NEWS: Alleghanian; 30 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, 30 Jun 1864 Volume 5, Number 40 Etchings About $300,000 were realized to the benefit of our sick and wounded soldiers by the late Pittsburg Sanitary Fair. This amount would doubtless have been increased to a half million had it not been for the persistent opposition of the Johnstown DEMOCRAT to the enterprise and its charitable aims and objects! The new station house at Cresson, P. R. R., is rapidly approaching completion. When finished it will be one of the neatest and most commodious buildings of the kind along the entire route. Among the Union prisoners of war who have been barbarously placed under the fire of our gunboats at Charleston by the rebels, is Col. Dick White, 55th Pa. Vols., formerly of this county. Mr. James G. Humes, who will be remembered as the genial and accommodating telegraph operator at Cresson during the last summer, died at Altoona on the 15th inst, aged 25 years. We have been in possession of the knowledge for some time but have heretofore neglected to make it public that our friend, Mr. Clinton R. Jones, has been appointed Post Master of Portland, Preston County, West Va., of which place he has been a resident for a couple of years past. Success to him! Arm Cut Off Robert George, a son of F. M. George of Hemlock, this county, aged about 17 years, had his arm completely severed from his body a few days since through its coming in contact with a circular saw in a steam mill in that neighborhood. The mutilated stump was re-amputated by the surgeon and we understand the sufferer is doing well as could be expected under the circumstances. Grand Combination By reference to the illuminated advertisement on this page, it will be noticed that the great combination of equestrian and zoological attractions formed by the union of Thayer & Noyes' popular Circus troupe with Van Amburg & Co.'s Menagerie, will be here on Monday, 11th July. Each of these establishments is in itself a host; united, they present inducements of a general patronage such as are seldom offered. We would advise our readers to not fail to attend "the show." By so doing they will certainly get the worth of their money. Cresson The celebrated summer resort, the "Mountain House," at Cresson, this county, has been opened for the reception of visitors, some fifty of whom have already taken up their abode there. If the sweltering hot weather of the past week continues for another week for two, it were safe to infer this number will be speedily augmented until every available nook and cranny about the premises is fully tenanted. Although the "House" itself is a most spacious one, and notwithstanding the fact that perhaps a dozen outlying "cottage houses" are comprised in the accommodations afforded visitors, it has been found absolutely impossible to "take in" even a moiety of those applying for admission. To remedy this and afford room for all who may come, a very large addition is to be built to the hotel during the present summer. We do not wonder at the wide spread popularity of the "Mountain House." Situated as it is on the summit of the Alleghany Mountains, twenty-three hundred feet above the level of the sea, the surrounding scenery is most grand and romantic, while the never-idle breezes are cooler and more invigorating and the water is purer than can be found elsewhere throughout the length and breadth of the land. Besides all this, Mr. G. W. Mullin is the major-domo of the concern - which is adding the cap-sheet to the list of excellencies characterizing the concern. We lack the time and legal tenders essentially requisite to such an undertaking, but possess in an eminent degree the inclination to go to the "Mountain House" and remain until the dog days are over. In Another Fight The 54th Pa. Vols., Col. Campbell, participated in the late fight at Piedmont, West Virginia and lost heavily. The following is the official list of casualties: Staff: Adjt. Wm. H. Rose, wounded Co. A: F. M Goughnour, Killed C. C. Smith, Wounded Co. C: R. Lantzy, Wounded H. Mognet, Wounded Wm. Lichty, Wounded Samuel Shunk, Wounded Corp. G. W. Lowry, Wounded Edgar Cheyle, Wounded Co. D: P. C. Whipkey, Killed L. Ritchie, Wounded Samuel Ferrel, Wounded J. D. Dishong, Wounded Wm. Henry, Wounded Co. E: L. Leitenberger, Wounded Co. F: F. Weiss, Wounded Isaac Long, Wounded Co. H: G. Dayspring, Wounded M. Hoffman, Wounded W. H. Snyder, Wounded Co. I Corp. M. A. Wills, Wounded J. Bomgardner, Wounded John Conway, Wounded H. Etzell, Wounded Wm. Flinn, Wounded A. J. Lawson, Wounded A. Murphy, Wounded S. Murphy, Wounded A. W. Whistler, Wounded A. Oswald, Wounded Killed: 2; Wounded: 37 Besides these, some forty were slightly wounded, who remained on duty. Report of the Co. Superintendent of Common Schools of Cambria County for the Year ending June 6, 1864 Hon. C. R. Coburn, Superintendent of Common Schools of Pennsylvania – Sir: - In compliance with the School Law of the State, I have the honor to present to you my report for the year ending Monday, June 6th, 1864. SCHOOL HOUSES Whole no. of school houses in the county -- 148 Whole no. unfit for use -- 16 Whole no. supplied with ventilation -- 26 Whole no. provided with outbuildings -- 41 Whole no. of houses built during year -- 6 Besides the number totally unfit for use, there are many others almost unfit, in consequence of low ceilings, want of ventilation and general misconstruction. The subject of ventilation appears to be very imperfectly understood and much neglected by teachers, directors and parents. This fact is evident from the small number of schools provided with means of ventilation. Many of our school houses are very unfavorably located. As a general thing, too little attention is paid to the selection of sites for school houses. Some are situated too close to roads or among dense woods, others upon hillsides and in very many instances, without proper playgrounds. It will be seen by the figures above that a large number of houses are not supplied with outbuildings. This is a serious evil and one that should be remedied immediately. Of the houses built during the year, two were in Clearfield, one in Johnstown, one in Taylor, one in Allegheny and one in Yoder. The one in Johnstown is well furnished, well ventilated and finely located. The one in Taylor is a very creditable building in every respect except that it is badly located, being situated upon a steep hillside with no good playgrounds. FURNITURE Whole no. houses properly furnished -- 44 Whole no. furnished with old-fashioned benches Of various kinds, without backs -- 90 The want of suitable furniture in the schools affects very seriously the health of the children and the success of the School System. If, when a child is sent to school, he be seated upon a high bench so that his feet do not reach the floor without any support of his back, is it any wonder that, while suffering the discomforts, nay tortures of this unnatural position, he should become disgusted with the school room and avoid it in future? And yet there are hundreds of children in Cambria county whose school days are spent in the manner here describe. We need a sweeping reform in this matter; for until we make the school room a pleasant place, it will not accomplish the purpose for which it is intended. SCHOOLS Whole number in the county -- 161 Whole number graded -- 22 Whole number graded during the year -- 4 Whole number classified -- 131 Whole number unclassified -- 30 There has been an increase of three schools during the year. Of course country schools and those in villages which contain but one school cannot be graded. There are, however, several villages in the county, whose school could be graded and it is hoped they will be speedily. Of unclassified schools or schools without a regular series of text books, the majority is in Allegheny and Carroll Districts. APPARATUS Whole number partially supplied -- 140 Whole number totally without -- 21 None of our schools are fully supplied with apparatus. Of those given as partially supplied, a few are furnished with outline maps, a few with globes and some with cards. The balance are merely furnished with blackboards which are often of small size and inferior quality. In some districts the importance of school apparatus is not understood. Others are unable at present to provide the necessary apparatus and make other improvements in consequence of sparseness of population and the consequent low value of property. All, however, are able to provide good blackboards and should do so by all means. They are indispensable. TEACHERS Whole number employed during year -- 179 Whole number of males -- 71 Whole number of females -- 108 Many of our best male teachers have left the profession. Their places will have to be supplied principally by inexperienced young ladies. More female teachers were employed this year than in any former year. They are generally as well qualified as males and their efforts are attended with as much practical success. Our teachers generally did well. Those who failed did so in consequence of insufficient knowledge of the common branches and the Theory of Education. TEACHERS IN THE ARMY No. teachers who have entered the army as volunteers Since the commencement of the present war -- 45 Number drafted -- 10 Number exempted for various causes -- 5 Number killed in service -- 2 Number who died of sickness in service -- 2 Number now in service -- 10 Of these, 2 were Majors; 8 were Lieutenants; 6 were Sergeants; 1 was Corporal and 33 were privates. In addition to these, there were 9 teachers drawn in the late draft. They have not yet been ordered to report. CERTIFICATES Whole number applicants examined -- 233 Whole number certificates issued -- 222 Whole no. certificates issued to males -- 66 Whole no. certificates issued to females -- 156 Whole number applicants rejected -- 11 Lowest figure in Provisional Certificate -- 5 General average figure -- 2.24 Our examinations have been as difficult as the circumstances of the county would admit. I have issued a few certificates with figures as low as 4 and 5. This has proved injurious. If such certificates are granted at all, the teachers holding them will sometimes be employed to the exclusion of those whose qualifications are better. This has been the case in some instances in our county and in consequence I have concluded to issue no certificates in the future with a worse figure than 3. No professional certificates have been issued. VISITATIONS Whole number visits made -- 175 Whole number schools visited once -- 141 Whole number schools visited twice -- 24 Whole no. schools visited three times -- 10 Attendance at the Convention of County Superintendents held in Harrisburg in January and at our County Institute in February interfered to a considerable extent with my visitations. Twelve schools were not reached. Beside these one was not visited because the teacher had no certificate; one was closed at the time I visited the District in consequence of the death of the teacher; three were closed temporarily on account of sickness and two in consequence of the temporary absence of their teachers. My object during my visits was to ascertain the teacher's capacity for imparting instructions. I generally desire the teacher to proceed with the school in the usual manner and to ignore, as much as possible, my presence. In some instances where the teacher manifested a want of knowledge of methods of instruction, I took charge of classes and conducted recitations. My visits averaged about an hour and a half in duration. I generally made short address to the pupils, setting forth the necessity of regular attendance, obedience, studiousness, &c. I was sometimes accompanied by Directors but most generally visited alone. The Directors were generally willing to accompany me, but I experienced much difficulty in finding them. In fact it took as much time to hunt up a Director as a school house neither of which are easily found in a mountainous and thickly wooded county like Cambria County. DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENCY Blacklick, Cambria, Chest, Jackson and Johnstown are the Districts in which the District Superintendency was in operation. In these it worked well. INSTITUTES Whole number organized -- 17 Number visited -- 5 Several of the organizations embraced the teachers of more than one district. In a few districts, Institutes were not organized and in others they proved failures in consequence of carelessness and irregular attendance of teachers. I have recommended to Directors and shall continue to recommend the necessity of imposing fines for non- attendance unless a reasonable excuse can be given. It is as much a teacher's duty to attend these Institutes as it is to teach and the teacher who refuses or who habitually neglects to attend them, should not only be fined for the time thus lost, but he should be dismissed for violating his contract with the board and should not be employed in the district again. MORAL INSTRUCTION No. of schools in which the Bible was read -- 32 No. schools in which moral instruction was given By other means -- 63 In quite a number of our schools no moral Instruction is given and I am inclined to the opinion that the time devoted to teaching of morality in others is very limited. PUBLIC SENTIMENT Though the schools in a majority of the districts in the county are not what they should be, yet this is not caused by opposition to the common school system. It will be seen, by referring to the Reports for previous years that there are but three or four counties in the State that pay more school tax, in proportion to their valuation than Cambria. Public sentiment is decidedly in favor of the common school system. REMARKS I would respectfully recommend to Directors the necessity of increasing the salaries of teachers. Within the past three or four years almost every thing has advanced in price from fifty to one hundred per cent. The wages and salaries of most trades and professions have made a considerable increase, in many cases corresponding nearly to the rise in prices on merchandise. This has not been the case with the salaries of teachers. It will be seen by referring to the Report of Cambria county for the year 1861 that the average wages of male teachers were $23.10 and of females $20.04 per month. The report of 1863 shows the average wages of males to be $23.78 and of females $21.16 per month. These figures show an increase in the salaries of males of only 68 cents per month and in those of females an increase of only $1.13 per month in a period of two years. The consequences of this cheap policy are ruinous to the schools. Many of our best teachers have left the profession during the past year and unless the wages are increased, the rest will soon follow the example. I would also recommend the grading of salaries according to qualifications. It has heretofore been customary in many districts to pay a second or third class teacher as much as a first class one. This practice discourages good teachers and holds out no inducements to bad ones to improve. [Signed] J. Frank Condon, County Supt., Cambria county Johnstown, June 6th, 1864 The Draft in Cambria County The following telegram has been received by Capt. A. M. Lloyd, Provost Marshal of the 17th District, Penna., and has been forwarded us for publication: Harrisburg, June 15, 1864 Capt. A. M. Lloyd – The Provost Marshal General directs that each sub-district make up its actual deficiency under the present draft, not reduced by distribution of surplus. Make supplementary draft accordingly. [Signed] J. V. Bomford, A. A. P. M. In obedience to the above order, Pro. Mar. Lloyd gives notice as follows: The following numbers will be drafted at Hollidaysburg on Wednesday, 6th July, from each of the following sub-districts, that being their actual deficiency on the present quota: Allegheny and Gallitzin -- 61 Carroll -- 43 Carrolltown -- 4 Susquehanna -- 25 Chest -- 24 Clearfield -- 14 Chest Springs -- 2 White -- 43 Washington & Summerhill -- 33 Munster -- 11 Croyle -- 7 Summerhill -- 14 Wilmore -- 4 Richland -- 33 Taylor -- 34 Conemaugh Twp. -- 26 Yoder -- 22 Johnstown -- 12 Cambria Boro -- 44 Millville -- 4 Cambria Twp. -- 3 Blacklick -- 7 Jackson -- 18 Ebensburg -- 2 From the above numbers will be deducted credits for all that went into the service, furnished substitutes or paid commutation of the draft held on June 1, 1864. [Signed] A. M. Lloyd, Capt. & Pro. Mar., 17th District, Pa. Hollidaysburg, June 16 The Situation The Washington STAR of a late date has trustworthy and highly interesting information from the front, bearing principally upon the existing state of military affairs. The gist of it is as follows: "General Grant's army occupies a position or positions in Piney woods, upon the outskirts of Petersburg, which were not long since in the possession of the rebels, including all their works on the south side of the Appomattox river, constructed previous to the advance of our army to these points. These positions entirely command the town of Petersburg and the railroad communications through Petersburg – the only one between Richmond and Weldon, the town being also commanded by the enemy's works to the north side of the river and therefore not to be occupied by us so long as those works remain in the hands of the rebels. "Nevertheless for all practical purposes the command which our guns hold of the town and the railroad there stops all continuous communication by rail between Richmond and any points south of Petersburg. Gen. Butler has effectually destroyed about three miles of the road between Petersburg and Richmond, twisting the rails so that they must be re-cast or re-rolled before they can be used again, which they are not doing now. So long as Gen. Grant elects, he can hold the enemy thus by the throat at Petersburg, his camps being perfectly healthy, with good and abundant water for the use of his men and entire secure communications with his base of supplies at City Point. From his present position he can move at will toward the south with say, twenty day's supplies, compelling Lee to follow him and risk heavy engagements on unfortified ground, as he must, if possible, prevent the eventual total destruction of his rail communications with Weldon. "On the north side of the James river, Hunter and Sheridan have effected results of immense importance in their bearing upon the balance of the campaign; having so effectually destroyed Lee's railroad communications north – the railroad to Lynchburg and the Virginia Central Railroad – as that he cannot make them again available this season. They have also consumed and destroyed all the supplies remaining in Virginia in the valley between the two Annas and Washington, which, together with the destruction of the railroads above referred to, renders it impossible for Lee to send any respectable force northward. "The rebels in and around Richmond are restricted to the use of the Danville road, of the destruction of a part of which, by Hunter, we may hear at any moment, we apprehend. That railroad is of different (broad) gauge from all other Virginia railroads and therefore no machinery adapted to them can be used upon it. Thus, any damage it may receive in the loss of cars or locomotives will be irreparable for months to come. "The meaning of all this is that Grant by his move south of the James has cut Lee's railroad communications in all directions except via Danville, which as yet are incomplete and cannot be available for the receipt of supplies for his army from any considerable region of country. In achieving this important result, he has placed Lee in a situation in which he must not long hence come out from behind his fortifications and risk a battle on a fair field or abandon Richmond and Petersburg, where he cannot much longer obtain supplies. "We have the authority of Assistant Secretary Dana, who arrived last night direct from Gen. Grant's headquarters, for stating that up to the moment he left there on Wednesday, our entire loss in killed, wounded and missing, since crossing the James, has not been more than ten thousand; while there is but little reason to doubt that the rebels loss has been proportionately as great as ours." War News President Lincoln paid a visit to Gen. Grant's headquarters last week. He reports the latter still sanguine of taking Richmond at any early day. Whiskey hereafter is to be a permanent item in the army ration. This is deemed wise by our surgeons. The news from Sherman continues cheering. He is within sight of Atlanta. The rebels were removing from the city. The Governor has issued an order directing that the city and its railroad are not to be destroyed and threatening to call on the militia and the veterans to prevent their destruction. The Fugitive Slave Laws of 1793 and 1850 have been repealed by Congress. Thus the blood-red stain which for seventy years has blotted the statute books of the Republic is wiped out forever. Negro Soldiers Congress has at last done partial justice to the negro troops in the service. It has placed all enlisted since January 1st, 1864, upon the same footing as to pay and allowances except bounty as white troops and the question of law concerning the pay of those enlisted prior to the that date is left to the decision of the Attorney General. The bounty allowed to colored troops is fixed at $100. The bill containing these provisions has been for some time passing back and forth between the two houses on disagreeing amendments; but on Saturday the report of the Committee of Conference upon it was agreed to and the bill only awaits the signature of the President to become a law. The history of this war has shown so far that the colored troops do as good fighting as any. They have behaved bravely, under all circumstances in the Department of the South and that department is garrisoned by them now almost exclusively. They won honors at the siege of Fort Hudson and lately at Petersburg; their conduct under fire has been most exemplary. There comes also a very creditable account of their courage at the fight at Guntown under the unfortunate General Sturgis. The testimony to this effect comes from officers who look upon events from a purely military stand point and who have never been suspected of partially to the negro or even of the absent of prejudice against him. A dispatch from Memphis states that the black soldiers who came into Memphis after Sturgis' defeat brought their guns with them, while the white ones left theirs behind. That with proper treatment and good officers these black troops will make good soldiers is no longer an open question. To put them upon an equality of pay and allowances is one step in the right direction; all others that may be needed will, in the end, doubtless be extorted as this has been, by the bravery of those who are its objects. -- A correspondent in Grant's army says that about 2,000 rebel prisoners were marched past a portion of the negro troops of Burnside's corps. It was amusing to hear the negroes inquire, jestingly, "How is you, boss? Mighty good thing we didn't cotch you; we would never tuck ye prisoners." The prisoners became infuriated and begged to have their will of the negroes five minutes. "Remember Fort Pillow," the negroes would urge. "We'll cut your black throats," was the threat of the others. Thus the two races revile each other. The master was prisoner; the bondman free and a soldier.