NEWS: The Alleghanian; 2 Jul 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, 2 Jul 1863 Volume 4, Number 40 To Our Patrons Owing to the fact that our Publisher, becoming imbued with the military ardor prevalent in our quiet little village consequent upon the calling out of the military to defend our State from the incursion of the Rebel hordes, "buckled on his armor" and accompanied the band of militia that left our midst a short time since, we were unable to issue our paper last week. We have, however made arrangements, which we think will ensure its regular publication during his absence; but should it not present its accustomed workmanlike appearance, we trust our readers will overlook the defections and accept the assurance that we shall do our best until his return. Arrested On Thursday, 18th inst., Deputy Provost Marshal Heyer arrested three men named John M'Kenzie, Jos. Will and David Watt, in the borough of Chest Spring upon the charges of uttering disloyal and treasonable sentiments, of inciting a mob to attempt the life of Mr. J. Varney, the enrolling officer of that district, and of refusing to give the enrolling officer the required information relative to name and age. They were conveyed to Pittsburg for trial. The prompt action of the Marshal in this matter is certainly highly commendable and may be fraught with good results in the community at large in assuring those who will persist in "rendering aid and comfort to the enemy" that they will finally be overtaken by a just and merited retribution. We expect to hear a great deal of prating about "military arrests," and "small officials aping the example of their superiors in authority," but do not feel alarmed for the ultimate result, having firm faith in our law abiding and order loving citizens and though mob law may for a while reign supreme, yet in the end Justice will be vindicated. From Capt. Litzinger's Co. Our Militia Where they Are and What they are Doing Particulars of their Campaign Up to Date Muster Roll of Company, &c. &c. "Camp Emergency" Near Bloody Run, Bedford Co., Pa. June 27, 1863 As the mass of your local readers are no doubt aware the company of which your correspondent has the honor of being a member left Ebensburg on the 18th inst., in prompt response to the call of the Governor for militia to protect the borders of the State from invasion. The organization was not the result of a painful tedious recruiting process – on the contrary, it appeared to be a spontaneous outburst of the patriotism and loyalty of our rock-girt village. At first we were all disposed to regard the reported Rebel advance as a mere rumor, having no foundation in fact; but when it became apparent that the Rebel army, a portion of it, had actually crossed Mason and Dixon's line, and were moving upon our State Capital, then a consciousness of danger dawned upon us. Throughout the entire length and breadth of the State, there was a quick and hurried response. Trusty rifles were grasped by willing hands – the plow was left to grow rusty in the furrow – the sickle was exchanged for the sword – and there was "mounting in hot haste" for the different scenes of danger. Cambria county, true to her traditional love of Liberty, did not prove a laggard when heroes are required. Six full companies went forth from her limits within two days from the call of the Governor for men and first among these was the Ebensburg company. Our company is composed principally of members of the old Ebensburg militia company – Co. E, 4th Penna. Vol. Militia – which underwent a two weeks' campaign in Southern Pennsylvania and Maryland, last September, sharing in all the perils and privations of that bloodless campaign so that we consider ourselves almost veterans against now. Our commissioned officers are the same as then – Capt. Litzinger; First Lieutenant D. O. Evans and Second Lieutenant E. D. Evans – Mexican soldiers to whom the "pomp and circumstance of glorious war" are no new things. To attempt to portray in words their varied acquirements as officers and men would be to attempt to paint the lily. Suffice it to say that they command in an eminent degree the esteem and respect of their men. The residue of the company is composed of the stuff of which heroes are made. Leaving Ebensburg at 7 A. M. 18th inst., we arrived at Altoona by 10 o'clock. There we drew our guns – and nothing else. No knapsacks, haversacks, canteens nor cartridge boxes were given us for the simple reason that there were none on hand to give. We were favored with a plentiful supply of ammunition, however, than which in times of war, there is nothing superior. When we left home it was with the implied understanding that we were to go to Harrisburg. At Altoona, however, we received orders directing us to march hither. This was a sore disappointment to many of us, but we did not grumble. Taking the Hollidaysburg Branch Railroad at 1 P. M. we were shipped to Duncansville, from which point we were obliged to content ourselves with that much safer but not nearly so expeditious mode of transportation, namely, "Walkers Line." The same evening we marched to Sarah Furnace, three miles further on, where we encamped for the night in an apple orchard. Sarah Furnace is a small "settlement" on the Hollidaysburg and Bedford turnpike, containing a couple of hundred inhabitants and familiarly, or rather, sarcastically known as "Hogshead Furnace," from the fact that the operatives in the furnace – the feature of the place – were in former years invariably fed on hogs heads instead of the more dainty bits of the porcine quadruped! On the 19th at 2 P. M. we resumed our march. Reached Buckstown, Bedford county, nine miles from Sarah Furnace – at 6 P. M.; encamping over night in the school room of the village. On the 20th left Buckstown at 8 A. M., arriving at Bedford, ten miles distant from Buckstown at 1 P. M. Rested for an hour or two when we again started, reaching this point – six miles from Bedford – the same evening. We have been encamped here ever since, in a comfortable stone barn, doing nothing in particular, except remaining stationary to act as a check against any Rebel forces that might chance to stray this direction. Although there are several militia companies here we have not as yet been formed into regiments. Col. Higgins of Blair County, however is acting Colonel. Hon. S. S. Blair is acting Quartermaster. There are two Cambria companies here – Capt. Wm. R. Hughes of Wilmore and ours. Four Johnstown companies came down thus far with us but on reporting to Col. Higgins, they were told that a large force of Rebels were supposed to be threatening Johnstown; whereupon they about faced and returned home to guard their own hearthstone and fires. At Bloody Run, one mile east of here, Gen. Milroy has his headquarters. He is busily engaged in reorganizing his command, preparatory to once more moving against the enemy. Stragglers from the disastrous battle of Winchester, where our forces fought over four times their number, are coming in by scores daily and our list of casualties by this means is being considerably reduced. But this letter is growing too long and I will conclude by giving you the muster roll of our company. It is as follows: Captain: R. Litzinger Lieutenants: 1st: D. O. Evans 2d: E. D. Evans Sergeants: 1st: C. T. Roberts 2d: D. J. Jones 3d: J. T. Hutchinson 4th: D. A. Jones 5th: Edward Owens Corporals: 1st: Hugh Jones 2d: J. L. P. M'Allister 3d: D. W. Evans 4th: D. K. Davis 5th: Enoch Rees 6th: Erasmus P. Evans 7th: J. Hawksworth 8th: Newton I. Roberts Musician: A. J. Litzinger Mail Messenger: Tom P. Davis Privates: W. H. H. Adams Simon Adams Uriah Brown Wm. Campbell Philip Dolan John D. Davis Joshua Davis Edward D. Davis William T. Davis Aaron Davis T. S. Empfield D. J. Evans Jerry Evans Lemuel Evans Hugh H. Evans Augustine Fink Richard Griffith John Gittings Matthias Hawkins David Howell Thomas J. Hughes David P. Hughes Richard Hughes John Hughes William M. James Daniel T. James Edmund James D. J. Jones, (West) William A. Jones Edwin Jones George A. Wilson Charles Jones Dwight Jones George W. Jones David H. Kinkead Newton Lloyd Frank Leavy J. M'Monigal D. M'Monigal S. M'Monigal William Morgan Alexander Mills Adram L. Makin Oliver O'Harra Frank O. Powell Elias D. Powell Richard W. Pryce William D. Pryce William R. Roberts John D. Roberts Richard J. Roberts Elias Rowland George F. Robinson Edwin Rodgers Luther Stiles Wallace Stiles James B. Singer Adam Shinefelt Samuel Thomas David T. Williams William Williams [Total 79] I will send you the roll of Capt. Hughes' company for next week. Send all letters intended for us to "Bloody Run P. O., Bedford county, Pa. – Care Captain Litzinger." We will most likely get them. [Signed] "Jay" War News Dispatches from the army of the Potomac dated June 27th state that it will soon be to the front and north of Baltimore. The heavy rains have made the roads so bad that the movements are necessarily very slow. Harrisburg, June 27: Carlisle was occupied about 10 o'clock this morning by the rebels. Our cavalry force is gradually retiring. The rebels evacuated M'Connellsburg at nine o'clock yesterday morning. On Thursday evening their pickets were driven in by a detachment of the 1st N. Y. cavalry under Maj. Adams causing quite an alarm among them. The cause of their retreat is supposed to the fear of a flank movement - operation for which the country offers great facilities The rebels were about 5,000 strong under command of Gen. Stuart. They retreated in the direction of Chambersburg and will today reinforce their forces that are menacing Harrisburg. A destructive raid was made through the lower part of that county by a body of Imboden's men. They paid no respect to any kind of property whatever and what they could not carry away, they destroyed. A skirmish occurred in Wrightsville, opposite Columbia on the 28th inst., Col. Frick's men fought the enemy gallantly till surrounded and overpowered. Over one hundred men were captured and the rest retreated across the bridge. The bridge was then fired by our men to prevent the rebels crossing. The Situation The following article upon the present situation we copy from the New York TRIBUNE of the 29th inst.: There is now no remaining doubt that the rebel army of Gen. Lee, One Hundred Thousand strong, is nearly or quite all, this side of the Potomac. Gen. Meade's Union army is where it should be to cover Washington and Baltimore and meet him. The rebels occupy most of Western Maryland - that is to say, so much of it as lies between the western slope of the South Mountains and Cumberland and are treating it rather tenderly, being anxious to conciliate its people. They also occupy a considerable section of Southern Pennsylvania, from Gettysburg on the East to a point near McConnellsburg on the West, and are stripping it very clean – of Horses, Cattle, Grain, Flour, Groceries, Dry Goods, Medicines and whatever else they can convert to any use. They are living immensely better than they have done for many months back. In short they find the accommodations so good that they have half a mind to stay. Pittsburg and the West do not seem to be threatened at present which exemption we attribute to the energy and spirit wherewith they rallied to their own defense and set to fortifying, arming, drilling &c. Had Eastern Pennsylvania promptly evinced equal pluck, she, too, would have been safe. The rebels have thoroughly destroyed the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad for a distance of sixty or seventy miles, so that it cannot be restored save at a great cost and with a considerable sacrifice of time. They have more recently broken up the Railroad running from Harrisburg to Baltimore, having torn up the rails at Hanover Junction and possibly at York for that purpose. A single line of Railroad – the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore – now connects the loyal States with Washington and the Union Government and the Army of the Potomac. A bloody and momentous collision may be imminent and may occur at any moment. We judge that the rebels have made this hazardous advance under the impression that our chief Army is demoralized and not in fighting spirits. We trust that they may rue this presumption. We do not believe Lee intends to push much further this way at present but rather to take the Union Army, at a disadvantage and beat it, after which he will determine whether to advance to Philadelphia or turn upon Baltimore and Washington. But we shall soon see. Most of Lee's Army in Penna. Our State to be the Battle Ground Farewell Address of Hooker New York June 20 A dispatch to a Philadelphia paper says the rebels who captured the wagon train consisted in part of Fitzhugh Lee's brigade, the whole of which was marching to Beltsville, on the B. & O. R.R. Two rebel regiments are encamped at Accotink, ten miles from Alexandria. Captured rebels say Stuart's Cavalry, with artillery, are marching on the railroad between Washington and Baltimore. The whole rebel army, except Stuart is now in Pennsylvania. Rebel officers say they are determined to make Pennsylvania the future battle field. Headquarters, Army of the Potomac June 28 General Hooker issued the following address: "In conformity with orders from the War Department, dated June 27th, I relinquish the command of the army of the Potomac. It is transferred to Major General George B. Meade, a brave and accomplished officer who has nobly carried the confidence and esteem of the army on many well-fought fields. Impressed with the belief that my usefulness as commander of the army of the Potomac is impaired, I part from it, yet not without the deepest emotion but the sorrow of parting with comrades of so many battles, is relieved by the conviction that the courage and devotion of this army will never cease nor fail; that it will yield to my successor (as it has to me) a hearty and willing support. With the earnest prayer that the triumph of its arms may bring successes worthy of it and the nation, I bid it farewell. [Signed] Joseph Hooker" This was followed by an address from General Meade, dated Headquarters Army of the Potomac, June 28th, 1863: "By direction of the President of the United States, I hereby assume command of the Army of the Potomac. As a soldier in obeying this order, an order totally unexpected and unsolicited, I have no promises or pledges to make. The country looks to the army to relieve it from the devastation and disgrace of hostile invasion. Whatever sacrifices we may be called upon to undergo, let us have in view constantly the magnitude of the interests involved and let each man be determined to do his duty, leaving to an all–controlling Providence the direction of the contest. It is with just diffidence that I relieve in command of this army an eminent and accomplished soldier, whose name must ever appear inconspicuous in the history of its achievements, but I rely upon the hearty support of my comrades in arms to assist me in the discharge of the duties of this important trust which has been confided to me. [Signed] Geo. G. Meade, Maj. Gen. Com. Rebel Spy Capt. Coulter, Provost Marshal of the 21st district, arrested a man named John Lawson at Ligonier, Westmoreland county, on the charge of being a rebel spy. He was arrested on his return from Cumberland whither, according to his own statement, he had been to obtain employment. Capt. Coulter was disposed to disbelieve his statement and accordingly placed him under arrest. He was turned over to U. S. Marshal Mardoch and lodged in the Pittsburg jail to await a hearing. The Invaded Border Towns Chambersburg which is the county seat of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, is pleasantly situated on the Conelockeaque creek at the junction of the Cumberland Valley and Franklin railroads, forty-five miles southwest from Harrisburg with which place it is connected by railroad. It has a fine court house, a large academy, eight churches and five newspaper offices. It is surrounded by a highly cultivated and populous country. There are manufactories of cotton, wool, paper, flour and iron. The population in 1853 was 4,600. Cumberland, also on the west bank of the Potomac, is the western terminus of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and has an extensive trade. It is not surpassed in population by any city in the State, except Baltimore. There are several flourishing mills in the vicinity. The population is about eight thousand. It is one hundred and seventy- nine miles distant and nearly west from Baltimore. Hagerstown, the capital of Washington county, Maryland, is near the west bank of Antietam creek, nine miles from the Potomac river and eighty–six miles from Baltimore. It is the southern terminus of the Franklin railroad, is a well built town and a place of considerable trade. The population is about six thousand. The surrounding country is very productive and thickly settled. Westminster is the capital of Carroll county, Maryland. It is fifty-eight miles northwest from Annapolis and is situated near the source of the Patapseo river. The Westminster branch railroad connects it with the Baltimore and Susquehanna Railroad. It contains about one thousand inhabitants. Williamsport, Maryland, is a post village of Washington county, on the Potomac river, nine miles southwest from Hagerstown. The Chesapeake and the Ohio Canal pass through the place. It contains a bank and numerous stores. Hancock, Maryland, is situated on the left bank of the Potomac river and on the Chesapeake and Ohio canal and is one hundred and twenty- four miles west from Baltimore. Romney, the capital of Hampshire county, Virginia, lies on the south branch of the Potomac, one hundred and ninety miles northwest from Richmond.