NEWS: The Alleghanian; 26 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, 26 Mar 1863 Volume 4, Number 26 Educational We are requested to state that Miss Lizzie M. Hutchinson intends opening a school in room No. 1, Union Building on Monday, 30th inst. Those interested will please bear this in mind. Personal Sergt. Caspar W. Easly, of Co. A, 133d Pa. Vols., who has been at home for some days past on furlough paid our town a visit on Monday. He was looking well as ever and reported himself favorably impressed with sojering. Success! From Our Volunteers Letter from Co. F, 133d Penna. Vols. Popularity of Gen. Hooker Negro Soldiers Picketing A Mistake Corrected The Adjutantship, &c., &c. Near Stoneman's Switch, Va. March 12, 1863 The weather has been changeable and treacherous during the past week – snow, rain and sunshine in quick succession, completely spoiling the road and rendering a forward move an impossibility. The discipline and health of the company are good and the moral status far above that of any other period since the commencement of hostilities. Gen. Hooker is very popular with both officers and men and it is no exaggeration to say that there is as much confidence reposed in him as there was in Gen. M'Clellan. He gives every department his personal superintendence. He has issued some new orders that possess the merit of being practical, among which are those permitting three privates out of every hundred men to visit their homes on furlough, regulating the number of officers to be absent from a regiment at a time and ordering all absent and loafing officers to report for duty at once on pain of dismissal. The commissaries are ordered to supply the troops with fresh bread four days a week. We also receive potatoes, onions and fresh beef. The sale of whisky by sutlers and pedlers is prohibited. The men are well fed and clothed, and when not marching through the mud are comparatively comfortable. Much diversity of opinion prevails here relative to the organization of negro regiments. Among officers the project meets with much opposition, but the men generally favor it. An idea prevails among them that if the negro was enlisted and organized into companies or regiments he would be detailed to perform much of the labor now necessarily imposed on the private soldier. In this army, today, there are not less than twenty thousand men laboring on fatigue duty, building bridges, making roads, unloading and loading cars and vessels and other laborious and in many instances servile duties degrading in their tendency and discouraging to the men. Give this army twenty thousand negro laborers and you will relieve exactly that number of white men from detailed duties and strengthen the army by the addition of twenty thousand men to their legitimate duties as soldiers. The rebels understand the use of the negro. They put the axe and spade in his hand and he does their labor while their soldiers are at liberty to fight. Our company came off picket on last Wednesday and I know of nothing that would interest you more than a description of what we do and how we do it when on that duty. The picket line where we go on post is about three miles from camp. It is the grand guard in the rear of our army. It may truly be called a line of human beings, extending from the Potomac to the Rappahannock, through which not even a mouse could creep without being observed. This line is supported first by squads of men numbering twenty-five each, officered by a Lieutenant, a Sergeant and three Corporals. From these men the reliefs are formed, three in number, relieving each other every two hours. Should the enemy advance against the line, the sentinels are ordered to fire their guns, retreat on the squads and if they are not then able to withstand the onset, again retreat to the reserve, which consists of several regiments placed at intervals of a mile or more apart and about half a mile in the rear of the line. These reserves are expected to delay the advance of the enemy, if not able to repel them, until the main body in camp be allowed to form in line of battle. Letters received here from friends at home make complaints concerning a sentence in a former letter of mine wherein I made mention of the circumstances of Corporal Samuel W. Davis having met the lamented Hugh J. Humphreys, after the battle of Fredericksburg while the latter was on his way, mortally wounded, to the hospital. In saying what I did, I had not the slightest intention of doing Corporal D. injustice and am ready now to correct the mistake. The fact is poor Humphreys did not leave the field until our regiment had first left and at the time of his accidental meeting with Corporal Davis, it was then reformed where it had first formed. Sam fought bravely thro' out the entire action, doing yeoman service. Since the battle he has performed all the duties required of a commissioned officer besides acting as Orderly Sergeant – and all for a Corporal's pay and emoluments. He is deservedly popular with the company and nothing would gratify us more than to see him promoted to a Lieutenancy. The Adjutantship of our regiment, made vacant by the death of James C. Noon, has been filled by the appointment of Edward Charles Bendere, formerly Col. Speakman's clerk, to that position. In this instance the just claims of Cambria county have been given the go-by entirely by the regimental officials. Sergt. T. L. Heyer of Co. A should have been the man. He is thoroughly posted in military matters, is a gentleman withal and eminently entitled to promotion. Wesley Whitehead and Stephen Conrad, both members of Co. F., who have been for several months past sick in hospital at Frederick, Md., have rejoined us, they being fully recovered from their indisposition. The general health of the company is good. [Signed] E. R. W. Quarters Co. A, 11th P. R. C. March 18, 1863 Letter from the "Cambria Guards" Variety A Soldier on Compromise We are at present encamped on Miner's Hill, five miles distant from the Georgetown Aqueduct, where we are enjoying that long looked for and oft promised rest with a vengeance. Our picket duty is harder than we ever had in front, we having to perform it two days out of every seven. Between picket, brigade and camp guards and fatigue duty, the men are on duty two thirds of the time. We all expected when we were brought from the front that furloughs would be granted in such numbers at a time as to enable the men to get home this winter; but alas! for human calculations! Instead of granting leave to four or five men in a company at one time, they only grant five to a regiment, officers included. So our hopes of seeing friends from whom we have been separated for nearly two years are dashed to the ground. The weather has been very changeable during the last ten days, snow, rain and sleet frequently occurring in one day. The bad state of the weather renders it impossible for any military movements to be made at present, but hold your peace until the weather clerk gets in a good humor and then you may look for good news from Fighting Joe and his army. We will send the Johnny Rebs some peace messengers which will have more effect than all the peace meetings of the Copperheads would have in a century. The army have confidence in Fighting Joe and the oft repeated assertion that the army would not fight under any General but Little Mac will get its death blow. The army loved and respected M'Clellan more than any other General but we are not fighting for men but for our country, the land of liberty and the assertion is an open insult offered to the fallen heroes of Fredericksburg and an insult to the living ones. We will fight under any General until peace is restored. I observe the peace howlers of the North are still recommending a cessation of hostilities, declaring a compromise can be made. A cessation cannot be thought of for one moment. The moment we agree to propose such a thing, that moment we admit our inability to suppress the rebellion. A compromise cannot be made with the rebels on any but one term, namely, the recognition of their confederacy. The cessation of hostilities and comprise measures means nothing more nor less than the separation of States Are the loyal men of the North willing this should take place? Are they willing to agree to a separation of the Union which cost our forefathers so much and which they consecrated to Liberty by their blood? Is the army willing for a separation? Are they willing for a compromise looking to a recognition? No, Never! Compromise with traitors, never! Compromise with the men who are led on by the most diabolic passions, never! Compromise with the men who are gloating over the blood of thousands of our brothers, never! Compromise with the men who have sent the ploughshare of destruction broadcast through the length and breadth of our land, never! Compromise with men who have sent sorrow and weeping to every Northern home, never! Compromise and shake hands with the traitors over the graves of our slaughtered brothers, never! never! Our country is worth all the sacrifices that have been or that can be made. We are able to suppress this infamous rebellion, and suppress it we must, though it should be by war to the knife and the knife to the hilt. [Signed] B Sword Presentation On our outside this week we print the proceedings of a sword presentation to Lieut. W. J. Nugent of Co. D, 78th Penna. Vols., by the members of his company. Lieut. N. is a native of the northern part of this county and a gentleman and true patriot. We are proud to see that he sustains so enviable a position in the estimation of his command. The report of the affair is clipped from the war correspondence of the Hollidaysburg STANDARD. Sword Presentation On Saturday evening, February 28th, at Murfreesboro, Tenn., a beautiful sword, sash and belt were presented to Lieut. W. J. Nugent of Co. D., 78th Regt., P. V. I., by the non-commissioned officers and privates of his company. The following brief address was made by Corp. Jas P. M'Closkey: "Lieut. Nugent: The company of which you have so long been a member and in which your are now acting in the capacity of commander has purchased this sword, sash and belt to be presented to you in token of that high esteem which we have ever cherished towards you and as an evidence that we fully appreciate your past kindness. You have always shared with us the fatigue of the march, and the exposure of the camp and bivouac. You have all times and upon all occasions stood by us in the hour of peril and danger, and we, as a company will always stand by you. In presenting this sword, sash and belt, you have our highest compliments for your gentlemanly deportment, your faithfulness in the discharge of duty and gallantry displayed on a number of occasions hoping that your name may soon be placed at the head of our roll and that the future may be as prosperous and happy to use [you?] as the past. Take this token coming from your company friends as a testimonial of the respect and friendship which your good qualities as an officer and your kindness as a friend have inspired and may this bright blade be emblematical of the bright career which is before you. Lieut. Nugent's Rely: "Corporal M'Closkey and Members of Company D: The honor which you have conferred upon me this evening is so great and so unexpected that I scarcely know what to say in reply. This evidence of friendship from a company of which I am proud to call myself a member, gives me infinite pleasure and fills my heart with gratitude. Be assured that I am not insensible to your many acts of kindness. You seem to vie with each other in striving to make pleasant the position which I now temporarily occupy and in doing so, you place me under lasting obligations. I thank you for your prompt and cheerful obedience to all orders and the creditable manner in which you perform all your duties. Your bravery has been proven on occasions long since past. You had the honor to be among the first of our regiment to be led against the enemy. You formed a considerable portion of a detachment led by one of our company officers (Lieut. M'Cormick) in the first skirmish of which any part of our regiment were engaged. I refer to the brilliant little affair at Huricane Creek on the 21st of last August. The reputation you established there has been fully sustained at Lavergne, at Hermitage Ford before Nashville and Stone River. Your past history proves that you dare go where duty points or glory leads. I accept your generous gift with pleasure and with pride and return my most sincere and heartfelt thanks for the high compliment you have been pleased to pay me. How much I appreciate it you can never know, for I cannot express my gratitude in words; but I hope to express it by an earnest desire to promote your interests and a jealous watchfulness over your rights and privileges. Your ranks are well filled tonight but they are not full. The cheerful "here" is not heard in response to all the names that have been upon our roll. Sixteen of our brave boys have fought their last battle and now sleep their last sleep. Some we have consigned to their last resting place beneath the "dark and bloody ground" of Kentucky – some we have buried beside the broad Ohio, and others near the rolling Cumberland. The clods of Murfreesboro's ensanguined field, stained with the blood of friend and foe have fallen upon the un-coffined remains of our gallant dead. They have all died as true soldiers – whether in the quiet of camp or hospital or on the field of deadly strife amid the din of battle. Let them be forever cherished in our memories as patriots who have gone to their last account while striving to sustain and perpetuate the best Government ever framed by man, and if in the vicissitudes of war other lives go out upon our Country's altar, let us endeavor to leave a record as bright and unsullied as those who have preceded us. I trust that all of you will live to return to happy homes and rejoicing friends, when the God of battles shall say to the dark angel that now hovers over our once happy nation: "It is enough; stay now thine hand." Death of Gen. Sumner Maj. Gen. E. V. Sumner expired on the morning of the 21st last, at the residence of his son-in-law, Colonel W. W. Teall, Syracuse, of congestion of the lungs after an illness of only five days. The General was under orders to report at St. Louis for duty and was on the point of starting when attacked by the disease which has terminated fatally. He was one of the oldest generals in the army, having been in the service over forty-four years. His last words were "God save my country – The United States of America." Death of the Oldest Inhabitant The last will and testament of Mrs. Elizabeth Myers, late of Antis township, Blair county, was admitted to probate recently. The deceased was in many respects a remarkable woman. She was born in the year 1754, consequently she was 109 years old when she died. To realize the changes that occurred in her long and eventful life, we have only to reflect that at the time of her birth, Washington was beleaguered by the French at Fort Necessity; Pittsburg was then a small fort in possession of the French; that Braddock was defeated the next year; that she was 21 years old at the Declaration of Independence and was 58 at the breaking out of the War of 1812! She lived before steamboats were invented, saw canal boats cross the mountain, the "iron horse" do the same and the telegraph complete with thought. Last and saddest of all she lived to see traitors striving to break up the Government which her husband fought and bled to establish. A relic of the past, she died respected by all.