NEWS: The Alleghanian; 19 Mar 1863; Ebensburg, Cambria Cnty., PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ _________________________________________ The Alleghanian Ebensburg, Pa. Thursday, 19 Mar 1863 Volume 4, Number 25 Personal John Griffith, a member of Co. F, 133d Penna. Vols., is here on a short leave of absence. He is in excellent health and reports the balance of the company ditto. Promoted It gives us pleasure to announce that our friend, Dan D. Jones, has been promoted from the Orderly Sergeantship to the Second Lieutenancy of Co. A, 11th Penna. Reserves. No better man could be found to fill the position. The Fifty-Fourth Penna. Vols. From a letter written by a member of Co. A, 54th regiment, Pa. Vols., March 6th, says the Johnstown DEMOCRAT, we learn that the regiment was under orders to march on the afternoon of that date. The members of the regiment were notified that two days' cooked rations would have to be prepared preparatory to marching. The writer of the letter thinks the destination of the regiment is Romney, Va., where, probably, more of the stern realities of grim-visaged war awaits the gallant sons of the 54th than they have yet experienced. The boys, of course, were overjoyed at the idea of "changing their base," and threw up their hats in wild enthusiasm when the order was promulgated. Those having fiends in the regiment and who contemplate writing them, would act wisely in postponing the matter until receiving definite information as to the whereabouts of the boys. Shoulder Arms! We notice by the Hollidaysburg papers that a number of that much despised race, the nigger, resident thereabout, have recently enlisted in a Massachusetts colored regiment being recruited under authority of Governor Andrews. Bully for the "Americans of African descent!" - who says they won't go for soldiers? The DEM. & SENT., will please take notice and oblige. All Right Ellis R. Williams, a member of Co. F, 133d Penna. Vols., who, on his recent return to his regiment after a brief trip hence on "French furlough," was arrested as a deserter and lodged in the guardhouse at Falmouth, has, we are happy to say, been released without a trial. The order to that effect was promulgated by Secretary Stanton himself who fully understood and appreciated the motives which prompted Ellis' absence from duty. Where he can't get along there is no use any one else trying! Freak of the Elements On last Sunday eve, the singular phenomenon of a snow storm accompanied by terrific peals of thunder and vivid flashes of lightening, - the usual accompaniments of a big rain in midsummer – was vouchsafe unto us of the mountain. During its continuance snow fell to the depth of three or four inches. Abandoned The Pennsylvania Railroad company gives notice of their intention to abandon so much of the western division of the canal as lies between Johnstown and Blairsville, together with the dams, feeders and reservoirs used in connection therewith. Sentenced Benjamin Rodgers, convicted at our late Quarter Sessions of larceny, has been sentenced to the penitentiary for the term of one year. The Sheriff removed him thither Tuesday. The War [extracts from lengthy article] The advent of settled weather will open a new campaign in Virginia in which new military conclusions will be tried with a fierceness of endeavor hitherto unknown in this war. For two months past neither the Army of the Potomac nor that of Northern Virginia, at present commanded by Gen. T. J. (Stonewall) Jackson have been at all demonstrative. Both of these armies have been mud-bound and unable to move five miles without great losses and both have been thoroughly reorganized during this interim of inactivity. The increase of the Army of the Potomac by the additions from the new levies has brought it up to a prime numerical strength, and its discipline has been greatly improved. In Jackson's army the discipline of desperation has made the rebel troops good soldiers, no doubt, whilst the Southern conscription, however rigid it may be, has failed to fill many of the old battalions. The federal troops have been refurnished in a great measure with new arms and accouterments and none but good weapons will be used in the great battles which will be fought before midsummer in the States of Virginia and South Carolina. The rebels have received but few arms of late, owing to the undisputed efficiency of the blockade of the rebel ports and it is well known that arms are always worthless after a year's use in active warfare, even in the hands of the most careful and economical troops in the world – those of the French army. [Snip] We should advise an early movement of every corps to this end, the attainment of which will be of the utmost importance. Should Rosecrans and Grant be only partially successful in the Southwest or should they be entirely so, our prospects in the East could not be bettered. Much depends upon the ponderous blows to be struck in Virginia, this spring, to tell whether we may look for peace in the fall or a war for several years to come. Proclamation of the President Executive Mansion March 10, 1863 The President has issued the following Proclamation respecting soldiers' absence without leave: In pursuance of the 26th section of the act of Congress, entitled an act for enrolling and calling out the national forces, and for other purposes, approved on the 3d of March, 1863, I, Abraham Lincoln, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, do hereby order and command that all the soldiers, enlisted or drafted into the service of the United States, now absent from their regiments without leave, shall forthwith return to their respective regiments. And I do hereby declare and proclaim that all soldiers now absent from their respective regiments without leave, who shall on or before the 1st day of April, 1863, report themselves at any rendezvous designated by the General Orders to the War Department No. 58 hereto annexed, may be restored to their respective regiments without punishment, except the forfeiting of pay and allowances during their absence and all who do not return within the time above specified shall be arrested as deserters and punished as the law provides. And whereas evil disposed and disloyal persons at sundry places have enticed and procured soldiers to desert and absent themselves from their regiments, thereby weakening the strength of the armies and prolonging the war, giving aid and comfort to the enemy and cruelly exposing the gallant and faithful soldiers remaining in the ranks to increased hardships and dangers. I do therefore call upon all patriotic and faithful citizens to oppose and resist the aforementioned dangerous and treasonable crimes and to aid in restoring to their regiments all soldiers absent without leave and to assist in the execution of the act of Congress for enrolling and calling out the national forces and for other purposes and to support the proper authorities in the prosecution and punishment of offenders against said act and in suppressing the insurrection and rebellion. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. Done at the city of Washington, on the 10th day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three and of the Independence of the United States, the eighty-seventh. [Signed] Abraham Lincoln By the President, Edwin M. Stanton, Sec'y. of War DEATHS Reese C. Fleeson Reese C. Fleeson, one of the editors of the Pittsburg DISPATCH died in that city on Monday morning. Annie Carter Lee Annie Carter Lee, the daughter and only child of General Lee of the rebel army, died recently at Jones Spring, North Carolina, an outcast from her home because she remained true to the flag under which her ancestors won their laurels and to the government to which her father and kindred proved recreant.