NEWS: The Alleghanian; 8 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, 8 Dec 1864 Volume 6, Number 11 County Officers Judges of the Courts -- President, Hon. Geo. Taylor, Huntingdon; Associates, George W. Wesley, Henry C. Devine. Prothonotary -- Joseph M'Donald Register and Recorder -- James Griffin Sheriff -- John Buck District Attorney -- Philip S. Noon County Commissioners -- John Campbell, Edward Glass, E. R. Dunnegan Treasurer -- Isaac Wike Poor House Directors -- George M'Cullough, George Delany, Irwin Rutledge. Poor House Treasurer -- George C. K. Zahn Auditors -- William J. Williams, George C. Zahn, Francis Tierney County Surveyor -- Henry Scanlan Coroner -- William Flattery Mercantile Appraiser -- John Cox Sup't. of Common Schools -- J. F. Condon. War News There is little additional and nothing positively certain to add to the intelligence concerning the movements of Sherman. There is no reason to doubt, however, that he either has conducted or will conduct his entire army to the coast, without any material loss. Bragg sent a dispatch to Davis that he had defeated the force sent by Foster to cooperate with Sherman from Port Royal, but as Foster has been heard from and is all right, little importance is attached to Bragg's dispatch or to the hopes expressed by the rebel papers of being able to cut off Sherman before reaching the coast. In the absence of particulars, we consider it certain that Sherman has gone through in spite of everything and that he will soon be in a position to enter upon the important operations of which his great march was the precursor. Such certainty is the belief in Washington. S. Reynolds of Lafayette, Ind., was recently arrested by Capt. M'Quiddy, chief of staff to Gen. Hovey. He stands charged with recruiting for the rebel army and the evidence is said to be conclusive. If convicted, the penalty is death. Gen. Roger A. Pryor was captured by our forces in front of Petersburg a few days since. Extraordinary Endurance Private Wm. K. Kellerman, enlisted in company B, One Hundred and Forty-eighth Pennsylvania volunteers, March 1, 1864. At the battle of Po river on the 19th of May he received three distinct wounds, one on the right shoulder, another on the chin, and the third near his right eye, entirely depriving him of the use of it. He rejoined his regiment on the 13th of August when the Second Corps was on the march to Deep Bottom. The following day he was so injured by the concussion of a shell that he was removed from the field insensible, and was not enabled to report for duty until the 13th of October. On the 27th of that month, and while the Second and Third divisions were making a reconnaissance on the left, Gen. Miles, commanding the First division, directed a demonstration on the rebel fort in front of his line. Kellerman was selected, with others, for the purpose. They charged amid a heavy fire, and succeeded in driving the enemy from the fort, capturing a number of prisoners, with whom, Kellerman was sent to the rear. Having performed this duty he started back to rejoin his comrades. In the meantime the rebels had rallied and our men were compelled to fall back. Kellerman, in the darkness, did not observe this until near the fort, when he came upon the rebel picket line, which had been established in his absence. Fortunately he was not discovered, and sinking down he crept into a small ravine, hoping to make his escape during the night. Soon after a rebel vidette was thrown out a few feet in advance of where he lay, thus placing him between the vidette and the skirmish line. In this position he lay until the night of the 2d of November, a period of six days, exposed to the wind and rain, and the cold freezing atmosphere of the nights, without food or drink, chewing the leaves and roots within reach of his arm, determined not to surrender himself to the enemy, which he could have done at any moment with safety. On the night of the 2d the enemy having relaxed his vigilance, he succeeded in reaching our lines, crawling on his hands and knees and bringing with him his accoutrements and Spencer rifle. On being taken to the hospital he was utterly exhausted, his hands and feet were badly frozen, and the toes of his right foot somewhat gangrenous. He was unable to swallow for the first day, but on the second beef tea and other nourishing and stimulating liquors were administered with the best effect. He has to a great extent recovered the use of his hands and feet, and bids fair at no distant day to be able to rejoin his regiment. Gen. Miles has forwarded a recommendation that as a reward for his unexampled fortitude and heroism in refusing to surrender himself to the enemy under such trying circumstances, he be granted a furlough for thirty days and be awarded a metal honor. From Our Soldiers Letter from Co. C., 209th P. V. Near the Weldon RR, Nov. 21. Since my last letter, we have been on the move. On Thursday we were promised turkey, or chicken or both, and apples, wherewith to make an old style Thanksgiving dinner. Barrels full of apples, boxes full of turkeys, other boxes full of chicken were in store for our oft promised Thanksgiving dinner. Lo, Thanksgiving came -- and with it Thanksgiving dinner, think you? Never! What did come? Why, an order to march to the Army of the Potomac and report to Maj. Gen. Meade. And just about the time we should have been enjoying our turkey, &c., we commenced to tramp through Virginia mud. On Friday we reached our destination, some two miles west or southwest of the Weldon Railroad. How long we may stay here it is hard to tell. We are assigned to the 9th corps, permanently, I understand but of this I cannot be certain. Nor can I give you the division, though it is probably that we will form part of the third division, to be composed entirely of the new Pennsylvania regiments. Everything is quiet here; not even so much as picket firing disturbs the stillness. All are well. Weather mild and pleasant. [Signed] Gamma Odds And Ends That remarkable old negro woman, Sojourner Truth, called on President Lincoln recently and told him he was the only President who has done anything for her people. Mr. Lincoln replied, "and the only one who ever had such an opportunity. Had our friends in the south behaved themselves, I could have done nothing whatever." Etchings A ladies' fair, for the benefit of the Catholic church of Altoona, commences at that place today. The "Scott House," Johnstown, has undergone a change of proprietors, Mr. David Griffith retiring and Mr. G. W. Foland, succeeding. The conscripts from this county are reporting the present week at Provost Marshal headquarters, Hollidaysburg, for examination. Among the many arrivals in town, in attendance at Court, we notice our friend and fellow-townsman, Hon. A. C. Mullin, now Private Secretary of Governor Curtin. The cares of his office seem to bear lightly on him and he is the same genial, gentlemanly good fellow he always was. May good luck hit him! John Porter, Esq., of Washington tp., has made us two or three pop visits the present week. He is invested with the responsibilities attaching to the distinguished position of Foreman of the Grand Inquest, now sitting in and for Cambria county, and is winning many encomiums of praise for the skillful and business-like manner in which he is performing the duties thereunto appertaining. Success! Mr. Thos. Callan has opened an eating and drinking saloon on the southwest corner of the "Diamond," Ebensburg, where he keeps a full supply of stock incident to such establishments, such as oysters, ale, segars, &c., &c. From Johnstown Johnstown, Dec. 4, 1864 A man named Patrick M'Carthy was drowned in the Conemaugh river, opposite the Rolling Mill, on Sunday night, last. His fate was not discovered until Wednesday, an unavailing search had been made for him until that day, when his lifeless body was observed floating in the Slackwater, a few miles below town. Deceased was employed in the Iron Works, but had been on a spree for several days. He leaves a wife and family. John W. Wehn, merchant has been appointed by Gov. Curtin auctioneer in this place. Mr. Wehn intends opening a room in the Jordan Marbourg property and will do a general auction business in real estate, dry goods, household goods &c., every Monday, Friday and Saturday. The sum of $50 was raised for the U. S. Christian Commission in the Presbyterian church on Thanksgiving day. Rev. Agnew, pastor, delivered a very eloquent and patriotic sermon, suitable for the occasion, then and there. By request of a number of congregation it is published in full in the TRIBUNE of last week. A vocal and instrumental concert came off here on Thursday evening of last week. It was a brilliant and decided success, and reflects great credit upon the musical talent of the gentlemen under whose auspices it was given, namely, the Messrs. Harrington, Rev. Schwartz and Mr. Enstal. Soldier Shot A few days since, while two soldiers were riding on horseback in the vicinity of Hoppel's Mill, Carroll township, this county, they were fired upon by some person in ambush and one of them wounded in the ankle by a bullet. The motive for this unprovoked outrage is not known, but it is most likely to be found in the deeply rooted feelings of antipathy entertained by a large number of residents of that section, deserters from the United States service to the Union blue and to all those wearing it. No arrests have been made.