NEWS: Alleghanian; 16 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, 16 Jun 1864 Volume 5, Number 38 Etchings John Dean, Esq., Assessor of Internal Revenue for this District gives notice that he will commence holding his Appeals on the 13th inst. Those of this county will be held at Johnstown on the 17th and at Ebensburg on the 20th. All persons interested should make a note. Local Correspondence Johnstown, June 12, 1864 Capt. M. F. M'Donald, Co. M, 12th Pa. Cavalry, was last week dismissed the service for duplicating the payrolls of a discharged member of his company. The facts of the case are these: A short time since, a private of his company was discharged for disability and his descriptive list, with other necessary papers, was given him, upon presentation of which he could secure his pay from any paymaster in the service. The private drew his money and then returned to the Captain with the story that he had lost his papers and consequently could not receive his pay. Capt. M'D then duplicated his papers, when the private went to another paymaster and was again paid. For this, his officer was arrested and the court martial, taking the grounds that it was the soldier's own fault if the papers were lost and that Capt. M'D had no right to furnish him with duplicates, dismissed him. The officers of his regiment and others are making an effort to have the Capt. re-instated, as his military qualifications are considered of too much value to be thus summarily dispensed with. The 12th cavalry are now stationed at Harper's Ferry. In one of Sheridan's late cavalry raids, Capt. D. Hamilton of the 18th Pa. Cavalry was wounded in the hip and Wm. Haynes, a private in same company was killed. The latter fact was not known until the regiment had reached their bivouac for the night when young Hanes was missing. Parties sent back in search of him next day found him lying in a gutter by the roadside almost covered with mud and dead. In a slight skirmish a rebel bullet had penetrated his eye and it is supposed killed him instantly. Strange to say, he was the only one in the regiment killed although quite a number were wounded. The body of Robt. Sherman of the 2d P. R. C. was brought home to this place on Thursday and buried with military honors on Friday. He was wounded in both legs in one of the Wilderness battles and it was found necessary to amputate one of them. From want of attention [remainder of sentence faded out] News has been received here that the 21st Calvary at present serving with Grant as infantry and the 54th P. V. were engaged in the late battles. No details have yet come to hand. The heavy rains of last week produced an extraordinary rise in the Stony Creek. In the course of a few hours, it rose fully seven feet. Great quantities of drift wood, lumber, &c., were floated down with the current. The water fell as rapidly as it had risen and at present is at the usual stage. The amount realized here for the Pittsburg Sanitary Fair will probably reach over $2,000. Active efforts are also in progress in behalf of the Philadelphia Fair. A large number of our citizens have visited both cities and express themselves highly pleased with the display at each. Excursion tickets are issued on the Penna. Railroad to Pittsburg on the Accommodation and night Express trains and from Altoona to Philadelphia on all trains. [Signed] May Leon The Eleventh Penna. Reserves This brave old regiment, or rather the sparse remnant which is left of them after their arduous three years' campaign, are now in Pittsburg, waiting to be mustered out of service. We do not know the exact number of men who have lived to come home with the regiment, but we do know that, compared with what went out, they are a mere handful. In Co. A, from Ebensburg, only fifteen out of over one hundred will return with the company! This simple narration tells its own sad yet glorious tale. We are ashamed to say that, notwithstanding, the eminent services in the field of these "boys," no preparations, beyond the having of a picnic by the ladies are being made by our citizens to properly welcome them home. This is wrong. Veterans in the strictest sense of the word – the heroes of a score of bloody engagements – members of a division whose deeds of noble bearing and wondrous daring are acknowledged on all hands to surpass even the achievements of the "Old Guard" of Napoleon, we should be only too glad to be allowed the privilege of identifying ourselves with them to a certain extent by tendering them a most enthusiastic reception. While in Pittsburg one day last week, we were so fortunate as to become acquainted with the Colonel of the 11th, S. M. Jackson. We found him what we had so often heard him described, to wit, not only a thorough solider, but a genial and accomplished gentleman. His record, from first to last, is bright and untarnished and it may be said of him, what can be said of but few military commanders, that he leaves the regiment with the ill will of no one man in it. We wish him a future of uninterrupted prosperity. It is supposed that Co. A will arrive here during the present week. Fire! On Sunday last a house in Belsano this county owned by William Simmons and tenanted by Mrs. Rager was burned to the ground. The most of its contents were saved. The Private Soldier Governor Curtin in his speech at the opening of the Central Fair, Philadelphia, uttered these noble words: "My friends, if there is a man before me worthy of sincere reverence and respect, it is the private soldier of the Republic. He is the true nobleman of the land. He falls with an unrecorded name. He follows the armies of the Republic on small pay. His friends are not gratified by magnificent pageants at this funeral; he is buried at Gettysburg, where there are one thousand graves of the unknown. And when you minister to the comfort of that man, when you succor the wounded soldier, I pray you in God's name do not forget his wife and orphans when he falls. My friends, the work before this great nation is big enough for us all and here, where rich and poor men and women have brought up their offerings to their country, let us bury for the time all differences in politics, in sect, caste and religion and declare one and all for our bleeding country." Before Richmond Beyond the fact that, by the persistent movement of Grant by the left flank, he has reached the Chickahominy at the railroad bridge near Dispatch Station, we have little of interest from that quarter. To prevent this, the rebels made strenuous efforts and constructed strong batteries, all of which were overcome. The rebels are surmising that Grant means to push his movement by the left flank to the James River, and thus transfer the scene to the south side of Richmond, where they have everything to defend but are least prepared. In this they may not be entirely wrong. If Grant intends this, he will abandon White House as a base, - transfer it to the James in the neighborhood of Charles City, perhaps – push his army across the Chickahominy and the Peninsula and fall upon Richmond on the South side. In this case, Lee would do what he was forced to do at Spotsylvania and the South Anna, abandon his present position and make a corresponding movement to confront Grant. "C. A. P.," the TRIBUNE correspondent with the Army of the Potomac writes: "Within a very short time the rebels will be compelled to choose between two things: they may march with their main army westward or southward, leaving an ordinary garrison or no garrison at all in Richmond, and in either case expecting the city to fall into our hands without long delay; or they may make it to the "last ditch," concentrate there all they have, and stake the Confederacy upon the issue. "It is my rule to religiously refrain from speculation when I do not know and statement, when I do know, as to future movements of the army. But is may alleviate the anxiety which fears terrible losses in the event of an attempt to carry by assault the works now in our immediate front, for me to state that it is not proposed to assault them. We shall go around them. The list of possible flank movements is not yet exhausted. "Anchor your souls to one fact – a fact of which the army is as firmly convinced as it is that the sun shines today or that it will not shine tonight. The Army cannot be beaten back from its purpose. Its morale is held high by continual reinforcements. It numbers today far more than it did on the Rappahannock. The slightly wounded of the first battles are resuming their places by thousands. The conviction is universal, shared in alike by Gens. Grant and Meade and the humblest soldier, that this it the last grand campaign – the last, because it will accomplish the practical destruction of the Confederacy." The Pennsylvania Reserves The following graphic account is given of the last battle in which the gallant Pennsylvania Reserves participated before being mustered out of service, and in which they punished the enemy most severely, by a singular felicity, the castigation was administered on almost the identical ground whereon the division was thus demonstrating the truth of the axiom, that "time at last sets all things even." On the 30th May, they were marching from Hawes' store towards Mechanicsville and at noon passed Bethesda Church. By the middle of the afternoon the first brigade, under Colonel M. D. Harden, consisting of the first regiment, Colonel W. Cooper Tully; Sixth, Colonel W. H. Erret; Eleventh, Colonel S. M. Jackson; and Bucktail Rifles, Major Hartshorn, with the Bucktails in front, were skirmishing with the rebel skirmishers. The reserves fell back, making but little resistance until they reached the road running from Mechanicsville to Hanover Court House. They at once commenced to throw up breastworks, but had been there but a few minutes, probably half an hour, when they were attacked upon both flanks by the rebels. Some prisoners taken informed them that it was Early's division of Ewell's Corps, and the order to fall back up upon the main body was at once given. They fell slowly back about three–quarters of a mile, firing so steadily upon the rebels that they did not follow in any force. The Brigade was rallied and formed a new line across the road and through some fields into the woods. The Third Brigade, Colonel J. W. Fisher, consisting of the Fifth, Tenth and Twelfth Reserves, were upon the right of the line, the First Brigade on the centre and Kitchen's Artillery Brigade on the left, in all, numbering not over six thousand men. Near the centre of the line were two sections of a Michigan battery, which for two hours, threw an occasional shell in the woods to our front, which soon elicited a reply from the rebel artillery. A small house near our lines had a man, his wife, and a large brood of young rebels in it, who were advised to evacuate but declined. Soon a rebel shell stove thro' the room in which they were gathered and exploded in their midst, setting the house on fire, when they at once took to the bushes. Strange as it may appear, not one of them was hurt, but the house was soon burned up with all its contents. Our men worked vigorously, throwing up breastworks, and sought to conceal them as much as possible from the enemy. Towards sundown Ewell's whole corps emerged from the woods, and climbing hastily over a fence formed in three lines. They had scarcely moved when the Third Brigade opened a severe cross fire upon their flank, which turned them over upon the First Brigade and Kitchen's Heavy Artillery. About twenty-five yards in front of the First Brigade's rifle pits was a fence and some bushes that concealed our works as well as the men. On the rebels came, with closed ranks, and as they reached the fence, our men, who had not fired a shot, opened a blaze of musketry all along the line. The artillery commenced on canister and one-second fuse shells. The rebels fired a few shots and fell on the ground. In vain their officers tried to rally them. It was of no avail, and they soon fled in perfect rout. The first line which had reached the fence were mostly left. Our men slackened their fire as the rebels ran away and whenever one of those left would try to get up to run, a bullet went crushing through him. Finally, one of our officers, singing out that if they threw down their arms, came in and surrendered, they would be spared, about four hundred of them gave themselves up, including two colonels, three lieutenant- colonels, one major and twenty line officers. Our guns covered the battlefield and night closed the scene of the conflict. Next morning the enemy were found to have retreated near two miles, leaving their dead and wounded in our hands. A prisoner says that General Ransom rode in front of their lines before they came out of the woods and told them in a short speech, addressed particularly to his brigade of North Carolinians that there was nothing in front but the enemy's skirmish line, and that they would move out at a slow and easy pace and at right shoulder shift, and when they reached the edge of the wood, form and double quick upon the Yankees and take them prisoners. General Ransom was left dead on the field and his sword was presented by one of the private soldiers to General Crawford and another soldier cut off his coat collar with the stars upon it. It is estimated that the rebels lost one thousand men in this assault upon the "Yankee skirmishing lines." Prisoners all agree that they never knew such stubborn resistance as our army has lately shown, and that it tells fearfully upon their morale as well as their ranks. They say they are worn out with excessive marching, toil and fighting, but all feel confident [remainder of this sentence and beginning of the next sentence is faded] - of Ewell's Corps with such dreadful slaughter, by a force less than one-third of their number, is one of the most gallant affairs of the whole campaign and is a fitting close to the glorious career of one of the best divisions that ever fired on the enemy. The reputation won by the Reserves will live for all time to come. How well they were appreciated is shown by the following orders issued on their departure for their homes: General Warren's Farewell to the Reserves Headquarters, Fifth Army Corps, May 31, 1864 Soldiers - With this is the order for the return of the Pennsylvania Reserves, whose term of service expires today. The General commanding begs leave to express to them his great satisfaction at their heroic conduct in this arduous campaign. As their commander he thanks them for their willing and effective efforts and congratulates them that their successful engagement of yesterday, closing their term of service and being the last of many battles bravely fought, is one they can ever remember with satisfaction and pride. By command of Major General Warren [Signed] A. G. Mann, A. A. G. General Crawford's Farewell to the Reserves Head Quarters, Third Division Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps Fifth Army Corps June 1, 1864 Soldiers of the Pennsylvania Reserves: Today the connections which have so long existed between us are to be severed forever. I have no power to express to you the feeling of gratitude and affection that I bear to you nor the deep regret with which I now part from you. As a division you have ever been faithful and devoted soldiers and you have nobly sustained me in the many trying scenes through which we have passed with an unwavering fidelity. The record of your service terminates gloriously and the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House and Bethesda Church have been added to the long list of battles and triumphs that have marked your career. Go home to the great State that sent you forth three years ago, to battle for her honor and to strike for her in the great cause of the country. Take back your soiled and war-warn banners, your thinned and shattered ranks and let them tell how you performed your trust. Take back those banners sacred from the glorious associations that surround them, sacred with the memory of our fallen comrades who gave their lives to defend them and give them again into the keeping of the State forever. The duties of the hour prevent me from accompanying you but my heart will follow you long after your return, and it shall ever be my pride that I was once your commander and that side by side we fought and suffered through campaigns which will stand unexampled in history. Farewell, [Signed] W. Crawford, Brig.-Gen. Commanding Division B. A. M'Coy, Lieut.-Col. and A. A. G. When the Reserves arrived at Harrisburg, on their way home, the corporate authorities of that city tendered them a public reception. Several speeches were delivered, among them the following by Gov. Curtin: "I thank you, Mr. Mayor, of Harrisburg and the people of this city for this most hearty welcome to these brave men. The hearts of this great people have been stirred to their depths by the presence of this shattered remains of a once mighty corps and I cannot find language to express to you, brave soldiers, the sentiments and feelings of Pennsylvania more properly than in this brief sentence: You have done your whole duty to your country. "It is nearly three years since you left this city a mighty army. Nearly that length of time has passed since I had the honor of handing to you these standards, which you are now here to return in honor to the State today. You have never visited the State since then save once. Once you came back to Pennsylvania, and then we all heard of "Round Top" at Gettysburg. When the rest gave way, we heard your shouts around the strongholds of the foe in that devoted country and to you – to the Reserves of Pennsylvania – belongs the honor of changing the tide of the battle there. "I cannot speak of your deeds – they have passed into history already. I have not time to enumerate the battles you have been in. History will record all you have done for your country. But there are times when I feel proud of my office and speaking in my place here for all the State, I bear record of the brave Pennsylvania Reserve Corps that it is without blemish or spot! I this day thank God that we over- armed the gallant Reserves – I cannot, I cannot speak in the perilous times of war with these surrounding; I am not qualified to speak of the heroic deeds you have left upon every battlefield of the Republic; upon their graves centers the gratitude of this great people. "But I can welcome you to your homes. From the North to the South and from the East to the West, the voice of the old Commonwealth bids you welcome! I need not remind you of your deeds I am [words faded] my fellow citizens. The blood of the dead [several sentences faded] express my gratitude to your corps. "We did not know three years ago that you would remain so long in the public service; and yet it is so. But I can refer with pride and pleasure in the part this great State has borne in the contest – from Drainsville down to last Monday, when you struck your heaviest blow. "May you all find a happy welcome to your homes! May you ever be marked as brave men who served their country faithfully in times of great peril. May you never regret that you belonged to the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, fighting on every battlefield of the Republic. "With this welcome I bid you farewell: I had something to do with making the Reserve Corps – God be blessed! "I am not ashamed to boast in this multitudinous assemblage of sunburn, bronzed faces that I have stood by the Reserve Corps in all their history. I bid you welcome freely." -- The following is a record of the engagements in which the Reserves took prominent and effective part: Drainesville, Mechanicsville and the remaining six days' fight, June and July 1862; second battle of Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, under Burnside; Gettysburg, Bristow Station, New Hope Church, "Mine Run," battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania and all the engagements of the Fifth Army Corps to the 31st of May when they took up their march for White House where they embarked for Washington on the 3d of June. The New York press are generally somewhat averse to conceding honor to Pennsylvania soldiers yet the TRIBUNE finds it incumbent upon it to speak as follows of the Reserves: "The Pennsylvania Reserves were originally, three years ago, fifteen thousand strong. They returned on the 6th inst., to the Capitol, Harrisburg, fifteen hundred strong. One in ten. Almost a Marathon – the difference being American thousands seven fold greater than Greek hundreds – counting thirteen thousand five hundred modern democratic to two hundred ancients. To swear by the manes of those that died at Marathon was for centuries the most sacred oath known at Athens. How hallowed shall that adjuration be which takes the bones of the Pennsylvania Reserves for its sanctities."