NEWS: The Alleghanian; 21 Jan 1864; 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, 21 Jan 1864 Volume 5, Number 17 The Draft – Our Quota Through the kindness of Mr. M. S. Harr, Draft Commissioner for this district, we are enabled to lay before our readers this week the quotas of the several sub- districts of Cambria county under the approaching draft. The figures indicate the real quotas without the fifty per cent excess: Allegheny twp., Loretto and Gallitzin 30 Carroll twp. And Carrolltown 23 Susquehanna twp. 12 Chest twp. 10 Clearfield twp. 14 Chest Springs Boro 4 Washington twp. and Summitville 16 White twp. 11 Munster twp. 5 Croyle twp. 10 Summerhill twp. 10 Wilmore 3 Richland twp. 25 Taylor twp. 19 Conemaugh twp. 13 Yoder twp. 9 Johnstown 66 Cambria Boro 21 Conemaugh Boro 24 Millville 26 Blacklick twp. 6 Jackson twp. 9 Ebensburg 12 Cambria twp. 10 Total Number 389 It will be seen that the quota for this borough is 12. That the draft may be equalized as much as possible, it has been determined that any sub-district sending in its quota of men on or before the day fixed for the draft shall be exempt from such draft. In view of this fact, would it not be well in our citizens to make an effort to raise the twelve men? With the proper exertion, we have no doubt they may be had. Counting the two classes (which discrimination will be abolished by Congress), there are about 120 person liable to draft in town. Now, if each of this number contribute the sum of only $10 toward a common fund, a bounty of $100 apiece will have been secured for the twelve men needed; or if they contribute $20, a bounty of $200 will be obtained. This, with the $302 bounty given by the Government to new recruits or the $402 to veterans would make a neat little sum and enlistments would be greatly stimulated thereby. All volunteers enlisting are accredited to the sub-districts to which they desire said credit to be given; if one sub-district offers a bounty, it is more than probable it will obtain credit for more of these volunteers than another which offers no bounty whatever. We hope our non-exempt citizens may take advantage of the hint herein contained and make an effort during the few days of grace left to avoid the necessity of a draft altogether. At Home We are glad to see in our midst Messrs. George W. Brown, Charles A. Eagan, Thomas D. Jones, Joseph Owens and Nathaniel Benden, all members of Co. A, 11th Penna. Reserves, who have re-enlisted in the veteran corps and are now enjoying a months' furlough. They are looking hale and hearty as tho' soldiering agreed with them to a "t." We cordially welcome them home, hoping their new term of service may be prosperous as the last and not half so long. A Card Summerhill, Jan. 18, 1864 Having just returned from Norfolk and Portsmouth, Va., which places I visited for the purpose of procuring the body of Jacob M. Paul, dec'd., of Jackson township, this county, a member of Co. A, 11th Pa. Cavalry, I would request through the medium of your paper to express my gratitude and sincere thanks to the officers and members of the said company for the valuable assistance they rendered me in accomplishing my object. Especially to Capt. Skelly of Co. A, I am indebted for the perfect success of my expedition. Everything in his power was freely and most courteously contributed to aid me in the charitable purpose of removing to his friends the last remains of one of the bravest companions who died in the service of his country, far from his kindred and his home. The many obligations due to Capt. Skelly from myself and the friends of the deceased can be but feebly repaid by expressions of gratitude but I hope he may appreciate what we feel though we cannot express it in words. [Signed] F. K. Herlinger Local Correspondence Johnstown, Jan. 17, 1864 The past few days have been quite prolific of railroad accidents in this neighborhood and the loss of several lives has been the result. On Tuesday last the Express east was thrown from the track near Lockport by the breaking of a rail by which mishap a resident of Lebanon county named John Carber and a member of the First Michigan Cavalry named C. Shaw were killed and several other passengers slightly injured. A brakeman named Bender from Greensburg slipped from the bumper of his car near Mineral Point last week and the wheels passed over one of his legs, mangling it in a terrible manner. He was not discovered until he had become nearly paralyzed with the cold when he was conveyed to the Foster House here and the leg amputated above the knee. There is every prospect of his ultimate recovery. A man named Horace Dresser was found on the track near the Slackwater a few nights ago in a mutilated condition. (See local item elsewhere for further particulars – Ed) This morning's passenger train west ran over a trestle work near Spruce Creek, and one man is reported killed and a great number injured. In consequence of the accident, the train was delayed until this evening. Tonight's Express east will remain at Altoona until the trestle work is repaired. It is stated the accident was caused by a "break rod" under the tank becoming detached and falling under the wheels thus throwing the cars off the track. A gay and festive party of young men and maidens started out on a sleighing expedition through town a few evenings since. The hilarious spirits of the party caused considerable noise to be made, of course, and a gentleman driving a sleigh which contained two ladies undertaking to pass the noisy crowd suddenly found himself and the ladies promiscuously spilled out, while the sleigh was piled up in pieces alongside. The "guardians of the night" having an eye to the quiet and order of the city and also to large fees probably, seeing this, arrested the party for disturbing the peace. A fine of three dollars each and costs and an admonition to sin no more was the result and our party went home with the sorrowful conviction that had theirs only been a crowd of drunken, blasphemous rowdies, really disturbing the peace, instead of respectable young ladies and gentlemen indulging in innocent amusement the police would not have been about! Quite a number of our ladies are commencing to take lessons in the healthful and graceful exercise of skating. The streams here have been in most excellent condition for this pastime for some time. Your correspondent was one of party who visited the glassy surface one night last week and the recollection of falling crinoline even yet dances before his vision. Girls, learn to skate! The amount of money realized by the late Catholic Fair foots up to $2,541 and after paying all debts a balance of $1,029 remains. Considering the many disadvantages under which the ladies of the congregation labored, the result is very gratifying. The Annual Conference of the U. B. Church has been in progress here during the past week. The attendance is good, a large number of foreign ministers being present. Rev. Haney, for some time assistant to Rev. P. M. Garvey, Catholic, takes his departure hence for Brownsville during the present week, having been assigned to that station. He will leave behind a host of friends. [Signed] May Leon From Our Soldiers Letter from Co. A, 11th Penna. Reserves Bristow Station, Va. Jan. 12 Yesterday those who enlisted as veterans in our regiment left for home. Each re-enlisting veteran receives a furlough of thirty-five days and two hundred dollars in hand. Ten members of Co. A and fifty six of the regiment have enlisted into the veteran crops. Through the departure of these furloughed members, Co. A has become quite small. It now numbers only two Sergeants, three Corporals and thirteen privates present for duty. Our regiment is very comfortably situated. The men have built log huts, chinked and daubed with a large fireplace in one end of each. For beds they have bunks with pine poles in lieu of cords and cedar twigs instead of feathers. They are taking life easy after the fatiguing campaign of last summer. The health of the regiment is good. Co. A has not had a single man on the sick list for a month. We see by the papers that Gen. M'Clellan has been nominated for the next Presidency by some gentlemen in Philadelphia, the representatives of a party who have been ever since this war began most bitter opponents of the Administration and of all measures adopted looking toward the crushing of the rebellion. To be sure, Gen. M'Clellan has shown eminent military abilities and at one time commanded the confidence of the whole army, but his letter to Mr. Charles J. Biddle last summer endorsing the political views of Mr. Justice Woodward as well as his consenting to have his name thus used by a party who are enemies to their county as their candidate for the Presidential chair, has lost to him the confidence of the soldiers. But few would vote for him were he nominated. Gen. M'Clellan avowedly stands upon the same platform with Vallandigham, Garret Davis and Fernando Wood and is the exponent of the same rotten principles. Those who vote for Vallandigham will vote for him. The solders want a man for President who will not tamper or dilly- dally with traitors. Such a man is not M'Clellan. At one time we thought the general a true patriot but alas he is now found in the ranks of secession sympathizers. We thought him a lover of his country but it appears he loves his party more. Evidently he cannot be the man for the crisis. The next President must be a man of nerve, of firmness and undaunted spirit who will do right regardless of consequences – one who will, "Seize the helm, the reeling vessel guide, And with aiding patriots stem the raging tide." Saying this much, I will go further and add that no one could possibly have stood the brunt of the fierce conflict more nobly than has Mr. Lincoln. He has gone through the trying ordeal unscathed, successfully battling traitors in arms South and their aiders and abettors North. In the most trying hour he has stood firm and undaunted with the weal of his country first in his heart and the triumph of her armies his hourly hope and prayer. With such a man at the helm for another four years and through the help of the All-ruling Hand, the vessel of State will be safely steered into a peaceful haven and firmly anchored for all time to come. [Signed] Lutz Arrest and Escape On Thursday last Assistant Provost Marshal Heyer arrested a man named Shorthill in Wilmore, this county, on the charge of being a deserter. He (Shorthill) was drafted from Summerhill township in August last, and failing to report for duty, thereby rendered himself amenable to the penalties attaching to the crime of desertion. After his arrest, the prisoner was kept under guard in the Railroad House for several hours, awaiting the arrival of the train to convey him east. Free ingress and egress was afforded his friends and many came to see and converse with him. At a particular juncture when the door happened to be opened to its full width, the prisoner suddenly made one bound through it, bade a metaphorical adieu to both official and spectators and "skedaddled." He must have proven a swift runner for pursuit was soon found to be useless. Marshal Heyer fired two loads from a revolver after the fugitive, one of which it is rumored took effect in the calf of his leg. This however did not check his speed, at least not enough to allow him to be re-captured, and up to the present time, Shorthill is "basking in the sunshine of personal liberty." "Not a True Bill" The indictment pending against Capt. Wm. R. Hughes, of this county, charging him with aiding and abetting in the destruction of the Huntingdon MONITOR establishment last summer, came up before the Grand Jury at Huntingdon county last week and was promptly ignored by that body. Thus the long agony is over. Jottings from Washington - Extracts Washington City, Jan. 14, 1864 Since my last letter was written the Congressional vacation has ended and the Members have returned to their desks. During the recess many bills of importance were prepared which will be passed into laws with little delay. Perhaps the most important of these bills has already become a law – that extending the time for the payment of bounties to veterans from the 5th of January to the 1st of March. It passed the House last week and the Senate on Tuesday. It is worth noting that this extension of time was made the subject of a special message to Congress from the President, in which the policy of paying bounties to veterans after the 5th of January was strongly urged. The President in this showed at once his appreciation of the services of veteran soldiers and his desire to make the coming draft fall as lightly as possible upon the "loyal masses" who prefer to say at home. The bounty to veterans is $400 and to "greenhorns," $300. Veterans and volunteers are coming forward with enthusiasm. Secretary Chase has stated that the Treasury can bear the large draft upon its resources which the adoption of this bounty policy renders necessary. So, for the present, and until that other draft is ordered, all will go merry as a marriage bell in the way of raising a new army. And what about the draft? In some of the States, it won't take place at all. Vermont and Indiana have already filled their quotas; Connecticut and Wisconsin expect to do so within another week; New York and one or two other States hope to avoid the conscription in much the same way that the crazy miller got into heaven – by a very tight squeeze. Pennsylvania will certainly be visited by it. Where the draft does take place, we predict that these features will characterize it: there will be no exemptions, except for disability; all persons under forty-five years of age will be liable, as they always should have been; the $300 clause will be retained, as it ought to be. The draft will probably commence early in February. [Snip] It seems to be settled beyond all peradventure that Abraham Lincoln will be re- elected President of the United States. His only formidable competitor for the nomination by the Union National Convention is Secretary Chase. Gen. Grant and Gen. Banks are understood to have refused the use of their names in connection with the Presidency and Gen. Butler must wait. Grant will soon be made Lieutenant General and transferred to Washington, succeeding Halleck, whom nobody appears to think fit for the position he has held for eighteen months. The only straw that seems just now to point away from the President and in the direction of Secretary Chase is the Missouri imbroglio. Mr. Chase sides with the anti-Gamble, anti-Schofield party and the popular voice is assuredly with him and against the President. Judge Bates is undoubtedly responsible for the President's unpopular course with regard to Missouri affairs. He is a brother-in-law of Gamble and his son is a Gamble politician and was a candidate for Judge at the late election. Of course Judge Bates has done his utmost to retain Gamble and Schofield, whose political views harmonize in supreme authority in Missouri and has so far had the ear of the President. Nevertheless, among politicians here, Mr. Lincoln's re-nomination and re-election are generally conceded. The CHRONICLE of this city, the Administration organ and owned and edited by John W. Eorney is out this morning in a long editorial in favor of a second term. It affords me great pleasure to inform your readers that Major Francis Jordan of Bedford has been appointed Agent for the State of Pennsylvania at the National Capital. Governor Curtin could not have made a better appointment. The Major is in every sense worthy. His fitness for any position within the gift of his native State was long since proved; but, like your correspondent, Mr. Editor, his modesty has always militated against his advancement. He has resigned his commission as a Paymaster in the Army and will assume his new duties in a couple of weeks. The dreaded small pox is still spreading in this city. Senator Lemuel J. Bowden of East Virginia has died of it. The means of averting a threatened plague from this loathsome disease are being considered by Congress, the city government and the newspapers. We have no panic but there is general alarm. The anxious question, "Will Congress repeal the $300 clause?" has given place to the sympathetic inquiry, "Did your vaccination take?" Many very cautious people will not ride in the street cars or hacks for fear of the contagion. As yet, however, I do not hear of any timid Members of Congress having resigned their seats on account of the presence of that contagion in the city, although it might fairly be presumed that the disease would present unnatural terrors to them. The virtuous and the good, you know, Mr. Editor, are always taken first. [Signed] J. M. S. What Becomes of Dead Horses? Some people will no doubt be astonished to learn that large fortunes have been made every year since the commencement of the war out of the dead horses of the Army of the Potomac. The popular idea is that when Rosinante yields up the ghost, he is buried in some field or left to molder in mother earth in the woods somewhere. Not so. He has made his last charge and gnawed his last fence rail but there is from $20 to $40 in the old fellow yet. A contract for the purchase of the dead horses in the Army of the Potomac for the ensuing year was let a few days ago to the highest bidder at $1.76 per head, delivered at the factory of the contractor. Last year $60,000 was cleared on the contract and this year it is thought $100,000 can be made out of it. The animals die at the rate of about fifty per day at the lowest calculation. At the contractor's establishment they are thoroughly dissected. First the shoes are pulled off; they are usually worth fifty cents a set. Then the hoofs are cut off; they bring about two dollars a set. Then comes the candal [as spelled in the newspaper] appendage worth half a dollar. Then the hide – I don't know what that sells for. Then the tallow, if it be possible to extract tallow from the army horse, which I think extremely doubtful unless headie [as spelled in the newspaper] immediately after entering the service. And last, but not least, the shin bones are valuable, being convertible into a variety of articles that many believe to be composed of pure ivory such as cane heads, knife handles, &c. By the time the contractor gets through with the "late lamented" steed there is hardly enough of him left to feed a bull pup on. Hereafter, kind reader, when you see a dead "hoss" don't turn up your nose at him, but regard him thoughtfully as the foundation for a large fortune in a single year. He may individually be a nuisance but "there is that within which passeth show" – $100,000 a year.