NEWS: The Alleghanian; 12 May 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, 12 May 1864 Volume 5, Number 33 Local Correspondence Johnstown, May 8, 1864 Mr. Joseph Moore, lately so prominent before the public, was robbed last week of the sum of $200. This money was the proceeds of the sale of his furniture &c. He had placed it in the side pocket of his coat and on retiring to bed at the Kernville Hotel, had hung the coat on the bed post. Afterward he got up and spread the coat over his bed. In the morning when he arose and looked for it, his coat was gone while another had been substituted in its stead. The other occupants of the room, four or five in number, were immediately searched, but the money could not be found. This amount constituted Moore's all and he feels the loss greatly. Emanuel Young, a butcher in Kernville lost $90 one day last week. His impression is that he dropped it on the street. Adam James, a young Welshman who, enlisted from this place in the 7th Pa. Cavalry was accidentally shot a few weeks ago while with his regiment. He had leaned his gun against the fence and while in the act of retaking it, the hammer caught, exploding the cap and lodging the contents in his abdomen. He was about 22 yeas of age and bore an excellent character. Jack Litzinger of your town met with a rather serious accident while at work in the Rolling Mill last week. He was reaching through the machinery for some purpose when his coat caught in the cogs of a wheel and his arm being hereby drawn in, a large piece of flesh was severed from it. The presence of mind of a fellow workman who pulled the belting off the wheel and thus stopped its revolutions probably saved the arm from being taken totally. I must again encroach upon your space to notice a couple of serenades which came off at our front door during the balmy evenings of last week. The first was instrumental and the four young gentlemen performers will please accept the thanks of "our house" for their excellent music. The other was vocal and a compliment to your correspondent. You can just imagine how pleasant it would be if you were to awake some night and hear the enchanting voices of five young ladies singing under your window. Then phancy my pheelinks! If our statutes only permitted polygamy and those five young ladies would have me, I would lose no time in securing the entire "Leap Year Troupe," as partners for life. How pleasant it would be to make them go out under your window and sing you to sleep every night! As personal mention I may notice that Chas. P. Murray has opened a shoe store in Masterson's old corner. Charlie is a clever fellow and your readers who happen down this way should not fail to give him a call. I might also notice that if they want fashionable and cheap clothing they can call on A. Brammell, next door to J. Geis' store. A deserter named Meyers was arrested last night by Pro. Mar. Heyer and forwarded to his regiment. The ground adjoining the site of the new Woolen factory has been laid out in building lots and the name of Town's-End given to the locality. This name is partly in complement to A. J. Townsend, the heaviest stockholder in the factory, and partly that it will constitute the end of our town – for the present. [Snip-discussion of Shakespeare] [Signed] May Leon Change in the School Law The bill passed by the Legislature last winter, appropriating the money applied to Common Schools in proportion to the number of scholars in attendance in each district, has been repealed. The money will be supplied hereafter in proportion to the number of taxables in the several districts. The Advance Our readers, of course, know that the advance of the armies of the Republic on the remaining strongholds of treason has begun. The forward movement commenced Tuesday night of last week when the Army of the Potomac crossed the Rapidan at four different fords, without meeting serious opposition. Pushing forward, Lee was encountered in full force near the old Chancellorsville battle ground on Thursday where a bloody battle was fought. On Friday hostilities were renewed, resulting in a decisive victory to our arms. Grant threw his whole force upon Lee, compelling the latter to fall back a distance of twelve miles, leaving his killed and wounded in our hands. Our army is reported to be in hot pursuit with the advance at Spotsylvania. Lee is supposed to be in full retreat upon Richmond. The fighting was the most desperate of modern times. Our killed is set down at 2,000 and wounded, 10,000. The enemy's loss largely exceeds this. The New York TRIBUNE thus epitomized the situation: "On Thursday, the Army of the Potomac sustained successfully a fierce attack from the bulk of Lee's army. "On Friday we made the attack, drove them for some distance, took all their severely wounded prisoners and won an indecisive victory. "On Saturday there was no fighting and Lee was believed to be retiring." The Washington REPUBLICAN extra says there is reason to believe from dispatches received that Lee was forced to fight at Spotsylvania on Sunday and was again repulsed and compelled to retreat. Gens. Wadsworth, Hays and Bartlett are reported killed on our side. The rebel Gen. Jenkins is reported killed and Longstreet and Pegram, wounded. The news from Gen. Butler's department is most encouraging. He has succeeded in completely severing the railroad communications between Petersburg and Richmond and is reported within ten miles of the latter city. From the Southwest we hear that Sherman has advanced to Dalton, the enemy retiring on our approach. The signs of the times are cheering. At least the rebellion is receiving the harvest of sturdy blows which will speedily prostrate it into the dust. God speed the good work! A Stirring Order The following is the general order issued by Gen. Meade preparatory to the late forward movement. It has the ring of true metal: Head Quarters, Army of the Potomac May 4, 1864 Soldiers: Again you are called upon to advance on the enemies of your country. The time and the occasion are deemed opportune by your Commanding General to address you a few words of confidence and caution. You have been reorganized, strengthened and fully equipped in every respect. You form a part of the several armies of your county - the whole under the direction of an able and distinguished General, who enjoys the confidence of the Government, the people and the army. Your movement being in cooperation with others, it is of the utmost importance that no effort should be left unspared to make it successful. "Soldiers! – The eyes of the whole country are looking with anxious hope to the blow you are about to strike in the most sacred cause that ever called men to arms. Remember your homes, your wives and children and bear in mind that the sooner your enemies are overcome the sooner you will be returned to enjoy the benefits and blessings of peace. Bear with patience the hardships and sacrifices you will be called upon to endure. Have confidence in your officers and each other. Keep your ranks on the march and on the battlefield and let each other earnestly implore God's blessing and endeavor by his thoughts and actions to render himself worthy of the favor he seeks. With clear conscience and strong arms, actuated by a high sense of duty, fighting to preserve the Government and the institutions handed down to us by our forefathers, if true to ourselves, victory, under God's blessing, must and will attend our efforts. [Signed] George G. Meade, Major-General Commanding Misc. War News The War Department has decided that the Pennsylvania Reserves shall be discharged from the service at the expiration of three years from the date of their muster into the State service. One regiment, the 9th has already been mustered out. A squad of negro troops sent ashore at Fort Pillow a few days since, to disinter some soldiers and to cover others partly buried were attacked by guerrillas and only escaped by fighting their way to a gunboat, whose fire scattered the rebs. Later accounts from Louisiana render it almost certain that the Rebel loss in the different engagements of the 7th, 8th and 9th of April was as three to two compared with the loss on our side.