NEWS: The Alleghanian; 7 May 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, 7 May 1863 Volume 4, Number 32 Local and Personal Capt. James Murray of Co. D, 115th Pa. Vols., has resigned his commission and come home. Cause, physical disability. Campbell, of the Johnstown DEMOCRAT, was in town on Monday and honored us with a call. He is a whole-souled genial fellow – a gentleman and a scholar – an editor. May he live forever! David Thomas of Co. F, 133d has received an honorable discharge from the service and arrived home. Election of Co. Supt. The convention of School Directors to name a successor to Mr. Henry Ely, whose term of office as County Superintendent has about expired, met here on Monday and after a short and harmonious session, elected Mr. J. Frank Condon of Johnstown to that high position. Mr. C. has been a professional teacher for many years and at the present time holds the position of Superintendent of the Johnstown Union schools. He is spoken of as a young man of fine intellectual attainments and as eminently qualified in every respect to perform satisfactorily the responsible duties attaching to the office. A returned soldier, who had lost his health in the service of his country, Mr. C's elevation is proof conclusive of the fact that Republics are not always ungrateful. The County Institute The Cambria County Teachers' Institute convened here on Monday afternoon and effected an organization by the election of the following named permanent officers: President: Henry Ely Vice Presidents: E. J. Mills, Wm. Litzinger Secretary: Daniel W. Evans Asst. Secretary: Wm. H. Sechler Corresponding Secretary: Miss Lizzie M. Hutchinson A full attendance of teachers and the friends of Education generally is present from almost every district in the county and the indications are that the affair will prove a complete success. On Monday eve, P. S. Noon, Esq., delivered an able and eloquent address before the Institute. He spoke in glowing terms of the dignity and honor of the profession of letters and paid the teachers present a high compliment upon their manifest intelligence and ability. The session lasts until this (Thursday) afternoon. We will give more detailed particulars of its doings next week. In the Hands of the Philistines Mr. Clinton R. Jones, formerly of this place, but for a term of years past, a resident of Cranberry Summit, Preston co., West Virginia, has arrived here. He reports that during the late raid of the Rebels through that section, Cranberry Summit, a small station on the B. & O. R. R., was visited by a body of Rebel cavalry, comprising some 2,000 men, under command of Col. Harmon, who held high carnival for the time being on the wealth and substance of the loyal residents of that place. The mercantile establishment of Messrs. Nutter, Evans and Jones - all Cambria county men, by the way – was entered by the marauders and despoiled of its contents. Everything of value that could possibly be carried off was attached to their horses by the Rebels, while the more bulky articles were irremediably destroyed. Mr. J's estimate of the loss of his firm by this spoliation is set down at about $3,000. The other stores in the town were treated in a similar manner. Private houses as a general thing were suffered to remain unmolested and the persons of private citizens were untouched. Mr. J. states that the Rebels were well mounted and well armed. They left Cranberry on Sunday evening week en route for Morgantown with the expressed determination of forthwith "invading" Pennsylvania. Mr. J. furthermore reports that Mr. Dennis Litzinger, another Cambrian, also engaged in the mercantile business in the immediate vicinity of Cranberry had his store rid out by these same depredators. Having nothing left to induce him to further remain in such uncomfortable proximity to Secessia, Mr. Jones packed up a few things and came hither by way of Somerset bringing with him his family to stay until affairs have quieted down and the B. & O. R. R. is again re-opened. The Blair Iron and Coal Company The Blair Iron and Coal Company which we noticed a few weeks since as having been formed, has been incorporated by the Legislature with a capital of two hundred thousand dollars, with the privilege of increasing it to five hundred thousand dollars. The following gentlemen have been elected as officers of the company: Charles S. Wood, President. Daniel J. Morrell, Vice President. David Watson, Superintendent. George R. Woods, Secretary and Treasurer. Register's Notice Notice is herby given that the following Accounts have been passed and filed in the Register's Office at Ebensburg and will be presented to the Orphans' Court of Cambria county for confirmation and allowance on Wednesday, the third day of June, next, to wit: The final Account of Joseph Reynolds, Administrator of William Reynolds, dec'd. The final Account of Patrick Donahoe, Administrator of James M'Dermitt, dec'd. The final Account of Jacob Nagle, acing Executor of Jacob Nagle, sen., dec'd. The final Account of Solomon Benshoof, guardian of Mary Ann Cobaugh. The Account of J. M. Campbell, one of the Administrators of J. S. Clark, dec'd., who was Guardian of Winfield Scott Williams. The 3d and final Account of Wm. Kittell, Administrator of the estate of Anthony Litzinger, dec.d The 2d and Final Account of Margaret D. Evans and Morris J. Evans, Admr's. of David M. Evans, dec'd. The final Account of John C. Ivory, Admr. of Patrick Ivory, dec'd, stated by the Admr's., of the said John C. Ivory, dec'd. The Account of Dr. Benjamin F. Tomb, executor of John Wise, deceased. The final Account of A. C. Mullin, Administrator of Charles N. Peary, deceased. E. F. Lytle, Register Ebensburg, May 7, 1863 Copperhead Club The Copperhead Club of this place held a meeting at the Town Hall on Monday evening on which occasion we are credibly informed James Potts, Esq., of Johnstown, fully demonstrated that he could disgust the loyal portion of an audience in less time, perhaps, than any other man above ground. Union League The Ebensburg Union League held its regular semi-monthly meeting at the Town Hall on Tuesday evening. Several able and instructive speeches were delivered. The League is doing good work. The Army of the Potomac in Motion Crossing of the Rappahannock Good News From the special correspondence of the PRESS we extract the following particulars of the advance of Gen. Hooker's army - an advance the gratifying success of which has electrified the entire nation: It is evident that the only sure method of relieving our troops now besieged at Suffolk was found in a direct advance of the Army of the Potomac toward Richmond. The details for this movement have been arranged for different propitious days for some time past but owing to the wet weather and the horrible conditions of the roads, it has been found impossible to move our army without incurring great risks and losses. On Tuesday last however it was determined to cross the river in two columns - the one above Falmouth on the road to Culpeper to consist of cavalry, light infantry, artillery, engineers and artisans under Gen. Stoneman – the other to consist of the main body of our army under the immediate supervision of the commanding general. On Monday night our engineers made a selection for a point at which our pontoon bridges could be laid in safety and the work of their construction was immediately commenced and carried on without serious interruption. On Tuesday morning, two bridges were completed and General Meade's army corps prepared to cross the river. I am informed that the first regiment of Union troops to cross the Rappahannock river on this occasion was the gallant 119th Pennsylvania Volunteers. Upon arriving on the south bank of the stream, they were at once deployed to the right and left through the wooded skirting of farms to observe the movement of the enemy. Before night on Tuesday, five pontoon bridges had been completed and our entire army was crossing. As our troops advanced during yesterday, the rebels fell back, skirmishing with our advance guard. It was soon discovered that the enemy had withdrawn his main column from the line of the Rappahannock, and contrabands informed Gen. Hooker positively that there were no troops in great force anywhere in our front for a distance of twenty miles south. Falling back through the vale of the Matapony, the enemy destroyed the bridges over this stream and its tributaries but did not appear disposed to dispute our continued advance very stoutly. During yesterday a large number of prisoners were captured but they consist, for the most part, of men who could not keep up with their fellows in the retreat and dropped along the roads and by-paths from sheer weakness. I learn that Gen. Hooker and staff crossed the river yesterday and that today our troops are marching forward, driving the rebels back from every point as they proceed. There has been no heavy fighting yet and no cannonade except the firing of shells at the enemy occasionally to discover his whereabouts. Every one here seems delighted with the news from the advance and predicts a great and decisive victory for General Hooker and his excellent army. The Government officers are especially good-natured and seem to think that the people will take this as another proof of the determination and ability of our rulers to push on rapidly toward Richmond. It is reported that the city of Fredericksburg was occupied yesterday with a strong garrison under the direction of Provost Marshal General Patrick and the railroad to Richmond is being rapidly repaired. It is also believed that Port Royal on the Rappahannock has been occupied by our troops and will be used as a landing for stores. It is not thought that Gen. Hooker will advance much further south just as present. I will not say why, because it is unnecessary to allow the enemy to obtain any idea of our future movements. Communication with another corps of our army will be opened in a few days, when the real merits of the present grand movement will begin to develop themselves and some discoveries may be made that will surprise the public considerably. Thus far, fortune has certainly favored our arms in this movement. Our troops have been engaged in skirmishing all day but no battle has taken place and it is thought that our losses have been slight. We are entirely prepared for the enemy and when the great battle is fought we shall be the victors, especially if we are attacked by the enemy in the process of our advance. General Stoneman's light division has advanced to Culpeper. The railroad has been repaired; and Government trains are running to that point. The reports from this column are encouraging and we hear nothing of the complaint of inefficiency in any particular, so common in other campaigns. Some fifteen hundred rebels were captured yesterday, it is said, in the rifle pass beyond Fredericksburg. About three hundred have been sent to Washington for examination as they express a desire to take the oath of allegiance to the Government of the United States. Gen. Hooker has issued the following congratulatory order to the army: "Camp near Falmouth, April 30, 1863 It is with heartfelt satisfaction the Commanding General announces to the army that the operations of the last three days have determined that our enemy must either ingloriously fly or come out from behind his defenses and give us battle on our own ground, where certain destruction awaits him. The operations of the 5th, 11th and 12th Corps has been a succession of splendid achievements."