NEWS: The Alleghanian; 3 Nov 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, 3 Nov 1864 Volume 6, Number 6 From Johnstown Johnstown, Oct. 31, 1864 In these latter days of rumor and sensation it is best to await the confirmation of any report before giving it to the public as reliable. I am led to this philosophical conclusion from the fact that Capt. O'Neill of the 55th P. V., reported killed in one of Grant's late fights by all the papers is not killed, but only wounded and now in hospital at Annapolis. The story of his death emanated from members of his own company from which it was fair to presume it was correct. A fracas occurred in a jeweler's shop here the other day, which led to rather serious results. A man had left his watch at the shop to be repaired and on calling for it, he intimated that the charges were too much for the work performed. The jeweler, a brawny German, got angry at this and struck at the owner of the watch, when the latter retreated to the pavement, and, pulling up a brick, threw it through the jeweler's window and showcase. About fifty dollars worth of damage was thus done. When the constable attempted to arrest the owner of the watch, the eye of that conservator of the public peace was also somewhat damaged. Assistance coming, the pugnacious party was ultimately safely landed in the "jug." I neglected to notice the return to our midst of Col. John Linton, 54th P. V. He is wounded for the third time but not so seriously that he is not able to be about. Col. L. is looked upon as one of the bravest and most skillful officers in Sheridan's department and has done and is doing yeoman service for the cause of the Union. All honor to him! Mr. Thomas Watt, formerly a clerk in the freight office here, has been appointed conductor on the Pittsburg & Erie Express, a new train on the Penna. Railroad which makes its first trip today. Tom will make a first class conductor and in congratulating him on his preferment we at the same time congratulate the railroad company, that they have secured the services of so efficient and trustworthy a man. Rev. P. M. Garvey, for a long time pastor of the English Catholic congregation of this place, takes his departure for Ireland today where he goes to make a brief visit to his aged parents whom he has not seen for many years. A purse of nearly $700 has been presented him by his congregation, wherewith to pay the expenses of his journey. From Our Soldiers Letter from Co. C, 209th P. V. Bermuda Hundred, Oct. 19, '64 Within the limits of this department, nothing to my knowledge has transpired since my last letter worthy to be communicated. Yet the stillness is probably only the calm before the storm. The cool nights and frosty mornings and the falling leaf tell plainly that but a comparatively short time remains ere the severities of winter will put a stop to active operations. Knowing the character of our great chieftain, we feel assured that the time yet remaining will be properly used in pressing to the wall the armies of treason. And so let it be. The following is the vote of our regiment by companies at the late election: Co. A, no. votes cast -- 51 Union majority -- 14 Co. F, votes cast -- 36 Union majority -- 14 Co. D, votes cast -- 51 Dem. Majority -- 1 Co. I, votes cast -- 64 Union majority -- 31 Co. C, votes cast -- 55 Union majority -- 55 Co. H, votes cast -- 39 Union majority -- 17 Co. E, votes cast -- 52 Dem majority -- 18 Co. K, votes cast -- 25 Union majority -- 9 Co. G, votes cast -- 89 Union majority -- 19 Co. B, votes cast -- 34 Union majority -- 18 Total number votes cast, 444; Union majority, 133. As we left the State capital and while passing through Baltimore, one would have thought the regiment composed almost wholly of M'Clellanites, so loud, so vociferous, so constant were the cheers and other demonstrations in behalf of the great military martyr. A modest Union man could do naught else than hold his peace. But behold the vote! May I relate of couple of incidents? Some of the followers of the young defunct Napoleon had voted while at home against the right of soldiers to vote. They refused on election day to exercise the privilege themselves, realizing the utter inconsistency of such action. Deserters coming into our lines told of the hopes built by the rebels on the probable election of M'Clellan. Said more than one of these, "I will not vote for a man so well liked by traitors." Would not many at home do well to make the same declaration? [Signed] Gamma Major White's Experience in Richmond Major White, formerly State Senator of Pennsylvania, who was recently released from Richmond after an imprisonment of fourteen months spoke at the Union meeting in Philadelphia the other night. He said: "When the Christian and Sanitary Commission (God bless them) sent us boxes our condition was improved. But after a time they looked upon the contents of our boxes with anxious eyes and whether they gobbled them up or not, future history will determine. The speaker on Christmas day felt almost happy in the thought of hearing from and sending home. He had been urged to speak for his brethren in misfortune and asked for the privilege. The well known tyrant, Turner, commander of the prison, informed the speaker that he was to go direct to Salisbury, by order of Gen. Winder, who, at Andersonville, last July, caused one thousand dead soldiers to be carried out of the stockade. By his order the speaker was taken to Salisbury where the Baltimore Plugs took charge of him. He had given his blankets and other things to his fellow prisoners. This was Christmas day and as he went up the streets of Richmond the Plug Uglies cheered him with the assurance that he would never be exchanged. That didn't help him along very much. "There are no happy scenes in Richmond. There are no happy smiles of children. There are no prosperous business houses. Everything seemed to presage the doom that awaits it. God grant that doom may soon come. (Cheers). He arrived at Salisbury. He was put in a cold room, stripped and searched. He still had a few borrowed greenbacks and had put them in his boots. He managed to save them. They had scrutinized all his family letters and laid them on the table. He managed to slip the greenbacks under the letters and afterwards restored all to his pockets. In the room above him lay Gen. Corcoran. He was said to be well treated, but not so the speaker. They put him in an eight foot dungeon. The guard was forbidden to speak to him or allow anybody else to do so. There was no light in the cell. A piece of iron-clad corn bread and a bone of meat were placed upon the floor, without a plate, for his first day's food. "There was no charge against him except that he was a Union Senator of Pennsylvania. Though entitled to the treatment of a prisoner of war, he was selected from all his companions and thus treated. He was kept there for three weeks and afterwards in the old smokehouse used as a dead house for the balance of the winter. It is the policy of the rebel officers to wear out the lives of those Union officers to whom they take a prejudice."