NEWS: Alleghanian; 9 Jun 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, 9 Jun 1864 Volume 5, Number 37 Local and Personal We see the announcement in the daily papers that surgeon R. M. S. Jackson, U. S. V., formerly of this county, has been appointed Medical Director of the 23d Army Corps commanded by Gen. Hartsuff. Cresson Springs This celebrated resort was opened for the reception of visitors on the 10th inst. A large number of improvements have been added to the house and grounds the present season causing these to present a more tasteful and picturesque appearance than ever. Of course the Springs will be crowded – our metropolitan friends all go to the country nowadays during the heated term and naturally seek the best and most eligible hotel. The Mountain House at Cresson is empathically that hotel. The Locusts The earth is now yielding up its long buried swarms of locusts. The hogs are rooting after them, and farmers are plowing them out of their holes. Let the owners of all young fruit and ornamental, deciduous and evergreen trees procure a quantity of oat or other soft straw. As soon as the locusts commence getting through the ground, soak the straw from six to ten hours in a strong lye made from good wood ashes or lime. While wet make the straw into ropes and wind them into balls. Wrap the body of the tree with these straw ropes from three to six feet, owing to the age and size of the tree, commencing at the bottom and fastening well at top, so as to prevent it being loosened by the wind or shaken off the tree. If the young tree has formed its top, wrap around the bottom of the main branches. The Locust bores into the main branches and sappy parts of the wood where the bark is tender and deposits its eggs. The bark soon opens and the limb soon dies and unless removed, injuring, if not kills, the tree. As soon as the locusts are principally gone which will be in about six weeks after they appear, remove the straw bandages and cut off the tops of the trees as low down as where they are strong. New branches will immediately shoot out and in two years you will have a much larger and healthier tree. A Bloodless Duel and a Murder A Falmouth correspondent says: It is not often that we have to chronicle duels here. A one-sided affair of the kind came off yesterday morning at six o'clock in French's Division, 2d corps. On the night previous Capt. Fuller of the 108th New York became somewhat elated by whiskey and slapped the face of Lieut. Porter of the same regiment. The latter challenged him and was on the ground with a pistol and second at the appointed hour. Fuller also appeared but stated that he was unable to borrow a pistol or procure a second. "That need not interfere," said Porter. "We will toss up for the first fire. You being the challenged party may select the number of paces." The tossing ensued and Fuller won. He then chose four paces. "It will be nothing less than murder," said Porter, "But never mind, blaze away." Inserting his hands in his pockets he then quietly faced his antagonist. Fuller fired on one side into the ground and the matter ended. This was a bloodless sequel to a sad murder committed last Wednesday night in Owen's Brigade, Gibbon's Division, 2d Corps. Capt. M'Manus of the 69th Pennsylvania had spoken of Capt. M'Mahon of the 71st Pennsylvania as a coward. M'Mahon, on hearing this, proceeded immediately with a pistol to M'Manus' tent, demanded if the assertion had been made by him and being answered affirmatively, shot him. M'Manus fell instantly dead. M'Mahon is under arrest and will soon be tried by court martial. He is from California. His victim was a native of Ireland, residing before the war in Philadelphia. Cavalry Any one desiring to join any particular regiment of cavalry in the field can be accommodated by reporting to Provost Marshal Campbell at Huntingdon before the 22d inst. See advertisement elsewhere. Provost Marshal's Office 17th Dist., Penna. Huntingdon, May 22, 1864 All men who desire to join any particular Regiment of cavalry now in the field are hereby authorized to present themselves at any time during the next thirty days at these Head Quarters when they will be enlisted and furnished with transportation. They will be immediately mustered into the service of the United States and bounty paid. Pay and subsistence to commence from date of enlistment. By order of J. D. Campbell Capt. And Provost Marshal War News On Friday Gen. Hooker ordered a strong reconnoitering force consisting of the Sixth Army Corps to cross the Rappahannock below Fredericksburg and stir up the Rebels. This they did in fine style capturing about 100 prisoners and otherwise weakening the foe. The movement was very satisfactory and stirring news may be expected from there shortly. The President has disapproved so much of Gen. Burnside's recent order as suppressed the Chicago TIMES and Gen. Burnside has revoked the whole order so the TIMES and the WORLD are no longer under ban in the Department of the Ohio. We have an account of Gen. Kilpatrick's recent successful raid back from Gloucester Point. He crossed the country between the York and Rappahannock Rivers, making an extensive circuit through the garden spot of Virginia – a section where our troops have never before penetrated. Col. Kilpatrick made a large haul of negroes, horses, &c., and has arrived safely at Urbanna with them. He spread general terror among the Rebels. His forces were taken across the Rappahannock by our gunboats and proceeded at once to our lines. The Draft – The Exemption A pamphlet giving instructions to Provost Marshals has just been issued by the authorities at Washington from which we have selected a few items. In the new enrolling law the United States is divided into districts, each Congressional district of a State constituting a district and over each there is to be a Provost Marshal. Each district shall also have a Board of Enrollment to be composed of the Provost Marshal, who shall act as President, and two others who are appointed by the President of the United States, one of whom is to be a regularly licensed and practicing physician. Should they deem it necessary, they may divide each district into two and appoint an enrolling officer over each whose duty it shall be to enroll all persons subject to military duty before the first of July. This enrollment must include all able-bodied men between the ages of twenty and forty-five years, not exempt by law, and all persons of foreign birth not so exempted, who shall have declared their intention on oath to become citizens of the United States; students of colleges or scholars, teachers, apprentices, sailors, travelling merchants and similar classes of citizens must be enrolled in the district in which they have their residences. The draft is to take place under the direction of the Board of Enrollment. A discharge from one draft furnishes no exemption from any subsequent draft. The judges of the various courts of the United States, the heads of the executive departments and the Governors of States are exempt as also the only son of a widow or aged parents dependent upon him for support; where two or more sons are liable the mother may chose which shall be exempt; the only brother of orphan children under twelve years of age, and the father of motherless children of the same age dependent upon him for support, are also exempt. When two or more of one household are already in the service, the rest liable, not exceeding two, are exempt. Any of the following diseases will be sufficient causes for exemption: Epilepsy Paralysis of one or more limbs Acute or organic disease of the brain or spinal chord or of the heart, lungs, stomach or intestines, sufficient to impair the general health Confirmed consumption Cancer Aneurism of the large arteries Extensive diseases of the skin Decided feebleness of constitution, whether natural or acquired Scrofula [a type of tuberculosis, affects lymph of the neck] Constitutional syphilis Habitual or confirmed intemperance or solitary vice Great injury or disease of the skull Total loss of sight in right eye Cataract or serious disease of the eye Loss of nose Deafness Purulent storrhoea Caries of the nasal or palate bones Cleft palate Extensive loss of substance of the cheeks Dumbness Atrophy or chronic ulceration of the tongue Confirmed stammering Loss of sufficient teeth to prevent proper mastication of food or tearing of cartridge Deformity to either jaw Tumor of neck, if impeding respiration Fistula of larynx or tracia Forticellis Deformity of chest sufficient to prevent carrying of arms or to impede respiration Deficient amplitude or power of expansion of chest Grossly protuberant abdomen Excessive obesity Hernia Artificial arms Stricture of rectum Prolapsus and fistula in and fistula in ano, if extensive or complicated Old or ulcerated hemorrhoids Epispadia Hypospadia Urinary Fistula, permanent or organic structure of the urethra Stone in the bladder Confirmed or malignant sarcocele Hydrocele Excessive anterior or posterior curvature of the spine Loss of arm, forearm, hand, thigh, leg, or foot Wounds or fractures sufficient to prevent marching Irreducible dislocation of shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee, hip or ankle joint Muscular or cutaneous contractions from burns or wounds so as to prevent use of limbs Total loss of thumb, two fingers of right hand Index finger of right hand Loss of first or second joint of fingers of right hand Permanent extension for contraction of any fingers, except the little one Total loss of great toe Loss of any three toes Toes all joined together The great toe crossing the others, overriding of all the toes Club Feet Splay feet Varicose veins of inferior extremities if large or numerous Chronic ulcers Extensive or deep cicatrices of lower extremities Certificates from surgeons are to be sworn to before a Justice of the Peace. Examinations are to take place in a well lighted room, in presence of the Board of Enrollment and that party to be examined is to be stripped. The Reserve Frontier Guard Gov. Curtin has received from the Secretary of War directions to form a Volunteer force of fifteen regiments of which five will be cavalry designed, it is understood, as a defense for the State border in any contingency of raids. The Gov., we believe, has long desired to organize such a force; and now that he is authorized, will make every effort to secure its early completion. We shall, therefore, before very long, have in the field a valuable reserve force sufficient for State defense and convenient to the general Government in case of need. We know from the lessons of the war what would be the worth of such a standing assurance of safety to both Government and State. So long as the border is poorly guarded, the temptation to invade is held out to the rebels. But lately we heard that Lee contemplated a new offensive movement northward; true or not, the rumor has its warning. The example of Pennsylvania might be wisely followed by all of the Border States. The rebellion would thus be confined to narrower limits by the presence of a reserve standing force. This move will give general satisfaction.