NEWS: The Alleghanian; 1 Dec 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, 1 Dec 1864 Volume 6, Number 10 Etchings Not many nights since, the Treasurer's safe of Huntingdon county was blown up by burglars in quest of plunder. Owing to the fact that the Treasurer fortunately makes it a rule to leave no large amount of money in the safe over night, the light-fingered gentry only succeeded in realizing some fifteen or twenty dollars by the operation. The labor hardly paid for the pains. Lieut. Tom R. Davis, of the 19th U. S. I., we are happy to see, is now with us on brief leave of absence. He has served three years in the regular army, part of the time as Orderly Sergeant in Co. C., 19th Regt., part of the time as 2d Lieutenant and latterly as 1st Lieutenant. At present he is attached to Gen. Rousscau's staff as ordinancy officer. He is a brave and efficient solider and a good fellow and we wish him success. By the way, Lieut. D. informs us that all the surviving members of Co. C., 19th regt. (recruited almost wholly in Cambria county), are discharged the service by reason of expiration of term of enlistment, with a single exception, who has reenlisted for another three years. The vote of Co. A, 205th P. V. – composed principally of Cambria county boys — for President was as follows: For Lincoln, 49; for M'Clellan, 12 — Union majority, 37. From Our Soldiers Letter from Co. C., 209th P.V. Bermuda Hundred, Nov. 21, '64 Before the reception of this, you and your readers will doubtless have heard of the affair in which the 209th have taken part. But first of all allow me to state for the pacification of all uneasiness, that every member of Co. C is safe from all harm. It appears that on Thursday about eight and a half o'clock, P.M., an assault was stealthily made on the pickets in our front, driving them in and capturing a portion of the line. The rebels came up saying, "Don't shoot; we're friends," until they reached our line, when they immediately threw themselves into our pits and assumed an offensive attitude. The deception practiced by the rebels would hardly have succeeded had not our men supposed them to be deserters. Upon gaining the rear they immediately commenced their process of boggling up as many as possible of our men. A brisk fire was soon opened on them and their operations stopped, but not before they had killed, wounded and taken prisoner some forty-five of the 12th New Hampshire, upon whom the attack was first made, and about twenty-five of our own regiment, among whom I am sorry to name Col. Kaufman, Capt. Lee, of Co. F. and Lieut. Herdick of Co. B. The colonel, being general officer of the line, was making his usual rounds when the attack commenced, but inclined to think that our men had become frightened at the approach of deserters, was telling them not to fire, when he was approached and seized; but he collared and threw his antagonist and was about to draw his revolver, when he was again seized and overpowered by two others and the capture completed. He was accompanied by Capt. Lee, who is supposed to share his fate. There is a report, but it is not credited, that after being taken he shot at his captors, who for this, killed him, burying his body in one of the pits. The blow to the regiment is a severe one and casts a gloom over the whole command, for Col. Tobias B. Kaufman was considered by all as a kind, competent and brave commander. The loss to the regiment is as follows: Co. A., missing, 9; Co. F., 13; Co. D, 2; Co. B, 2; making a total of 25. Some of those put down as missing may be either killed or wounded but all that is certain of them is that they are missing. Co. C. was so fortunate as to lose none either in killed or wounded, though quite warmly engaged. Yesterday our batteries were firing most of the day, doing considerable damage to the rebel works. The rebels replied but feebly and ineffectually. Truly, [Signed] Gamma Sheriff's Sales The following is an abstract of the real estate advertised to be sold by the Sheriff of Cambria county, at the Court House, Ebensburg on Monday, 5th December, instant: Peter M'Gough, Esq., Washington tp., piece of land containing 160 acres, 100 acres cleared, with two-story log house, weather boarded and frame barn. Abner Schrock, Richland township, piece of land containing 100 acres, 95 acres cleared, with two-story plank house and two cabin barns. J. G. Pringle, Summerhill tp., piece of ground containing 73 acres, 25 acres cleared, with one-and-a-half story frame house and frame barn. Matthew M. O'Neill, Ebensburg, lot of ground with two-story house with basement story and outbuildings. Allegheny Township Voting On election day two Irishmen attempted to vote in Allegheny township, Blair County, who had procured exemption from the draft on the grounds of alienage. To get exempted, each one of them had to swear that he had not been naturalized and that he had not voted. Yet, when challenged at the election window as aliens, each one promptly produced certificates of naturalization, taken out two or three years ago. Three of the Provost Guard happened to be at hand and promptly arrested these American citizens. They are now confined in jail and will suffer the penalty of false swearing. Of course, it is very tyrannical and fraudulent and a great abuse of the elective franchise to tear these worthies from their families, but nevertheless Capt. Lloyd is determined to put them through. These are two of the gentlemen who say the soldiers have no right to vote, &c. List of Post Offices Post Office Post Masters Districts Carolltown Joseph Behe Carroll Chest Springs Henry Nutter Chest Conemaugh A. G. Crooks Taylor Cresson J. Houston Washington Ebensburg John Thompson Ebensburg Fallen Timber Asa H. Fiske White Gallitzin J. M. Christy Gallitzin Hemlock Wm. Tiley, Jr. Washington Johnstown I. E. Chandler Johnstown Loretto M. Adlesberger Loretto Munster A. Durbin Munster Plattsville Andrew J. Ferral Susquehanna Roseland G. W. Bowman White St. Augustine Stan. Wharton Clearfield Scalp Level George Berkey Richland Sonman B. M. Colgan Washington Summerhill B. F. Slick Croyle Summit Wm. M'Connell Washington Wilmore J. K. Shryock Summerhill President's Letter to a Widow Mrs. Bixby, the recipient of the following letter from President Lincoln is a poor widow living in the Eleventh ward in Boston. Her sixth son, who was severely wounded in a recent battle, is now lying in the Readville Hospital: Executive Mansion Washington, Nov. 21, 1864 "Dear Madam: I have been shown on the file of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle. "I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming; but I cannot refrain from tendering to you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save. "I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavements and leave only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours, to have laid so costly a sacrifice up on the altar of freedom. "Yours, very sincerely and respectfully. "A. Lincoln." "To Mrs. Bixby, Boston, Mass."