NEWS: The Alleghanian; 6 Aug 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, 6 Aug 1863 Volume 4, Number 45 Letter from Co. A Headquarters Co. A, 11th Reg't. P. R. C. On the March, Near White Plains July 20, 1863 Observing that you have received an incorrect account of the casualties in our company at the action of Gettysburg, Pa., I thought it but proper to rectify the mistakes and endeavor to give you a hurried description of the part we have been taking in the last month of this campaign. Our fine times at Vienna, Va., came suddenly to a close by our receiving orders to join the Army of the Potomac on the 23d. On that day we joined the Brigade at Upton's Hill and on the morning of the 24th began a long and weary march. I can not give the details of this march suffice to say that we marched every day about eighteen miles till July 2d, on the evening of which we arrived at Gettysburg, about the time at which the battle was raging the fiercest. We were taken to the left as a support for the first and second Divisions of the Fifth Corps, in line close to the rear of these Divisions where we soon discovered that our services would shortly be required. The Fifth Corps being on the left, had to fight against fearful odds where the Rebels wanting to turn the left and flank our position, threw themselves in overwhelming numbers upon these two Divisions. Although our men fought nobly they were forced to retire. They came back slowly, fighting desperately for the ground they were losing – the Rebels following close upon them. The retreating columns of our troops having passed our line, the Rebels pushed on as if they would meet with but little further resistance but in this they were mistaken, for when they got within about one hundred yards, we fired one volley and were ordered forward; and forward we went, in a manner that did not suit the Rebels, for they fled in the wildest disorder. We lay on the field until the morning of the 3d when we advanced and charged on the Rebels who were sheltered behind stone fences but who broke and fled at the first fire. Having regained all that had been lost by our troops we were halted and remained until noon of the 4th when the Sixth corps moved up and pursued the retreating enemy. The loss in killed in our company was Frederick J. Evans – a brave and noble soldier, whose death the whole company regret. In wounded we had Lieut. D. Jones, slightly; John Keough, Commodore P. Stevens and Wm. Powell. The three latter were sent to the General Hospital. Capt. Burke led the company as he has ever through all our engagements in a manner that elicited the commendation of all. We are now retracing the ground we marched over last fall, after the battles of South Mountain and Antietam, on our way to Fredericksburg. Some suppose we are going there again, but it is only conjecture. We are willing to follow the gallant Meade wherever he leads; certain that under him and with anything like equal advantages, we can always serve the rebels as we did at Gettysburg. Yours, {Signed} "F" Letter from Our Soldiers Departure from Huntingdon To Hopewell Camp "Mullin" An Innocent "Goak" Camp Mullin, Bedford Co. August 1, 1863 In consequence of the report gaining credence that the Rebels as a sort of last dying gasp anticipated making a raid into Fulton county on Tuesday, 29th ult., Col. M'Keage's command, consisting of Maj. Litzinger's and Col. Crozier's battalions, were ordered to Hopewell to keep an eye upon the movement of the greybacked gentry. We left camp at Huntingdon at 2 P. M. of that day, taking the cars on the Huntingdon & Broad Top Railroad at about 6. In due course of time, that is to say, about midnight, same night, we were landed at our destination, sound in mind and members but all very tried and sleepy. Seeing that the distance from Huntingdon to Hopewell is only thirty-one miles and that six hours were consumed in achieving the distance, a person might naturally fail to be favorably impressed, as regards the matter of speed, with the schedule of the H. & B. T. R. R. But your correspondent is credibly informed that the fault in the premises, if fault there be, was not altogether with the railroad. Its regular time, instead of five miles an hour is probably twice that figure. The fact is, we are limited to our snail-like pace simply by reason that it was thought advisable to allow the Rebels, in case they penetrated at all, to penetrate as far as possible into the interior of the State, where we would suddenly and unexpectedly burst upon them, like an avenging angel of destruction, scattering them right and left and "gobbling up" the entire kit and caboodle after the most approved fashion. The story of the raid, however, turns out to have been a canard – a "mistake of the printer" – so the Rebels have saved their precious bacon for the time being, and we, possibly have only our trip for our good intentions. On Wednesday morning we marched out a distance of about a mile from Hopewell where we pitched tents and proceeded to make ourselves comfortable. Our comfort was of short duration, however, for next evening the flood gates of Heaven opened – the rain beat down upon us fiercely – rain! patter! drizzle – Storm King held high carnival for many hours. And we were wet. In spite of woolen blankets and gum blankets, we were wet. Wet thoroughly all over and rubbed in. Situated at the base of a steep hill our camp was thoroughly inundated. The water ran through it in perfect torrents, transmogrifying the pleasant prospect of a couple hours prior into a vast mud puddle where the sole of man in vain sought for rest and refreshment. The next morning, after a disagreeable old night of it, we moved our quarters to a tract of slightly sloping ground, a short distance off where in the event of another "rising of the tide," we will most likely be better prepared for it. Our present camp is located within seven miles of "Pattonsville Gap," of blessed memory. May we never see its like again, and as little as possible of Bedford county is the sincere orison of yours unanimously, Co. A. Our camp has been named Camp Mullin in honor of your estimable townsman, Hon. A. C. Mullin, at present Private Secretary to his excellency, Gov. Curtin. This slight token of appreciation and respect is a well merited compliment to Mr. M. who has ever since our advent upon "the tented field," shown the warmest regard for our well being. His kindness will long be remembered by the "Emergency" men – and more especially those hailing from Cambria county. The order sending us to this point, it is reported, was a forgery – gotten up as a "goak" by some telegraph operator, who has since been placed under arrest. It is needless to aver that, with our high opinion of Bedford county generally, we, the "Emergencists," eminently failed to see it in that light and regarded the arrest as a fitting finale to his bit of pleasantry. Talking of the Huntingdon & Broad Top Railroad it may be possible that some of your readers have never experienced a jaunt over the same. Located as it is, for the most part of the distance, upon trestle work, a flimsy, rail fence sort of arrangement, one rail fence, rather, built on the top of another, to the number of a dozen or more, the whole reaching to the height of one hundred feet at some points, from which dizzy altitude, on looking down, you can discern no palpable substance whatever whereon to rest your hopes of ultimate safety as to the other side – in view of these facts, let the timorous and faint hearted hesitate before taking the initial step. They may be so successful as to make the landing and again they mayn't. The former proposition is the probability; still the latter is a possibility. At the very least have your life profusely insured before you commit yourself to the uncertain experiment. Your correspondent is rejoiced to be able to say that Capt. Litzinger has received official notification of the fact that he has been appointed commander of our (emergency) battalion, with the rank of Major and that he will be duly commissioned immediately. He is empathically the right man in the right place. In consequence of this promotion of our Captain, a further advancement has taken place to wit: 1st Lieut. D. O. Evans to be Captain; 2d Lieut. E. D. Evans to be 1st Lieut.; 1st Sergt., C. T. Roberts to be 2d Lieut.; 2d Sergt. D. J. Jones to be 1st Sergeant and so on, in regular procession to the end of the chapter, Richard W. Pryce being appointed to fill the vacancy necessarily created as regards 8th Corporal. That venerable public defunctionary, James Buchanan, Esq., passed through Hopewell on Friday last, en route to Bedford Springs, where he designs putting in the residue of the dog days. Although a large number of soldiers were in town at the time and knew of his coming, still his appearance created the slightest modicum of enthusiasm imaginable. The companies comprising our battalion, five in number, are as follows: Co. A, Capt. Evans, Cambria. Co. B, Capt. Hughes, Cambria. Co. C, Capt. Snyder, Centre. Co. D, Capt. Hutchinson, Centre. Co. E, Capt. Thompson, Bedford. The three months battalion, Major Crozier, is stationed on the opposite side of Hopewell from this point. Our company had the pleasure of a visit from your former soldier-correspondent, Mr. Ellis R. Williams. He was on his way to Philadelphia, to engage in business there, and turned off in this direction to see us. He is a gentleman, scholar and "brick" – is Ellis – and has our warmest wishes for his future prosperity. Your correspondent cannot refrain from mentioning in this connection the name of Mr. Tom P. Davis. This gentleman is our company Post Master and it is to his never-tiring exertions in a great measure that we are indebted for the system which has been infused into our postal arrangements. May he live forever, - at least until the "Emergency" be over even in Bedford county – for, losing him, his place could never be supplied. Direct letters to Co. A, Emergency Battalion, care Maj. Litzinger, &c. Yours, Etc., [Signed] "Jay" Register's Notice Notice is hereby 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 the confirmation and allowance on Wednesday, the ninth day of September, next, to wit: The second Account of Joseph Gantner, Guardian of the minor children of Peter Gantner, dec'd. The Account of John J. Clivinger, Guardian of the minor children of Daniel Albaugh, dec'd. The second and final Account of Henry Yeagley, Guardian of A. C. Dibert, a minor child of Jno. Dibert, dec'd. The final Account of Solomon Benshoff, Trustee to sell the real estate of Jonas Horner, dec'd. The final Account of John L. Jeffries, Executor of John R. Williams, dec'd. The final Account of John Shoffner, Administrator of Casper Shoffner, dec'd. The sixth Account of John Dibert, Administrator of John Dibert, dec'd. The second Account of Charles B. Ellis, Administrator of Daniel Huber, dec'd. The first Account of Michael M'Guire, Executor of Philip Forepy, dec'd. The first and final Account of George Kehm, Executor of Martin Kehm, dec'd. The Account of Bernard Moyers, Executor of Peter Moyers, dec'd. The third partial Account of William Ryan, Jr., Administrator of Joseph A. Todd, dec'd. The Account of George W. Stutzman, Administrator of Jacob Stutzman, dec'd. The first and final Account of Samuel S. Paul, Trustee to sell the real estate of Jacob Paul, dec'd. The first and final Account of Samuel S. Paul, Administrator of Catherine Paul, dec'd. The first and final Account of Joseph Shirey, Administrator of Martin Wagner, dec'd. The second and partial Account of Edw. Shoemaker, Administrator of Rev. Thomas M'Cullogh, dec'd. The partial Account of J. M. Campbell, surviving Administrator of James S. Clark, dec.d. The Account of William C. Lewis, Administrator, de bones non of Abraham Cobaugh, dec'd. E. F. Lytle, Register Ebensburg, August 3d, 1863 Incendiarism On the night of the 30th ultimo, the Chest Springs saw and grist mills owned by E. T. Nutter were entirely destroyed by fire. The loss is estimated at about $7,000, besides one hundred bushels of grain. It is supposed to be the work of an incendiary and as there was no insurance it falls pretty heavily on Mr. Nutter. Ohio and Pennsylvania The first rebel campaign in these States resulted very disastrously to the armies which invaded both, to desolate their homes, carry off their property and temporarily to destroy their resources. In Pennsylvania Lee was thwarted in all his plans. He was permitted to penetrate the very heart of one of the richest vallies of the State and when he most believed that his progress would be a triumphal march over the entire commonwealth, he was met, whipped, humiliated and hurled back upon the dreary shores of the Potomac with a force which has certainly impressed him with new ideas of celerity and dispatch. In Ohio the cut throat and robber, John Morgan, was even more summarily dealt with by the loyalists. His army was not only beaten, but he himself was captured and now occupies a criminal's cell in the Ohio Penitentiary. In one sense Morgan is the first rebel allowed to live and still considered as receiving his just due; and if there was a penitentiary sufficiently large it would be an admirable plan to consign all the rebels to its cells to enjoy the reward of hard labor and solitary confinement for the remainder of their miserable lives. Since the first rebel campaigns in Ohio and Pennsylvania resulted so disastrously to the South, we may safely venture the anticipation that the campaign of the rebel sympathizers in the same States will have a similar result. In Ohio these sympathizers are headed by a genuine rebel. Vallandigham is as ardent a traitor as Jeff Davis. He has done as much as any man whose hands are unstained with blood, to destroy the Union and displace the legal authority of the Government. Without John Morgan's courage to devastate the fields and desolate the free homes of Ohio, Vallandigham is still as sincere in his desire for the triumph of treason. His soul is in the work of treason and that is as much as any coward can give to a bad cause. But the loyal men of Ohio will deal with Vallandigham as they did with John Morgan; and while Morgan awaits his sentence in the Ohio Penitentiary, Vallandigham will take his trial before the people of that State. We do not doubt the result. Neither do we question the result in Pennsylvania. Here we beat the rebels in an armed contest, such as the world never before beheld. Here we are about to wage an unarmed contest of equal magnitude. Lee came boldly to destroy freedom. Woodward is secretly set up insidiously, to advance and defend the cause of slavery, which is of itself, the essence and the animus of treason. Does any man doubt the result of the campaign against the treason sympathizers in Pennsylvania, after that which followed the traitor? Does any man doubt that after the true men of the commonwealth contribute to the defeat and overthrow of Lee, the same bravery, the same fortitude will not be invoked to overthrow and humiliate Woodward? He who doubts the case in one result after having beheld it in another bears no allegiance to his government and is in sympathy with cause of treason. The country will watch with anxious feeling the progress of the campaign in Ohio and Pennsylvania against the rebel sympathizers. As the first was a victory over the rebels, so, with the help of the truth, we feel that the other also will terminate. It is at least worth struggling for. Let loyal men remember this fact and go to work.