NEWS: The Alleghanian; 28 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, 28 Apr 1864 Volume 5, Number 31 Letter from South Carolina Camp 55th Regt. Pa. Vet. Vols. Beaufort, S. C., April 5 A great number of the 55th, hailing from the Mountain city, no doubt many of your readers will feel interested in the movements of the regiment. Company A, commanded by Capt. D. W. Fox, left Cresson on the morning of the 29th February to report in Harrisburg. The regiment was there quartered in the cotton factory until March 12th, awaiting transportation. We took the cars on the evening of that day for New York, arriving there on the 13th about noon. We were marched to the Washington House where Col. White had engaged "the drinks" for the entire regiment, numbering about 1,000 men, after which we were marched up Broadway to the Park Barracks, where we remained until March 17th. During our stay in New York, we had a fine opportunity of seeing the elephant and experiencing something of life in the Empire City. Your correspondent visited Barnum's Museum and spent half a day in viewing and admiring the many curiosities, both natural and artificial, which it contains. The greatest natural curiously is - - Barnum himself. Everybody has heard of Barnum and on visiting his museum, feels a particular anxiety to see "the public's obedient servant," who has so effectually pulled the wool over the eyes of the people of this country and humbugged the crowned heads of Europe. Among other curiosities I saw a lithograph of Barnum and the "Irish jintleman" who politely yielded his "turn" in a barber shop to Phineas T., upon the latter promising to foot Pat's bill, which on being liquidated was found to amount to only $1.60! We remained in New York until March 17th. About 11 a.m. of that day, we received orders to embark at 2 p.m. This being St. Patrick's Day, it was a great festival with a portion of the citizens of New York and we had ample time before embarking to witness most of the display incident to the occasion. Several large processions, consisting of various associations and societies, each headed by a band, passed our quarters on their way to City Hall where orations were delivered by Richard O'Gorman and others. The green flag of Erin and the glorious old stars and stripes were to be seen floating side by side from almost every housetop, while every breeze wailed to our ears the familiar strains of "St Patrick's Day," "Garryowen," &c., &c. On the afternoon of the 17th we went aboard the steamship, "United States," and at 5 p.m. raised anchor and were on our way to the hot-bed of the rebellion – South Carolina. It being about the vernal equinox, our anticipations of a pleasant sea voyage were slightly frustrated. The ship was obliged to contend against a strong head wind and a heavy sea, which prolonged our voyage to six days instead of three, the usual time required for a vessel to make the run to Hilton Head. Owing to the rolling of the vessel, almost every man on board was attacked with sea-sickness and on looking around me, I was seriously impressed with the belief that "provisions was coming up!" Fortunately your correspondent did not experience the least symptoms of internal uneasiness. When about half way on our voyage the wind blowing great guns, the waves dashing over the deck, and the ship rolling so that it was utterly impossible for even the sailors to stand upright, the terrifying cry of "fire!" was sounded from one end of the ship to the other. This, indeed, was a moment of frightful excitement! Volumes of smoke were seen issuing from the oilers' room where the fire originated. The officers and all the men who were able to get up, immediately crowded on deck, ready to lay hold of anything that might be of avail in escaping should the fire fail to be subdued. The crew, however, assisted by the soldiers, ultimately succeeded in extinguishing the flames. It is certainly terrifying to even contemplate a vessel on fire almost two hundred miles from land, in the midst of a rough sea! In such event, it is true, there would be a choice of deaths – to burn or to drown – and the individual in such dilemma could choose whatever horn his fancy might suggest. But – who wants to die either one way or the other nowadays! On the 23d of March, we landed at Beaufort. We were met at the wharf by Gen. Rufus Saxton, who informed Col White that his old camp was vacant and at his command, on the 24th, eight companies went to Fort Duane, the old regimental company ground – Co. A to battery Taylor and Co. B to battery Burnside. There is nothing new in the department in regard to active operations. A short time since, during the absence at home of the 55th, the rebels attempted to effect a landing at different points of the island, but found our pickets wide awake. They were handsomely repulsed, losing several in killed and prisoners. Since then they have discreetly refrained from making similar demonstrations. The town of Beaufort is a most lovely and picturesque village and bears ample evidence of the good taste of its former inhabitants in the neatness and beauty of its buildings and their immediate surroundings. The buildings are almost as if in a forest, so surrounded are they by shade trees and shrubbery. The island is considerably broken by marshes or swamps but the tillable portion of it is very fertile, producing cotton, rice, corn, sweet potatoes and all kinds of vegetation in abundance. Notwithstanding the unsettled condition of affairs, the peaceful vocations of life are not wholly neglected. Agricultural pursuits by the negroes under the supervision of Government agents are in a flourishing condition and the results fully and satisfactorily develop the wisdom of such policy, looking both to the individual and national benefits derived therefrom. Three newspapers are published in this department. There are also places of worship where the religiously inclined of every denomination can seek salvation in temples dedicated to their own particular belief; while the lovers of amusement are agreeably entertained at the Union Theater. Our post office is doing a thriving business. For the quarter ending April 1, 347,765 letters and 19,799 papers were mailed from this point – of the letters 8,154 being free. The receipts therefrom was $9,616. As many as 30,000 papers have arrived here from the North in one mail. The health of the department is comparatively good, but few deaths being reported. The small pox prevails to some extent but its victims are confined chiefly to the colored population. Thanks to the skill of our surgeons and admirable sanitary arrangements, but few cases have proved fatal. A number of our officers are of Cambrian extraction and their friends in their native county will be pleased to know that they all rank No. 1 in point of military excellence. Col. Dick White is too well and too favorably known to your readers to require any notice from my feeble pen. The best evidence of his popularity and his wide spread reputation as a commander is the rapid manner his regiment was filled up to 500 above the maximum of ordinary regiments in the short space of one month. Capt. D. W. Fox, Quartermaster F. M. George, and Lieut. Jno. Lynch, three of the "Frosty sons of Thunder," are officers of high military attainments and take great pride in seeing to the interests of the mountain boys. Lieut. Hodge, of Co. A, hails from Blair county, I believe. He is a model officer and has already given evidence that the confidence that has been reposed in him by virtue of his commission as an officer is not misplaced. Yours, [Signed] Nestor Local Correspondence Johnstown, April 25, 1864 The elopement which I noticed a short time since has had an unusual sequel. The disappointed lover has offered himself to another fair one, been accepted and the intended father-in-law agrees to start him in business, provided he makes a kind and worthy husband for his daughter. As he is really a meritorious young man, I hope his lady love in this instance will not prove fickle. Lieut. Emory Fisher of the --- Colored Vols., was in town last week on brief furlough. He looks well and he expresses himself pleased with his position. His regiment is stationed on the Peninsula, in the vicinity of Williamsburg. S. B. Bathurst, whilom a school teacher in this place, but for the past two years Orderly Sergeant of Captain Bonaker's company, 54th Pa. Regt., is also home on furlough. Sergt. Bathurst has re-enlisted and his intelligence and bravery will doubtless soon be recognized to his advancement in the service. His hosts of friends in this locality wish him the success he deserves. Capt. M'Donald's company left last week for their rendezvous in Chester county. Enough recruits were secured to fill it to the maximum. Quite a number of deaths have occurred here during the past week. Among them I notice the decease of the mother of Esquire Flattery. She had reached the ripe old age of 84. The plasterers and carpenters are busily engaged upon the new Catholic church in this place and it is designed to finish it by the 15th of August next if possible. The erection of the building is superintended by G. W. Easly and the plastering, now under headway, is contracted for by Butland & Thomas. The foundation for the new Lutheran church is about completed and the balance of the work will be pushed rapidly. The trenches for the foundation of the new Presbyterian church are laid out and it is the design to finish this building also during the coming summer. The stonemasons have begun work upon the new woolen factory. It is to be a mammoth building and will reflect credit upon the enterprise of those who have the matter in hand. A. J. Hite, formerly a compositor in the Johnstown DEMOCRAT, is now assistant editor of the Pittsburg POST. He possesses the reputation of being a keen and ready writer and will doubtless give satisfaction to his political friends in his new capacity. Yours, [Signed] May Leon Local Etchings A petition is in circulation praying for a divorce for Mr. Joseph Moore from the bonds of matrimony. A post office has been established at Somerset Furnace, Somerset County and Mr. Nathan Sanders, formerly of this county, appointed Postmaster. Those inevitable harbingers of spring time, the martins, have made their appearance here. We wonder whether these are the same identical birds which made joyous our streets and housetops until late last summer? If so, where have they hibernated during the intervening season and what unerring instinct guided them back to their old "stomping grounds?" On our outside we print an interesting letter from the 55th Pa. Vols. This regiment, since the date of the letter, have "made a move," and are now at Yorktown, Va. They will doubtless take a prominent part in the coming drama which is to wind up the rebellion and give our distracted country a permanent peace. Cyrus Elder, Esq., we are glad to note, is himself once more and has resumed his duties as assistant editor of the Johnstown TRIBUNE. The trout fishing season has commenced hereabout. We saw a piscator wending his weary way into town the other evening with a large and respectable "string of the speckled beauties." The 11th Pa. Reserves will be mustered out of service on the 29th July. Fire On Saturday night last, the dwelling house of Mr. Michael Snyder in Carroll township, this county, with its contents was totally destroyed by fire. We did not hear further particulars. Bounty Sharks The Legislative Record sets forth that on Wednesday, 20th inst., in our State Legislature, "Mr. St. Clair, chairman of the committee on military abuses, in reference to defrauding recruits and veterans out of their bounty money, made a lengthy report. It was very damaging in its statements with regard to Col. White of the 55th Penna. Vols., Captain Walker of Co. M, 2d Pa. Cavalry and several other officers." The report was ordered to be printed but we have not yet seen a copy of it. Changed Hands Last week's DEM. & SENT. contains the valedictory of Mr. James S. Todd who retires from the chair editorial of the concern under the pressure of increasing bad health. Col. M Hasson will be the new editor. Payment of the Militia It was officially announced last week that a paymaster would visit Ebensburg on Thursday, May 26th to pay company commanded by Capt. Evan's; Carrolltown on Saturday, May 28 to pay company commanded by Capt. Cole and Wilmore on Tuesday, May 31, to pay company commanded by Capt. Hughes – all militia of the summer of 1862. In consequence of something or other, however, this announcement has been nullified. The probabilities, therefore, are that the militia will be required to "wait a little longer" before being paid. Union County Convention Pursuant to a call of the Chairman of the County Committee, a Convention of the Union men of Cambria county assembled at Ebensburg on Wednesday, 20th inst., and organized by calling Joseph Miller, Esq., to the Chair and appointing H. A. Boggs, Secretary. A. A. Barker, Esq., was unanimously chosen Representative Delegate to the Harrisburg Convention and George M. Reed, Esq., Col. W. H. Piper and H. A. Boggs, Esq., were appointed Conferees to meet similar Conferees from Blair and Clearfield to select a Senatorial Delegate for this District. The Senatorial Conferees met at Tyrone on Tuesday, 26th inst., and elected H. A. Boggs, Esq., of Johnstown, Senatorial Delegate. The State Convention meets at Harrisburg today. The Sanitary Fair – An Appeal from Gov. Curtin Governor Curtin has issued the following appeal in behalf of the Sanitary Fair to be held in Philadelphia June 10th, 1864: Pennsylvania Executive Chamber Harrisburg, April 11, 1864. To the People of Pennsylvania: I have been requested by the Committee of Correspondence to address you on the subject of the Fair to be held in Philadelphia in June next for the benefit of the Sanitary Commission. It gives me much pleasure to comply with this request and to avail myself of the opportunity also of calling your attention to the Fair to be held in the same week and for the same purpose at Pittsburg. I cannot, however, speak for the relief of the sick and wounded volunteers of the State without saying a grateful word in their behalf to you. Charged by a joint resolution of the Legislature with the duty of caring for them, it has been my privilege to provide for this comfort and look after their welfare. To this end, the State Surgeon General has at all times, subject to the regulations of the United States, visited with corps of surgeons and nurses in the battle fields and besides the General Agency maintained at Washington, special agents have constantly been sent to the camps, to the armies in the field and to the hospitals and at all times when the occasion required or admitted of such aid, the provisions made by the United States have been supplemented by abundant supplies of bandages, clothing, delicate food – in fact, everything that could promote the comfort of our soldiers when suffering from wounds or disease. The compensation of the general agency and the general staff and the expense of medicines and supplies of like character were of course paid by the State. The special agents, men of standing and character, performed all their duties with diligence, fidelity and alacrity, and in no instance received any compensation for their services. I have never had to ask for such agents. My only regret is that I have been unable to accept the offered services of too many men of the same kind, who, being disqualified for military services, and having freely contributed of their means to every patriotic purpose, were still not contented unless they could bestow their time, labor and personal attendance on our disabled and suffering defenders. The bandages, the clothing, the food, the supplies of all sorts were furnished in kind by you, individually. On every occasion when it has been made known throughout the state that a battle had been fought or was expected or that from any other cause our sick and wounded volunteers were likely to suffer, the earliest trains from all quarters have brought the needed supplies in profusion. Every hospital within the State has been beset by individuals of both sexes, but chiefly women, eager to nurse, to watch, to aid the inmates. Throughout the cities, towns, villages, hamlets, farm houses of the Commonwealth are found the Heaven directed benefactors whose names are unrecorded; for whose individual efforts no reward has been sought; but he who has witnessed the results, as I have, must have a heart of stone if it not be melted by their true, unpretending, gentle, persistent, inexhaustible alacrity in this best and holiest of good works. The object of the proposed Fair is to provide means for similar good works, and it is one that commends itself to every friend of his country – to all who admire the heroic devotion of the brave men who are bearing arms in its defense. It is understood that the managers of these fairs solicit donations in goods, saleable articles of every description of manufacture, America glass, produce, fruits, flowers, paintings, engravings, statuary, and the income of all the people of the State for one day. Several similar Fairs have been recently held, the proceeds of which are stated in the newspapers to exceed one million of dollars. Another is now being held in New York and others in Baltimore and St. Louis are to be held in this and the next month, the proceeds of all which will no doubt be large. The spirit of emulation has been stimulated and Pennsylvania has been appealed to in the hope that she will rival her neighbors. I cheerfully bear my personal testimony to the prompt and beneficial efforts of the Sanitary Commission immediately after several battles and especially after the battles of Gettysburg and to the abundance of supplies then furnished by it. Beyond this I have no knowledge of its actual operations nor of its internal structure or administrative arrangements. The oppression of public duties has been too great to allow me to acquire or seek such knowledge. It is well known, however, that gentleman of the highest character participate in its management and that its objects are patriotic, meritorious and charitable. The proceeds of the Fair are to pass into the hands of the Sanitary Commission, as declared by the committee for the relief of sick and wounded soldiers in anticipation of the opening campaigns of our noble armies; and the object commands itself to every friend of his country. [Signed] A. G. Curtin, Governor of Pennsylvania - Cannot Cambria county do something for these Fairs and thereby demonstrate that her heart beats responsive to the wants of our sick and wounded soldiers? War News The Baltimore AMERICAN of Saturday, referring to the speculations indulged in concerning the troops that have for some time been collecting at Annapolis, says: "General Burnside has ordered, we understand, all troops now on the way to join him at Annapolis, to their destination; and we also hear that he has asked the Government further time to gather more men. Another report says that there will be no expedition from Annapolis; but that these troops are here as a reserve corps; but all surmisings are at an end as the troops are to move today." The President has made a call on the Governors of Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Iowa for 85,000 militia to serve one hundred days after being formed into regiments, to perform such military service as may be required of them in any State. They will be armed, clothed, subsisted and paid by the General Government. This looks like business! Our arms have experienced a reverse in North Carolina. The enemy numbering 10,000 attacked Gen. Wessel's command at Plymouth on the 20th inst., and, after some desperate fighting, succeeded in defeating it. They captured 1,500 prisoners. Our loss was about 150 killed; theirs, 1,500. Gen. Herron is sick at Brownsville, Texas, with the small pox. The Great Fair The great Fair which has just closed in New York city netted the Sanitary Commission over $1,000,000. The principal feature of the concern was a magnificent sword, worth $1,000, to be presented to the General having the most admirers, they dictating their preference by paying a dollar and registering their votes in favor of their choice. Grant and M'Clellan were the chief competitors, the former coming out winner by over 15,000 majority.