NEWS: The Alleghanian; 4 Aug 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, 4 Aug 1864 Volume 5, Number 45 Etchings We are requested to announce that a "protracted meeting" will commence at the Disciples' Church, Ebensburg on Saturday evening next. The Rev. Mr. Carlton, a minister from abroad, will officiate. The new station house at Cresson, Penna. RR has been completed and is now occupied by the agent. It is decidedly the neatest and most ornate structure of the kind along the route. In anticipation of a rebel raid, the 1st N. J. artillery is now stationed at Altoona, Blair county. They ought to be at Chambersburg instead. Local Correspondence Johnstown, August 1, 1864 The excitement here on Sunday over an anticipated rebel raid hitherward was most intense; but only culminated on Monday morning, about 10 o'clock when our merchants commenced packing up their goods preparatory to a grand and general scyugle. Early Monday morning a proclamation was issued (by whom?) closing all places of business and advising citizens to arm and prepare to defend their homes from the invaders. A call for a public meeting was also issued and companies commenced being organized. The wildest excitement prevailed all through the day and scouts were kept posted on all the roads leading to town to guard against surprise. Toward evening, the rebels coming not, the excitement calmed down – goods were unpacked, the defenders of their homes were mustered out of service and matters and things became comparatively quiet once more. This morning the "great scare" is the one and only theme of conversation. The 54th P. V. were engaged in the late fight at Snicker's Gap, and also at Winchester. From a private letter just received I learn that their loss was large. From 75 to 100 of the regiment are now in hospital at Frederick, Md., wounded. Col. Linton is also there with a wound through the shoulder. His wound did not incapacitate him from duty but several days after receiving it, his horse fell with him, when the hilt of his sword coming in contact with his shoulder, the latter was broken. He is getting along well. James Quinn, of this place, has been commissioned by Gov. Curtin an agent to recruit negroes for the U. S. service in the seceded States. A good appointment. A man named Delaney was drowned in the Stony Creek yesterday while bathing. Passing beyond his depth and being unable to swim, he sank before assistance could reach him. W. B. Lowman has been commissioned a recruiting officer here with the rank of 1st. Lieut. War News Atlanta is not yet in our possession, but it is said Gen. Sherman can take it whenever he desires so to do. From the Army of the Potomac we hear that Grant is again at work. A decisive battle may at this moment be going on. Volunteer Regiments for One Year The War Department has granted the State Government of Pennsylvania authority to raise new regiments for one year, the men thus recruited to go to the account of the quotas on the draft for five hundred thousand troops, according as they are accredited to each locality by themselves. The number of regiments thus authorized to be raised, we believe, is not limited. The importance of the authority granted the State government cannot be lightly estimated. It will enable many districts to fill their quotas with one year men that otherwise would have been unable to do so. And the volunteers, unlike drafted men, instead of being scattered through skeleton companies and regiments, will constitute new organizations, officered by men with whom they are familiar and in whom they have confidence. The inducements, under this system, to volunteer, cannot fail to fill up the quotas of a large majority of all the districts in the State so that by a proper display of energy, the draft may be dispensed with in such locality. As soon as the necessary instructions are received from the War Department, the Governor will issue his proclamation – and it is presumed that the same regulations, fixing heretofore the quotas upon which commissions were issued, will govern and apply to the new organizations. Another Raid – Burning of Chambersburg For the fourth time, at least, the rebels have entered the State, carrying desolation and destruction wherever they set foot. This time, however, they have capped the climax of their brutality and utter disregard of the usages of honorable warfare, by burning to the ground the beautiful city of Chambersburg. It appears that the pursuit of the rebel force retiring from Maryland after their late ineffectual attempt to capture Baltimore and Washington, never reached the dignity of an offensive movement. Crook and Averill hung on the rear of the rebel rear-guard picking up a wagon or two now and then, but they inflicted no serious loss upon the enemy. The rebels grew tired of this annoyance and turned on their pursuers, compelling the latter to skedaddle after the most approved fashion. They followed up their advantage and by a rapid march fifteen hundred of them were soon transported to this side of the Potomac, three hundred and fifty of whom under command of Gen. M'Causland, on Saturday last, engaged in a raid on Chambersburg. As usual no provision had been made by Gen. Couch, commanding the Department of the Susquehanna, to tender these or similar visitors a suitable reception; so the rebels had it all their own way. They demanded of the citizens of Chambersburg $500,000 ransom for the city. This the citizens promptly responded could not and would not be paid. Whereupon the refined General of the Southern chivalry ordered the burning of every house in the principal part of town. Two hundred and sixty-five dwellings, belonging to private citizens, Copperheads as well as Union, were indiscriminately burned to the ground. The Court House, three printing offices, one belonging to the German Reformed Church, where the GERMAN REFORMED MESSENGER and a German paper were printed, the office of the FRANKLIN REPOSITORY, owned by M'Clure & Stoner, and the office of the VALLEY SPIRIT, a rank Copperhead paper and all the Hotels, together with the principal portion of the town, were soon reduced to a shapeless mass of ruins. The work of destruction was most complete. The city was literally burned to the ground and it is even reported that several women and children perished in the flames! The history of modern warfare will be sought in vain for a parallel to this atrocious and unprovoked piece of barbarism. The city had been surrendered without the firing of a shot – the raiders had entered unopposed - the people had submitted uncomplainingly to their depredations in the line of stealing – still M'Causland, this sweet scented pink of chivalry, remained unsatisfied and ordering the torch to be applied soon had a monument of ashes to commemorate his transcendent abilities as a thief, an incendiary and a cold blooded merciless murderer. The rebels reach Chambersburg by four o'clock in the morning. At eleven o'clock they left – with Gen. Averill and a force of cavalry in pursuit. So close was the chase that it is reported the former rode out of one end of M'Connelsburg as the latter was entering at the other! The latest news is that Averill overtook the fugacious foe eight miles below M'Connelsburg, Fulton county, and whipped them handsomely.