NEWS: The Alleghanian; 27 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, 27 Oct 1864 Volume 6, Number 5 Etchings Col. John K. Shryock, an old citizen of Johnstown but who has recently become a resident of Wilmore, this county, has been appointed Postmaster of the latter place, vice Morris Kell [surname unclear], gone to the army. The provost guard have made several arrests of deserters in this end of the county within the past week or two. A grand skedaddle of all of that ilk has been the result. From Johnstown October 23, 1864 We were very agreeably surprised last week to see Lieut. John B. Hay of the artillery company which left here lately return home. After his capture on the 6th inst., he was taken to Richmond and incarcerated in Libby Prison where he saw and conferred with a number of our soldiers. He reports their conditions as deplorable in the extreme. Lieut. H. had the good fortune to be paroled shortly after his arrival in Richmond and is now here awaiting his exchange. Capt. John O'Neill, of the 55th P. V., is reported killed in one of the recent engagements of Grant's army. His home was in this place and a large circle of friends will mourn the loss of a gallant officer and a prominent young man. He first enlisted it the three months' service. Returning home at the expiration of that term, it was but a short time until he enlisted in the 55th for three years where, by brave and chivalric bearing, he soon attained to the position of Captain. The writer of this knew him well and can bear testimony to his many good qualities of head and heart. Peace to his ashes! The remains of a man named Snyder, formerly a resident of this county, were brought to Conemaugh boro on Friday last for interment. It is sated that in laboring in an iron works in the [word unclear], West Va., he suddenly fell dead. The post mortem examination of the body was held but the cause of his death was not ascertained. Snyder was drafted for this county, and had fled to escape the service. Our Rolling Mill is to be considerably increased as to size and capability and the ground to that end was broken on last Monday. The extension will accommodate at least twenty additional rolling furnaces. Owing to its magnitude it is not expected the work will be finished in less than a year. The Mill is already a miracle as to size and capability – what will it be with all this addition to it! The soldiers stationed here for some weeks past took their departures for Chambersburg last week. While with us, their deportment was uniformly good, and they made many warm friends of our citizens. From Our Soldiers Letter from Co. C, 209th P. V. Bermuda Hundred, Oct. 11 The day has closed and with it a great contest, yet after all only a precursor and foreshadower of a contest still greater. The struggle today has, to be sure, been in one sense a political one, but in a broader view it is identical with the struggle this moment betokened by the noise of contending artillery. But perhaps you and your readers are all this while asking for the vote given by the men who so lately left the hills of Cambria. Read the record: Congress: A. A. Barker -- 54 R. L. Johnston, Assembly -- 00 Evan Roberts -- 54 C. L. Pershing, Sheriff -- 00 Geo. Engelbach -- 54 James Myers -- 00 Commissioner: Abram Good -- 54 E. R. Dunnegan, Poor House Dir. -- 00 Geo. Settlemyer -- 54 George Orris, Auditor -- 00 Thomas Hollen -- 53 John Kennedy -- 1 The first named candidate for each office is Union. Having heard that reports reach you of sickness in the company, I will state that this morning four were excused from duty by the Surgeon; yesterday, three; Sunday, one; and excepting one day on which were four, only one or two daily for a week, previous to Sunday last. All of those now sick are doing well and none are nor have been seriously ill unless it was in one instance. [Signed] Gamma Victory Again! Sheridan – him of the resistless saber – Sheridan the invincible – P. H. Sheridan, Major General commanding in the Shenandoah Valley – has won another glorious victory. It was in this wise: The rebels under Early attacked our forces at Cedar Creek on the morning of the 19th, surprised them, and drove them in confusion, a considerable distance, capturing thereby twenty pieces of artillery. It was a most complete surprise and an overwhelming rout. Had General M'Clellan been commander of the army from his former career, it were safe to infer he would have inconveniently surrendered his whole force or else precipitately retired back on Baltimore. Not so with Sheridan! He was absent when the disaster occurred and only arrived on the field when our army had retreated four miles. In his official report he says he then "took the matter in hand" himself. We believe him; for immediately a general charge was made on the boastful foe by our [next two words faded] with the result that he was sent "whitling" again down the Valley. If our rout in the morning was complete; theirs in the evening was still more complete for we recaptured our twenty pieces of artillery and not only that but took thirty pieces of theirs' in addition with sixteen hundred prisoners, caissons, ambulances, wagons &c., innumerable and drove them "clear out of sight." It was a grand, glorious victory, and from it the Union men and friends of the War have extracted renewed hope and determination. Where is he that would dare say, "peace at any price" now! And where is he that wants "a cessation of hostilities!" Thus it is that the rebel Early is making good his threat to "stamp Pennsylvania for the peace party!" Maj. Gen. David B. Birney Maj. Gen. David B. Birney, a brave soldier of the Union and a Pennsylvanian, died at his residence in Philadelphia on the 18th inst., of fever contracted in the last movement of Grant's army against the Rebellion. Almost in the hour of his death, he presented an example of patriotism which should be a reproach to all the lukewarm and a spur to all the careless nominally in the Union ranks. He arrived in Philadelphia on election day, with the impression of death upon his features. Before allowing himself to be taken to his home, he insisted upon being carried to the polls to vote. And he was so carried and he did vote, voting as a citizen for the cause for which he had fought as a soldier. Union men! Let the sprit which animated the gallant Birney animate you on the 8th of November.