NEWS: The Alleghanian; 21 Apr 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 Apr 1864 Volume 5, Number 30 Local Etchings An attempt was made some nights since to burn the dwelling house of Mr. Joseph Moore, Johnstown, but it proved unsuccessful. The Bedford INQUIRER has come out in a completely new dress with Mr. B. F. M'Neill as editor instead of Mr. Joe Durborrow as before. We wish it success. Wild pigeons are very plenty in this neighborhood and sportsmen are having a good old time bagging the same. John M'Bride of Co. A, 11th Pa. Reserves, a re-enlisted veteran is at home on a thirty days furlough. The present term of the Ebensburg schools closes on Friday next. The raftsmen are returning in large numbers from their trip "down the river." Hope it paid. Local Correspondence Johnstown, April 18, 1864 In the absence of more interesting news, allow me to devote a few lines to a description of the prevailing spring fashions; the subject will no doubt be of interest to your lady readers. My information is gathered principally from the firm of W. & R. Geis, the most extensive dealers in Fancy and Millinery Goods in this place. At their invitation I examined all the newest "improvements" the other day, and was, of course, lost in a maze of wonder at the immense array of feminine apparel which came under my observation. The "New style Bonnet" is entirely different from that worn last season. The crown in flat or in millinery parlance "cap crowned," presenting from a rear view the appearance in shape of an old lady's cap. The prevailing color of trimmings is buff, leather or lavender and for face trimming, illusion is used. A new style of flowers with shells and birds of paradise are also fashionable in face trimming. Plaid ribbons of green and blue are the prevailing colors in ribbons. The general shape sets nearer the face than in the old style, so that young ladies must not permit their beaus to attempt to kiss them until they had doffed their bonnets, otherwise the trimming must be disarranged. The circulars and sacks are certainly the neatest thing out. The colors are leather and stone, with blue and brown silk hoods and black silk circulars with purple hoods – sleeves and hoods trimmed with guipure lace and white silk stitching and finished off with bugled trimmings and steel buttons. These circulars are the "latest agony," and, as they set a lady off to advantage, they meet with a rapid sale. The prices range from ten to twenty dollars and some of the very finest are more costly. There is no material difference in the shape of hats. The crown slopes from the top and the rim is a little longer behind than in front. Trimmings most in vogue are plaid ribbons, flowers and illusion. The latest style of dresses is buff silk and challe with stone ground, a plaid blue and silk, and solferino stripe running through it. Shawls of black and lavender, and leather and white with variegated border are principally worn. Small silk scarfs of various colors are also in style. With this brief description I dismiss the subject and for further particulars refer you and your lady readers to the firm of W. & R. Geis, with the assurance that they will find never a more clever dealer in the county than Billy, nor a more lady-like modiste than his sister, Miss Rose. [Signed] May Leon Escaped from Jail On Sunday morning, about 11 o'clock while the jailer's family were in attendance at church, the two men Eckenrode, confined in our county jail for a couple of weeks past on the charge of stealing a pocket book and contents from Mr. Owen Rowland, succeeded in making good their escape from the institution. They immediately proceeded to make themselves invisible with such effect that the eye of the law has as yet been unable to discover their whereabouts. Pardon of Joseph Moore As we stated last week, Moore has been accorded a full and unconditional pardon by the Governor. The official document to that effect, bearing the broad seal of State was received here Wednesday and the same day the prisoner-no prisoner became a free man and walked forth again among his fellow men to receive their congratulations on his deliverance from the rapacious and indiscriminating jaws of the law. To make manifest the motives which actuated our worthy Governor in granting the pardon, as well as to gratify the curiosity of our readers, we annex a copy of the instrument as follows: Pennsylvania, ss: In the name and by the authority of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Andrew G. Curtin, Governor of said Commonwealth. To all to whom these presents shall come, sends greeting. Whereas at a Court of Oyer and Terminer in and for the county of Cambria, held at Ebensburg in said county on the eighth day of March, A. D., one thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, a certain Joseph Moore was convicted upon a certain indictment charging him with murder in the second degree and was by the said Court on the 18th day of March thereupon sentenced that he should pay a fine of &c. to the Commonwealth, the costs of prosecution and undergo imprisonment in the Western Penitentiary for the term of six years and stand committed, &c. And whereas petitions have been presented to me strongly urging and recommending the pardon of said Joseph Moore, respectively signed by all of the jurors empanelled in said case; by over seven hundred citizens of the borough of Johnstown, in said county; by over seven hundred ladies of the same place, wives and daughters of said citizens; by Revs. D. Haribson, W. S. Lloyd, M. N. Ellis and L. R. Powell, clergymen of the borough of Ebensburg, in said county; by all the county officers of said county; by numerous citizens of Blair county; by over one hundred citizens of said borough of Ebensburg; by over one hundred citizens of the township of Carroll, in said county of Cambria; by numerous citizens of the borough of Conemaugh in said county; by numerous citizens of the county of Somerset; by Hon. C. L. Pershing, representative in the Legislature from said district, D. J. Morrell, A. A. Barker, Geo. S. King, William K. Carr, Joseph Miller, R. S. Bunn, Wm. H. Koontz, Ed. Scull, Esquires and many others, good and reputable citizens – on the ground of the extraordinary provocation under which said offense was committed, and that in his conviction the majesty of the law has been vindicated while his hitherto unimpeachable character as an upright, useful and peaceable citizen, his distinguished services as soldier in defense of his country, the character of the crime against his family and society which prompted his rash act and all the other circumstances of the case, render this application for Executive clemency highly meritorious. Now, know, therefore, that in consideration of the premises and by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution, I have pardoned the said Joseph Moore of the offense whereof he is convicted and he is hereby thereof fully pardoned accordingly. Given under my hand and the great seal of the State, at Harrisburg, this twelfth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, and of the Commonwealth, the eighty eighth. By the Governor. Eli Slifer Secretary of the Commonwealth Mr. Moore desires us, in his name, to thank the citizens of Ebensburg for the many acts of kindness done him during his incarceration behind the grated bars. To Sheriff Buck especially is he grateful for favors received, both before and after the trial. Particularizing these, he does not forget those of other sections who expressed a kindly interest in his misfortunes and for whom every pulsation of his heart is a silent prayer for happiness both in this world and in the next. One and all have his sincerest thanks and heartiest acknowledgements. Moore has gone to Johnstown. A Carnival of Blood The news of the massacre of the garrison of Fort Pillow on the Mississippi river furnishes another and the saddest chapter in the history of this war. On Tuesday morning, 12th inst., the rebel General Forrest with 6,000 men attacked the fort. After fighting awhile, Forrest sent a flag of truce, demanding the surrender of the fort and garrison, meanwhile disposing his force so as to gain advantage by the delay. Major Booth of the 13th Tennessee cavalry was in command of the fort, with four hundred of that regiment and two hundred of the first battalion of the 6th United States Heavy Artillery, formerly the 1st Alabama Cavalry (colored). The flag of truce was refused and fighting recommenced. Afterward a second flag was sent in, which was also refused. Both flags gave the rebels advantages in gaining new positions whereof they were not slow in availing themselves, contrary to all rules of civilized warfare. The battle was kept up until 3 o'clock p. m. when, Major Booth, having been killed, Major Bradford took command of the fort. The rebels now came in swarms, overpowering our troops by mere force of numbers and compelling them to surrender. Immediately upon the surrender ensued a scene which baffles description. Up to that time comparatively few of our men had been killed but insatiable as fiends and blood thirsty as devils incarnate the Confederates instituted an indiscriminate butchery of our soldiers, both white and black, (including the wounded, until out of the original garrison of 600, only 200 remained alive!) The black soldiers, become demoralized, rushed to the rear of the white officers where both white and black were bayoneted, shot or sabred. Even dead bodies were horribly mutilated and children seven and eight years of age and several negro women were killed in cold blood. Soldiers unable to speak on account of the severity of their wounds were shot dead and their bodies rolled into the river. Dead and wounded negroes were piled in heaps and burned, and several citizens who joined our forces for protection were killed or wounded. Many of our wounded were shot in the hospital, the remainder driven out and the hospital burned. The morning after the battle, the rebels went over the battle field and shot the negroes who had not died from previous wounds. Many of those who escaped from the works and desired to be treated as prisoners of war were ordered to fall into line when they were inhumanly shot down. Of the colored troops not more than fifty escaped massacre and not one of the officers that commanded them survives. Only four officers of the 13th Tennessee escaped death. Majors Booth and Bradford were both killed. Five negro soldiers were buried alive, but succeeded in extricating themselves from their perilous predicament and escaped. Oh, it is a horrible, sickening tale of blood! Four hundred unarmed defenseless prisoners of war butchered in cold blood! – the human mind recoils from the contemplation of the horrid picture. Hereafter let not the finger of scorn be pointed at Nena Sahib for here in this land of Bibles and Bible privileges has that monster's inhumanities and barbarisms been not only paralleled but overtopped! The steamer, Platte Valley, came along about half past three o'clock and was hailed by the rebels under flag of truce. Men were sent ashore from the steamer to bury the dead and take aboard such wounded as the rebels had allowed to live. Fifty-seven were taken on board, including seven or eight colored. Eight died on the way up. The steamer arrived at Cairo Thursday evening and was immediately sent to the Mound City Hospital to discharge her suffering cargo. The rebels have inaugurated the principle of "no quarter," the rebellion must now go down - the weaker party must go under. Although we do not wish to see this principle recognized, it is not in the nature of the case possible that the spirit of retaliation will not be aroused; and when once aroused, no one can tell what will be the limit. Everywhere the rebels are on the defensive and hard pressed. This butchering of federal troops will nerve half a million of uplifted arms to strike all the harder. Nor will the blow be stayed till every man has taken his share of the satisfaction he will feel it his right to take, till he has done what he will have sworn to do, avenge the fate of his fellows in Fort Pillow. "Remember the Alamo!" was the one time battle cry of the Texans; "remember Fort Pillow" will be the battle cry in the future of our soldiers both black and white who may have read this horrible story of rebel barbarities. Fort Pillow was a point of no strategic importance whatever and the rebels have since abandoned it. War News The balloons so much prized by Gen. M'Clellan for making war have been ordered to be sold by General Grant. Famous Oak Tree The famous oak tree under which Generals Grant and Pemberton met and agreed upon terms of the surrender of Vicksburg on the 3d of July last, has been "gobbled up" by soldiers wishing to obtain souvenirs of the remarkable event. Not satisfied with appropriating the trunk and branches, they have burrowed into the earth and seized every root which could be secured as relics. Persons having in their possession even a small piece of this wood prize it highly.