NEWS: The Alleghanian; 13 Oct 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, 13 Oct 1864 Volume 6, Number 3 Etchings Major Harry White, 67th P. V., captured at the battle of Winchester fifteen months ago and in close confinement in Libby Prison ever since has been exchanged. He arrived home at Indiana on Friday evening last and was tendered a most enthusiastic reception by his old friends and neighbors. Col. John Bowman for several years past the able and talented chief editor of the Johnstown TRIBUNE has sold out his interest in the concern and retired from the tripod. He is succeeded by Col. Jas. M. Swank until quite lately editor of the Pittsburg GAZETTE. The TRIBUNE will make its appearance this week enlarged and improved. We wish both the outgoing and incoming editors prosperity. Lieut. Reuben D. Jones, for the past three years of the Army of the Cumberland is now at home on a short leave of absence. He went out as a Sergeant in Co. C, 19th U. S. Infantry but has lately been promoted to wear the shoulder straps in a colored company. The Murder of Robert Carmon From the St. Louis REPUBLICAN of 26th ult., kindly furnished us by a friend, we gather the following particulars concerning the murder of Mr. Robert Carmon, formerly of this place, but latterly a resident of Keytsville, Chariton County, Mo., by bushwhackers: "On last Monday night, 19th inst., Lieut. Plyer, a veteran German soldier was in command of the post (Keytsville) with about thirty-five men in camp. That night word came to the Lieutenant that bushwhackers in force were on all sides. He immediately sent out a squad of soldiers to collect in all the citizens who could be found to defend the post. By eleven o'clock at night the citizens were in the Court House with the soldiers, ready and willing to defend it to the last. "About three o'clock Tuesday morning, the Lieutenant laid down to get a little sleep and slept until after the pickets came in. As soon as the pickets were in, the citizens then in camp, believing there was no immediate danger, without orders from the commander, left the post and went into town to get their breakfast. Some of the soldiers also left for the same purpose. Soon after this, and before the order of surrender came, Mr. Robert Carmon, the Sheriff of the county, came into camp. About five minutes afterwards a white flag was seen approaching with a demand to surrender. "As soon as the demand was made, Lieut. Plyer went to Mr. Carmon and asked his advice relative to an answer to be returned to the bushwhackers. Mr. Carmon asked Plyer how many men the bushwhackers claimed to have; the reply was, 'They claim to have two hundred and fifty.' Mr. Carmon further asked of Plyer the terms and conditions offered in the event of a surrender. The Lieutenant replied, 'If we surrender, life and property will be respected; otherwise the black flag will be raised – no lives will be spared and the town burnt. These are the conditions sent to me and a reply must be made in fifteen minutes, or we must fight.' Mr. Carmon then said, 'We cannot fight two hundred and fifty bushwhackers with the small force in camp and if the conditions of surrender are as you state, you ought to surrender.' "Without further consultation Lieut. Plyer sent an answer to the commander of the white flag that he would surrender upon the conditions offered. It is a painful fact that these conditions were broken by the bushwhackers, and that Mr. Carmon was taken out of town and shot by those who promised 'protection to life and property.' Mr. William Young was also shot in the same way. "Mr. Carmon had made an excellent Sheriff and had many warm friends who mourn his loss. We do not know why these two citizens were shot, nor do we know that any reasons were given for doing so. The murder of these two men has cast a gloom over the county." From Johnstown Johnstown, October 9, 1864 A sad accident occurred here yesterday by which an employee of the Cambria Iron Company, named Kleiber, lost his life. He was hauling a bale of hay on a wagon when his horses became fractious and he was jerked beneath their feet. Before the bystanders could reach him, he had been killed by a kick from one of the animals. His remains were followed to their final resting place today by a large number of his late fellow employees. A boy named Opple of Perkinsville, aged about eight years, was drowned in the lock at that place on Monday last. On Tuesday a young man named Rees fell from a mule he was riding in Prospect borough and had his brains dashed out. He was instantly killed On Thursday a boy named Knablespire was run over by a train of coal cars in Cambria boro and killed. He was aged about twelve years. Two soldiers belonging to the squad encamped on the Fair grounds here got into a difficulty one day last week concerning political matters, when one of them drew a knife and cut the other pretty severely. In compliance with military rules, the blood-letter was tied to a tree, in a perpendicular position to give him time to mediate undisturbed upon the error of his ways and to become convinced that although he may carry a "cheese knife," it does not necessarily follow that he is justified in slicing at pleasure a fellow man therewith. The brick work of the new woolen factory at Town's End is being rapidly pushed forward. A graded and paved street runs through the entire (in prospective) town. I doubt not ere long this will be one of the prettiest villages in Western Pennsylvania. The new Presbyterian church will soon be completed and will be one among the many great improvements that have taken and are taking place here. The projected new Lutheran church remains in status quo, it having progressed no further toward completion than the foundation. I believe a scarcity of bricklayers is the cause of the delay in pushing the work. Lieut. T. L. Heyer of the "hundred days' service," has been circulating around town for several days. The regiment to which he is attached (the 194th P. V.) is doing duty by conveying substitutes and drafted men from Baltimore to the front. The Lieut. looks to be in a good state of preservation and professes to like the service muchly. From Our Soldiers Letter from Co. C, 209th P. V. Bermuda Hundred, Sept. 30 The lover sighs, the father thinks of his wife and children, and the boy dreams of home and the fireside, as each waits in patience for the arrival of a mail from his native hills. For since we turned our backs upon Pennsylvania, on the evening of the 16th inst., until the present time, we have had no word from home. Yet, doubtless, it will not be long ere the looked-for and longed-for mail arrives. I am still unable to give you either the brigade or division to which we are assigned, though, for the present, at least, we form a portion of the 18th corps. The brigade consists of the 209th, 211th, 206th, 207th and 208th and in the orders read is termed the provisional brigade. On Wednesday forenoon we received orders to march and soon after proceeded to our present position in Butler's front. The night we came, the principal portion of the troops stationed here moved to the north side of the James river to take part in a movement then contemplated. Yesterday morning early the rising of smoke told that the action had begun, though a contrary wind carried the sound of the cannonading in the opposite direction. All reports represent the action as severe, but to us, cheeringly successful. That you may have some idea of our position, I will say that we are somewhat to the right of the center of the line extending from the Appomattox to the James and a mile or more from the canal at Dutch Gap. Yesterday about one p.m. one man was killed outright and another mortally wounded in Co. F, 211th, and a third severely wounded in the hip in the 139th N. Y., in the following manner: Pursuant to orders received from Col. Potter of the 12th N. H., commanding the brigade, it was stationed, principally without arms, on the parapet of our works and in full view of those of the rebels. This maneuver soon elicited a shell from a rebel gun, which struck a musket and broke it, a piece hitting the man above mentioned, killing him instantly. The man mortally wounded died during the night. The weather here is quite warm – equally as warm as in July last in Ebensburg, excepting a few of the hottest days. Most of our company are in good health. Yours, [Signed] Gamma In Town We are pleased to see our friend, Major James A. Skelly, in town on a visit. He is enjoying good health and looks every inch the soldier. The Major went hence as a Lieutenant in Co. G, 11th Cavalry; he was afterward promoted to Captain and subsequently, about a month since, to the position he now holds. He is worthy of any and all honors that may be conferred upon him.