NEWS: The Alleghanian; 2 Apr 1863; Ebensburg, Cambria Cnty., PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich millich84@hotmail.com Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ _________________________________________ The Alleghanian Ebensburg, Pa. Thursday, 2 Apr 1863 Volume 4, Number 27 Promoted It gives us pleasure to learn that Sergt. Evan Davis of Co. D, 115th Penna. Vols. – the gentleman who had a few words to say through our columns last week concerning the fossilized old DEM. & SENT. - has been promoted to the First Lieutenancy of his company. Success! Murder Will Out We clip the following paragraph from the Hollidaysburg WHIG: In the fall of 1858 a dead man was found lying across the railroad track early one morning in Altoona. It was then supposed that some one had murdered him and placed him on the track for the purpose of having the locomotive run over him and had put him on the wrong track. On Tuesday last, Nicolas Erringer of Altoona, was arrested and lodged in jail on the charge of being the murderer. He will likely be tried at our July Over and Terminer. Rev. D. P. Mitchell Rev. D. P. Mitchell, the eloquent divine who for a number of years past had ministered unto the spiritual wants of the Methodist Episcopal congregation of Johnstown, a couple of weeks since, resigned that charge and has removed to Leavenworth city, Kansas. Local and Personal John Dean, Esq., of Hollidaysburg has been appointed Internal Revenue Tax assessor for this (17th) district, vice Thomas P. Campbell, Esq., removed. G. Nelson Smith of Johnstown has been confirmed as Paymaster in the army with the rank of Major. New Iron Company Messrs. Wood, Merrell & Co., of the Cambria Iron Company, Johnstown, have concluded an arrangement with Watson, Dennison & Co., of Hollidaysburg by which they have made a "joint stock company" of the Chimney Rock, Gaysport and Frankstown Furnaces, together with the ore lands and other real estate connected therewith under the incorporated title of "The Blair Iron Company." The new company is to be under the management of David Watson of Hollidaysburg. Our Common Schools We are in receipt of a copy of the Annual Report of the State Superintendent of Common Schools for the year ending June 2, 1862, embodying an interesting review of the past history and present condition of the system, with reports of the County Superintendents and tabular statements of the various districts. From the county table we glean the following statistics relative to the state of the system in Cambria county: Whole number of schools: 156 Number yet required: 12 Average number of months taught: 4.1 Number male teachers: 100 Number female teachers: 58 Average salary males per month: $21.32 Average salary females per month: $19.05 Number male scholars: 3,802 Number female scholars: 8,683 Number Learning German: 116 Average number attending school: 4,831 Cost teaching each scholar per month: .51 Tax levied for school purposes: $16,421.18 Tax levied for building purposes: $ 2,373.90 Total tax levied: $18,795.08 State appropriation: $ 2,922.80 Received from collectors: $14,378.96 Cost of instruction: $13,660.98 Fuel and contingencies: $ 2,343.26 Cost of school houses, &c.: $ 1,944.49 Balance on hand: $ 1,361.12 Permanent debt: $ 2,984.00 Temporary debt: $ 79.44 Methodist Episcopal The following appointments of Pittsburg Conference for this district for 1863 have been made public: Blairsville District: W. Lynch, Presiding Elder Blairsville: T. M'Cleary Johnstown: C. H. Jackson Indiana: R. Morrow Greensburg and Pleasant Unity: W. K. Brown Kittanning: Ezra Hingeiey Dayton: Albert Baker Elderton: M. J. Montgomery Latrobe: J. S. Wakefield H. Long Mt. Pleasant: R. Cunningham West Newton: W. W. Roup Mechanicsburg: J. C. High N. G. Miller New Florence: P. G. Edmonds Burrell and Apollo: Jos. Shane Ligonier: W. A. Stewart Saltsburg and Hopewell: S. T. Show Marchand: M. W. Dallas Ebensburg: J. S. Lemon J. Gray Letter from Co. F, 133d Penna. Vols. St. Patrick's Day with the Soldiers Camp Near Stoneman's Switch, Va. March 18, 1863 Yesterday, the 17th, was the day set apart by the Roman Catholic Church as the festival day of St. Patrick and there were few saints in their calendar remembered more reverently or more joyously honored; there are, it would seem, few saints more truly worthy of reverent memory and joyous honor. It cannot be said that St. Patrick was an Irishman, but he ought to have been one, no doubt. The man, Patrick, was born, according to good authority, near the site of Kilpatrick at the mouth of the Clyde in Scotland in the year 372. The popular superstition or legend ascribes to St. Patrick the abolition of serpents in Ireland and of all venomous things, by means of his crosier or staff so that that Eden of banished patriots became and remains to the present day a paradise without a snake in the grass or under the roses. Whether this tradition be historically true or this fact vouched for by natural philosophy, I do not care to say, for I am not an Irishman and "have never been there;" but St. Patrick who let the true light in, made a hole (as an Irishman said of the window he was making into an old cellar) to let the dark out and things that love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil," doubtless crawled after. Happy is Adam in the Emerald Garden of the Western Ocean – he can stay as long as he pleases if he only pay his rent, happy to Eve in Erin – for there the devil himself cannot crawl. Irish humor and Irish religion flow together and whether they meet in a tear of a smile, they are from the heart and genuine. The reverence of Ireland is heart deep; its worship is from the fullness of the soul. Hypocrisy crept out under St. Patrick's wand with the creeping things; its words are now the ringing coins of truth. A bright morning for St. Patrick and a full tide of festival – Religion and Love and Mirth together, without mask. Patrick was a gentleman, for, "Take him, all in all, We ne'er shall look upon his like again." Yesterday was hailed with joy in the army, particularly by the Irish Brigade as it was the fixed intention of General Meagher who commands the Brigade, to celebrate "St Patrick's day in the morning," in the good old quaint way in which they used to do it in "the old dart." The performances were to commence in the morning, but I was unable to attend until after dinner. I arrived on the ground just as the last horse race was coming off. It was a very fine sight and one which I had longed to see. The race-course was two miles in extent, traversed with ditches and leaps, ten in number. The riders were dressed in the old country style – green cap, red shirts, white corduroy knee breeches, white socks and red top boots. I could not ascertain who the horses belonged to except one - the winner of the race – which was the property of Gen. Meagher. The race over, the cavalcade of officers turned their horses' heads toward Gen. Meagher's headquarters. Major General Hooker headed the throng; by his side was Gen. Meagher, followed by Maj. Gen. Sigel, French, Couch, Hancock, and several others and a host of Brigadiers while an almost countless throng of officers of minor rank brought up the rear. They passed on to a large open tent, where a bountiful repast had been prepared for them. I took a position where I could survey the whole mass. I was surprised and astounded at seeing so many beardless boys in the group, with the "sardine boxes" on their shoulders, mingling with the gray–haired veterans, the heroes of a dozen battles; while their affected "ha's," and "yah's" showed them to be nothing but a set of conceited puppies, elevated to their present position through the influence of friends. No sight has ever more fully convinced me that honor is not always given to whom it is due. After they had partaken of the feast, Gen. Meagher came forward and read the programme of performance. Before reading it, he entertained the crowd with some witty and humorous remarks, which his honest Irish heart prompted. I could scarcely believe that that good-natured gentleman was the invincible Meagher, the leader of that noble brigade which was never known to flinch before the most destructive fire, and whose impetuous charges the breasts of the enemy could never withstand. The programme stated that there would be first a foot-race over a half mile course; next a race in bags – the runners to be tied up in bags, with nothing but their heads protruding; then a race to catch a "soaped pig" – the only difficulty in this case was to find the pig to soap; next the experiment of climbing a greased pole in hopes of securing a prize placed at the top; and finally a contest for the championship on the light fantastic toe. The General told the crowd that they need not for a moment imagine the day played out, nor the night, either! Judging from the variety of exercises, the extent of the platform and the number of ladies I saw near by, I should think they would have had a good old time of it. But the fate of the day was against them. The foot-race was just over and the crowd were gathering in anxious impatience of the race in bags, when Gen. Meagher rode up, sword in hand, crying out – "Fall in, boys! The Rebs are attacking our pickets and will be down on us in a few minutes!" Then and there was shown the strict military discipline under which they had attained, for no sooner were these words uttered than they gave three cheers for Gen. Meagher, broke for their tents and soon emerged each with cartridge box in one hand and gun in the other. Before I had time to leave the field, the companies were all formed and ready to take their place in line. They love Meagher like a father, and would fight for him until the death. This morning news of the attack came to camp. Ten thousand of the enemy attempted to cross the river on our extreme right, but were repulsed by a portion of our troops. We took one hundred prisoners. [Signed] E. R. W.