelcy of the regiment - the 133rd Penna. - in which the three Cambria companies are.